May 2010 Olde Mill Crier

In the spring of 2009 a father and his 9-year-old daughter, on their own, set out to clean up Barlowe Field and the adjacent area along Old Mill Road, just prior to the annual community Easter Egg Hunt.

This year they did it again, but the father decided that his daughter should have some recognition for her work. Mr. Dana Smith, Ashley’s dad, contacted me and asked if I might interview his daughter and run a story in the Crier about what they have done. We thought that was an excellent idea, so here is the interview. ─Sarah Hakulin

A: I saw people throwing trash into the gutters and streams and I didn’t like the sight of it. My father taught me to do things to benefit the community. I got 3 bags of trash from the field before the Easter Egg Hunt. Then we moved the trash can closer the [basketball] nets so people could put trash in better.

A: Put up signs on trash cans, recycle, and throw trash in cans. Trash makes the world look bad, cleaning up makes you feel good. Taught by my father to recycle with large trash can. Honk when you see people picking up trash.

Thank you, Ashley. You are a young inspiration to what all of us should be doing and helping to keep our community free of trash collectively and individually.

Ashley Smith (top photo) worked with her father Dana to collect six bags of trash around Barlowe Field and the nearby woods. They also painted the basketball poles and backboards, as shown in these before and after pictures.

Note: Mr. Smith and Ashley were very interested in the basketball courts and the condition of the netting. and the repositioning of the trash can. After talking about the condition of the netting, Mike Hakulin, Sr. [full disclosure: that's my husband] offered to pay for the net replacement and Mr. Smith was more than willing to install the netting, metal this time. That same day, Ashley and her father got a ladder and attached the netting to the hoops. Later in the week they sent pictures of more trash pick up and the fact that he had painted the basketball poles bright yellow. Dana Smith is setting a great example for his very motivated daughter and for all of us to just pitch in and pick up wherever we are. Thank you both for all your hard work and community spirit.

The Swim Club reports Checking at $31,826.63, Savings at $19,139.01. We have received applications from 212 families of which 151 are active members and 61 are inactive members. This is 100 families less than at this time last year.

VOMCA checking report as of April 1, is $6,396.84, savings $3,066.18. Families who have joined total 123. This represents 9% of the eligible 1300 families that compose the Village of Olde Mill.

Please support your community and swim club by joining and participating in the benefits of your community.

The April 7, 2010, VOMCA general meeting was called to order by President Tom Stag. There were 11 members present, constituting a quorum. Business that had not been able to be voted on for 5 months due to lack of a quorum (11) was able to be taken care of during the meeting.

After some discussion, the 2010 budget presented in December passed unanimously.

The next item to be discussed was the proposed changes to the bylaws which had also been presented in December. A ballot with the proposed changes was sent to members via email. There were 44 responses from the general membership. Members who did not vote online at the meeting totaled 4. The following votes were recorded for each amendment as follows:

Amendment 401: To reduce Board members from 6 to 4 passed…Total Votes 48 in favor.

Amendment 403: Add clause making President the Director of Swim Club Total Votes 47* in favor.

Amendment 802: To change number needed for a quorum for the Board from 7 to 5 Total Votes 48 in favor

Amendment 902: Delete requirement for solicitation of Pool committee chairperson Total Votes 48 in favor

The annual Community Yard Sale will be held Saturday, May 1, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., with the Swim Team holding a car wash at Barlowe Field.

A reminder that mosquito spraying begins on June 1. To opt out of having your property sprayed go to www.vomca.org and download form. Opt-Out Form was published in April 2010 Village Crier. Further questions call 410-841-5870, MD Department of Agriculture.

Packets to join the pool can be picked up at the pool gate. Our gate total so far this year is, at this writing, 100 families less than last year. The pool needs your support.

We are still waiting for a date for the Carnival this year by Shaw. [Editor's Note: Shaw & Sons subsequently notified VOMCA they will not do a carnival here this year.]

Swim Team Parents' Meeting May 20

The Olde Mill Swim Team will hold a parents' meeting on Thursday, May 20, at the pool. The meeting will be a time to register for swim team, get your schedule, sign up for volunteer opportunities, and purchase team gear. Returning team member parents should definitely attend, and new members are welcome (your family must be pool members to join the team). The meeting begins at 5:00 p.m. with suit and gear selection, and the business portion starts at 6:00 p.m.

