Knoxville

All former Girl Scouts themselves, Cassidy Barnett, Deanna Olson, and Melissa Vincent, have spent many hours in the museum over the past several weeks, painting walls, arranging exhibits and gaining valuable experience they can utilize after graduation.  When given the opportunity to complete their required summer practicum course through a “service-learning” option with the Girl Scouts, each of the girls jumped at the idea.

“They were each thrilled to be given the opportunity to work with the Girl Scouts and the museum renovation,” said Mary Beth Robinson, associate professor with The University of Tennessee College of Architecture and Design.  “Service-learning experiences – an option available as part of a required summer internship – give our students the chance to work with non-profits in the community and really apply what they have learned in a setting they may soon experience after graduation.”

The Girl Scout Museum at Daisy’s Place features hands-on exhibits and displays of unique Girl Scout memorabilia.  The museum features a library with a number of historical Girl Scout-related publications on camping, singing, crafts and other activities.  Guided tours and vintage uniform try-on sessions are also available.

“Our museum is such a special place and we are grateful to have so many wonderful artifacts and pieces of history to share with the public,” said Gail Yook, chairman of Daisy’s Place Executive Committee.  “With the help of our volunteers and these three young ladies, we will have a beautiful new museum for troops and the general public to explore.”

Renovations are expected to be completed in mid-August and will then be open to the public once again.  Admission is free, with hours of 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday.  The museum is located in the Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians Service Center in Knoxville.

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About Us
The Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians serves nearly 20,000 girl and adult members stretching from North Georgia to Southwest Virginia. Service centers are located in Chattanooga, Knoxville and Johnson City. Our mission is to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. The council offers financial assistance to ensure that every girl who wants to be a Girl Scout has the opportunity to join this vibrant organization.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Alcoa Foundation has joined forces with Keep America Beautiful as a key partner of RecycleMania, a nationwide college and university recycling competition.

During the 8-week challenge, colleges and universities compete to see which can reduce, reuse and recycle the most waste on campus. The goal is to change behavior about recycling and raise awareness about waste reduction programs on campuses.

Alcoa Foundation supplied 50,000 recycling bins and awarded 13 universities across the U.S. with stackable, six-gallon bins appropriate for use in student housing or offices. The schools were selected based on their ability to develop a strategic plan to collect the most recyclable materials.

University of Tennessee at Knoxville (UTK) received 8,000 recycling bins.

From February 6 through April 2, hundreds of institutions of higher education have been competing to see who recycles the most on a per capita basis, who produces the least amount of waste and who recycles the largest percentage of their overall waste.   After six weeks of competition, UTK’s recycling rates are up 25 percent compared to 2010 levels.

UTK plans to wrap up its RecycleMania competition with the Second Annual Recyclympics event from 1-3 p.m., Friday, April 1 on the TRECS Intramural Field, located at 2111 Volunteer Blvd., between TRECS and the Tom Black Track.

“It’s going to be awesome,” said Jay Price, UTK’s Environmental Coordinator. “We need as many people out there as possible to learn about how they can make a difference through recycling.  And at the same time, they can test their skills in our recycling games including the phone book shotput, recycling obstacle course, compact discus, the recycling bin moon boot race, and the battery bucket race.”

The event helps celebrate the fact that with the newly donated bins, UTK now can boast that 100 percent of its residence halls have recycling bins.    In addition to supplying bins to all student residents, UTK will be providing bins to the more than 2,000 offices on campus, according to Price.  Before, offices had bins for recycling paper, but nothing for aluminum, plastic and glass recyclables.

“Alcoa Foundation’s bin grant has allowed us to expand our recycling initiatives into areas of the campus that were previously underserved,” Price added.  “The 8,000 bins have been and will continue to be instrumental in helping us increase our overall recycling rates.”

“Alcoa has set a goal to increase the nationwide recycling rate of aluminum cans to 75% by 2015, and one way to do that is to make it more convenient for institutions like colleges and universities to recycle. The distribution of 50,000 bins across 13 college and university campuses – and the education and awareness that comes along with the donation – will be a giant step in the right direction,” said Beth Schmitt, Alcoa’s Director of Recycling.

