The OPEN is to be used for Opportunities, Programs, Events, and News that would be of interest to other international club members at other schools.

This may eventually lead to a (Nearby) International Club Entente, whereby happenings at other schools in the area could be attended by any student whose school is an Entente member for the same home-college price. Also, joint events could be worked up.

To post, go to: http://www.go.to/OPEN. To chat, go to: http://www.go.to/ICE.

On Tuesday, 7 September, four students, German instructor Tom Perry, and the club advisor, Dr. Rosemary Nickerson met.

Brian Simmons, who was injured in a bad bike accident in August, came in to help get us started. He ended up leading the meeting.

Our first priority is to recruit more members.

We also discussed the 99-00 Budget, and what events we might fund with it.

Cindy Digulimio is authorized to drive college fleet vehicles. This solves last year's problem of not having anyone able to drive us to events.

On Tuesday, 14 September, We prepared for next Tuesday's Club Fair, with Yomi Adeshina, Cindy Digulimio, Michelle Mellott, and Han Xiao all volunteering to bring things to display on the table. Cindy was to print up "calling cards", trip and club sign up sheets, and raffle quiz sheets. Michelle was to make up our table banner. Brian Todd Simmons was to sit at the table.

Cindy researched two festivals to go to in the upcoming weeks.

On Tuesday, 21 September, we held our meeting in the ARCC Lobby at 11:30 am., as we sat with our table at the Club Fair. The Fair was from 11 am. until 1 pm.

The fair was successful for our club, as several people showed interest in joining (signed our e-mail list sheet) and signed our trips sign up sheet.

Cindy Digulimio brought in souvenirs from Zimbabwe, as well as some world music CDs and player.

Michelle Mellott brought in souvenirs from her recent (summer 1999) trip to Venezuela. She also made up our table banner, which she made from old I-Club postcards and travel brochures.

Han Xiao and the mending Brian Simmons also volunteered to sit with the table.

With the answers all about the table, we had a quiz raffle that passers-by could take. One winner was to be selected from all correct entries.

By taking this three question quiz, one could win $20 (which we'll take from the Earned Income).

Later that day, Alfonso Briceño offered to be our second driver for trips. He holds a commercial driver's license, for he is employed by the local County Commuter.

The club is seriously looking to go to New Orleans as its big trip this year.

On Sunday, 26 September, the Club went to The Greek Festival in Fredericksburg, Virginia. We went on I-81 to U. S. 17. The festival, though nice, was much smaller than we anticipated. Brian Simmons signed us up to be on their mailing list though, as we might be able to couple this celebration with a nearby one next year.

Club members bought baked goods that were being sold there. The prices were pretty good.

The trip-goers then decided to go ahead to the alternative trip destination, the Maryland Renaissance Festival in Crownsville, Maryland. We got on U. S. 301 and headed over the Governor Nice Bridge (toll-free going north!) to Maryland 175 East to Maryland 178 to Crownsville Road.

This Festival cost $13.75 per person to enter. But it was very big. The theme this year was English King Henry VIII and his wives.

We returned using Maryland 178 to Maryland 3 to I-97 to I-695 to I-70 around 6:45 pm.

On Tuesday, 28 September, we welcomed new attendees to the meeting.

Cindy Digulimio led the meeting, and went over the duties of club officers to begin nominations. These (so far unopposed) nominations included: Vice President--Brian Simmons, Secretary--Caroline Bullock, Treasurer--Cindy Digulimio, and Student Government Association Club Representative (heretofore: "Club Rep")--Bobby Shawn Watkins.

Cindy (who officially represented us at the SGA meeting last Thursday), Bobby, and Brian related what went on at that meeting.

Cindy and Brian told about the Greek Festival and the Maryland Renaissance Festival.

The club voted to reimburse Cindy for gas money out of Mileage for the Greek Festival/Renaissance Festival Trip on Sunday.

The club voted to look into choices of foreign films for the third week of October.

The club voted for its choice of Big Trip. The choices were: Montréal, PQ; New Orleans, LA; and New York City, NY. The winner--by one--was New Orleans. Second choice was New York.

Cindy volunteered to look into our options on such a trek.

The winner of our Club Fair Raffle was drawn. It was Amanda Moats who won the $20.00 gift certificate to the school bookstore. [We had a hard time giving the gift to Amanda, as the e-mail address she gave did not work. We subsequently had to go to Student Services in Administration Building to get her street address.]

On Wednesday, 29 September, Brian Simmons e-mailed nine of the colleges nearest to us to tell them about the OPEN bulletin board and chat channel. He received one acknowledgement, from Frederick Community College's webmaster.

On Tuesday, 5 October, Cindy Digulimio presided. We held our Fall Semester elections, all of which were uncontested. The last position to be filled was president. [See Officer Roster elsewhere on this page.]

