Boys & Girls Club, Menz & Rumbley receive

Tennessee Boys & Girls Club Awards and Honors

In the attached picture- l to r- Chet Nichols of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Dr. Michael Menz,

 Scott Bullington, Carla Bewley, Randy Rumbley and Michael Sauls hold up some of the awards received

by the local Boys & Girls Club at the annual Tennessee Area Council Awards banquet held in Nashville

this past weekend.

local organization’s board of directors.

    The award winning Health and Life Skills programs at the Boys & Girls Club are geared to reach a very diverse group of children and to meet their needs.  The activities in this program area are provided in a safe, positive environment and they are fun with clear outcomes in mind.  The club has worked hard to set up programs that will be of great benefit to the youth and offer them skills that they can rely on as they become adults.  The club has been very creative with new and original programming to prepare our communities youth for the future.  “We gave been very fortunate to collaborate with the Greene County Health Department on many activities in this program area” stated Scott Bullington, the club’s director.  “Through this partnership, our kids have had many wonderful programs that will help them as they mature and become adults” he added

    Some of the many programs in this program area are: a nutrition program that offers USDA approved meals and snacks; Give Kids A Chance Day; Shoes for School; Leap for Life program; Jakes Day activities; a Domestic Violence program; Nutritional classes; observing National Public Health Week; Healthy Habits; a Vacation Bible School; programs with both the Police and Fire Departments; food preparation class; an cavity free zone that includes on site dental cleanings and sealants; on site vision checks; Smiles for Life Day and Give Kids a Smile Day activities; SMART Moves, a Personal Hygiene and Self Awareness Program; Community Based Abstinence Education in the local county school system; monthly Birthday Parties; and celebrations for several holidays including Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas

     Dr. Michael Menz is a most deserving winner for the Tennessee CARE Award.  His involvement with the Boys & Girls Club began in the start up stages of the organization over ten years ago. His passion for children has led him to still serve diligently on the board of directors with his belief that all kids deserve a promising future.  Dr. Menz had worked on various committees and has served as Vice President of the club’s board and chairman of several committees throughout the years.  He has been honored by the local club as Board Member of the Year, with the Club Care Award, the Events Participation Award, and the Extra Mile Award.  Despite an incredibly hectic schedule as an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Menz has served as the club’s photographer for many of their activities and special events, as well as taking the time to play basketball, pool and just hang out with the kids at the club.  Dr. Menz has a unique spirit of giving and was recently quoted as saying part of his devotion for the Boys & Girls Club is due to his desire to “bring some of what I had growing up to all of our members- the knowledge that someone cares and loves them and wants them to be their best.”

   Dr. Menz is a member of the Tennessee Orthopedic Society, the Greene County Medical Society and Reformation Lutheran Church as well as a supporter for the National Kidney Foundation.

Boys & Girls Club Celebrity Auction a Huge Success

   A big crowd turned out Saturday night for the 9th annual Boys & Girls Club Celebrity Auction helping the club to raise over $60,000 for their club programs and activities. This year’s event, title sponsored by EcoQuest International and Summers Taylor, was held at Trinity United Methodist Church and featured over 600 items including local business items, sports cards and items autographed by famous celebrities, entertainers, athletes and other notables. There were hundreds of items to choose from ranging from Tennessee Volunteer game tickets to a pie safe. State Rep. Eddie Yokley the event co-chairman, said this year’s auction total was the best net income that the club has ever had for a special event. The other major sponsors of this year’s event included: C & C Millwright, Modern Woodman and RPC/ProCote as the dinner sponsors, the bid tables were sponsored by Forward Air, Takoma Regional Hospital, The Orthopedic Center of Greeneville and Vulcan Materials and EcoQuest Printing & Publishing sponsored the event program. Nata Jackson, the event co-chairman stated “We sold over 600 items this year and we were very pleased with the generous bids received during the auction. The generosity of the attendees and the hard work from our volunteers and staff is the reason that our event was such a success” she added.

Bob Kesling Boys & Girls Club Golf Classic

       The 5^th annual Bob Kesling Boys & Girls Club Celebrity Golf Classic was held Friday afternoon at Link Hills Country Club with a sold out field of 180 golfers and when the day was over. Bible’s Machine Welding took the Championship for the second straight year with a tournament record round of 51.  Bible’s championship team consisted of Donnie Bible, Boddie Bible, Jim White and Todd Ricker.  Two shots back were Heritage Community Bank/Toyota of Bristol with a 53 led by Kent Bewley, Daniel Johnson, Tommy Burns, Justin Burns and UT and NFL player Eddie Brown. Appalachian Forrest Products placed third in a scorecard playoff with a 55 paced by Kathy Hutcherson, Mark Hickey, Anthony Payne, Jim Harrison and ETSU coach Mike Boyd.  Leonard Associates at 55 was fourth paced by Tim Shelton, Bob Leonard, Watson Leonard, Terry Leonard and former Vol Anthony Hancock.

     The Orthopaedic Center of Greeneville won the first flight with a 59 in a scorecard playoff behind Don Sandercock, Doug Weller, Mark Collins, Tim Davis and John Minor.Landair Distribution Services placed second in the flight with a 59 turned by Randy Hawk, Mike Chessck, Jim Massengill, Steve Matthews and Vol footballer Wes Brown.