The KAB partnership further reinforces Alcoa and Alcoa Foundation’s commitment to increasing recycling across communities. Since 2008, Alcoa has distributed more than 100,000 recycling bins, launched the Make an Impact program to help families live more sustainably, developed a free Aluminate™ recycling iPhone app, and invested nearly $3.5 million in community-based recycling programs in the last five years.

In announcing the partnership, Alcoa Foundation also launched a unique “Download to Donate” initiative, donating $1, up to $50,000, to KAB for every free Aluminate™ recycling app download, between America Recycles Day (November 15, 2010) and February 6, 2011. The funding will further strengthen KAB’s environmental education programs and recycling infrastructure.

For more information on UTK’s Recyclympics: www.pp.utk.edu/Recycle/

For more information on RecycleMania: www.recyclemania.com

“We’ve been looking forward to the arrival of these cookies for months now,” says Booth Kammann, CEO of the Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians.  “The Girl Scout Cookie Program accounts for more than half of our operating budget, so this is a critical step.”

Associate Professor of Logistics at the University of Tennessee, Dr. Mary Holcomb, Ph.D. visited the warehouse to observe the process, as volunteers began to sort and distribute hundreds of thousands of boxes of cookies. 

“It’s phenomenal how much product they run through the warehouse in such a short amount of time,” says Dr. Holcomb.  “There was clearly an enormous amount of planning leading up to today.”  Kammann estimates that on Monday alone 12,000 cases, which equates to 144,000 boxes, will be distributed to the greater Knoxville area, with even more cases scheduled to be distributed the following day.

Photo Courtesy of Daniel Andrews

Dr. Holcomb points to the Girl Scouts color-coded system as a key component of the program’s success.  “It’s visually-driven, making the process of sorting the cookies very accurate and highly efficient.” 

As the cars, vans and SUVs, lined up outside the warehouse, staff and volunteers worked side by side.  “We know we have a lot of work to do in a short amount of time, but we’re happy to do it,” says Kammann.  The Girl Scout Troops in the Southern Appalachians Council benefit directly from the cookie sales; proceeds range from $0.55 per box to $0.75 per box, estimates Kammann.  Girls set goals and determine how these proceeds are used, including support of troop activities and community service projects.

Similar distribution centers are bustling with activity in Chattanooga and the Tri-Cities this week.  Between all locations, volunteers will distribute more than 1 million boxes of cookies this week. 

In 2010, the Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians sold more than 1.6 million boxes of Girl Scout Cookies.  A total of 9,235 Girl Scouts participated last year, but Kammann says the process would not be possible without adult volunteers.  “This is a logistical feat and we greatly appreciate our volunteers who make it happen.”  Dr. Holcomb agrees, “The concerted effort of these well-trained volunteers is extremely valuable to the process.” 

While Girl Scouts are beginning to fill pre-orders this week, booth sales of Girl Scout Cookies begin on Saturday, February 25.  For a list of booth locations in our region, you can visit the council’s website at www.girlscoutcsa.org.   

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About Us
The Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians has 21,000 girl and adult members stretching from North Georgia to Southwest Virginia. Service centers are located in Chattanooga, Knoxville, and Johnson City. Our mission is to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. The council offers financial assistance to ensure that every girl who wants to be a Girl Scout has the opportunity to join this vibrant organization.

And starting in 2010, the Kiss Cam at Thompson-Boling Arena is now brought to you by the Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge! The ship’s crew members, maids and Captain can’t wait to see you up on the Titanic Museum Attraction Kiss Cam at a University of Tennessee men’s basketball game. So get those lips ready – only 24,000 people will be watching!

Titanic is always looking for ways new ways to honor the 2,208 passengers and crew aboard the ship.  To honor the 12 honeymooning couples who were onboard the Titanic, the new Titanic Museum Attraction is sponsoring the popular Kiss Cam at Thompson-Boling Arena.

Always a fan favorite at UT men’s basketball games, the Kiss Cam has featured quick kisses, embarrassed kisses, reluctant kisses and passionate kisses over the years.  Some fans have even proposed – successfully and unsuccessfully (as YouTube videos document) – on the Kiss Cam at Thompson-Boling Arena.

The Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee is open daily at 9 a.m.  Reservations are strongly suggested (many days sell out entirely).  Or, passengers may purchase tickets online at www.titanicpigeonforge.com or by phone at 800-381-7670.

Cedar Bay Entertainment owns and operates Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson, Missouri and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.  A privately owned-and-operated entertainment and development company, Cedar Bay is headquartered In Branson, Missouri, the site of its first Titanic Museum Attraction.  Since it’s April 2006 grand opening, Titanic Branson has welcomed nearly 3 million guests.

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Media Contact
Rick Laney
(865) 584-0550
rlaney@ackermannpr.com

Knoxville, Tenn

These animated books can be viewed with or without the read-along English text displayed on the screen. Each title is eight to 10 minutes in length and closes with interactive questions and activities for viewers that pertain to the story.  Titles including “Elmo Loves You,” “Rise And Shine,” “The ABCs of Cookies,” “Grover’s 10 Terrific Ways To Help Our Wonderful World,” “What Makes You Giggle?” and “Elmo Visits The Dentist” are available for $1.99 each.

Bob McGrath

“Moving Picture Books brings a new dimension to some of Sesame Street’s best-selling traditional books as they spring to life on the screen,” said Sesame Workshop’s Jennifer A. Perry, Assistant Vice President & Editorial Director, Worldwide Publishing.  “We are always looking for new and relevant ways to extend the learning and fun of Sesame Street, and these Moving Picture Books provide a new media platform for parents and children to enjoy reading together.”

“Digital media offers a new technique for engaging children to read at an earlier stage of life,” said Dr. Robert Rider, Dean and Professor at the University of Tennessee’s College of Education.  “Using digital media and animated picture books helps to attract the attention of kids and helps them focus on fluency, literacy and vocabulary in a way that advances them to a much higher level of literacy.”

Meg Lonon, the Vice President and Development Director for Moving Picture Books and mother of two young children, said, “Parents can read along with their kids or download a story for them to enjoy while they navigate through their busy days.  Accessing these stories is easy and moms can take them along on car trips, to waiting rooms, grocery stores, sports practices or anywhere else they need to go.  Sesame Street stories from Moving Picture Books are perfect for those who are just learning to read, those who read well and for those who are struggling.”

Moving Picture Books Sesame Street titles will also be available for download through iTunes starting April 5.

Moving Picture Books are designed to engage and inspire young readers.  The read-along text versions of the books have been hailed by education professionals and parents as a great early reading tool.  In addition, all of the books feature age-appropriate lessons that all parents can appreciate like caring, sharing, honesty and self-reliance.  Lonon says, “Because they can be viewed on iPods and cell phones, they are a hit with children and parents everywhere you go.”

Bringing children’s books to life is Moving Picture Book’s business. By combining high quality animation, rich narration, sound effects and music, Moving Picture Books provide a fun and educational digital reading experience for children.  Moving Picture Books are also intended to support busy parents in the digital age. The company’s digital downloads allow children to easily engage in learning wherever they are – on the school bus, at the doctor’s office, the airport or waiting in line at a store.

Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization that revolutionized children’s television programming with the landmark Sesame Street. The Workshop produces local Sesame Street programs, seen in over 140 countries, and other acclaimed shows to help bridge the literacy gap including The Electric Company and Pinky Dinky Doo.  Beyond television, the Workshop produces content for multiple media platforms on a wide range of issues including literacy, health and military deployment. Initiatives meet specific needs to help young children and families develop critical skills, acquire healthy habits and build emotional strength to prepare them for lifelong learning.  Learn more at www.sesameworkshop.org.

For more information or to download titles, visit www.MovingPictureBooks.com.

Media Contact
Rick Laney
(865) 584-0550
rlaney@ackermannpr.com

KNOXVILLE – Nominations are currently being accepted for the 2010 University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Alumni Awards. Nominations are due Feb. 19. The awards are sponsored by the UT Alumni Board of Directors.

