MIDDLESEX COUNTY PRISON COORDINATING COMMITTEE NEWSLETTER

MCPCC held its annual meeting in West Newton on June 10, 2009. Mary Ann Donaldson, Tom Crowther, Elizabeth Woodbridge and Marjorie Moerschner were present.

Chairperson Mary Ann opened the meeting with a prayer, followed by her annual report:

In addition to several business meetings, we had five guest speakers, as follows:

Oct.- Rev. Milton Thomas, Protestant Chaplain for

The Billerica House of Correction and

The Cambridge Jail

Nov.- Tom Larkin Director of the Smart Recovery program at the House of Correction

Jan.- Lee Gartenberg, Esq., Director of Inmate Legal Services at the prison and jail

Feb.- Diane Morad, Legislative Liaison and Aide to the Sheriff's office

May- Sheriff DiPaola, who spoke to the committee and 25 guests about the many good things going on at Billerica, as well as its ongoing needs.

We thank all our wonderful speakers, and were especially honored to have Sheriff DiPaola meet with us.

MCPCC sponsored an essay writing contest for inmates, with 9 winners. In April MCPCC was privileged to be given a tour of Billerica HOC; several of us attended the Criminal Justice Policy Coalition annual meeting in May; and Boston Community Choir, of which Mary Ann is a member, sang gospels to inmates at Billerica and were received with great enthusiasm.

Treasurer Tom Crowther gave his annual report: MCPCC received contributions from

The Presbyterian Church in Sudbury Edwards Church, UCC _

Fisk Memorial, UMC

The Second -Church in Newton

United Methodist Church of Newton

Newton Highlands Congregational Church

Eliot Church of Newton

as well as several individual donations.

All of these generous donations are deeply appreciated.

MCPCC contributed to New England Prison Ministries for its needy prisoner clothing fund and for its mentoring program. It put small monetary prizes into the 9 essay winners` canteen funds.

Marjorie Moerschner, Secretary

NEXT MEETING: SEPT. 9 2009 at 7 PM

GUEST SPEAKER: NANCY SHIPPEN, EXEC.DIR.OF OUR PRISON NEIGHBORS

SECOND CHURCH IN NEWTON, 60 HIGHLAND STREET, WEST NEWTON