Dwight Van de Vate

2011 Relay for Life

2011-01-05T16:28:00.000-08:00

It's time to start talking about the 2011 Relay for Life and you can get involved in the fight against cancer. Stay tuned!

Thanks to Everyone Who Supported the 2010 Knoxville Relay for Life.

2010-07-02T03:54:00.000-07:00

Relay was a week ago today and it's time for me to say thanks again to everyone who helped. The event was successful in every respect. Great weather, great turnout, great fundraising. The Optimist Club of Knoxville is an absolutely amazing group, with almost $7,000 raised so far! Their Team Captain, Buzz Buswell, is a Man among Men. The KnoxCares! Team set a goal of $2500 and then promptly blew right by it, raising $3255! For the year to date, Downtown Relay has grossed over $90,000, with one more fundraiser to go.

To everyone who helped, supported, donated, we say thank-you. You make it possible for us to Celebrate, Remember and Fight Back, on this day, and every day.

Many Thanks to the News Sentinel...

2010-06-19T04:23:00.000-07:00

with special appreciation to Scott Barker and Mike Silence, for giving me the opportunity run this guest editorial about my favorite subject, the 2010 Knoxville Relay for Life!

With Relay less than a week away, we are on the home stretch. Make your plans now to be there for this celebration, community gathering, this event that is like no other.

Remember that you can help in the fight to cure cancer.

You can support the Relay financially here

You can read about the Downtown Knoxville Relay here

The American Cancer Society is the nation's second largest funder of cancer research, second only to the U.S. government. Relay for Life is the nation's most successful grassroots fundraiser.

The 2010 Relay is Coming Up!

2010-05-12T08:01:00.000-07:00

Remember, the 2010 Knox County Relay for Life is Friday, June 25, 2010, at World's Fair Park, at 7:00 pm. Relay is a time when people come together for one night to celebrate, remember and fight back. It's not a race and there's no running involved. Lots of fun activities take place, raising money for cancer research, including food sales, games and contests, live bands and more!

Relay began in 1985 when Dr. Gordy Klatt, a colorectal surgeon in Tacoma, Washington, ran and walked around a track for 24 hours to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Since then, Relay has grown from a single man’s passion to fight cancer into the world’s largest movement to end the disease. Each year, more than 3.5 million people in 5,000 communities in the United States, along with additional communities in 19 other countries, gather to take part in this global phenomenon and raise much-needed funds and awareness to save lives from cancer. Thanks to Relay participants, we are creating a world with more birthdays a world where cancer can’t claim another year of anyone’s life.

Remember that you can help in the fight to cure cancer.

You can support the Relay financially here

You can read about the Downtown Knoxville Relay here

The American Cancer Society is the nation's second largest funder of cancer research, second only to the U.S. government. Relay for Life is the nation's most successful grassroots fundraiser.

Also, Stacy Hall from the American Cancer Society and I will be appearing on the Phil Williams radio show this Monday, June 7th, at 3:20 pm to talk more about Relay. WNOX FM 100.3, The Big Talker!

The Relay for Life is your chance to Celebrate, Remember and Fight Back

Getting Involved With Relay for Life

2010-05-06T20:41:00.000-07:00

Remember that you can help in the fight to cure cancer.

You can support the Relay financially here

You can join the KnoxCares! team here

The American Cancer Society is the nation's second largest funder of cancer research, second only to the U.S. government. Relay for Life is the nation's most successful grassroots fundraiser.

The Relay for Life is your chance to Celebrate, Remember and Fight Back

Election Day

2010-05-03T20:47:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, May 4, 2010 is election day. If you haven't already voted, do it! It's more than your right, it's your duty.

Hallerin Hilton Hill

2010-04-28T21:00:00.000-07:00

Michael Holtz of the American Cancer Society and I will be guests on the good news segment of the HHH show, at 8:25 am on May 7, 2010. We will be talking about the 2010Relay for Life, the services and good work of the American Cancer Society, and a little bit about cancer survivorship. We hope you can tune in!

Powell High School Beta Club

2010-04-22T20:34:00.000-07:00

Spoke to the Powell High School Beta Club yesterday about Relay for Life. They are smart, talented kids and they are going to join the Relay Nation! If the Central Office approves, they will have a Krispy Kreme fundraiser for Relay. Time to blow off your diets and get out your wallets! Thanks to Ms. Walker and Ms. Jarmin for arranging the visit. Go Panthers!

Thanks to the Downtown Rotary!

2010-04-20T14:34:00.000-07:00

A big thank-you to the Downtown Rotary Club for hosting me today. I appreciate the club so much for offering me a chance to talk about the 2010 Downtown Relay, and enjoyed visiting with different members after the meeting. I chatted with a number of folks were also cancer survivors or the spouses of cancer survivors.

