FRIST, ALEXANDER SUPPORT TENNESSEE’S 278th

ARMORED CALVARY DIVISION



WASHINGTON – In a letter to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld Sens. Bill Frist (R-TN) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) today asked for details of what is being done to ensure that the 278th has the best equipment possible to aid them in the difficult missions they are undertaking in Iraq.

“Tennessee’s 278th is one of our nation’s finest National Guard units," said Frist. "We must ensure that they are able to accomplish their mission safely and successfully. I’ll continue to work with Major General Hargett of the Tennessee National Guard and the Secretary of Defense to provide adequate resources for our men and women in combat.”

“The 278th is Tennessee’s largest National Guard until and one of the country’s most distinguished,” said Alexander. “I attended two events for them in Knoxville and at Camp Shelby in connection with their deployment to Iraq. We often say that we have the best equipped fighting forces in the world, and we want to make sure that’s true.”

Frist and Alexander are making the inquiry based on news reports of a conversation between Secretary Rumsfeld and a member of the 278th Armored Calvary Division in which a member of the 278th expressed concerns about equipment and vehicle needs.

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Text of letter to Defense Secretary Rumsfeld:

December 8, 2004



The Honorable Donald Rumsfeld
Secretary of the Department of Defense
1000 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301-1000

Dear Mr. Secretary,

Thank you for your willingness to meet with our soldiers in Iraq, and to take questions from our service men and women who are serving their country abroad.


It is our understanding that a soldier from the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment of the Tennessee Army National Guard raised a serious question about the availability of armored HMMWVs for his unit. As you know, the FY 2005 Defense Appropriations Act that was signed into law on August 5, 2004, provides $572 million to address this very issue.


The 278th is Tennessee's largest National Guard unit, and one of the country's most distinguished. We know well that you have the interests and welfare of all of our Nation's service men and women at heart, and that you are committed to defeating the terrorists and insurgents in Iraq.


We, too, want to ensure our fighting forces are adequately protected and have the best equipment in the world. To that end, please let us know what is being done to ensure the 278th has the armored vehicles it needs, or what actions will be taken to provide them with a suitable interim solution, so that they may accomplish their assigned missions in Iraq.


We look forward to hearing from you soon on this matter, and stand ready to assist you in this critical effort.

Sincerely,



William H. Frist, M.D. Lamar Alexander

United States Senate United States Senate

IF YOU DON'T KNOW YOUR ADDRESS YOU MIGHT JUST LIVE IN HOUSTON COUNTY

At a recent 911 board meeting postmaster Sawyer told the board that there were still problems with the addresses some where people were offered two addresses because of having dual driveways some even on different roads to private roads with multiple houses. Other problems are that over 1000 resident have no idea what their 911 address because they have a post office box and were never notified of the changes. The new addressing system, using street names and house numbers is based on a 5.2 feet measuring system and was undertaken primarily to comply with the Enhanced 911 emergency system which requires specific house or building identification for emergency response. The new numbered street address will flash on a computer screen at a primary answering point dispatch center when a caller dials 911. According to sawyer this is all well and good and hopes that the address is not ever required for that reason but the mail and other delivery services are there every day. One big problem is the naming of private roads that the post office is not allowed to use unless there is a hard ship problem. The fix for this is to put your mail box as close to your private road as possible while leaving it on a public maintained road kind of a snow route for school busses except this is the mail. Other problems were that houses on corners having driveways on one street even though houses face the other street. Our 911 board has chosen to use the street that your driveway is on because this is were the ambulance or other emergency services would access your residence. One company only wanted to know that 911 would not change their adress again because of the tremendous expense in changing all of their required paper work. other problems were no shared database between 911 and the post office meaning that the post office was offten unaware of changes . The good news is that 911 is close to what has been a tremendous undertaking that could save your life there are still some minor changes to be made and there have been errors made, but only people not doing anything never make errors.

