The Weekly Bulletin of The Optimist Club of Knoxville, Tennessee
A Look At
"The Sunny Side"
Of Everything
Jim Krondrasuk - OI President
Robert H. Leonard - OI Past President 1967
Hal Sewell - Ol Vice President
Rudy Corn - Gateway Governor
David Harter- Lt. Governor
Club Chartered 21 December 1920
Volume 97, Number 17
"Kids grow up with or without Optimism . . . The Choice is Yours."©
LAST WEEK
THIS WEEK
CHRISTOPHER CUNNINGHAM serves as the Natural
Hazards Coordinator for Tennessee Emergency
Management Agency and is a specialist in Earthquake
Preparedness Planning. CHRIS says East Tennessee
may not be facing a serious threat when it comes to
earthquakes. Thank the karst topography under your
feet. Karst topography is a landscape formed from the
dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone, dolomite,
and gypsum. It is characterized by underground
drainage systems with sinkholes and caves.
Have you heard? “A Grand Affair” is coming to Knoxville on
Saturday 1 April 2017 – and this is no April Fool’s joke! Join
fellow Optimist BRENDA STATON for a preview of the 11th
Annual Dinner & Auction of your club. Invite a friend to join
you for lunch at The Foundry and your both will have the
inside track on some of the specials the highest bidders will
be taking home with them.
FRIDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2017
A GRAND
AFFAIR
February 28, 2017
West Tennessee, on the other hand, has greater
potential for significant seismic activity. The New
Madrid fault zone is six times larger than the San
Andreas Fault zone in California and it covers portions
of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky,
Tennessee and Mississippi. Back in 1811 and 1812, a
series of violent and absolutely devastating earthquakes
along the New Madrid fault zone opened very deep
fissures in the ground, caused the Mississippi River to
run backwards in some places and thus formed the
15,000 acre Reelfoot Lake. Shocks were reportedly felt
as far away as Washington D.C. and Boston.
They were the strongest earthquakes ever recorded
east of the Rocky Mountains, and scientists suggest
that it is only a matter of time before we experience
similar quakes. In fact, the U.S. Geological Survey
(USGS) has admitted that the New Madrid fault zone
has the “potential for larger and more powerful quakes
than previously thought“, and the number of significant
earthquakes in the middle part of the country has more
than quintupled in recent years.
CUNNINGHAM did not have a crystal ball when asked
about the possible timing of such a disaster. The USGS
monitors seismic activity but most of their useful data
is recorded as the events take place. Predicting earth
quakes is more difficult that predicting hazardous
weather and you know lots about that! All things being
considered go ahead and buy green bananas.
FRIDAY 3 MARCH 2017
NEXT
WEEK
Some scheduling conflicts have left us with too little
information to forecast the next few Friday programs. There
will be a club Oratorical Contest sometime in March. Watch
for next week’s issue of The Sunny Side for clarification.
ORATORICAL CONTEST – DATE TO BE DETERMINED
First conducted in 1928, the Oratorical Contest is the second
most popular Optimist International Program. Nearly 2,000
clubs participate in this program each year. The winners at
the Club level receive medallions and Zone winners receive a
plaque. Districts have the opportunity to provide two $2,500
scholarships or a first place scholarship of $2,500 one for the
girl winner and one for the boy winner.
Our Club Oratorical Contest Chairman ERIN FAVIER reports
that there are three school contests. Contest #1 - Home
Schooler's from First Cumberland Presbyterian
Church homeschool was conducted Thursday 16 February
4:30 p.m.: Contest #2 - Webb School of Knoxville contest was
conducted Thursday 23 February.: Contest #3 - Sacred Heart
Cathedral School is set for Thursday 9 March at 3:35 p.m.
Each year Optimist International announces the topic used
throughout the organization. This year it is: “What the World
Gains from Optimism.” The students’ first opportunity to
present their own thoughts in a four to five minute speech
comes with the school contest.
