THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

*] >> JEFF: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION."

WITH ONE OF THE NATION'S BUSIEST TRAVEL PERIODS THE HOLIDAY DAYS AWAY WE'RE COMING TO YOU FROM THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE ADMINISTRATION OF MARYLAND WHERE WE ARE JOINED TO TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS BY NUMBER C8 THREE 8, DMV HUMOR.

CHRISSY NIZER IS THE LONG TIME ADMINISTRATOR OF THE MVA.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

>> NATION FOR BEING HERE.

>> Jeff: 7:00 P.M.

ON A MONDAY NIGHT THIS IS THE TIME TO COME THERE'S NOBODY HERE.

>> WE ARE POST HOURS BUT WE HAVE SERVICES AVAILABLE ON-LINE AND A GREAT TIME TO ENJOY 60 TRANSACTIONS YOU CAN DO STHOOR AND THAT MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE THIS AFTERNOON I DID A LAP THROUGH HERE TO SEE WHAT THE LAYOUT WAS A COUPLE THINGS HAVE CHANGED.

NO METAL BENCHES.

SMALLER NUMBER OF LITTLE SEATING MORE COMFY SEATING.

AND A NUMBER OF KIOSKS COULD USE A COUPLE MORE KIOSKS BUT EVERYBODY STARTS THERE AND PEOPLE ARE DOING THINGS FROM HOME VIA COMPUTER.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

WE HAVE APPOINTMENTS NOW OUR WAIT TIME IS APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES AND PROUD OF THAT.

WE KNOW CUSTOMERS' TIME IS IMPORTANT AND WE WANTED IT TO BE CONVENIENT TO GET IN AND OUT AND ON-LINE SERVICES IT'S GREAT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

OFTENTIMES YOU DON'T NEED TO START AT A KIOSK YOU CHECK IN ON YOUR PHONE WE'LL SEND A TEXT AND MAKE IT AS SEEMLESS AS WE CAN.

>> Jeff: WE HAVE A LOT TO TALK ABOUT AND LOOKING AT THE DRIVING TEST AREA OUTSIDE I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT PARALLEL PARKING AND OTHER TOPICS.

FOR OUR VIEWERS IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE MVA SEND US AN E-MAIL ADDRESS ON THE SCREEN.

LET'S START WITH SAFETY.

WE LOSE AN AVERAGE OF 10 PEOPLE A WEEK IN TRAFFIC COLLISIONS OF VARYING KINDS.

AND I KNOW IT IS AN INITIATIVE OF YOURS OVER THE SUMMER.

>> WE LIKE TO SAY WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT SAFETY BECAUSE WE LOSE WAY TOO MANY PEOPLE.

WE TALK ABOUT NUMBERS.

LAST YEAR WE LOST 484 PEOPLE ON OUR ROADWAYS, PEOPLE DIDN'T COME HOME, EMPTY CHAIRS AT THE TABLE, FRIENDS NOT IN THE COMMUNITY ANYMORE WE ARE DEDICATED TO REACHING ZERO FATALITIES ON OUR ROADWAYS AND IT TAKES AND EVERYBODY WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

THE 100 DEADLIEST DAYS PEOPLE OUT VACATIONING DOING THINGS MAYBE NOT THINKING ABOUT BEING SAFELY OF CAREFUL AND SAFE ON OUR ROADWAYS.

YOU HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE OUT BICYCLING AND WALKING IN THE COMMUNITY WE ALL NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER EVERY WEEK WE ARE SENDING OUT A RELEASE TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WE'VE LOST PEOPLE ON OUR HIGHWAYS.

WE WANT YOU TO ENJOY MARYLAND AND WE WANT YOU TO MAKE IT HOME SAFELY.

>> Jeff: LOOKING AT THE SIGNAGE ONE OF THE POINTSES OF EMPHASIS AND IF THERE IS A LAW A STOPPED EMERGENCY VEHICLE, YOU NEED TO PULL OVER AND SLOW DOWN.

