NOGLSTP - Chesapeake Region

Hi All,

I’m writing to keep everyone posted on some exciting events and opportunities the National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals - Chesapeake Region has coming up this summer. On Saturday, July 14, from 3 to 7 pm, Vice Chair Greg Sachs will be hosting a barbecue at his home in Baltimore County; this is a save-the-date, so look for full details closer to the event. In addition, we’ll be hosting social dinners in DC and in Baltimore this summer, to be scheduled after this year’s pride festivals.

Which brings me to my next point, which is our organization’s planned presence at both the Capital Pride Festival on Sunday, June 10, and the Baltimore Pride Festival on Sunday, June 17. The Capital Pride Festival is held on Pennsylvania Avenue, between 4th and 7th Streets, NW, while the Baltimore Pride Festival is in Druid Hill Park. Each festival lasts from 11am until 6pm, and we’d like to have two people on duty at all times. That means we need to fill 14 person-hours at each festival, and we need your help. The Pride Festivals comprise our best chance to build our membership each year. We are preparing a range of materials, including membership forms, brochures, and copies of the national newsletter, so you’ll have all of the information about the organization right in front of you. We’ll also brief you on the main talking points. And if you haven’t been able to be as involved with NOGLSTP-CR as you would like to be, we’ll make sure to pair you with someone who has more familiarity with our activities.

I am coordinating our volunteer schedule, so please e-mail me directly with your availability. You can let me know a specific period of time you’d like to sign up for, or a maximum amount of time and a range during which you’re available. We currently have staffing needs throughout the day at both festivals, but we are in particular need of assistance between 1 and 4 pm in DC. This is also a great opportunity to get a friend, co-worker, or partner involved in NOGLSTP; if you bring in a second person to work a shift with you, it satisfies twice as much of our needs and gives you reliable companionship during your shift. Please include your full name and the full name of any other person who would be staffing with you, along with a contact phone number at which we can reach you during the day of the festival. I look forward to hearing from you soon, and I’ll get back to you as quickly as possible with a confirmation of when you will be volunteering.

I also have updates on some previous events. Back in March, NOGLSTP-CR participated in judging at the Anne Arundel County Science and Engineering Fair, where we gave our $400 first place award to Jack Andraka, a 15-year-old student who developed a more sensitive and less expensive test to detect pancreatic cancer in its early stages. We were delighted (but not surprised) this past week when we learned that young Mr. Andraka won the Intel Science and Engineering Fair’s top prize of $75,000! And, finally, the proposed bylaws amendments were passed unanimously by the quorum of voting members who attended the business meeting earlier this month, and the updated bylaws will be made available on the NOGLSTP-CR Yahoo! group. Among the changes is the name of the office I hold, which brings me to…

Sincerely,
David Kaplan
Chair, NOGLSTP-CR

Hi Everybody,

The National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals - Chesapeake Region is planning a business meeting on May 15 in order to introduce amendments to our bylaws prior to this year’s elections. The short business meeting will take place at the Golden Flame Restaurant in Silver Spring, where a social dinner will follow; the restaurant is an easy walk from the Silver Spring Metro. Although only members of NOGLSTP-CR can vote on the bylaws change, all are welcome to observe the meeting and to join us for dinner.

What: NOGLSTP-CR DC business meeting and social dinner
Where: Golden Flame Restaurant (8630 Fenton St., Silver Spring, MD, http://goldenflamerestaurant.com/golden_home.html)
When: Tuesday, May 15, 6 pm
RSVP: NOGLSTP-CR-owner@yahoogroups.com, by Friday, May 11

The officers will arrive by 6 pm; the restaurant is providing a semi-private seating area where we will begin with cocktails. The officers will be wearing name tags for those who haven’t met us yet, and we’ll also make sure the host or hostess knows where to find us. The business meeting will take place at 6:30, and we’ll place food orders afterwards, at about 7 pm. We hope you’ll be able to join us.

