Thursday at 7:30 A.M.
Holiday Inn Express Hotel
150 Scheeler Road
Chestertown, MD 21620
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Our Upcoming Speakers and our recent past Speakers:
June 28th, 2018
Meet with Glenn Wilson, President of the Kent County United Way.  Glenn is also President of Chesapeake Bank.

What are the goals of the United Way nationally and locally?  What are the issues between local and national leaders in the organization?   How does a large charity react to local issues?  What is the impact of the nationwide character of the United Way when it comes down to our county level?  How is the process of getting people to contribute enhanced by such a large charitable entity?
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June 21st, 2018
Sue Basener, Board Chair, The Kent County Food Pantry.

The Kent County Food Pantry provides supplemental food to persons with limited incomes. The Pantry’s goal is to ensure that all qualified clients in Kent County receive sufficient non-perishable food to meet their basic nutritional needs.

Eligibility is determined by Kent County’s Department of Social Services, by local clergy, schools, law enforcement, and other caring individuals in the County.

June 14th, 2018

Tess Hogans, Garfield Center, Executive Director
A life-long resident of Kent County, Hogans attended Kent School and graduated from Gunston Day School. Hogans went on to major in theater and dance studies at Wheaton College and was the recipient of the college’s 2010 award for excellence in acting. Hogans returned to Chestertown and began teaching drama part time for grades sixth through 12th at the Maven Academy in Annapolis. Along with her executive director responsibilities, Hogans continues to lead the Garfield’s Playmakers’ Summer Theatre Camp. She is involved with the Chestertown HP Festival having served on its board since the festival’s inception in 2014 and now as the current president of the festival board.

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June 7th, 2018

Nancy Bedell, Our local expert in charge of hospital transitions will come and share her extensive experience on a topic that should be important to all participants.  
There are many complex options after a hospital stay is over.  Many people face solving this problem without proper understanding of the issues and end up back in the hospital way too quickly.
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May 24th, and May 31, 2018

Primary candidates for Kent County Commissioners:

On the 24th, we host Bob Jacob, Wm Short, and Aaron Bramble.
On the 31st, we host Tom Mason and Jim Luff.

Become an informed voter. Hear them speak, ask them questions, make up your own mind. We hope to see many folks turn out for these two important dates.
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May 17th, 2018
Andy Meehan and Bryan DiGregory, both are candidates running in the primary election for States Attorney. What are they offering? Why are they running? Come and find out....

May 10th, 2018

The Kent County News published the following on 2-20-2018:
Sam Shoge will deliver his message on Kent County development and the building of the bridge,

"Shoge grew and resides still in Chestertown. He served one term on the Chestertown council, from 2014 to 2017.

Development that isn't agricultural or small business is also a great concern to both Shoge and all county residents.  Hear the statistics and know the facts.

Come and hear a point of view which fact based and clearly stated. We need to understand where we are and what the entire community needs to plan.

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May 3rd, 2018
Jay Jacobs, our local House of Delegates member will give us the scoop on what has been described in the press as a highly productive session of our legislature.
What does that mean to us? Plan to attend and find out more.

April 26th, 2018
Trey Hill, a major local farmer will discuss AG issues in Kent. We often hear about keep Kent rural and pristine. We also hear about potential urbanization and commercial development. Get a perspective from a successful agricultural businessman who knows what it is all about.

April 19th, 2018
Mary Ellen Valliant will give us all advice on investments and how to plan our financial futures. Balancing the defensive posture with generation of income is the battle we all are most curious to investigate. Come learn with us.

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April 12, 2018
David Keating who is currently teaching a class at WC-ALL named "Its not your father's Oldsmobile" will speaking to Kent CBG to update us on how much our cars have changed and maybe a bit about what the future holds in our love affair with the car.

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April 5, 2018
Andy McCown of Echo Hill Outdoor School will tell us all about what his school's programs do for those who attend.
Echo Hill Outdoor School’s mission is to provide students with positive experiences in the outdoors that are exciting, interesting, and fun. Through our programs, students learn more about the wonders of nature, the value of history, and the diversity of individual qualities.