Each preliminary contest will be judged by three volunteers
from our club. Each judge will receive a scoresheet prepared
Officers 2016-2017
President....................................................... Kathryn McCullough
President-Elect.......................................................... Beth O'Brien
Vice President.............................................................Will Brewer
Vice President........................................................Wayne Mulkey
Vice President.........................................................Brenda Staton
Secretary.................................................................David LaFratta
Treasurer................................................................... David Harter
Sergeant-At-Arms.................................... Deno Cole, John Temple
Past President...............................................................Erin Favier
Director.........................................................Donna Buswell 2017
Director.............................................................. Bob Gibson 2017
Director......................................................... Annie LaLonde 2017
Director...........................................................Darrin Rhines 2017
Director...............................................................Jim Adcock 2018
Director.......................................................... Melanie Hogg 2018
Director...........................................................John Kerrigan 2018
Director............................................................ Joe Peterson 2018
Henry Naff Trustees
Ricky Jackson 2017 • John Mays 2017
Annie LaLonde 2018 • John Temple 2018
Michael Cermak 2019
COMMITTEE CHAIRS 2016-2017
American Hero of the Year............... Michele Cox & Steve Fowler
Auction.......................................David LaFratta & Brenda Staton
Angel Tree...............................................................Sharon Pound
Boys & Girls Club Fitness Authority..............................................
Bulletin Editors.......................................... Buzz & Donna Buswell
Camp Eagle's Nest......................................................Allen Collier
Cheese Sales..........................................................Gwin Harshaw
Childhood Cancer (OI)...................................................................
Christmas Dinner and Haslam Center Party for Boys & Girls Club.....
Lisa Huber
Dessert Auction................................................................Jim Adcock
Dorothy Weber "YES" Award............................................Jim Adcock
Election........................................................................ Erin Favier
Essay Contest (OI)............................ Mac Prevost & Beth O'Brien
Finance Committee.................................................. Michael Cermak
Football Time in Tennessee..........................................................
Fountain City Christmas Parade.........................................Bill Gentry
Golf Tournament...........................................................................
Induction................................................................ Dan McGehee
Interclub Visitation....................................................David Harter
Johnny Mauer Day..................................................Bruce Duncan
Membership.................................................................................
OI Foundation......................................................... Essie Johnson
Oratorical Contest (OI)................................................. Erin Favier
Professional Development Program..................... Annie LaLonde
Photographer...........................................................Bob Freeman
Programs.....................Helen Hewitt, Don Lindsay, Sharon Pound
Public Relations - Marketing................................. Annie LaLonde
Respect For Law Day .....................................................Bob Gibson
Scrapbok...................................................................Beth O'Brien
Shoney's Kidcare ID............................................... Annie LaLonde
Sportsmanship Trophy............................................Melanie Hogg
Socials....................................................................... John Temple
TLC............................................................................... Erin Favier
Tri-Star Sports(OI)................................................. Frank Leuthold
Website Administrator...............................................Harry Bryan
Youth Appreciation Week (OI).................................. John Meade
The Sunny Side is published weekly for the members of the Optimist Club of Knoxville.
Your calls, letters and comments are welcome. Submit articles and photographs; their safe
return is guaranteed:
The Sunny Side • Editors Buzz & Donna Buswell
1101 Remington Road, Knoxville TN 37923
604-4443 • 603-0094 evenings & weekends
Email:
[email protected]
Deadline:
5:00 pm Sunday prior to publication
the following Monday
Photos by:
Robert Freeman
Reporter:
Brenda Staton
Publisher:
Donna Buswell
Circulation:
Distribution to each member of the Optimist Club of Knoxville by First Class Mail on Monday of each week or electronically on Tuesday.
