Tag: sertoma knoxville

  • Justin Lafferty | 89th district state representative | June 5th

    Justin Lafferty | 89th district state representative | June 5th

    Justin Lafferty is the “new kid on the block” and is ready to take on the big guys. He said he has been interested in politics since Middle School and has some things he is really wanting to make a change too.  The more he talked the more I became convinced he will use this office as a steppingstone. I was impressed with him and my hope is for him to go far.

    Carol Mohney and I attended Celebrate Sound Saturday morning. I was late, which caused Carol to be late.  The new location is convenient, clean and has plenty of parking.  They attempted to have something for everyone; a bubble machine had one little boy fascinated, he never took his eyes off of it.  If you haven’t done so, get out your checkbook and just thank the good Lord you can hear.

  • Chris Kerr | UT basketball | May 8th.

    Chris Kerr | UT basketball | May 8th.

    Our own Chris Kerr came to the rescue after our scheduled speaker Larry Vaughn couldn’t attend as scheduled. He spoke off the cuff on “All things Knoxville and Tennessee Basketball.  Chris loves basketball and he had two cousins who played together on their high school team and together they won the championship that year. Chris played in high school but quit his senior year; he says now you should never quit anything.

    When he grew up on Maloney Road, he liked to play pranks with his friends.  They enjoyed doing it, however, when his mother learned the details, she made him go to the sheriff’s office to apologize – sorta took the fun out of it.

    Chris said he avoided public speaking for 20 years, but a friend had him attend a public speaking class; given the entertaining off the cuff talk he gave us today I think he got over it!

    Our speaker next week will be Becky Massey.  We need lots of members to come and give her a good showing.

  • The Civil War | Gerald Augusta | Jan 9th

    The Civil War | Gerald Augusta | Jan 9th

    Gerald Augusta joined the Knoxville Downtown Sertoma club today

    President Lincoln is quoted quite often and is the master of “witty” sayings.  The Civil War is one war still being fought today (which hasn’t changed the outcome) but everyone wants to add their opinion. Gerald Augusta and his wife Sandy, our speakers on the 9th were not only well informed they were in full authentic costume.  He as a full colonel complete with saber and she in a dress, with bonnet and parasol.  He said this particular war is known by about 30 different names and Tennessee played a major part because of the natural resources we have such as lead, copper and salt.

    He had old newspapers from Brownlow Knoxville Whig which I would have liked to have set down with and read. I attended Brownlow Elementary but didn’t know and was never told the significant of the name.  I did know but had forgotten the land grant passed in 1862 made possible the University of Tennessee

    We have a new member! Josh Walker that joined our Knoxville Downtown Sertoma Club. He came about from Rusty and with the Holidays I’m thinking we all just passed him off and have failed to give him our Tennessee welcome. Hunt him down next Wednesday with a hardy Howdy!

    The board meeting held on 01.08 didn’t produce anything. I missed it due to the annual HOA meeting where I live but best, I can tell they ate dinner and had a good visit. Nothing was voted on.

    Next week:  You can replace me anytime: We will either have Lisa Nichols with Stockings from US to give us a year in wrap up or

    A professor from South College you is going to tell us how to make beer.  Andy Schoerner is responsible for the first and Matt Hall the second.  Personally, I need to know how to make wine. Anybody know someone that can cover that?

  • Prime Medical | Nov 28th

    We received a lot of information on the art of CPR and just recently in one of my magazines I read about the importance of knowing the proper and if you don’t know suggestions of where to go to learn. Our speaker did not recommend the Red Cross but went on to say there are several good ones available.  The web site of prime medical training.com is a place to start.

    Saturday Carol Mohney, the Kerr’s (Pete is moving around like she hasn’t just had surgery) and myself packed stockings for 2 hours. She told us how many, but I failed to write it down, so I can’t even brag! Lisa Nichols has set this up to make it easier for her helpers but even with the help she really puts a lot of time and effort into the project. I’m glad we can help financially but that’s just the beginning. They are packing again on Tuesday so come on over! It’s being set up in 2 hour shifts so call Lisa @ 755.7537 to get times.

     Slips were passed around for the gifts for the residents of the center. If you didn’t get one (or 2 or 3) hopefully you’ll have another chance. I believe you need to have them wrapped and returned by the 14th.

    December Schedule:

    12.05 Mike Simpson is bringing Rock Garner with Knoxville Habitat & Reboot Combat trauma recovery.  Mike has worked with this for some time and this should be well worth our time.

