KNOXVILLE VOLUNTEER ROTARY


Professional People with a Common Interest In Community

VOLUNTEER ROTARY - PROVIDING SERVICE ABOVE SELF

Meeting Place - Knoxville  Marriott.com Logo  Hotel - 12:00 Noon Friday

500 Hill Avenue SE
Knoxville, TN 37915
Phone: 1 865-637-1234


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Welcome to Knoxville Volunteer Rotary Website!

This web site is created to inform visitors to Knoxville and area residents of the purpose of our Rotary Chapter. We hope you will visit the site often, as we periodically update information regarding meetings and projects, and that you will join us in providing an array of services and assistance both in our community and internationally through the vast reach of  Rotary International. Such services were recognized in Knoxville, in 2005, with the dedication of a statue commemorating 100 years of Rotary and its efforts around the world to assist children in the eradication of polio. The statue pictured below may be visited in the central city area of Knoxville at  Market Square. Click on pictures to enlarge

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Knoxville Volunteer Rotary has been recognized for its service efforts in the Knoxville community and Internationally. The following are just a few of the awards presented to our chapter of Rotary.

Click on pictures to enlarge

 

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The Knoxville Volunteer Chapter of Rotary takes pride in putting action to the words  SERVICE ABOVE SELF.

Our chapter of Rotary, since its inception, has been active in raising money to provide a variety of services to organizations, in the Knoxville area, that have established themselves as significant contributors to resolving special needs in our community. Four such organizations are;

 

The Florence Crittenton Agency, Inc. , The Volunteer Ministry Center, Dr. Robert Kronick's Full Service Community School program, and Literacy Imperative. Also, we are active in community development as exemplified by our Cumberland Avenue project and our Literacy Reading program and International Fresh Water Projects.

 

 

 

The Literacy Imperative® Receives Ship Replica Gift - On Friday, 

August 22, 2008 Members of Knoxville Volunteer Rotary lead by John Burgess and designer and builder, Merit Construction Company lead by it's CEO Marvin House, assisted with the Christening Ceremony of a replica of a ship for children to utilize while reading at The Literacy Imperative(TLI).

 

Knoxville Volunteer Rotary provided materials while Merit teamed with us to provide the design and construction. TLI under the direction of John Sibley provided the venue that children can visit and set sail on an adventure of reading and enjoyment that books bring to one's life.

 

You may contact TLI by phone (865)763-8988 or by email literacyimperative@comcast.net

 

Click on picture to enlarge

 

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International Fresh Water Project  - The Knoxville Volunteer Rotary Club (KVR)

is proud to participate with other Knoxville clubs in providing funding for fresh water projects internationally. KVR raised and donated $1,525 to pay half of the funding for a project in Thailand. These filtration systems cost $3000 (US) each and can be installed in approximately two weeks. The system is projected to bring pure water to approximately 500 families in Thailand. Across our district 6780 we have been able to fund pure water to over 80,000 people through these projects. On behalf of KVR our Treasury, Willard Sitton presents our check. Click on picture to enlarge

 

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Cumberland Avenue Beautification  - A collaborative effort to clean up Cumberland Avenue and the surrounding area (including Lake Avenue, White Avenue, all perpendicular roads between Lake and White Avenues and all alleyways in that area) is taking place this Saturday. This effort by the Knoxville Volunteer Rotary Club, the Cumberland Avenue Merchants Association and the Fort Sanders Neighborhood Association is just the first phase of what will be an ongoing project. 

                        This project will include extensive trash pick up in the aforementioned areas and the cleaning/weeding of the planter beds in the sidewalks on Cumberland Ave.  It will include mulching and replanting in those same sidewalk planter beds. Stanley’s Greenhouse has agreed to provide the new greenery to the group at a discount.

                        Subsequent efforts will include strategically placing garbage cans (purchased by the Knoxville VOLUNTEER Rotary Club) throughout the area during football season to help sustain the initial clean-up efforts.   Further clean-up and planting days will obviously be necessary going forward and the three groups plan on making this a regular, ongoing collaboration.

                        Furthermore, the Knoxville Volunteer Rotary Club was able to obtain a matching grant from Rotary International in the amount of $2,500 ($5,000 total after the club adds in its matching money). This money will fund these clean-up efforts as well as a new KAT Covered Bus Stop on Cumberland Ave.  One of three new stops along “The Strip” planned by the end of the year.

