Lake Clifton Alumni Association Inc.
Meeting Minutes – May 17, 2014
Location: Reach Partnership Building –Lake Clifton Campus
The meeting was opened with prayer by Jewel Crum.
Members in attendance were Jewel Crum (75), Tanya Knight (80), Richard McCoy (75), Raynette
Raimer (81) Myra Sanders (77), and Shelly Scruggs (81),
The minutes were not available from the April 2014 meeting.
The treasurer’s report was not available but will be presented at the June meeting.
Presidents Report – Richard reported that there was a meeting held on Wednesday May 14,
2014 at the Councilwoman Rita Church Recreation Center between the coalition group of Lake
Clifton Partners and Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. He attended representing the alumni
associations’ position. The coalition group was chaired by Mark Washington who is the
executive director of the Coldspring/Homestead/Montebello Community Organization and is
also a Lake Clifton alumnus. The group wanted the mayor’s support in the replacement building
process of the new Lake Clifton Campus replacement building. The group was recommending
that the replacement building be constructed adjacent and connected to the old Clifton Park Jr.
High Building on Harford Road. It would connect the past with the future by incorporating that
historic building with a new 21st century building and making the new Lake Clifton replacement
building unique. It would also minimize more damage to green space in Clifton Park. A diagram
was drawn on the board to show members in attendance. Many on the coalition committee
were concerned about the large number of surplus school buildings in the Clifton Park area.
Currently the Paquin Building on Sinclair lane has been surplused, the William March Building is
vacant and the old Clifton Park Building is vacant. In addition the school system is looking to
surplus the current Lake Clifton Building after the new building is built. The coalition group was
also recommending instead of leaving the current building vacant to create new usage for the
Clifton Park Communities and the City of Baltimore. It was suggested to use the current
auditorium as a community theater, keeping the central core areas for community usage, using
the gym areas for citywide athletic events and using the pool as an indoor aquatic center. This
facility would be operated by the Baltimore City Department of Parks & Recreation. If funding
could be obtained the educational units (old A&B and C&D) would be demolished and more
green space created in its absence with possible a small lake on the property. This plan would
go a long way in stimulating the resurgence of Clifton Park since there has already been a
master plan for the park to upgrade its facilities and make it more attractive for the
surrounding communities. Richard has continuously met with the community associations of
South Clifton Park, Darley Park, Coldspring/Homestead/Montebello, Oliver, Broadway Middle
east and Berea to keep those communities abreast of developments in Clifton Park.
Committee Reports
Membership – renewals for Akkra Tucker (75) and Rhonda Tucker (75).
Fundraising – Richard reported that the final report on the Atlantic Bus trip will be
submitted at next month’s meeting. He also reported the updates on the upcoming Evening Of
Elegance All Class Fundraiser scheduled for Saturday July 12, 2014 from 6:30 pm to 1:00 am at
the Firemark Building Hall which is located at 8684 Veterans Highway Millersville Maryland. The
hall has been secured and a contract signed. The DJ has been secured and a contract signed.
Live musicians have been secured and a contract signed. Tickets have been printed and
distributed to committee members Loretta Birchett, Monica Opher, Raynette Raimer, Shelly
Scruggs and Richard McCoy. Each has 25 tickets. Loretta has printed flyers. Two caterers have
been visited for food tasting. There is another food tasting scheduled on Thursday May 22,
2014 with Charm City Caterer. As with all services sought by the association, we are looking for
excellent services at the lowest prices. We have started a media blitz using Facebook, Evite,
flyers and the monthly alumni newsletter. We will start using public service announcements
and explore other ways to promote the event. Richard also mentioned to the group that the
other Laker all class event will follow ours two weeks later. That event is posted on the Laker 4
Life Facebook group by alumnus Greg Baugh and will be a $25.00 event. Richard reiterated that
when he asked Greg about their date before booking ours was told that their event would be
later in the summer around August which is now not true. Richard also stated that we are
offering an excellent product for an event of this type. We are marketing it to all classes so we
needed a hook to get people interested in attending. That’s why the membership is being
offered and the people attending will know that they are helping the school with monetary
donations that are coming from the proceeds of this event. Richard also mentioned that we will
honor several teachers and administrators that night. If any of the committee members or
alumni members have a former teacher, administrator or principal that they would like to see
honored please send that name to Richard and we will compile a list and select recipients. The
big difference between an all class event and a traditional class reunion is when people attend
their individual class reunion it’s usually just their class year and they are inclined because they
will be seeing people that they may not have seen in a while. With our all class event we are
reaching out to all especially persons whose class year has not been able to have a reunion as
well as others that want to help the school through a fundraiser.
