April, 2014
Volume 1, Issue 3
Executive Board
Members
Trunkline
President
Liz League
A newsletter for Members of the SPRWC
st
1 Vice President
Maureen Carr-York
nd
2 Vice President
Connie Meyers
The Man in the Water
Hospitality
Barbara Houck
Liz League,
President
Recently, I attended a luncheon where South Carolina Congressman Trey Gowdy
was the Keynote Speaker. He told us that every time he flies into Washington, it is not the
history surrounding our Nation’s Capital that he thinks about, nor of the great Presidents
who once resided in the White House. He thinks about only one man – Arland Williams.
On a freezing day in January of 1982, Arland Williams was one of six people to
initially survive the plane crash of Air Florida Flight 90 into the 14th Street Bridge, a tragic
accident which killed 78 people. The handful of survivors escaped the wreckage into the ice
choked water, as the remains of the plane slowly sank into the dark river.
By-standers watched helplessly from the Bridge, as there was no way to attempt a
rescue without deadly consequences. A Park helicopter finally appeared with rescue
ropes, and attempted to drop them into the hands of the survivors. It was a tedious
operation, as several were badly injured and would slip back into the water over and over
after being lifted. When a survivor would make it to safety, the extra weight would cause
the blades of the copter to dip into the icy surface and potentially crash itself.
There was one man in the water who continued to help each survivor, at his own
expense. Every time the ropes were given to him, he passed them on to another person or
lifted them onto the platform, giving them a chance to live. Finally, when everyone was
saved and it was his turn, he had vanished into the cold, black water. Arland Williams was
46 years old.
Time magazine wrote; So the man in the water had his own natural powers. He
could not make ice storms, or freeze the water until it froze the blood. But he could hand
life over to a stranger, and that is a power of nature too. The man in the water pitted himself
against an implacable, impersonal enemy; he fought it with charity; and he held it to a
standoff. He was the best we can do.
As Americans who care for our country, we too are “pitted against an implacable,
impersonal enemy.” We want to leave our country a better place for others. We want to
keep our God given freedoms intact for the next generation to enjoy and prosper. Our
beliefs are the ropes of life, and like Arland, we gladly pass them on to total
strangers.
Holt Scholarship
Eileen Zell
Welcome New Members
Membership
Sylvia McAdoo
Please give a warm SPRWC welcome
to our newest members.
Treasurer
Kathy Feldman
Recording Secretary
Wendy Trebbe
Corresponding
Secretary
Amy Leahy
Standing Committees
Appointments
Assistant Treasurer
Susan Nolte
Awards
Faye Bauman
By-Laws
Bonnie Brown
Campaign Activities
Faith Loudon
Caring for America
Troops – Anne
Rutherford
Literacy – Susan
Wingo
Chaplain
Grace Lamana
Membership
Enrichment
Kathy Formisano
Legislation
Chris Ronk
Jeff Ferguson
Programs
Marge Acree
Publicity
Dot Brugnoli
Website/FB
Meghan Lawson
March
Donna Danekaert
Kelly Howells
Red Elephant Awards
In recognition of their outstanding
dedication to and great achievement
in their volunteer areas, the recipients
for this month’s RE Awards are:


Marge Acree, Programs Chair
Extraordinaire
Meghan Lawson, Webmaster
Extraordinaire
Thank you so much for your excellent
work. Well done!
Trunkline
Colonel George Acree
.
“High Flight”
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of
Earth
And danced the skies on laughtersilvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the
tumbling mirth
of sun-split clouds, — and done a
hundred things
You have not dreamed of — wheeled
and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring
there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along,
and flung
My eager craft through footless halls
of air....
Marjorie McCormick Acree
The sonnet, High Flight, was written in 1941 by a 19 year old British pilot named John Magee. It captures
perfectly the extraordinary feeling one gets from a breathtaking adventure – in his case it was flying his airplane.
Marge and George Acree have experienced a lifetime of “high flight”, as George’s career as a fighter pilot and
Colonel have taken Marge and the children around the world to live a remarkable life.
Marge McCormick was born in Atlanta in 1937. When Marge was two, her family came to Maryland.
She has an older brother, Tom, who founded and runs the successful McCormick Paint Company. She has an
older sister, Muriel, whom she visits weekly on the Eastern Shore.
George and Marge began their courtship at the University of Maryland in 1957. Marge was a freshman
and George was a junior, and they married when George graduated in 1958. He decided to join the Air Force,
and they were stationed in Texas where they welcomed Ginny, their first child. Pilot training was next, and they
moved to Arizona, then Las Vegas, and then to Okinawa. During their four years in Okinawa, they welcomed
two more beautiful girls, Liz and Donna.
Off to Florida for six months, North Carolina for two years, and Las Vegas for four years. George would
be deployed several times to fight in the Vietnam War. Marge would become an active member in the many
organizations for military wives. In 1974, George was promoted to full Colonel, working for the Pentagon in many
high powered positions. On to Germany in 1977, where George flew the F-15 Eagle leading, directing and
managing three Fighter Squadrons of 90 Fighter Pilots defending Europe from the Soviets during the Cold War.
George’s biggest job was directing 12,300 Military and Civilian personnel defending the Central European Air
Defense System during the cold war at the Ramstein Air Base. Back to DC to assume a Chair position at the
Industrial College of the Armed forces. Marge joined the SPRWC in the 1980’s, and has been a vital member
since. She also became a Master Gardener, a vibrant volunteer in her community, and wonderful grandmother
to her three grandchildren, Alex, Taylor and Ginger.