                        Saturday, August 13, 2005 was the kickoff of the project. It started at 8:30am and involved over 50% of the membership. We were generously fed breakfast and lunch by Krispy Kreme, Mellow Mushroom and others. The following pictures reflect the effort and fun enjoyed by all. Click on picture to enlarge

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           Jim Holloman.JPG (35290 bytes)  John Ley Tools.jpg (20387 bytes)    John & Earl.JPG (27804 bytes)    Pizza & Hot Dogs.JPG (24825 bytes)  

                                          Rotary Sign .JPG (27877 bytes)                             Steve Carr.JPG (23284 bytes)

 

~Book Distribution Literacy Program~

One of most successful community projects over the last two years is the Literacy Book Distribution program to 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade children at Sara Moore Green Elementary School. As a result of the efforts of the club lead by Jessica Copling and John Burgess, we have distributed hundreds of books to the children which they take home to read and share with friends and family. Our members have been fortunate to accompany the distribution group and share reading with the children. This an extension of the Dr. Robert Kronick "Full Service Community School" project presented below. It is independent of school funding. Click on picture to enlarge

 

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                                                                Click on letters from children receiving books below:

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~FULL SERVICE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS~

We are pleased to have as a Community Service project the Full Service Community School  program started by University of Tennessee Professor Dr. Robert Kronick. This program utilizes volunteers from the University of Tennessee and the East Tennessee community to provide a variety of much needed services to students at risk. These services range from tutoring too special needs care after normal school hours. The service is presently provided at three Knoxville elementary schools and has resulted in measurable elevation in student performance, health, artistic accomplishments and home life. The Knoxville Volunteer Rotary takes great pride in the opportunity to support this program and Dr. Kronick with its physical and monetary needs. Should you wish to contact Dr. Kronick, to assist in this most worthy project, his email address is rkronick@utk.edu

 

   Knoxville Volunteer Rotary in 2004  began what it 

hopes will be a long relationship with (FCA) The Florence Crittenton Agency, Inc. (Click the icon to visit FCA).  FCA's mission is to provide an effective and efficient array of services that will enable young women to achieve their highest potential. Clients at risk or in crisis will be provided access to prevention and treatment programs, education, housing, living skills, and encouragement within a nurturing environment. FCA was chartered in 1896 and provides a professional and progressive environment for it's clients. Knoxville Volunteer Rotary is pleased to have member Ed Lay who also serves as a board member for FCA. In conjunction with corporate partner Smith Barney, Knoxville Volunteer Rotary has raised $4,000 in 2004 and $3,500 in 2005 to assist the many programs offered at Florence Crittenton Agency.

4-30-04Ed&Carroll.JPG (15918 bytes) A check was presented at the April 30, 2004 club meeting by member Ed 

Lay - CPA to Carroll Logan Development Director for Florence Crittenton Agengy.

 Click on picture to enlarge

 

We are pleased to have as a Community Service project the Medical Center of The Volunteer Ministry Center  (VMC)  in Knoxville. Click the icon to visit VMC. The VMC 5k race fundraiser held annually in August at Volunteer Landing in Knoxville is a major fundraiser. This is the primary fundraiser each year at VMC and has more than 900 participants, with funds raised historically in excess of $50,000. Knoxville Volunteer Rotary in conjunction with corporate partner Smith Barney contributed in excess of $6,000 in 2002, $10,000  2003, $4,300 in 2004, $3,000 in 2006 and $5,000 in 2007 to VMC in support of the services they provide to the homeless and disadvantaged

2007-11-30Ginny&Earl.jpg (14847 bytes)    Earl Kear presented the contribution on November 30, 2007, at the regular club meeting, in the amount of $5,000.

4-30-04Ed&Jenny2.JPG (14848 bytes) A check was presented at the April 30, 2004 club meeting by member Ed Lay - CPA to Jenny Weatherstone Executive Director of Volunteer Ministry Center. Below are pictures of the annual 5K race fund raiser. Click on pictures to enlarge.

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Gen particapants.JPG (27953 bytes)   Rick.JPG (17032 bytes)      VMC EXEC. Dir.JPG (16897 bytes)    VMC sign.JPG (22254 bytes)

We are also utilizing our Vocational Services arm to provide basic educational services and recognition of business achievement in our area.

We have plans to contribute to other international and community projects during the coming months, and include major contributions to ROTARY INTERNATIONAL'S  PolioPlus program to eradicate polio from the earth by 2005. Please visit the  Rotary International web site for more detail.

Our club programs involve current topics delivered by leaders in the Knoxville business, institutional and political arenas. These speakers bring to our members information about our area and thought provoking ideas and differences of opinion. Click on our Speakers Schedule (left box) page for more information.

Our Club Service Committee  provides excellent opportunity for members to develop a friendship and appreciation for each other in relaxed environments. It also provides a platform for recognition of  member's accomplishments.

Our Membership Committee  wishes to extend to business leaders and other professionals in the Knoxville area an invitation to visit our chapter and consider becoming a part of a diversified and dynamic community service group. View our Membership App (left box) for more information.

Click links below to obtain detailed information on Knoxville Government, Schools, Businesses, Communities, Entertainment and its progressive developments.             

   

        Knoxville Zoo

                                                                                   

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This page was last updated on 03/30/12.

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Copyright © 2003  Volunteer Rotary. All rights reserved. Revised: March 30, 2012 .