Hospice to host seminar on care ethics

Friday, June 6, 2008

‘‘We want to provide this service,” Bonde said. ‘‘It’s something we believe in very strongly, that there are important protections for folks who are in a vulnerable situation, and most licensed professionals have codes of ethics. ... Because it’s an area where we feel we have some expertise, we offer the training.”

Bonde, who is also the course instructor, has a law degree and a master’s degree in social work, has written about ethics and has taught this course before, she said.

The class will review the codes of ethics for various professionals and review the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, a federal law protecting patient privacy. ‘‘And then we look at case studies and try to apply these ethical decision making frameworks to specific cases,” she said.

In addition to providing a service to local professionals, Calvert Hospice also offers the course to demonstrate its own commitment to integrity, Bonde said.

‘‘It’s also important for the community to know we take these issues very seriously,” she said.

Calvert Hospice, in partnership with Chesapeake Beach Professional Seminars, will sponsor the seminar on Thursday, June 19, from 4:30 to 8 p.m. at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Prince Frederick, according to a release.

Registration is $40. Space is limited, so register early. Call 410-535-0893 or 301-855-1226, or visit www.calverthospice.org for information or to register. Continuing education credits for social workers, psychologists and counselors have been applied for.

Calvert Hospice is a non-profit, community-based organization offering care, support and comprehensive services to the terminally ill in Calvert County and their families without regard to insurance coverage or ability to pay. The organization also offers free bereavement services to children, teens and adults in Calvert County with no prior connection to hospice require, according to a release.

Relay for Lifeis almost here

Next week, hundreds of people will converge on Calvert High School for the annual American Cancer Society overnight fundraiser, and the need for volunteers is great.

Volunteers can help man several booths from 6:30 p.m. to midnight, and there is a need for people just to keep an eye on the relay track and make sure walkers are going in the right direction. During the luminary ceremony, ‘‘hush angels” are needed to help keep the solemn, reverent atmosphere. Also, helpers can be used to for relay participants to get tents and equipment to their individual camp sites.

Setup starts fairly early on June 13, so volunteers are needed throughout that day.

Anyone interested in volunteering should send an e-mail to clovejoy@somdnews.com with ‘‘Relay” in the subject line.

Gateau PhysicalTherapy to hostBusiness After Hours

Calvert businessmen and women are invited to participate in a networking opportunity sponsored by the Calvert County Chamber of Commerce and hosted by Gateau Physical Therapy. This ‘‘Business After Hours” will take place Thursday, June 12, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at its location at 11855 H.G. Trueman Road in Lusby.

Cost for the evening is $5 for Chamber members and $15 for non-members.

Come join the fun and mingle at the luau-themed event.

Beverages will be provided and attendees can enter to win door prizes donated by Chamber member businesses.

For more information on the Business After Hours or to make a reservation, contact the Calvert County Chamber of Commerce at 410-535-2577, or e-mail calvertchamber@ calvertchamber.org.

St. Leonard Vision Group to hostpublic forum

The St. Leonard Vision Group (SLVG) will hold a public forum on Monday, June 9, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Chesapeake MarketPlace (auction house) in downtown St. Leonard.

At the public forum, attendees will to hear from Charlie Ross, president and CEO of the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce and chairman of the Rural Maryland Council, about promoting economic development in rural small towns like St. Leonard.

Participants will get the latest news and information about proposed town center development from David Humphreys, the Calvert County Planning Commission administrator, and the latest news and information about the St. Leonard Master Plan update from Jenny-Plummer Welker, principal planner with Calvert planning and zoning, and learn more about development proposals in the town center as presented by the developers themselves.

The forum should be a good opportunity for all interested citizens of the St. Leonard area to exchange ideas, participate in areas of common interest, and to take an active role in the civic, social and economic welfare of the St. Leonard area.

For more information, go to www.saintleonardvisiongroup.org.

SMECO boardcandidates nominated

The 2008 Nominating Committee for Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) met on May 17 and chose candidates for the five available seats up for election on SMECO’s Board of Directors. In addition to nominations made by the Nominating Committee, any 15 or more members acting together may make other nominations by petition by Friday, June 27.

The list of nominations follows:

Calvert County: Nancy W. Zinn;

Charles County: John H. Bloom;

Prince George’s County: Daniel W. Dyer;

St. Mary’s County: J. Douglas Frederick, Joseph V. Stone, Jr., Mary Ellen (Gilbert) Tancreto.

SMECO customer-members will elect five directors to serve three-year terms and will vote for one board seat in Calvert County, one seat in Charles County, one seat in Prince George’s County and two seats in St. Mary’s County.

Members may vote in person at the 2008 Members’ Annual Meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 27, at SMECO’s Hughesville Headquarters.

Absentee mail-in ballots are also available to members who wish to vote but cannot attend the meeting.

To request an absentee mail-in ballot, call 1-888-440-3311, Ext. 4722, or go to the Web site at www.smeco.coop.

Requests for absentee ballots must be made by Friday, Aug. 15.