IT MAY NOT ALWAYS BE POSSIBLE BUT YOU NEED TO DO YOUR BEST.

>> THAT IS A GREAT REMINDSER.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WHETHER IT'S WORKERS OR FIRST-RESPONDERS OR YOU OR I MAYBE A FLAT TIRE OR A TRAFFIC CRASH, MAKE SURE YOU MOVE OVER TO THAT OTHER LANE AS IT'S SAFE TO DO SO.

IF IT IS NOT SAFE MAYBE NOT SAFE IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE PLEASE SLOW DOWN.

UNFORTUNATELY THIS YEAR WE HAVE LOST SEVERAL OF OUR M D.O.T.

EMPLOYEES BECAUSE OF CRASHES THAT HAPPENED THEY ARE WORKING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TRYING TO PUT UP CONES BECAUSE A CRASH OCCURRED TRYING TO HELP ALL OF US GET TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE.

OUR WORKERS DESERVE TO GO HOME SAFE FROM HOME.

WE WANT TO LOOK OUT FOR THEM AND EVERYBODY ON THE ROADWAY.

MAKE SURE YOU'RE CAREFUL SLOW DOWN, DISTRACTIONS ARE BAD IN WORK ZONES OFTENTIMES LANES CAN NARROW.

AND YOU DON'T HAVE AS MUCH TIME TO MAKE THAT QUICK DECISION.

>> Jeff: I THINK THE NUMBER YOU CITED UNDER 500 MIGHT BE AN IMPROVEMENT OVER THE LONG-TERM TREND.

ARE THERE ANY FACTORS THAT ARE WORKING TO ENHANCE OUR SAFETY?

THINKING ABOUT NEW VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY?

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE SELF-DRIVING CARS YET.

BUT CERTAINLY NEWER VEHICLES HAVE SOME DEFENSIVE MECHANISMS BUILT IN.

>> YOU ARE RIGHT.

THE 484 PEOPLE IS A REDUCTION 18% REDUCTION FROM THE PRIOR YEAR THE NUMBERS ARE OF MONTHING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION BUT WE WON'T BE SATISFIED OFFICIAL WE REACH ZERO FATALITIES.

I WISH IT WAS A SIMPLE ANSWER.

FIRST OF ALL IT STARTS TO EVERYBODY.

EVERY TIME WE GET BEHIND THE WHEEL TO THINK ABOUT THE SAFE DRIVING BRAVERS.

WE KNOW IT SAVES LIVES, WEARING YOUR SEATBELT SLOWING DOWN AND MIND WHATEVER THAT SPEED LIMIT IS ON THE ROADWAY FOR THE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

AVOID DISTRACTIONS.

OBVIOUSLY NEVER DRIVE IMPAIRED IF YOU ARE GOING TO GO OUT TO THE HOLIDAY PARTY AND GOING TO CONSUME SOMETHING HAVE THAT DESIGNATED DRIVER SAFE RIDE HOME TRANSIT OR SHARED RIDE LOTS OF OPTIONS.

WE ALL HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY IN SAFETY.

IN ADDITION, YES, VEHICLES ARE SAFER THAN THEY WERE BEFORE AND WE ARE FOCUSED IN MARYLAND FROM ENGINEERING OUR ROADWAYS THAT THINKS ABOUT ALL OF OUR ROADWAY USERS.

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.

SOME ST BEST IN THE NATION AS YOU KNOW CONTINUING TO GET THE WORD OUT THROUGH EDUCATION THESE ARE ALL IMPORTANT THINGS THAT HELP US REDUCE FATALITIES AND GET TO THOSE NUMBERS.

>> Jeff: MAYBE THIS IS A BETTER QUESTION FOR THE STATE POLICE WHEN YOU ARE OUT DRIVING WHICH I DO A FAIR AMOUNT THERE'S ALWAYS SOMEBODY IT SEEMS FLYING BY AT 90-MILES-PER-HOUR.

AND IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THE BIGGEST RISK OUT THERE.

