Club History

Tullahoma Sunrise Chartered in 1992 with 11 members.

The Tullahoma Sunrise Rotary Club was Chartered in 1992 as a baby club of the Tullahoma Noon Rotary Club, which had about 150 members at the time. A nucleus of eleven charter members worked to form what is now becoming a unique Rotary club with its own special character. Thanks to the tremendous support of the area clubs, we got started. The meeting location has changed from Ponderosa Restaurant, to the Steeple Chase, to Alexander's which is now Fast Jack's Sports Bar. The following are excerpts from a news article at the time: "James L. Bomar, of Shelbyville, past president of Rotary Inter-national, was guest speaker at the recent chartering banquet of the new Sunrise Rotary Club of Tullahoma. Held at Lakewood Country Club, the event drew 30 out-of-town guests and Rotary officials. "District Governor Jim Andrews and wife, Rosalie, of the Cookeville Breakfast Rotary, attended as did Past District Governor, George Evans, and his 'wife, Gladys." "... Sunrise Rotary president - Bill Rennhack presented certificates of membership to the 40 members of the new club and accepted many gifts of support from area Rotary clubs. Representatives from Chattanooga, Cookeville, McMinnville, Shelbyville, Manchester, Crossville, Oak Ridge and Mt. Juliet attended the banquet. Other club officers are David Pickering, vice president; David Burns, secretary; Roland Segroves, treasurer, and Tom Ballou, Bob Couch, Jess Heald, Dick Roberds and Bill Tipps, directors. Mike Mawby is sergeant at arms and Richard Wilson is bulletin editor." The club is grounded in its diversity, informality, and dedication to Rotary tradition

March 22, 2005
Mattie Goodrich Named Paul Harris Fellow
Members of Sunrise Rotary Club at Tullahoma recently named Mattie Goodrich of Tullahoma a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow. The award, which requires a $1,000 donation to Rotary International, is presented in recognition of Ms. Goodrich's dedication to service above self and loyalty and dedication to the Sunrise Rotary Club. Goodrich has prepared breakfast for the Sunrise Rotary for 13 years, including when they met at Fast Jack's Restaurant and at the Steeplechase Inn. They presently meet in the St. Barnabas Episcopal Church Parish Hall at 6:45 a.m. on Tuesdays. She also works part time at Fast Jack's and Dilliards. In order to have ham, eggs, sausage, bacon and biscuits ready for the Rotary early risers, Goodrich says she doesn't go to sleep on Monday nights. Instead she showers and rests in a recliner at her apartment before calling a taxi sometime after 2 a.m. to take her to the church to begin her preparations. Proudly wearing her Paul Harris Fellow pin, Goodrich described the award as "the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me." "There is something about this club that really interests me," she said. "I watch and talk to all of them, one-on-one, and they stand for something more than just words. What they say and do means something. These people are the real McCoy, and I want to be a part of it. I look forward to Tuesday mornings; I can't wait. One time, I even dreamed about scrambling eggs. My sister said, 'Mattie, you've lost it.'" Goodrich, who was born in Lynchburg, moved to Tullahoma in 1974. She was trained as a Licensed Practical Nurse at a local hospital and later provided day care for a parent of Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Ogles. According to Goodrich, when the Ogles opened Lakeview Restaurant and Motel, they offered to send her away to study culinary skills. She went to Kansas City, where she trained under a Chinese chef, and learned how to cut up beef and pork and name the different parts of a carcass, among other things. She has also been a foster parent at one time. - Ann Cline

