Sally Michel
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sbe agrees, she does reserve some bours: "I seldom go places for volun- teer projects on weekends." And, sbe Sally Michel adds, sbe seldom entertains, except, of course, for the monthly dinner party- Running througb tbe back of Sally brainstorming sessions sbe's been bost- Micbel's mind is a little scboolgirl ing for Mayor Scbaefer for the past prayer: "Help us to remember tbat five years. wbat we keep we lose, and only wbat It was even a kind of time-saver, she we give away remains our own." So confides, that bad ber persuading ber even if she bad to work for a living or busband, Robert E. (Butcb) Micbel, Jr., to supplement ber busband's income, to become treasurer of Mr. Schaefer's she says, "I'd bave saved a part of my last mayoral campaign. Sbe was cbair- life to be a volunteer." man; sbe figured tbe two of them would Her volunteer involvements are so get tbe work done at tbe dinner table. many and varied, bowever, it would The motber of three daugbters- seem Mrs. Micbel must save part of one in college, two at St. Paul's Scbool ber life to be a private person. In fact, See VOLUNTEERS, EG, Col. 4 THE SUN, Sunday, January 17, 1982 Volunteers at work for the city VOLUNTEERS, from El for Girls, Mrs. Michel manages the family's large home in Guilford with- out paid help. For the monthly dinner parties, she bakes and freezes ahead, she says lightly. For housecleaning tasks she's content with a quick dust- ing before guests arrive. For the most part, she adds, she works in the kitchen, which doubles as her office. That's where she is, most nights, till about 2 a.m. Even just touching on the high-' lights of her activities can be mind- boggling. She is coordinator of the Mayor's Business and Professional Women's Council, and chairman of the Mayor's task force on child abuse, the State advisory commission to the Office of Children and Youth, and the advisory board to the University ofl Maryland's Scbool of Social Work and Community Planning. I She also serves on the boards of St. Paul's SChool for Girls, the Wood- bourne Center, the Aquarium and the Baltimore SChool for the Arts, for which she's chaired special events- the Aquarium opening, for instance, and the arts school's galas. She was fund·raisin~hainnan in the HUghes gubernatorial campaign-"I thought Sun photo-ElliS Malashuk he was the best man for the job, so I .-SaIIllMichel does ""Iunteer wotk.1or Mayor Schaefer-ancJ..has workecl fIOl'__ was willing to find a chunk of time," Governor Hughes, Ihe Aquarium IUIdIhe Ballimore SChoolfor Ihe Arts. she explains, "and then, because I was there and working for him anyway, I ism, cab-driving. There is one hard- years. Their first meeting-she had also chaired the inaugural ball." and-fast rule: Nobody may criticize bid $20 at a charity auction fo~ the Generally, she continues, she likes anybody's else's idea for city im- opportunity to have lunch With him 10 best projects with a beginning, middle provement. order to urge formation of co-ordina- and end: a gala, for instance, or a Name tags are given out at the tion of services fighting drug abuse- ball, or an opening celebration. Least start of each evening, identifying pea- was "a very fortunate set of happen- rewarding of her civic tasks was her pie only by their first names. After ings," he said. "She's a very hard stint as statewide coordinator of the one dinner a young man was cha- worker, a very good detail person, White House Conference on Families grined to discover the woman he had very creative and a good friend." in 1980, a nine-month confrontation, sat next to and talked to so informally Mr. SChaefer has just named his she recalls, in which a "single-issue" was the wife of the chairman of the worker-friend to the Lexington Mar- group dominated and defeated all board of the company where he ket 200th Anniversary Celebration else. The single issue, of course, was worked. committee. abolition of abortion. "1 try to serve something different ----'---------- Whether the dinners with the each time," Mrs. Michel says. "But Donald Rothman mayor should be regarded as one-shot the main course is almost always or continuing projects is a moot point. chicken. It's become a family project. When Donald Rothman got out of As she describes the parties, they are The girls can serve, pour the wine, the Army after World War II, he had both entertaining and useful. Mr. clear the table and then get back to a choice not accorded