Workplace – Gary Bennett Publishing

Go For the Good, Frederick

By Gary Bennett

This article appears in the April 11, 2024 issue of the Frederick News-Post’s entertainment insert, “72 Hours.”

Does the never ending political rancor of the day have you down? Other than turning off Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC, I have the perfect antidote for you – volunteering!

There are so many human needs out there, and let’s face it, government can never hope to serve them all, nor should it. That’s where we come in. Endless opportunities await you in Frederick County and beyond, if you have a sincere desire to make a difference.

I know what you’re thinking: “I’d like to volunteer but I just don’t have the time” …or maybe “I don’t know where to start.” If you live here but work in Montgomery County or Washington D.C., you may have a very good point on the first issue. I’ve been there, too. After three or four hours of roundtrip commuting piled on top of your work day, there is little time left for much more than dinner, TV and bedtime. No one can blame you for not getting involved.

But, I’m here to tell you that most volunteer organizations will happily take as much or as little time as you can spare. I can assure you that two hours spent volunteering once a week will feel much better to you than those two hours spent watching TV.

Actually, volunteering just two hours per week would make you a super volunteer. According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency, Americans who volunteer average about one hour per week doing so. And, there are a lot of us volunteers. Seventy-seven million adults in the U.S., or about one in three, volunteer in some capacity in 2017.

As for not being sure about where to start, I can help you there, too.

Like to walk or run? Why not help out with an annual 5K or 10K walk/run to benefit a local health-related charity? There are too many to make a comprehensive list so I’ll mention just two: the annual Walk
MS: Frederick will be held April 13 at Fredrick High School was held May 4 at Harry Grove Stadium to benefit the Multiple Sclerosis Society and people with MS Relay for Life on May 17 and 18 at Frederick Community College benefiting the American Cancer Society and celebrating cancer survivors. Organizations like these always need volunteers to set up, tear down, mark the course, serve refreshments, or to simply cheer on the participants.

Like to clean? Believe it or not this activity is therapeutic for some people including ones like me who sit behind a desk all day. If so, why not volunteer for the annual Bring a Broom Saturday event on April 27 to help clean up downtown Frederick and ready it for tourist season. Sponsored by the Downtown Frederick Partnership, this event is perfect for those of us who burst with pride for downtown Frederick and want it to look its best.

Similar to that event but available on an ongoing basis is the State Highway Administration’s Adopt a Highway program. Since that program started in 1989, 120,000 Marylanders have cleaned over 15,000 miles of roadside. If either of these programs seems a little daunting, you can bet your local homeowners association will have a cleanup day. If not, start one!

Can you speak, write, and read English reasonably well? The Literacy Council of Frederick County is always in need of English tutors. This activity is typically accomplished one-on-one with one or two students and only takes a few hours per week. The staff at the Literacy Council makes it extremely easy to be a tutor. They will train you over two Saturdays and provide all the materials you will need and a step-by-step lesson plan. If you are interested, contact Holly Bohman or Jennifer Szabo at the Council. I can tell you firsthand that being an English tutor is an amazingly rewarding experience.

Can you make more of a commitment? If so, I can recommend any of Frederick’s venerable service clubs. Each has a little different focus, but all are committed to making Frederick County a better place to live and work. For example, the FSK Lions Club, to which I belong, focuses on eye health but also gets involved in many other things such as childhood cancer, diabetes, environmental issues and hunger. Besides the Lions Club, there are the Elks,
Kiwanis, Moose, Knights of Columbus, Jaycees, Boys and Girls Club, Frederick Women’s Civic Club, and Rotary Clubs, to name a few. Take a look online at what they do and arrange a visit. They will be happy to see you and will probably invite you to dinner.

Do you have aging parents and care deeply about the Greatest Generation and other seniors? Then reach out to the Frederick Senior Center. They sponsor fitness classes, arts and crafts, health information programs and other special events. They also serve up a nice lunch and support Meals on
Wheels. You could also reach out to Hospice of Frederick County, which helps to ensure a gentle passage through the final phase of life. Volunteers can work with terminally ill patients and their families to offer companionship, respite care and other services such as light housekeeping, running errands or pet care.

Want to make sure no one goes hungry? The City of Frederick and the Frederick Community Action Agency needs volunteers to help serve meals at the Community Table and to help gather and stock food items at the Food Bank You’ll be in good company. Collecting, distributing, preparing, and serving food is the No. 1 area of volunteerism in America.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg. National organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, American Red Cross, and United Way all have numerous local opportunities to help with housing, emergency relief and other human needs. Youth sports leagues need coaches, refs and other helpers. And don’t forget about local churches, volunteer fire associations, hospitals and libraries. All want and need your talents.

I highly recommend volunteermatch.org. Just plug in your zip code and they will serve up to you weekly all the close-in volunteer opportunities for you to consider.

‘A hand up’: Frederick’s leading advocate for ending homelessness in the county talks about his program and passion

By Gary Bennett

Ken Allread, Executive Director, Advocates for Homeless Families, Frederick, MD, 2024

This article appears in the Frederick News-Post’s February 2024 issue of “Prime Time” magazine.