OMSC Pool Bond for sale, $300.00. Call 410-987-8692.

Snow too much for you this past winter? Used but like-new Ariens 24-inch snow thrower for sale, $575. Call 410-987-0352.

Friends of Olde Mill would like to thank Dana Smith and his daughter, Ashley, for their hard work in trash pickup on Barlowe Field, Old Mill Road, and the basketball court area.

We would like to thank Mike Hakulin, Sr., for his donation for the repair of the basketball netting and Dana Smith and Ashley for the installation of the netting. They also noticed that the poles were sadly in need of paint and quietly purchased the paint and painted the poles a great shade of yellow. The 40-year-old poles once again look brand new.

Thank you for caring for your community and showing by example how we all can make a difference where we live. (See lead story above.)

The Anne Arundel County Police Dept. has transitioned from a very large group email list to “Nixle” as the preferred method used to get information out to community association members and neighbors.

If you haven't signed up yet to receive these notifications, please do so, and encourage your neighbors to sign up, too. Everyone is welcomed and encouraged to sign up to receive the secure and official information, even if they aren't part of a community association. The more people they can reach, the better. Nixle gives citizens access to police reports of crimes and arrests, as well as other public safety issues.

The elective officers of the Association are President, Vice-President, Secretary, Membership Officer, Treasurer, ~~and five (5) directors, in addition to the Pool Committee Chairperson serving at the discretion of the Board, together~~ and four (4) directors comprising the Board of Directors. ~~The elective officers shall appoint a Pool committee Chairperson to serve at their discretion.~~ The elective officers ~~and Pool committee chairperson~~ comprise the Board of Directors.

*footnote - The removal of two (2) Board positions. One (1) voted position and the Pool Director position. This is to change the number of Board members to constitute a forum to five (5) from the current seven (7).

The President, as chief executive officer of the Association, shall preside at all general membership and Board of Directors meetings, and shall supervise the Association's affairs and activities. The President shall oversee the operations of the Olde Mill Swim Club as the director. The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee. The President shall be responsible for conduct of all Association external affairs, and shall be one of the authorized signatories of all Association financial accounts.

The Board of Directors of the Association shall convene once a month. A quorum of the Board shall consist of not less than ~~seven (7)~~ five (5) members of the Board. However, nothing in this section shall prevent the call for a meeting of said Board by its chairperson or at the request of not less than four (4) members of said Board. If a Board member fails to attend three (3) consecutive Board meetings, unless excused by a majority of the Board, it will be assumed that Board member has tendered his or her resignation and it may be accepted by the Board.

2. The Finance committee will include the pool committee treasurer, a member selected by the Board of Directors, the V.O.M.C.A. accountant as an advisor if requested, and the V.O.M.C.A. Treasurer as chairperson;

3. The Nominating committee, which will be elected as set forth in ARTICLE V, Section 502, of the Bylaws.

4. The Pool committee, which is also known as the Olde Mill Swim Club. The Pool committee Treasurer must be a member of V.O.M.C.A. ~~The elective officers shall solicit recommendations for Pool committee chairperson from the Pool committee, with the final decision made by the Board of Directors~~.

Over the past 20 years, gang membership has increased drastically and spread from the urban to suburban and rural communities all over the State of Maryland. There are currently 600 gangs with about 11,000 members in the State and at least 25 known gangs with about 75 members in Anne Arundel County.

In an attempt to combat this issue, the Maryland General Assembly created The Maryland Gang Prosecution Act of 2007. Although it was passed with great intentions and high expectations, this legislation proved to be less then helpful. State prosecutors still experience difficulty identifying and prosecuting gang members. In addition, local law enforcement has explained that they rely on federal prosecutors to go after big gang cases. To correct the 2007 Act, The Maryland Gang Prosecution Act of 2010 (SB 517) has been introduced.

