Volume VI, Issue 5, May 2013
NEWS ITEMS OF INTEREST
- How to Keep our Beaches Safe
- Home Money Saving Tips
- Domestic Violence Services
- Hints on Buying a Used Car
- How to Hire a Pest Control Pro
- State Employee Recognition Day Cermonoy
- Take the Wise Buy Quiz
"A WORD TO THE WISE"
BIRTHDAYS THIS MONTH
TIMOTHY KLEPSIG, JOHN CHARNEY, TRESSA LESTER, STEVEN ESPOSITO, DONALD FARRUGGIA, GARY HARRITY, JAMES HOFFMAN, MATTHEW HOWSE, LEONARD JOSEPH, BETTY LEFLORE, JOSEPH SANDERS, DALE SMITH, SARA JOLLY, MELVIN SPRUILL, EZRA GORDON, WILLIAM HILDEBRAND, KANDYCE OMEALLY, JAMES ADKINS, HERMINA PACZYNSKI, GRAHAM WHITE, DOUGLAS SORENSON, EDWIN GAYNOR, BRANDON MOSS, RENIAL BROWN
Going for the Gold
by Tech. Sgt. David Speicher
175th Wing Public Affairs
On July 5, 2011 Senior Airman Gideon L. Connelly, repair and reclamation crew chief, 175th Maintenance Squadron, was involved in a motorcycle accident in Baltimore County with serious damage to his left leg. The doctors told the Maryland Air National Guardsman if he kept his leg, it would leave him with limitations to what he could do. However, if the leg was replaced with prosthesis, his abilities would significantly increase.
On Sept. 16, 2011 Connelly chose to have the leg removed below the knee.
"(When the accident happened) I was upset. I didn't think I would be able to return to work. I didn't understand how it would affect my life. I was scared," said Connelly. His friends were scared but supportive. "They didn't know how to help. My family stuck by my side and is very supportive."
Connelly started a rehabilitation process to walk, and then run with the goal of staying in the military.
Running means a lot to him. "I want to inspire people. It is a great opportunity. I am blessed to come back and do what I can do now after a horrific accident," said Connelly. Before the accident he lifted a lot of weights and did some distance running for physical training, now he runs sprint races.
Connelly competed in the Texas Regional Games (Paralympic games that are used for qualifying for the national events) April 13-14, 2013. He competed in the men's t44 (below the knee amputation) 100m and 200m races, receiving two gold medals. His 100m time qualified him for the Paralympic Nationals in San Antonio, Texas June 14-16. He will however, compete in the Endeavor Games at the University of Central Oklahoma June 6-9 to make a second attempt at qualifying in the 200m for the Paralympic Nationals.
"My goal for now is to make the nationals. In the time frame I have I will probably not win nationals. I am a beginner at running and at this point I do what I can do," said Connelly. His goal is to win nationals in a future year with ultimate goal of the 2016 Paralympic games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Connelly has good advice for anyone who has lost a limb. "Keep your head up. Don't let anything discourage you. It is a mind over body experience. If you keep your head in the right place you can do anything you want."
Star Spangled 200
The Star-Spangled 200 Celebration is a three-year state-wide commemoration that kicked-off with an international maritime festival in June 2012. The festivities will reach a crescendo in September 2014, when Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine takes center stage in a Star-Spangled tribute to the defense of a nation and the birth of the National Anthem. Click here for additional info
Experience the Maryland Photo Gallery
The Official Maryland.gov photo showcase. Submit your photos to our gallery and you could see your work on Maryland State websites and publications. (click here for more information).
MD State Employee Nights
The Baltimore Orioles have designated three upcoming games as Maryland State Employee Nights the first being 17 May, a Friday night game with a starting time of 7:05 pm (Tampa Bay). Other games are 12 July (Toronto) and 23 August (Oakland) both night games (click here for additional information)
Smoking Stops Here
Thousands of Marylanders just like yourself have quit using the program. See some of the successes or tell us your own story (click here to read the four steps to quitting)
Avoid Credit Services With Their False Promises
BEWARE of credit services businesses ("CSBs"), often referred to as credit repair businesses that make promises they cannot deliver. Don't believe advertisements that make false claims, such as:
•"We can erase your bad credit - no problem!"
•"Create a new credit identity - legally."
•"We can remove bankruptcies, judgments, liens, and bad loans from your credit reports forever!"
(click here for more information)
A Digital Wallet?
Smart Planet shows how your smart phone could become your digital wallet as banks bring new technologies and apps to these devices and how your smart phone can translate languages.click here for more info.
IDEA of the Month
Unclaimed Property
Find Unclaimed Property and Bid on Items The Comptroller's Office has over 750,000 unclaimed property accounts worth more than $708 million including 66,000 new listings. Check to see if your name is on their list. The owners or their legitimate heirs can claim the funds at any time. There is no statute of limitations. You can search our records online free of charge. click here for more info.
"Items of Importance to State Employees"
Procedures for Release of State Employees Under Emergency Conditions (click here)
Military Department Reg 5-8 Management of MDNG Personnel During Emergencies (click here)
Emergency Essential Employee Acknowledgement Document (click here)
"Emergency Related Weather Events Federal and State"
In the event of an emergency or weather related event, all Federal and State employees of the Maryland Military Department and Maryland National Guard can call the Maryland National Guard Toll-free Information Hotline at 1-855-388-4466 and choose Option #3 from the voice teleprompts.
Updates will be provided for facilities and weather related announcements. Announcements will be updated by the MDNG Human Resources Office (HRO) during the normal workweek and the MDARNG for weekend IDT periods. Maryland Military Department Regulation 5-8, Management of MDNG Personnel During Emergencies dated 15 January 2008, prescribes the procedures for management of the workforce during emergencies.
A WORD TO THE WISE
Vacation and Travel Scams
Vacation or travel scams include offers of free or deeply discounted travel deals that may never materialize. In some instances, businesses may provide vacation certificates with the goal of selling a specific product or service. These certificates may only cover a small portion of a vacation, such as providing lodging in a hotel or timeshare resort for only a certain number of days and nights. Other offers include airfare or a cruise, or provide one complimentary ticket with the purchase of a second. Some certificates include discount coupons for restaurants, tours or attractions in the resort area. To receive this offer, consumers may have to make a purchase or attend a sales presentation. Companies may require a non-refundable processing and handling fee, or a refundable deposit of $50 to $100 to reserve a vacation offer (which won't be returned until after a vacation has been taken). Some deals are genuine, but nearly all involve fine print which makes the offer sound less "too good to be true" than upon first glance.
Beware Of…
Instant travel offers. Companies may offer special discounted travel rates, but be aware that only suppliers of such travel services - like cruiselines, hotels, auto rental companies, airlines - can offer discounts to their services.
Demanding sales representatives. Representatives may try to elicit a credit card number or other financial information before explaining the conditions of their offer, saying they will use the information for "identification purposes." If a sales representative refuses to provide detailed information about the total cost of the travel offer without this financial information, this may result in misuse of your credit card.
Memberships or fees. Some companies may require you to become a member of a travel club or to pay an initial fee to claim a vacation or travel prize. Others may offer low airfare or other rates if you purchase the same ticket or service for a companion, at full price. These "full price" costs or other fees may be inflated, reducing the bargain of your travel deal.