Leadership

Less than a year after being elected chairman of the Anne Arundel County Republican Central Committee, Michael Collins is facing a mutiny. The behind-the-scenes campaign is playing out publicly, however, through a steady chorus of statements and leaked memos posted in the blogosphere. Among those leading the charge is Brian Griffiths, a 27-year-old who lost a bid for a Central Committee seat last fall and has been blogging for more than two years at brian griffiths.com. He obtained and posted a letter sent by the Central Committee's vice chairman asking Collins to step down, and later displayed Collins' rebuttal.

Martin O'Malley gave a very ordinary inaugural address yesterday, but it was blessedly short, and that counts for something. It was the coldest day of the year, and I'm sure everyone assembled in front of the State House sighed when the new governor ended his rap at about 1,400 words, with 206 of them devoted to thank-yous. Still, in every important speech, there should be at least one memorable line. This had none. My eyes started to glaze at the part about George Washington resigning his command.

Less than a year ago, many Baltimoreans thought their city was doomed -- doomed not only to persistent crime and poverty but also to weak leadership. Hardly anyone looked forward cheerfully to City Council President Sheila Dixon as the city's next mayor. There was fretful talk of radical opposition: Shouldn't the city's voters try to re-elect Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. so that Martin O'Malley, the Democratic candidate for governor, would have to stay on as mayor? In that event, Ms. Dixon would be confined to the council presidency.

The Chesapeake Area Professional Captains Association, which offers lectures, workshops, license-renewal courses, and safety and fire-prevention classes, will meet at 7 p.m. tomorrow at the Hampton Inn, 124 Womack Drive in Annapolis. Prospective members, guests and family members are welcome. Information: 410-267-7651 or www.capca.net. Entrepreneurs to hold barbecue Young Entrepreneurs and Professionals, a group of business-minded individuals from the West and Northern Anne Arundel County chambers of commerce, will hold a poolside barbecue mixer from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Lodge of Seven Oaks, 2027 Odens Station Lane in Odenton.

WELL, Baltimoreans do give. The sentence suggesting otherwise was just a headline to draw interest.But the impression has long been prevalent that Marylanders are not big charitable givers compared with per-capita philanthropy rates elsewhere. It is fortified by the moderate goals of United Way and the relatively late start and growth of the Baltimore Community Foundation.An analysis by Sun reporter Kate Shatzkin on Sunday made the problem clear. According to an Internal Revenue Service breakdown of itemized-deduction tax returns, Marylanders with family incomes below $100,000 in 1997 gave ever-so-slightly more to charity than the national average for the bracket.

CRYSTAL CITY, Mo. -- Calling himself a small-town boy who would bring a new brand of leadership to the White House, Bill Bradley returned to his Midwestern roots yesterday to formally launch his campaign for the 2000 Democratic presidential nomination.The 56-year-old former senator, in an unusually personal speech, said he wanted to shake the American people out of their complacency and restore the public's faith in government.The loudest cheers of the day from the crowd of 1,500 friends and supporters came when Bradley appeared to contrast himself with his party's current president.

Heather Weisse, a junior at South Carroll High School, recently attended the National Young Leaders Conference in Washington.The conference is a leadership development program for high school students who have demonstrated leadership potential and scholastic merit.The theme of the conference was "The Leaders of Tomorrow Meeting the Leaders of Today."Students visited embassies, met with national and local elected officials and participated in leadership skill-building.The daughter of John and Robin Weisse of Winfield, Heather has been an active member of 4-H since age 5. She acts in local and school theater groups, is on the yearbook staff and is a member of the Student Government Association.

FireMount Airy: Firefighters assisted Frederick County at 6: 01 p.m. Thursday, responding to a house fire in the 400 block of Prospect Road. Units were out 3 hours and 55 minutes.

A place of honor in mayoral voteIn 1997, then-speaker of the House of Representatives Newt Gingrich invited the Rev. Jesse Jackson to "sit in a place of honor" during the president's State of the Union address. Mr. Jackson accepted the invitation.The reaction from many Republicans and many blacks was akin to "how could they?"For me, the speaker's invitation was a small, yet important, step toward Republicans re-establishing a relationship with black communities and their leadership.And now, as Republican candidates seek common ground and opportunity to re-establish a relationship with black communities throughout the city as we face an election, many on both sides are asking "why should we?"

IN THE wake of the recent mayoral campaign, which saw Baltimore's predominantly African-American electorate propel white candidate Martin O'Malley to an overwhelming victory over two black candidates, many were left wondering if there's a leadership vacuum in the city's black community.After all, when Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke took office nearly 12 years ago, he was a potent symbol of black empowerment. Has the community given up on that idea?Mr. O'Malley can proudly point to a biracial coalition that helped elect him. But others wonder if the defeat of mayoral candidates Lawrence Bell and Carl Stokes -- who were encumbered by personal troubles -- isn't a dire sign of trouble in the ranks of black political leaders.

