First Friday Luncheon

Friday luncheons are held on the first Friday of the month, 11:30 am at Ryan's Steakhouse at Hunter's Crossing (Walmart) in Alcoa (map). Joe Gallagher has been working hard to keep interesting speakers coming.

Citizen groups are welcome to join us at all First Friday Luncheons. Our programs tend to be non-partisan with an emphasis on good government and honest officials--both elected and appointed.

May 2
Our program is a follow-up to April's excellent roundtable discussion that featured Howard Ker, Jim Folts, Arnold Klugman and Wendy Pitts Reeves. Linda King, outspoken leader of "Citizens For Blount County's Future" will headline our porogram. Ms. King and her husband, Joe, have been dedicated watchdogs concerning questionable tactics in the County Court House. They have demonstrated great courage in standing up to Jerry Cunningham, Dave Bennett and Sheriff Berrong and their dictatorial, fiscally irresponsible actions.

I find it interesting that Linda King, like Jim Folts, is a Republican and a very committed supporter of Judge Mike Meares. We will have an update report on the Mike Meares Election Campaign plus reports from the Blount Democrats Executive Committee and the successful Roosevelt Dinner last Saturday Night. I also hope that we will hear from Commissioner Wendy Pitts Reeves.

Joe Gallagher
865-983-4557

Others on the panel will be: Jim Folts, Chair of "Citizens For Better Government." Mr. Folts retired after founding several computer companies; Arnold Klugman, an engineer who retired as head of Worldwide Manufacturing for Motorola. Mr. Klugman is active in community affairs and is trying to bring industry to Blount County; and Commissioner Wendy Pitts Reeves. The panel will lead a discussion dealing with "Blount County's Future."

Al Wiberly retired in 1990 after 21 years as Professor of psychology at the University of Tennessee. He now holds the title of Professor Emeritus. In his "2nd life," Professor Wiberly volunteers at two National Parks--Great Smokies National Park and during the summer at Acadia National Park in Maine. He describes his volunteer work as "Resource Education" but brags that his prime responsibility at Cades Cove is to "protect the bears from the people."

Since the need to protect the environment is so important these days, I think Professor Wiberly's program will be quite revealing.

Our speaker at this coming Friday's "First Friday Luncheon" will be Harry Howard, Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Maryville College. Professor Howard taught political science at Maryville College for 31 years before his recent retirement. I have not requested Professor Howard to give a partisan lecture. However, I believe we can learn much about the philosophy of conducting a winning election campaign.

In addition, we will have a campaign update from Judge Michael Meares and Campaign Co-ordinator, Brandon Cook. The August 7 election is just 7 months away and there is lots to do. Volunteers are needed for Judge Meares' election. If you can't attend Friday's luncheon, please call Brandon cook at 681-0553 to learn how you can participate. Mike Meares WILL BE ELECTED--but it's necessary for us to join in the effort.

Friday's program will also include a report by Tony Webb, Vice Chair of the Blount County Democrats Executive Committee and Marge Fugate for the Blount County Democrat Women. Hopefully, County Commissioner Wendy Pitts Reeves will join us and provide a legislative update.

Judge Michael Meares will update us on his campaign for election to the Blount County Circuit Court seat which he currently holds. The ruling clique does not want an independent judge in the Blount County Courthouse. Mike Meares has the goal of "keeping politics out of the courthouse," which is not how the bosses see it.

We are in for contentious, competitive months ahead. Now is the time for those who seek honest, non-conflict-of-interest government in Blount County to come forward. We are reaching out to citizens of all political persuasions to step forward and do what is best for Blount County.

Randy is a 21st Century communicator and he has had quite an impact. Randy is a small business owner and software entrepreneur who in his spare time operates the BlountViews.com and KnoxViews.com community blog websites. He has been involved in blogging as an avocation since 2002--"about 100 years in internet time"--according to Randy.

This program is a wonderful opportunity for us Dems to get up to speed with modern techniques for the 2008 campaigns.

We just need to go about preparing for victory in the right way. And that will be the message at next Friday's September "First Friday Luncheon."

Our guest speaker will be Anne Mayhew, Co-Leader of Knoxville's 4th District and Treasurer of the Knox County Democratic Party. The 4th District has done an excellent job of organizing its neighborhoods, street by street to identify Republicans, Democrats and Independents--including which direction the "Indies" are leaning. I'm hoping we can learn from Anne how we can accomplish similar growth in Blount County.