BUT IT WOULD BE POINTLESS ALMOST 100% OF THE TIME TO CLOG UP 911 WITH THAT UNLESS THERE WAS AN OFFICER CLOSE BY.

WHAT I WONDER ARE THOSE THE SAME PEOPLE WHO ARE PILING UP THE POINTS ON THEIR MVA LICENSE SYSTEM?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

SPEEDING IS DANGEROUS WHETHER THAT WORK ZONE OR DRIVING DOWN 95.

WE KNOW WHEN YOU ARE IN A CRASH SPEED IS GOING TO AFFECT HOW SERIOUSLY INJURED YOU ARE OR LEAD TO A FATALITY ON OUR ROADWAY.

SLOW DOWN IS THE BEST MESSAGE FOR EVERYBODY.

NOT ONLY COULD IT LEAD TO YOU GETTING THAT CITATION FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT THERE IS MORE AUTOMATED SPEED CAMERAS OUT IN OUR WORK ZONES BECAUSE WE WANT TO PROTECT OUR WORKERS AND ROADWAYS NEAR SCHOOLS AND IMPORTANT PLACES WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO SLOW DOWN.

AND IT IS A GREAT MESSAGE.

IT WILL SAVE LIVES IF YOU TAKE THAT ACTION.

>> Jeff: ON ANOTHER TOPIC THERE WAS AN ISSUE IN THE LEGISLATURE ABOUT AN INCREASE IN MARYLAND RESIDENTS DRIVING AROUND WITH TAGS FROM ANOTHER STATE.

WHY DO THEY DO THAT?

AND WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT?

>> IT IS NOT A NEW ISSUE IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A REQUIREMENT WITHIN 60 DAYS TO TRANSITION YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE YOUR VEHICLE REGISTRATION OVER TO MARYLAND EVERY STATE HAS A RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT.

SOME VEHICLES SOME DRIVERS ARE GOING TO SURROUNDING STATES AND CERTAINLY NOTICE THOSE NUMBERS SEEM TO BE INCREASING.

THE LEGISLATURE WANTED TO FOCUS ON THAT.

AND CREATED A NEW LAW THAT WILL CREATE ENFORCEMENT MEASURES.

IF YOU DON'T TAKE THE ACTION TO BRING YOUR VEHICLE LEGAL AND REGISTER IT IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

WE ARE FOCUSED ON THE NEW LAW GOES INTO EFFECT OCTOBER 1 WE WANT TO HELP YOU GET INTO COMPLIANCE BEFORE THAT DATE.

WE ARE ENCOURAGING ANYONE WHO HAS A VEHICLE REGISTERED OUT OF STATE YOU LIVE IN MARYLAND, VERY SIMPLE TO COME TO US WE'LL HELP YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS GO TO OUR WEBSITE, MVA.MARYLAND.GOV SLASH MY PLATE.

>> Jeff: CAN PEOPLE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES WHO HAVE A DRIVER'S LICENSE PRESUMABLY FOREIGN DRIVERS LICENSE EASILY GET A MARYLAND LICENSE?

WHAT IS REQUIRED THERE?

>> IF YOU COME FROM ANOTHER STATE OR ANOTHER COUNTRY FOR THAT MATTER YOU WILL HAVE TO PROVIDE YOUR IDENTITY DOCUMENTS YOU WILL PROVIDE SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER AND YOUR FORMS OF RESIDENCY TO GET A LICENSE OR ID CARD HERE IN MARYLAND.

SO THOSE REQUIREMENTS ARE ON OUR WEBSITE IN TERMS OF WHAT IT TAKES TO DO THAT.

CONSISTENT FROM STATE TO STATE BUT THOSE ARE THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS.

IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN LICENSED THE REQUIREMENTS THERE IN TERMS OF TAKING THE DRIVING TEST BOTH THE WRITTEN AND THE SKILLS TEST.

IF YOU WERE LICENSED IN YOUR OTHER HOME RESIDENCE DIFFERENT STORY YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT PART.

