GBC Leader - February 2002

February 2002

Headlines:

GBC Begins E-mail Distribution of The Leader

Last month, most GBC members began to receive the Leader, the GBC's monthly member newsletter, via e-mail. In addition to convenience of delivery and reducing the amount of paper that is mailed to our members, this format enables readers to easily gain more information on topics through the active links provided within the news copy. We are very interested in your comments and suggestions regarding this new e-mail format. Please forward questions and comments to Chris Pieri at christinep@gbc.org.

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MTA Advisory Committee Drafts Plan for Enhanced Regional Rail System

A blue-ribbon state advisory committee of transportation planners, business advocates, government representatives, and community leaders has drafted a plan that would more than double the Baltimore region's local rail transportation network.

The draft plan was released on January 23 by the Baltimore Regional Rail Plan Advisory Committee, which includes among its members GBC Executive Vice President Donald C. Fry. Seven public meetings around the region are planned between Jan. 31 and Feb. 26.

The plan would increase the number of miles of rail transportation in the region, other than MARC train service, from 43 miles currently to 95 miles and would increase the number of stations from 55 currently to 112. It would also expand the reach of the region's rail system, increasing from 79,500 to 203,500 the number of residents living 1/3 of a mile or less from a rail station.

GBC Web Link: http://www.baltimorerailplan.com

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GBC Homicide Reduction Funds Played Instrumental Role in Work to Reduce Violent Crime in City

GBC funding for a designated prosecutor and for investigative tools, including electronic surveillance equipment, was instrumental in strengthening the city's ability during the last 24 months to prosecute drug organizations at the root of violent crime in the city, say representatives of the city state's attorney's office and Baltimore City Police Department.

Investigations supported by funding from the GBC's Homicide Reduction Fund have resulted in charges against 118 defendants from nine drug organizations, which so far have netted more than 70 convictions, with more than 50 others pending, against organization leaders and members. Drug organization leaders convicted so far have been given prison sentences of from 10 to 40 years, Assistant Baltimore City State's Attorney Jill Myers told the GBC's Public Safety Committee at its Dec. 20 meeting.

GBC Web Link: http://www.gbc.org/news/jan02/publicsafety12.01.html

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TV Campaign Promotes Romantic Winter Getaways in Baltimore

More than 700 television commercials promoting Baltimore as a "romantic city" are scheduled to air between January 21 and March 11 on nine stations in Philadelphia, Southern Pennsylvania and Salisbury, according to the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association (BACVA).

BACVA shared its winter campaign schedule of TV ads with members of the Greater Baltimore Committee's Hospitality/Tourism Industry Group at its January 17 meeting. Four Philadelphia stations will air a combined 291 spots between January 21 and February 25. Four stations serving the Harrisburg, York and Lancaster areas will air 284 spots between February 4 and March 11. Salisbury's CBS affiliate will air 133 spots between January 28 and March 4.

The ads are supported by a "Romantic Weekend Getaway" page on BACVA's web site, http://www.baltimore.org, which lists itineraries for getaway weekends in Baltimore. The site features "getaway" hotel packages for romantically inclined couples. Most packages at downtown hotels range from $99 to $199, with one five-star hotel offering a deluxe "romance" package for $460.

GBC Web Link: Go to http://www.baltimore.org/pages/getaway_itinerary.htm

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City to Add Three Schols to its Alternative "New Schools Program"

Three public schools offering alternative education for more than 600 students will be added to Baltimore City Public Schools' "New Schools Initiative" in fall 2002, city school officials told members of the GBC Education Committee at its January 15 meeting.

As in the existing six schools that comprise the city's "New Schools" program, the three additional schools will be run by private operators and offer open enrollment to students now attending other city public schools. The private operators are afforded greater autonomy in staffing, budget, curriculum and operating methods in exchange for stricter accountability, New Schools Initiative Coordinator Laura Weeldreyer told Education Committee members.