Marge and her family live in Linstead, and are enjoying their
High Flight (cont.)
family, who live nearby. Marge, George and Ginny are very
active members of our club, and Marge is outstanding as our
Up, up the long, delirious, burning
Programs Chair. They also have been dedicated “foot soldiers”
blue
for candidates. They belong to St. Martin’s in the Field Church,
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights
where Marge oversees the Flower Guild. Marge also serves on
with easy grace.
the Board of Omni House, a provider of mental health services.
Where never lark, or even eagle
All told, they resided in 32 different places. They indeed lived
flew —
a life uncommon, and it was an extraordinary “high flight.”
And, while with silent, lifting mind
I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of
space,
- Put out my hand, and touched
the face of God.
Trunkline
Highlights from Our March Events
Republican Women’s Federal Forum
Anne Rutherford and Liz League attended the RWFF
luncheon on Thursday, March 13, at the Capital Hill Club in
DC. Congressman Trey Gowdy was the Keynote Speaker.
Please consider joining this great organization. (See next
page for more information on membership).
GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Forum
Gubernatorial Forum, March 13
Over 300 people attended the GOP Gubernatorial Candidate
Forum held at the Columbian Center on March 13th. Nathan
Volke, Chair of the Central Committee, was the moderator,
and Bryan Simonaire was the Toastmaster. Kudos to David
Zwald , President of the North County Club, for bringing
together four clubs - North County, RWAAC, District 32, our
club, and the Central Committee, to sponsor this great event.
General Membership Meeting, March 18th
Nathan Volke, Chair of the Anne Arundel County Central
Committee, was our Keynote Speaker. He stated that the
Constitutional duties of the CC are to register Republicans,
recruit and train candidates, and build the Republican “brand.”
We also heard from Nancy Hoyt, George McDermott and John
Graziani, all candidates for Congress in District 4.
Gubernatorial candidate David Craig’s wife, Melinda, attended
our meeting.
Read Across America Literacy Project
On Friday, March 21st, eight Club Members participated in the
Read Across America literacy project. We were delighted to
read Dr. Seuss books to students at the Marley Elementary
School, and the teachers have told us that the children love
when we come in and read to them. Our club also donated
ten books this year. It was a huge success, thanks to all of
the volunteers and especially our Literacy Chair, Susie Wingo.
Nathan Volke
Chair
Anne Arundel
County
Central
Committee
Read Across America
The 11th Commandment
“The personal attacks against me during the primary finally became
so heavy that the state Republican chairman, Gaylord Parkinson,
postulated what he called the Eleventh Commandment:
Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican.
It's a rule I followed during that campaign and have ever since.”
Ronald Reagan
Trunkline
The Republican Women’s Federal Forum
"Angels have the
ability to fly
because they take
themselves lightly."
~Unknown
The Republican Women’s Federal Forum is one of the most
vital organizations in the greater Washington area. Each month,
members from DC, Maryland and Virginia gather at the Capitol Hill
Club to hear a “speaker of note” and to enjoy exchanging ideas with
fellow Republicans concerning public policy issues that are at the
forefront of the news. Recent speakers include Tucker Carlson; Judge
Andrew Napolitano; Senator Jon Kyl; former First Lady Laura
Bush; Congressman Trey Gowdy, and former Senator George Allen.
The luncheons are held on the second Thursday each month,
September through June, at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington, DC.
Reservations are limited and are on a first-come, first-served basis.
Please consider joining this wonderful organization. Several of us
from various clubs have been Members for years, and it would be
fun for more Members of our club to join! We can all go together
as a monthly “field trip.” http://rwfforum.org
IMPORTANT DATES
April
Tuesday, April 1 – Board Meeting 10:00 AM, Liz League’s House (all are welcome)
Wednesday, April 2- “Betrayed” – book signing and presentation by Billy Vaughn
Wednesday, April 9 – 2014 GOP Trade Show, Columbian Center, 6:00 – 9:00 PM
Thursday, April 10 – RWFF, Capitol Hill Club, Keynote Speaker Fred Barnes, Weekly Standard
Friday – Saturday, April 11-12 – MFRW Board of Directors Meeting, Solomons (open to all)
Tuesday, April 15 – General Membership Meeting 9:30 AM, Our Shepherd Lutheran Church
Tuesday, April 15 – AACGOP Lincoln –Reagan Day Dinner, Michael’s 8th Avenue
Friday, April 25-26 – MDGOP Convention, Bethesda
May
Tuesday, May 6 - Board Meeting 10:00 AM, Liz League’s House (all are welcome)
Wednesday, May 21 – SPRWC 50th Anniversary Jubilee and Fashion Show 11:00 – 2:00, Chartwell Country
Club
County Executive Debate – Coordinated by the AA Central Committee TBD
June
Tuesday, June 3 – Board Meeting 10:00 AM, Liz League’s House (all are welcome)
Saturday, June 7 – Maryland Young Republican Convention (more to come)
Tuesday, June 17 – Annual Club Picnic
EARLY VOTING – JUNE 12 – 19, 10:00AM – 8:00 PM, VARIOUS LOCATIONS
PRIMARY ELECTION JUNE 24TH - PLEASE VOTE IN THIS IMPORTANT ELECTION
Final Notes
We are so saddened at the loss of loved ones, including Shirley Bohlman’s huband “Doc,”
and Marjorie Holt’s husband Duncan, both Associate Members of our club. In addition,
we lost our beloved Club Member, Carole DiLodovico. Please keep their families in your
hearts. Our member, Wendy Trebbe, has been holding a prayer group for the past year.
Meetings are on the 1st & 3rd Mondays, and 2nd & 4th Tuesdays. Please plan to attend
this wonderful gathering.