History of MDSC 1976-2014  

Presented  by  Lance  Fischer   Researched  by  Ki3y  Fischer              

Preface  

•  “Don’t  know  much  about  MDSC’s  history”  is                       TRUE.   •  There  has  been  no  serious  effort  to  preserve   the  history  of  MDSC  unHl  now.   •  Several  gaps  exist.  If  you  know  something  that   we  can  add  to  the  history,  please  tell  us!  

Birth  of  MDSC   •  Founded  by  William  Brubaker  (hearing  CODA)   and  41  deaf  seniors,  November  3,  1976   •  First  meeHng  held  at  Grace  United  Methodist   Church  on  New  Hampshire  Avenue  in  Takoma   Park,  MD,  November  3,  1976   •  MeeHngs  were  held  on  first  (business)  and   third  (social)  Thursdays.  

MDSC’s  Names   •  TentaHvely  named  the  Metropolitan  

Washington  Deaf  Senior  CiHzens  AssociaHon.   •  Renamed  “Happy  Sunshine  Club”,  November   18,  1976.   •  Renamed  “Maryland  Deaf  Senior  CiHzens”,   June  6,  1977.   •  Became  “Maryland  Deaf  Senior  CiHzens,  Inc.”  in   2008    (ader  receiving  501  (C)  3).  

Who  Can  Join  (1977  version)   •  Deaf  Persons  over  55  and  their  spouses   •  No  residency  restricHons   •  Race,  color  or  creed  not  a  factor  in   determining  a  person’s  eligibility   •  Hearing  persons  of  deaf  spouses  are  invited  

First  Officers                                    President:  William  Brubaker                                    Vice  President:  Jeff  Tharp                                    Secretary:  Henry  Holter                                    Treasurer:  Daisy  D’Onfrio                                    Program  co-­‐persons:                                                      Jeff  Tharp                                                  William  Grinnell  

                                         MDSC’s  First  Year   (Photo)  

  William  Brubaker,  CODA      First  President                              1976-­‐1977                                            Grace  United  Methodist  Church                                                                                                              Takoma  Park,  MD                                                                                                                                                        

AcHviHes  –  First  Year  (1977)   •  King  Tutankhamen  Exhibit  at  NaHonal  Gallery   of  Arts,    Feb.  10,  1977,    Cost  of  trip  was  $.50.   •  Candle  Light  Tour  of  White  House,  Nov.  19,   1977.   •  Amish  Country,  Lancaster,  PA  (no  date).   •  Tour  to  Metro  office  (?)  to  learn  how  to  use   Metro  System  (Metrorail  just  opened).   •  Two  Picnics  were  held  at  Parklawn  RecreaHon   Center  (East-­‐West  Highway  in  Hya3sville,  MD)   in  June  and  September.    

Jeff  Tharp  AdministraHon    1978-­‐82   •  Jeff    Tharp  served  as  2nd  President,  1978-­‐82.   Tharp  was  acHng  president  in  April  21,  1977   when  William  Brubaker  suffered  a  heart   a3ack.   •  MDSC  was  invited  to  use  MWAD  clubhouse   but  not  acted  upon  and  stayed  at  the  church.     There  is  not  much  informaHon  for  those  years.            *Reports  of  deaf  senior  events  for  1977-­‐79  appeared   “once  in  a  while”  in  now  defunct  Dee  Cee  Eyes.  

Thelma  Singer  AdministraHon     1983-­‐84    

•  Thelma  Singer  served  as  3rd  President,   1983-­‐84.   •  Tour  of  the  Air  Show  at  Andrew  Air  Force   Base,  May  13,  1983.  

ChrisHna  Duley  AdministraHon   1985-­‐87    

•  ChrisHna  Duley  became  4   th  president,  1985-­‐87.       •  Pot  Luck  Gathering,  April  18,  1985.    Deaf  Seniors   from  Foxwell  House  in  BalHmore  were  invited  (43   visitors).   •  Picnic  at  Fort  Meade,  October  6,  1985.    Deaf   seniors  from  all  over  Maryland  were  invited.   •  Bus  trip  to  Maryland  School  for  the  Deaf  in   Columbia,  MD  and  then  to  Columbia  Mall  for   lunch  and  shopping,  November  3,  1987.  

