BLOG: CRCC News and Notes Jan. 17

With the annual Board of Directors meeting behind them, the Crofton Regional Community Center (CRCC) is now totally focused on the Sweetheart's Ball on Feb. 18 as well as the next CRCC General Meeting on Feb.1 at Ledo's Restaurant. There is a lot to do to make these a success and everyone is working hard.

The Board Meeting proved to be a grand success, pleased to say. Essex Bank laid out the red carpet for us and supplied plentiful food and drink and an impressive meeting room. Attendance was good as the room was filled.

With the help and suggestion of others, we have new ideas and more help. A new presentation was seen by all from the CRCC. It showed what we have done as well as our needs for the future. One CRCC member pointed out that the Severna Park Community Center has been impressed at how far we've come in such a short time. It took them much longer to achieve what we have achieved. I think it important that everyone understand this and not simply think of what still must be done.

Our first grant application took much work on Irene Bedard's time and she would like to find others to assist and get involved in grant writing with her. It would require a few hours a week. A second grant will soon go forward and we hope for more people to be involved. This would include discovering new sources for funds using networking, searching grant announcements, and reviewing available grant and funding requirements that the CRCC can fulfill. A log has been established to record grant application activity for the CRCC. This can be available to volunteers and maintained throughout the process. It can be a rewarding and fun project for individuals who have experience in fundraising and the process of submitting proposals for available grants. Many private businesses find it to their benefit to donate funds to deserving non-profit entities such as the CRCC.

One of the Board Members commented on the good job Frank Bedard has done with getting a program design of the facility. We are very excited about the lower cost projection we recently got and the plans for where we are going.

At our next general meeting on Feb 1 at Ledo's Restaurant a second presentation will be shown. Christian Hodges has created one that shows highlights of all the CRCC has been involved with up to now. This General Meeting will have far more to discuss than previous ones as we draw closer to our plans than ever before. The meeting starts promptly at 7 pm and lasts about an hour and a half, but for those who would order food, you are urged to come earlier. That also gives you a chance to talk informally and meet everyone.

Tickets are actively being sold for the Sweetheart's Ball on Feb. 18. (You can purchase them here on our website) This will take place in the Blue Dolphin's Banquet Room in back of the restaurant and last from 6:30 - 11 pm. It is modeled after last years, only with the help of electricity this time, much nicer. The food and drink are lavish, the surprises are plentiful, the music, dancing and live entertainment are special and the silent auction is just filled with many wonderful items to bid on. Also, with everyone dressed in their finest, a photographer will be available for picture taking at a low price. Tickets can be purchased at $150 for a couple and $100 for a single ticket through PayPal on our website, or at the following stores: Minuteman Press, and Hair Experience, both located in Crofton. More stores may be announced next week. Our home page gives more information on all this and you may also call John Hollywood at 301-261-3515.

Donations of auction items are still being sought, but a few examples of what we have so far include "A Day on the Bay", "Lunch with Bob Duckworth plus a tour of the court house", "All Things Scottish Basket", "Murder Mystery Novel Basket", "Crofton Country Club Free Golf Foursome". More to be mentioned later.

If you would like to have the CRCC's next Newsletter sent to you, please call me at 410-793-3896 and have your name added to the mailing list. Or email me at doyle1718@comcast.net.

To anyone who would like to learn more of the Crofton Regional Community Center, please join us at Ledo's on Feb. 1, and check out our web site at www.croftonregionalcommunitycenter.net.

I urge you all to remember that this community center is FOR the community and will be built BY the community. No one else is going to build it and if each person gave only a little towards the building of it, it would be built that much faster. Remember, all donations are tax-free for a non-profit organization. It's YOUR community center. Please watch us grow in 2012!

The Crofton Regional Community Center is a tax-free, non-profit organization formed to open a community center and a skate park in Crofton. The website is at www.croftonregionalcommunitycenter.net. The Facebook fan page is at www.facebook.com/theCRCC. Email comments and questions to Donna Doyle atdoyle1718@comcast.net.