March 29th, 2018
Judy Morgan of Think Big will address the CBG group on the progress of fiber optic internet connections throughout Kent County.
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To be re-scheduled - March 22nd
Trey Hill
Speaking about the Kent County farming and agricultural community. Maintaining the vitality of this rural region.

March 15th
Aundra Anderson
Speaking as the Program DIrector, Kent County Next Generation Scholars.

March 8th
Dr. Wayne Benjamin
Speaking on HOMEPORTS

Aging at home, issues of medical care, transportation, home care, socialization, becoming alone and living well independently. Big issues for a graying population.

March 1, 2018
Janet Christensen-Lewis & Elizabethe Watson
Kent Conservation and Preservation Alliance

What is the status of the proposal for building a bridge from Baltimore to Tolchester?
Where would the roads be? Who would be displaced? What would fall to eminent domain?
Is there an opposing view? What are the alternatives? How about the issue of economic development?
Can we manage the inevitability of change?
Come and learn with us.

February 22nd, 2018

Meet Bob Miller, CPA. Learn about the new Federal tax law and its impact on you. Bob will also present historical background on the US tax laws over time so we have a better understanding.

February 15th, 2018

Meet with Santa Oldham, a Life Coach.
Learn what advisory services can such a Coach give us which will improve our happiness, our lives and our ability to live life to the fullest.

February 8, 2018

Tom Timberman always addresses CBG on vital topics of interest. This lecture will be on:
The US and China in the Pacific Region

February 1, 2018

Bill Flook, PhD will discuss what a school psychologist does. Why does every school have one? Why are these experts important to education and to children?

January 25th, 2018

David RIce, Chief of Kent County Emergency Medical services will address CBG.

January 17th, 2018

Meet with Maryann Ruehrmund, Executive Director, Chester River Health Foundation.

The complete listing of Board Members for 2017 is found here:

https://tinyurl.com/y7pk4j8k

This BOD has some very well respected local individuals on it and the services and resources it controls are also highly important to our County and local area.

Please plan to attend and bring your questions.

JANUARY 11th, 2018

Steve Atkinson, Internet Publisher
There are many cultural activities and events that occur on the Delmarva Peninsula that are often not known about by many, or not until they have already occurred. He will discuss how to find what's happening in the area through a number of Internet based Entertainment Calendars and informational sites, including his own publication, The ChesaDel Crier, a site for Art and Entertainment News between the Chesapeake and Delaware Bay.

Meeting December 21st 2017

CBG is honored to host The 2017 Co-Directors of the Kent County Arts Council, Leslie Prince Raimond and John Schratwieser who will join us at CBG to discuss the current state of the Arts and the Arts Council in our community.
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Meeting December 14TH, 2017

We are hosting Rodney Lester, an actuarial expert and world traveler. The tentative topic is 'Regional demographic and economic trends in the US - a country dividing'.

There has been a lot of county by county research done recently and even within Kent county there are remarkable variations. Mr. Lester will look at the rural / urban divide, the social impacts of changing employment patterns (including some counterintuitive birth rate data) and then look at MD and Kent County.
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Meeting December 7th, 2017

Meet the team from Kent County High School
Nick Heckley, Mark Buckel, Gillian Spero. What can the senior staff of the KHS do to make education the best it can be for our local children? How can those in charge make the best connection to teachers, parents, the school board and concerned citizens? Where is public education headed?

Join us and hear directly from those in charge.

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Meeting 11/30/2017
Representatives from Kent County Behavioral Health
Annette Duckery and Tim Dove
Community outreach and collaboration in Kent County, Maryland in order to promote the prevention of substance abuse behaviors.

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Meeting 11/16/2017

Larry Samuels will address CBG and tell us about his experiences as a substitute teacher in Kent and Queen Anne Counties. Larry is one of the most often photographed people in the news since he is so active in several charitable and non-profit services in the area. He is a regular attendee of Kent CBG and it makes sense for such a person to tell us what motivates him and why his interests are so diverse.

Come and learn with us!

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Meeting 11/9-2017

Scott Boone, Chief of IT for Kent County will discuss the installation progress of Fiber Optic Networking with FTS and Think Big. He will cover other issues of a relevant nature to development of IT in Kent.

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Meeting 11-2-2017

Meet Lynn McLain

She will discuss with us her concept of an unprecedented, fireworks-inspired, computer-programmable, permanent light sculpture at Washington College.

