We are so very grateful to our volunteers for all the hard work they’ve been doing for the past several weeks–especially our teenagers who have been doing amazing work knocking on doors for us! Thank you all for your dedication and commitment to this campaign–we couldn’t do it without you!
It was really a privilege this week to congratulate attendees of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at their international meeting held in Gaithersburg. This benevolent society has a long history of supporting communities and individuals in need, especially those with needs for whom traditional resources are not available. Their meeting drew participants from throughout the world — the United States, Canada, Europe and the Carribean. I was delighted to present the group with a citation from the General Assembly acknowledging their long history of service and many accomplishments.
The Odd Fellows are a wise group! Early on, they recognized the value and importance of the contributions from their wives, mothers, sisters, daughters, aunts and other women in their circle. To bolster their community service efforts, the Odd Fellows created a women’s auxiliary, at a time when other charitable groups rejected participation by women.
There’s a strong connection between the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Maryland. The Order started in England in the 18th century, when it was considered “odd” for a group to band together to aid the disadvantaged. The first Order in North America was founded in Baltimore in 1819, and its influence quickly spread throughout the state. The historic Odd Fellows Lodge, located on Route 108 in Sandy Spring, illustrates the group’s strong presence in District 14. I’ve been so pleased to support efforts to restore the Lodge to its former glory!
The Karen Montgomery campaign attended the launch of the MD Democratic Party’s Diversity Leadership Council in Silver Spring today. The speakers included Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, Congresswoman Donna Edwards, Congressman Elijah Cummings, Delegate Heather Mizeur, Delegate Susan Lee, and many others. It was amazingly inspiring to this sometimes world-weary activist to see the awesome variety and diversity of our community here in Maryland. The Maryland Democratic Party is running on the idea that our diversity is our strength. We here at the Karen Montgomery campaign agree wholeheartedly. Si se puede!
Bronwyn
Well, I know I have wonderful, talented people who work for me. In the past week, two of them have been snatched away for terrific jobs! The first is Peter Blaes, my Campaign Manager, who is now working in a paid position in the Obama Administration at The White House. That’s THE White House at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue! Peter worked for the Obama campaign as a field director in the midwest, and I know he’s taking those talents, skills and experience with him on his new professional journey. His first day was June 28, and I know he’ll do a great job.
Peter’s successor as my Campaign Manager is Bronwyn Beistle, who has hit the ground running during the past busy week. Bronwyn is a veteran of the 2006 Cardin-O’Malley coordinated campaign and worked on the 2004 John Kerry presidential campaign in her native Florida. Since relocating to Maryland, she has served as outreach director at a non-profit advocating energy efficiency and clean transportation and worked at the National Resources Defense Council and the Environmental and Energy Study Institute. I have been impressed by her recent work, and I’m confident you’ll enjoy meeting and working with Bronwyn.
My second loss is Kristin Trible who has very capably assisted in my Annapolis office, handling research and responses to constituents. Kris is now devoting her full attention to serving as President of the Montgomery County Council of PTAs. MCCPTA is lucky to have a caring individual like Kris at its helm.
Congratulations to both Peter and Kris and welcome to Bronwyn!
On Thursday evening, I was honored to be part of the recognition celebration for the incoming and outgoing student members of the Montgomery County Board of Education. Tim Hwang, a recent graduate from Thomas S. Wootton High School in Rockville, just completed his one-year term, serving on the school board’s policy and public engagement committees. Tim was also President of Wootton’s Class of 2010 and has held several leadership positions in the Maryland Association of Student Councils. No slouch with his time and energy, Tim also serves as CEO/President of Operation Fly, Inc., an international non-profit that he founded to fight inner-city poverty and homelessness.
Alan Xie, a rising junior in the International Baccalaureate Program at Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville, was sworn in as the 2010-2011 student member of the Board of Education. Alan has served in leadership positions on the Maryland Youth Advisory Council and the Maryland Association of Student Councils. He was elected to the student seat by a 3-to-1 margin after a campaign that emphasized the value of students’ concerns, ideas and dreams.
Alan will be the first student member empowered to vote on all measures that come before the school board, except teacher dismissals. This added responsibility is the result of 2010 General Assembly approval of a measure which I strongly supported.
These two young men and their counterparts who are active in Montgomery County Youth Slate exemplify the real capabilities and maturity of so many of our terrific students. It’s reassuring to know that our future will be in such focused, informed and compassionate hands.
As I go door-to-door in District 14 campaigning for the Senate seat, I am amazed by the beauty of the many gardens and plantings. I love working in my garden and getting my hands in the soil, and I appreciate the efforts of the many residents who’ve gone to great lengths to make their yards a visual treat for others. Lovely, blooming flowers, fascinating arrangements of small shrubs and bushes and plantings that attract butterflies and humming birds show how much District 14 residents care. Beautifying our planet one yard at a time shows respect for our environment. And, that’s a goal that I embrace. Thank you, District 14 for your beautiful efforts!
How can Maryland afford for those who are aging and those with disabilities to remain in their own homes, rather that moving to expensive nursing homes? The Long-term Care Reform Commission, of which I’m a member, met this week to tackle these concerns. Check out the Issues page on my website www.montgomery4montgomery.com for an update on my role on the Commission and its work. And let me hear from you with your suggestions and experiences!
I couldn’t be more proud to learn that my candidacy for the District 14 Senate seat has been endorsed by two statewide environmental groups, the Maryland Sierra Club and the League of Conservation Voters. I’m delighted that my record of voting for common-sense measures to our critical natural resources has been acknowledged by these influential organizations. See the link at www.1888pressrelease.com/powerful-environmental-groups-endorse-karen-montgomery-s-sta.pr-219426.html For my entire life, I’ve championed the cause of protecting our precious environment. It’s essential that we leave our planet a better place for our children and grandchildren, that we clean up our air and water, preserve farmland and restore the Bay to allow recreation and healthy seafood. I look forward to working with the Sierra Club, the LCV and you toward these goals in the State Senate.
A tornado watch and threatened rain on Sunday afternoon (6/6/10) couldn’t keep 200+ supporters from Delegate Karen Montgomery’s annual picnic! The weather created a cozy but very enthusiastic indoor crowd. Karen’s bid for District 14′s seat in the Maryland Senate has received lots of support, and she was just endorsed by the Montgomery County Education Association. Today’s picnic was wonderful event with some of the most interesting and influential people in District 14 and the entire area. Congresswoman Donna Edwards shared with the crowd that Karen was the first elected official to visit and congratulate her after her 2008 election to the U.S. House of Representatives. Photos of the event will be posted on www.Montgomery4Montgomery.com shortly. Meanwhile, join Friends of Karen Montgomery on Facebook and view picnic photos on her page.