>> Jeff: NOTE FROM ROGER WANTS TO KNOW CAN YOU ADD MORE PARKING AT THE WESTMINSTER MVA?

>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO PARK IF YOU DO YOUR TRANSACTION ON-LINE I GET COMPLIMENTS ABOUT WESTMINSTER THE PEOPLE ARE FRIENDLY AND WILL HELP YOU WHEN YOU COME INSIDE.

>> Jeff: SO THERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU STILL NEED TO COME IN FOR INCLUDING THE DRIVING TEST.

WHEN I WAS WALKING AROUND I COULD SEE OUT BEHIND THE LOCATION IN GLEN BERNIE WHERE THE TROOPERS ARE AND WHERE THE TEST IS ADMINISTERED.

I WILL SAY YOUR PULSE QUICKENS EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEEN A FEW YEARS AND THERE ARE STOP SIGNS AND DID I MISS ONE?

I HOPE NOT.

BUT THAT IS SOMETHING YOU DO ON LOCATION.

AND THE BIG CHANGE WAS DOING AWAY WHAT PARALLEL PARKING.

WAS THAT YOUR DECISION?

THESE KIDS TODAY NEED TO PARALLEL PARK.

WE DID IT.

>> I HEAR THAT A LOT FROM PEOPLE WHO WENT THROUGH THE TEST BEFORE.

IN ALL SERIOUSNESS WE BASE IT ON NATIONAL STANDARDS MANY STATES DO NOT REQUIRE PARALLEL PARKING AS PART OF THE COURSE TEST.

WE DID IT AS THE CHANGE WHEN WE TOOK OUR DRIVERS ON THE ROAD FOR THE TEST.

IF YOU REMEMBER BEFORE THAT, IT WAS AN ALL ONE COURSE TEST NOT NECESSARILY REFLECTIVE OF DRIVING CONDITIONS.

SO LOOKING AT THE NATIONAL BEST PRACTICES WE DECIDED TO DO A FEW MANEUVERS ON COURSE THEN IF YOU PASS THAT PART YOU GO ON THE ROAD AGAIN REPRESENTING WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A DRIVER OUT THERE.

AND TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE SAFE DRIVERS.

IT'S CALLED DRIVER EDUCATION IN THE MANUAL AND SOMETHING THAT IS IMPORTANT BUT WE CAN'T TEST EVERYTHING AS PART OF THE TEST.

>> Jeff: WHAT IS A MOBILE DRIVER'S LICENSE?

>> THE MOBILE DRIVER'S LICENSE IS A GREAT TECHNOLOGY ENHANCEMENT IT IS AN ELECTRONIC VERSION OF YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE.

WE KNOW THAT PRIVACY IS IMPORTANT TO EVERYBODY.

WE KNOW THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO SHARE MORE INFORMATION THAN YOU NEED TO.

BUT HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU GONE SOMEWHERE AND THEY ASK FOR A COPY OF YOUR LICENSE DID THEY NEED ALL THE INFORMATION?

WERE THEY SECURING IT?

THESE ARE QUESTIONS I ASK ABOUT PRIVACY.

THE GREAT THING ABOUT A MOBILE DRIVER'S LICENSE IT'S VENTS IT'S ON YOUR PHONE.

ALL THE WALLETS APPLE, GOOGLE SAMSUNG YOU CAN SIGN UP AS A MARYLAND RESIDENT IT'S FREE.

BUT IT ALLOWS YOU TO CONTROL THAT EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION IF YOU ARE USING IT TO PURCHASE ALCOHOL ALL THEY KNOW IS YOU ARE OVER 21 NOT YOUR DATE OF PITTER NOT WHERE YOU LIVE.

>> Jeff: VERY COOL.

>> SO GOING FORWARD, WE'LL HAVE MORE PLACES THAT ARE ADOPTING IT BUT YOU CAN USE YOURS AT ROYAL PARK, TSA, IF YOU ARE FLYING OUT OF BWI OR OTHER AIRPORTS, MONTGOMERY COUNTY HAS STORES THAT ARE ACCEPTING IT.