    12.12 Our neighbor Tom Maddingly will tell us about his new book “Empowered: The Fan ReVOLution That Changed College Football”

    12.19 The Madrigal Singers. This is always special and a great time to bring a guest,however, be nice and let Marriane know.

  • Rebecca Koszalinski | Speak for Myself | Aug 15th

    Rebecca Koszalinski | Speak for Myself | Aug 15th

    Our speaker this week was Rebecca Koszalinski which is a lot easier to type than to say.  She developed a program for mainly hospitals but has applications other places called “Speak for Myself”.  It is most frustrating to be in a situation where you find it difficult to communicate what the problem is or what you want. I think it’s a great idea and will go far.  I spoke with her after the meeting and she said she has added a great deal to the program because of patient expressed wishes but feels there is too much on it at this time and needs to be “fine-tuned”.  She had added end of life suggestions and thought this might not be a good idea for everyone. It’s trial and error time but I’m sure it is making a lot of patients lives easier and the nurses too.

    Report on the board meeting….  Mostly we talked about our Downtown Knoxville Oktoberfest and who was going to do what. I think it’s safe to say Caroline and Brett have paved the way and we are on our own.  At present we need you – the membership- to bring in auction items and brown bag stuff.  Marianne has agreed to store anything we bring in at her place, Carol and myself are going “scouting” for items on Saturday and we will bring them on Wednesday.  Auction items can be anything from jewelry to cookware. Get out there and hit Wal-Mart, Target, etc.

    We also determined to sponsor a team to play golf for the 40th Annual for Boy Scouts.  Don’t have any details, if your interested ask Matt Hall.

    The annual “Celebrate Sound” walk has been moved to Tyson Park to accommodate everyone who didn’t want to drive to Maryville. It will be on September9th and we expect BIG turnout. You can still walk on line and not have to leave home but if it’s not raining its kind of fun. Plan to join us.

    Next week:  We have Elaina Steno with Second Harvest Food Bank.  Brought to us by Matt Hall.

  • Sandra Clark | Election Predictions | Aug 1st

    Sandra Clark | Election Predictions | Aug 1st

    The election is behind us and I was pleased with the outcome. We made the national news – it was reported we elected a professional wrestler as mayor. Seems the “scruffy little city” just can’t get a break.  All of Sandra’s predictions came true and I got the feeling she is definitely not a President Trump fan.

    I would be willing to bet even if he knew it wouldn’t keep him up nights.  I worked at West Valley Middle School. We voted a total of 501 persons and 2 of them were my daughter-in-law and granddaughter (her first-time voting).  One picked Republican and the other Democrat, they should have stayed home!

    It’s much harder when you have two candidates running for the same office and you really like both.  I was impressed with Mattock and Burchett really “pounded the pavement”. You couldn’t go to any function he didn’t show up too.  Sandra seem to think he (Burchett) plans to move on up.  We can sit back and say “I knew him when. . . . . “

    The cost of campaigning I’m sure keeps a lot of good people from running. Sandra said thousands of dollars had been spent (this is a matter of public record, how much they spent and where they got it) and wouldn’t you love to be a fly on the wall after and election you lost and have the wife say – “don’t ever mention how much I spend on shoes again”

  • Jimmy Matlock | June 25th

    Jimmy Matlock | June 25th

    Last week we heard from Jimmy Matlock and I think most of us left with a favorable impression of him. One of the great things about our country you get to vote by yourself. He did say he is living on the farm he was raised on which is 87 acres, married to the same woman and attends the same church.  He either stands by his convictions or he’s in a rut. I like him and have been buying tires from him for years.

    On July 18th we learned about stem cell therapy and I don’t think I was the only person in the room that didn’t understand half of it.  I did write down the highest concentration of stem cells are in the hip bones; I am again screwed as mine are metal – takes forever for me to get through the airport.  He did enlighten us on where they get stem cells and put to rest some of the horror stories we hear.  I had no idea it could be used in so many ways.  We are blessed to live now.

    Next Week:  We will have Sandra Clark with Knox TN Today to give us her predictions on the outcome of the elections. Early voting ended on Saturday and the “real” election is Thursday so should be interesting.