We have a great opportunity to elect Democrats to public office next year. In addition to the Presidential campaign, we hope to re-elect Judge Meares to the Circuit Court. There also are elections for County Assessor, Tennessee State Legislature and School Boards. We can win. We WILL win if we have enough desire.

We have another topical and interesting program highlighting new jobs. Our main speaker is Lance Coleman, recently promoted to Editor of "Blount Today," Blount County's dynamic weekly newspaper. Lance will tell us about the rapid growth of "Blount Today" and also will discuss how we as ambitious Democrats can maximize our editorial opportunities with the newspaper.

I also have invited Judge Michael Meares to attend so we can celebrate his appointment as Kelly Thomas' successor. Governor Bredesen made the right choice in selecting Mike Meares and it is an understatement to claim that Judge Meares will be an outstanding jurist. As he is currently on vacation, I can't promise until his return that his schedule will allow him to attend but we're keeping our fingers crossed.

Also, I have invited our new Blount County Democratic Leader, Dave Finch, to give us an update about current and future party happenings including the VAN training session he and others will attended on June 30. There is a lot going on concerning the Blount Democratic Party, including Tuesday's (July 3) Women's Picnic at Pearson Park and the soon-to-be-held elections. We have lots to discuss.

Kathy Skinner, Board Chair of The Raven Society will update us on the proposed "Sports Complex" and recent zoning changes in Blount County. For those who may not be familiar with Ms. Skinner, I can attest to her enthusiastic campaigning on my behalf last year.

Commissioner Wendy Pitts-Reeves will discuss the proposed County tax increase and other other issues before the County Commission.

Party Chair Dave Finch or his "Designated Hitter" will give us an update on Democratic events.

FYI: On Monday, June 11, the Budget Committee will conduct a public hearing for the proposed 2007/2008 County budget. The proposed five cent increase in our tax rate is solely to pad the Sheriff's already extravagant and unaccountable budget. On Tuesday, June 12, the County Commission will hold a public hearing for the proposed sports complex.

Friday's lunch-meeting will help you be better informed about what is going on in our scenic community.

Tiffany Hartung, East Tennessee Organizer for Tennesseans For Fair Taxation and Lida Barrett, a local TFT member will discuss TFT's current legislation for a Food Tax/Cigarette Tax Swap plus the fairness of folks like all of us having to pay sales tax on milk, bread, veggies and other life necessities. This is a huge social justice issue. Whether you agree or disagree with Tennessee's sales tax on food, you will find this program and discussion very interesting.

The program this Friday is very topical and quite important, given the public hearing April 10 and the County Commission meeting April 19 which wilkl consider changes in Blount County's zoning regulations. This has huge implications for the future of our community.

Our speaker will be Ms. Jamey Dobbs, a community planner and program director for "Our Community Schools," an organization working to transform schools into multi-purpose community centers. Ms. Dobbs played an important role in last Friday's "Plain Talk On Quality Growth" Conference at the Knoxville Civic Center. She also facilitated an "Adequate Facilities Workshops" in Knoxville on March 20. I view Friday's program as an opportunity for each of us to gain greater awareness and knowledge of planning, zoning and development issues facing Blount County.

John Lamb, Blount County's Planning Director, will attend and participate in the discussion. I need to point out that while the "First Friday Luncheon" is nominally a Democrat's event, our discussions usually are non-partisan. I expect Friday's program to be especially so. The only partisanship will be a vision for the future of Blount County highlighted by "Smart Growth" with a concern for our community and its citizens.

Our guest speaker is special: Professor Justin J. Green, Professor Emeritus, Department of Political Science at Villanova University. Professor Green, who resides in Knoxville, is an extremely astute observer of politics and the political landscape. He is a popular speaker at various civic events, frequently appears on Knoxville TV and radio and is regularly quoted in the local print media.

Professor Green's appearance March 2 is timely for Blount Democrats as we prepare for the March 24 County Convention to elect a new Blount County Democratic Executive Committee and a new County Leader.

The Blount Democrats will meet for the 35th consecutive First Friday and our program is as timely and compelling as we can get. Our speaker will be DENNIS WEETER, a former Civil Engineering Professor at the University of Tennessee. For the last 20 years Prof. Weeter has been an Environmental Engineering Consultant and a leading advocate for improving our environment.

Prof. Weeter will discuss the STATE OF TENNESSEE'S ENVIRONMENT, including air quality and the medical impact which affects our health and longevity.

As an added attraction, we will be joined by Kristi Falco of "Keep Blount Beautiful." Ms. Falco will make a special presentation to the Blount County Democratic Party for winning first place in last year's competition among Blount's candidates as part of the "Great American Cleanup." It's another positive example of positive community involvement.

