We're taking a break from fund-raising
and just want to have some fun!
On Saturday, July 11 from 1 - 5 PM, CBN-PG will host its second-annual Summer Family BBQ at the home of Paul and Elizabeth Dougherty, 10709 Croom Road, Upper Marlboro, MD, 20772.

Members and guests are encouraged to bring their families. The cost for adults is $16 and kids 10 and under are free. There will be a licensed lifeguard on duty, so bring suits, towels and lounge chairs.

Bill Coleman will be firing up the smoker again this year for the bounty of pork, beef and chicken. There also will be potato salad and cole slaw, macaroni and cheese, soft drinks, water and rolls. Those coming can bring dessert and beverages other than soda and water.

RSVP is required by calling 301-779-7833, by responding to the Evite, or by clicking here.

June, 2009 Breakfast Meeting
Jill McGuire of NASA inspires with
tales - and tools - of Hubble mission
Jill McGuire (pictured) Crew Aids and Tools Manager of the Hubble Telescope Project at NASA, explained details from the latest repair mission to the observatory. The data gleaned from the project, if converted to document form, would fill the Library of Congress three times, McGuire said.

She brought many of the tools along and had many excellent slides from the mission.

New CBN President Sean O'Brien opened the meeting by announcing two upcoming events: the members' BBQ on July 11 and the crab feast (tentatively scheduled for September 27). Invitations for both will be sent.

St. Mary's School of Landover Hills was the grant recipient. Principal Sue Varrone (pictured with Grants Co-Chair Steve Kemp) will use the funds to expand technology available to the students.

In a surprise development, Kemp, also the perennial 50/50 salesman, won the morning's drawing.

May 2009 Networking Breakfast
CBN-PG says goodbye to Sr. Virginia
Ann as members vote in new officers
The changing of the guard took place at the Friday, May 28th CBN-PG's networking breakfast when Jim Palmer stepped down as president and passed the gavel to incoming president, Sean O'Brien. Jim received a standing ovation for his good work, as did Sr. Virginia Ann Brooks, (pictured,) who is being transferred to Jacksonville, FL after many years as President of Elizabeth Seton High School.

Bishop McNamara High School received Friday's grant which will be used to augment tuition for a student who otherwise would not have been able to attend McNamara in the coming school year.

Pictured at left are Principal Marco Clark, CEO and President, Heather Gossart, and Development Director (and outgoing CBN-PG President) Jim Palmer. CBN-PG also sent a $1000 grant to the Forestville Pregnancy Aid Center to help recoop materials and supplies lost in the recent gas explosion which destroyed its building and additional structures in the Penn-Mar Shopping Center.

Marty McGehrin (pictured) presented helpful networking tips, combining "old school" approaches while incorporating "new school" technology. He suggested the use of data bases for organizing and maintaining business card contacts and as leverage for referring other CBN members. He also explained how he used this system for contacting people about possible future CBN programs, membership and purchasing ads in various CBN publications.

There are five basic ways to develop business. They are (1) making cold calls; (2) presenting seminars; (3) sending bulk mail to affluent communities; (4) placing ads in newspapers and other publications; and (5) through referrals and networking. Marty credits his mother with helping hone his business development skills by telling him he had to learn to do all of them well and at the same time!

11th Annual Awards Banquet & Auction
Archbishop Wuerl honored along with
students, volunteers, businesspeople
Over 200 turned out for CBN-PG's 11th Annual Awards Banquet and Auction on Tuesday, May 12, at the Marriott Greenbelt. The banquet honored Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl, STD, Archbishop of Washington, along with volunteers and business partners from participating parishes.

The CBN-PG Foundation awarded scholarships to winners of this year's Essay Contest. Scholarships sponsored by Premier and Key Members also were awarded. A full account of winners, along with the winning essays can be viewed here.. Please click on any photo below to view or download a larger version..

April 2009 Networking Breakfast
Williams instructs members on
preventing identity theft
Hugh Williams (pictured,) of the Maryland Attorney General's Office, offered an informative presentation on identity theft, the many ways it can occur and options for self-protection, at the April 24 meeting. To view this information, click here..

He advised members to keep private information private, volunteering data only when initiating a phone call or directly visiting a trusted website. He cited recent news stories about "skimming" at ATM machines and phishing online.

Williams also stressed the importance of encrypting wireless networks and of shredding documents containing sensitive data: something that is required by law for many businesses. He suggested contacting all the credit reporting companies to check for erroneous information or to report fraud Click here for the links.

Holy Redeemer School received April's grant. Pictured on right are CBN-PG Secretary Stephanie Solari, Principal Maria Bovich, CBN-PG Grants Chair Debra Myers, Holy Redeemer tech teacher Diane Cabrales, Pastor Fr. George Wilkinson, and former Holy Redeemer graduate Don Creel of Signal Financial Federal Credity Union.

The school will use the money to begin purchasing ceiling-mounted LCD projectors and document cameras for students to display their work on digital whiteboards..

March 2009 Networking Breakfast
Schools chosen to receive
scholarships at Banquet
At the March 27 Networking Breakfast, CBN-PG Leadership Members Tony Laubach, Steve Kemp and Dan Cardwell, (pictured at right with CBN-PG President Jim Palmer,) chose the schools that would receive the scholarships they sponsor at the May 12 Awards Celebration. The grade school which will receive the Wootten scholarship also was chosen.

The March grant was presented to St. Columba School and will be used for continued technology upgrades. Pictured at left is St. Columba Director of Development Vanessa Manning Halsey, CBN-PG Grants Chair Debra Myers, St. Columba Principal Tina Magnaye and Pastor Robert Buchmeier,.

Over 50 members and guests listened to Dawn Woods share the history and the mission of the Mattaponi Retreat Center in Upper Marlboro. More than 4,000 students have made retreats at Mattaponi so far this year. The facility is open to members of all faiths adults and youth alike and provides a peaceful atmosphere in which to pray, meditate and talk to God.

February 2009 Networking Breakfast
Russell shares "grave concern" over
future of Catholic schools in Maryland
In her presentation at the February 27 Networking Breakfast, the Executive Director of the Maryland Catholic Conference, Mary Ellen Russell (pictured,) expressed "grave concern" that Catholic schools in the state may fail because of the need to pay teachers fairly while remaining affordable for parents.

To help schools stay afloat, the Conference has been fighting for BOAST, a 75 percent business tax credit for donations to scholarship organizations, like the CBN-PG Foundation. BOAST, she said, “would benefit every student and teacher in the state.”

Her next goal is to lobby legislators who do not support the credits. She told the nearly 50 attendees to utilize BOASTMaryland.org, which helps schools, after-school programs and the business community understand the benefits afforded by BOAST.

Upcoming events in Annapolis include an open-house on March 4 (register here) and the March 10 hearing in the House. Russell urged CBN-PG members to testify in order to help get BOAST on the books and out of the ways and means committee. Russell also recommended the Conference's Catholic Advocacy Network, which provides timely communications with legislators.

Candy Cage, Athletic Director for Elizabeth Seton High School, was on hand to receive the $1,000 grant which she said will go toward lighting their playing fields. Pictured from left are CBN-PG President Jim Palmer, Cage, CBN-PG Grants Chair Debra Myers and Seton President Sr. Virginia Ann Brooks DC and Development Director Maureen McCart..