We reviewed the Greek Festival/Maryland Renaissance Festival trip.

We also talked about getting stuff for the Halloween bags and planning the "Film Fest":
• selling food and drinks,
• getting the SGA coffeemaker,
• getting coolers for the drinks,
• advertising it in the paper and elsewhere,
and
• buying films with subtitles.

Fundraising was discussed--ideas were proposed for any food we could sell (like other clubs' Steamer Sales), or Christmas ornaments (crochet and lace).

We had a potential new member join us, Olympia Statum.

Afterward, Brian contacted Public Relations Assistant Bev Kruger, as requested, to reserve the Classroom Auditorium for Monday, 25 October (5-9 pm.); Tuesday, 26 October (5-9 pm.); and Wednesday, 27 October (12:30-4 pm.). We may need to bring a larger screen to show our films.

On Sunday, 10 October, Caroline Bullock, Cindy Digulimio, and Brian Simmons went to the Festa Italiana in Washington, D. C. They started out at 9 am. and returned around 6:30 pm. They parked the college minivan at Shady Grove Metro station, and took the subway in. ($2.10 each, one-way, from Shady Grove Station to Judicial Square Station.)

As it was raining, this "Taste of Washington" street festival had fewer vendors, exhibitors, and activities, as it had to be mostly moved into the Catholic Church at F and 3rd Streets. It featured folk music, dancing, exhibits of Italian artisans, great food, and more.

After touring the festival they headed back on the Metro one stop to Gallery Place ($1.10!) and went into the National Museum of American Art in the Old Patent Building and took a tour with a docent. A Parisienne was in their group.

They then walked back to the festival and each had a calzone ($5) and a drink ($1).

Caroline Bullock purchased a tote bag. Brian Simmons bought a $2 chance on an Italian cruise.

The festival was free to get in. It cost $2.10 each, one-way, from Judicial Square Station to Shady Grove Station.

On the way into Washington, the three went into a novelty store in Gaithersburg to acquire stuff for the Halloween bags for the hospitalized children.

On Tuesday, 12 October, we accepted the "point/rewards system" Cindy Digulimio proposed, so that those who do the most volunteering (work) for the club, earn the most points. The points translate into more trip subsidizing, or for whatever else the earner so wishes to "cash" them in.

Cindy Digulimio reported on her further research into a New Orleans trip. Club members offered input.

Brian Simmons put forth that we hold a Foreign Film Festival around U. N. Day (24 October) with a possible fundraiser of selling snacks. The club approved this. Brian reserved the Auditorium and Kepler for possible showings the days of the 25, 26, and 27 October.

Other fundraisers proposed included: a bike hike with sponsoring and selling food between classes (steamers, sandwiches, cookies, etc.).

We agreed to either make food for the Film Festival, or take a stake in its profitability by investing money to buy the food. [Cindy made food; Michelle bought food.]

On Tuesday, 19 October, Cindy Digulimio had continued to hone and revise the New Orleans trip. Dates were established for the deposit, as well as how much would be returned to someone who cancelled as the trip neared.

The Film Festival was first postponed, then re-confirmed for two days in the last full week of October.

A Bike Hike was scheduled for 2 November.

We planned to put together the Halloween bags for the sick children at Washington County Hospital at the next meeting.

On Sunday, 24 October, Alfonso Briceño; Shannon Lord Briceño, his wife; Brian Simmons; and Han Xiao travelled to Hood College's Rosenstock Auditorium for that college's International Club's annual Cultural Mosaic. All four enjoyed this well-produced presentation of dance, song, and recitation, and recommend that our club attend next year's performance.

We thank Alfonso Briceño for providing all transportation for this.

On Tuesday, 26 October, some tasted the steamers and other goodies Cindy Digulimio made to sell at the Film Festival that night. We decided to take the money needed to purchase the food and accessories and rent the films out of Earned Income, not have club members "invest" in the event. We thought this would be simpler.

We assembled the Halloween bags, and Cindy volunteered to deliver them to the County Hospital's public relations department in Pangborn Hall.

Brian Simmons reported that, after walking five or six miles to get to the meeting, he was recovered from his bicycle accident of 8 August.

That night, from 5 until 9 pm., we showed Au Revoir les Enfants, a French film, in the Classroom Auditorium (CLR-111). On duty that night were Cindy Digulimio, Michelle Mellott, Brian Simmons, and Bobby Watkins.

On Wednesday, 27 October, we had a matinée from 1 until 5 pm., with a British claymation short, Il Postino, an Italian film, and Au Revoir les Enfants, a French film. On duty that afternoon were Cindy Digulimio and Brian Simmons.

Although few went in to see these films--night or day--we did sell food and generated some interest in having this again from non-club members.

On Tuesday, 2 November, we discussed events we could attend in November.

Brian Simmons reported he had reserved a table for the club at Wilson College's Muhibbah Club's international buffet on Saturday, 6 November.

