GFWC The Civic Club of Oakland, Maryland, Inc.

Western District
Contact: ellenfritz@aol.com

2010-2012 Officers

President: Barbara Frantz
First Vice President: B.J. (Beverly Jo) Gallagher
Second Vice President: Peggy Nelson
Recording Secretary: Judi Schiff
Corresponding Secretary: Betty Ellington
Treasurer: Beverly Maynard

Meetings

Regular meetings are the last Tuesday of the month (March to November) at 12 noon at the Will of the Wisp Restaurant for luncheon unless noted.

Book Club meets the Wednesday after the Tuesday General meeting at 12 noon at the Cornish Manor Restaurant to discuss a book chosen from current best sellers or other books of interest. The Book Club meets in the months of January and February although the Club does not.

Programs

August 30, 2011
Growing Our Own Food Source and the Health Benefits of Buying Local

September 27, 2011
A Day in the Life of the Mayor

October 25, 2011
Islam: Understanding Cultural and Religious Differences

November 29, 2011
Marcellus Shale: What Is This All About?
Sign-up for gifts for ONRC residents

December 6, 2011
Holiday Luncheon. ONRC gifts returned.
“Personal Touch Silent Auction”—no business meeting.

A contribution of $25 will be given to a non-profit
of the speaker’s choice.

Upcoming Events

100th Anniversary Celebration

The President and Board of Directors of the GFWC Civic Club of Oakland invite members and friends to celebrate with us a Century of Commitment! Dinner and dancing will be held at Dutch’s at Silver Tree on Saturday, October first at 6-10:30 p.m. The music will highlight music from the past…1920-1990’s. Tickets are $50 per person. To purchase tickets by September 20, 2011 please contact: gfwcoakland@gmail.com or mail check to GFWC Civic Club of Oakland, P.O. Box 167, Oakland, MD 21550-0167.

Projects

Ditty Bags for Veterans

One project our Club is working on at present is GFWC/MFWC Maryland State President Josephine Miller’s program entitled “Ditty Bags for Veterans.” Former Garrett County resident Roberta (Bobby) Andersen is the State Chairperson of this program, and retired Air Force Major General Melissa Rank is the Civic Club’s chairperson. Civic Club members make and stuff the ditty bags with toiletry items donated by various individuals and businesses.

In honor of the 4th of July and the founding of our Country, the GFWC Civic Club of Oakland has presented gift bags to local veterans who are in nursing homes and other locations. A total of 125 veterans from all branches of the service have been so honored.

Veterans at Cherry Hill Assisted Living, Dennett Road Manor, Inc., the Egle Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Lonaconing, MD, Goodwill Retirement Community, the Lighthouse, and the Oakland Nursing and Rehabilitation Center have been visited by Civic Club members. In addition, veterans in Terra Alta/Alpine Lake who form the ROMEO group (Retired Old Men Eating Out), were also honored.

Melissa Rank visiting with a World War II veteran who was a medic at Egle Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Lonaconing, MD

Veterans who recently took part in the Wounded Warrior Program at ASCI in McHenry, MD receiving their Ditty Bags.

2nd Annual Volunteer Fair

According to Liz Wolgemuth in the April 2010 edition of U.S. News and World Report, “Volunteering has offered a path for job seekers to broaden their networks, sharpen their skills, or simply stay busy, and Is your retirement not exactly what you were expecting? Do you have more time on your hands that you thought you might? Are you missing the drive and purpose that a day’s work provided? Volunteering could be the perfect solution for you!

Join over twenty local agencies on Thursday, September 22nd from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Garrett College Gymnasium as they share information on their missions, goals, and specific volunteer opportunities.

Those organizations include the Garrett Mentors, Adventure Sports Center International, Diakon Adult Day Services, Hospice of Garrett County, Western Garrett County State Park Volunteers, Garrett Lakes Art Festival, The Dove Center, HART for Animals, Girl Scouts Black Diamond Council, and the Garrett County Habitat for Humanity. They are in need of your years of skills, experience, and talent. There is no cost to attend the fair—just bring your willingness to help and serve your community!

This event is free and open to the public. For more information on this event, persons may visit www.garrettcollege.edu/volunteer or call 301-387-3046.

Club News

Major General Melissa Rank on Cultural Awareness

     Major General Melissa Rank, Retired, spoke at the GFWC Civic Club of Oakland recently. The focus of her talk was on cultural awareness needed by military service people while serving abroad.

     General Rank was born in Frostburg, Maryland and earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree from the University of Maryland in Baltimore. She is a nurse who began her military career at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, serving as a staff nurse in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit and charge nurse in the OB/GYN clinic there. She earned a Master’s degree in nursing administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio and also earned a Master’s degree in strategic studies at the Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.

     General Rank rose to the position of Assistant Air Force Surgeon General, Medical Force Development, and Assistant Air Force Surgeon General, Nursing Services, Office of the Surgeon General. She commanded an aeromedical evacuation squadron in Southwest Asia, a medical operations squadron and two medical groups. She earned numerous major awards and decorations.

     Gen Rank's many assignments exposed her to the cultures and customs of countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Germany, and Japan during her career, and she described situations with which she had to adapt while in these and many other countries. She also discussed the cultural meaning of the situations and the cultural awareness needed to handle the situations in positive ways.

Melissa, her husband, Gary who is also retired Air Force and their daughter, Katelin, moved to Garrett County in 2008. She joined the Civic Club in 2010. Civic Club members are very proud to have Melissa as a member of the club.

2010 Woman of the Year: Loretta Bailie

     At its November 30 meeting, the GFWC Civic Club of Oakland was pleased to announce Loretta Bailie as its 2010 Woman of the Year.

     Loretta was born in Chicago, Illinois, and has also lived in New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. She was a part-time resident of Deep Creek Lake for twenty years before making it her permanent home in 1989 when she retired to Garrett County.

     She is a member of the Appalachian Crossroads Board of Directors and a member of VIVA, Garrett County Memorial Hospital’s volunteer service program. She works with the Lay Visitation Program at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Oakland as well. She is one of two women who spend their Tuesdays working at the Treasure Chest, a store for Garrett County Lighthouse consumers.

When she is not volunteering, Loretta enjoys reading and boating. The Civic Club is privileged to have Loretta as a member.

Club Photos

Civic Club July Picnic

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