It was great to have an opportunity to catch up with my old friends Mark King of LBMC and Russ Jensen from Knoxville's 311 Center, and I appreciate Russ arranging this visit.

Remember that you can help in the fight to cure cancer.

You can support the Relay financially here

You can join the KnoxCares! team here

The American Cancer Society is the nation's second largest funder of cancer research, second only to the U.S. government. Relay for Life is the nation's most successful grassroots fundraiser.

The Relay for Life is your chance to Celebrate, Remember and Fight Back

Upcoming Radio Appearance

2010-04-16T20:18:00.000-07:00

I'm honored to be a guest on Hubert Smith's radio show on Sunday, May 9, 2010, discussing the 2010 Downtown Relay for Life! Join us at 11 am on 90.3 FM, The Rock WUTK. Also streaming live at wutkradio.com and talkshoe.com!

As always, remember that you can help in the fight to cure cancer.

You can support the Relay financially here

You can join the KnoxCares! team here

The American Cancer Society is the nation's second largest funder of cancer research, second only to the U.S. government. Relay for Life is the nation's most successful grassroots fundraiser. So let's get together to...

Celebrate-Remember-Fight Back

2010 Downtown Relay for Life

2010-04-09T07:13:00.000-07:00

The big news about the 2010 Downtown Relay for Life is a date change! Due to construction at World's Fair Park, the event is now scheduled for June 25, 2010, at 7:00 pm.

I appreciate the opportunity to speak to the Downtown Civitan Club today and to share the Relay message. I hope everyone will take the time to get involved somehow- either by joining a team or contributing financially, and I certainly hope you will come out to the World's Fair Park on the night of the event.

You can join the KnoxCares! team here

You can support the Relay financially here

Remember- the American Cancer Society is the nation's second largest funder of cancer research, second only to the U.S. government. Relay for Life is the nation's most successful grassroots fundraiser. So let's get together to...

Celebrate-Remember-Fight Back

Knoxville Now! on Praise 96.3

2010-03-08T05:47:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, March 9th, 6:30 pm, on Praise 96.3 Russ Jensen and I will discuss the 2010 Downtown Knoxville Relay for Life. Please tune in and help support the fight against cancer. Knoxville Now! is Mr. Jensen's weekly radio show about events happening in and around Knoxville.

I have a personal Relay for Life page here I hope you will visit.

2010-01-28T19:47:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone who came out tonight to the Relay kick-off. I appreciate you more than I can ever say- your friendship and support are generous gifts I do not take for granted.

This was one of the hardest things I have ever done - carving out a part of myself and putting it out there for everyone to see. I could not have done it without all of you being there. God Bless all of you, this day and every day.

Please continue to support Relay and the American Cancer Society.

You can join the KnoxCares! team here

You can support the Relay financially here

My Personal Relay for Life Page

2010-01-13T12:44:00.000-08:00

I know that July is a long way off, but planning for the 2010 Downtown Relay for Life is going full bore. I hope you will take an interest, get involved and support the work of the American Cancer Society. I have a personal page here I hope you will visit. There are Relay links posted in various places on this blog...take just a minute and click on one to learn more. No matter who you are, at some point in your life, you or someone you care about will be touched by cancer.

Torpor

2010-01-12T13:44:00.000-08:00

"At 47, I'm starting to wonder which direction I'm headed. And with good reason because, according to my accountant, there is no way I'm going to be able to give in to torpor, fatigue or anything else that might take me out of the work force anytime soon."
-- Michelle Slatalla, "A Play Date With My Imagination ", New York Times, June 2, 2009

Timeless

2010-01-06T19:45:00.000-08:00

"The national budget must be balanced. The public debt must be reduced; the arrogance of the authorities must be moderated and controlled. Payments to foreign governments must be reduced, if the nation doesn't want to go bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance."

Thinking that might be Ronald Reagan? No, a bit earlier than that...

Cicero, 55 BC
Roman author, orator, & politician (106 BC - 43 BC)

Happy New Year!

2009-12-31T15:35:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! The best to you in 2010!

American Cancer Society

2009-11-24T12:51:00.000-08:00

I have been asked to do some volunteer work for the American Cancer Society. It's an opportunity I am really, really excited about. As a cancer survivor, I have given back very little in terms of advocacy and service. Life is often about second chances, and here is one for me.

When it comes to the subject of cancer, there's much to discuss. Stay tuned!

Marriage or Military?

2009-10-20T03:26:00.000-07:00

Standing in the kitchen at 5:35 am, peeling potatoes for crock-pot beef stew...the distinction between married life and military service is becoming blurry...maybe I should have enlisted...

Focus Groups?

2009-10-06T14:57:00.001-07:00

Watching football this weekend, I was subjected to numerous commercials for Coors Light. After giving it a little thought (very little), I've become convinced that their focus groups must be limited to twelve year old boys. It really is the only plausible explanation for such a nonsensical campaign.