The sculpture will be in honor of Dr. John A. Conkling and in memory of the author's father, both of whom made great contributions to the science and safety of fireworks.

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IMPORTANT MEETINGS 10-12, 10-19 and 10-26-2017

MEET THE CHESTERTOWN CANDIDATES

The Mayor, Chris Cerino, will be hosted on 10-26, 2017.

The election will be on November 7th.

PLAN to attend and PLAN to VOTE!

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Meeting 9-28-2017

Mr. Don Hooker
Life Member Massey Air Museum

A great place to visit and to see airplanes of the past. See restored aircraft, see restorations going on currently and better understand our aviation history.
In the 105 years of flight, the world has been vastly changed by rapid travel. Get a glimpse of where we have been and where little airports like Massey are headed in the current environment of development.

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Meeting 9-21-2017

ISABEL JUNKIN HARDESTY
Chester RIVERKEEPER
riverkeeper@chesterriverassociation.org

Isabel Junkin Hardesty became the Chester Riverkeeper in November, 2013. Isabel first joined the Chester River Association team as a Policy Specialist in June, 2011.

She has a Master of Environmental Management from Duke University and a B.S. in Animal Behavior from Bucknell University. She previously worked for Ocean Conservancy in Washington, DC and for Midshore RIVERKEEPER® Conservancy in Easton, MD.

Learn about what our Riverkeeper does and why she is so deeply involved.

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Meeting 9-14-2017

Dr. Lew Halin,
Member of the Board of Directors,
Friends of Eastern Neck,
Located at: The Eastern Neck National
Wildlife Refuge

Dr. Halin will give us his “bird’s eye view” of the operation of this local facility. We expect he’ll tell us about the challenges and successes faced by the Board of Directors in making this refuge accessible and educational for visitors.

Friends of Eastern Neck was incorporated in 1997 by local citizens to support the public use objectives of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge. It fulfills its mission through volunteer services, staffing the Refuge Bookstore, and organizing special projects and programs to engage people in recreational activities and stewardship
of the refuge.

Donations to the Refuge or the Friends can be made by sending a check made out to The Friends of Eastern Neck at The Friends of Eastern Neck, P.O. Box 450, Rock Hall, MD 21661. On the Memo line, be sure to indicate whether this is a donation to the Refuge or to the Friends. We welcome any support for enhancing the mission of the Refuge.

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Meeting 9-7-2017

Mary Etta Reedy accompanied by Phil Cicconi will be speaking about the The Kent County Learning Center. This organization has been helping adults get their GED’s and at the same time making great headway with after school tutoring of elementary school students to help them with their reading, writing and arithmetic.

Giving young students an opportunity for success in school likely prevents many from ever feeling like they ought to drop out of school or to need a GED. The hope and challenge is to make students able to graduate high school and go on to even further educational opportunities.

http://www.kentcountylearningcenter.com/

Volunteers are needed!

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Meeting August 31st, 2017

Our Speaker:
Richard LaMotte
The LaMotte Company, located in Chestertown

Their specialties:
Pool and Spa, Environmental Education, Food and Beverage, Industrial Boiling and Cooling, Water and Wastewater, Drinking Water, Laundry and Sanitation, Aquarium and Fish Farming, Soil Testing, and Microbiological

Learn what it takes to be a long lasting and successful business in our community.

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Meeting August 24th, 2017

Meet with Pam White of the Chester River Wellness Alliance.

The CRWA is a collaboration of local health and wellness practitioners, individuals and businesses who are committed to 1)promoting the services of health and wellness practitioners in Chestertown; 2)educating and administering to the health of the community; and 3)promoting Chestertown and its surrounding area as a vibrant wellness destination.

CRWA is a 501(c)3.

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Meeting August 17th, 2017

Michael O’Connor, Conchobar Consulting.

The title the presentation is:
"Three Rs: Content Marketing for Small Businesses,”
We'll cover why and how small businesses and non-profit organizations can capitalize on the unique value social media and other digital communications platforms offer to their work. We’ll touch on strategies for creating useful and relevant information in ways that engage audiences and showcase interesting facets of a business or institution.

