Barbara Blaylock is a retired primary care physician who has been on the board of the Funeral Consumers Alliance of Maryland and Environs (FCAME) since 2008 and President since 2010. She got interested in after-death care as an extension of end-of-life care, as it always involves the family as well as the patient. She is passionate about patient – and family-centered health care. FCAME is a non-profit organization of local residents who volunteer their time to help their neighbors in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Delaware plan after-death care that is dignified, meaningful, and affordable. The group is the local affiliate of the Funeral Consumers Alliance, the only national organization that advocates for consumer rights with regard to funerals.

Architectural propaganda is the use of architecture for the purpose of propaganda. Throughout history, significant architectural works have been used to convey ideas, including many intended to command respect and obedience. Architectural propaganda on the Metro subway system in Moscow is the topic of Club Member Victoria’s presentation. Many of the underground stations on the Moscow subway were built in the 1930s, during the Stalin era, and feature statues, murals, and elaborate designs to forecast a bright future for the Soviet Union. Victoria is an established architect and has an architectural diploma (1972) and PhD in Architectural Theory (1982) from Moscow. She had an architectural practice and academic rank in The Academy of Architecture in the Ural region of Russia (23 years) and immigrated to Maryland in 1995.