GBC Web Link: http://www.gbc.org/news/jan02/newschoolsprogram.html

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GREATER BALTIMORE COMMITTEE



			February 2002
	Headlines: GBC Begins E-mail Distribution of the Leader MTA Advisory Committee Drafts Plan for Enhanced Regional Rail System GBC Homicide Reduction Funds Played Instrumental Role in Work to Reduce Violent Crime in City GBC MEMBER NEWS (Click on headlines for the full story): Port Discovery named among Child Magazine's Best Children's Museums KCI Technologies names two new directors to 2002 board Ellin & Tucker, Chartered promotes two accountants Allfirst's Keating becomes first woman named to bank's top executive team Baltimore Office of Promotion merges with city art & culture committee Christopher Kaine named vice president at Willis of Maryland Roger L. Calvert named CEO of Ferris, Baker Watts Provident Bank sponsors PAL's fall soccer program Jos. A. Bank named among 25 top web retailers CareFirst names Ray Blosse vice president TV Campaign Promotes Romantic Winter Getaways in Baltimore City to Add Three Schools to its Alternative "New Schools Program"
GBC Begins E-mail Distribution of The Leader Last month, most GBC members began to receive the Leader, the GBC's monthly member newsletter, via e-mail. In addition to convenience of delivery and reducing the amount of paper that is mailed to our members, this format enables readers to easily gain more information on topics through the active links provided within the news copy. We are very interested in your comments and suggestions regarding this new e-mail format. Please forward questions and comments to Chris Pieri at christinep@gbc.org. [top] MTA Advisory Committee Drafts Plan for Enhanced Regional Rail System A blue-ribbon state advisory committee of transportation planners, business advocates, government representatives, and community leaders has drafted a plan that would more than double the Baltimore region's local rail transportation network. The draft plan was released on January 23 by the Baltimore Regional Rail Plan Advisory Committee, which includes among its members GBC Executive Vice President Donald C. Fry. Seven public meetings around the region are planned between Jan. 31 and Feb. 26. The plan would increase the number of miles of rail transportation in the region, other than MARC train service, from 43 miles currently to 95 miles and would increase the number of stations from 55 currently to 112. It would also expand the reach of the region's rail system, increasing from 79,500 to 203,500 the number of residents living 1/3 of a mile or less from a rail station. GBC Web Link: http://www.baltimorerailplan.com [top] GBC Homicide Reduction Funds Played Instrumental Role in Work to Reduce Violent Crime in City GBC funding for a designated prosecutor and for investigative tools, including electronic surveillance equipment, was instrumental in strengthening the city's ability during the last 24 months to prosecute drug organizations at the root of violent crime in the city, say representatives of the city state's attorney's office and Baltimore City Police Department. Investigations supported by funding from the GBC's Homicide Reduction Fund have resulted in charges against 118 defendants from nine drug organizations, which so far have netted more than 70 convictions, with more than 50 others pending, against organization leaders and members. Drug organization leaders convicted so far have been given prison sentences of from 10 to 40 years, Assistant Baltimore City State's Attorney Jill Myers told the GBC's Public Safety Committee at its Dec. 20 meeting. *GBC Web Link: http://www.gbc.org/news/jan02/publicsafety12.01.html [top] TV Campaign Promotes Romantic Winter Getaways in Baltimore* More than 700 television commercials promoting Baltimore as a "romantic city" are scheduled to air between January 21 and March 11 on nine stations in Philadelphia, Southern Pennsylvania and Salisbury, according to the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association (BACVA). BACVA shared its winter campaign schedule of TV ads with members of the Greater Baltimore Committee's Hospitality/Tourism Industry Group at its January 17 meeting. Four Philadelphia stations will air a combined 291 spots between January 21 and February 25. Four stations serving the Harrisburg, York and Lancaster areas will air 284 spots between February 4 and March 11. Salisbury's CBS affiliate will air 133 spots between January 28 and March 4. The ads are supported by a "Romantic Weekend Getaway" page on BACVA's web site, http://www.baltimore.org, which lists itineraries for getaway weekends in Baltimore. The site features "getaway" hotel packages for romantically inclined couples. Most packages at downtown hotels range from $99 to $199, with one five-star hotel offering a deluxe "romance" package for $460. GBC Web Link: Go to http://www.baltimore.org/pages/getaway_itinerary.htm [top] City to Add Three Schols to its Alternative "New Schools Program" Three public schools offering alternative education for more than 600 students will be added to Baltimore City Public Schools' "New Schools Initiative" in fall 2002, city school officials told members of the GBC Education Committee at its January 15 meeting. As in the existing six schools that comprise the city's "New Schools" program, the three additional schools will be run by private operators and offer open enrollment to students now attending other city public schools. The private operators are afforded greater autonomy in staffing, budget, curriculum and operating methods in exchange for stricter accountability, New Schools Initiative Coordinator Laura Weeldreyer told Education Committee members. GBC Web Link: http://www.gbc.org/news/jan02/newschoolsprogram.html [top]
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