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!!!