Michael has worked in marketing and communications for more than 17 years. Before starting Conchobar Consulting in 2016, he was the Associate Vice President for College Relations & Marketing at Washington College. Prior to moving to the Eastern Shore with his family, O’Connor was Marketing Manager for Lenox Hill Hospital, with a focus on orthopedics, cardiovascular services, and OB/GYN. Conchobar Consulting’s client base ranges from non-profits to small- and mid-sized businesses in Maryland, New York City, and Atlanta.

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Meeting August 10th, 2017

Come and hear from two speakers:
Joan Andersen, Librarian of the Historical Society of Kent County
and
Kurt Smith, Vice President, Board of Directors, Historical Society of Kent County

The title of the talk is: WHO, WHERE AND WHAT!

What do you know about the work of the HSKC? What do you know about the history of the county?
Do you want to appreciate where we are and what we were in this region of the country over the decades of our local history? Please plan to attend.

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Meeting August 3rd, 2017

Our speaker will be, Jim Landskroener,
President Board of Directors, The Garfield Center.

Quoted from the Chestertown Spy of 7-20-2017:
“The Garfield Center for the Arts is a non-profit organization whose mission is to invigorate the cultural life of our community by nurturing, celebrating and supporting arts and artists through performance and education.”

“The Garfield Center for the Arts in Chestertown is proud to announce its 2018 season of theatrical productions. Presented by the Garfield and directed by a group of talented local directors, this season offers a variety of shows – slapstick comedy, musical drama, a holiday favorite, a children’s classic and the summer theatre camps; MUSICAMP from July 9-13 and Playmakers from July 16-August 12, 2018. For more information, please visit the Garfield web site, or call the box office at 410 810 2060. The Garfield Center for the Arts at the Prince Theatre is located at 210 High Street, Chestertown, MD, 21620.”

The 2017 Season at the Garfield Center: http://www.garfieldcenter.org/gcaevents/category/theatre/

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Meeting July 27th, 2017

Bryan Matthews, Vice President KRM Development.
Learn with us about the new development on Route 213.
Bryan Matthews joined the KRM team in August of 2016 after an extensive career in coaching and administration at the college level. His past experience included project management, construction, building design, and facility oversight. Bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience, Bryan is a Vice President for KRM and is located in KRM’s Chestertown, MD office. He has served on the board of US Lacrosse, Horizons, and Character Counts.

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Meeting July 20th, 2017

Meet:
Corey Ramsden
MD SOLOR UNITED NEIGHBORHOODS
Program Director.

Corey focuses on building successful solar co-ops and helping as many Maryland residents as possible go solar. He has 15 years of experience in the IT industry, joined the solar industry in 2011 and is a NABCEP Certified PV Technical Sales Professional.

He also designed and installed his own solar PV system in 2012. Corey regularly volunteers his time toward the advancement of renewable energy adoption throughout the region. He is a long-time resident of the Baltimore/Washington area and a graduate of Loyola University Maryland.

Homeowners in Chestertown have formed a new solar co-op! If you live in Chestertown, Kent, or Queen Anne Counties and are interested in going solar, click here to join this new group.

Based on the same principle as buying in bulk, the co-op will go through the process of purchasing solar systems together. The group selected a single contractor to install systems on all of the homes, but each participant owns his or her system and will sign their own contract with the chosen installer.

By going solar as a group, members will typically save up to 20% off the cost of a solar system. They’ll also have the support of the co-op throughout the process instead of having to go it alone. The co-op is being organized by the Town of Chestertown, Center for Environment & Society at Washington College (CES), Community Power Network (CPN), and CPN’s project MD SUN. Anyone located in Chestertown, or a neighboring community in Maryland, is welcome to join.

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Meeting July 13th, 2017

Meet with Mr. Ron Basener, an experienced and award winning trained mediator to find out about the benefits and pitfalls surrounding private settlement of a wide range of disputes.

Prior to retirement, Ron was the Assistant Director of Human Resources for the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
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Meeting July 6th, 2017

We have two speakers coming this week to discuss the hobby and importance of amateur radio, Ham Radio. Meet Bill Clark , one of the founders of The Kent Amateur Radio Society (KARS, Inc.) and Richard Budden, current President of KARS, Inc.

Join us and find out what is going on with HAM Radio and broadcasting.

