Maryland Leadership Workshops
Maryland Leadership Workshops Newsletter September 2010
in this issue
:: Message from the President
:: News from our Alumni
:: Unfortunate News - Charlie Weber
:: New Website
:: Save the Date
:: Spotlight on Catherine McCall
:: Successful Summer Programs
:: Giving Back to MLW
MLWlogoDear MLW Alumni:

Welcome to our fourth e-newsletter!  If you have any ideas for future newsletter topics or news items, please submit them to Devita or Lauren.  Enjoy!
Message from the President
By: Ron Dhindsa
RonDhindsa
Dear MLW Friends:
 
We hope you and your families are well!
 
Uncle Si founded MLW version 1.0. in 1956. MLW version 2.0 was born when we incorporated in 1976. The 2010 Board of Directors launches MLW 3.0 this fall, as we create a more robust organizational structure. Shortly, we will be asking you to join us in propelling MLW toward long-term sustainability, allowing MLW to keep programs affordable, and enabling MLW to spread the MLW magic and transform even more of society's greatest resource - young people.
 
MLW's exceptional staff just wrapped up a very successful 55th year of summer programs. Through our core programs and community outreach programs, we rocked the worlds of nearly 700 students from all 24 Maryland jurisdictions. We look forward to spreading the MLW magic to even more students in the upcoming year!
 
As we embark upon the 2010-2011 academic year, we invite all of you to re-engage with MLW through a variety of additional opportunities we will present to you shortly.  As always, I am available to discuss any ideas you may have: 202-716-3888 (cell) or [email protected].

Warmest regards,

Ron Dhindsa
President
News from our Alumni
By: Lauren Hanson Lee

MLW would like to send our sincerest congratulations to the following people:

Brianna O'Brien married Johnny Lowndes on August 28th! The wedding was said to have been spectacular! Congratulations to the HAPPY
COUPLE!
 BriLowndes

Al
ex Pruner is now working with DonorsChoose.org, a nonprofit which helps fund classroom projects for all public and charter schools in the US. She wants to encourage any MLW teachers to submit a project request and get a helping hand with classroom supplies, and they can feel free to contact her with any questions.

Kenyatta Rogers
is a new Professor at Montgomery College and all around phenomenal guy.  Check out this link: http://insidemc.montgomerycollege.edu/showStory.php?id=21703

Farah Sheikh
just started a new marketing job in NYC. Big move to the Big City!

Chasen Hughes was invited to join the National Society of Leadership and Success.

Moya Shpuntoff just started her junior year at the fabulous Annapolis High School. She is hosting a student talk show called Teen Talk that is on Channel 36, in most of MD and some of northern VA, and the first episode aired on September 13th!

Joel Goodman of the Humor Project & of alumni spotlight fame reports a hugely "spectacular" 2010 53rd International Humor Conference!  The theme this year was "The Positive Power of Humor and Creativity!" Many hundreds of humor-lovers gathered from over 30 states, Canada, Ecuador and funny places in between!

Barrie Moorman spent two weeks in Cuernavaca, Mexico this past summer to improve her Spanish and research Mexican History.  Barrie is currently a teacher at Capital City Public Charter School in D.C. and will develop a case study for her colonialism expedition where her students will be studying colonialism in Mexico, India and Nigeria.

Dr. Steven Sultanoff was on the local LA ABC affiliate a few days ago.  Click here to view a 2 minute clip.
Unfortunate News Regarding Charlie Weber
By: Bob LaRocca

It is with great sadness that I report to you the untimely death of Charlie Weber (Charles A. Weber or Carlos Weber).  Charlie was the President of the Student Council at Bethesda Chevy Chase High School, class of '63, and participated in the Maryland Leadership Workshops as a delegate and a staff member. He was selected by Uncle Si to participate in the first advanced training session for staff members in Bethel, ME.  Charlie was deeply respected by the delegates and staff.  He became a surgeon at the Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Honolulu. He died on August 22nd from a heart attack while riding his bicycle near his home in Honolulu.  A number of MLW participants from the mid-60's will remember Charlie, and it might be nice to invite them to send their recollections to this journal.  Please contact Bob for more information.

Our most heartfelt condolences go out to Charlie's family.
MLW Launches New Website
By: Devita Bishundat

We are pleased to announce that MLW has launched a new and improved website, with pictures from this year and all! Check us out at http://mlw.org/.  Spread the word! And don't forget to follow us on Facebook as well by clicking here!
Save the Date - December 23, 2010

CathyVitale
MLW's annual Corporation Meeting (aka Holiday Party)  will be held this year on Thursday, December 23, 2010 at Strathmore Mansion. More information regarding the event will be sent out in the upcoming weeks. Make sure to mark this date on your calendar. We will be celebrating in a BIG way and you won't want to miss out on it.
Alum Spotlight - Catherine McCall
By: Lauren Hanson Lee

Below is an interview MLW conducted recently with former director and policy board member, Catherine McCall.  Below is a picture of Catherine and her daughter, Sarah.