It’s not often you find your life’s purpose after a lifetime of work, but that’s exactly what Advocates for Homeless Families executive director Ken Allread did.

Like most of us, Allread had been concerned with the welfare of homeless families his entire life but couldn’t do much about it. Then in 2009, he got an invitation to volunteer at Advocates for Homeless Families in Frederick. Now, he has been executive director for 15 years, and his passion for the mission of this somewhat obscure Frederick nonprofit has only grown.

After retiring in 2009 from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts in Washington, D.C., where he was serving as section chief in the budget division, Allread sat around the house for three weeks and decided it was not going to work for him. Luckily, his friend Joe Case was the current executive director at Advocates in Frederick and invited him to volunteer. “It will be fun,” Case wryly told Allread.

Although “fun” may not have been the best descriptor for the difficult work, it was certainly fulfilling. Allread took to his volunteer duties at Advocates with the same vigor he approached his paid career. In 2010, Allread was recognized as Advocates’ volunteer of the year, spending countless hours writing grants and doing other administrative tasks, freeing paid staff for other work.

In early 2011, the executive director position at Advocates became vacant when incumbent Joe Case decided to reestablish his professional contracting career in D.C. and left Advocates. Throwing caution (and perhaps a comfortable retirement) to the wind, Allread applied for and got the job in September 2011.

He was thrilled, but taking the job turned out to be a tough decision for Allread. At about this same time, his former employers at the U.S. Courts came calling. They wanted him to go to Serbia and help get that former communist country into the European Union. To do so, they would have to show a separation of powers. Allread took a leave of absence from Advocates, traveled to Serbia and helped their newly formed independent judiciary write an operating manual.

From homelessness to homeownership. One of Advocates’ families recently moved directly from temporary housing to their first home!

“They wanted me to stay in Serbia for a lot of money. But at the time, Joe [Case] was leaving and Advocates probably would have failed. So, I had a choice to make, and I chose Advocates,” Allread said.

Because of less than stellar management prior to Case coming on board, Advocates had only $20,000 in the bank. Most of the other nonprofits and foundations no longer trusted Advocates. Allread had to work hard to rebuild that goodwill. And by all indications, he has succeeded.

Advocates for Homeless Families is a valuable but somewhat hidden asset in Frederick County.

Perhaps misnamed, Advocates does much more than advocate on behalf of homeless families in Frederick. It operates two successful programs designed to keep homeless families together, off the streets, and eventually in a reliably-housed, stable, working, tax-paying situation.

Allread said he sees Advocates as a holistic program first and housing-provider second.

“The housing is just a means to an end,” he said. “We are a program and not a shelter. We want our clients to stand on their own, and we do everything we can to make that happen.”

Advocates currently owns 12 apartments and townhouses in Frederick that provide families with an alternative to life on the streets. Aptly named, the transitional housing program serves as a transition from shelters to permanent housing. It features intensive case management that can last up to two years.

During that time, families pay a housing fee of 30% of their income with a cap of $300 per month. “There are no free rides,” said Allread. “The goal is to eventually get them standing on their own and into public housing or, at least, get them Section 8 assistance.”

Receiving the highly subsidized housing requires more than just paying the fee. The program mandates education, training and support services to help families find jobs or increase earnings so they can afford to live on their own.

Keeping families together. A newly married couple from Advocates’ transitional housing program now has a gateway to a better life!

Advocates works closely with Frederick Community College and Hood College to steer clients into degree programs and trades that will provide enough money to live on. If they are accepted into a program like nursing, they can be with Advocates for up to three years.

“We support them as long as it takes to get that degree and a well-paying job. This doesn’t mean they won’t struggle along the way,” Allread said. “They do.”

All clients agree to a personalized plan and must meet monthly milestones to assess their progress. The program is successful in moving five or six families a year into permanent housing.

Allread admits there is a real need to increase Advocates’ funding so they can help more people by purchasing or renting more properties. They have a waiting list of about 60 households.

Currently, one-third of Advocates funding comes from private contributions, which includes individuals, civic organizations and businesses. One-third comes from charitable foundations and one-third comes from state and federal grants. A falloff in any of the three can really hurt.

He realizes Advocates has kept a low profile over the years but would like to change that. “We would love to have a development manager to get the word out about Advocates, but we’re just not ready financially. It is necessary. Our peers such as the Religious Coalition and Heartly House have development managers.”

Finally, Allread hopes the organization continues to expand and keep up its high success rate. He’s excited to see where Advocates goes in the future but overall, he knows the program works.

“Our operating philosophy is that we give a hand up and not a handout,” Allread said, “and we really mean it.”

Gary Bennett is a longtime Frederick resident who spends his time hiking, biking, volunteering and providing childcare for grandchildren. He is married and retired from his career as a nonprofit marketing executive. He is a volunteer board member for Advocates for Homeless Families.