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Meeting June 29th, 2017

Come meet and hear David White, noted WCALL educator and speaker. He will tell us the historical issues which surround the ancient Sunni-Shia split and the impact it has on current events in the Muslim world along with the repercussions felt by non-Muslims. It is an important topic with nearly limitless points of view.
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Meeting June 22nd, 2017

Peter Jewell Heck is a science fiction and mystery author. His books include the "Mark Twain Mysteries"—historical whodunits featuring the famous author as a detective—and four books in the "Phule's Company" series, in collaboration with Robert Asprin, best described as "F-Troop in space".

Heck has also been an editor at Ace Books (where he edited Lynn S. Hightower and Robert J. Sawyer, among others), and created the SF newsletter Xignals and its mystery equivalent Crime Times for the Waldenbooks chain. He is also a regular reviewer for Asimov's Science Fiction and Kirkus Reviews.

From 2007 until recently in 2017, Heck worked as a reporter at the Kent County News in Chestertown, MD, where he and his wife moved after a number of years in Brooklyn, NY. His work for the paper included articles on local government and history, health, environment, and the arts; it has won several awards from the MDDC Press Association.

Heck also plays guitar and banjo in a local band, Col. Leonard's Irregulars.

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Meeting June 15th, 2017

Come hear from Daniel Divilio, Editor, Kent County News

What is happening at the Newspaper, get inside information and the Editor's opinion about the goings on in the community, county and state.

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Meeting June 8th, 2017

Meet well known and local artist. Marc Castelli
Residing in Chestertown, with a special affinity to the local watermen and his art which depicts their daily work.

Find out what he has painted in various foreign Embassies, and get his take on the Arts District in Chestertown.

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Meeting June 1st, 2017

Stephen Gasparovic, the Housing Counselor for Cecil County will present on the uses and pitfalls of Reverse Mortgages. This is useful for getting to the liquidity of your home while being able to stay in your home for the rest of your life. However, with every plus there is generally an opposing minus. Don't fall victim to a quick pitch from a seller of a reverse mortgage. Get informed by an unbiased source of information.

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Meeting on May 25th

Come hear Tom Timberman talk
about Turkey, the New Threat
to NATO and Trans-Atlantic Security.

Get some important knowledge of the world from a diplomatic professional without a political agenda
or media bias. How refreshing!

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May 18th, 2017

Meet our local delegate to Annapolis, Jay Jacobs. Hear what took place in the past several months in our state government. What are the newest changes to the laws and regulations. What is coming down the pike?

Come and Learn with us!

May 11th, 2017

Attend the upcoming Kent CBG to hear about
"NAMI Kent & Queen Anne’s".
This is our local affiliate of the
National Health Alliance on Mental Illness.

Our Speakers will be William “Bill” Flook, PhD.
He will be bringing his associate, Gayle Foulger, to also address our group.

Bill Flook, recently retired as supervisor in the Office of Psychological Services, Baltimore County Public Schools. He has been an educator for more than 40 years, and a psychologist for nearly that long. Flook also served as the state specialist for psychological services at the Maryland State Department of Education for four years. He teaches a seminar at the University of Maryland for doctoral internships.

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May 4th, 2017

Myra Butler, Kent County Parks & Recreation.

We have facilities and places all over the county and especially in Chestertown under the watchful eyes and experience of a group of folks who deeply care about how to use, maintain and enjoy our heritage of open space and greenery.

What should the public know about this Board of directors of these great public use places. Come hear what we need to know and what citizens should be aware of.
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April 27th, 2017

Come and meet Jedina Frazier, 2016-2017 Teacher of the Year for Kent County. No doubt she will tell us the good things that are happening in the schools here. Maybe she will offer some advice from someone "in the trenches" who knows what might be improved. We'll ask what her feelings are about school system consolidation and how teachers feel it impacting their future in Kent County.

We have a Teacher, So "Come Learn with Us!"

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April 13th, 2017

Mark Kamon, representing our local branch of SCORE, formerly known as the Service Corps of Retired Executives, will tell us all about his organization and what they are doing locally to promote those they mentor.

We have a true wealth of experienced executives residing locally. Making use of their decades of knowledge makes good sense.

Come and learn with us.

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Kent Community Breakfast Group