The Buzz Print Issue for November 2024

 

Q&A: The Buzz Interviews SEAM Club President Jakoby Kimmell

      Jakoby Kimmell, president of the Smyrna Entertainment, Arts and Media Club, shared insight on the organization's many activities on the Motlow Smyrna campus. Jakoby is a first-year freshman who is currently going for general studies, but plans to switch to history to pursue a doctorate in order to achieve his goal of becoming a history professor.

Question: Tell me about SEAM club.

Answer: The SEAM Club stands for the Smyrna entertainment, arts and media club. We just recently did a field trip to the Frist Art Museum, and the next thing that we're planning is a holiday event. We also have a speech contest on the Moore County campus. This isn't something that we're hosting directly, but it is something that we helped organize and, of course, we do what we can to assist the paper. Our primary focus is right now doing events, and we're always looking to expand into other stuff as well new types of events. We are looking to expand into other things. Specifically, right now, we're interested in expanding into podcasting, with the help of Professor Whitting and a few other of our members who have experience in that area. So, we look forward to setting up a school podcast that we can put out for you guys. We're always looking to expand into other stuff as well, new types of events, other types of media. We're always just trying to entertain people, inform them, and just kind of have fun and give people opportunities to express themselves and be themselves. It really is a member ran organization, and what we do really comes from who we have that means what they know, what they're comfortable with, the kind of passion they bring to the table and their experience.

 

Question: What made you decide to become SEAM club president?

Answer: When the SEAM club just started out this semester, we only had a handful of members, and we weren't sure who was going to stay and who was going to go, so some members didn't feel like they could take on the responsibilities of being president. So, it ended up just kind of falling to me, and so far, it seems like that's been a good choice. I've been doing everything I can as the president to make sure everything goes smoothly here, and people don't seem to hate me. So that's good. The role just kind of fell to me, and it seems like it was a good choice. We’re growing in members every day, usually, and I do want to emphasize how it is a member ran organization. People bring their own passions and experience to the table. Even though I may have the title of club president, I'm not here to tell people how to do things. I'm just here to try and get everything organized so we can do things. If a member has an idea, I want to be able to fulfill that. I don't want to be the person trying to tell them that we shouldn't be doing anything.

 

Question: What's your favorite part of the SEAM club?

Answer: It's probably the thing that draws in most people, just the opportunity to have self-expression, to put myself out there, and to really have fun with it. And I think that that should be the driving force of anyone joining the SEAM club, because that really is what we want to cultivate. We want to have people bring their passions and be able to have that supported and grown, and have that turn into something, yeah.

 

Question: Who do you think should join the SEAM club?

Answer: People with passion, is what I'll say. People who are interested in all the stuff our acronym stands for or want to get involved with any of that sort of stuff, but the most fundamental thing is a passion for self-expression.

     To learn more about the SEAM Club, contact co-faculty advisor Professor Charles Whiting at cwhiting@mscc.edu. 

MUSIC INDUSTRY VETERAN VINNY RIBAS TO SPEAK AT MOTLOW SMYRNA

 

            SMYRNA — Music industry veteran Vinny Ribas will speak Nov. 12 (Tuesday) on the Motlow Smyrna campus as part of the ongoing “Famous Communicator Speakers Series.”

 

            Ribas, an author and artist manager who serves as the founder of Indie Connect, will present the talk “20 Ways to Best Support Your Favorite Indie Artist.” His talk will occur from 2-3 p.m. in HSC 323. The free activity is open to students, faculty and staff with seating available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

            “I will talk about the struggles of being an artist these days, then share 20 ways to help support them,” said Ribas, who developed Cartne, an e-learning platform for indie artists and songwriters.

 

            The Nashville music industry professional will share stories, videos and a PowerPoint to help bring the reality of artist challenges and successes to life. He noted that the world of music has drastically changed since the 1990s because of the Digital Revolution. CD sales have dropped sharply from around $13 billion in 2000 to an anticipated $500 million in 2024, with streaming and downloads generating the most income.

 

            Meanwhile, artists and songwriters face lower royalties in a profession that requires more paid performances with merchandise sales at entertainment venues. The days of knocking on record company and music publisher doors have ended. Fan followings are mostly built online through social media, including Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.

            Ribas also serves as the assistant business manager for Razzy Baily Music Enterprises, managing a catalog of 1,000 songs and executive producing recording and film projects. He co-authored the books “Leverage: Achieve a Lot with the Little You’ve Got” and “CEO Secrets.” Hundreds of his business and music industry articles have been published worldwide.

 

            In his 60 years in the music business, Ribas has also been a full-time performing artist, a booking agent, the entertainment director of the Nevada State Fair, a producer, a studio owner, a band leader, and a songwriter.