No stopping her. Andrea, a single mother of four, has overcome homelessness and is now a full-time student at FCC and working part-time at FMH!

Advocates For Homeless Families

Wishes You Happy Holidays!

Advocates for Homeless Families is a unique and invaluable community resource for Frederick County’s struggling families with children. The support we provide to homeless families offers transitional housing and a year-long program of guidance that helps adults improve their standards of living and achieve permanent stable housing.

These are true gifts to be celebrated this holiday season.

Advocates’ families succeed in breaking the cycle of poverty and homelessness through gainful employment, increased education, and the caring support of case managers who keep them accountable. Since 1988, more than 2,500 homeless adults and children have become self-sustaining, contributing members of the Frederick community. They are our nurses, computer technicians, chefs, social service workers, members of the hospitality industry, and members of other professions, trades, and businesses.

Your gift to Advocates for Homeless Families helps us fulfill the promise of each family we serve. This year, we have provided housing and access to housing for 96 homeless adults and 99 children. We could not do this without your partnership.

Thank you for including Advocates for Homeless Families on your holiday giving list.

————————————————————–

YES! I WANT A BETTER FUTURE FOR FREDERICK COUNTY HOMELESS FAMILIES

___ $25 ___ $50 ___ $100 ___ $250 ___ $500 ___$ OTHER

DONOR NAME(S) AS IT SHOULD BE ACKNOWLEDGED

NAME: ______________________

ADDRESS: _______________________

CITY: _______________ STATE: ____ ZIP: ______

PHONE: _____________ EMAIL: _______________

RETURN THIS FORM TO:
Advocates for Homeless Families
216 Abrecht Place, Frederick, MD 21701 301-662-2003

DONATE ONLINE AT WWW.AFHF88.ORG

Tribute to Veterans — James B. Hubbard, Jr.

By Gary Bennett

Captain James B. Hubbard, Jr., US Army, 1968 and 2022

This article appears in the November 9, 2022, issue of the Frederick News Post’s ‘Tribute to Veterans’ supplement

When you meet James Hubbard for the first time, a sense of quiet confidence, competence and thoughtfulness comes through clearly.

And, it’s no wonder after the things he saw and accomplished in Vietnam in the late 1960s. He especially points to the story of his “alive day”—a day he not only remained alive under dire circumstances but proved he could think and function well under extreme pressure.

March 30, 1968 was a typical hot and humid day at fire support base Fels in the Vietnam delta near the town of Cai Lay. The base served as field headquarters for an infantry battalion. Sometime after 5:30 pm, the Viet Cong started dropping mortar rounds onto the base from about 1,000 yards away. Unfortunately, a few of the rounds caused six or seven casualties among the troops, a few very serious.

The battalion surgeon was soon on the phone asking then Lieutenant Hubbard for helicopters to immediately evacuate the worst casualties to a field hospital for treatment. Trouble was, it was extremely dark with no moon or stars to guide the chopper pilots. For just such an emergency, Captain Hubbard and his men had constructed a helipad, complete with 15 slanted holes about five yards apart in the shape of a T to hold tin cans that would, in turn, hold 15 flashlights to guide the pilots onto the base. This did the trick and the chopper landed safely.

Unfortunately, the chopper, with its flashing red lights, made a good target and the enemy soon started firing again. Through the chaos of shouts, screams of wounded men and enemy fire, Captain Hubbard and his men got the casualties loaded onto the chopper and out of harm’s way just as the last round landed near to their position. Extreme courage, preparation and inventiveness had saved the day. Captain Hubbard went on to receive the Silver Star for his service in Vietnam.

In 1973 Captain Hubbard was medically discharged by the Army due to a serious illness. Otherwise, he would have made the Army his career. The discipline and leadership skills he learned in the Army served him well over his long civilian career as a director and lobbyist for the American Legion, where he was a frequent presence testifying on Capitol Hill. One of his proudest moments at the Legion was assisting in the approval and dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC.

Not one to stop working, Captain Hubbard now serves as a volunteer at Monocacy National Battlefield giving tours and explaining what went on at this hallowed battlefield during the Civil War. “My time in the military taught me a lot about myself, about leadership, about buckling down and getting the job done, about decision-making. It was a really enjoyable part of my life, even though some of it was fraught with danger.”

James B. Hubbard, Jr. and his wife Judy live in Frederick and celebrated their 56^th wedding anniversary in 2022. They have two daughters and four grandchildren. Daughter Deborah Nylec assisted in the development of his book. To read more about Captain Hubbard’s time in Vietnam, read his book, From Michigan to Mekong, Letters on Life, Learning, Love and War 1961-1968.

Name: James Hubbard
Current Age: 79
Hometown: Ludington, MI
Year Enlisted: 1966
Years of Service: 6.5
Branch: Army
Rank when retired: Captain

Tribute to Veterans — Shawn Rearden

By Gary Bennett

Petty Officer 3rd Class Shawn Rearden, US Navy, 2001

This article appears in the November 9, 2022, issue of the Frederick News Post’s Tribute to Veterans supplement.