OI foundation 2016-17
ESSIE JOHNSON will serve as our Club Foundation Representative for the Optimist Year. Please support
the Optimist International Foundation “Our Charity”. For just a ‘dime-a-day’ ($36.50) you can join your
fellow optimists listed below as Dime-A-Day Donors. See ESSIE for details
291. DAVID C. HARTER
DIME A DAY
dennis mcbride
sharon pound
376. MIKE RAGSDALE
BUZZ BUSWELL
GLEN WEBER
SAVANNAH STATON
383. HARRY D. BRYAN
DONNA BUSWELL
GLEN WEBER
462. MELINDA BASLER
robert freeman
PRESIDENT'S CLUB
david witherspon
490. WILLIAM "Earl" White
GWIN HARSHAW
essie johnson
JACQUELINE ZURAF
506. Allen Collier
ricky jackson
dennis mcbride
528. JONIDA ROBINSON
essie johnson
2016-17 CENTURY CIRCLE
annie lalonde
cHRISTIAN D. LARSON pARTNERS 558. MARIE LEONARD
RALPH ALEXANDER
605. JOHN W. MONTGOMERY
FRANK LEITHOLD
BUZZ BUSWELL
110. BUZZ BUSWELL
628. ESTEL HAMILTON
john meade
DONNA BUSWELL
142. PAUL H. HARBIN
dennis mcbride
robert freeman
167. DONNA J. BUSWELL
Carolyn Monday
essie johnson
170. BOB LEONARD
BETH O'BRIEN
JOHN MAYS
197. ESSIE JOHNSON
SPONSOR A NEW OPTIMIST 2016-17
BRENDAN CLARKE sponsored by DAN McGEHEE
LAUREN DEVORE sponsored by DAVID HARTER
JACQUELINE ZURAF sponsored by BETH O'BRIEN
SARAH SCHULZE sponsored by ANNIE LALONDE
LANDON PYLE sponsored by DAN McGEHEE
ASHLEY BUTLER sponsored by KATHRYN MCCULLOUGH
BARBARA BOLTON-BUDLONG sponsored by KATHRYN MCCULLOUGH
by Optimist International to assist them in making their decisions. There is also a time keeper
for each contest responsible for notifying the judges if a speaker should not meet the 4-5
minute requirement. Contact ERIN at 414-1608 to volunteer your services.
You will see the results of these school contests when the winners join us for a nervous meal
at The Foundry on Friday 10 March 2017.
A FRIDAY IN MARCH
DAVID LaFRATTA and KATHRYN McCULLOUGH share their recent European river cruise with us.
A FRIDAY IN MARCH 2017
The recent Smoky Mountain Fires will be the topic addressed by University of Tennessee
Professor of Geography HENRI GRISSINO-MAYER
PLAN AHEAD
SATURDAY 1 APRIL 2017
“A Grand Affair” is coming to Knoxville on Saturday 1 April 2017 – and this is no April Fool’s
joke! Join your fellow Optimists for the 11th Annual Dinner & Auction of your club.
FRIDAY 7 APRIL 2017
DOROTHY WEBER Y.E.S. Awards recognizing volunteers of the year from five local agencies
making a difference in the lives of people in our community.
FRIDAY 14 APRIL 2017 - NO MEETING – GOOD FRIDAY
FRIDAY 21 APRIL 2017
JOHNNY MAUER Day. A high school senior from each of the schools in the Knoxville
Interscholastic League will join us for lunch at The Foundry. They will be honored as JOHNNY
MAUER Award recipients for the excellence in both academics and athletics. BRUCE DUNCAN
and BRITT BOWDEN serve as Co-chairmen for this annual recognition modeled after the
Academic Athlete award Coach MAUER earned during his time as an undergraduate at the
University of Illinois.
OIF
The Optimist International Foundation is “our charity”. It provides scholarships to winners
of the Essay, Oratorical and Communication Contest for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Your
tax deductible donation may be made through ESSIE JOHNSON, your club’s Foundation
Representative. The listing at the top of page two shows members who have donated a
“dime-a-day” for the current 2016-2017 Optimist Year. We just added
GLEN WEBER to this list. You can join them by handing ESSIE a check for
$36.50. If you want to help more, do what GLEN did and donate $100
which places him in The Century Circle. Make a donation of $250 and
become a member of The Presidents Club. Your donation to the OIF is
an investment in the future. Thank you.
