The LEPC is a forum for citizens, businesses, and government to share information and work together to  develop disaster plans in order to improve the City’s preparedness for all hazards.  LEPC general meetings are held quarterly and provide an opportunity to hear from experts in the public and private sectors, network with colleagues, and find out more about what partners in the City is doing to be prepared and how you can help

The meeting scheduled for June 7th does not have a location yet! If you would like to host this meeting and/or any future meetings, email LEPC@baltimorecity.gov

LEPC General Meeting
Thursday, June 7, 2012
8:00 am – 12:00 p.m.
Location TBD

This seminar, designed for executive leaders, board members, human resource professionals, and volunteer managers will:

• Examine and explain the differences between an employee and a volunteer
• Offer information that is sure to help nonprofits clarify the volunteer relationship
• Discuss legal issues involved in compensating volunteers and reimbursing a volunteer’s expenses.
• Go over when a nonprofit can be held liable for a volunteer’s or his/her actions.

Managing Volunteers: Understanding the Legal Impact
May 22, 2012
DLA Piper LLP, 6225 Smith Ave, Baltimore, MD 21209
10:30 A.M. – 3:30 P.M.

Register here by May 15
Contact Lauren Paley  with questions:
e-mail cedinfo@dcbar.org ; phone: 202-737-4700

Nature’s Path Organic Foods is the largest organic cereal manufacturer in North America and a leader in the Urban Farming movement. Supporters of organic agriculture, Nature’s Path believes that organic food should be made available to everyone. Though the Gardens for Good grant contest, Nature’s Path “hopes to provide funds for urban farming projects, but to cultivate socially responsible community leaders who will bring people together to feed those in need.” Your project could help mend the food inequality gap!

If your nonprofit has an organic community garden/urban farm project in mind, visit Nature’s Path’s Facebook page and apply for a $15,000 grant. Application are accepted until May 31. Here’s how the voting works.The public will vote for the organization of their choice between June 1 and June 30. The nine organizations that receive the most public votes will be narrowed down to the winning three–two organizations in the United States and one in Canada–to receive a cash grant, technical design and production mentorship (provided by Organic Gardening magazine), and support for a garden dedication celebration.

The Sun’s real estate specialist, Jamie Smith Hopkins, has reported on some of the dire consequences of failing to request one’s property’s “worksheet” from Maryland’s Department of Assessments and Taxation. That worksheet “gives details about the land and improvements that assessors use every three years to revalue your home or business property.” Possessing that document allows property owners to check that the state’s records are up to date.

Requesting the worksheet is free and takes only a few minutes.  You do not need to appeal your assessment to request your worksheet. Baltimore City residents should call Marie Smith, Baltimore City Supervisor of Assessments, at 410-767-8250 to request a copy (press 0 for the operator). Contact information for all other jurisdictions is available here.

The County property owners who were being taxed for many years for a building that never went up were only able to get a partial refund, so being proactive in occasionally checking your property’s assessment is clearly the best way to protect oneself.

This film outlines the life and the career success of the 19th Century landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. His firm is responsible for designing and building nearly one hundred of America’s most famous urban parks including Central Park and Prospect Park as well as parks in Boston, Chicago, San Francisco and Atlanta.  Druid Hill Park is Olmstead’s main legacy to Maryland.  Olmsted’s work is revolutionary. Today it seems imperative that cities have urban parks and other green spaces, but according to the New York Times, at the height of Olmsted’s career “the idea that cities need parks was not firmly established.”

Bring friends and a picnic to this film screening and bask in the beauty of one of Baltimore’s most unique urban parks. For more information check out the Olmsted Film and America’s Parks website.

Screening: Olmsted and America’s Urban Parks
Sunday, May 20
8:00 P.M.- 9:00 P.M. (film show time is about an hour)
Pagoda Hill, Patterson Park

IN CASE OF RAIN: location moves to Creative Alliance at The Patterson
3134 Eastern Ave, Baltimore, MD 21224

This particular session will utilize research conducted by the Boston, Chicago and Philadelphia Feds on older industrial cities, focusing on smaller cities. Discussion topics include:

• What are the key elements and themes that explain why some cities are doing better than others?
• What strategies have smaler industrial cities used to deal with the decline in manufacturing jobs, changes in demographics and economic trends?
• What are the roles of the government both private and philanthropic?
• How can success stories be applied from one community to another?

Presenters Include:

• Jeremiah Boyle, Community Development and Policy Studies – Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
• Yolanda Kodrzycki, New England Public Policy Center – Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
• Alan Mallach, Visiting Scholar – Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia

Baltimore History Evenings is also presented by the Village Learning Place

Thursday, May 17
7:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.
2521 Saint Paul Street
Baltimore, MD 21218

Discuss topics such as:

• How to start a Block Captain and other leadership programs
• What strategies work best in your neighborhood
• What you’ve learned through the programs
• Ask questions for other neighborhoods

Neighborhood leaders Forum
Thursday, May 17
7:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.
GHCC Office: 3503 N. Charles Street

For More information Contact John Bernet:
410- 261-3516
jbernet@greaterhomewood.org

Learn how you can create a healthier and environmentally friendlier home for your family by scheduling a  home energy assessment and utilizing cost-effective improvements including:

• Sealing air leaks
• Weatherization
• Installing insulation
• Creating “cool roofs”

As an added resource, Retrofit Baltimore partnered with Baltimore Heritage to provide attendees with information about tax credits for homeowners in historic districts. Many homeowners qualify for rebates and tax incentives, are you one of them?

Wednesday, May 16, 2012
7:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.
Second Presbyterian Church, 4200 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218

No RSVP required

Contact David (dkarpay@retrofitbaltimore,org ; 443-212-8384) for more information

Civil legal issues include:

• Divorce
• Custody
• Child support
• Landlord-tenant conflicts
• Wills and advance directives
• Bankruptcy
• Expungements
• Government benefits
• Criminal Law
• Consumer Issues

Remember to bring any relevant documents with you. No Registration required.
If you have any questions, call 410-549-5936 or email info@baltimorebar.org

Pro-Bono Day
Saturday May, 12
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Legal Aid Bureau: 500 E. Lexington Street