Shawn Rearden never saw himself as a leader but concludes his military service brought that out in him. “A few years ago, I had an evaluation and my manager at the time said you know that you’re one of the people in the OR that’s really looked up to as a leader, and I was like ‘really, why?’ I didn’t understand it—I’d never seen myself as that type of person.”

Rearden knows he wouldn’t be where he is today without his time in the service. He is a Surgical First Assistant at Frederick Health, and he’s working towards his nursing degree, on schedule to achieve that in December 2023. Rearden has been married to his wife Jen for 15 years and has a 12-year-old daughter, Molly. The Reardens make their home in Adamstown near Point of Rocks.

He enlisted in the Navy at 18 after four years of Army ROTC in high school and served for seven and a half years. The Navy was a no-brainer for Rearden as both his father and grandfather served in that branch. It also didn’t hurt that the Navy offered some of the best medical training available. As with many young men, military service offered a career path, a way to pay for college through the Gi Bill and a way to get out of his small town.

Rearden misses the structure and camaraderie at times but doesn’t feel like he particularly needed the structure at 18. He understands, however, that many young people do. “It’s not for everyone. If you have a problem with authority, you’re not going to do well. But if you can suck up your pride and realize they are breaking you down to rebuild you in a way that will make you productive then they’ll bring out the best in you. They definitely brought out the best in me.”

Rearden’s seamless transition from military to civilian life serves as a guide for others about to leave the service. He says it is important to get training that you can translate to civilian life. “Make sure you get some kind of certification that you can use when you get out. For me, Naval Hospital Corps School was basically the first semester of nursing school.” In fact, the training is so good that employers take notice right away. For his first job after leaving the military, Rearden said the hiring manager quipped “Maybe I should interview you. No, I’m going to hire you anyway. What shift do you want to work?”

Name: Shawn Rearden
Current Age: 40
Hometown: Sunbury, PA
Years of Service: 7.5
Branch: Navy
Rank when left service: Petty Officer 3^rd Class (HM3)

Lions Clubs Have Provided Community Care for More than 100 Years

By Gary Bennett and J. Lynn Stimmel

Lions strive to prevent avoidable blindness and help low-sight children by holding eye screenings at schools all over the world.

This article appeared in the October 25, 2022 issue of the Frederick News Post

If you’re newly retired, thinking about retiring, or you’ve been retired for quite some time, you might find yourself wanting to get more involved in your community.

A local Lions club is a great place to start.

You certainly don’t have to be retired to request membership in a local club, but it does help. According to Lions statistics, more than half of all members in the district that serves Frederick County are 65 or older. Another one-third are in the second half of their working lives, ages 45 to 65.

For retired folks, membership and community service through Lions clubs can give lives new meaning after your working days are over.

Lions often talk about the aha moment when true community care becomes clear to them.

For Susan Favorite of the Thurmont Lions Club, that moment came a number of years ago.

“We had conducted a pre-school vision screening on several children in the community. We had a child that came up with ‘refer’ as the recommendation, meaning the child should see an ophthalmologist,” Favorite recalls. “In the end, that the young child needed glasses. The story of how that child looked at its mother after putting those glasses on and saying “Mommy, I can see you now” makes me tear up to this day.”

Other Lions are young professionals and even students in middle school, high school and college who form what are called Leo clubs. Lions welcome anyone, even if they have limited time to help.

Lions are arguably the world’s most active service club. They get involved in just about every human need imaginable. As its literature puts it: “Where there’s a need, there’s a Lion.”

Indeed, each Lions club has its own service focus, but there are five global causes of particular interest that Lions seek to address:

• Reduce the prevalence of diabetes and improve quality of life for those diagnosed

• Prevent avoidable blindness and improve quality of life for people who are blind and visually impaired

• Ensure all community members have access to nutritious foods

• Protect and restore our environment to improve the well-being of all communities

• Support the needs of children and families affected by childhood cancer.

Lions, no matter the hardship, are happy to work with at-risk youth in after school programs.

There are over 48,000 Lions clubs and 1.4 million members worldwide. They are located in every continent and in more than 200 countries. In the U.S., Lions clubs are in every state and just about every town of every size.

The umbrella organization, Lions Club International, is large, but individual Lions clubs are relatively small. Local Lions clubs enjoy national and international support but have wide latitude in how they operate, what they do and how they serve their communities. Most Lions clubs in Frederick County have between 20 and 50 members.

It’s also worth noting how Lions clubs have also stood the test of time. They’ve been around for more than 100 years, formed in 1917 by a Chicago business leader, Melvin Jones, who wondered what would happen if people put their talents to work improving their communities.

Lions from Maryland have been here almost from the start, too.

This past August, Lions from Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia met in Hunt Valley to celebrate 100 years as a multiple district.

The Lions club of Frederick also just celebrated its centennial anniversary.