After Brian and Cindy Digulimio went thru the list of other possible events, we decided to trek to Luray Caverns on Sunday, 14 November and to Wheeling, West Virginia's Winter Festival of Lights on Saturday, 20 November. Both were to start from the CP Building's Greenhouse parking lot at 8 am.

New Orleans Trip details were again refined after club discussion.

We decided to have another go at a Film Festival the week after Thanksgiving (Thursday, 25 November).

On Saturday, 6 November, Cindy Digulimio, Walter Gostowski, Brian Simmons, and Han Xiao--along with two guests--attended the Muhibbah International Buffet at Wilson College from 6:30 until 9:00. Cindy Digulimio drove us up and back in the HCC fifteen passenger van.

On Tuesday, 9 November, we made more detailed plans for New Orleans. Three people dropped out--one because of work--and three others because they were injured in a car wreck.

We decided to fill some of these vacancies by advertizing the trip with flyers.

We talked about the Muhibbah dinner. All enjoyed it. Next time (Spring 2000), however, we shall request a corner table, as we were once again served last. (The Muhibbah Club did apologize for this though.)

We decided to sell brownies for Brownie Day (8 December).

We figured out who could do what and when for this and for the second Foreign Film Festival, which we are to hold the week after Thanksgiving (25 November).

Dr. Nickerson attended and said she might get to go with us on the Wheeling outing.

On Sunday, 14 November, Cindy Digulimio, Brian Simmons, and Bobby Shawn Watkins left HCC at 8 am to go to Luray Caverns in central Virginia.

They went down by way of Boonsboro and Shepherdstown (Md Route 34 and WV Route 480) to U. S. Route 340. They picnicked on the Luray Cavern's grounds, then went in. Afterward, they browsed the large gift shop, and then went to see the adjacent old carriage and car museum.

They returned by way of the Skyline Drive (now a $10 toll byway), U. S. Route 340, U. S. Route 211, Va. Route 55, I-66, U. S. Route 15, U. S. Route 340, Md. Route 17, and U. S. Route 40. Though not the most direct way, the trip had been billed as a scenic drive. With such a route thru mountains, valleys, orchards, vineyards, horse country, and old towns, the trip did live up to this, and all three had an enjoyable time.

As this was not truly international (though the three did look for an easy place to dig to China while 16 stories down in the caverns), the three paid their own costs for admission and split the cost for the toll road.

They returned around 6 pm.

On Saturday, 20 November at 10 am the Club headed for America's largest light show, the Oglebay Winter Festival of Lights at Oglebay State Park near Wheeling, West Virginia. This six-mile driving tour featured more than a million colorful lights displayed throughout 300 rolling acres. New displays are added each year, including ever-popular animated displays such as the paddle-wheel steamboat, downhill skiers and dinosaurs.

As the show did not begin until dark, we took our time up to the "Friendly City". We went out I-70 to I-68 to I-79, then headed west, getting on U. S. 250 North. U. S. 250 is a winding, secondary road at best, making WV Route 9 locally look like a good road. It was scenic though.

We arrived in Wheeling and split into two groups: International Club (Cindy Digulimio, who drove; Brian Simmons, who got us on U. S. 250, and Bobby Watkins, who brought along his camera to record the events) and two members of the Science Club.

The International Club members visited many shops, including the Wheeling Jamboree Gift Shop and the Eckhart House, a Christmas Shop, in Victorian Old Town. There Brian bought a musical snow globe and a "sugar cookie" scented candle.

They met country musician Doc Williams, a long-time performer on the Jamboree.

Brian Simmons walked across the 150 year old plus Wheeling Suspension Bridge to Wheeling Island, West Virginia. (The Ohio River splits around Wheeling Island.)

The two groups rendez-voused at 7 pm., and then had a hard time finding the Oglebay Park--even after getting directions. The State of West Virginia and the local governments have done a poor job providing directional signs to this place.

The group finally did find the park. The area has its own nearcasting radio station which plays holiday music. The displays were very beautiful.

The group stopped on the way out at the Carriage House Glass Museum and Store, which features the largest selection of West Virginia decorative glass, hand-crafting demonstrations, and a history of glassmaking tour.

We returned via I-70 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

On Wednesday, 8 December , we held our National Brownie Day Sale from 11:30 am until 5 pm. in CLR Building.

We billed it: "National Brownie Day: "To Raise Awareness about This Forgotten Soft Cookie Bar".

Caroline Bullock and Cindy Digulimio baked a variety of brownies and "brownie-like" cookies for this fundraiser. The Club also sold beverages (milk and punch).

Caroline Bullock , Cindy Digulimio , Brian Simmons , Bobby Watkins each took turns sitting with and selling the merchandise.

We began to selling our CD Player/Clock Radio raffle tickets at this event also.