What a day

This morning started at 6:00 a.m. working on permission letters that are going out to sites around our area for the CONTACT groups that will start surveying this Saturday. Then at 8:00 a.m. it was over to Ledo's Pizza for a meeting about BRAC (see today's earlier post). Found out some interesting things.

BRAC:

• 5,700 people are moving to the area because of BRAC directly.
• NSA is hiring an additional 4000+.
• The agreement will build a 1.7 million square foot office building in the Ft. Meade area and will house 10,000 new employees.
• Other growth outside of BRAC is expected to bring in an additional 2000 people.
• The workers that are coming are science and math minds that work white collar, high technology jobs, with an average income of $90,000.
  
• They're expected to begin moving in in 2009, with the majority here by 2011. Fully here by 2015.
  
• That's a lot of people! It will mainly be felt in the western part of the county.

Then I drove to prayer in Sparrows Point. I join with other pastors monthly to pray together. It was very refreshing to pray with them, though it ended with a small (pointless) controversy.

Then home for lunch with the girls. An early afternoon of paperwork for CONTACT, and then I made some rounds introducing myself to managers and supervisors at some of the locations we're targeting for CONTACT. I got permission from the B&A Trail headquarters. I met the supervisor at the Severna Park Post Office. The decision there really lies with the postmaster (currently on vacation) so I'll find out in a couple weeks. Then to the Severna Park Library. I'll go back tomorrow to see the branch manager.

Then I capped off my day with a trip to a local Chamber of Commerce event. Chesapeake Treasures had a ribbon cutting ceremony today. CT has filled the space that Corky's Cafe used to have. (sniff sniff) I miss the old coffee shop. They've redecorated and it is definately a different place. I had to gather much of what I learned about the store, but this is what I think I know. CT is a second hand store, with merchandise that is donated to the local Hospice of the Chesapeake. The store is operated by Hospice employees and volunteers. It was a neat little place.

While I was there I met Brenda. She works for the County Executive's office. She is a liaison for community service and needs in the County. I got her card and the promise of an interview. She'll be a great contact for CONTACT.

--Ben