George  Singer  AdministraHon,   1988-­‐91   •  George  Singer  was  5th    president,  1988-­‐1991.           •  MDSC  moved  out  of  church  and  into  Langley  Park  Senior   Center,  February  4,  1988.    This  move  was  on  a  trial  basis.   •  MDSC  voted  to  move  back  to  the  church,  October  6,  1988.     First  meeHng  at  church  with  22  members  in  a3endance,   November  3,  1988.   •  Tour  of  the  FBI  building,  November  17.  1988.  Only  6  or7   members  went  on  a  tour.   •  MDSC  moved  to  Halex  House  and  into  MWAD-­‐MWDCC   clubroom,  May  2,  1991.      Approx.  95%  of  MDSC  members   were  also  members  of  either  or  both  MWAD  and  MWDCC.  

Mark  Kleberg  AdministraHon   1992   •  Mark  Kleberg  was  6th  president.   No  records  for  this  administraHon  were  located.    

What  were  the  happenings  during  the   years  1992-­‐94?   •  Very  li3le  records  for  those  years  exist!   •  During  those  years  deaf  seniors  went  to  Halex   House  to  play  cards  and  bingo.   •  It  is  possible  that  deaf  senior  acHviHes  were   incorporated,  if  any,  into  MWAD  and  MWDCC’s   programs.   •  If  you  have  informaHon,  please  let  us  know.  

Louis  Val  AdministraHon   1993-­‐96   •  Louis  Val  was  7th  president.   •  MDSC  conHnued  to  meet  at  Halex  House.   •  MoHon  to  limit  business  meeHng  to  once  a  year   was  passed,  January  4,  1995.   •  Rudy  Hines  began  working  on  seqng  up  tours  in   1995.  

Lucy  Lewis  AdministraHon   1997-­‐98  

  •  Lucy  Lewis  was  8th  president.   •  In  1997  Louis  Val  suggested  that  MDSC  start   looking  around  for  a  new  meeHng  place.     Members’  cars  were  being  towed  away  for  illegal   parking  around  and  near  Halex  House.   •  Brown  bag  lunches  only  except  for  Holiday   luncheon.   •  New  England  bus  trip  (arranged  by  Hines),   September  28  to  October  2,  1998.    

 

 

Rudolph  (Rudy)  Hines  AdministraHon   1999-­‐June  2002  

•  Rudy  Hines  served  as  9th    president  

•  Moved  to  Arygle  House,  April  1999   •  First  survey  conducted  to  “improve  communicaHons   among  deaf  community”  led  by  Rudy  Hines  and   Sarah  Val,  2000   •  Voted  to  meet  on  second  Thursday  of  the  month   •  Annual  Holiday  luncheon  at  Golden  Bull  restaurant,   1999  and  Holiday  buffet  at  Anchor  Inn  Restaurant,   2000  (54  guests)    

Joseph  Rose  AdministraHon   2002-­‐2006  (First  2  Terms)      (1st  page)      

•  Joe  Rose  served  as  10th  and  12th  President.                                         •  Holiday  luncheon  at  94th  Aero  Squadron,  2002   •  Excursion  trip:  Western  MD  Scenic  Railroad,  Oct.   22,  2003  (38  members)   •  MDSC  moved  to  Margaret  Schweinhaut  Senior   Center,  Feb.  2004   •  Philadelphia  trip  to  visit  Franklin  InsHtute,   Science  Museum,  and  Independence  Hall,  May   2004  

Joseph  Rose  AdministraHon   2002-­‐2006  (First  2  Terms)    (2nd  page)      

    •  A3ended  theatrical  performance  at  Ford  Theater:   “Big  River”,    April  10,  2005  (95  Hckets  sold)   •  First  MDSC  Bylaws  being  drawn  by  James  Casterline,   May  2005   •  First  MDSC  newsle3er,  edited  by  Nancy  Kensicki,   published,  March  2006       •  EIN  issued  to  MDSC  by  IRS,  May  2006   •  ApplicaHon  for  Non-­‐Profit  organizaHon  status   started  by  James  Casterline,  May  2006  

Willis  J.  Mann  AdministraHon   2006-­‐2010  (First  2  Terms)  

Willis  Mann  served  as  MDSC’s  11th  and  13th    President.     MDSC’s  applicaHon  form  for  501(c)3  mailed  to  IRS,  Oct.  2007       MDSC  acquired  501(c)3  status,  May  2008   Toured  Frank  Lloyd  Wright’s  Fallingwater  in  PA,  April  24,   2008   •  Survey  quesHonnaires  distributed,  led  by  Allen  Sussman,   Sept.-­‐Oct.  2008   •  MDSC  website  launched,  April  2009.    Wanda  Rafiq  served  as   webmaster.   •  Voted  to  host  DSA  2013  conference  in  BalHmore.    Lance   Fischer  and  Allen  Sussman  made  a  bid  at  DSA  conference  in   Las  Vegas,  July  2009.    MDSC  won  the  bid.    Lance  Fischer   chosen  to  chair  the  conference.  

