Thanks to Great Staff!

I want to thank all of the TN Conference Staff who stopped EVERYTHING, including annual conference preparation, to pitch in that first couple of weeks after the disaster. Without their help and encouragement, I would not have survived. Bettye, Vicki, Mary T., Trish, Patty, Joaquin, Brad, Tom, and Bill (along with Jonathan) . . . THANKS!

In addition I want to thank Tobie Halliburton and Brandon Hulette who have been working tirelessly the last 2 months. They have done an incredible job of fielding thousands of calls and emails as we've been working to schedule, house, and deploy teams, as well as, tons of other work. Tobie is now a full time assistant who will work with the flood recovery . . . and as time is available other support other office needs.

Through an UMCOR grant, Brandon will be working with me part time as the Flood Recovery Coordinator. We are splitting the many, many meetings, and needs at this point between us. As district, local church and community organizations get rolling full steam, he'll take over most of the day to day work, as I begin to respond to the increased desire of churches to schedule one of the following disaster trainings: Early Response Team, Connecting Neighbors (local church preparedness), and Spiritual/Emotional Care.

If you have not heard, I have been reappointed for another year as the Dir. of Mercy, Mission, and Justice, so I'll also be reconnecting with some of the committees and ministries I stepped away from this past spring in preparation for returning to the local church.

Fourth UMCOR Case Manangement Class

So far we've training more than potential case managers from Methodist Churches, other denominations, and some agencies. We keep moving it around as different communities, especially community-based Long Term Recovery Committees, are ready to use them. Below is the link for the next training, July 19-20 at Bon Aqua UMC.

http://www.tnumc.org/DISASTER_RESPONSE_AND_RECOVERY/Case_Management_Training--July_19-20/

UMVIM/UMCOR Team Thank You!

In addition to the dozen's of TN Conference Churches/Teams who have and are fielding volunteers in 29 or more counties affected by the May storms, we've had many our office has scheduled from across the country. Below is a quick list of teams from May through July. Not listed are the dozens more scheduled so far through March of next year. Sorry, I know we are probably missing some teams, but I'm in a hurry to get this out. THANK YOU for serving Christ and Neighbor!

SEVERAL Holston Conference Teams, Loretto UMC (TN), Dripping Springs (TX), Blacksburg UMC (Virginia Conference), Liberty UMC (Missiouri), Adams UMC (TN), Church of the Resurrection (Kansas East Conf), Pittman Park United Methodist (GA), SW District, Arkansas, Spiritual Emotional Care Team (NC Conference), Rock Creek UMC (NC), Greenville UMC (KY), Grace Avenue UMC (TX), St.Luke UMC (TN), UMC of the Palm Beaches, Oak Harbor First UMC (WA), Bethlehem UMC (VA),First UMC of Lawrenceville (GA), Wesleyan Heights UMC, (KY), First UMC - Dyersburg (Memphis Conf), Epworth UMC - SWAT Student Min (OH), Whittemore Hill UMC, (NY), Williamsons Chapel/Davidson UMC, (NC), Grace UMC (VA), Troy UMC (IL), Old North UMC (IN), Newtown UMC (PA), Mountain View UMC (SC), Bearden UMC (Holston Conference),UMC - Wentzville (MO), Tullahoma FUMC (TN), Madison Street UMC (TN), Stonebridge UMC (TX), Haymount UMC (NC), Mt. Carmel Evangelical UMC (IL), Living Word UMC (MO), New Middletown UMC (IN).