 

            Outside of the music business, he has served as an executive coach, strategic business consultant, and business plan writer. He has advised entrepreneurs and small business owners on how to set up their businesses to grow without limits. This has included clarifying and solidifying success strategies with the writing and execution of business plans.

 

            The "Famous Communicators Speakers Series" is staged by the Mass Communications program and sponsored by the Smyrna Entertainment, Arts & Media Club. For more information, contact Professor Charles Whiting at cwhiting@mscc.edu .

Motlow Buzz Releases Print Issue for October 2024

 

Motlow Students Invited to Participate in Public Speaking Contest

     SMYRNA – Motlow students can receive career-changing recognition, prizes and awards by participating in the second annual Debbie Zimmerman Oratorical Contest on Nov. 18.      

      According to Professor Robert Davenport, the contest is open to Motlow students from any of the MSCC campus locations, regardless of major or prior speaking experience. The deadline to enroll is Oct. 18 (Friday). Students can register by accessing the QR code on the event flyer or sending an email with their name, email address, phone number, and MSCC campus location to rdavenport@mscc.edu.

      Students will deliver original persuasive/argumentative speeches. The contest rules and requirements can be found in the Dean of Students shell on D2L.    

      “This is a wonderful opportunity for students to develop better speaking skills and more experience,” said Davenport, who serves as the event’s oratorical contest coordinator and an associate professor of speech on the Smyrna campus. “Effective communication skills are the number one characteristic employers look for in potential employees. Give this a shot to grow your communication skills.”

      If more than 10 students enter the contest, there will be a “semifinal” round in which students will submit a video recording of their speech. These speeches will be evaluated by a group of communication professors. The top 10 speakers from that round will qualify for an in-person final round on the Moore County campus in November (date to be announced soon). If there are 10 or fewer entrants, all will advance to the final round to be eligible for prizes and awards.     

      The Smyrna Entertainment, Arts and Media Club and Motlow Humanities Department began sponsoring a college-wide public speaking competition called the Debbie Zimmerman Oratorical Contest in 2023. Professor Emeritus Zimmerman was a longtime speech and theatre professor at Motlow and instrumental in helping create and grow both disciplines.

      “Ideally, participants should have already completed the COMM 2025 – Fundamentals of Communication course or be currently enrolled in the class, but that is not an absolute requirement,” Davenport added.

      Students who are taking/have taken English 1010/1020 can potentially turn a persuasive/argumentative essay they have done in the past into a persuasive speech for this event.

      As a former intercollegiate speech and debate coach/instructor, Davenport has always seen the benefits of students being able to effectively prepare and present presentations to help prepare them for their chosen careers.       

      “This event is an important extra-curricular activity for our students,” he said.

Motlow Writers and Artists to Take Literary Stage for ‘Mosaic 2023-2024 Read-In’

  SMYRNA — Moltow writers and artists will take the literary stage in the HSC Big Room from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. April 11 (Thursday) for the “Mosaic 2023-2024 Read-in.”

Students and others will present their published works from the fall 2023 and spring 2024 issues of Mosaic: A Literary Journal. Admission is free to members of the Motlow State Community College community. Refreshments will be provided.

 

Mosaic’s mission is "to amplify distinct voices in the Motlow community while connecting readers and writers through various multimedia that highlight universal experiences in unique methods of storytelling.” 

The spring 2024 issue of Mosaic features original works by eight poets, six visual artists, three non-fiction writers, and two fiction writers. 

For more information about the event or to request a copy of the spring issue, contact Associate Professor of English Andrea Green at agreen@mscc.edu.

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CALL FOR TALENT: Sixth Annual Motlow Smyrna Talent Show

Motlow student performs at Talent Show

     Attention Students, Faculty and Staff… The annual Motlow Smyrna Talent Show is coming up on April 25, and we need you! 

     TALENT: Consider performing as an actor, comedian, dancer, musician, poet, singer, songwriter, storyteller or visual artist.

     VOLUNTEER: Invest in the Motlow community by helping out. There will be a need for welcomers, organizers, promoters, artists, food servers, and more. (You can earn community service hours for TNPromise and Tennessee Reconnect).

     If you are interested in performing or volunteering, please contact Professor Charles Whiting at cwhiting@mscc.edu.

     FYI… The event will occur from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 25 (Thursday). Admission is free, and lunch will be provided. 

     The event is hosted by the Smyrna Entertainment, Arts and Media Club. 

     See you soon!

'Dreams Come True' at Smyrna Elementary School

     SMYRNA — Motlow professors Debbie Stockdale (left) and Charles Whiting (center) gather with students and teachers after a recent marketing presentation at Smyrna Elementary School. More than 120 third graders attended the presentation. Stockdale and Whiting shared insights on how promotion can help dreams come true. 

Let's Dance!

 

     Motlow student Amarah Perkins warms up before performing at the annual Motlow Holiday Traditions show on the Smyrna campus. 

