We Heard It Through the Grapevine That...

* Faculty Mentors are Needed: Tennessee Promise offers faculty members and others the opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of students in Rutherford County and beyond. At last report, nearly 3,000 mentors were still needed as the Dec. 6 deadline approached. To volunteer or learn more, visit https://tnachieves.org/mentors/apply/new-mentor-application/

* Three Motlow students were recently elected Smyrna Freshman SGA Officers: Marina Hana (freshman president), Bryna Green (freshman senator), and Tamara Diallo (freshman senator).

* Professional counseling is now offered to Motlow students. Helpful resources and contact information are provided at http://www.mscc.edu/counseling/

* The Thanksgiving weather outlook from the Old Farmer’s Almanac looks splendid: “Well, we have good news for those who aren’t big fans of the white stuff: According to our long-range forecasts, much of the United States will avoid receiving more snow on Thanksgiving, and will instead be graced with sunny, clear skies for the holiday. This, along with colder-than-normal temperatures (but not colder than last year’s frigid temps), will make for a pleasant yet chilly Thanksgiving Day—something to ultimately be thankful for!”

* The “50 Stories/50 Stops” Reading Campaign needs readers for various school visits this fall. To express interest, contact Christy Glenn at cglenn@mscc.edu.

* A “Family Fun Day” is being considered for the Smyrna campus on April 17, 2020. Check out a similar event that occurred on the Moore County campus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ev8D4ZEWjxQ  

(If you’re heard anything through the grapevine, please share it with us at cwhiting@mscc.edu or rshelton@mscc.edu)

Creative Autumn Opportunities Offered to Motlow Smyrna Students

         SMYRNA -- Autumn is a great time for students to get involved, and there are ample extracurricular activities to choose from.

         * Old Time/Bluegrass-Style Music Jams (from Professor Elizabeth Fitch) -- Do you play banjo, fiddle, guitar or anything related to bluegrass or old-time style music? Maybe you just want to play this type of music? Would there be an interest among you to facilitate opportunities to play some old time or bluegrass-style music together?  When Elizabeth Fitch was a student at MTSU (a long time ago!), there were monthly jams where students could come play together. Would there be any interest in doing something similar here? If there's enough interest, she can offer guidance on getting something organized. Let her know! Contact her at efitch@mscc.edu

         * Poetry Workshop (from Professor Andrea Green) -- Students are invited to participate in Motlow Smyrna's first spoken word poetry workshop. The "Vocal Verse" activity will occur from 5-6:20 p.m. every Wednesday (except Oct. 30 and Nov. 27) in MLA 204. Student poets will be able to workshop their creative ideas in a supportive environment, engage with fellow writers, receive feedback on their poems, refine their poetic voice, and read their work aloud to hear their ideas come alive. To learn more, contact Professor Andrea Green at agreen@mscc.edu. 

         * Community Writing Workshop (from Professor Tamara Jones) -- "Write Here! Write Now!," a community writing workshop, will host its first spoken word open mic from 2-4 p.m. on Nov. 14 in the MLA Lobby, so start thinking about what you’d like to share. The group welcomes all students and community members to participate. In addition, it will be holding meetings on the Moore County Campus in Room 203 of the Clayton Glass Library. If you would like to participate and receive feedback for this or any other genre of writing, the workshops will be held at 2 p.m. on Sept. 26, Oct. 10 and 24, Nov. 7, and Dec. 5 and 12. The group will also be hosting its second-annual open mic night on the Moore County campus in the spring. For more information, please contact Professor Tamara I. Jones at tjones@mscc.edu, or Dr. William Murphy at wmurphy@mscc.edu.

         * Vote in the SGA Election (from Professor Stacy Dowd) -- Smyrna SGA (Student Government) Freshman elections will take place Oct. 7-10. Motlow Smyrna students will vote for Freshman President and Freshman Senator. For more information, contact Professor Stacy Dowd at sdowd@mscc.edu.

         * Holiday Traditions Show (from Professor Charles Whiting) -- Once again, students, faculty, administrators and staff will take the stage to celebrate the festive traditions of the holiday season. This year's "Smyrna Holiday Traditions Show" will occur from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in the MLA Lobby. It will feature carols, songs, poetry, stories, dances, artworks, and more. The event is sponsored by the Smyrna Entertainment, Arts & Media Club (SEAM). If you're interested in participating, contact Professor Charles Whiting at cwhiting@mscc.edu.

         Do you have an event to share? Please send it to The Buzz at cwhiting@mscc.edu or rshelton@mscc.edu.