THIS IS SURRATTS FOUNDATION E-NOTICE 2010-10 OF OCTOBER 1, 2010

Hello Hornets:

Here are some items that might be of interest:

1.  FOUNDATION'S ANNUAL CAMPAIGN BEGINS.  Each Fall the Foundation commences its annual, but rather informal, fund raising campaign.  Donations from supporters of the Foundation support the various activities of the Foundation, as summarized in the next item.  If you'd like to take this opportunity to support the Foundation, a donation form is printed at the end of this email, and is available on the Foundation's web site at www.surrattsville.org.

Many thanks to those generous "early donors" to the 2010 Campaign who are listed below!

2.  FOUNDATION ACTIVITIES OVERVIEW.  Especially for our newer readers, listed below is the overview of the Foundation's activities to date that we use to introduce the Foundation to new members of the Surrattsville community.  Many thanks to the legion of volunteers, and many generous donors, who have made the first 11 years of the Foundation such successful and rewarding ones.

Background

Incorporated March 17, 2000 and determined to be a tax-exempt charitable organization by the IRS on June 16, 2000

Fund Raising

1.  Golf Outing Fund Raisers in 2000, 2002, 2005 and 2010

2.  All Classes/Faculty/Staff Reunion Fund Raisers in 2000, 2005 and 2010

3.  Charter Donors Campaign in 2000; Annual Campaigns in 2001 – 2010; Legacy Society (for gifts from estates) established 2003

4. All Classes and Staff "Surrattstock" Fund Raisers in 2002, 2005 and 2010

Achievement Awards

1.  2000 - Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr. (60)

2.  2001 - Building Superintendent (Since 1963) Gerald Pickeral

3.  2001 - Foundation Visionary Charlie Cooper (52)

4.  2002 - Christmas in April Executive Director Mary Kucharski (76)

5.  2002 - International Opera Star Gordon Hawkins (76)

6.  2003 - Long-time Surratts Employee Roberta Padgett Taylor (53)

7.  2003 - Command Fighter Pilot Col. Robert Marr, Jr. (71)

8.  2003 - Painter Kevin Fitzgerald (71)

9.  2004 - University of GA Basketball Head Coach Dennis Felton (81)

10.  2005 - French Legion of Honor Recipient Nelson Duke (40)

11.  2005 - Clergy Member and Public Servant Susan Thomas Azud (73)

12.  2005 - Oscar Winner Marcia Gay Harden (76)

13.  2006 - General Tom Travis, M.D. (72)

14.  2006 - Police Chief Fred Keeney (73)

15.  2007 – Chef Patrick O’Connell (63)

16. 2007 – Chef Greggory Hill (79)

17.  2007 – Chef Timothy Dean (89)

18.  2008 – Professor Russell Barkley, Ph.D. (67)

19.  2008 – Professor Rick Lifton, M.D., Ph.D. (71)

20.  2008 – College President Dave DeCenzo (73)

21.  2009 - Educator Deborah McAllister Brown (72)

22.  2009 – Educator Helen Bovbjerg Niedung (54)

23.  2009 – University of Maryland Women's Basketball Coach Chris Weller (62)

24.  2010 –Coach Lew Jenkins

25.  2010 – International Educator and Community Activist Rix Mills (62)

26.  2010 – Community Activist Ann Weaver Pelle (71)

Scholarships

1.  2001 - $500 Scholarships to Christina Morse, LaToya Harris and Tricialand Hilliard

2.  2002 - $500 Scholarships to Joy Pemberton, Patrice Felton, Andreka Thomas, Samara Cook and Chantal Brown

3.  2003 - $500 Scholarships to Ricky Hammett and Janelle Jackson

4.  2004 - $500 Scholarships to Bonnie Chow, Melissa Hunter and Brinkley Hypes

5.  2005 - $500 Scholarships to Michelle Branch and Benjamin Ellis

6.  2006 - $500 Scholarships to Jenese Reed and Cordell Kennerly

7. 2007 - $500 Scholarships to Brene Carrington, Tayana Harrison and Broderek Stewart

8.  2008 - $500 Scholarships to Samantha Stancil, Brittany Bean and Danyelle McElrath