MEMBERSHIP
Membership is the lifeblood of this club. We encourage our readers to
invite friends and family members to become members and lend their
time and talents to of efforts as we bring out the best in kids. Bring a
friend to lunch. When the date is finalized, invite them to witness the
Oratorical Contest. Bring them to our next social or sell them tickets to
our 11th Annual Auction gala at Gettysvue
Polo, Golf and Country Club. Involvement
is the key – without involvement there is no
commitment.
PICS
STEVE FOWLER served as our Chairman
of the Day last Friday. He introduced
CHRISTOPHER CUNNINGHAM the Natural
Hazards Coordinator for Tennessee
Emergency Management Agency.
BRENDA STATON says there are tickets to
our 11th Annual Auction Gala at Gettysvue
Polo, Golf and Country Club. It will be “A
Grand Affair” – especially if you and your
guest are there. The event is Saturday 1
April 2017 – and this is no April Fool’s joke!
CHRIS ALBRECHT had a Happy Dollar
because his club, the Optimist Club of West
Knoxville, is conducting its 19th Annual
Lawnmower Safety Clinic on Saturday 22
April 2017 from 9:30 to Noon at Mayor
BOB LEONARD Park off Watt Road between
I-40 and Kingston Pike. A registration
form is being distributed with our e-mail
distribution. Hard copies are available at
the badge box.
Another Optimist Club of West Knoxville member, DAN GREEN, was happy
because his club is heading to Keeneland for a day at the races. Bus departs
West Knoxville 08:30 Sunday morning 23 April and returns about 10:00pm that
night. Several of our members signed up for the trip but there are still empty
seats! Contact DAN at 567-2420 for additional details.
DAN GREEN, CHRIS ALBRECHT, BUD MCKELVEY and PAUL NICHOLS made an
official inter-club visit last Friday. They are very good cheese customers, they
participated in SAVANNAH STATON’S Girl Scout cookie sale and CHRIS and his
bride MARY have tickets to the 11th Annual Auction Gala!
Do you know your fellow Optimists? This broadcast pioneer, a former program
director at WJHL-TV, Johnson City, Tennessee, uttered the first words heard over the new television venture on
October 26, 1953. Today WJHL-TV is the ABC affiliate in the Tri-cities region of upper East Tennessee. He has had
some limiting physical issues keeping him from our meetings, but HERB HOWARD is optimistic about regaining
mobility. Until that time, he invites you to visit him on the fourth floor (room 414) at Shannondale, 7424 Middlebrook
Pike, Knoxville, TN.
“A Grand Affair” Items available for bid include a GARY TROTTIER turned
walnut bowl. MR. TROTTIER has donated wood turnings to past auctions – they
are a favorite of our bidders! There’s a Wilson 3-n-1 Leather purse, a Get Away
to the Smokies Cabin experience
donated by STEVE FOWLER and
an Office Examination and teeth
whitening from MAC PREVOST
at The Golden Rule Dental
Center. There’s lots more. Get
your tickets and join in the fun
on Saturday 1 April; 2017 at
Gettysvue Polo, Golf and Country
Club.
The
ptimist Creed
PROMISE YOURSELF . . .
TO be so strong that
nothing can disturb
your peace of mind.
TO talk health, happiness
and prosperity to every
person you meet.
TO make all your friends
feel that there is
something in them.
TO look at the sunny side
of everything and make
your optimism come
true.
TO think only of the best,
to work only for the
best and to expect only
the best.
TO be just as enthusiastic
about the success of
others as you are about
your own.
TO forget the mistakes
of the past and press
on to the greater
achievements of the
future.
TO wear a cheerful
countenance at all
times and give every
living creature you
meet a smile.
TO give so much time to
the improvement of
yourself that you have
no time to criticize
others.
TO be too large for worry,
too noble for anger, too
strong for fear, and too
happy to permit the
presence of trouble.
Christian D. Larson
Optimist Mission
Statement
By providing hope and
positive vision,
Optimists bring out the best
in youth, our communities
and ourselves.