Tuesday November 1st, 2011 Maryland AIRS held its 2011 Conference at the Howard County
Community College campus in Columbia, MD. Tom Page, Executive Director of 2-1-1 Maryland
was the keynote speaker. He reminded us of the positive impact that I&R can have
on people in their time of need. During the business meeting at the conference, Tom
was elected to the Maryland AIRS Board of Directors.
The theme of the Conference was titled “I&R in the Real World. The Reality - Not
the Show.” Fun was had by all as Debbie Yare and Jill Kamenetz held a Resource Challenge.
Presentations included, NAMI In Our Own Voice by Susan Halsel, Executive Director
of NAMI, How. Co., Helping Veterans Access Benefits by Carrie Weletz of Bergman and
Moore, LLC., Using Technology to Improve Service Provision by Francie Kranzberg Shalom
DC and Paul Kirkpatrick of Community Crisis Services, Inc., Consumer Protection Issues
by Travis Plunkett, Consumer Federation of America, Health Care Reform by Sheila
Mackertich, Director of Public Policy Baltimore Healthcare Access, Energy Assistance
News by Cynthia Riley, Consumer Liaison, Office of People’s Counsel, No Wrong Door
Concept by Kara Hamilton, Chief of Staff, Family Investment Administration, Department
of Human Resources, Housing and Mortgage Issues by Reginald Stanfield, Office of
Community Programs, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.