9.  2009 - $500 Scholarships to Anica Davis, Harold Edmonds and Marina Anoh

10. 2010 - $500 Scholarships to Diamond Higgs and Taneishia Holley

Gifts

1. $2,200 and $1,100 unrestricted gifts to the School in 2000 and 2005

2. Commercial grade popcorn machine and supplies in 2001

3. Cash gift to SGA for Homecoming decorations in 2001

4. Graphing calculator to student in need in 2001

5. Cash stipend to Cheerleading Squad in 2002

6. Offer of $1,800 in scholarships to Global Young Leaders attendees in 2002

7. Three commercial grade supply carts to office in 2002 and 2003

8. Over $250,000 of computer equipment in 2002 and 2003

9. Courtyard renovation and benches/tables in 2002 and 2003

10. Two electric typewriters to Media Center

11.  Cash stipend to dance student studying in Philadelphia

12.  Cash stipend to student participating in Caribbean baseball tournament

13.  Cash gift to 2005 softball team for needed equipment

14.  $7,000 gift, from Class of 52, to Band Department

15.  Offer of financial assistance to senior requiring night classes to graduate with Class of 2006

16.  Offer of financial assistance to senior requiring financial assistance to participate in 2006 graduation

17.  Provision of assistance to Boomerang yearbook staff with 50th edition of Boomerang

18.  Funding of State and IRS filing fees for, and legal services for, Touchdown Club

19.  25 new computers, monitors and peripheral equipment in 2010

Miscellaneous

1. Establishment of active web site at http://www.surrattsville.org

2. Publication of regular Surratts News "e-Notices"

3. All Classes and Staff Sunday Rides in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005

4. Establishment of On-Going School Archives in 2000, and Oral History Project in 2005

5. Publication of All Classes and Staff Directory in 2000, and update in 2010

6. Initiation of "Spruce-Up" Committee in 2002

7. Offer to establish Sports Boosters Club in 2002

8. Participation in 2001 - 2004 Graduation and Senior Awards events and 2002 Class Competition event

9. Offer to provide panel of judges for Ms. and Mr. Surrattsville event in 2002

10. Assisting with Coach Haigler's request to NIH for Medical Science course grant

11. Working with student interns assigned to assist the Foundation

12.  Stipend to cheerleaders to attend cheerleading camp in 2010

3.  PRINCIPALS/FACULTY/STAFF MEMORY FUND.  A very special activity of the Foundation is the maintenance of the Principals/Faculty/Staff Memory Fund, initially endowed by Charlie Cooper (52).  The purpose of this very special fund is to provide a source of cash support to Surrattsville students who could pursue a particular, current academic or extra-curricular goal but for the want of funds.  (See examples above.)  Candidates for gifts from this Fund are brought to the attention of the Foundation by the principal, the guidance office, faculty members, the PTSA and parents.  Many Foundation donors designate their donations for this particular Fund.

4.  "OLD SCHOOL" HISTORY MYSTERY SOLVED.  We received this interesting email from Ronald Coleman (53):  "Dear Henry:  I just stumbled onto one of your e-Notices from a couple of years ago as I was looking for information on Lillian Holland, long time faculty member.  Among other items in the e-Notice was a copy of a local publication’s profile of the dedication ceremony of the major addition to the school building which occurred during my years there.  It was an undated piece but it did mention that the new addition first went into use on February 11. That would have been 1952 and it seems safe to assume the dedication would have taken place sometime during the rest of that school year.  I know you were hoping to sort of pin down the date of that dedication at the time you issued that report. And I imagine by now someone has probably done that for you.  But I thought I would add what little I remember just in case.

That project began sometime in 1951 before the end of the school year and the major part of the construction took place over the summer. When we came back in September 1951 most of the exterior shell was up. Ultimately the most exciting part of the entire project was, for most of us, the new gymnasium. On a personal level I was especially excited about the state of the art chemistry lab in my senior year.  My best regards to you, Ronald"

[Ed. Note:  We'd love to have other memories from our readers about various crossroads in the history of the "Old School" and "New School" buildings.]

