Hot off the presses is a great new Newsletter for Bent Tree called “What’s Happening in the Neighborhood.” It looks like a great new addition to life in Bent Tree.
Follow this link to see the new Bent Tree Newsletter: Bent Tree Newsletter
See Ya Round the Mountains,
Don
A friend who manages a database connecting senior retired officers, defense contractors and military members sent me this article this morning and I felt it had to be re-posted on the blog. I promise to get back to the intended purpose of the blog soon; but if you want to feel better about the future of our country just take a minute and read this. I spent 3 years at the Army’s Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning and I still count those as the most rewarding and enjoyable years of my military career. So to all my Jarhead friends from an old Army grunt, Semper Fi.
The Making of A Marine
2LT Jordan Blashek
The short essay below is by Jordan Blashek, Princeton 2009, who decided to turn down acceptance to medical school to join the U.S. Marine Corps and enter its Officer Candidate School, from which he graduated in December 2009. Written originally as an explanation of his decision for his high school classmates, it is worth reading – and appreciating – by us all.
“You Joined Us” –
That phrase is carved into a steel plaque that tauntingly guards the entrance to the Officers’ barracks at Camp Barrett in Quantico, VA. As I hobbled inside, exhausted from another 15-hour day, my roommate half-jokingly pointed to the plaque, “Why did we do that again?” I smiled. Today had been a long day. Waking at 4 AM, we spent the next 9 hours outside in the pouring rain learning hand-to-hand combat and outdated bayonet techniques. Without warming layers, hats or gloves, our hands quickly went numb and our bodies started shaking uncontrollably in the 30-degree temperature. Finally, we were sent back inside to clean our rifles, which must be spotless before we can wash off our bodies. As 8 PM rolled around and we were still cleaning on a Friday night – when my high school and college friends were out at Happy Hours – I thought about that plaque on the wall:
Why exactly did I join, again?
It’s a question I have tried to answer many times for my family and friends, but never feel as though I have fully conveyed my reasons. I made the decision to join the U.S. Marine Corps at the start of my senior year at Princeton, turning down an acceptance to medical school in the process. I kept the decision to myself until I broke the news to my shocked parents over Christmas Break. I ran through the litany of justifications for them: I wanted to serve my country. I wanted the camaraderie and the pride of being in the Marine Corps brotherhood. I needed the challenge to test my true capabilities and strength. I would receive the best leadership training on the planet, which would help me in any future career I chose. I wanted adventure and the chance to be a part of history in Iraq or Afghanistan. I wanted to exude that same confidence that I saw in every Marine officer I have met. Whether I convinced them or not, in the end, none of these “reasons” alleviated my parents’ understandable anxiety.
When I told my plans to anyone else, I felt as though I were talking to a brick wall – the Military, especially the Marine Corps, was simply outside their reality. My closer friends would nod their heads and say something to the effect of “Wow, that’s cool;” but since I was the perennial flake of the group, most did not take my decision very seriously. And to be honest, even I was not quite sure that I would follow through with the choice. In the comfort of my college dorm, the decision to become a Marine Corps officer seemed glamorously abstract. However, on October 1, 2009 my decision suddenly became very real when I arrived at the Marine Corps’ Officer Candidate School (OCS) in Quantico, VA.
My OCS experience was surreal. Along with 407 other “Candidates” – all college graduates with newly shaved heads – I ran around for 10 weeks carrying an M16 rifle, while the Marine Corps’ famous drill instructors screamed increasingly creative insults at us. In reality, we were beginning the painful, yet deliberate process of transforming from civilians into Marine officers through some of the most intense training that exists in the US military. Meanwhile, the drill instructors continually evaluated our leadership potential as part of the time-honored tradition whereby enlisted Marines select the officers that will eventually lead them in combat. After nearly half of the officer candidates were dropped or dropped out on their own, we emerged from OCS standing a little taller and a little straighter on graduation day, December 11, 2009. That afternoon, I raised my right hand to swear the oath of office and receive my commission as a second lieutenant. That oath obligates me to serve a minimum of four years in uniform.