We begin 2007 with a top-notch program for the Blount Dems First Friday Luncheon. Our speakers will be: Libby Breeding, new Administrator of Elections for Blount County with an assist from her predecessor, Becky Harrill.

We hope to gain insights into the election process as we begin our efforts to organize campaigns to elect a Democrat to the Blount County Circuit Court in 2008 and to look forward to the many election opportunities in 2010.

Blount Democrats: What a difference we are making. What a force in Blount County we have become. We continue to grow, not just in numbers of people standing up and proclaiming, "I am a Democrat." Our growth is also a matter of Democrats in Blount County and other parts of East Tennessee to know that their vote really does make a difference.

The Program: A Roundtable Discussion led by our three Democratic County Commissioners: Wendy Pitts Reeves; Dr. Bob Proffitt and David Ballard. The theme will be the future of the Democratic Party in Blount County. Our County Leader, Brandon Cook will serve as Moderator.

Friday--FIRST FRIDAY--is almost as important a day as Election Day--possibly more important. Win or lose, if we fail to build on our 2006 efforts, we will be dropping the ball. The First Friday Luncheon, as usual, will be at Ryan's Buffet Restaurant, Hunter Crossing, near Wal-Mart. We meet at 11:30AM and finish at 1:00PM.

In less than two years, we have re-established a 2-party system in Blount County. Four years from now, we can and should be the majority party on the Blount County Commissioners Court. But we need to continue the building this week. We can't wait two years or four years. THE FUTURE IS NOW!

It goes without saying that we have much work in front of us to help elect Harold Ford, Jr.to the United States Senate.

Friday, July 7 will be 4 weeks-minus 1 day to the August 3 County elections. This is a crucial time for Blount County Democrats. Indeed, it is a crossroads for all of Blount County citizens. If Jerry Cunningham is elected Mayor, it means a continuation of the good ol' boy system at the Blount County Courthouse. We will have subdivisions and Wal-Marts wherever developers want them. We'll have spiraling taxes but won't have quality education and other services we want and need.

The speaker at the July 7 First Friday Luncheon will be our own Wendy Pitts Reeves. Wendy is a candidate for County Commission District 4, Seat C. Wendy has conducted an excellent campaign, she is very motivated and I expect she will help all of us to be more focused on winning strategies for the remainder of this election effort.

For the future of Blount County, we need JOE GALLAGHER to be elected Mayor and we also need all six County Commission Democratic candidates to win their elections. We can achieve these successes IF WE GET OUT THE VOTE!

The program begins at noon with a report from Chairman Brandon Cook and campaign progress statements from candidates, followed by a unique and very important presentation.

Our speakers will be Russell and Sheri Liles of Blount County who will tell us about their recent installation of solar panels at their home. The Liles' hookup with TVA's power grid was the subject of a front page Daily Times story by Darren Dunlap on April 14. Mr. Dunlap's account significantly begins, "When Russell Liles showed the new solar panels to a friend recently, he talked not of cost savings but of burning less coal."

Russell and Sheri are environmentalists who also operate a small organic farm on Tuckaleechee Pike just past the Maryville cityline. They are participants in the new Maryville Farmers Market which opens Saturday, May 6. Sheri was an enthusiastic volunteer during the Kerry-Edwards 2004 campaign. I just know that our "Cinco de Mayo" First Friday Luncheon will be one of our most interesting.

Our April speaker is Charles Bussey, Professor of History at Western Kentucky University. Professor Bussey was a Fulbright Senior Lecturer at Agder University College in Norway in 2003-2004 when he contributed "A Postcard from Norway: How America Looks from Here." It is part of a new book, "Where We Stand: Voices of Southern Dissent," edited by Anthony Dunbar with a forward by Jimmy Carter.

Professor Bussey is an old time FDR Democrat who has written numerous op-eds and essays about important and progressive Democrats. My thanks to Doug Gamble for arranging to have this distinguished speaker at the April 7 First Friday Luncheon.

We have an excellent speaker: Paula McGhee, Admissions Counselor at Maryville College. Ms. McGhee is a dedicated community activist and an articulate communicator. Her topic is especially relevant for all Blount citizens: "Strategy For Blount County Justice and Unity."

We also will hear from County Chairman Brandon Cook and have a chance to meet and greet the large number of Democratic candidates in the upcoming elections. Candidates include: yours truly for Blount County Mayor; Charles M. Clifford & D. Kelly Thomas for Circuit Court Judge; Steve Merritt for General Sessions Judge; and six candidates for County Commission: Ernie Tallent (I-A); David Ballard (I-B); Lowell Ridings (2-B); Wendy Pitts Reeves (4-C); Bob Proffitt (5-B); and Linda Jo Dees (7-A).