Frederick County is part of Lions district 22W, which includes Maryland’s five westernmost counties. Several of these Lions clubs currently serve Frederick County. Three serve Frederick city — Frederick, Frederick Fusion and Francis Scott Key clubs. Most other Frederick municipalities and towns have their own clubs, too — Brunswick, Emmitsburg, Libertytown, Middletown, Mount Airy, Myersville, New Market, Thurmont and Walkersville-Woodsboro.

In Frederick County, Lions give countless hours of their time and energy to live up to their very simple motto of “We serve.” Lions reported that last year alone, this multiple district served more than 700,000 people with more than 6,000 service projects and nearly 150,000 volunteer hours.

Lions work on the front lines in the fight against hunger.

The following list of service projects only scratches the surface of what Lions do for the Frederick area:

• Provide recycled, used eyeglasses to those in need

• Provide used medical equipment to those in need

• Provide free vision screenings (and will soon introduce their first Mobile Screening Unit van that will travel to where they are needed most)

• Help to eliminate preventable blindness through Lions Vision Research Rehabilitation Center in conjunction with Wilmer Eye Institute

• Provide financial assistance to the Lions Vision Research Foundation (LVRF) that provides assistance and support of the Lions Vision Center at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore

• Provide used hearing aids and batteries to those in need

• Provide support to veterans, those with diabetes and those with pediatric cancer

• Improve the environment by planting trees and cleaning up parks and roads

• Support and help fund training of Leader Dogs for the Blind

• Support Lions Camp Merrick, a camp for children with Type 1 diabetes located in Charles County

• Hold community drives for food, blood, shoes and warm clothes

• Support “Sleep in Heavenly Peace” project that supplies beds to children who need them

• Provide scholarships for graduating seniors

• Assist schools and Little League teams with supplies and funding

• Bring the community together in service with such events as “Roar Like a Lion” Day.

“It’s a revitalization of spirit,” according to First Vice District Governor Jeremy Bair of Westminster. “As someone in their 40s, I will never be in a fraternity again. Lions provide an opportunity to regenerate that sense of community and service that are part of fond memories of growing up through college. Before you know it, your interest in the Lions may have you inviting a neighbor, friend, child or grandchild in as a member.”

Lions care about the environment and are always willing to put the time in to help.

Ellen Bennett Wins First Lions Spirit Award

By Gary Bennett

From left: Ellen Bennett, District Governor Nadja Munchow and FSK Lions President John Aulls

This article appears in the October 29, 2022 issue of the Frederick News Post

Ellen Bennett of the FSK Lions Club of Frederick (left) received the club’s first ever Lion Spirit Award at the club’s meeting on October 11. The award was presented by Lions district governor Nadja Munchow (center) as club president John Aulls looks on. Ms. Bennett (a retired nurse) received the award for her dedicated operation of the club’s used medical equipment lending program that has now loaned out hundreds of pieces of equipment free of charge to those in need over the last three years. If you have used medical equipment to donate or are in need of equipment such as wheel chairs, rollators, walkers, canes, or bedside commodes, please contact medequip@fsklions.org.

Primary Day: Tales from the Front Lines

By Gary Bennett

Being an election judge, or maybe more accurately a “poll worker”, is not for the faint of heart. Don’t get me wrong, it’s tiring but great. I love to help people, and it is fascinating to watch the democratic process at work. This is about the only way I get to use my long-ago Poly Sci degree except for the occasional opinion piece in this paper.

I’m in the middle of a four-year term as an election judge, our official title, and performed those duties at a local elementary school on Primary Day, July 19, 2022.

The day is certainly long. My day began at 6 am as our team prepared the school for the polls to open at 7. The first thing I noticed was how hot it was in the gym. No one had bothered to turn on the air conditioning. I can’t blame anyone. How could they have foreseen that it might be hot in the middle of July? I’m not complaining because after we scrambled to come up with about 20 fans, we nosed the room temperature down from 80 degrees to about 78 when the polls closed at 8 pm. I can only come to the conclusion that Governor Hogan must have vetoed air conditioning when he vetoed counting mail-in ballots before Primary Day.

I wish I could say I was a volunteer, but that is not true. You may not realize that poll workers are paid. Of course, for some inexplicable reason, we are told not to expect our paychecks until September at the earliest. No one exactly knows why. I believe the state may be waiting for some of us to die. After all, our team averaged about 70 years of age. And, may God bless our two chief judges, one a democrat and one a republican. Both had been through the election wars for over 30 years now. What type of personality deficiency would cause such a condition? I asked them but got only grunts.

At least turnout was pretty light, which gave me plenty of time for observation. We only ran about 1,000 people through our polling place, and I interacted without almost all of them. I either selected and gave out the proper ballots, helped people vote while being careful to look away, or helped people scan their ballots into the mysterious ballot scanner.

About two-thirds of the voters were registered republicans. Not quite one-third were democrats. This figures. We know that democrats hate crowds and tend to vote by mail so they can vote grandma’s ballot, too. Just kidding? A small number were independents, there to vote in the school board race. The independents, 50 or so, were almost always 20-somethings. They may have had it with the two big parties. That’s what one told me.