Ultimately, I joined the US Marine Corps because I believe that officers bear the most solemn responsibility in our nation, and that was a duty I could not, and should not, leave for others to assume. To say that I wanted that responsibility is not quite right, because being a Marine officer is not about one’s self, wants or needs; it is about guiding the young 18 and 19 year-old Marines fighting this country’s wars on our behalf. I decided that serving them was the highest honor and responsibility I could have at this point in my life. As one speaker at my commissioning ceremony explained:
“As second lieutenants, you must have a strong sense of the great responsibility of your office; the resources which you will expend in war are human lives. This is not about you anymore. This is about the young Marines who will place their lives in your hands. It is your job to take care of them, even when that means placing them in mortal danger. That awesome responsibility – the weight which now rests on you – is reflected in those gold bars which you will soon place on your shoulders.”
That is why the plaque hangs in every portal through which we pass – You Joined Us. We chose to bear this responsibility and we must make absolutely sure we are prepared to fulfill it, because young American lives are at stake. If that means being cold and miserable; studying for ungodly hours; and going for days without sleep, then so be it. That is the price of the salute we receive from our Marines.
Five months into my service commitment, I have not regretted my decision for a moment. I already have unforgettable memories from my experience and new friendships with diverse and exceptional peers from all over the country. We have had moments of pure fun together and laughed harder than I ever thought possible. We have also been humbled by the stories and portraits of brave Lieutenants – those who fought and died after roaming the very halls where we now stand and their portraits hang. Most of all, I am immensely proud to bear the title of ‘United States Marine,’ an honor that I will carry with me my entire life. Semper Fi.
Tuesday Night at 7:00 you have another outstanding cultural opportunity as Beverly Gilbert returns to the Casual Classics stage and this time she will bring violinist Lorenz Otzen to perform with her. Ms Gilbert’s solo piano concert last year was stunning and this year’s appearance should be even more special.
Casual Classics Concert Series
The Casual Classics Concert Master, Suzanne Shull, invites you to join your friends and neighbors for a major downtown performance right here in the mountains. The costs of the Casual Classics Concerts are underwritten by series donors so admission to all concerts is Free. The concerts are held at the New Lebanon Presbyterian Church on Bent Tree Drive just North of Cove Rd.
Come on out and bring a friend. You won’t regret it!
See you ’round the Mountains,
Don
This short commercial clip came to my desk today courtesy of our friends at Anheuser Busch. I certainly don’t think they would mind me sharing it with you. I hope it makes you feel as good as I did and I wish that every service person traveling this season could get this kind of reception.
Here is the video: bestcommercial31
From Our Home to Yours,
A Very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year
Don
Having spent 28 years in the service, I have spent a lot of holidays away from home. It can be particularly difficult to be away from family and family traditions at Christmas time ( or Hanukkah ). Xerox has created a quick and simple (and free) way for you to say Thank You to our troops. This will only take 2-3 minutes at most. You could probably send a dozen in 10 minutes. The site is http://www.letssaythanks.com
These brave young men and women protect our opportunity to celebrate the holidays with our families, I hope you will join me in taking a moment to say THANKS.
From Our Home to Yours,
I wish you a Very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year,
See you round the Mountains.
Don
Last Saturday hundreds of Pickens County residents and their friends from around North Georgia got a real treat as 4th the Annual Taste of Pickens was held on the Appalachian Campus of Chattahoochee Technical College in Jasper, GA. The event is sponsored by CARES (Community Assistance Resources and Emergency Services) as a fund raiser for the local food pantry. All the fantastic food was donated by local restaurants, caterers and grocery stores so all of the proceeds go to supporting the food bank and helping to feed those in our community in need of occasional support. CARES is just one of the outstanding non-profit organizations that make Pickens County one of the most remarkable counties in the country. My wife and I attended and had a great time, but I did not have the foresight to record the event for this column. Fortunately, Beth Compton of Southern Home Inspections and JasperPickensCounty.com did take the time to write a nice article and post a video. Beth offered to let me post it here, so here is the link to Beth’s story on A Taste of Pickens. See you there next year and until then we’ll…
See you ’round the Mountains.
Don
Last week the Small Business Council that I chair for the Chamber of Commerce co-sponsored a very successful seminar here in Pickens Couny. The following article is the one I submitted to the Pickens Progress for publication.
Chamber Seminar a Rousing Success
Over 80 local community and business leaders gathered at the Appalachian Campus of Chattahoochee Tech last Tuesday for a day long business seminar entitled Surviving and Thriving in Hard Times. The attendees were treated to Key Note addresses by Dr. Roger Tutterow, Professor of Economics at Mercer University and Dr. Betty Siegel, President Emeritus of Kennesaw State University as well as 6 Breakout Sessions and a Business Expo with 12 local vendors. The reviews from attendees identified the program as a rousing success and plans and discussions will begin immediately to determine the time line for a future seminar.