(Photo by Chuck Whiting)

‘WILD WILLY’ Returns to Airways

By Bill Krass

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

  MURFREESBORO — In the mid-1960s, thousands of listeners from throughout Hawaii turned to their radios every night to hear one of the top DJ's play their favorite rock tunes and make dedications to those "special people.”  Their host was "Wild Willy,” who was spinning records every night on the most popular station in the state, KORL, while during the day serving in the United States Navy as the Public Information Officer of the 4,000-man Naval Air Station, Barber's Point.

Fast forward 50 years, and "Wild Willy" is back on the air every week… right here in Rutherford County. You most likely know him as Dr. Bill Kraus, who has been an adjunct professor on Motlow State’s Smyrna Campus for over 20 years, teaching primarily Political Science and First-Year Experience.  

Each Thursday from 9 to 10 a.m., you can hear Bill Kraus on WGNS News Radio (AM 1450, FM 100.5, and FM 101.9) in Murfreesboro. He no longer plays the most popular rock ’n’ roll hits of the day, but hosts the WGNS Radio "Roundtable" each week, "visiting" community, academic, governmental and business leaders from throughout Rutherford County.  Many of the "Motlow State Family" have been guests to date, including Motlow State President Michael Torrence; Dr. Pamela Harris, Academic Dean of Humanities and Social Science; Professors Charles Whiting, Dr. Robert Fitzgerald, Dr. Laura Booth, and Campus Coordinator Gary Winton.  A number of Motlow State students have also been on the air since Dr. Kraus started hosting the show three years ago.

You can listen to Dr. Krauss’s “Roundtable” online at https://www.wgnsradio.com/tags/950/live . 

“One of the most interesting ‘visits’ that I’ve had was last summer when I did a remote from the home of former Tennessee Gov. Winfield Dunn, who was 96 years old,” Dr. Krauss said. “Gov. Dunn, who is known by many as the last of the "Southern Gentlemen,” provided an excellent insight into his leading Tennessee between 1971 through 1975, including the era of ‘Watergate.’ He is the longest living governor of the state.”

The professor added that the weekly "Roundtable" is a good way to always stay current on what is going on, especially in the case of local and state events and activities.

"Some people play golf once a week...I play radio." 

African-American Read-In to Occur Virtually All Day Feb. 28

  SMYRNA — A host of students, faculty members, administrators and staff members will celebrate the contributions of Black Americans during the day-long “African-American Read-In” on Feb. 28 (Wednesday). 

According to Event Coordinator and Professor Dr. Phyllis Adams, the event will occur virtually on Zoom from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with spoken and visual presentations lasting up to 15 minutes each. Participants will include students, faculty, staff, administrators, professional artists, writers, journalists, educators, poets, authors, servant-leaders, and community supporters. 

Admission to the event is open to everyone. To attend, click on the following Zoom link: https://mscc.zoom.us/j/89979466412?pwd=WjBHVmVjelZKUytHb2pzWVNvdlBEZz09 

“I believe you will find this event to be informative, entertaining, inspiring and empowering,” Adams said. “Motlow State has hosted this event for some eight years, and I am honored to have had the opportunity to sponsor this event for some six years. Clearly, your presence and participation continue to be paramount to the success of the Read-In.”

Adams, who serves Motlow as Professor of Speech and Theatre, and Culture, Diversity and Inclusion, hosts the event during Black History Month. According to the History Channel, President Gerald Ford officially recognized BHM in 1976, asking Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” 

The National African American Read-In is a groundbreaking effort to encourage communities to read together, centering African American books and authors. The late Dr. Jerrie Cobb Scott, and active member of NCTE and the Black Caucus, brought this idea to the committee. This event was established in 1990 by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) to make literacy a significant part of African American Heritage Month. Together, this event was birthed and has lived and flourished for the last thirty-three years. This initiative has reached more than six million participants around the world. 

“Motlow State has been a proud participant in this endeavor for many years, and we are honored to have your continued support, presence and participation,” the professor added. 

For more information about the “African-American Read-In,” contact Professor Adams at padams@mscc.edu.

Mosaic Journal Submissions Due By March 1

   SMYRNA — Students, faculty and staff have until March 1 (Friday) to submit original literary and visual works for the spring issue of Mosaic.

         The journal includes fiction, poetry and creative non-fiction, as well as visual art and academic essays.

          Mosaic editors are seeking the following:

          + Fiction (up to 1,500 words).

          + Creative non-fiction (up to 1,500 words).

          + Visual Art.

          + Poetry (one to three poems).

          + Academic Essays (up to 3,000 words).

“The journal’s primary goal is to provide a platform to amplify creative voices,” said Associate Professor of English Andrea Green, who serves as co-editor-in-chief. “By featuring distinct methods of storytelling and artistry, Mosaic hopes to highlight the exceptional talents of the Motlow community.”

