This has been an awesome experience. It is good to know that other counties other than mine are suffering from many of the same issues, and hopefully we can gain some knowledge on ways to handle these issues from each other.
Todd Kesterson, Jefferson County, Class of 2005

I have always known that I have am blessed to live in the best place on earth, but now I know more about East Tn than I did before.  I have met some wonderful people.  It has been a pleasure and an experience I will never forget.  I am also humbled by some of the great people we have met as classmates, speakers, county mayors, judges, and other walks of life. We are so blessed to live where we do and have the people that we have. I am determined to try to do more to make my home an even better place to live.  If you think about it, the only thing that we really get out of this life is what we do for others.  I want to thank you and Jane for all you hard work to make this year special for all of us. God Bless you.
Kelly Chumley, Claiborne County, Class of 2005

As I reflect on the time that we had together, there are some things that really come to mind.

First, I did something that I never thought that I could do by climbing the tower. I agonized over the prospect of that climb from the moment that I first heard about it until I was finally able to look down on everybody! Now, every time my wife and I pass by there, I have to re-tell my story.

Second, I have enjoyed every single day of our journey together. Not only has every day brought a wonderful learning experience, each one has given me an opportunity to get to know people that I would never had met. We’ve had a great class of people!

Finally, the leadership program has re-newed my admiration and its people. Today, Elaine made a comment about the way that you speak does not reflect your intellect. It took me a long time to learn this lesson. As you can obviously tell, I have a strong Appalachian accent. I have not always been proud of that. When I was younger, I tried to hide my dialect. As I’ve grown older, I’ve grown to realize that it doesn’t matter how you sound as much as it matters that what you say comes from within.

As I reflect on what Elaine said, I also understand that there is something unique to the values to East Tennesseans. Actually, those values extend farther that. They are unique to most who live within the Appalachian region. Elaine made me think of my father. He never managed to graduate high school but, in many ways, he has given me more knowledge than all of my professors. More than anything, he has taught me the values of hard work and respect for people. Just like his people before him, my dad reflects the values that makes East Tennessee the greatest place in the world to live! I’m concerned that I haven’t been as good of a teacher to my kids.

As I think about our region and our vision statement, I think about each person in our group. I see the pride and love that each person has for his or her own county but, I also see their love for the entire region. While we may not all be great speakers or orators, when each of us talks about East Tennessee, we are all poets.
Glenn McGuire, Campbell County, Class of 2008

East Tennessee Regional Leadership was one of the most eye-opening experiences of my life. I say this because when you live in such a small rural county, such as Union, you tend to think that we have problems unlike any other county. However, touring these other counties and hearing about their communities and the issues they face made me realize that it doesnt matter if your county has 20,000 residents or 120,000 we all basically face the same issues. I have four college degrees, two of which focus on leadership. But in my opinion, I now have five. This program has taught me more about being a leader than I could have ever learned sitting in a college classroom. I hope to one day be in a position that will allow me to utilize the wealth of knowledge that I gained from this program. I will always be grateful to the East Tennessee Regional Leadership Association for adding another great chapter in my life.

Jason Bailey, Union County, Class of 2008

Although, two primary attributes of this year’s leadership class is clearly obvious; meeting wonderful people and gaining tremendous knowledge/insight in every one of the counties represented by the region, I have to say as a person not originally from here, the entire experience has solidified my attachment to this area.    There is a quote from one of George Eliot’s books I really love and it sums up my feelings .. “A HUMAN life, I think, should be well rooted in some spot of a native land, where it may get the love of tender kinship for the face of earth, for the labours men go forth to, for the sounds and accents that haunt it, for whatever will give that early home a familiar unmistakable difference amidst the future widening of knowledge: a spot where the definiteness of early memories may be inwrought with affection, and kindly acquaintance with all neighbours …”

The program was great I wouldn’t change a thing.    Just keep the communications flowing at all times during the year.

Joe Stainback, Anderson County, Class of 2008

Regional Leadership is a great way to gain new knowledge about what the surrounding counties are doing to improve this area. You meet great people and develop a network of sources for future use.  I have had the best time this year doing Leadership.  I am sorry it’s has to end.  It has been a blast. I feel that the mission statement that we created will be successful in the future.  Each county that we visited has been trying to see their county improve.

Thanks again for a wonderful year.
Jan Beretta, Cocke County, Class of 2006

For as long as I live, the people and adventures of the ETRLA class of 2006 will serve as a turning point in my life.  My leadership quest has been refreshed.”
Michael Hubbard, Oak Ridge, Class of 2006

“While we all seem to know intuitively that our regional “communities” overlap and even work together, there is nothing quite like seeing the examples of this “regionalism” in action as my experience with the East Tennessee Regional Leadership Class of 2006 has allowed me to do.  Although I have lived in East Tennessee for 25 years, there are so many wonderful things ot see and do that I have not experienced until this year.  The various “museums” in Union, Monroe, Anderson and Claiborne were particular highlights.  Meeting a great group of fantastic people just made the journey that much more enjoyable.”
Doug Kirchhofer, Sevier County, Class of 2006

“Stretched” is my summary of this ride.  As a result of the program, I have stretched my connections in so many directions that I am absolutely positive those new connections will touch my life again in some way down the road.

I am amazed at how much I learned and how little I knew.  I feel my world has been stretched in such a way that I will never again see this region in the same light.  News stories good and bad are listened to on a more personal level because I have new friends in those areas and new information from which to “hear” differently.  Just yesterday I was reading in the News Sentinel about a mother of twins who was found dead with her twin 3week old babies found near death as well.  This immediately reminded me of the Safe Haven information from Blount.  When I see the leaves changing colors I think of Grainger County because of all its beautiful landscape. Not to mention they have the best zagnut candy ever and every time I see a zagnut candy bar I think of that farm we visited and had lunch at.
I saw a load of gravel being delivered to our campus last week and thought of Campbell county’s BIG GRAVEL pit.  When I see Mike Farmer, my County Mayor…I call him Mike instead of Mr. Farmer.  I can call him on the phone….his cell phone and he knows who I am now.  When I eat bacon in the morning I think of my 211 cholesterol that I learned about in Blount County.  I’ve heard about hunger in America but never really thought anyone actually went hungry, after all, we are a great nation, but the hunger activity in Hamblen made me really think about the limitations some have when it comes to eating.   I will not visit Sevier Co. again on a mini vacation without thinking of their growth issues and plans.

Let me end on this note:  On my office bookshelf I have a notebook titled ETRLA and in it are connections I will have forever.  I will find many times in my life and career ahead to refer back to this notebook and it would be one of the items I would take with me if I had to rush out of the office never to return.  This ride has “stretched” me and like the old saying about a rubber band being stretched, my life will never return to its original size due to my wonderful experience with Regional Leadership.”

Teresa Duncan, Roane County, Class of 2007

I have thoroughly enjoyed this experience.   As a native of East Tennessee – Blount County -  I had no idea what a great region we live in. I have been very impressed with all the positive things that are going on in each of the counties we have visited.    My “area of reference and hometown pride” now extends to all our wonderful counties.    I will now call them all “mine” and I feel a connection with each classmate and county that comes with this wonderful experience of Regional Leadership.   We have so many good things available and so much we still can learn from and about each other.   This is a program that can continue to pull us all together to be working as one.
Great experience, great opportunity, great staff!
Denia Lash, Blount County, Class of 2007