Old Business – The election will be held next month at the June meeting of the association. The
date is Saturday June 21, 2014. The offices open for candidates are:
President, Vice President, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Business Manager, Assistant Business
Manager, Sgt. At Arms, Secretary, and Members at Large. The criteria for running is a
prospective candidate must be current in their dues. Any officer holding an office or any nonofficer that wishes to run for any office should send their name to Richard by June 7, 2014. On
June 8th an e-mail or letter will be sent out to all members that are current in their dues and
those members can vote in the election on June 21st. Any member that needs to pay their dues
can mail them to the association’s post office box which is The Lake Clifton Alumni Association
P.O. Box 29131 Baltimore Maryland 21205. Dues should be received by June 7th. On June 8th a
list will be sent out to all members. This e-mail and letter will list any candidate that is running
for office along with members that are current in their dues and eligible to vote. Contact
information will also be available for any prospective candidate that wants to contact eligible
members to solicit their support and obtain their vote. Instructions will also be listed on how
eligible members can either vote in person, by US Postal mail and e-mail.
Jewel had concerns about the qualifications for persons seeking offices. She wanted to be sure
a person is qualified. Richard stated that members giving their time carries a lot of weight and
that certain offices do not need qualifications but more of a willingness of persons to step up
and help the organization. Jewel also stated that she will be a candidate for the office of
president. She feels that she can bring persons back to serve in the organization. Richard stated
that since the association’s inception thirteen years ago that many things have changed which
affect person’s level of participation. In that time many members have become grandparents,
some have health concerns, others are working multiple jobs and many have seen how big of a
project this has become. Which requires more than some persons can commit at this time.
Jewel had concerns about the direction the organization is going in and with no formal
fundraising committee. She had concerns about who organized the Atlantic City Bus Trip and
the All Class Evening of Elegance. Richard stated that the association has done the Atlantic City
trip yearly because our patrons enjoy the trip. It has never been a big money maker because we
keep our costs low which is especially important now because of all the new casinos that
people can select from. He also mentioned that the Evening of Elegance was discussed at prior
monthly meetings of the association and interested persons have been working as a
committee. It was announced of the upcoming food tasting and Jewel was invited. Richard
stated that even though we have not had a fundraising committee that the association still was
listening to ideas and suggestions and pursuing them to continue to raise funds for the
organization. Jewel thanked Richard for what he has done but felt the organization needs
changes. Richard stated that he has no problem in stepping down if we had persons committed
to our cause. He stated that we had the officers of the “Laker 4 Life” group attend our meetings
in hope of some type of merger previously. He hoped that since they are younger in age that
their youth and our experience would make one dynamic organization that could continue to
flourish. That did not happen. He also explained that when meetings are held concerning the
“Lake Clifton Campus Building and its current schools that when there are not advocates at the
table to speak up for them, the system feels like there is no support for those schools. He
stated that is why the system continues to close schools and surplus buildings. He stated that
he gets no personal fulfillment by attending important meetings such as the one with the
mayor, he simply wants to make sure the alumni voice is heard. Our staff and principals cannot
speak up for themselves, many parents do not care and some students do not realize how
serious this situation is.
The meeting was closed in prayer by Richard at 5:30pm. The next meeting will be at this same
location on June 21, 2014 at 4:00 pm.
Minutes were recorded and distributed by Richard McCoy