Brendan Sailing Summer 2024 Newsletter

From our Leadership - A Message from Chairman Jim Muldoon

​What a wonderful summer we had!  This year’s camps sailed by fast, with 77 campers participating in our Annapolis and St. Mary’s camps.  At the different graduations, parents had an opportunity to celebrate all the kids had accomplished on and off the water.  Take a read through Executive Director Jane Millman’s recap below to read even more about all the fun and learning that took place at summer camp.

Looking ahead to the fall, Brendan Sailing will once again host its premier lecture event.  The Navigating Differences Symposium is our annual best practices dialogue for parents, teachers, trainers, and all professionals supporting children with learning differences.  I hope you’ll RSVP below and plan to join us on November 2nd at American University.

As always, we are so grateful to those who support our organization financially and as volunteers.  This year, our donors helped send more than 40% of our kids to camp with scholarship assistance.  As you explore ways to give back in your community, I hope you will continue to keep Brendan Sailing top of mind as we share with you the many ways your assistance changes the lives of children and families in our region for the better.

Fair Winds and Following Seas,
James P. Muldoon
Chairman of the Board

Symposium Info

The Latest - A Recap of This year’s Summer Camp from Executive Director Jane Millman

​Hello Brendan Sailing families and supporters!

Brendan Sailing has had an incredible summer with many things to celebrate. With a record number in attendance this year and a full waitlist for each Annapolis camp, Brendan Sailing is showing the community that we are leading the way in helping youth with learning differences build their self-confidence and independence. The weather this summer was just what a sailor is looking for; sunny, blue skies and plenty of wind to power our sails each day. Our fantastic instructor team was on site everyday to help our campers learn the basics of sailing and succeed through our hands-on teaching and demonstrations. At our St Mary’s camp, we saw beautiful friendships form and campers' social and sailing skills grow daily. My favorite memory from this summer has to be the Parent/Family Sail Day. On the last day of each session, our campers took parents and family members sailing to show them all that they have learned while at camp. The smiles on everyone's faces and the determination in each camper’s eyes told the story of their growth and confidence they found while learning how to sail. 

We are extremely grateful to Brendan Sailing’s supporters, who make offering our annual summer programs possible. Thank you to Annapolis Sailing School for graciously letting us operate on their grounds and act as our home base for all of our Annapolis camps. Our thanks also to the Bricks Company and Atlantic Marinas for keeping us hydrated all four weeks with Annapolis Green’s mobile freshwater “Naptown Taps.” A special thank you goes to St Mary’s College of Maryland Waterfront for entrusting Brendan Sailing with their sailboats, powerboats, and wonderful air conditioned classroom. And lastly, we extend a heartfelt thank you to the Kahlert Foundation and the Kathy and Jerry Wood Foundation for their continued support of Brendan Sailing, and for making it possible to provide scholarships to more than 40% of our campers this summer. 

With the summer completed, we have our annual Navigating Symposium on November 2nd and our Annual Awards banquet on January 26th that I hope you and your family will attend. The RSVP links can be found on our website. Stay tuned for some monthly Camper Engagement events to keep the friendships that were forged this past summer alive throughout the school year! 

With a grateful heart, thank you!

Jane Millman
Executive Director
Brendan Sailing

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Save the Date for the Navigating Differences Symposium

Please join us for an Education Symposium for professionals and parents involved with youth with Learning Differences, especially outside of the classroom; teachers, trainers, instructors, therapists, coaches, and students. We will be sharing best practices, present research, discuss state of the art methods, network and learn from one another.

Saturday, November 2, 2024
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
American University, Spring Valley Building
4801 Massachusetts Avenue
Washington, D.C.

$25.00 Admission
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Symposium Info

Warm Welcome to Meredith Glacke

​Please extend a warm welcome to Meredith Glacken, who has joined our team to support Brendan Sailing’s marketing and communications efforts.  Meredith is a longtime marketing strategist, nationally recognized speechwriter, and communications professional with 15 years of experience working in the business, government, and nonprofit sectors.  She joins Brendan Sailing from Foresight Messaging, a business she founded in 2022 and continues to run as the firm’s principal.  Meredith also serves on the boards of the Chesapeake Bay Alberg 30 One-Design Association and the Michael H. Tillotson Foundation.

When Meredith isn't promoting Brendan Sailing programming, you can find her on the Chesapeake Bay sailing in the Alberg 30 and J/70 fleets or distance racing in the ocean on Annapolis to Newport race winner Cookie Monster.

Volunteer at the Boat Show for Brendan Sailin

Want to support Brendan Sailing and score free tickets to the Fall Boat Show?  Sign up to work at our booth between October 9th and 14th.  We have volunteer slots for adults and campers available in the mornings and afternoons.  You’ll be helping to raise awareness about our summer camps and also signing up visitors for giveaways!  There are a limited number of spots available, so don’t wait to sign up!

Volunteer at the Boat Show

Show Your Support

It’s thanks to generous donations from sponsors and grantmakers that we are able to offer Brendan sailors an outstanding learning and growth experience each year.  We would love for you to join us in support of our mission to continue building pathways for self-confidence and personal growth in children with learning differences, through individually tailored experiential instruction in sailing.  Click here to extend your financial support to our Brendan Sailing programs.

Support Brendan Sailing

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