The Key Note speakers, Drs. Tutterow and Siegel, are both nationally known speakers and they brought both their thoughtful insights and personal knowledge of the area to bear in their presentations.
Dr. Tutterow, whose undergraduate degree is from Berry College and MA and Ph.D in Economics are from Georgia State University, delivered a lively presentation peppered with statistics (and insights based on them) that narrowed the national economic news right down to very local impacts. Dr. Tutterow’s analysis confirmed what many local businesses owners had believed to be true – during most of the recession Pickens County and Jasper have fared better than the state and national level in measurable areas such as sales tax revenues, home sales and home values. This trend was evident until just a few months ago when local activity suddenly caught up with those unfortunate state and national trends. The good news is that the same factors that led to our lagging on the way down, may well lead to our leading on the way back up. (In fact, Pickens County is now reporting that sales tax revenue has started back up and local Realtors® will confirm that since mid-August the volume of traffic, offers and closings has increased significantly.) Dr. Tutterow’s clear message to business owners – and we all heard it loud and clear – was that we appear to be at the inflexion point and any gain in market share right now will only be amplified as the market improves.
Dr. Siegel, currently the Distinguished Chair of the Siegel Institute for Leadership, Ethics and Character, provided a warm and thoughtful primer on the value of leadership in solving problems at all levels of our lives. Dr. Siegel’s personable delivery style is so effective that one quickly forgets her national stature and settles in to listen to a personal mentor holding forth on some concepts that one intuitively knows are true and some that may not have been properly considered. There are hundreds of definitions of leaders and leadership, but Dr. Siegel’s contention that “leaders enroll others in their mission,” rings true. Dr. Siegel’s presentation was filled with personal stories and insights into living and leading that left no doubt why she remains in demand world-wide. It was an educational blessing just to be in the same room with her for an hour.
The two keynote speakers were supported by a strong cast of subject matter experts delivering 6 breakout sessions during the course of the day. Randy Reidrich from the UGA Small Business Development Center presented on Managing Change. Dave Garner of ETC and Albert Grassia from Micah Apparel provided an introduction to Social Media. Mike McCalip of Herdt Consulting talked about Applying Leadership to Your Business. North Georgia Cellular’s Randy Maynard gave an overview of Using New Technology. Kary Kilkerson, from host & co-sponsor Chattahoochee Technical College, served up a session on Providing Exceptional Customer Service while James Schuster from Visual Marketing Group, Inc. developed some Approaches to Fresh Marketing.
The seminar was organized by the Chamber’s Business Council and the county’s informal Leadership Council, headed by Ardis McCain and Larry Toney. Denise Duncan, the Executive President of the Pickens County Chamber of Commerce was the glue that held process together and provided the leadership to bring off such a successful event in such challenging times. The Chamber and Chattahoochee Tech were the primary sponsors and the Corporate Sponsor was “The Mountains of Big Canoe.” Vendors participating in the Expo were: Chattahoochee Tech, Community Bank of Pickens County, Crescent Bank, ETC Communications, Julia Jorns, CPA, LLC, Micah Apparel, New Beginnings Therapeutic Services, North Georgia Cellular, Strategic Analytic Solutions, Torrey Mountain Properties, Inc., Unites Community Bank and the University of Georgia, Small Business Development Center. Both breakfast and lunch were provided by Bojangles.
The sponsors and attendees agreed that the seminar was a valuable addition to the community business calendar. Business Council Chair, Don Martin, indicated that “the only way to make a significant improvement would be to have 200-300 business leaders attend next year – we’ll just have to get right to work on that.”
Exciting news for Casual Classics Patrons, TRIO patrons, Tater Patch enthusiasts, and all who are interested in creative musicianship! This is about the artist who will be at New Lebanon on Nov. 10 at 7:00 as part of the Casual Classics Concert Series. I pre-ordered this C.D. and have been listening to it for a week – can’t wait for her concert! This is her best C.D. yet with lots of humor and an interesting variety of vocalists. We will make sure that she has some C.D.’s with her for autographing on the 10th.
Please forward this to everyone you know who wants to attend an amazing “singing” event, and be prepared to join in. She can make a chorus of frogs sound like a heavenly choir!
