Volume 2, Issue 3 March 2013

Transcription

1 Volume 2, Issue 3 March 2013 WestStar Calendar April Dyer/Lauderdale Session April 18 - African American Leadership Conf. April Gibson/Crocket Session May Henry Co. Session June McNairy/Hardin Co. Session June 11 - West TN Regional Entrepreneur Conference June 20 - WestStar Graduation July 1 - Billing begins for Alumni dues We cannot believe it is already time for the quarterly newsletter. This year seems to be flying by with so many exciting events happening. The Working Women s Conference was a huge success and most likely the best conference we have had to date. When there are 300 ladies celebrating being a Queen for the Day, you can t have much more fun than that. WestStar s first West Tennessee Nonprofit Conference was held last week. It is safe to say, based upon it s success, that this will be an annual event. The African American Leadership Conference is next on the WestStar agenda and planning is well under way. Registration information has been sent out so look for that in the coming days. Please see the following pages for more information. The Class of 2013 is at the halfway mark for their WestStar Leadership experience. The class has had a tremendous experience in each of the counties they visited so far, mainly due to the hospitality of the alumni in each community. We can t thank our alumni enough for everything they do. Next week is Lauderdale/Dyer County session and we are looking forward to learning more about education in West Tennessee. As always, you, as an alumni, have an open invitation to any WestStar session. We hope to see you soon. 554 University Street Administration Building, Room 321 Martin, TN Phone: Fax: weststar@utm.edu WestStar20 Westar Leadership Program Sept. 1 - Recruitment for the Class of 2014 begins Please contact Virginia Grimes for information and details of the calendar events. To handle yourself, use your head. To handle others, use your heart. -Eleanor Roosevelt The University of Tennessee is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA institution in the provision of its education and employment programs and services. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or covered veteran status. R

2 Volume 2, Issue 3 Page 2 Have you ever stopped to wonder why you do a certain activity/ program over and over again? Is it because of the expectations from others or maybe because it is part of your job duties? I often ask myself this question when I see WestStar alumni stepping into leadership roles with community projects and even WestStar sponsored events. Why? I can only surmise their willingness to lead because of their passion to serve. WestStar could not function without the hundreds of volunteers working behind the scenes, not looking for glory but unto service to others, to ensure our programs and events are of the quality WestStar is known for. To all of you Thank You! I am extremely proud of the work WestStar alumni continue to do throughout West Tennessee and across the state. Remember, by coming together with the blinders removed, we can shape the future of West Tennessee! But it takes communication, vision, leadership, and most of all PASSION. Let us never forget our service to others and our pledge to make West Tennessee better. Hope to see you soon! In 2004, the WestStar Alumni established a Nick Dunagan Leadership Scholarship fund. The scholarship is to be awarded to a dependent of a WestStar alumnus who's student is enrolled at UT Martin. The scholarship is targeted towards sophomores, but any year may apply. The amount is $1200 annually, ($600 for Fall 2013 and Spring 2014). The purpose of the scholarship is to provide financial assistance to a student who has proven leadership skills and/or displays leadership potential. The deadline to apply for Fall 2013 semester is Tuesday, May 14th. Past Recipients 2012 Recipient - Laura Gullet, daughter of Jacky Gullet, Class of Recipient - Roe Hughes, son of Andrea Hughes, Class of Recipient - Jane Gordon, daughter of David Gordon, Class of Recipient - Jeannie Hankins, daughter of Lisa Hankins, Class of 2000 Please contact the WestStar office for a copy of the application.

3 Volume 2, Issue 3 Page 3 The 15th Annual Working Women s Conference was held on February 15th, in the UTM Boling University Center Ballroom. The theme was Queen for the Day and we had many royal highnesses in attendance. Ms. Kellye Cash Sheppard, 1987 Miss America, gave the keynote address and entertained the group with a vocal arrangement. Dr. Lolly Eldridge M.D. presented Long Live the Queen about women s health issues. Dr. Bonnie Daniel, UTM, presented Understanding Your Court and gave a leadership/personality styles profile to help the participants better understand themselves and co-workers. Miss Tennessee Chandler Lawson gave the luncheon keynote and spoke on her platform, 5 Loaves Four Kids. After lunch, Dr. Jennifer Johnson M.D. gave a hilarious presentation of Take a Cue from the Court Jester. She spoke on distressing and using humor to help with stress management. Our last speaker for the day was Dr. Amy Elizer, or UT Extension - Madison County and taught a few tips on modifying recipes for health. There was not a dull moment during the day and we can t wait to start planning next year s conference! R to L: Cherry Boyd, Michelle Atkins, and Cherry Rains Women s Conference Committee and Charley Deal Ms. Kellye Cash Sheppard and Miss Tennessee Chandler Lawson R to L: Dee Henderson and Diane Abbott Ladies from the City of Martin R to L: Andrea Hughes, Roberta Parker, Amy Haag

