Mill Creek Village Accomplishments and Organizational Health Discussed at Annual Meeting

On Wednesday, April 10, 2024, nearly 40 Mill Creek Towne Neighbors came together at Mill Creek Towne Elementary School for the 11th Annual Meeting of Mill Creek Village, the nonprofit, charitable organization created by neighbors to help older neighbors to age in place and promote a caring, informed, and connected community intergenerationally.

The Business portion of the meeting was led by Village President Joe Isaacs who welcomed the audience and praised the contributions of two Village Board members, Jennifer Black and Anna Schneier who are departing the Board of Directors and several other volunteers including Nancy Brady, the editor of the Mill Creek e-Newsletter, and Ed Ludwig, the Board Secretary, who does the bulk of the Village’s print materials (including thousands of event flyers) at home at his own expense.

Joe acknowledged that after seven years of proudly serving on the governing body, his own tenure on the Board was coming to an end. He admitted he did not have a clue about what he was getting into when he volunteered just a few months after moving to the community. But he said, with gratitude, that he could not imagine a more meaningful way to have gotten to know my neighbors than in the service of our community. He said he joined a still fledgling organization in 2017 and feels privileged to have played a part in helping it to mature successfully and position itself for sustainability and new opportunities to be of benefit.

He reminded the audience that there are many neighborhood villages in Montgomery County, but that Mill Creek Village is but one of only two villages that has never charged its patrons fees or dues to receive its aging support services or partake of its many events or programs for those of all ages. He noted that the organization’s expenses are several thousand dollars annually and explained that these costs have been met because of the continued voluntarism and charitable giving of neighbors, sponsorship support from local businesses and success at obtaining small grants. He expressed heartfelt thanks that the organization’s benefactors believe in the importance of what the Village does in support of older residents and our community at large.

Joe then introduced the new Board of Directors for 2024-2025. The new board includes the following neighbors:

After recognizing other volunteers and the sponsors, Joe reviewed measures of the Village’s accomplishments presented in an infographic. Judith Johnson, volunteer coordinator, then presented a report specifically on the Village’s aging support services. The audience then heard from Village Treasurer Anna McBain, who described the organization’s current finances.

Joe closed the business meeting by reviewing the Village’s community-wide social events in 2024, noting that the Village has added a Family Pool Party at the Creek Towne Swim Association pool on Saturday, June 22. He was also excited to share a new element to the Walk Around the Towne scheduled for Saturday, May 18.

He indicated that Katie Becker, a neighbor on Shady Mill Road and an educator, will coordinate a special Mill Creek Village youth event that morning on her street. Students from Mill Creek Towne, and students who are related to or friends of community residents, will be able to earn Student Service Learning (SSL) Hours required for their MCPS graduation by participating in a “Positive Messaging Driveway Chalk Art Event.” So, after a leisurely walk and visit to beautiful gardens, our group will stroll down Shady Mill Road to appreciate the artwork in an intergenerational activity. This is a first for the Village, which intends to do more programming to engage younger residents in the future.

Joe then introduced the guest speaker, Ralph Buglass, from the Montgomery History speakers’ bureau. His illustrative presentation was on the topic, “Off the Beaten Path: Exploring Montgomery County’s Hidden Historical Gems.” Coverage of this talk will appear separately.