5.  CLASS OF 73 FACEBOOK GROUP.  We received this email from Neal Dawson (73) and Connie Spell Swetich (73):  "The Class of 73 has a Group on Facebook to stay in touch and announce events.  If you are a Surrattsville 73 class member and wish to join, search for Surrattsville 1973, then click the Request to Join button.  Neal Dawson and Constance "Connie" Spell Swetich are the Administrators and will receive your request to join via email.  You do not have to be a graduating member, as the class had a lot of transient military dependent members who might like to reunite with us, also members who were bused to other schools later, possibly did not graduate or got GED's, etc.  Just be someone who was in the Class group at some time from 7th through 12th grades (Surrattsville Jr. and Sr. Highs) and has loyalty to the Class.  The group is only several months old, but already up to 57 members, out of a known 500 plus members who passed through the Class.  It's a great way to stay in touch and was very effective for the recent June 2010 All Classes Reunion Weekend and Sunday 73 picnic.  Neal and Connie"

[Ed. Note:  Many other Classes also maintain Facebook Groups, typically titled “Surrattsville [graduation year].”  Please consider joining yours as a great way to stay in touch, and to stay updated about Class events.]

6.  HORNET A CANDIDATE.  Robert Broadus (90) is one of the several Hornet public servants who are seeking public office in the upcoming election cycle.  Robert is running for Congress from Maryland's 4th Congressional District.  His web site is at www.justiceandliberty.us.

[Ed. Note:  We've been trying to announce Maryland Hornets who are seeking public office.  We'd also love to hear about members of the Surrattsville community who might be running in elections elsewhere.]

7.  SURRATTSVILLE ABOUT TO ENJOY PROMISED MOVIE STARDOM.  As we announced some time ago, Robert Redford has had in development a major studio drama based on the Abraham Lincoln assassination and its aftermath.  Our readers who are interested in this episode in American history have been eagerly awaiting the release of this film.  (Many are waiting to see if Mary Surratt is portrayed as an innocent bystander (as she often was until recently), or as an at least partially active co-conspirator (as she was in the absolutely fascinating recent book "Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer" by James Swanson).   We received this email from Neal Dawson (73) containing an update on the Redford film project:

"Dear Class of 73 and Friends:  Our Surrattsville Elementary, Jr. and Sr. High Schools in Clinton, MD (formerly known as Surrattsville, MD until circa 1865 at the end of the Civil War) are about to become even more famous in relation to their names and our alma mater, due to the coming release of a new movie directed by Robert Redford.  The movie has come to life, being shown at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival, and rights have been purchased for U.S. distribution by two distributors.  The movie is named "The Conspirator" and has a release date planned for March 2011.  Epix has digital distribution after the theater runs, so it may be available later on Netflix, as described in one link below.  I hope to see it in the theaters on the big screen myself!

It features Robin Wright, the actress of Forrest Gump fame, as Mary Surratt!  The IMDB link below displays a significantly large cast with other interesting actors you might recognize like Justin Long and Alexis Bledel, the Gilmore Girls daughter, and one of the four young lady friends in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants movies. 

This is quite a significant development for our alma mater, as it will highlight to larger America and any parts of the world where shown, the historical heritage/context of our schools' names, and the Clinton area in which we grew up and went to school.  Enjoy.  Here are a few links for your preview.  Let's hope for the best outcome that it may garner in behalf of our beloved alma mater, Surrattsville.  Go Hornets! Neal

IMDB:  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0968264/ 

Associated links (you can find a lot more via Google, etc., depending on your search criteria): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Conspirator

http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/09/12/toronto-film-festival-robert-redford-on-the-conspirator/ 

http://gotchamovies.com/news/the-conspirator-robert-redford-lionsgate-roadside-attractions-distribution

http://movingpicturesmagazine.com/Reviews/tabid/59/entryid/3912/The-Conspirator.aspx"

[Ed. Note:  Thanks to a lifelong interest in the Lincoln Assassination story sparked by Leonard "Dutch" Anderson's inspired teaching in 11^th grade U.S. history class – from the window of which we could see the then-dilapidated Surratt House when the leaves weren't on the trees! – I for one can't wait to see that movie.  And as talented as Robin Wright is, the movie could have been made even more special if our own Oscar winner, Marcia Gay Harden (76), was cast in the role of Mary Surratt!]

8.  WARM WISHES TO MS. GROUBY.  We received this email from Patti Powell Hannum   (72):  "Hi Henry:  I went to visit Ms. Grouby yesterday after receiving a call from her sister telling me that she is in hospice care for cancer.  She is bedbound, with paralyzed legs.  I asked her if she wanted me to let you know so you could include an item in an e-Notice to get the word out to her adoring Hornet students and she said that would be great.  I'm guessing many of them will want to send a note either via Facebook or I can give them the address.  Folks should feel free to contact me at getfitgrl@aol.com for information.  Thanks, Patti"

We send our warmest wishes and supportive thoughts to Ms. Grouby.