GROWING THE NETWORK OF ESTABLISHMENTS THAT ARE ACCEPT TO GO BECAUSE THEY RECOGNIZE IT'S MORE SECURE THAN THE LICENSE AND THEY ARE VERIFYING YOU ARE PRESENTING YOURSELF TO ME.

>> Jeff: I HAVE RECENTLY GONE FOR AN ADMISSIONS CHECK AND RECENTLY RENEWED REGISTRATION SO I AM AWARE AS MANY OF OUR VIEWERS ARE THAT THE PRICES HAVE GONE UP FOR ALL THESE THINGS.

NOT YOUR DECISION BUT IS THERE ANYTHING PEOPLE CAN DO IN TERMS OF RENEWING FOR TWO YEARS INSTEAD OF ONE THAT MIGHT BE GOOD DO YOU SEE ANY IMPACT OF THE PRICE INCREASES ON BUSINESS HERE?

>> WE TRIED TO MAKE OPTIONS FOR CUSTOMERS.

WE RECOGNIZE EVERYONE IS VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE COST OF EVERYTHING TODAY.

SO WHERE BEFORE MARYLAND REIMBURSEMENTS MIGHT REMEMBER THAT TWO YEARS WAS THE STANDARD OPTION AND YOU WANTED TO DO SOMETHING ELSE YOU HAD TO COME IN.

WE'RE OFFERING ONE YEAR RENEWALS FOR REGISTRATION TWO OR THREE YEAR IT IS YOUR CHOICE.

AND EVEN WITH THE ONE YEAR OPTION WE ARE DOING PAYMENT PLANS AGAIN NEW TO MVA BUT SOMETHING WE IMPLEMENTED TO HELP OUR CUSTOMERS WHERE YOU CAN PAY HALF OF THE FEE UP FRONT AND THE SECOND HALF OF THAT SIX-MONTH PERIOD WE'LL SEND YOU A REMINDER TRYING TO MAKE IT AS CONVENIENT AS POSSIBLE BUT REMINDING HAT THAT MONEY GOES TO OUR TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND TO BUILD THE ROADS AND TRANSIT AS WELL AS EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES YOU ARE PAYING THAT WITH YOUR VEHICLE REGULAR VACCINATION.

WE RECOGNIZE THAT ANY FEES ARE IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME THEY GO TO VERY IMPORTANT THINGS FOR OUR STATE.

>> Jeff: TIME FOR A SENTENCE LET'S GO BACK TO THE TOPIC OF OUR SAFETY IS PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THE FOURTH OF JULY?

>> FOR EVERY DRIVER EVERY TIME YOU GET BEHIND THAT WHEEL BUCKLE UP IT IS THE NUMBER ONE THING YOU CAN DO TO BE SAFE EN IS YOUR YOUR CELEBRATION.

>> Jeff: CHRISSY NIZER ADMINISTRATOR OF THE MVA THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

AND WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> Jeff: ON THE OCCASION OF AMERICA'S 250TH BIRTHDAY OUR GOVERNOR IS NOW A MEMBER OF THE LOCAL CHAPTER OF THE SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

GOVERNOR WES MOORE WAS GIVEN THE HONOR AT A CEREMONY SATURDAY AT THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION IN ANNAPOLIS.

>> THIS COUNTRY WAS BUILT ON A HOPE IT WAS BUILT ON ASPIRATION IT WAS BUILT ON THE IDEA WHEN BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN GOT TOGETHER AND SAID WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE IF WE COULD BUILD SOMETHING NEW AND SOMETHING THE WORLD HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

WE COULD BE A COUNTRY THAT COULD BE BUILT ON VALUES.

AND A FOUNDATION AND ONE OF CARING FOR ONE ANOTHER.

AND ALSO ONE WHERE THEY KNEW GOING IN THAT THIS WAS NOT GOING TO BE A FINISHED PRODUCT.