Southeastern Orthopedic Solutions/Medical also had a 59 and their team consisted of Corky Cutshaw, Cathy Cannon, Charles Byrne, Roland McAmis and UT Athletics’ Roger Frazier. DTR Tennessee shot a 59 to placed fourth  with Randy Rumbley, Cal Doty, James Channell, Neil G”Fellers and former Vol and current Appalachian State University coach Dale Jones.

     First Fleet took the second flight with a 62 turned in by Eben Jones, Wayne Hendricks, Wayland Thompson, Jimmy Hill and UT’s Jeff Jacoby. Summers Taylor was a shot back at 63 with Ted Bryant, John Bowman, Greg Keene, Jason Renner and Vol Announcer and tournament host Bob Kesling.  Rexel Wholesale 63 was lead by John Greene, Bobby Davis, Bobby Reynolds, and a pair of former Vol Quarterbacks in Jeff Francis & Dewey Warren. First Tennessee Investments finished fourth in the flight with a 64 that was shot by Darin Patterson, John Paul Broyles, Matt Renner, Kurt Damron and Randy Tilson.

     Earlier in the day the Putting contest was won by Scott Felts.  During the day the Long drive winner was Daniel Johnson and closest to the hole winners were Don McIntyre, Kevin Broyles, Charles Brooks and Jeff Francis.  The Tournament also had other contests including a “Pot of Orange” where participants won drivers, golf equipment and dozens of golf balls.

   This annual event benefits the local Boys & Girls Club and was title sponsored by DTR Tennessee and Takoma Regional Hospital.  Celebrities from around the region competed with local teams of four in this captain’s team format.  Former athletes and college coaches were just a few of the celebrities that were involved in the tournament listed above along with Bobby Scott, Jonathan Cromton, Tony Jones, Bert Bertelkamp, Steve Hamer, Dale Clayton, Dave Bristol, Clark Duncan, Kelsey Finch, Ken Sparks Al Brown, Jason Shay, Ken Sparks, Tracy Stallard and Tusculum College coach Frank DeBusk to name a few.  As in the past, all the celebrities were very gracious about signing autographs, talking to their fans and playing a fun round of golf.

    The event started with a lunch followed by a round of golf and the evening was capped off with a buffet dinner, awards reception and a sports memorabilia auction. This years’ auction had many autographed items, Ping G10 irons, signed sports prints and several golf rounds from Myrtle Beach and other regional courses.  “With Bob Kesling’s efforts, we had a tremendous turnout from the celebrity golfers for our tournament again this year” stated Scott Bullington, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club.  “We are very fortunate to have people willing to take time out of their busy schedules to help support the youth of our community”.

     Kesling stated “that it is a great honor to be involved with Boys & Girls Clubs.  The impact the Boys & Girls Club makes on a communities youth is priceless.  I hope that our tournament will help provide some extra funding for this great organization and the youth of Greeneville & Greene County.”  Jerry Fortner,  chairman for the Bob Kesling Boys & Girls Club Golf Classic stated “that this year’s event was the most successful golf event ever held for the Boys & Girls Club in terms of participants and funds raised.  We look forward to bringing it back again next year as Bob has committed to do it again in 2009.”  He added.

Named Outstanding Youth Development Staff for Tennessee

    During the 2008 spring Tennessee All State All-Staff retreat held in Knoxville, Tennessee, two members of the staff of the Boys & Girls Club of Greeneville & Greene County were honored as “Outstanding Youth Development Staff for Tennessee”.  Libby Bell was selected as outstanding part time staff member and Cathy Osborne was selected as outstanding full time staff member from nominations from employees of Boys & Girls from throughout the state of Tennessee.

     Libby Bell is the front desk coordinator for the organization and assists in other program areas throughout the club. Bell is a Tusculum College student from Cincinnati, Ohio pursuing a degree in business with a minor in psychology.  She will be graduating this May.  Bell came to Greeneville on a soccer scholarship and played for the Tusculum Lady Pioneers. 

    Cathy Osborne is the club’s program director has been a valuable asset to the club leading the club’s overall programs and several initiatives outside of the club including” The Ultimate Journey, SMART Mover, Read Across America and the Community Based Abstinence Education program. Osborne is also very active in the community serving on several local boards and as the current president for the Greeneville- Greene County Interagency council.  Osborne has made great strides in improving the overall club programs and activities over the past few years.

Why do we need a Boys & Girls Club?

   The Boys & Girls Club’s mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.   “The cost of providing the Boys & Girls Club experience to one child for a year is about $ 250.00” said Judge Ken Bailey.  “You can see what a valuable investment that is when you compare it to the cost of incarcerating a youth who went in the wrong direction – usually $30-40,000 or more a year.  The Boys & Girls Club gives a good return on investment.”  Bailey added   The Boys & Girls Club is a non-profit, privately-funded 501(c)(3) organization and depends on private donations, sponsorships and volunteers to accomplish its mission.  To make a donation or to volunteer contact Scott Bullington, Cathy Byrd Osborne or Sangela Blue at the Boys & Girls Club office at 423-787-9322, stop by the club located at 740 West Church Street or visit the website at www.ggcbgc.orgfor more information on the Boys & Girls Club.  The club is open from 9 am until 6:30 pm Monday to Friday.

To inspire and enable all young people,

     For more than 75 years, National Boys & Girls Club Week has been an honored tradition in Boys & Girls Club's history. Originating as a grassroots effort in the northeast, the Week now spans coast-to-coast and overseas on U.S. military bases.