4 Volume 2, Issue 3 Page 4 Last summer, a few members of the Class of 2012 met with the WestStar staff to discuss an idea that had developed. They realized a gap in our area and saw need to offer a conference and learning experience for employees and volunteers of nonprofit agencies. Consequently, there were a number of nonprofit employees in last year s class, which made this project close to home. After the initial idea was presented to WestStar, it was nearly impossible to turn down. They envisioned a conference where topics targeted solely at nonprofits could be discussed, such as mega gifts, friend/fund raising, and marketing techniques. A committee was complied to start the planning process. The date was set for March 21. The conference was held at the Jackson Madison County Hospital in Jackson. Curt Swindoll, Executive Vice President of The Pursuant Group, and Jeff Pearson, CFO of ALSAC, St. Jude s Children s Research Hospital, were the keynote speakers for the conference. Breakout sessions speakers included WestStar alumni Dave Bratcher, Cary Vaughn, and Amy Griffin from the Class of 2012; Steve Holt, Class of 2007; Nancy Choate; attorney from Jackson; and Eddie Lee Herndon, United Way. These speakers presented a range of topics from compliancy to cultivating relationships with donors and including how to motivate volunteers. The conference had an outstanding turnout with 115 participants registered (17 counties and 72 different nonprofit organizations across West Tennessee). The feedback has been positive and we are looking forward to planning next year s conference. Right: L to R: Shelby County Participants. Cary Vaughn, Kathy Cowan Moore, Gina Tynan, Jeff Pearson Above: L to R: Madison County Participants: Dave Bratcher, Katie Pace, Denny Dix, Dee Henderson, Kim McFarland Right: L to R: Weakley County Participants: David Sudberry, Jeanna Swafford, Steve Holt, Trina Cobb, Carol Reed, Monica Cochran, Jake Bynum, Sue Lasky, Jason Sullivan, Justin Totty, and Andy Wilson Below: L to R: David Belote and Steve Raper Below Center: L to R: Danny Walden, Nancy Speck, Rose Clardy, Sue Nicks. Back Row: Youlanda Wilcox, Amy Finch L to R: Scott Conger, Mamie Huterson- Cooper, Beth Koffman

5 Volume 2, Issue 3 Page 5 West Tennessee Research and Education Center Jackson, TN April 18, 2013; 8:00 a.m - 2:30 p.m. Deadline to Register: Friday, April 12, 2013 The African American Leadership Conference is fast approaching. Click here or visit our website at for agenda and registration information. Save the Date! FutureStar Leadership Summit- November 7, 2013 (Weakley, Carroll, Henry, Obion) RisingStar Leadership Summit - November 21-22, 2013 (Any student leader in West Tennessee) If you are interested in financially sponsoring a student from your community to attend either of the Summits, please contact the office. We especially need sponsors for the FutureStar Summit as they participate at no cost to the student TACL Conference 2013 WestStar Reunion (Oct. 17th) Mark your calendar for October 16-18, 2013 Natchez Trace State Park The WestStar reunion will be comprised of some of the events of the TACL conference, but WestStar alumni are invited and encouraged to attend the entire 3 days of leadership development. More information to come in the coming months Alumni Association The Alumni Association is currently at 47% membership. If you are not a 2013 member and wish to join, please click here to make an online donation of $50 to receive this year s Alumni directory and to help us reach our participation goal. 18 gifts of $50 or more will help us reach our goal of 50%. Are you up to the challenge?

6 Volume 2, Issue 3 Page 6 We encourage each county to continue to schedule County Alumni Meetings. If you need any assistance from the WestStar staff in organizing one for you county, please let us know. Doris Battle, Class of Doris retired from Jackson Madison County School System in December. She will be taking on the role of Deputy State Coordinator for MS and TN for the National Institute for School Leadership. Scott Conger, Class of voted runner-up as Best Local Public Servant in the 2013 Jackson Sun Readers Choice Awards Van Wylie, Class of Van retired from USDA Rural Development after 38 years of service. We wish him well and will miss working with him. Tidbits from. Chuck Doss would like WestStar Alumni to be aware that Discovery Park has people available to present to civic organization about it s programs that will be available with the museum opening. Please visit or contact Chuck for more information. He would also like you to visit an organization called the Promethean Foundation that provides scholarships to at risk children. Both of these organizations are products of the generosity of Robert and Jenny Kirkland of Union City, TN. Larry Ray would like for you to visit MyParisMagazine.com to view his articles entitled When Bullets Flew. He has completed the 6th article in an 18 part series on our local Civil War history along the Tennessee River. His next article will be the first of group about an interesting local character named Jackson Hinson who was a Civil War sniper that operated along the river close to where Larry s home is now. Pictures from the Haywood/Tipton County Session Right: L to R: Andrea Bond Johnson, Robert Davis, and Gem Bell Left: L to R: Jennifer Waldrup and Anita Hamilton Right: L to R: Gem Bell, Joanna Morris, Lisa Charlton Left: L to R: Mayor David Gordon and Scott Dahlstrom