President Liz Quinn presided over our first meeting at Tragara Restaurant with the traditional Pledge of Allegiance, singing of God Bless America and an invocation. Please note that our meetings begin at 11:45 AM and will end at 1 PM. The Board decided on this earlier time so we can beat the noon rush to fill up the parking garage across the street. Over 20 members were present.  Great to see Harry Lowe who is a new grandfather!! Also good to see Sue Kirk, John Neuenschwander, Jim Leder, Gary Boswell, Robbie Brewer, and Past President John Ratnavale.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND HAPPY DOLLARS:

Liz Quinn introduced her guest Sue Hanfield of Rebuilding Together (formerly Christmas in April). The Montgomery County chapter is one of 239 across the country who repair/clean/update homes for poor people. The median family income in Montgomery County is about $90,000 but the median family income of Rebuilding is $19,000.

Debbie Van Horn’s birthday was January 2 so our club serenaded her. Jim Aylor- HD for New Year- he was at Tragara Restaurant years ago attending a friend's son bar mitzvah. Parker Dorman- HD for Harry Lowe who is a first-time grandfather. Bob Quinn- HD for their new vacation home in West Virginia.  He is glad to get away from the crowds of the city- hopefully he misses the people in our club! Jeanne Smith-HD for Fisher house, and our club helping serve meals at NIH Children's Inn on New Year's Eve. Liz Quinn- HD for Ed Smith. -the father of Jeanne Smith who is ill.  Please keep him in your prayers.  Pat Tiede read a card from Bob Gradle who is doing well in sunny Florida,  He misses the meetings but reads Kee-notes to keep in touch. He appreciates all the work our club does for Fisher house and he contributed 10 HD.  Ben Schlesinger 10 HD for glad to be back, and for memories of Tragara Restaurant where his daughter had her bat mitzvah years ago. Debbie Van Horn- HD for the new year.

Our speaker Marc Leepson is an author, teacher, journalist and historian who has written six books. He spoke on the topic of his latest book the Battle of Monocacy. This is an unheralded battle of the Civil War which doesn’t have the attention it deserves. Basically Confederate General Jubal Early invaded Maryland in June-July 1864 with one of his goals to threaten/attack/capture Washington DC and relieve the siege that Grant had started against Richmond. General Early was delayed a day or so by General Wallace at Monocacy and this allowed Union reinforcements to arrive in time to shore up the forts surrounding DC. General Early reached Fort Stevens in the vicinity of the current Walter Reed hospital.  He saw that the fort was manned with good strength of Federal troops and decided to return to Virginia without attacking DC. For those familiar with White's Ferry, it is named after Jubal Early.  An intriguing talk. 

George Patterson won the 50/50 and returned it to the House Fund..

George Patterson, Editor