June 26, 2009
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AAS Breakfast Seminar
July 30th - 7:00 a.m.
Shelton State Community College
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Corporate Sponsor
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Mark your calendars and send us your registration form! We have a great new format for the Adopt-A-School Breakfast and you don’t want to miss this opportunity to network with school personnel and business leaders. The theme for the breakfast, “Touching Tomorrow Today”, will continue the emphasis on partnership activities promoting student success and preparation for the future.
Celebrating the completion of twenty-four years of supporting area schools, the annual Adopt-A-School Breakfast Seminar scheduled for Thursday, July 30th will officially kickoff the 2009-2010 Adopt-A-School Year. Attending the seminar will be representatives from all 55 public schools in the Tuscaloosa City and County School Systems, as well as, business leaders representing the 90 business and professional organizations who have chosen to partner with area schools.
The seminar, held this year at Shelton State Community College, begins at 7:00AM in the atrium with a networking breakfast, including a hot wrap station and granola station. Announcements and awards will be presented during the opening session in the Bean-Brown Theatre. In lieu of a keynote speaker this year, attendees will participate in a guided informative tour of the career and technical programs at Shelton State.
Following the opening session Adopt-A-School Coordinators and Committee members will have the opportunity to attend breakout sessions. The breakout sessions provide an opportunity for partnerships to meet, network and develop new strategies for the upcoming school year. Coordinators who attend the breakfast and attend two breakout sessions will receive "VIP Credit" for their required Coordinator Meeting.
Four partnerships that have just completed their twentieth year together will be recognized for their participation in the program. Bryce Hospital & Central High School; Tuscaloosa Music Club & Buhl Elementary School; Tuscaloosa County Medical Society/Alliance & Alberta Elementary School; and Black Warrior Methane & Brookwood Elementary School have all been partners since 1989. Additionally, Geological Survey of Alabama & Westlawn Middle School and ZF Lemforder have participated in the Adopt-A-School Program since 1999 and will receive the Decade of Excellence Award.
Payment for the breakfast is $8 by July 20th and $10 after that date; deadline to register is July 24th. For additional information contact Adopt-A-School Director, Loo Whitfield, 391-0563 or loo@tuscaloosachamber.com. Click here for registration form. |
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With the close of the 2008-2009 School Year, Adopt-A-School completed twenty-four years of business and education partnerships. During the year 87 business/organizations served as adopters for 54 schools in the Tuscaloosa City and Tuscaloosa County School Systems. However, with the increase in student enrollment and the decrease in funding our school systems need additional support.
In Tuscaloosa City School System, Southview Middle School will welcome students to their new building located on Southview Drive (just off Cypress Creek Drive) and an Adopt-A-School partner is needed for the school. Several schools have one partner and have requested additional adopters. Among those requesting additional partners are Lake View and Matthews Elementary School.
Additionally, partners are needed for programs at the Tuscaloosa Center for Technology. TCT is a unique school because students from area high schools attend the school one or two periods each day. Business partners are needed to adopt specific programs within the school. Business partners will then work with a program that is closely aligned with the business interests.
We need you! If you are not currently serving as an Adopt-A-School partner, why not consider taking an active role as a partner this year? The program is flexible. Each partnership develops its own goals and activities based on the resources of the adopter and the needs of the schools. The possibilities are unlimited! For additional information contact Loo Whitfield, 391-0563 or loo@tuscaloosachamber.com. |
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The Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa Adopt-A-School Golf and Tennis Tournaments are the annual fundraising events to benefit the coordination and administration of the Adopt-A-School Program. Proceeds from these tournaments benefit every  public school in our community and provide critical funding for the coordination and administration of the Adopt-A-School program for the Tuscaloosa City and Tuscaloosa County School Systems. A variety of sponsorships are available for both tournaments.
Eagle Sponsorships, which include recognition and sponsorships at both the Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa Golf and Tennis Tournaments are available. The Eagle Sponsorship includes television and radio coverage; golf hole sponsorship; tennis court sponsor sign; the opportunity to man a booth at both tournaments; signage at both tournaments and recognition in all publications. Additionally, a variety of other sponsorships including closest to the pin awards; tournament prizes; scorecard, cart and hole sponsorships, are available for the golf tournament. Businesses desiring to support the tennis tournament have new opportunities to sponsor the tournament this year. Along with the traditional court sponsorships, lunch/scoreboard and player favor sponsorships are also available.