to many: He SChaefer, she remembers, had ex- their studies." With Mr. and Mrs. was accepted by Harvard Law SChool pressed an interest in getting good Michel and Mr. SChaefer at the table, and the drama school at Yale. ideas from people outside of govern- 15 places have to be set. For the past He had always been interested in ment, and Mrs. Michel invited 12 "dy- several Christmases the Michel the theater, he says; but at the time, namite women" to have a brain- daughters have been giving their par- the security of a career in law storming session in her dining room ents matched glassware: 16 pieces. in seemed the wiser goal. And so it is with him in response. case they break one. that Mr. Rothman is today a senior That was five years ago, and ever Family life has not then suffered partner in the Gordon, Feinblatt, since, one Monday night a month has or been squeezed by Sally Michel's ac- Rothman, Hoffberger and Hollander been set aside for dinner with the tivities, apparently. "What I'm doing law firm, a member of the board of mayor. Each time, 12 guests, male with my life is a ~rt of what we as a governors of the Maryland Bar As- and female, are invited wttficct their \ family foilaw an~ believe in," she sociation, a trial lawyer with 33 years 'Spouses. They may be from any walk says. "I feel eVery"diingtllat'sJmpor· of experience in the courts and a 9f life- banking, real estate, journal- tant I've already got: a wonaerful moving spirit in Baltimore's Center marriage and a terrific family. 1 feel Stage. I'm obligated to give back. 1 would Never completely divorced from love to be able to give tremendous drama, he had in the years before amounts of money to what I believe Center Stage participated in other in. But 1 don't have tremendous groups: the Barnstormers at the Hop- amounts of money to give, so I'm kins, the Baltimore Actors' Theater willing to give what I do have: the and the theatrical projects of the time and the talent for getting things Jewish Community Center. done." But in the early Sixties, the JCC's For Mayor Schaefer, Mrs. Michel bas been "a good friend" over the See VOLUNTEERS, E7, Col. 1 WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Mayo, OFFICE OF THE MAYOR • CITY OF BALTIMORE "'., 250 City Hall, Baltimore, Maryland 21202, (301) 396.3100 In reply refer to: February 26, 1980 Ms. Joan Harris Office of Social and Psychological Services 2300 North Charles Street Baltimore, Maryland 21218 Dear Ms. Harris: From time to time, I have formed ad hoc committees to address specific, current problems and these committees have been very important and helpful to me. Now, in my conduct of city govern- ment, I find a definite need for enlisting the experience and wisdom of professional women to advise me on a variety of sub- jects. Therefore, I propose to establish such a group to be available to me for advice, suggestions, and assistance. This body would prob- ably meet twice a month to review general issues of current and future concern. I would hope to draw from the group some committees or individuals, to work on problems and advise me on special topics. These topics could range from promotion of the city, to funding the Pride of Baltimore, to vandalism, to litter, to • juvenile delinquency, to cultural attractions, or to the bringing of new industEy to our City. The members might want to discuss specific business problems or new ideas for the betterment of our City. I am, therefore, creating a Mayor's Council of Professional Women to be made up of approximately 25 or 30 individuals of special position in our community. This is an invitation for you to be a member of this group which I hope will be informative for you and beneficial to our City. Mrs. Robert E. Michel will act as temporary coordinator. If you decide to accept the assignment, please call my secretary, Mrs. Chafin, at 396-3100 and let her know if you can attend the organiza- tion luncheon on March 5, 1980 at 12 noon in my office (Room 250) on the second floor of City ~all. The luncheon will start at 12 ", America's Best lB3)BALTIMORE AII·Amenca City' 76-77 February 26, 1980 Page 2 noon and end NO LATER than 1:30 P.M. I am looking forward to the benefits of your good advice and efforts. Since elY~ h~~J Mayor cc: Mrs. Joanne Chafin Mrs. Sally Michel , ' WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Mayor OFFICE OF THE MAYOR • CITY OF BALTIMORE 250 City Hall, Baltimore, Maryland 21202, (301) 396-3100 In reply refer to: March 13, 1980 Ms.