Steve is currently Emeritus Professor of Pathology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, where he was previously Director of Anatomic Pathology. He and his wife moved to Japan in 2004.  Most of the year they live in Goshogawara (population 60,000), in the Northern most prefecture (state) of Admori, which is bordered by seas on the East, North, and West. Steve is the only westerner in Goshogawara. He described his Rotary Club, its members, and its activities.  Goshogawara is like a small city where everybody of note is known by one another.  Though the club has community activities, fund raising is offensive to Japanese Rotarians.  Most of the apples are produced in the Admori prefecture and the local retail price of an apple is $4 US.

Donna started her working career with a masters degree in nursing.   She moved on to women’s issues in fashion,beauty, and skin care.  Donna later was a volunteer as a Bridal consultant at a local non profit bridle shop in Montgomery County.  Because the bridle shop was in a poor location, it was not as successful as it could be.  Donna started her own nonprofit FAIYTALE BRIDES.  She attracted a volunteer to create a very successful web sight which attracted contributions of tens of thousands of $’s worth of bridle dresses.  As one of the nonprofit requirements, all profits from the business must be given to designated charities.  Donna is going to add a sponsorship of a Montgomery College scholarship.

Mark Ramsdell has been a pastry chef and instructor for more than 30 years.  He served as assistant pastry chef at The White House during the Clinton and Bush terms.  Ramsdell and his instructor, Roland Mesnier, produced gingerbread showpieces at the White House.  After they left the White House, they continued to design and produce gingerbread showpieces such as models of Mount Vernon and the White House for events at the French Embassy and other nonprofits.  Some of the showpieces were auctioned off for hundreds of thousands of dollars.  Mark showed slides of the production of the showpieces and passed around a book he produced with Roland Mesnier.