BUT, THAT THEY WOULD BUILD THE FOUNDATION OF WHAT THAT FINISHED PRODUCT HOPEFULLY COULD LOOK LIKE AND SAYING THAT THE JOB OF FINISHING THAT PRODUCT WAS NOT GOING TO BE THEIRS.

THE JOB OF FINISHING THE PRODUCT WAS GOING TO BE OURS.

>> Jeff: THE MARYLAND SOCIETY OF THE SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION INCLUDES MALE DESENT DENTS OF SOLDIERS OR THOSE WHO AIDED IN THE REVOLUTION.

GOVERNOR'S AN CHESTERS INCLUDE PRINCE AIMS WHO WAS BORN A SLAVE AND FOUGHT AGAINST THE BRITISH IN THE BATTLES OF LEXINGTON, CONCORD AND BUNKER HILL.

NOW IT IS THE SUMMER OF FUN AND HEALING ON MARYLAND'S EASTERN SHORE.

LAST MONTH, WE FIRST BROUGHT YOU THE STORY OF A SPECIAL CAMP FOUNDED IN THE 1980s BY THE ACTOR PAUL NEWMAN IT IS A CAME R CAMP FOR KIDS WITH ILLNESSES.

HE NAMED IT HOLLY ARNOLD AFTER ONE OF HIS FAVORITE FILMS.

AFTER DECADES IN OPERATION IN CONNECTICUT A SECOND LOCATION HAS OPENED ON MARYLAND'S EASTERN SHORE.

WE SPOKE WITH THE LONG TIME C.E.O.

JIMMY CANTON.

>> SIR, THANK YOU REMUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU WERE A YOUNG COUNSELOR IN YEAR ONE.

WHAT MEMORIES STAND OUT FROM THE BEGINNING OF THIS CAMP?

>> IT WAS 1988.

IT WAS OUR FIRST CAMPERS ARRIVED ON JUNE 18TH BEFORE THEY ARRIVED THE STAFF WAS ASSEMBLED WE CAME TOGETHER 24 HOURS AFTER THE CONSTRUCTION CREW LEFT.

AND WE HAD BEEN THROUGH A WEEK OF ORIENTATION AND HEARD ABOUT OUR FOUNDER JOINING US ON THE LAST NIGHT OF ORIENTATION PAUL NEWMAN.

THERE WAS ALL THIS EXCITEMENT ON THE LAST DAY OF ORIENTATION.

AND WE HAD A BIG FEAST TO CELEBRATE A WEEK OF TRAINING.

AND PAUL NEWMAN WALKED INTO THE DINING HALL AND YOU COULD HEAR A PIN DROP.

EVERYONE WAS JUST IN AWE OF THIS MAN.

AND WHAT WE HAD HEARD ABOUT AND WHAT HE HAD CREATED IN THIS SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME THIS INCREDIBLY SPECIAL PLACE.

FOR REALLY BRAVE AND SPECIAL CHILDREN.

AND HE TOOK HE WENT TO THE TOP OF THE DINING HALL THE FRONT OF THE DINING HALL AND HE HAD A GLASS OF NEWMAN'S OWN LEMONADE.

AND EVERYONE STOPPED AND HE WAS GOING TO GIVE A TOAST AND HE HELD UP THE GLASS, AND HE SIMPLY SAID I'VE TAKEN IT THIS FAR, YOU TAKE IT FROM HERE.

RAISE A LITTLE HELL.

AND THAT WAS IT.

AND HE WAS JUST AN EXTRAORDINARY MAN.

NO SHRED OF FOUNDER SYNDROME HE WANTED TO BRING TOGETHER PEOPLE WITH LIKE HEARTS TO MAKE THIS PLACE BETTER THAN HE EVER IMAGINED.

AND SO HE WAS OPEN TO ASSEMBLING A TEAM.

AND INVITING PEOPLE TO TAKE THE DREAM TO PLACES HE HAD NEVER THOUGHT OF.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING.