May 8, 2004
Russian Optometrists Group Hosted by Tullanhoma Sunrise
A Russian delegation of 10 optometrist arrived in Tullahoma for a three-week visit. The Rotary Club of Tullahoma Sunrise hosted the group during their stay, and Dr. Shawn McBride coordinated tours of optometric clinics, offices, schools and local attractions. The visit was a project of the Productivity Enhancement Program (PEP); a program funded by the US State Department through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and it is run by the San Francisco-based Center for Citizens Initiatives (CCI). The program is based on the principals of the historic Marshall Plan that helped resurrect Europe after World War II. The non-English speaking delegation and one interpreter were the guests of the Tullahoma Noon Rotary Club on Friday, and attended a welcoming reception, hosted by the Sunrise Club, on Saturday evening at Cortner’s Mill. On Sunday afternoon, they left for a three-day tour in Memphis, where they visited the Southern College of Optometry and the University of Tennessee Medical School. The visit included an overview of the American optometry industry, sightseeing, and lunch with the Memphis Rotary Club. On Wednesday, May 12, the visitors received business and financial planning training at Regions Bank in Tullahoma, which also provided lunch for the group. On Thursday and Friday of the next week, they traveled to Nashville and Brentwood for training at Costco, Inc., the Tennessee Optometric Association and Tennessee Ophthalmology Consultants. On Saturday, they attended the Rotary District Conference in Chattanooga. Other local training visits were scheduled at the Ridley/Mahan Clinic and Tullahoma Vision Associates in Tullahoma, Winchester Eye Clinic and Southern Tennessee Medical Center, Pilkinton Eye Center in Nashville, Southeast Eye Specialists at McMinnville Surgery Center and Valley Optical Laboratory in Chattanooga. The visitors were be guests in Rotary Club members’ homes, and were entertained with dinners and other recreational activities during their stay. The short visit was capped off by a good old fashioned day at the lake hosted by Rotarians and the Highland Yacht Club. PEP’s mission is to provide crucial management training to Russian small business owners and entrepreneurs in order to boost production of domestic goods and services. The home-hosting component of the program allows Russians to experience American life first-hand. - Ann Cline

May 8, 2005
Rotarians Involved in Free Medical Clinic
"Partners for Healing", a free medical clinic for uninsured workers provides Rotarians in Coffee County Tennessee a way to practice "service above self". Of the 43 million Americans who are said to have no health insurance - 19,000 are believed to live in a four-county area, which includes Coffee County. While "Partners for Healing" is not sponsored by any of the three Coffee County Rotary Clubs, Tullahoma Noon, Tullahoma Sunrise, and Manchester, there are at least 16 Rotarians, who, not only helped to found the venture, but also are actively involved in its operations. A feasibility study was conducted by a steering committee, headed by Rotarians, Rev. Bill Starnes and industrialist Fran Marcum, with Dr. James Lindsay. Day-to-day volunteer and community support coordinator, Dot Watson is a Rotarian, as are 12 board members. Rotarians, Dr. Keith Robison, Tom Watson and Bill Bates, plus seven Interact students provide weekly and other special services. The clinic is patterned on "Volunteers in Medicine", a free clinic started several years ago by Dr. Jack McConnell on Hilton Head Island. Open part-time for only two and a half years, Partners for Healing clinic has already provided primary health care and assistance for 550 adults and children during more than 1,500 office visits. An average of 146 patients is seen each month, with the most prevalent diagnosis being, hypertension, diabetes and depression. The clinic operates with four part-time paid positions, including a Clinic Administrator, two nurse practitioners and one nurse. Three physicians volunteer on-site time, and 30 physician specialists, including three in surrounding counties, support the work of the clinic by taking referrals. Thirteen nurses volunteer at the clinic, and each month, 60 individuals from throughout the community provide more than 600 volunteer hours. Local hospitals and other providers contribute laboratory, radiology and other diagnostic testing. According to organizers, the clinic has benefited area hospitals by reducing the number of non-emergency visits to emergency rooms. Partners for Healing works closely with the local Health Department, Mental Health Center, Motlow Community College nursing program, the Multi-County Cancer Support Network and other local social agencies. The clinic receives medication assistance through pharmaceutical patient assistance programs, and passes along outdated medications to the Motlow nursing program to be used in clinical classes. With funding from a vitamin grant, the clinic offers nutritional counseling for one of the number one health issues in America, obesity. Grants, churches, and individual contributors provide primary funding for the clinic, with local hospitals, businesses and civic organizations, including all three Rotary Clubs, also contributing. In-kind donations of equipment, supplies, and services, as well as special fundraisers sponsored by local organizations provide additional support. Partners for Healing held it first major fundraiser this year, "Purse String Power for Healing", with guest speaker Tennessee First Lady, Andrea Conte Bredesen. Approximately, $17,000 was raised. Partners for Healing has proven to be an extraordinary community collaboration and full fills the prediction of Dr. Jack McConnell, who predicted such an endeavor could "make a community out of a town". Tennessee Commissioner of Health, Dr. Kenneth Robinson called Coffee County, "a community of caring people", and the clinic, a project "not frequently seen in small towns." Rotarians have played a vital role in providing free primary health care for deserving workers and their families in the community.