Senate Bill 517 broadens the definition of “criminal gang” and expands on the list of underlying crimes used to help classify gang membership. Some of those crimes include: dangerous violent weapon violation, misdemeanor extortion, malicious property destruction, misdemeanor and second degree assault and intimidation or corruption of a juror. In addition, the legislation defines “criminal gang member” as a person whose criminal gang membership is proven by at least two of several traits. Some of the most common traits are: use of a gang’ name/sign/symbol, association with other known gang members, demonstration of aspiration to become a member by adopting style of dress, tattoos or hand signals, participation in gang activities, and photos/electronic communication evidence of gang membership.

Most importantly, Senate Bill 517 will patch a major loop hole in the current process of sentencing these criminals by requiring that a sentence for criminal gang participation run consecutively to any underlying crime. Recently, this current loop hole was exploited when a Prince George’s County teen was convicted of stabbing a 15 year old. As a result of his trial, he was sentenced to 30 years in prison for murder and 20 years on gang participation charges. However, because these sentences were ordered to be served concurrently, the 20 years he will be serving for gang participation will be almost meaningless as he will end up serving 30 years regardless of the sentence for his second charge. This flaw in our system must be addressed.

Senate Bill 517 is a piece of legislation that is essential to our safety. Please do not hesitate to contact me regarding this or any other legislative issue of concern to you. I continue to encourage and welcome your input.
Sincerely,

My four years in the legislature have gone by quickly. I have learned a great deal about State Government and I am proud to represent the citizens of District 32. If I am honored to be re-elected, I will no longer be a “freshman delegate.” It is difficult to be effective in Annapolis in your first term. I have been the primary sponsor on six bills that have passed and become law and have co-sponsored many more. I look forward to working on your issues in the future term.

The entire delegation supported six bond bills, all of which passed. Funds will be provided for the Reece Road Community Health Center in District 32, the William Paca House, the Coordinating Center for Home and Community Care Building Facilities, the Annapolis High School Concession Stand, Arundel High School lights and Southern and Broadneck High Schools lights.

The entire delegation also sponsored five bills that passed. The Delegates from District 31 and 32 made a bi-partisan effort to pass gang legislation. Most of this legislation was rolled into one Gang Bill, SB 517, that was passed.

Recognizing these tough economic times, the legislature balanced the State's operating budget for next fiscal year, while protecting our priorities of education, higher education and public safety. This budget continues to constrain spending to offset significant declines in revenues due to the global economic recession.

Maryland balances its budget every year. We do not deficit spend or put future bills on the State credit card. The FY11 budget cuts spending by $525M for next fiscal year, bringing the State's General Fund budget down to $13.19B. The legislature leaves nearly $830M in cash reserves, including the State's Rainy Day Fund.

- Investing in the State's Capital Assets (schools, colleges, environmental programs, public safety facilities)

- Creating the Sustainable Communities Tax Credit to Promote Construction Investment & Jobs

I appreciate hearing from my constituents about issues that are important to you. Please continue to stay in touch. My contact information is: Pamela.beidle@house.state.md.us, (410) 841-3370

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Please join your community association today. To join, complete this form, or visit the website www.vomca.org and join using PayPal. Please print the names of all members of your household who are 18 years of age or older, and mail it with one check for $15.00, payable to “Village of Olde Mill Community Association” to VOMCA, P.O. Box 366, Millersville, MD 21108. Membership card(s) will be mailed to you.
Association meetings are the 1st Wednesday of each month at Old Mill High School (June-Sept. meetings at the community pool at Barlowe Field).

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Street Address: _______________________________________________________________

Phone Number:_______________ (Unlisted?____) Village Crier* Sign-up Yes___ No___

*Note: Our community newsletter, The Village Crier, is published online. You will be signed up automatically, via the email address you provide, unless you indicate that you do not wish to receive the publication. You can also read it by going to the VOMCA website at www.vomca.org.

VOMCA has made it possible to secure grants from the State and County for projects like the repair of sidewalks, repaving our pool road, installing speed humps, and other community improvements. If we did not have an association and volunteers, we could not secure many of these benefits or services.

Occasional one-time projects at the pool and Barlowe Field come up. If you can volunteer please email board@vomca.org or call 410-987-0316.
Thank you,
The Village of Olde Mill Community Association

Volume 40, Number 5 / MAY 2010