•  •  •  • 

 

Joseph  Rose  AdministraHon   2010-­‐2014  (Second  2  Terms)  

•  Trip  to  Newseum,  November  9,  2011   •  Holiday  luncheons  at  MarHn’s  Crosswinds,  Dec.  2010-­‐Dec.   2013.    Previous  holiday  luncheons  were  catered  by  Sawhill   Catering  at  Margaret  Schweinhaut  Senior  Center.   •  Toured  the  Titanic  exhibit  at  NaHonal  Geographic  Museum,  DC,   May  22,  2012   •  Hosted  Mid-­‐AtlanHc  Deaf  and  HH  FesHval,  chaired  by  Phil   Aiello,  Nov.  2012   •  Toured  the  US  Naval  Academy  in  Annapolis,  MD,  November  14,   2013   •  Hosted  DSA  2013  BalHmore  conference,  chaired  by  Lance   Fischer,  August  21-­‐27,  2013   •  Toured  President  Lincoln’s  Summer  Co3age,  DC,  June  12,  2014  

Willis  J.  Mann  AdministraHon   2014-­‐Present  (Second    1st  Term)   Objec&ves  and  Mission  Statement   OBJECTIVES   Maryland Deaf Senior Citizens, Inc. (MDSC) is a non-stock, nonprofit corporation, and is operated exclusively for charitable, literary, educational, and other purposes within the meaning of Section 501 ( c) (3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. The corporation does not engage in partisan political activities that are inconsistent with its qualifications as a tax-exempt corporation under the Code. The main objectives include the following: 1.  To plan, advocate, develop and coordinate various programs or activities such as workshops and gatherings for the purpose of presenting and/or exchanging information benefitting deaf and hard of hearing senior citizens; 2.  To collaborate with local, county, and state government agencies to utilize their services to enhance the quality of life for deaf and hard of hearing senior citizens; 3.  To work with various deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing organizations on matters affecting or pertaining to the health, education, and social welfare of deaf or hard of hearing senior citizens of Maryland; 4.  To provide education or to share information concerning deafness and deaf culture to the general public and to promote interaction between hearing and deaf or hard of hearing senior citizens; 5.  To work towards the goal of acquiring venues for use of MDSC which will allow increased socialization opportunities, promote the organization’s monthly social events, and sponsor other events that will serve to mitigate the isolation experienced by many deaf and hard of hearing senior citizens. MISSION STATEMENT The mission of MDSC is to improve the quality of life for senior citizens who are deaf or hard of hearing by: 1.  Providing seminars, Town Hall Meetings, and conferences dealing with issues impacting their well-being and safety; 2.  Conducting awareness projects or activities among decision makers, providers of services, and the general public regarding the unique needs of this population group. 3.  Acquainting deaf and hard of hearing senior citizens with national, state, and local resources that will contribute to their positive self image and fuller participation in the mainstream society. 4.  Providing social activities intended to mitigate the isolation experienced by many deaf and hard of hearing senior citizens.

Photos  of  Past  MDSC  Presidents                        No.  1                                        No.  2                                                      No.  3   William  Brubaker            Jeff  Tharp                    Thelma  Singer             No    Photo   Available    

Photos  of  Past  MDSC  Presidents    

         No.  4                                                  No.  5                                          No.  6   ChrisHna  Duley              George  Singer            Mark  Kleberg  

No  photo  

Photos  of  Past  MDSC  Presidents    

           No.  7                                          No.  8                                      No.  9                                                                Louis  Val                              Lucy  Lewis              Rudolph  Hines  

         Photo     unavailable  

Photos  of  Recently  ReHred  President     and  Current  President    

                     Nos.  10  &  12                                            Nos.  11  &  13                    Joseph  Rose                                              Willis  J.  Mann  

MDSC  Homes  

                     1977-­‐88;  1988-­‐91                                    1988  (8  months)   Grace  United  Methodist                            Langley  Park  Senior     Church,  Takoma  Park,  MD                              AcHvity  Center,                                                                                                                      Langley  Park,  MD  

MDSC  Homes  

     1991-­‐1998                                                              1999-­‐2004      Halex  House                                                      Arygle  House   Silver  Spring,  MD                                    Silver  Spring,  MD  

