Letter from Mid-West Tennessee Executive Director, David Hicks - July 2018

Hello Mid- West TN Team! I hope that each of you had wonderful 4th of July holidays with your families. It’s hard to imagine we’re already in the middle of the month and quickly heading toward August and the beginning of a new school year.

I want to take a quick look back at the tail end of June as our chapter enjoyed a fantastic Volunteer Appreciation and Family Fun Day luncheon at the Milan Park. Special thanks to Tyler and Dawn Duke for spearheading the event, along with Meaghan Smith for giving her usual “above and beyond” effort for us in the planning and preparation. It was well attended- especially for taking place in the heart (and heat) of the summer months! We took time to reflect back on a meaningful and eventful FY 2018 fiscal year and celebrated strong achievements in our Home Fire campaign events, the “Sound the Alarm” goal being met, our Pillowcase Projects and the record # of volunteer hours recorded – just to name a few. There was some great grilling and eating- and some “hot and heavy” corn hole competition. Thanks again to all that attended!

The July Volunteer Meeting (back on Monday, July 9th) was also a worthwhile event as we hosted the local ServPro company representatives for the evening. Their Regional Director and Marketing Manager (Jessica and Dustin) did an exemplary job of sharing the ins and outs of their company services. They also highlighted the ways in which our local chapter can partner with them in the immediate future so we can both benefit from each of our respective community circles and networking. We share, for the most part, the same coverage area territory so we can each benefit from a strong partnership.  I’m excited to see where it all goes from here as we enter the new fiscal year.

As we turn our attention to the official hurricane season in our country, please begin to prepare yourself mentally (and schedule- wise) for deployments. Some of you have been instrumental in the past with responding to disasters literally all over the US and we appreciate all that you’ve done to help other communities. We must ready ourselves for whatever the next few months holds for us and the responses we may be called to make to others in need. Who’s with me?!?

Have a wonderful rest of the month and I look forward to seeing you in the chapter office soon.