Weekend in review

Saturday started with the annual Community Health Fair is held at the each year. The event has grown in popularity each and every year. It's free to the public and is always filled with information and activities for all ages. This Health Fair provides the community with a well-rounded sampler of the many health options available for individuals of all ages. According to Yvette Gillespie all but a few of the vendors were local and they had a busy morning Traditional and complimentary health care providers, as well as fitness, senior services, nutrition and wellness counselors were on-hand to educate the public and provide information on important health-related issues. While there I had my eyes checked,my blood pressure taken,my sugar checked a massage, told the benefits of not smoking and a tour of the new Decontamination tent that the fire department has available. I left the Health fair feeling that if I had a health problem or accident I was in good hands.MORE PHOTOS then it was off to the Air Evac helipcopter for the ride of my life.The Ride was part of a promotion by the rotary Toys for Tots Fun day in which there was a drawing for the rides on the Air Evac helipcopter. Areial Photos then there was Magnums Toys for Tots family Fun Day. At the Fun day there was music food a car and bike Show. There was $2500.00 raided the day of the event and by week end a check was written to Toys for Tots for $4000.00 . This is just another case of giving to the community Houston County is famous for then VFW Post 9689 had their Ribbon Cutting. The VFW took over the old jail on Hill Street in Erin, in March and a transformation has taken place. VFW members and many community people and officials gathered out front of the new VFW Post Home for the Ribbon Cutting. This was a big accomplishment for the VFW Post 9689, because they have never had a Post Home before. All their meetings and gatherings have always been held at Erin, City Hall.

Following the Ribbon Cutting and fellow-shipping, at four 0'clock there was a Fish Fry and live music. Fish and all the fixing's were available for dine in or take out. Those who chose to eat at the VFW, were entertained by local entertainers. Those who were there to share there talents were Debbie Schmidt, Ashley Baggett, Cathy Smith, Garret Seay and friends.

All who attended had plenty of food and a good time. The evening was finished off with some dancing. Be sure to watch for the next Fish Fry in the Spring...MORE PHOTOS We finished out the day at Wrights Friend and Family yearly barbecue. Robert Wright said there was two hundred and fifty people at the event. For me it was some of the best home cooking in the area. I love Houston County sorry I have been so long in getting the pictures up.MORE PHOTOS

February 9, 2004

NetProfit Solutions Offers Interview Coaching to Job Seekers

NetProfit Solutions-a revenue enhancement consulting firm-has expanded its sales, marketing and customer service offerings which help small and medium sized business owners improve their revenue generation results. It has added to its professional service product suite a coaching service for individual job seekers called “Interview Advantage”. “Given the common need to help business leaders hire the right sales, marketing and customer service staff and given that most job candidates do not interview particularly well, it seems a logical extension of my services” says Paul Van der Voort the president and founder of NetProfit Solutions. “Interview Advantage helps job seekers think more like the hiring managers I work with and in so doing, improves the resulting “fit” for my business leaders” states Mr. Van der Voort.

Interview Advantage is a coaching service which helps the job candidate understand the mindset of the hiring manager first and second, helps the job candidate do a superior job positioning themselves as the best solution for that manager. During the coaching session, candidates are taught how to focus on the results the hiring manager seeks, on the experience, skills and personal attributes of value to the hiring manager and how the hiring manger uses interviewing techniques to find the perfect new employee.

Second, upon completion of an Interview Advantage coaching session, candidates will know; how to prepare for interviews effectively, how to ask meaningful questions during the interview, how to answer interview questions powerfully and how to follow up an interview impressively.

“Given that job seekers already have plenty of options to receive help with resume writing, networking and negotiation to guide them during their job search but almost no help with the crucial step in the process represented by the actual interview itself, I saw an opportunity to share my knowledge and experience” said Mr. Van der Voort. “In fact,” he says, “I’m certain that this would be a valuable supplemental service for recruitment firms who would benefit by seeing an increase in their placement rates as their candidates become more effective and competitive. For this reason, I will be exploring partnership arrangements of this type in the next 45 days”.

Paul Van der Voort can be contacted at: (615) 885-4137 or via email at” pbvandervoort@aol.com.