Detailed information about the proposed bylaws change will be sent directly to all current members, and is also available to anyone else upon request. The main points, however, are that the offices of Chairman and Vice Chairman would be changed to Chair and Vice Chair, the term of office would change from one year to two, the start date of the term of office would move from July 1 to August 1, the Chair would be granted the power to fill a vacant office by appointment if a vacancy occurs shortly before a regularly scheduled election, and a formatting error in the bylaws would be corrected.

If anyone is a lapsed or prospective member and would like to be able to vote on the bylaws amendments, one can become a voting member by paying dues at the meeting or at any time prior to that.

Sincerely,
David Kaplan
Chairman, NOGLSTP-CR

Hello All,

For the last two years, NOGLSTP-CR has presented an award at the Anne Arundel County Regional Science and Engineering Fair. We are eager to continue this new tradition at this year’s fair on Saturday, March 3, and we hope to expand to additional science fairs in the region beginning next year. This year, we will be giving out as many as 5 monetary awards totaling up to $800. This is a very large science fair, so we want to have any many judges as possible. Because judges will be representing NOGLSTP-CR and will be acting on the organization’s behalf, judges for this award must be NOGLSTP members; membership forms are available on the Yahoo! group, and completed forms can be brought with a dues payment on the day of the fair if you are not currently a member. The judges will divide up the exhibits to determine which ones might qualify for the award’s criteria, which involve responsibility in science, and then we will consider the exhibits together to pick a winner. I apologize for the short notice, but online registration should be completed by today, February 16; if you plan to participate, please fill out the registration form at http://www.aacps.org/science/judges and also RSVP directly to us. When filling out the form, identify yourself as a “Special Award Judge” on question 3 and answer NOGLSTP-CR on question 4. Please make sure you can arrive at North County High School in time for the 9:15 am judges’ orientation. More information about the science fair is available at http://www.aacps.org/science/secondscifair.asp. If you are already involved in judging a science fair in the Chesapeake region, please let us know so that we can consider establishing a presence there in a future year.

What: Anne Arundel County Science and Engineering Fair
Who: NOGLSTP members
Where: North County High School (http://www.northcountyhs.org/)
When: Saturday, March 3, 9:15 am to 12:30 pm
RSVP: NOGLSTP-CR-owner@yahoogroups.com and http://www.aacps.org/science/judges, by Thursday, February 16

This is a great opportunity to get involved with the local community, and we hope to see you there!

Sincerely,
David Kaplan
Chairman, NOGLSTP-CR

Hi Everyone,

The National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals - Chesapeake Region is planning a visit to the National Cryptologic Museum (http://www.nsa.gov/about/cryptologic_heritage/museum/), a repository of information on the profession of cryptology in the United States. The museum is adjacent to Fort Meade, and can be easily reached from Baltimore and from DC via Routes 95 and 295. We’ll meet for lunch at 11 am at the Bob Evans located one exit south of the museum on 295, at 3361 Corridor Market Place, Laurel, MD 20724.

Where: National Cryptologic Museum, MD 295 and MD 32 (see website, above, for directions)
When: Saturday, December 3, 11 am (lunch), 12:30 pm (museum)
Cost: Free
RSVP: NOGLSTP-CR-owner@yahoogroups.com, by Wednesday, November 30, please

The museum is open until 2 pm that day. As long as our group is 6 or more, the museum will organize a 90-minute tour for us. If our group is not that large, we will just take that amount of time to explore the museum on our own. When you RSVP, please let us know whether you will join us for lunch and/or for the museum. We’ll provide cell phone numbers for some of the officers so you can find us easily that day if you haven’t met us before. We hope to see you there!

Sincerely,
David Kaplan
Chairman, NOGLSTP-CR

Hi All,

I’m writing you a quick note to let you know about a local event not affiliated with NOGLSTP-CR but closely tied to our goals. This Friday, October 21, from 4 to 5 pm, Sharon Bertsch McGrayne will give a talk on Bayes’ rule, a controversial idea in statistics that was vindicated through its use by Alan Turing. Alan Turing was the father of computer science, but he faced insurmountable discrimination later in his life due to his homosexuality. The talk will take place on the campus of George Washington University, at Duques 651 (2201 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20052).

