Parents Anonymous

CEOs, teachers, parents, and even a governor showed up at Martin's West Wednesday night to salute Nancy Grasmick, State Superintendent of Schools and the Governor's Special Secretary for Children. More than 800 people attended the successful ($50,000) fund-raiser for Parents Anonymous, an agency dedicated to eliminating child abuse and neglect and strengthening families.When I arrived, the honoree's proud husband, Lou, was table hopping. I sat with an old friend, Bill Stair, and his grandson, Bradley Minetree, the newest vice president in Stair's business, Up-To-Date-Laundry.

Madelyn "Maddie" Zimmerman of AnnapolisVolunteer work: Across the county and across the state, weekly meetings of Parents Anonymous (PA) take place in an effort to break what Maddie Zimmerman calls "the cycle of abuse."Ms. Zimmerman, a Parents Anonymous volunteer for the past five years, heads a PA group in Glen Burnie that works on techniques to deal with life's stresses and with ways to redirect parents' anger from their children.Ms. Zimmerman says it is often a parent who was abused as a child who turns into an abuser.

Sixteen people with discriminating palates gathered at the Milton Inn last night for a $500-a-person wine-tasting to benefit Parents Anonymous of Maryland.World-renowned wine expert Robert Parker, publisher of the Wine Advocate who was recently knighted by the French government, joined Bob and Debbie Schindler (he owns Pinehurst Gourmet & Spirit Shop on Bellona Avenue), Libby and Tom Broadus, Donna and Don Barrick, Wickie and Mack Plant, Gary Schatz, Lisa and Dave Askin, and Jan and Bruce Arminger.

The boy was being suspended from school for something he said he hadn't done. He was mad. He was frustrated. He was ready to punch somebody.Instead, he talked about the situation and his anger. He talked with other kids in his A.C.T. group -- that is Adolescents Coping Together -- and the adult moderator.The moderator listened, and he went to bat for the boy. But not a punch was thrown."It turned out the child was right, and he never was suspended and he's still in school," says Elaine Fisher, executive director of Parents Anonymous of Maryland, which has put A.C.T.

Dr. John O. Meyerhoff, chairman of the board of Parents Anonymous of Maryland, has won the Baltimore City Medical Society's 1991 Annual Community Service Award.Since becoming the agency's chairman in 1986, Dr. Meyerhoff has raised funds for the agency, worked to increase public awareness and understanding of child abuse and neglect, and increased the professional staff.He also helped develop Adolescents Coping Together, a network of support groups for troubled adolescents that now operates in 21 Baltimore public schools.

Dr. John O. Meyerhoff, chairman of the board of Parents Anonymous of Maryland, has won the Baltimore City Medical Society's 1991 Annual Community Service Award.Since becoming the agency's chairman in 1986, Dr. Meyerhoff has raised funds for the agency, worked to increase public awareness and understanding of child abuse and neglect, and increased the professional staff.

SANTA CLAUS Anonymous marks its 58th campaign with this year's goal of raising $600,000 to bring Christmas to 60,000 children in Baltimore and surrounding counties. Address a donation to Santa Claus Anonymous, Carrollton Bank, 2 Charles Plaza, Baltimore 21201. For more information, call 685-4830.Institute of Notre Dame wants volunteers for its Computer Resource Center, 901 Aisquith St., to keep the center open between 8 a.m and 4 p.m. on school days. Computer literacy is not required. For more information call Sally Price Rupert at 522-7800.

Parents Anonymous knows being a parent isn't easy. And this statewide organization lends a hand, too -- specifically to those families dealing with abuse or neglect.It provides services to teen parents, homeless families, victims of child abuse and parents who fear they may abuse or neglect their youngsters.Help is available through the Parents Anonymous Stressline, 243-7337.

MADELINE ''Maddie'' Zimmerman says her interest and motivation in life is in making families healthier.She volunteers to Parents Anonymous of Maryland as a group facilitator in a self-help support group at Harundale Presbyterian Church each week.PA is a non-profit agency dedicated to strengthening families and treating child abuse and neglect. Free and volunteer-based, the service is offered statewide.''Cherishing children,'' Zimmerman says, ''is the mark of a civilized society, and it must begin in the home.

CURRENT volunteers' news and needs:Golden Rule Awards, sponsored by J.C. Penney to honor volunteers in Central Maryland who best exemplify the spirit of volunteerism, have a March 16 deadline for nominations. Forms are available at J.C. Penney catalog desks or by calling (301) 298-8100. Awards will be presented April 16 at Martin's West.Chimes Inc. has initiated an official volunteer program for assisting instructors, friendly visiting, help with leisure activities, entertaining, clerical assistance and computer data entry.