Sponsorship forms are available at www.tuscaloosachamber.com/aas/forms.html. For more information, contact Loo Whitfield, loo@tuscaloosachamber.com or 391-0563 |
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 Employees at Capstone Bank had a wonderful first year of partnership with the students and faculty at Northridge High School! Capstone provided sponsorship and volunteers for honor roll parties throughout the year, during which A-B Honor Roll students took a break from class to celebrate their achievements by enjoying cookies and drinks together in the cafeteria. Employees from Capstone were also on hand to judge Homecoming lawn decorations and interview an impressive group of students for the Northridge Ambassadors Program. Northridge brightened up the holidays at the bank by sending a beautiful poinsettia for the lobby, and Teacher Appreciation Week was a great time for Capstone to say “thanks for all you do” by delivering Krispy Kreme doughnuts for the faculty and staff. |
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The Geological Survey of Alabama was honored to co-sponsor a Teacher/Staff appreciation luncheon with Phifer, Inc. and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority at Westlawn Middle School. This year’s lunch was western-themed, and the adopters celebrated the hard-working staff of Westlawn by serving them heaping plates of barbeque pork, coleslaw, and beans. Teachers and staff had a chance to relax and enjoy the company of their fellow co-workers. The adopters appreciated the opportunity to give back to the educators, and also managed to have a little fun in  the process. In between doling out plates of food, adopters honed their two-stepping skills to the wail of country music and posed for photos beneath the Wild West banner, in full western regalia. A great time was had by all!
Early in the school year, GSA joined Phifer, Inc. and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority in judging a “Door Decoration Contest” for Black History Month. The theme of this year’s contest was “The Quest for Citizenship in the Americas”. In addition to decorating classroom doors, students wrote essays about pioneering and inspiring African-Americans. The classrooms of Ms. Ruby Simon and Ms. Lucille Prewitt were awarded gift certificates for books and classroom supplies.
Finally, Geological Survey of Alabama was very excited to sponsor a new activity this year in recognition of the 2009 Year of Science. Students from Grades 6-8 were invited to participate in a poster and essay contest that explored the theme of sustainability and the environment. Students were asked to pose an answer to the question –“What steps can you and your family (or school) take to be better stewards of the environment? – using scientific concepts, expository skills, and means of artistic expression. The Survey awarded one prize and certificate to a seventh grade student for his contest submission. Plans are being made for the poster and essay contest to become an annual event. |
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During the week of March 30th through April 2nd, all of Echols Middle School eighth grade students were given the opportunity to visit their Adopt-A-School partner, ZF Lemforder. To facilitate the tour, the students were divided into four different groups and each day a different group toured the plant. The students were briefed on safety procedures and each student wore safety glasses. During the tour of the plant the students  visited each area of work and watched as the axles were constructed. The students were particularly fascinated watching the robots place the parts together during the assembly process. The ZF employees served as guides for the tours and they also spoke with the students about the importance of staying in school, working hard and being prepared for job interviews.
Additionally, on April 3rd selected eighth graders were invited to participate in job shadowing activities at the Tuscaloosa branch of First National Bank of Central Alabama. The students were treated to lunch and then transported to the bank for the afternoon. The job shadowing gave them the opportunity to see a variety of careers involved in the financial industry. Included in the activities at the bank were counting money, learning about credit reports and the importance of paying bills in a timely manner, seeing the process of buying a home, and learning about the necessary skills and education needed to work at a bank. Both the tour of ZF Lemforder and the job shadow activities at First National Bank of Central Alabama were excellent opportunities to introduce the students to the world of work. |
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 TTL, Inc. supported Martin Luther King Elementary School’s Accelerated Reader’s Program this school year by donating $5000 towards incentives for their program. This is the second year that TTL has donated $5000 to support this program. School officials use the donated funds to purchase incentive gifts for the students. As students reached their ARI goal they were allowed to “shop” for gifts at different designated levels. The program very positively influenced the students and encouraged them to increase their reading levels. Upon learning of the program, four other TTL branches chose to emulate the program and support the Accelerated Reader Program in their local community.
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It was a simple request that provided the proof for a group of committed citizens. Students at Verner Elementary School chanted, “Open it! Open it! Open it!” under the bright spring sun.
