Welcome to SMCR's Monthly Newsletter
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A Note from Our Executive Director, Bonnie Elward
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Dear Friends,
The countdown has begun! As we head into these long awaited warmer months, we are excitedly counting down to our third annual Solomons Island Dragon Boat Festival on August 18
th
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This special event is our largest fundraiser, enabling SMCR to provide inclusive, free or low-cost programs and events to our members. However, it is much more than just a fundraiser. It is a day filled with joy, comradery, and community spirit. Whether racing on a team or just enjoying the festivities as a spectator, there is something for everyone. The festival offers delicious food, vendors with a unique selection of goods, entertainment for all, and engaging children’s activities.
Over the next few months, this newsletter will highlight some of the wonderful teams, volunteers, local businesses, participants and sponsors that help make this event a huge success. We are so grateful to each of them for their sponsorship, participation, and enthusiasm. Once again this year, we are fortunate to have Cedar Point Federal Credit Union as our Presenting Sponsor.
If you have not been to the Solomons Island Dragon Boat Festival, we encourage you to bring family and friends and come experience this special day with us. After reading some of the team testimonials below, you might just be inspired to form your own team!
In Gratitude,
Bonnie
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On Friday, May 4th, we will have our "May the Fourth Be With You" Star Wars themed dance at Jesus the Divine Word in Huntingtown. Like all of our programs, this dance will be inclusive, family-friendly, and fun!
There will be no movie night in St. Mary's on May 4th.
We hope to see all of our St. Mary's and Calvert County members at this free event. There will be dancing, crafts, and lite refreshments from 6-8pm. If you happen to have a Star Wars costume, feel free to dress up! (No masks or weapons, please)
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Upcoming Programs-Mark Your Calendar!
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St. Mary's County Programs
April 27th-Game Night
at Patuxent Presbyterian Church, California 6:00-8:00pm-Free
May 4th-There will be no St. Mary's movie night.
Instead, please join us at our "May the Fourth" Star Wars themed dance at Jesus the Divine Word Catholic Church in Huntingtown from 6:00-8:00pm. Admission is free.
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Calvert County Programs
April 28th-Dramatic Performance/Movie Night
at St.
John Vianney Family Life Center, Prince Frederick 6:30-8:30pm (Performance starts at 7:00pm) Lite dinner available for $5.00. I
n place of our usual movie night, the St. John Vianney Drama Ministry will be presenting the play “Encountering Faith” by Alexander Campbell.
May 4th
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"May the Fourth" - Star Wars themed dance
at Jesus the Divine Word Catholic Church, Huntingtown from 6:00-8:00pm-Free
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Solomons Island Dragon Boat Festival
What is it?
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St. Aloysius Youth team out on the water.
Photo courtesy of Leonard Wathen
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The Dragon Boat Festival is an island-wide, admission-free event with food, vendors, entertainment and activities. At the heart of the festival are the heart-pumping dragon boat races. Groups of friends, families, businesses, and community organizations form teams and race in 40-foot dragon boats each with their own drummer keeping cadence.
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The AMEWAS, Inc. team-Drag'n Butt.
Photo courtesy of Joel Sewell
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Not only do teams compete for the fastest time, but they also compete for Best Tent Decorations, Best Team Costumes, and, the highly coveted award, Most Funds Raised. Proceeds go directly to SMCR, Inc. for the development and support of programs and events for individuals with developmental differences.
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What is the best part of having a team in the Dragon Boat races?
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"The experience of team work has been my favorite part of the Dragon Boat Festival. It takes a lot of coordination and hard work among paddlers to compete well, and it’s amazing to see every paddler giving their very best and overcoming their own exhaustion for the sake of the team."
Leonard Wathen-St. Aloysius Youth
Returning for their 3rd year
"The best part was a fun team building experience while supporting a good cause. It was a fantastic day and many friends and family members joined our team to cheer them on from the boardwalk. Team Spalding also won Best Team Costumes!"
Jeff Thomas-Spalding Consulting
Returning for their 2nd year
"Racing (working together as a team), enjoying the restaurants on the island; and raising money for a good cause."
J
oel Sewell-AMEWAS, Inc.-Team Drag'n Butt
Returning for their 2nd year
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"To see the community come out and support such a great cause. It was a great day of team building for team Simms Tortuga and a lot of laughs!!! We loved it!"
Sandy Dorsey-The Simms Insurance Agency-Team Simms Tortuga
Returning for their 2nd year
Team Simms Tortuga-Photo courtesy of Sandy Dorsey
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Would you like to be a volunteer at our programs? Or would you like to be a part of our Dragon Boat Festival?
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We have many different types of volunteer roles available, but our greatest area of need is to have volunteers join us
in participating in our inclusive programs, socializing, and having fun, right alongside our members. We are also in need of Dragon Boat Festival volunteers.
Please contact Caryn Fossile at 410-610-0375 for more information.
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Team Spalding-Spalding Consulting- in their winning Minions costumes.
Photo courtesy of Jeff Thomas
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Thank you to Cedar Point Federal Credit Union for once again being our Solomons Island Dragon Boat Festival generous event sponsor. There are many opportunities for sponsorship. Please visit
www.SolomonsDragonBoatFestival.com
to learn more about various sponsorship levels.
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Save the Date for Zumbathon
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Board member Bonnie Gateau, of Gateau Health and Wellness,
has been busy planning fundraisers for SMCR.
Be sure to save the date for Zumbathon on June 30th. Get ready to move to the music with this festive workout! We look forward to seeing many friendly faces at these events as we raise funds to provide valuable programs and events for our members.
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If you are on Facebook, please be sure to like our page. You can find us by searching for Southern Maryland Community Resources, or clicking on the link below.
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Are you an Amazon shopper? If so, be sure to go to Amazon Smile and designate Southern Maryland Community Resources as your charity of choice. You'll still get the same great Amazon experience and we'll get a donation based on your purchases! Visit smile.amazon.com to sign up.
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Thank you for reading our April newsletter. We always value your input, so please contact us with suggestions and ideas!
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