A lot of people came with youngsters in tow. Most of them were republicans. Democrats seemed to be happier than republicans, many of which you’d have to describe as grumpy. Maybe the presence of their children had something to do with that. Many republicans were quite wary of the process, especially the vote scanner. More than one asked how I can be sure their vote was actually counted. I can’t.

I got pretty good at guessing the party affiliation of people as they walked in the door. For men, the shorter the hair, bigger the bellies, and frownier the faces meant they were republicans. For women it was a little harder. The younger the women and the tattoo-ier they were usually meant they were democrats. Nearly 100 percent of all blacks were democrats.

More folks than you might imagine made mistakes on the ballots and had to start over. They mostly voted for more candidates in a contest than they were allowed. I’m sorry to report, mistake-makers were mostly republicans. Who can blame them? The more republicans, the better, right? A couple of other folks had trouble finding their way out of the small gym. Their votes still counted.

One young man brought a blank ballot to the scanning station. That is fine, of course. I’m told some folks do that as protest. That begs the question, of course, why don’t they just stay home and save the trouble? Turns out he was confused and hadn’t even voted yet. He was a republican.

One person came in with a sample ballot to consult and was disappointed that it was not for his precinct. Another wondered where all the good candidates were. Turned out he was a democrat and wanted to vote for republicans. After voting, he changed his party affiliation, which one can do.

A few people were indignant that the touchscreen software forced them to look at the names of all people vying for the republican nomination for governor before they could vote for Dan Cox. I saw the same thing in 2020 for Donald Trump. You don’t want to be a candidate on the second page. Just ask Kelly Schulz.

One person erroneously voted for a few of the so-called Education, Not Indoctrination school board candidates and came back for a new ballot. Her exact quote was “I didn’t mean to vote for these idiots.” The most predominant voting literature carried in and consulted was the “apple” ballot supplied by the teacher’s union. Next was some literature from the firefighter’s union extolling the virtues of their preferred candidates.

People are determined to vote. One person, bless her heart, asked for info on all the candidates because she didn’t know anything about them. “I don’t want to vote for just the best names,” she said. When told we didn’t have any literature to give her and were not allowed to do so anyway, she departed and came back to vote a few hours later. One can only surmise she finally did her research which makes you wonder what rock she may have been living under all these months. Another asked me for recommendations on who to vote for, which I did not and could not provide.

As I trudged home at the end of the day at 10 pm, (yes, the polls closed at 8 but it took two hours to tear things down and get the gym back into shape) I couldn’t help but smile. As imperfect as we are, at least we all get our say. Oh, and cell phones are actually illegal in the polling place. You might as well outlaw oxygen.

So You’re Newly Retired. Now What?

By Gary Bennett

Ellen Bennett helps her grandson, Logan, prepare for kindergarten next fall.

This article appears in the February 23rd, 2022, edition of the Frederick News Post.

As we begin to reach our 60s and beyond, most of us can begin to see the end of our working days on the horizon. It can be a sweet picture: wide open, unhurried days with long walks and longer lunches. It’s going to be great, right?

Maybe not.

Without a plan for retirement, these unhurried days can quickly become boring — or worse, detrimental to our health. Most experts agree we need to keep our mind, body and spirit active in retirement.

I retired on Jan. 1, 2020, just before the pandemic began, after a long publishing and marketing career at associations in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. My wife, Ellen, followed me eight months later after an equally long career as a nurse. After two intense but rewarding careers, we were more than ready to retire at age 62.

Our plan for retirement was easy. We wanted to help as many people as we could for as long as we could.

With that in mind, here is our recipe for a happy retirement that allows us to enjoy an active lifestyle while helping others. We realize this pace is not for everyone, but if you ever find yourself bored, pick out one of two of our suggestions and give them a try.

FIND A NEW JOB

This may sound counter-intuitive, but more and more retirees are doing it, and we did as well. We found new jobs.

Three days a week, from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., we serve as caregivers to our two pre-school grandsons. We are exhausted by day’s end but can’t help smiling as we talk over each eventful day.

If there is any way you can swing it, we highly recommend you give this a try. We save our son- and daughter-in-law mountains of money, provide love and peace of mind and — the best part — get the privilege of having front-row seats to the wondrous, daily reality show of children growing up.

Logan, Gary and Gavin Bennett and grand-dog Chloe enjoy the water table.

This is a great “job,” but it wasn’t quite enough for me, so I got a second job delivering prescriptions two or three days a week for Whitesell’s, a local pharmacy. The hours are great (roughly 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.), so I get to have a few leisurely mornings. Along with helping other people by bringing them something that makes them feel better, I get to be my own boss, drive around town in a sporty Ford Focus and get a little sunshine and exercise, too.

Of course, you don’t need me to tell you that the job market is red hot right now, even for seniors. If you try, you can find a part-time job that you will like or perhaps love. Top jobs for seniors according to AARP are teacher’s aide, coach/referee, tour guide, retail salesperson, tax preparer and consultant.