Suzanne Shull, Casual Classics Concert Series.
Atlanta Music Guide – Oct. 28, 2009
http://www.atlantamusicblog.com/news/2009/10/cd-review-elise-witt-valise.html
http://www.mindspring.com/~emworld/pages/record.html
In case you can’t open the link, here’s the review below.
Elise Witt
Valise
EMWorld Records
By Al Kaufman
Elise Witt is one of those local treasures that nobody knows about. The multi-linguist from Switzerland, who has called Atlanta home since 1977, has been a cultural ambassador to South Africa, China, Italy, Nicaragua and Switzerland, represented Georgia for the Kennedy Center’s 25th Anniversary Celebration, has studied under Bobby McFerrin, sung under the direction of Robert Shaw for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus for 20 years, created singing workshops for adults and children all over the globe, and hosted musicians from outside countries to play locally.
The kicker is, in addition to all that, she has one of the purest and sweetest voices you are likely to ever hear. Valise is Witt’s “suitcase of global, local, and homemade songs.” Witt was a German-speaking three-years-old when her family moved to the States from Switzerland. Her more recent work with refugee families in Atlanta caused her to look back upon her own new beginnings in a foreign country and pay homage to that time, which she does here with a wonderfully diverse and eclectic mix.
When you are as nice and as well-traveled as Witt, you make a lot of friends, and she seems to call upon almost every one of them on this CD. The most obvious example is on “Blessed Nation,” a poem written by Pete Seeger in which Witt added some lyrics and a melody. Besides her three-woman chorus, Witt calls upon folk legend and recent Atlanta transplant John McCutcheon for lead vocals for one verse, and former Weaver and co-founder of the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, Frank Hamilton, for another.
Longtime partner Mick Kinney adds his piano and vocals (and violins, and accordions, and guitars, etc.) throughout, most notably on “Our Favorite Things,” in which Kinny updates the lyrics from the Sound of Music classic tune. In this modern version, “Thai food and T’aiChi, Qigong and I Ching/These are a few of my favorite things.”
But this CD is all Witt. She pays homage to the old Motown style on “Venus Between Us,” then to bebop with “Jackie.” She even does a bit of white housewife rap on “Clothes Swap.”
She sings in German, French, and Spanish. She scats, swings, and serenades. She takes the listener on a journey throughout the world of music, and what a delightful journey it is.
Elise Witt celebrates her CD release at Callenwolde Fine Arts Center, 980 Briarcliff Rd, Atlanta GA 30306 on November 1 at 6:00 p.m.
http://www.mindspring.com/~emworld/pages/record.html
While this site is not going to be updated until October you can still find information about Real Estate in Bent Tree, Big Canoe and Pickens County by visiting my Bent Tree Real Estate site.
See you round the Mountains ( in October)
Don
I just got this note on the Casual Classics Series and wanted to pass it on – despite the site being temporarily closed.
Take care,
Don
________________________________________________________________________
Greetings Chamber Music Enthusiasts,
Season 4 brings 4 concerts for 2009-10. Please mark your calendars for the following dates. We are working on brochures and advertisements, however word-of-mouth is the best way to get the news out.
I hope to see you at all four concerts!
Suzanne Shull
Concertmanager, Casual Classics Concert Series
All concerts are at 7:00 PM at New Lebanon Presbyterian Church, 389 Bent Tree Drive, Jasper. Parking is ample and admission is free.
September 15, 2009: Robert Henry, winner of national and international piano competitions, likes to inform audiences with clever repartee regarding the music.
November 10: Elise Witt, folk musician and recording artist, has traveled throughout the world and brings insight and authenticity to her songs. She will be accompanied by musicians who are also recording artists.
February 2, 2010: Beverly Gilbert, piano, returns and brings husband Lorentz Otzen on the violin. They are seasoned chamber music performers who appreciate the informal nature of the Casual Cl assic Concerts .
April 13, 2010: The Peachtree Brass will astound and delight. Their approach is upbeat and their musical arrangements of familiar classical works puts them in a league with the Canadian Brass.
If you would like to make a tax deductible contribution to the series in time to be listed the first program, you may send a check to Casual Classics, PO box 1452, Jasper GA, by Sept. 10. Categories are: Angels ($500 and up) Patrons ($250 to $499) Donors ($100 to $249) and Friends (up to $99).
This series is funded exclusively by people who think that great music should be accessible to all.