Tag: Speaking Opportunities in Knoxville

  • Speech and Hearing Month | Ellen Hamby & Katie Faulkner

    May 17:  Dr. Asp introduced Ellen Hamby who was the first female grad to come on board in 1977. The object was to improve life’s connections  for a forgotten population who had been locked up, locked away and locked in. Ridiculed, despised, feared, dehumanized and used for amusement. Aristole: let there be law that deformed child shall live. Serving people with intellectual disabilities; Knoxville has 12 group homes, 8 homes have 8 clients each. The day program serves 80 clients ranging in age from 8 to 84 with a severity of handicap from mild to profound.

    Report on the board meeting: It was determined to pass on the biscuit festival. We will look at it again next year.  We are greatly in need of sponsors for Oktoberfest, if you would like to attempt this all the paperwork is ready for you and you can be the “man of the hour”.

    May 24: Dr. Asp introduced Dr. Katie Faulkner who told us about the surgical procedure of the Cochlear Implant. This is a surgical prosthesis for both adults and children with profound hearing loss. It takes approximately a year from the time a person receives the implant until they are comfortable and able to hear normally and are released.  For a person that is unable to hear with regular hearing aids this is close to a miracle. Unfortunately, it cost about as much – around $80,000. Medicare for us old people will cover part of the cost.

    Housekeeping: 05/17 Jacob Tippens read the prayer, Jason Grahl led the pledge. We had one guest brought to us by Jacob Tippens; Matt Hall and he joined!  Carl Asp had an additional guest Dr. Nola Radford.

    07/24: Bob Rentenbach read the prayer, Jim Thompson led the pledge. We didn’t have a single visitor.

  • Bill Johnson Presentation for Cars & Coffee

    Our own Jerry Winston introduced our speaker, Bill Johnson. They obviously know each other but I failed to find out how. Seems Bill was on the radio for 38 years and among other things did advertising for various products. He decided it was time to retire and set about doing just that – however, he was contacted by Harper Auto Square (you know that outfit on Kingston Pike that most of us just drive by and look at all the pretty cars) to come and work for them in their advertising department. He ended up being retired for three days.  Along with being a car buff he is also a Civil War historian – what a combination!  He dreamed up the idea of Cars & Coffee which has really turned into a “big deal” and this year will bring in 4-5,000 cars. Pilot has joined in with them for the coffee portion and has been a big help. They started out with 5 policemen to help with parking, crowd control, etc., and this year they have 14. It is held at West Town Mall from 8 to 11 on Sunday. Obviously, this is before the mall opens to the public.   It’s a lot of work and a lot of fun and according to Bill not to be missed.

    Next week:  We will have Kim Trent with Knox Heritage.

    Tuesday, April 18th Board Meeting at Chesapeake’s, 6 pm All are welcome and board members should be there.

    Bob Rentenbach read the prayer, Aubrey Cowan led the pledge, James Lewis represented UT Speech and Hearing and he is a professor (looked to be about 12 years old) teaches and does research.

    John Kerr our district Secretary/Treasurer reminded everyone our Don’t Walk in Silence is coming up on April 22nd. They will be set up by 8:30 in the morning, it’s about a mile walk with coffee and goodies to make it worth your while. You get a t-shirt and an atta boy from the other walkers. See you there!

  • David Montgomery Presentation

    David Montgomery teaches non-credit courses at UT on landscaping and basically tells you which plant should go where. My mother in law could have used him, she just found and empty spot and by the time she passed that was no mean trick. I don’t know how he is at that but I can tell you he’s a hoot. He says he gives a “farmer’s guide to plaints in East Tennessee and he’s a collector of interesting and totally useless information.” He said he really couldn’t pass on anything useful but he invited us to come and take the course so UT could get paid and therefore pay him.  Seems reasonable.

    Next Week:  Carol Evans with Legacy Parks will be our speaker.

    Sunday is our St. Patrick’s Day Celebration and along with the time change which screws some of us up, the weatherman is calling for snow. In the event, he knows what he’s talking about and it really happens and the roads are bad – stay home. Otherwise the party starts at 5 with green beer and lots of good food. We are also going to have an addition this year of a piano player from the Knoxville Opera. If they gave his name, I missed it but don’t you miss him.

    Housekeeping: I read the prayer, Audrey Cowan led the pledge. We had Patti Johnston a professor from UT Speech and Hearing as our guest.