VOLUNTEER

My wife and I also take advantage of the wonderful world of volunteering. Frederick County is special in this regard. Endless opportunities await if you have a sincere desire to make a difference.

I began volunteering shortly after retirement by becoming an English tutor for the Literacy Council of Frederick County. They showed me the ropes, provided teaching materials and paired me with two Spanish-speaking sisters with a strong desire to learn English. The Literacy Council always needs tutors, and I can guarantee that if you give this a try, you will find it immensely rewarding.

Gary Bennett working with one of his English students at the Urbana library.

If you have a little more time, we recommend membership in any of Frederick’s fine service clubs. Each has a slightly different focus but all want to make Frederick County a better place to live and work. Ellen and I joined the Lions. Others include the Elks, Kiwanis, Moose, Jaycees and Rotary.

At Lions, Ellen used her nursing knowledge to start a used medical equipment lending program that serves Frederick County citizens in need with wheelchairs, walkers, bedside commodes and other medical equipment free of charge. She runs this program out of our garage, although we are looking for more permanent space.

Ellen Bennett checks her inventory of used medical equipment for loaning out.

I created an annual Lions event called Canines on the Creek that brings the community together around a fun pet costume contest that raises money for Leader Dogs for the Blind. I also help lead an event called Roar Like a Lion that creates care packages for houseless individuals.

Other volunteer opportunities in the area:

• Frederick County Food Bank, where we stock shelves and help clients choose food. We include our 16-year-old grandson in this endeavor.

• Frederick County Adopt-a-Road program that puts citizens in charge of occasional trash pick-up on stretches of county highways. This activity provides great exercise while doing something good for your neighborhood.

Gary Bennett at the beginning of a two-mile stretch of road the Bennetts have adopted.

• Meals on Wheels, which allows Ellen to use her nursing skills to provide periodic client assessments, and I make deliveries.

• Local homeowner’s association, where we have both served as officers.

• Local election judge, in which I’m currently serving a four-year term and looking forward to the 2022 elections.

• Downtown Frederick Partnership, where we have assisted with Bring a Broom Saturday, Thursday evening Concerts on the Creek and the annual Fire In Ice event.

• American Red Cross, where we have become frequent blood and platelet donors.

• A local church, where we work on our spirituality, make friends and help others. We attend First Baptist Church on Bowers Road and are so glad we do.

KEEP YOUR BODY MOVING

It doesn’t have to be all work, work, work. Frederick County offers many free and low-cost diversions. Ellen and I participate in as many as we can.

Our favorite is the senior exercise classes held at the William R. Talley Recreation Center. They are held daily in the morning, although the best we can do is about once a week. Frederick’s Senior Rec Council also provides opportunities in various sports including hiking, biking, bowling, basketball and softball.

CONTINUE LEARNING

We’ve also taken advantage of Frederick Community College’s Institute for Learning in Retirement. This program offers classes in interesting subjects such as history, politics and languages. Ellen and I have taken several courses, my favorite being Hiking the Appalachian Trail, which helped get me on the trail.

Gary Bennett, right, with Brad Petersen, Frederick Community Action Agency.

I Was a Census Taker in the Age of Trump and COVID

By Gary Bennett

My official Bureau of Census badge. Yes, I was proud to be a temporary G-man.

As seen in the Frederick News-Post, Monday, Oct. 22, 2020.

I don’t have a death wish, but I’m always interested in new experiences so being a census taker or “enumerator” in Census Bureau parlance sounded interesting and appealed to my sense of civic duty. And sure, the $21 an hour plus mileage didn’t hurt either. 240,000 of my fellow U.S. citizens joined me as an enumerator in 2020, down by about half from 2010 due to COVID-19.

It is pretty tough work. Not only because of political roadblocks and the current health crisis, but because most people just don’t want to talk to someone knocking at their door. Often times I was sent far from Frederick to work in unfamiliar communities that didn’t have enough census takers. I worked in everything from the blazing hot sun to pouring rain. Census takers are pushed hard by the full-time supervisors, always encouraging us to work fast, “close” cases, and not take no for an answer.

Initially, the work started easy enough—leaving ‘notice of visit’ flyers to those not at home and talking to agreeable people who legitimately overlooked completing the census.

These Notices of Visists are surprisingly effective at getting people to do the census online.

Soon, though, the work became much harder. The remaining people were evasive and not so agreeable. Many claimed to have already done the census online. Census officials assured us this was not the case and encouraged us to keep pushing. I was never sure who to believe. I did push ahead and performed reasonably well, talking many people into doing the census ‘again’ with me because they obviously wanted their voice to be heard. After enumerating these hesitant folks, however, the work became almost impossible. The people left to count obviously didn’t want to be counted. Many were belligerent and threatening.