COLLEGE PARK -This is a common first impression people have when they meet Maryland quarterback Chris Turner: typical California kid, probably a surfer or a skateboarder, easygoing attitude, perfectly embodied by his wild, curly blond hair that can be spotted from halfway across campus. This is what most people figure out if they spend a few minutes with him: Yes, he is a California kid at heart, but he has never been a surfer or a skateboarder. Sure, he's easygoing, but underneath that laid-back demeanor is a burning desire to win. This, though, is what you might see from Turner if you attend Maryland's Red and White game Saturday at Byrd Stadium, the final scrimmage of spring practice before his senior year: a bunch of wild passes, a few missed reads, some shoddy mechanics and possibly a head-scratching interception or two. This is the best explanation for why: For some reason, Turner seems to play his best when it counts - and his worst when it doesn't.

In a crowded classroom above the lawns of the U.S. Naval Academy, midshipmen are getting a dose of reality from a muscular Marine officer in desert fatigues. "You have to have the willpower to make a decision even when you don't have all the answers, even when your decision is going to get someone killed," growls Capt. Ted Greeley. "Everybody's going to be scared, physically exhausted, unwilling to go on ... but you have to." Greeley led a Marine rifle company through fierce fighting in Fallujah, Iraq.

Successful business owners shine at most aspects of operating their business. Usually they are great at planning, marketing, creative thinking or knowing just how to satisfy customers. They sometimes fall short when it comes to leading, managing and motivating others. One reason is widespread confusion about the difference between managing and leading. Managing implies structure, control, rules, deadlines and efficiency, says Ken Blanchard, best-selling author of The One-Minute Manager.

Heading into the first debate of the fall campaign, John McCain used a speech in Baltimore yesterday to accuse Barack Obama of a pattern of lax leadership. McCain revived an explosive line of attack against his Democratic rival by claiming that Obama had put his own presidential ambitions ahead of the country's interests. "Whether it's a reversal in war, or an economic emergency, he reacts as a politician and not as a leader, seeking an advantage for himself instead of a solution for his country," McCain told a gathering National Guard members at the city convention center.

The Maryland Senate Republican Caucus voted unanimously yesterday to elect Sen. Allan H. Kittleman as minority leader and Sen. Nancy Jacobs as the minority whip, elevating a moderate and a social conservative to the leadership posts. Kittleman, who represents Howard County, has quickly risen through the party's ranks and had served as minority whip with fellow moderate Sen. David R. Brinkley of Frederick County. He and Jacobs ran uncontested after Brinkley decided not to run again for minority leader, citing personal reasons.

Maryland state Sen. David R. Brinkley, the minority leader, said yesterday that he would not seek a leadership post in the Republican Party caucus next year, partly because he said he needs to focus on his home life and business. Brinkley, a financial adviser from Frederick County who has been in the General Assembly since 1995, was involved in a domestic dispute with his wife to which sheriff's deputies responded in May. No charges were filed in the incident. The Senate Republican caucus is planning a meeting for September during which it will chose leaders.

The NFL Players Association is about to find out what it's like to go into high-stakes negotiations without Gene Upshaw. Upshaw carried the union fight for 25 years as its strong-willed executive director, participating in collective bargaining negotiations as far back as 1977. His death, from pancreatic cancer Wednesday, went shock waves through the NFL and left a leadership void in the union. "The new guy will have to do what he can, but he can't be Gene Upshaw," said Stan White, a former Baltimore Colt and long-time union activist.

Registration open for tech expo Chesapeake Regional Tech Council is accepting registration for the Fourth Annual Comcast BBQ on the Bay Tech Expo. The expo will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., July 10 at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, 6 Herndon Ave., Annapolis. Limited sponsorships are available. Contact exdir@chesapeaketech.org. Information: chesapeaketech.org or 410-222-7410, Ext. 124. BRAC talk at Fort Meade meeting Fort Meade Alliance will hold its annual meeting and reception from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., June 26 at the BWI Marriott, 1743 W. Nursery Road, Linthicum.

Leadership group to honor graduates Nearly 65 graduates of Leadership Anne Arundel's Flagship Class and Neighborhood Leadership Academy will be saluted at the academy's Tribute to Community Leadership from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m Tuesday at the Hilton Baltimore BWI Airport, 1739 W. Nursery Road, Linthicum. The Jack Harden Community Champion Award, the Patrick M. Lee, Jr. Award and the LAA Distinguished Graduate Award for 2008 will be presented. Marley Station plans free camp Marley Station mall in Glen Burnie will feature Camp Kidgits, a free, six-week camp program designed for children of the Kidgits club.

Mariah Sandy, 10, left the Wilde Lake Interfaith Center energized and determined to return to her school and pass along her newfound knowledge about leadership. "I know how to be a good leader without being too bossy," the Atholton Elementary School fifth-grader said confidently as she stood among a small group of classmates. "I'm going to tell them everything I know." It's never too early to prepare to become a leader. Mariah was one of 400 fourth- and fifth-graders from 27 Howard County schools who learned about leadership at the fifth annual Peer Leadership Conference on Thursday.