To learn more or submit an original work of literature or visual art, send an email to Mosaic@mscc.edu. 

Established in 1993, Mosaic: A Literary Journal has been relaunched by the Language Department and Motlow Library. The Fall 2023 issue is available at https://www.canva.com/design/DAFznZt0fqQ/FGd_rTi26mAAZE2pOeTdnA/edit?utm_content=DAFznZt0fqQ&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton .

‘Famous Communicator’ Dr. Harriet Kimbro-Hamilton to Speak at Motlow Smyrna on Feb. 27

  SMYRNA -- Author Dr. Harriet Kimbro-Hamilton will bring the history of the Negro Baseball League to life during a special talk from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Feb. 27 (Tuesday) in HSC 331 on the Motlow Smyrna campus.

Hamilton, who is the daughter of late Black baseball legend Henry Kimbro, recently penned the book, “Home Plate: Henry Kimbro and Other Negro Leaguers of Nashville, Tennessee.” The former Tennessee State University professor will honor the memories of 18 Black baseball heroes who called Nashville their home. Students and others can learn about Nashville legends such as James "Junior" Gilliam (Baltimore Elite Giants); Henry Kimbro (Nashville/Baltimore Elite Giants); Bruce Franklin "Buddy" Petway (Leland Giants); and Norman "Turkey" Stearnes (Nashville Elite Giants/Detroit Stars).

The event, which is free and open to everyone, is part of Motlow’s “Famous Communicator Speakers Series.” Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, contact Professor Charles Whiting at cwhiting@mscc.edu. 

"I released my new book just in time for the 100th anniversary of the Negro Baseball League," said Hamilton, who published a book about her father in 2015. "I wanted the other families of those Negro Leaguers to have their loved ones documented and remembered as my father was in my first book. "'Home Plate' is a book that can be passed down through generations, so their legacies are never forgotten." 

Hamilton was thrilled when Major League Baseball announced it was correcting a longtime oversight in the game's history by elevating the Negro Leagues from 1920 through 1948 to major-league status.

According to the History Channel, the league was launched in 1920, with Black baseball enjoying periods of success in the early 1920s and again after the Great Depression. The Nashville White Sox/Nashville Elite Giants, which were members of the Southern Negro League, made history by introducing some of the greatest baseball players of all time. The integration of major league baseball began with Jackie Robinson in 1947. After that, there was a slow but irreversible influx of talent to the majors, with the remaining Negro League teams generally folding by the 1960s. 

"When the announcement from Major League Baseball came, I received so many texts and calls," said Harriet. "I felt like a kid at Christmas who was so excited about the present. What a great present to be given to all of the families of those Negro Leaguers."

Also featured in Harriet's book (and re-classified as Major Leaguers) are the late baseball legends Robert "James" Abernathy, Daniel Black, William "Soo" Bridgeforth, Sidney Bunch, Elliot Coleman, Wesley "Doc" Dennis, Edward Lee "Lefty" Derrick, Edward Martin, Clinton "Butch" McCord, Taylor Smith, Thomas "Tom" Wilson, and Jim Zapp. 

The book features a foreword by Henry Kimbro's great-granddaughter (Harriet's great-niece) Jada Scott, and a chapter titled "My Adventures with Grandpa" that documents the unforgettable experiences of Harriet's son, Patrick Hamilton. A photo in "Home Plate" shows Harriet's great-niece, Brooklyn Scruggs, visiting the street sign of Junior Gilliam Way in front of the Nashville Sounds Baseball Stadium with her dog Blossom. 

The Nashville Sounds donated the book to Metro Nashville Public Schools. 

Dr. Harriet Kimbro-Hamilton served as an associate professor for Tennessee State University in Nashville until her retirement in 2020. During her athletic career, she served as head coach in various sports and athletic director of Fisk University. She also has served as a professor for Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The author also chaired the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship Committee and served on the ABA-USA Committee that selected the 1984 USA Olympic Gold Medal Women's Basketball Team. In 2016, she received the Robert Peterson Recognition Award for her book, "Daddy's Scrapbook: Henry Kimbro of the Negro Baseball League, A Daughter's Perspective." She also has received awards from the Women's Sports Foundation; the National Association of Girls and Women in Sports (the Dr. Nell C. Jackson Award); Fisk University (Women of Prominence Award); and the Temple University League for Entrepreneurial Women (Hall of Fame inductee). She was inducted into the Fisk University Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.

"Home Plate," which retails for $12, is available exclusively at www.Amazon.com. For more information, contact Harriet Kimbro-Hamilton at HenryKimbro14@gmail.com. To learn more about Nashville's important role in Negro League baseball, visit www.Facebook.com/HenryKimbro or www.Twitter.com/KimbroNlb.