In addition, I wanted to acknowledge with regret the death of Frank Kameny, an important early pioneer in the struggle for LGBT rights. An astronomer, he was fired by the United States Army Map Service in 1957 after it was discovered that he was gay; he dedicated the remainder of his life to activism. He brought the United States’ first civil rights claim on the basis of sexual orientation, though he lost the case. Kameny co-founded the Mattachine Society and coined the slogan “Gay is Good.” In 2009, the openly gay director of the Office of Personnel Management, John Berry, formally apologized to Kameny for his termination. Frank Kameny died at the age of 86 on Tuesday, October 11, as a result of heart disease.

Sincerely,
David Kaplan
Chairman, NOGLSTP-CR

Back in 2008, the National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals - Chesapeake Region organized a trip to the National Air & Space Museum on the National Mall. But we’ve neglected the excellent collection housed at the museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Northern Virginia (nasm.si.edu/udvarhazy). Of particular note, they currently hold the Space Shuttle Enterprise, NASA’s original flight-test model for the Space Shuttle program; Enterprise is expected to be swapped out for Discovery in the near future. Please join us on Sunday, October 2, as we take in the Udvar-Hazy Center’s impressive assortment of aviation and spaceflight treasures.

Where: Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, 14390 Air & Space Museum Parkway, Chantilly, VA (see website, above, for directions)
When: Sunday, October 2, 1pm
Cost: Free*
RSVP: NOGLSTP-CR-owner@yahoogroups.com, by Friday, September 30, please

*Admission is free. However, there is a $15 parking fee. (There is also a bus that goes there, the Dulles 2 Dulles Connector.)

Normally, we like to include a lunch gathering as part of our events. However, the Udvar-Hazy center is not really near anything else (and the only dining on-site is a single fast-food location). So we will simply meet at 1 pm, inside the main entrance. In planning your day, you may also want to make some time to check out the Solar Decathlon on the National Mall (www.solardecathlon.gov). The Solar Decathlon is an exhibition of solar-powered model homes, and it will be open to the public September 23 through October 2.

Due to the parking fee, we recommend carpooling. If you would be interested in carpooling, please include your location and transportation situation with your RSVP, and we will try to help you find one or more people with whom to carpool. We hope to see you there!

If you weren’t able to join us in Baltimore for dinner last week (or even if you were), your second chance is coming up in DC. As promised, the National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals - Chesapeake Region is organizing a second social dinner on Monday, August 22, to better serve our DC-based associates. This dinner is an opportunity for all of our current and prospective members, especially the most recent additions to our mailing list, to network in a relaxing environment. The dinner will be held at Maddy’s Bar & Grille, which is easily walked from Dupont Circle.

We will be sharing a $100 gift certificate among all dinner attendees (contingent on a total dinner bill of at least $200).

What: NOGLSTP-CR DC social dinner
Where: Maddy’s Bar (1726 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC, http://maddysbar.com/, (202) 483-2266)
When: Monday, August 22, 6 pm
RSVP: NOGLSTP-CR-owner@yahoogroups.com, by Friday, August 19

The restaurant’s website is currently down, but I called them to make a reservation, so we know for sure that they are open for business as usual; for any inquiries about the restaurant, please contact them directly by phone. The officers will arrive by 6 pm; we’ll start with cocktails at the bar and we’ll be seated at 6:30 pm. The officers will be wearing name tags for those who haven’t met us yet, and we’ll also make sure the host or hostess knows where to find us. We hope you’ll be able to join us. We look forward to answering your questions about NOGLSTP-CR, learning more about you and your interests, and hearing your thoughts on possible future activities for the group.