Our speaker will be Dr. Matt Murray, Economics Professor at the University of Tennessee. Dr. Murray was named today as Chair of the Blount County Economic Development Board. Matt lives in Louisville (Mimosa Heights) and is a gifted speaker. His talk will focus on QUALITY GROWTH for Blount County and how we Democrats can impact the future of our community.

Our guest speaker is Tony Garr of the Tennessee Health Care Campaign. Mr. Garr is a dynamic and provocative speaker. If you know anyone who has been dropped from TennCare or is facing serious cutbacks, this is a must. For all of us, it presents an opportunity to assess and discuss the facts of the TennCare controversy.

Our main speaker is Dr. Bob Proffitt, a long-time General Practitioner in Blount County and a past Blount County Democratic Leader. Dr. Bob's topic will be HEALTHCARE, a topic about which most of us have many questions. He may also tell us how he remains healthy enough to be rated one of Tennessee's top senior tennis players--a ranking that recently earned him induction into Blount County's Sports Hall of Fame.

Frank Smith, just returned to Louisville after a year of service to his country in Iraq, will join us. Frank will provide an update on his campaign for Blount County Commission (10th District). Other candidates may wish to discuss their campaign plans including collecting signatures for petitions.

2006 is a year of great opportunity for Blount Democrats. We must develop unified efforts to show all Blount County voters that it is the individual--not party labels--who can bring needed change to our community. We need to develop and refine issues such as: Planned Development with Quality Growth; Education including New Schools; The Environment and Air Quality; Improved Roads without Super Highways; Economic Development that brings higher paying jobs to Blount County and other issues.

Democrats have a great opportunity in 2006 to determine the future of Blount County. We need to ask ourselves and Blount voters whether we/they desire the type community which inspired us/them to settle here--or do we want to look like Pigeon Forge?

November's theme is a SALUTE TO U.S. VETERANS! Our program will include comments from: Blount County Commissioner Ernie Tallent who fought in the "Battle of the Bulge;" Dorothy Russell. Widow of D-Day hero Ken Russell; Jon Nitkowski, battle veteran of Vietnam and Desert Storm; Linda Jo dees, who served during both Vietnam and Desert Storm; Jack Hoefer, a World War II Vet who will tell us about "Veterans For Peace" and Wendell Liehmohn, a U.S. Navy Aviator during the Vietnam War.

Time permitting, I will tell my WWII experiences which mostly were cheerleading for my four older brothers and a sister, all of whom served in combat. November 11 is officially "Veterans Day" so I think it appropriate for us to salute all U.S. men and women who served their nation with honor during times of armed conflict.

Our guest speaker was Judge Kelly Thomas of the Blount County First Circuit Court. Judge Thomas was the only elected Democrat in Blount County until Ernie Tallent's election to County Commission last fall. Kelly Thomas is highly regarded in Blount County--as a jurist and as an individual.

As a bonus, Maryville Attorney Michael Meares introduced Judge Thomas at the luncheon. Besides being one of the regions leading attorneys, Mr. Meares is a former Chair of the Blount County Democratic Party.

This luncheon was a salute to labor. Our guest speaker was Harold Woods, one of the nation's top labor leaders. He is President of the Knoxville/Oak Ridge Laobr Council and a past President of the United Steelworkers of America Local 309 in Alcoa. He was also interim Tennessee state President of the AFL/CIO in 2002/2003. Joe Gallagher, party leader and organizer of the event, said, “Our hope is that the September 2 luncheon, which falls at the start of the Labor Day holiday, will serve as a slute to labor. The high standard of living we enjoy today was won by fearless labor leaders during the 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s. Mr. Woods will lead us as we look at what these victories have meant to our nation and where labor is headed in the future.”

Wendy Pitts Reeves lead us in a discussion about "The Future of Blount County and the prospects for Democrats earning leadership roles in county governments." Ms. Reeves is a member of the Blount Democrats Executive Committee and the newly appointed Chair of the Communications Committee.

The speaker was Gail Harris, a member of the Blount County Democrats Executive Committee and a long time community leader. She led a discussion on the future of Blount County. Ms. Harris is Chair of the Board of Directors of The Raven Society, a non partisan PAC which supports the preservation of the rural character of Blount County and responsible, sustainable development. Ms. Harris is a former member of the Blount County Planning Commission. She and her husband, Jim are lifelong Blount County residents.