Tony Belcastro of WSMT Insurance was the guest speaker for the Mason Dixon Business Association’s January luncheon. Buontempo Restaurant at 1 South Main Street in Bel Air hosted the event. WSMT is an independent insurance company providing personal as well as commercial insurance. They pride themselves on their personal relationship with their clients and their ability to offer insurance that fits the total gamut of their customers’ needs. Tony educated the group on the numerous types of insurance that are available. He stressed the importance of understanding your needs and then shopping for the appropriate policies. WSMT offers commercial policies including business liability, buildings, workers comprehension and professional coverage. WSMT offers a full line of personal insurance thru ten different insurance carriers. Personal polices include home, auto, fire, renters, etc. Personal policies can often lack adequate limits as people may skimp on coverage in an effort to save money. Tony recommended reviewing your insurance and making sure the coverage is sufficient in case you really need to make a claim. Too often an emergency occurs and then the insurance turns out to be inadequate to cover all the damages. He also discussed replacement cost versus basic coverage, inflation guards, and the need to have jewelry, antiques, etc. on a schedule included in your insurance policy. Automobile, teen drivers and identity theft coverage were a few of the other insurance topics discussed. For additional questions or information, Tony can be reached at 410-803-8590 or by email at tony@wsmt.com.
The Mason Dixon Business Association’s February luncheon will be held at the Geneva Farms Restaurant and Golf Course in Street Maryland on Wed. Feb. 15. The guest speaker will be Kevin Cysyk of Brightview Senior Living. Networking begins at 11:45 and lunch will be served at noon. Cost is $15. Guests are welcome and encouraged to attend. Further information about the Mason Dixon Business Association can be found at our website at www.masondixonba.org or calling Susan Miller at 717-382-4811.
Mason Dixon Business association gives to local fuel fund
Doug Nace, new president of Mason-Dixon Business Association, presented a check for $700 to Barbara Richardson, executive director of Mason-Dixon Community Services, to aid the agency’s fuel fund.
The organization contributed the money by matching the meal costs of 33 members, who attended last week’s “Fuel-Filling Holiday Luncheon” at Peach Bottom Inn, and by holding a “Chinese auction” during that event of about 15 gifts contributed by its member firms. According to Richardson, the MDBA financial support is desperately needed, since some client households served by her agency have already exhausted their now-limited federal fuel assistance and will be hard hit when January snowstorms hit the area.
South Eastern School District’s administration building employees and school officials based at that site also donated $365 to the fuel fund, doing so in lieu of holiday gifts to one another
Mason-Dixon Business Association elects 2012 officers
Shown with a check to be given in support of the Delta Halloween Party are recently-elected officers of Mason-Dixon Business Association.
To serve until September, 2012 as president is Doug Nace of Nace Consulting (center rear); as vice-president, Eugene Jones, director of Highland Community Association (rear, second from right); secretary, Susan Miller of Dale Miller & Son (third from left); treasurer, Bob Wehland of Freedom Federal Credit Union (right rear).
Elected as new two-year board members are Heather Erickson of Armstrong Cable and Anne’ Marie Vomero-Battis of Sharing Hope Foundation (both at left, front); Heather Warren of Harford Bank was not present.
Others serving on the board of directors are Craig Tilghman of Edward Jones Investments (left rear); Sondra Starleper of Jellybean Printing (holding check at right); Carol Frontera of Weyrich, Cronin & Sorra (front, right); Rose Fiore of Fiore Winery was not present.
Mason-Dixon Business Association works to support community activities in the local MD/PA area, and it endeavors also to inform business representatives of issues which impact them and to provide networking. It alternates monthly luncheon meeting sites between PA and MD and has maintained annual dues at $75.
Rona Kaufmann, superintendent of South Eastern School District, and Barbara Richardson, director of Mason-Dixon Community Services, each spoke at last week’s meeting of Mason-Dixon Business Association. Doug Nace (center) is new president of the business organization.
Mason Dixon Business Assoc. Nov. Meeting by Cindy Seibel
“We wouldn't be in business if it weren't for all the generous people in the community,” said director Barbara Richardson of the local social services agency at the monthly meeting of Mason-Dixon Business Association.
Richardson described the programs of her agency to approximately 20 business representatives present at the organization’s luncheon meeting November 16, held at Delta Pizza & Ferranti’s Italian Ristorante. She told too of the thousands of needy community residents aided by its programs.
“Our agency is very low budget,” said Richardson. “We rely on contributions.”
According to the agency director, during the past year 10,955 individuals benefited from the Mason-Dixon Food Bank and related offerings, 271 received fuel assistance, 1,104 students were helped with school supplies, 6,484 people were aided with holiday gifts and 1,500 were given help in other programs.
She said the not-for-profit agency was begun 30 years ago in Delta, and today has offices in the Peach Bottom Township Recreation Center and in Highland Commons in northern Harford County, MD.
Its clients can receive emergency food items once each month
Although she said that historically the agency’s clients were the unemployed or disabled and senior citizens on modest fixed incomes, today its range includes even everyone’s neighbors.
With the current economy, people who once donated to Mason-Dixon are now its clients.
Richardson said that energy assistance is the most critical need at present, and the agency has its own fuel fund and also administers the government LIHEAP program. She said her staff has 5-10 telephone calls each day from people who have had electricity shut off or have no heat.
Also speaking to the business association last week was Rona Kaufmann, new superintendent of South Eastern School District.
“We realize our schools are microcosms of the communities in which they lie,” said Kaufmann, adding that the school district is open to any kind of partnering it can have with businesses.
In that relationship, the district is seeking to find opportunities with local firms, such as job shadowing or learning interviewing skills.
As far as Mason-Dixon Community Services is concerned, Richardson said that it administers adult and youth programs such as WIC, it has Mason-Dixon Cares offering crisis payment for such needs as medical emergencies, it has provided housing for homeless individuals, and it provides holiday gifts.
Once each month, the agency has a “soup kitchen,” at which its clients hear a speaker on topics such as breast cancer and receive door prizes along with the meal.
“Most clients don’t have a dime left after paying rent and food bills,” said Richardson.
A major holiday enterprise is its Adopt-a-Family program, and the agency director said that, although many toys have been donated, the agency needs items for teenagers.
Senior citizens can apply for holiday aid, choosing either $75 toward bills or $50 delivery of personal care.
She said that the agency’s clients face the dilemma of having no public transportation in the area to aid them in getting to workplaces, and no agencies give help with gasoline costs or vehicles.
Some clients have been out of work for years and are at the bottom of employment lists, said Richardson. She told the business association members that her agency had advertised for a 20-hours-per-week position and had applications from people with master’s degrees.