WE'RE GOING INTO OUR 39TH SUMMER.

AND I'M AT YELLOW FOUR WHERE MY JOURNEY BEGAN AS A CABIN COUNSELOR THIS WAS MY FIRST CABIN.

YEAH, WE'VE GROWN FROM THAT SUMMER PROGRAM SERVING 288 CHILDREN, TO THIS YEAR, MORE THAN 20,000 CHILDREN WILL BE SERVED CHILDREN AND FAMILY MEMBERS AND WE'LL CREATE OVER 40,000 HEALING EXPERIENCES JUST THIS YEAR.

SO A LOT HAS HAPPENED.

>> Jeff: WE'LL TALK ABOUT ALL THE STUFF THAT HAPPENED THE GROWTH, PERSONALLY YOUR GROWTH FROM COUNSELOR TO C.E.O.

AND HOW IT'S EXPANDED FROM JUST THE PROGRAM AT THE FACILITY AND THE SUMMER TO EVERYTHING YOU DO YEAR-ROUND AND NOW, OF COURSE, HERE IN MARYLAND.

>> SO EXCITING, YEAH.

I THINK ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE REALLY TETHER OURSELVES TO OUR FOUNDERS' SPIRIT IS TO BE ENTREPRENEURIAL.

AND TO GO WHERE THERE IS A NEED AND HE ALWAYS WANTED THIS CAMP WAS A PIONEER BACK IN 1988.

THERE WAS ALTHOUGH THERE WERE SPECIAL NEEDS CAMPS, NOWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES WAS THERE A CAMP THAT WAS COMMITTED TO SERVING SERIOUSLY ILL CHILDREN.

AND SO HE IMAGINED WHAT DIDN'T EXIST.

AND HE ALWAYS INVITED THE STAFF TO CONTINUE TO IMAGINE THAT, TO BE INNOVATIVE TO GO WHERE THERE WAS A NEED.

SO WE'VE GONE FROM A SUMMER PROGRAM TO A YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM ON-SITE AND WE TOOK OUR PROGRAMS OFFSITE.

WHEN OUR BEDS WERE FILLED.

AND WE WENT INTO THE HOSPITALS.

TODAY WE'RE IN OVER 30 HOSPITALS BETWEEN BOSTON AND WASHINGTON D.C.

SERVING CHILDREN AT THEIR HOSPITAL BEDSIDES BRINGING CAMP ENERGY AND PLAY RIGHT TO THEM TAKING OVER THE ACTIVITIES OF A REC ROOM.

AND R AND OR JUST DOING BED TO BED WORK.

WE'VE GONE TO CHILDREN'S HOMES WHO MAYBE DECLINING IN HEALTH TO REMIND THEM OF THE COMMUNITY THAT LOVES THEM.

AND A PLACE WHERE THEY KNOW THAT THEY ARE ACCEPTED AND NORMAL.

AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES WHERE WE BRING FAMILIES TOGETHER THAT MAY NOT KNOW ONE ANOTHER.

>> Jeff: AT THE PHYSICAL CAMP LOCATION, WHAT IS AN AVERAGE DAY LIKE?

DO THE ACTIVITIES, I GUESS, DEPEND ON THE INDIVIDUAL'S CIRCUMSTANCES?

>> YES.

ALL OF THAT, YES.

ACTIVITIES BEGIN IF YOU'VE GOT THE YOUNGEST CHILDREN THAT IS SEVEN YEARS OLD, WE THEY WILL BE UP AT 6:30 READY AND RARING TO GO.

AND SO WE HAVE EARLY MORNING ACTIVITIES STARTING AT 7:00 A.M.

FISHING AND BOATING.

WE'LL HAVE SWIM ORNATER HIKES.

MAYBE THERE IS A WOOD SHOP OPEN PREBREAKFAST ACTIVITIES GOING UNTIL 8:15.

BRECK FAT 8:30 AND CABIN CLEAN UP FROM 10-10:30.