Social Media

2009-09-22T08:27:00.000-07:00

Interesting Statistics regarding social media.

Viaticals on Wall Street?

2009-09-08T10:15:00.000-07:00

Viaticals are the purchase of life insurance policies prior to the death of the policy holder. From time to time, these are transactions that make sense, enabling terminally ill people to cope with financial hardships. Wall Street has now discovered them and apparently sees a business opportunity.

In light of the on-going, and remarkably acrimonious debate on health care, this is an interesting sidebar. I'm not at all sure what I think about either one of these issues, other than they can be uncomfortable to contemplate.

"Open Your Mind America"

2009-09-03T04:21:00.000-07:00

Here is a neat little analysis from CNN.com. It could be accurately retitled "Let's Stop Shouting." Sadly, I am becoming convinced that many people enjoy that sort of thing.

A good little motivational passage.

2009-08-26T18:47:00.000-07:00

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.

Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude... I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.

And so it is with you... we are in charge of our attitudes.

Charles Swindoll

The Triumph of Intellectual Dishonesty

2009-08-23T19:28:00.000-07:00

Responsible public officials, bloggers, civic activists and the media all claim to seek intellectual honesty. Sadly, it's more elusive than ever.

Here is an interesting article on the subject, specific to coverage of the Vietnam war and the post-war reconstruction period. Front Page is definitely NOT my cup of tea, but this particular item is worth a look.

The Media and Policy Center

2009-08-20T20:04:00.000-07:00

The Media & Policy Center describes itself as a "media foundation specializing in the production of socially relevant projects in an entertaining and enlightening context."

Interesting and worth a look.

From Journalism.org

2009-08-09T05:59:00.001-07:00

comes this comprehensive analysis of changes in television news. This is excerpted from The State of The News Media: An Annual Report on American Journalism (2009).

An Excellent Thread

2009-08-04T19:46:00.000-07:00

worth following can be found here. Randy Neal at KnoxViews started it in response to a post on Jack McEloy's blog.

This is a discussion that is more important than ever.

A Couple of Good Reads

2009-07-25T05:48:00.000-07:00

Snark by David Denby

and

Backstory: Inside the Business of News by Ken Auletta

Accusation is Tantamount to Guilt

2009-07-22T04:54:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a monumental day for the Knox County Mayor's Office. State Attorney General Robert Cooper released a report clearing the Mayor of any wrongdoing in matters related to reports completed by Knox County's Internal Auditor. The Attorney General also responded to an ouster action filed by ten citizens who are outspoken critics of the Mayor. General Cooper declined to pursue the ouster, stating (and I paraphrase slightly here) that the citizens failed to make the case for such an action.

For the average citizen, when public officials are involved in a controversy, accusation is tantamount to guilt. Accusation equates with conviction. Conviction demands punishment. So from the outset, when stories break where public officials are accused of wrongdoing, the initial call for action normally centers on what's going to happen to them. They're guilty and they should suffer, immediately. The media reports, and so reflects and amplifies, this outlook. Due process and the rights of the accused are the first casualties to fall.

In his remarks to the media, the Mayor offered his thanks to the various officials involved in the investigation for rising above "political hysteria" and "personal animosity." The importance of this just can't be overstated. It is very difficult in today's world for public officials to discharge their duties with impartiality. It's even more difficult to ignore the loud clamoring of anonymous Internet posters and angry civic activists.

I am on record as questioning the News Sentinel's objectivity when it comes to matters involving Knox County government in general and the Mayor's Office in particular. Our conversations yesterday were brief and unproductive. However, their coverage today appears to be accurate, unbiased and straightforward. I attribute this to the work of Scott Barker. I have worked with many, many Sentinel reporters since 1991. None have been more intellectually honest, fair or professional than Scott Barker. I will have my disagreements with the paper from time to time, but the fairness, objectivity and abilities of Scott will never be in question.

Backstory: Who Writes Your Leads?

2009-07-08T09:56:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, July 7, 2009, the News Sentinel published this story on-line with the following lead: "KNOXVILLE - Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale has refused to sign a resolution..." The story itself is relatively uninteresting, despite efforts by the reporter to juice it up, but there is an interesting backstory here.

Three other local media outlets covered the story on July 7th and 8th, two television stations and one radio station. The catalyst was a memorandum from the Chief Deputy Law Director to the County Clerk, advising him of the proper procedures to codify the resolution. In his memo, the Chief Deputy Law Director notes that the Mayor has "declined to attach his signature..." and includes language from the Charter outlining how the resolution then becomes law without the need for the Mayor's signature.

