Lunch with the Nashville Rotary Club

Today the team (minus Ronnie) had the pleasure of visiting the Rotary Club of Nashville which meets every Monday for lunch at the famous Wildhorse Saloon. The Rotary Club of Nashville was founded in 1913, was the 94th Rotary Club established by Rotary International and is currently the 20th largest of the 32,000 clubs worldwide with almost 500 members. It was a wonderful experience for us to join this club for lunch and speak with some of Nashville's most influential leaders. Thanks Tom and Bill for having us!

From left: Lindsey Peterson, Tonya Miller, Melia Arnold and Miranda Runcie

From left: Tom Turk, Lindsey Peterson, Tonya Miller, Melia Arnold, Miranda Runcie and Bill Alexander

Meet Miranda

Family: I grew up in St. Louis, Missouri and moved to Nashville, Tennessee a year and a half ago to live closer to my family. I have one older sister who has lived in Nashville for over 10 years. She and her husband have twin daughters who are three years old. I came to Nashville to be near my sister and nieces and a few months later my parents decided to join the rest of us. I live in a house (with two other girls) close to downtown Nashville and my sister and parents live about 25 minutes away. This is the first time since I graduated from high school that I’ve lived near my family. I love it!

Education: When I graduated from high school I decided to travel for a year before going to a university. I went to Switzerland and lived and studied at an independent study center called L’Abri. At L’Abri I studied Christian theology and philosophy. After one year out of the U.S., I returned to Missouri and enrolled at Truman State University. I received a Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in Spanish. During my third year at Truman I studied for one semester at the International Institute of Seville in Seville, Spain. Most recently, I received my Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) certification through the TN Foreign Language Institute in Nashville. In the not too distant future, I hope to return to a university to receive a Masters degree. I’m still undecided on exactly what I want to study (languages or writing perhaps), but ultimately I hope to teach at the University level.

Professional History: After I graduated from college, I spent a year in Ecuador teaching English (to adults and children). When I returned to the United States, I moved to Nashville, TN and began working at the Tennessee Foreign Language Institute (TFLI) where I am currently employed as the Assistant Director of the Foreign Languages Department. My main duties include arranging private and group foreign language classes, administer language proficiency exams, observe and evaluate our foreign language instructors and order foreign language textbooks and materials.

My Passions: I love being involved in my church which is located in an area of Nashville that has a lot low income families and a reputation for crime. The main mission of the church is to work towards unification of people of all races and economic statuses in East Nashville. My other interests include teaching English to Spanish-speakers, being outside (hiking, biking, swimming, climbing, etc.), traveling, cooking, photography, and writing.

Professional Interests: I would like to visit English or Spanish language schools such as the Leaders English Language Centre (in Corrientes). I am also interested in finding out more about the Education or Humanities departments at the Universidad Nacional del Nordeste (Corrientes and Resistencia). Although it does not pertain to my current vocation, I would be interested in finding out more about the National Park system in Argentina and what other steps are being taken to preserve the natural environment of the country. I’m interested in organizations that serve the poor in the area. Also, if there are any professional photographers or writers available to meet, I would like that as well.

Nació el 7 de octubre del año 1982 en Jonesboro, Arkansas y creció en St. Louis, Missouri. Cursó estudios de Teología Cristiana y Filosofía en la famosa escuela L’Abri del pueblito Huémoz en el Cantón de Vaud, Suiza, y luego de completar un semestre en el Instituto Internacional de Sevilla, España, se graduó de la universidad estadounidense Truman State University de Kirksville, Missouri con su Licenciatura en Inglés y Castellano. Posteriormente, enseño inglés por un año en Quito Ecuador. Toda su preparación anterior culminó en la obtención del puesto de Subdirectora de Idiomas en el Instituto Estatal de Idiomas de Tennessee, y hace poco, logró su licenciatura en la Enseñanza del Inglés como Segunda Lengua. A largo plazo, Miranda desea cursar el magíster en alguna materia relacionada con los idiomas o la redacción para llegar a ejercer una cátedra universitaria.