Catherine

Did you staff MLW? And what programs and in what years?
I staffed SEL (back when it was called that) beginning in 1988.  That is the only program I've ever staffed, actually.  I staffed MSEL intermittently in various capacities through the 90s and then made a cameo encore appearance as a director in 2003. I think my last time as a guest lecturer at MSEL was for my 20th anniversary in 2008. 

How did you come to be a part of MLW? 
I was a CRASC officer (the county-wide student government for Anne Arundel County).  I went to SHW and then ALS courtesy of CRASC.

What is you favorite memory from MLW? As a delegate or a staff member?
Oh goodness. I am not good with superlative questions. All of my favorite memories are as a staff member.  And there are memories that are important to me for totally different reasons - I feel like I grew up with (or at least became who I am with) the crowd I staffed with early on, I loved working with my directing partners, getting to work with my former students has been an absolute joy - I could go on & on. 

What is your job now? 
My title is PDS Coordinator for Social Studies at the University of Maryland College Park.  It means that I work with all of the undergrads & grad students who are becoming Social Studies teachers.  When I was young (high school, college and a young professional), there were 3 jobs that I hoped to have someday. I had the other two (MASC & as a trainer for Close Up Foundation), and now I have the third!  I can retire happily after this. Although there was that 4th dream of becoming a country music star.  

Do you use any of the skills of MLW in your job/daily life? Which ones?
The skills we teach are obviously a big part of all of our lives and any job. All of the skills we learn and practice as staff members are the things that most stand out for me. The teaching skills are obviously an enormous part of my career.  I have relied heavily on the role models I learned from and then the practice I got examining other people's lesson plans & teaching practice, and then providing feedback on it.  I told Charlie at the time, and it is still true, that the experience of co-directing with him taught me how to be a partner.  Every position on staff helped me practice (and then make a habit of) collaborating with people to build on each individual's ideas and create something new.  And my current job is allowing me to collaborate professionally with 6 MLW alum (that I know of so far). Plus, working with middle schoolers is not unlike working with a 2 year old, it turns out. 

What is/was you favorite thing about MLW?
The people who will be my friends for my whole life regardless of how much time passes between the times we communicate with or see each other.  And as a bonus, MLW made it possible for me to get my three dream jobs. 

What advice would you give to new staffers about life/work/passion?
Take a year off from being on a career path to do something completely different and/or go on an adventure.  And of course, if you are thinking about becoming a Social Studies teacher, come to UMCP!

What would you like to see MLW doing over the next few years? 
Taking the next step. 
Successful Summer Programs
By: Aliza Leventhal

After 55 years, MLW has become accustomed to experiencing a certain level of success in changing the lives of young leaders. As our organization continues to expand with the GEAR UP, Journey and other community outreach programs, it is important to remember and acknowledge the tremendous success the core programs of MLW have achieved this year.

MSEL, ALS & SHW served 285 delegates from 21 jurisdictions in Maryland and even a few from outside Maryland's borders.  Having had the pleasure of staffing both MSEL & SHW this summer, I am confident in announcing that both of these programs presented solid curriculums through effective workshops that provided the foundation for our delegates to develop their leadership skills and cultivate strong communities with each program. One of the most significant trends I noticed this summer was the incredible retention rate our programs are experiencing, particularly the number of returning delegates within a program and the graduation of our MSEL delegates into SHW and from there to ALS. This is a strong indication that not only is our staff recognizing the impact our programs are having on the delegates but that they are as well!

Congratulations again to this year's staff! I'd like to also take a moment to thank the 2010 directors for their amazing leadership: Bri O'Brien, Jose Sabalbaro, Dustin Jeter, Brett Morales, Katrina Brent, Kea McKoy and Farah Sheikh.
Help Us Impact More Youth
By: Bri O'Brien Lowndes

We all know the impact MLW has made on our lives.  We've witnessed the impact our summer programs have had on students, whether it was the delegate who did not have the confidence to speak in front of a group or the delegate who had a passion but was not quite sure what to do with it.
 
You may or may not know, but the cost of MLW's programs is significantly more than what we charge. The actual cost per delegate is $900.  We ask that you make a contribution of any size to help us change the lives of more youth in Maryland.  To make a contribution, visit our online donation site by clicking here or simply call our office at 301-527-8222 to find out other ways to make your contribution.