FIRST ACTIVITIES DURING THE DAY, WE ASSIGN THE CHILDREN TO THOSE ACTIVITIES SO WE TRY TO INTRODUCE THE CHILDREN TO ALL THE ACTIVITIES THAT WE HAVE AT CAMP FOR THE WEEK OR SO THAT THEY ARE HERE.

AND LUNCH AND THEN AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES WHERE THE CHILDREN SIGN UP FOR THEIR OWN DESIRED ACTIVITIES.

BETWEEN LUNCH AND AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES IS REST HOUR.

AND OUR KIDS NEED IT.

AND THEN THEY SIGN UP FOR THE ACTIVITIES THEY WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN IN THE AFTERNOON.

WE COME BACK FOR DINNER.

AND THEN WE HAVE AN EVENING ACTIVITY.

AND THEY MAYBE AN ALL CAMP ACTIVITY OR JUST A CABIN SPECIFIC ACTIVITY.

EVERYONE OF THOSE MEALS WE DO A GRACE TO REMEMBER OUR FOUNDER.

AND WE HAVE SONG AND DANCE AFTER AND MEAL.

>> Jeff: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO THE KIDS?

AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO THE FAMILIES?

>> IT IS A SANCTUARY.

IT IS AN ESCAPE.

IT IS A PLACE WHERE DIAGNOSIS DOESN'T LEAD THE CONVERSATION.

AND WE'RE THE CHILDREN ARE REMINDED THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE.

I THINK OUR FOUNDER WANTED TO CREATE A SAFE PLACE WHERE CHILDREN WHO WERE BURDENED WITH ILLNESS AND WHO WERE DEALT A REALLY BAD HAND, A LOT OF BAD LUCK, AS HE WOULD SAY, THAT THEY COULD BE SAFE TO PARTICIPATE IN ALL THESE TRADITIONAL CAMP ACTIVITIES.

AND RAISE A LITTLE HELL AND GET IN TOUCH WITH CHILDHOOD AGAIN.

WHAT HE DIDN'T ANTICIPATE WAS THE PROFOUND HEALING THAT WOULD COME ABOUT AS THOSE CHILDREN LOOKED AROUND THE ROOM AND SAW 100 OTHER CHILDREN LIKE THEMSELVES.

AND IRONICALLY, THE ILLNESS THAT BROUGHT THEM TO CAMP, NEVER NEEDED TO BE MENTIONED.

BECAUSE IT WAS EVERYWHERE.

AND SO IT WAS THIS NORMAL COMMUNITY.

THEY WERE NORMAL TO HAVE THIS.

AND THEN THEY DIDN'T NEED TO DISCUSS THAT AS THEY DO OUTSIDE OF CAMP SO OFTEN.

AND AS A RESULT THEY COULD DISCUSS ALL THE OTHER PARTS OF THEMSELVES.

SO ILLNESS DIDN'T NEED THE CONVERSATION FOR ONCE SOMETIMES IN THEIR WHOLE LIVES.

SO IT'S SUCH A PLACE OF FREEDOM.

IT'S SUCH A PLACE OF JOY, MISCHIEF IT IS A PLACE OF LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE AND BELONGING.

I THINK THE FAMILIES EXPERIENCE THAT SIMILARLY NOT ONLY DO THEY WITNESS THEIR CHILD WITH ILLNESS PARTICIPATING WITHOUT ANY OBSTACLES.

WHICH IS AFFIRMING AND HEARTWARMING.

BUT THEN THEY TOO LOOK AROUND THE ROOM AND SEE OTHER PARENTS WHO ARE LITERALLY WALKING THEIR WALK.

>> Jeff: SINCE OUR INTERVIEW Mr.

CANTON HAS RETIRED THE NEW C.E.O.

IS CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER HILLARY.

AND THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" FOR THIS WEEK.

WE'RE BACK FRIDAY WITH "STATE CIRCLE" AND THE LATEST ON MARYLAND POLITICS.

JOIN US FRIDAY EVENING AT 7:00 P.M.

FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[*]