Each summer, the National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals - Chesapeake Region organizes social dinners in Baltimore and DC as an opportunity for all of our current and prospective members, especially the most recent additions to our mailing list, to network in a relaxing environment. This year, the scheduling worked out such that the Baltimore dinner will be several weeks before the one in DC, so please consider this a save-the-date for the DC dinner on Monday, August 22. See below for specific details on the Baltimore dinner.

What: NOGLSTP-CR Baltimore social dinner
Where: Marie Louise Bistro (904 North Charles St., Baltimore, http://marielouise-bistro.com/)
When: Tuesday, August 2, 6 pm
RSVP: NOGLSTP-CR-owner@yahoogroups.com, by Friday, July 29

The officers will arrive at each restaurant by 6 pm; we’ll start with cocktails at the bar (which is upstairs) and we’ll be seated at 6:30 pm. Marie Louise is a casual restaurant serving eclectic European cuisine. The officers will be wearing name tags for those who haven’t met us yet, and we’ll also make sure the host or hostess knows where to find us. We hope you’ll be able to join us. We look forward to answering your questions about NOGLSTP-CR, learning more about you and your interests, and hearing your thoughts on possible future activities for the group.

For the last five years, NOGLSTP-CR has regularly participated in the Capital Pride and Baltimore Pride festivals. This year, we are looking at the possibility of also participating in the Chesapeake Pride Festival (http://chesapeakepridefestival.org/), a growing pride festival held near Annapolis later in the summer. This year, the festival is on Saturday, August 20th, from noon to 6 pm. It will be held at Mayo Beach Park in Edgewater, MD. If you are able to help us staff a table at this event, please write directly back to me and let me know. We anticipate that getting to and from this location may be a challenge for some potential volunteers, so please also let me know if you would be willing to provide a ride to another volunteer traveling from near your point of origin.

The National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals - Chesapeake Region invites you to join us for some summer fun on Saturday, July 9, at the Annapolis home of NOGLSTP-CR member Lawrie Hollingsworth. This is a family-friendly event, so please bring your partners, children, and other family.

What: Barbecue and Movie Night
Where: Home of Lawrie Hollingsworth in Annapolis (see text, below, for address and parking information)
When: Saturday, July 9, 3 pm - LATE (rain or shine)
RSVP: NOGLSTP-CR-owner@yahoogroups.com, by Wednesday, July 6

This will be a fun, informal gathering. NOGLSTP-CR will provide basic grilling items (hot dogs, burgers, and veggie burgers–along with buns) and condiments (ketchup, mustard, and relish). BYOB (including alcoholic beverages if desired, but always drink responsibly), along with anything else you’d like to grill and your favorite fixings. Please also bring a side dish or a dessert to share. Lawrie has graciously offered to host us into the night and to grant us the use of her entertainment center to watch some movies. So please also bring your favorite family-friendly films.

Lawrie lives at 1706 Trinity Place, Annapolis, MD 21401. Per Lawrie, “We are at the end of a cul de sac, so parking is no problem. We just ask that people not park in our driveway; the kids play ball there and will probably be riding scooters or something up and down it.” For directions, Lawrie suggests that you use Mapquest. Once you’re in range, here is some guidance from Lawrie: “We are in a private community on the water called The Downs. When you turn off Route 178 onto Old Generals Highway and go down Sherwood Forest Dr., you’ll turn right through Coachway and see 2 brick markers that say ‘The Downs.’ When you go a few more blocks on Coachway, you’ll come to the main entrance and see bigger brick gates that have ‘The Downs’ written on them. First street on the right after that is Trinity Place.”

Lawrie’s home features a deck, a fire pit, and (she guarantees) “the biggest grill you have ever seen at anyone’s house.” Feel free to bring any activities that can be safely enjoyed in the out-of-doors. This is a rain or shine event, as Lawrie will make her spacious interior available if necessary, and the grill is in a covered area. So if the weather looks bad, feel free to bring board games and other indoor activities, instead.