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The sad truth about altruism is that there aren’t enough altruists

History: Rotary in Spain survives challenges

Courtney Hall, CEO, Interfaith Works will be our Guest Speaker at the Rotary Club Meeting on January 21, 2021

Posted by Bob Nelson on Jan 20, 2021

Courtney Hall joined Interfaith Works as Chief Executive Officer in November 2020 following 17 years of service in the public and nonprofit sectors. Most recently he has been

the Vice President at Housing Up in Washington DC, where he led the provision of affordable housing and supportive services to more than 700 homeless individuals and at-risk households. Prior to his Housing Up experience, Courtney served as a Child Welfare leader in DC and Alabama. He received his Bachelor of Social Work from Oakwood University in Alabama, a Master of Social Work from The University of Alabama, and holds a Nonprofit Management Executive Certificate from Georgetown University.

Special Guest Speaker on January 14, 2021: State Senator Brian Feldman with a Legislative Session Outlook

Posted by Bob Nelson on Jan 12, 2021

Member of the Senate since September 17, 2013. Vice-Chair, Finance Committee, 2019- (member, 2013-; property & casualty subcommittee, 2015-17; chair, transportation subcommittee, 2015-16; chair, health subcommittee, 2017-18; chair, energy & public utilities subcommittee, 2019-; member, health & long-term care subcommittee, 2019-). Member, Workers Compensation Benefit and Insurance Oversight Committee, 2015-; Executive Nominations Committee, 2019-; Legislative Policy Committee, 2019-; Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics, 2019-; Marijuana Legalization Work Group, 2019-. Senate Chair, Joint Electric Universal Service Program Work Group, 2020-. Member, Joint Information Technology and Biotechnology Committee, 2014; Joint Committee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Biotechnology, 2014-18. Senate Chair, Joint Committee on Federal Relations, 2015-18 (member, 2014-18). Associate member, Women Legislators of Maryland, 2018-. Member, National Conference of State Legislatures, 2016- (vice-chair, communications, financial services & interstate commerce standing committee, 2016-18, member, 2019-; member, executive committee task force on state & local taxation, 2018-; energy supply task force, 2019-). Member, Eastern Regional Conference Council of State Governments, 2019- (energy & environment committee, 2019-; health committee, 2019-).

Member, Maryland Offshore Wind Business Development Advisory Committee, 2013-14; Maryland Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Council, 2013-17. Board of Directors, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, 2014- (human services & public safety policy committee, 2017-). Member, Transit Task Force, Montgomery County, 2015; Task Force on the Maryland Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Program, 2015-16; Task Force to Study Maternal Mental Health, 2015-16; Maryland Economic Development Commission, 2015-. Co-Chair, Task Force to Study Family and Medical Leave Insurance, 2016-18. Senate Chair, Maryland Health Insurance Coverage Protection Commission, 2017-. Member, Southern States Energy Board, 2019-.

Member of House of Delegates, representing District 15, Montgomery County, January 8, 2003 to September 17, 2013. Parliamentarian, 2011-13. Member, Economic Matters Committee, 2003-13 (business regulation subcommittee, 2003-10; corporations work group, 2003-06; property & casualty insurance subcommittee, 2003-13; consumer protection & commercial law subcommittee, 2007-10; chair, banking, economic development, science & technology subcommittee, 2007-13); Medical Malpractice Insurance Work Group, 2004; Joint Committee on Access to Mental Health Services, 2005-11. House Chair, Joint Technology Oversight Committee, 2007-09. Member, Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review, 2007-13. House Chair, Joint Information Technology and Biotechnology Committee, 2009-13. Member, Rules and Executive Nominations Committee, 2011-13; Regional Revitalization Work Group, 2013-. House Chair, Montgomery County Delegation, 2007-12 (transportation committee, 2003-07; county affairs committee, 2011-13). Member, Maryland Veterans Caucus, 2005-. Member, National Conference of State Legislatures (financial services committee, 2005-07; vice-chair, communications, financial services & interstate commerce committee, 2016-, member, 2007-).

Member, Task Force on Assistance to Disabled Veterans Establishing Small Businesses, 2005.

Trial attorney, Tax Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 1988-2001

2020 Donations from the Potomac-Bethesda Rotary Club

Posted by Phil Meade

Fellow PB Rotarians: Once again our Club has been very generous and has donated $200 to Rotary International for each active member. You should be receiving a recognition of your gifts, $100 to the RI General Fund and $100 to the RI Polio Plus Fund. This year our Club has donated to some very worthy causes: Manna Food Center for $3,400, Nourish Now $500, Believe in Belize (Thank you Nabil!) $1,840, Rotary International General Fund $1,500, Rotary International Polio Plus $1,500, and four beautiful teak benches to various police and fire stations $5,205. Thank you all! Best, Phil

Photo: Our Latest Bench Donation to the MSP Rockville Barracks on Montrose Rd

Dr. Christopher F. Puttock, Rotary District Environment Committee & ESRAG Chair is Guest Speaker on December 17, 2020

Dr. Christopher Puttock is an environmental scientist and botanist with more than 35 years’ experience in environmental conservation. In addition to his role as

Executive Director of Chesapeake Natives, he is a research associate in the Botany Department at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. Dr. Puttock has led many outreach programs for greater community awareness of the consequences of human interruption to the natural environment.

As a conservation scientist, he is convinced that without the effective implementation of outreach strategies to coordinate sustainable use of natural resources and to preserve the world’s ecosystems, the welfare of humanity and all the Earth’s biodiversity will continue to suffer irreparable degradation. Through his work with Chesapeake Natives, he preserves, propagates and promotes plants native to the Chesapeake watershed. Native seeds are gathered and grown by volunteers on the grounds and in the historic greenhouses of Mt. Airy Mansion in Rosaryville State Park, MD.

Dr. Puttock has been President of the Botanical Society of Washington, and a board member of the Maryland Native Plant Society and the Hawaii Conservation Alliance Foundation. Prior to that, he lived in Australia for 34 years as a botanist and writer for Flora of Australia. He was born in England. Dr. Puttock holds a doctorate in plant systematics and a diploma in science education, with many years of fieldwork and research experience in biodiversity, staff supervision and educational outreach.

Eric Bernard, President of the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department and Executive Director of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Association was our Guest Speaker on December 10, 2020 (via Zoom)