“A couple of years ago, we realized that the playground that we had here at Verner was not safe for our children. It had been here for 14 years and enjoyed by the whole  community, but there was a lot of wear and tear,” said Annie Ellis, a parent volunteer. The Field of Dreams Board of Directors set out to raise awareness and funding to provide area children an opportunity to fight childhood obesity. Thanks to donations of funding and in-kind services, the dream is now a reality.
The playground seeks to provide all families in the Tuscaloosa community with an area to enjoy regardless of age or ability. Children will now get to enjoy climbing structures, tunnels, slides, and swings. There is even a walking track for adults. Principal Beth Curtis says that the school is encouraging students to lead healthier lifestyles. “I know we are feeding our children correctly— because I know what’s served in the lunchroom—it’s just a matter of coupling that with the exercise,” said Curtis.
Ellis says that this is only the beginning for the Field of Dreams. “We are in our first phase of completion and we certainly have more room for growth,” said Ellis. The Field of Dreams is open to the entire community from dawn until dusk |
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Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa and Holt High School plan to start their 2009-2010 partnership activities with the 3rd Annual Nucor Tuscaloosa-Holt 5K Run/Walk. In conjunction with the team member wellness program at Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa the 5K Run/Walk is planned to encourage wellness activities among the Nucor team members, their Adopt-A-School partners at Holt High Scho ol and the entire community. The proceeds from the event will go to the Holt Athletic Department to aid in funding for school sports.
The 5K is open to everyone and the race begins at 7:00AM on Saturday, August 15th at Holt High School. The course has changed and is now certified by the Tuscaloosa Track Club. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three runners and age category winners will also receive prizes. Walkers will predict the length of time needed to complete the 5K. Pre-registration fees are $10 and $15 after July 30th. Sponsorships are encouraged for high school participants. All participants will receive a t-shirt. Registration forms are available at The Chamber Office or contact Dr. Amber Norris, 205-562-1167 amber.norris@nucor.com |
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For the past three years, Tuscaloosa’s Promise and the Tuscaloosa Children’s Policy Council have partnered together to provide school supplies for students in local schools. The program ensures that students throughout the community are ready to begin school with the materials they need. The collection drive is scheduled for July 22nd through August 9th. Collected supplies will be delivered to the schools and school officials will distribute them according to student need.
To insure the success of this year’s drive, donations and locations in which to place “collection bins” are needed. For additional information call Christy Horner or Sabrina Thomas at 205-462-1000. Financial contributions are accepted and checks should be made out to Tuscaloosa’s One Place; earmarked for the School Supply Drive; and mailed to PO Box 40764 Tuscaloosa, AL 35404.
Supplies Needed:
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Clear or Mesh backpack
Plastic school box
Crayola crayons
Washable Markers
#2 Pencils
Colored folders w/ pockets and brads
Wide-ruled paper
College-ruled paper
12 inch wooden ruler
Bottle of glue
Glue stick
Fiskars scissors
Expo markers
Composition notebook |
Copy paper
Gallon zip-lock bags
Quart zip-lock bags
Kleenex
Paper towels
Hand-held pencil sharpener
Dry erase markers
Hand sanitizer
Primary writing tablet
3 ring binders
Spiral notebooks
Highlighters
Index cards
Graph Paper |
Colored pencils
Dividers
Pocket dictionary
Calculator
Clipboard
Compass
Protractor
Construction paper
Homework assignment pad
Thesaurus
Binder pencil pouch
Pens (black, blue and red)
Erasers (cap and large erasers)
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For the nineteenth consecutive year, golfers will rally on Thursday, September 24th in support of the Adopt-A-School  Program. The four man scramble tournament will be held at Tuscaloosa Country Club. Both 8:00AM and 1:00 PM shotgun starts will be available and registration fees include green fees, cart and lunch. Morrow Thomley of Morgan Keegan is chairing the golf tournament. Plans for the annual Nucor Steel Adopt-A-School Tennis Tournament are underway. The date, times and place will be announced for the fall tennis tournament.
Registration forms for the golf tournament is available at http://www.tuscaloosachamber.com/aas/forms.htm. For additional information about either tournament, contact Loo Whitfield, loo@tuscaloosachamber.com or 391-0563.
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We Have the Best Community Calendar Around
Please do check out our online calendar at www.tuscaloosachamber.com to see what’s going on in the area and remember to utilize the interactive feature to add your own listing.
Hit Your “Forward” Button to Share Chamber News
All employees and associates of Chamber-member firms are members, too. So, please simply hit your forward button to share this issue with all team members in your business/organization. Thanks a lot! |
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