Present  MDSC  Home  

                                                           2004  to  Present                              Margaret  Schweinhaut  Senior  Center                                                            Silver  Spring,  MD  

History  of  MDSC  Tours  (1)  

    1977  –    Amish  Country  in  Lancaster,  PA       February  10,  1977  –    King  Tutankhamen  Exhibit  at  NaHonal   Gallery  of  Arts,  Washington,  DC       November  19,  1977  –    Candle  Light  Tour  at  the  White   House       May  13,  1983  –    Air  Show  Tour  at  Andrew  Air  Force  Base       November  3,  1987  –  Bus  trip  to  Maryland  School  for  the   Deaf  at  Columbia  and  Columbia  Mall  for  lunch  and   shopping  

• 

 

 

History  of  MDSC  Tours  (2)  

November  17,  1988  –  Tour  of  the  FBI  building,   Washington,  DC       September  28-­‐  Oct.  5,  1998  –  New  England  bus  tour.   Visited  the  American  School  for  the  Deaf,  Haruord,  CT,   and  a  train  excursion  in  New  Hampshire.       October  22,  2003  –  Western  Maryland  Scenic  Railroad   Excursion  trip       May  12,  2004  –  Bus  tour  to  Philadelphia,  PA.    Visited   Franklin  InsHtute  Science  Museum  and  Independence   Hall    

History  of  MDSC  Tours  (3)   • 

   

April  10,  2005  –    Ford  Theater,  Washington,  DC,  for  a   performance  “Big  River,  the  Adventures  of  Huck   Finn”         April  24,  2008  –  Tour  of  Frank  Lloyd  Wright’s   Fallingwater  in  Mill  Run,  PA.    This  trip  was  sponsored   by  Gallaudet  University.     October  2009  –  Bus  trip  to  Philadelphia,  PA     March  10,  2010  –  Visited  Terra  Co3a  Warriors  at          NaHonal  Geographic  Museum    

History  of  MDSC  Tours  (4)   November  9,  2011  –  Visited  Newseum,  Washington,  DC       May  22,  2012  –  Visited  Titanic  Exhibit  at  NaHonal   Geographic  Museum,  Washington,  DC         November  14,  2013  –  Tour  of  US  Naval  Academy,   Annapolis,  MD       June  12,  2014  –    Tour  of  President  Lincoln’s  Co3age  at   Soldier’s  Home,  Washington,  DC  

       

Membership  Record   1976 - ?

1986 - 46

1996 - ?

2006 - 225

1977 - ?

1987 - 63

1997 - 83

2007 - 242

1978 - ?

1988 - 83

1998 - 73

2008 - 238

1979 - 29

1989 - 50

1999 - 69

2009 - 222

1980 - 14

1990 - 46

2000 - 44

2010 - 225

1981 - 30

1991 - 55

2001 - ?

2011 - 211

1982 - 32

1992 - 26

2002 - 136

2012 - 208

1983 - 39

1993 - ?

2003 - 203

2013 - 208

1984 - 52

1994 - 29

2004 - 242

2014 -

1985 - 47

1995 - 4

2005 - 205

Membership   Annual  Dues  and  Admission  Fees   Calendar  Year   Annual  Dues  

Admission  Fees  

1976 - 1977

No information

No information

1978

None

25 cents

1979-1981

$6.00

25 cents

1982-1990

$3.00

25 cents

1991-1995

$3.00

None

1996 1997-2000

No information $3.00

No information None

Membership  Dues  and  Fees   (by  Fiscal  Year)   Fiscal  Years  

Annual   Admission            Misc.   Dues   Dues   Sept.  2001  -­‐  June  2006   $5.00   $3.00   Sept.  2006  -­‐  June-­‐2008   $5.00  

$6.00  

Sept.  2008  -­‐  June  2009   $5.00  

$6.00  

 $3  on  Brown                Bag  Day  

Sept.  2009  –June  2011   $20.00   $5.00   Sept.  2011  -­‐  Present  

$25.00   $5.00  

         $35.00    Season  Pass  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

    Ki3y  Fischer   Agnes  &  Ron  Sutcliffe   Claudia  and  Allen  Sussman   Dot  and  Steve  Brenner   Thelma  Singer   Roy  White   Kay  Francis  and  Joe  Rose   Allan  Fraenkel   Melvia  and  Ron  Nomeland   Vilas  Johnson   NaVee  Duncan   Willis  Mann   James  Lindsay   Virginia  Luke   Nancy  Kensicki   and  OTHERS!!!