This is the second year alumni will be honored for their service and professional or personal promise. A distinguished alumnus award also will be given. The three categories are:

• The Distinguished Alumnus/Alumna Award pays tribute to outstanding leadership, service and philanthropy. Last year’s winners were Jim and Natalie Haslam, and Howard H. Baker Jr.
• The Alumni Service Award acknowledges exceptional service or leadership to UT over a generous period of time.
• The Alumni Promise Award recognizes alumni no older than 40 who are making an early mark in their career, civic involvement or both, showing bright promise for the future.

“UT’s graduates have achieved incredible milestones…building success in our society, educational system, business world and international policies,” said Lisa Hood Skinner, UT Alumni Board awards committee chair and senior vice president of Ackermann Public Relations. “It’s fitting that we recognize these distinguished alumni who provide exceptional support to their alma mater, give back to the community, demonstrate a promising future and overall encompass the Volunteer spirit.”

For online nomination forms and award criteria and descriptions, visit http://alumni.utk.edu/programs/awards/alumni.shtml.

The UT Alumni Board of Directors, established in 2009, incorporates alumni from various walks of life who provide insight and leadership to alumni operations and are active advocates for the university and its programs. Alan Wilson, chairman, president and CEO of McCormick & Company (commonly known as McCormick Spices), is chairman of the board of directors.

A recognition dinner on behalf of all recipients will be held Sept. 10, 2010, in Knoxville.

For further information and off-line nomination forms, contact Jane Kramer at (865) 974-3011.

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C O N T A C T :

Beth Gladden (865-974-9008 or bgladden@utk.edu)
Lisa Hood Skinner (865-584-0550 or lskinner@ackermannpr.com)

Knoxville

The position was formed to research and gain understanding of animal behaviors that may jeopardize a pet remaining in a home environment. The ultimate goal of an animal behaviorist is to help protect the bond between a human and companion animal.

Responsibilities of the behavioral position include providing high quality instruction in domestic animal behavior to private veterinary practitioners, veterinary students and graduate students/residents and develop an outpatient companion animal behavior service and an independent, externally-funded research program. Teaching activities include a core introductory course in animal behavior for veterinary students, elective course(s) in the veterinary curriculum and assistance with a clinical rotation for senior veterinary students.

The Chair will represent the College on animal behavior issues at the local, state, national and international levels. Interaction with veterinarians and other constituents will be an integral part of the position.

Nationwide, there are fewer than 50 board-certified veterinary behaviorists, not enough to meet the need in even the country’s largest cities. Dr. Claudia Kirk, department head of Small Animal Clinical Sciences at the College, says the new faculty position puts the College on par with an elite group. “Very few colleges have a veterinary behaviorist on board,” says Kirk. “Since behavior issues are the number one reason why animals are surrendered to shelters, we will help fill an important gap in clinical service and in teaching veterinary students.  I look forward to the new discoveries that will help enrich the human-animal bond, improve the quality of life for pets and enhance the training of future veterinarians.”

Randy Boyd, founder and CEO of Radio Systems Corporation (makers of the PetSafe brand), recently launched an effort to make Knoxville and the surrounding area the Pet Friendliest Community in America. So, the PetSafe Chair is an opportunity to discover practical, science-based methods for responsible pet owners to be able to create and sustain a lasting bond. Boyd says, “This will be a win for UT, a win for our community and a win for animal welfare. UT will recruit a professor/researcher to lead this field of study and build clinical and research services around it.”

Boyd says there is a vacuum nationally in veterinary behavior, and the university, along with the community, will have the possibility of being the national leader in the area through this effort. “We hope to improve understanding of pets and thus improve their welfare. Some of the research initiatives will include but not be limited to: excessive vocalization in dogs; problem elimination; aggression; fears, anxieties and phobias; how behavior problems develop in pets; and investigation of the genetic basis of behavior and behavior problems.”

Funding for the PetSafe Chair is available to hire at the assistant or associate professor level. There will be additional funding for partial technical and research support. Both UT and PetSafe locations will serve as research/consultation sites. Salary for the position will depend on experience and qualifications.

Applicants should submit a letter of intent, current curriculum vitae, statement of research and teaching goals and contact information for three references (mailing and e-mail addresses and phone number) to Dr. William Thomas, Chair, Search Committee, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, UT College of Veterinary Medicine, 2407 River Drive, Rm. C247, Knoxville, TN 37996. Review of applications will begin on March 1, 2010 and continue until the position is filled.