My most memorable difficult case consisted of residents of a ramshackle townhouse community in Poolesville. I should have known I was in trouble when I read the notes from a fellow enumerator’s previous visit to the address. “I think the people at this place might be crazy. When I knocked on the door, they knocked back even harder.” I was intrigued. No one had enumerated this house and I wanted to be the one who did!

I logged more than 500 miles as a census worker over 6 weeks.

I had an ace in the hole. Census enumerators were allowed to use “proxies” to enumerate hard to complete addresses. Proxies are nearby neighbors who have at least a little information about their neighbors and are willing to tell you what they know. Unfortunately, it was equally clear in the notes that nearby neighbors might not be so willing to comment on these people either. “I don’t want to get involved,” “I’ve never talked to those people,” “They are not very friendly,” read some of the additional notes.

Undeterred, I strode up to the house and knocked. No answer. I knocked again, but this time I could hear people talking behind the door. When I peeked in, a mom and two kids stared back. When I knocked and peeked in a third time they were hiding behind some curtains. As I began to step away to find a neighbor, the man of the house pulled into his parking space. “Get your ass off my property right now and don’t come back or I’ll remove you myself,” he threatened. I assured him I had every right to be on his property, that I was with the Census Bureau and just wanted to know how many people lived at his place. He repeated his threat again as he began to get out of his van. Discretion being the better part of valor, I began to depart. To my relief, he got back in his van and left. As he did, I made sure he saw me walk up to his next-door neighbor’s house. I hoped he knew that we would be talking about him. I finally did get the information I needed and closed the case.

This was my worst brush with a hostile citizen, but there were others nearly as worrisome. One person railed about the poor use of his tax money that kept sending people to his house when he told us over and over that he has done the survey already. Two people were upset that Trump wanted to deport them even though they were here legally. An older gentleman offered “I’ve never done the census in my life. Maryland has been gerrymandered to death. That’s why I’m moving.” One young fellow at a new development used his Ring doorbell to size me up and said “You people need to quit hounding us. Nobody cares about this crap.” And, as I left one proxy who provided info on his townhouse neighbor, I could see the neighbor running out of his home and berating the proxy for provided any information at all.

The census app was extremely intuitive and well done. It guided our conversations as we entered data and completed the census with citizens on the fly.

It wasn’t all bad, though. One nice older gentleman in Dickerson wanted to talk about how the census helped us during the Revolutionary War. One fellow came running out of his house to give me a bottle of water. One little girl did the same with a popsicle at the behest of her dad. One scantily clad woman answered the door and made no effort to cover up. We didn’t cover that in training.

I am not sure why so many people were upset about completing the census, but I suspect it didn’t help that the president chose to make the census political and that a public health crisis was raging at the time. Completing a decennial census is in the Constitution.

Even so, the presidential attacks came in waves. First, Trump directed his Commerce secretary to add a citizenship question to the survey after months of planning and testing and just before the instrument was to be rolled out. That ploy lost in the courts. Next, he directed other federal agencies to share data with the Census Bureau so that “no undocumented aliens would be counted.” This was despite the fact the Constitution calls for the counting of every person residing in the country regardless of legal status. This one lost in the courts, too. And finally, he required the Census Bureau to finish field operations by September 30. This was after his own Commerce Department requested a three-month extension to December 31 in order to accommodate complications caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The House even passed a bill mandating the three-month extension, but it died in the Senate as most things do now. Again, the courts had to come to the rescue. A federal judge recently issued a restraining order halting the winding down of operations in September and resetting it to October 31. Census enumerators were finally directed to cease work on October 5.

I was never really worried about COVID-19, but perhaps I should have been. All enumerators were issued masks and required to wear them. But it did not occur to many of my interviewees to don them while standing face-to-face at close quarters with a stranger for ten minutes. I can’t say that I blame them. After all, they were responding spur of the moment from their own homes. As I write this, I have been a former census enumerator for over two weeks and feel fine. I might be lucky. I worked for the Census Bureau for about six weeks and had over 500 brief contacts and about 250 full interviews with strangers. I was very appreciative to those few who did wear a mask but could never bring myself to ask them to go get one. Respondents, however, were not shy about citing COVID-19 to keep me away. That excuse was used 20 times with me.

Despite a late start because of COVID and political interference, most parts of America are doing well. As of late August, about 65 percent of households had self-reported. An additional 30 percent have been enumerated by personal interviews from folks like me. The remaining five percent will be completed by the very best census enumerators, full-time census employees, and data from publicly available sources. By the time you read this, America will be very near to 100 percent complete.

Maryland is well above average among U.S. states, and Frederick County is in the top tier of reporting counties in Maryland. The latest data show Maryland at number 10 of the 50 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico in self reporting at 70.3 percent. Minnesota leads the way at 75 percent. Portions of the south including Arkansas, South Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana, and West Virginia bring up the rear, averaging between 55 and 60 percent. Average education levels within states mirror census response. A spokesperson for the Census Bureau cites lack of knowledge about the importance and safety of the census for people not responding. As of September 15, 98.1 percent of residences in Fredrick County have been completed, placing us among the top five Maryland counties.