The term "refused" is not used in either the Charter or the memorandum. It was clearly an editorial decision by the reporter, which is her prerogative. If someone thinks the term is misleading or inaccurate (which, by the way, it is), they have the option to make an issue of it with the newspaper. What's interesting here is that of the three other outlets that covered the story, only one included copy that didn't mirror the News Sentinel's coverage. The other two, a television station, and a talk radio station both appeared to rely exclusively on the paper for their information, and picked up on the paper's use of "refused." This also suggests to me that they may not have obtained a copy of the relevant memo from the Law Director.

I "refuse" to make excuses for this practice. Reporters, assignment editors, news directors all need to do their own fact-finding. Write original copy (as opposed to rewriting someone else's copy), and write your own leads. If it's shared content, then disseminate it with appropriate attribution.

A Legacy Program

2009-07-01T06:32:00.000-07:00

Here is a great write up about an initiative that is pure Mike Ragsdale. It has operated largely below the radar screen, although it is truly one of the boldest and most significant new programs Knox County has ever seen. I don't often use the word "transformative" but I can't think of another that is sufficient.

There are limitless ideas on how to improve education, promote college access, enhance our workforce and so on. In order to create value and to improve our community, ideas have to evolve into action and action has to result in success. That is exactly what has happened here.

Impaired cognitive function?

2009-06-30T22:09:00.000-07:00

Might be the only plausible explanation of why it seemed like an okay idea to buy my 13 year old the "Best of Guns and Roses" cd.

MacGyver redux?

2009-06-25T13:45:00.000-07:00

Just watched an episode of Burn Notice with my 13 year old son. Campy, cheesy and very fun. Sort of an updated MacGyver but with cooler people in cooler places, and maybe a few more guns.

Nobel Prize Nomination

2009-06-22T19:58:00.000-07:00

After a fourteen hour car ride with three kids, I've concluded that the individual who invented the in-car DVD player deserves to be nominated for a Nobel Peace prize. I think he or she will be very competitive next year.

Counting Down the Days

2009-06-19T04:59:00.000-07:00

Life can now be measured in double digits. As of today, there are only:

83 days until the

Tennessee Titan's

first regular season game, and

99 days until the opening day of archery season for whitetail deer in Tennessee.

We will probably celebrate the countdown with venison spaghetti tonight. As we do, I suppose I should contemplate whether or not this particular frame of reference makes me sound unspeakably redneck, or just very southern. I'll hope for the latter, but it's really for others to decide.

2009-06-18T04:44:00.000-07:00

Today is the Farmer's Market at New Harvest Park in Northeast Knox County. Every Thursday from late April until November, you can find locally grown fruits, vegetables, artisan foods, plants, flowers, meat and dairy products. The market is open from 3:00 pm until 6:00 pm.

If you haven't been, New Harvest Park includes a community building, walking trail, playground and outdoor pavilion. There's a bit of history behind it all, too much to cover here, but the park is definitely worth a visit. The Farmer's Market is an excellent day to make your first trip. New Harvest is a great civic amenity and a real success story for Parks & Recreation.

Crawling before walking

2009-06-16T12:53:00.000-07:00

Day two of maintaining a blog. Thanks to Katie Granju, Mike Silence and Randy Neal, extraordinary bloggers and great mentors for a rank amateur! Your feedback has improved the site, and your willingness to help is sincerely appreciated. I'm not worthy!

Interesting days in Knox County Government. From the inside, those of us who are here every day have a chance to see so much good work being done, work that makes a real difference in people's lives. Work being done by employees who are seldom recognized for contributing to their community, or for their commitment to public service. Hopefully as this blog evolves, I'll have the chance to share some of their stories with you.

Flag Day, the Meredith Riots and my Dad

2009-06-15T13:29:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Flag Day (June 14, 2009), a fact only known to me because I happened to hear it on the radio. During the course of the day, I spent several hours at the hospital with my father, and at one point, took him outside to enjoy the day in a small courtyard, with gardens and a flagpole.

Just to get him talking, I asked him a question (I already knew the answer). I recollected having heard that I was born during the Meredith Riots, when he was teaching at Ole Miss. He replied simply "Yes, that's right." My efforts to sustain a conversation were pretty unsuccessful so far.

After a few minutes of silence, Dad looked up at the flag, which was snapping a bit in the breeze and said "It was good to see the flag flying on campus." I asked him to clarify. He shared that during the time of the Meredith Riots, the United States flag was not flown over campus, only the state flag of Mississippi. Dad recalled very clearly that it was only upon arrival of the National Guard that the U.S. flag was again posted on campus of Ole Miss.

It was a powerful moment for me. My father is an immensely patriotic man. He completed his undergraduate degree at Wesleyan, his masters and PhD at Yale. He is a lifelong and proud Democrat, an outspoken liberal and a man of intellect and integrity that are seldom seen. I've never celebrated Flag Day, and quite frankly, have had only the most marginal awareness of it. Dad probably didn't know that yesterday was Flag Day, but he surely understands all that it represents, in a far deeper way than many who loudly proclaim themselves patriots.