  • Bill Robinson | POW Vietnam | May 30th

    Bill Robinson | POW Vietnam | May 30th

    When Hell was in Session

    Bill Robinson spent seven and a half years in a Vietnam prison and fortunately lived to tell about it.  He and other prisoners’ motto was return with honor and they were able to do that also.  He does not think highly of President Johnson and thinks even less of Jane Fonda but does seem to like President Nixon. He was a crew chief on a rescue helicopter on a three-month rotation and on one mission they took enemy small arms fire and were captured.  Upon arrival at the prison the highest-ranking person told him to “live to fight another day”.  They eventually ended up in the Hanoi Hilton when the moto was never give up, never give in. The” Hilton” was proud of the fact they fed the prisoners on twenty cents a day. They survived by saying “we’ll be home by Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc. When President Nixon took office, he invited all the prisoners of war families to the White House and vowed to do all he could to bring them home.  When Bill was finally able to return home, he was told not to wear his uniform and they would land at night.  I hope all of us are properly ashamed of ourselves for allowing this to go on.

    I did not get a report on our service project, but I understand it was a success and possible we will learn more next week.

    Next week we will have the new person in charge of Knox Heritage to bring us up to date on what’s going on there.

    On June 20 we will have our own Becky Massey and on

    June 27 we will host a homicide detective.

  • Erinn Finke | Autism | Morgan Stansbury | Annette Brown Scholarship

    Erinn Finke | Autism | Morgan Stansbury | Annette Brown Scholarship

    Dr. Erinn Finke, Associate Professor who came to us via Penn State, specializes in Autism. Webster explains it “a mental state marked by disregard of external reality”. Dr. Jerry and me were hanging on every word as each of us has a grandchild with the problem. Dr. Finke centered her talk on parents wanting their children to have social skills and have friends. She stressed that friendship is critical to a child’s well being and is significant protection against loneliness and depression. Teaching a child to make friends under the best of circumstances is difficult, teaching an autistic child would be next to impossible. She seems up to the task and I wish her nothing but the best of luck.

    We had Morgan Stansbury, recipient of the Annette Brown scholarship fund who spoke and was most grateful for the financial assistance.  Makes you feel good to have helped a bright and deserving person.

    Our own Dr. Carl Asp shared with us his book has now been translated into several languages to include Chinese and Arabic.

    Next week: We will have Greg MacKay former chairman of the Knox County Election Commission, and more recently a referee in the recent Russian elections. He will have an entertaining audio/video program.

    Service Opportunity:  On May 23rd we will pack meals for Mobile Meals at their facility on Reynolds Street where we went last time to pick up the meals to deliver but we won’t deliver any of these. This will be inside with air- conditioned comfort from 12 pm to 1:30. With the holiday fast approaching (Memorial Day) Mobile Meals needs help getting items ready. Wear comfortable shoes and clothing and plan to have a good time!

  • Bob Griffin | Congressman Duncun Update | Dec. 20th

    Bob Griffin | Congressman Duncun Update | Dec. 20th

    I hope this finds everyone healthy, and not too much poorer. I trust you had a great Christmas and enjoyed all the shows, food, parties and of course shopping, cooking, wrapping, etc. What amazes me is how fast it coves around now.

    Recap of last meeting:

    Mike Simpson introduced Bob Griffin who has been with us before; this time filling in for Congressman Duncan who couldn’t attend because of the vote on the tax bill. We did learn that Bob is an Army veteran and was in the 101st. Airborne.  As this is the 29th year for Congressman Duncan it may be the same for Bob. He is obviously proud of his boss and the accomplishments that have been achieved. To name a few: One million new jobs created, 22 regulations rolled back which will save eight billion dollars, and the lowest level of border crossing.  The last tax reform bill was in 1986 when Ronald Regan was president, and lowering the corporate tax rate will do wonders for the free enterprise system. Veterans benefits will be increased (as they should be) I am amazed how poorly our veterans are treated – all gave some, some gave all. Also, Bob pointed out that 45% of the people don’t pay taxes.

    Next Week:  Bert West has arranged for Bethany Lovato to speak at our next meeting on Wednesday, January 3, 2018.  Bethany and her partners have opened Elmont Exchange Restaurant and Brewery at 745 Broadway. It is a beautiful, modern place in an old warehouse. I haven’t been there, didn’t know it was there but I’ll be on my way. My building was at 730 Broadway, so this is just up the street.  Neighborhood goes to pot and then suddenly, we find people willing to invest and keep the old structures. Remember the old riddle, silver is good, gold is better. Since this is also a brewery, maybe she’ll bring samples.