About PetSafe^®

Headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, PetSafe^® is the industry leader in the management of pet behavior, offering pet training, containment, safety and lifestyle product solutions. PetSafe^® introduced the first do-it-yourself electronic fence to the pet market in 1991 and the first wireless fence in 1998. PetSafe’s product line up includes: kennels and electronic underground fences; bark control systems; a selection of remote training products; pet doors; pet identification collars; heated wellness products; pet feeders and a growing line of lifestyle products. For more information about PetSafe^®, visit: http://www.petsafe.net.

For more information:
Mike Cohen, Ackermann PR
865-584-0550
MCohen@AckermannPR.com

The new faculty position, funded through support from Radio Systems, will help future veterinarians be better equipped through their training to understand companion animal behaviors.

Full details are available on the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine’s web site.

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Knoxville

Children spend an excessive amount of time in front of televisions, computers and video games.  A recent Nielsen Company study showed that children aged 2 -11 are watching more television than they have in years, with children 2-5 years of age spending more than 32 hours per week in front of a screen.  With Moving Picture Books, that time can be entertaining as well as a learning experience.

“Digital media offers a new technique for engaging children to read at an earlier stage of life,” said Dr. Robert Rider, Dean and Professor at the University of Tennessee’s College of Education.  “Using digital media and animated picture books helps to attract the attention of kids and helps them focus on fluency, literacy and vocabulary in a way that advances them to a much higher level of literacy.”

With educators and parents focused on the benefits of digital learning, the University of Tennessee has initiated a research study to examine the way children process information learned in the digital age.  As part of the study, children will be using Moving Picture Books as their learning is evaluated by education experts.  

Each of the 44 stories offered by Moving Picture Books – including eight new Sesame Street titles – can be viewed with English or Spanish voiceover, and with or without the read-along English text displayed on the screen.  The pacing of the storytelling is, according to Dr. Rider, perfect for children to follow along with the text.  The available stories include classics that have been passed down from generation to generation, new favorites written specifically for Moving Picture Books, Bible stories and holiday classics. 

Meg Lonon, the Vice President and Development Director for Moving Picture Books and mother of two young children, said, “Parents can read along with their kids or download a story for them to enjoy while they navigate through their busy days. 

Accessing these stories is easy and moms can take them along on car trips, to waiting rooms, grocery stores, sports practices or anywhere else they need to go.  Moving Picture Books are perfect for those who are just learning to read, those who read well and those who are struggling.”

Moving Picture Books are designed to engage and inspire young readers.  The read-along text versions of the books have been hailed by education professionals and parents as a great early reading tool.  In addition, all of the books feature age-appropriate lessons that all parents can appreciate like caring, sharing, honesty and self-reliance.  Lonon says, “Because they can be viewed on iPods and cell phones, they are a hit with children and parents everywhere you go.”

Moving Picture Books are available at Wal-Mart stores throughout the country, online at www.MovingPictureBooks.com and at online retailers including iTunes.

Media Contact
Rick Laney
(865) 584-0550
rlaney@ackermannpr.com

Sevierville, Tenn.

While enjoying their favorite games on the restaurant’s eight flat-screen, high-definition televisions, football fans also have access to an all-you-can-eat pizza and wings buffet for just $10.  “There are very few places you can go in this area to watch any game from any part of the country,” said David Hayes, director of food and beverage for Wilderness at the Smokies resort.  “People love it.  Some of our guests come and stay for one game – others come and stay all afternoon and into the evening.”

Wilderness at the Smokies, located minutes from Interstate 40 and situated in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, is establishing a new standard for family vacations to East Tennessee.  With two outdoor waterparks, a 60,000 square-foot indoor waterpark with a wave pool and surf rider, hot tubs, and countless waterslides and attractions, Wilderness at the Smokies has something for all age groups.  For more information, visit www.WildernessAtTheSmokies.com.

Media Contact
Rick Laney
(865) 584-0550
rlaney@ackermannpr.com