Hace más de un año que Miranda se mudó a Nashville, Tennessee para estar cerca de su hermana y sobrinas gemelas, quienes ya tienen más de 10 años de vivir en esta ciudad. Así también, sus padres se trasladaron al mismo lugar. A ella le gusta mucho dedicarse a su iglesia, la cual tiene el noble propósito de integrar a personas de diferentes etnías y niveles socioeconómicos en la comunidad. De primordial interés para ella es visitar algunas escuelas de idiomas y humanidades como, por ejemplo, Leaders English Language Centre y la Universidad Nacional del Nordeste de Corrientes. Además de esto, le gustaría visitar los parques nacionales y enterarse de los programas en curso vinculados a la conservación del medio ambiente.

A Miranda, le gusta estar al aire libre, excursionismo, montar a bicicleta, nadar, escalar a las rocas, viajar, cocinar, fotografía, y escritura.

Meet Tonya

Tonya was born on the seventh of September, 1974 in Adrian, Michigan. She studied in MTSU and Belmont University, where she graduated with Marketing and Spanish degrees. She won the prestigious National Security Education Program scholarship, which allowed her to complete her studies at the Universidad del Salvador, Buenos Aires, Argentina as well as an internship in the Commercial Section of the American Embassy. During her stay in the capital, Tonya began dancing tango. Later, she worked as an investment advisor, a life insurance agent, a loan officer, and after all, returned to trading futures on the CME.

She could not ignore her desire to help the Hispanic Community, so she decided to become a Spanish and English interpreter. She works everyday in courts, hospitals and conferences. Through her good public skills, she became the Community Affairs Director for the local TV station, Telefutura’s Channel 42, where she does her show, Medical Minutes, informing the public about health and well-being. Tonya is considered in professional and social circles as the true spirit of multicultural, peaceful coexistence: by being a host mom for international students studying English, by being an interpreter with the fundamental purpose of promoting equality and trust, and by being a TV presenter to inform and care for those who want to achieve the American Dream in the U.S.

Nacida el 7 de septiembre de 1974 en Adrian, Michigan, Tonya cursó sus estudios universitarios en Middle Tennessee State University y Belmont University, donde se recibió de Mercadotécnica y Castellano. Ganó la prestigiosa beca del National Security Education Program (Programa Nacional de Educación y Seguridad) para completar sus estudios en la Universidad del Salvador, Buenos Aires, Argentina, con pasantía en la Sección Comercial de la Embajada de los EE.UU. en dicho país. Durante su estadía en la capital, Tonya aprendió a bailar el Tango. Posteriormente trabajó de asesora financiera, agente de seguro de vida y encargada de préstamos hipotecarios para luego dedicarse a la compraventa de futuros en la bolsa mercantil de Chicago.

Impulsada por su deseo de ayudar y sacar adelante a la Comunidad Latina en los EE.UU., Tonya decidió convertirse en intérprete de inglés y castellano y ahora trabaja a diario en los tribunales, hospitales y conferencias internacionales. Debido a sus conocimientos y experiencia en el sector público, Tonya llegó a ser Directora de Asuntos Comunales del Canal 42 de Telefutura, un canal local de TV, donde tiene su propio programa Minutos Medicales, a través del cual informa al público sobre la salud y el bienestar. En los círculos profesionales y sociales Tonya es considerada como ejemplo del verdadero espíritu de una pacífica coexistencia multicultural, tanto en su papel de “madre” de los estudiantes extranjeros que viven con ella mientras estudian al inglés, como en el de intérprete, cuyo propósito fundamental es promover la igualdad y confianza entre los diferentes sectores de la población y por último, en su papel de locutora mediante el cual informa y vela por los que quieren hacer realidad el Sueño Americano dentro de los EE.UU.

Meet Lindsey

Born May 29, 1982, in Aurora, Colorado, and raised in Springfield, Missouri, Lindsey lived with her parents and two brothers, Erik and Matt. She completed her studies in sociology at a Christian school in Texas, Abilene University. With her church, she taught English for two years in Santiago, Chile, which is where she learned her Spanish. Upon returning, she found her next avenue for making the world a better place and became the Program Coordinator, Development Assistant, Helpline Coordinator, and Office Manager for the Tennessee Respite Coalition, which is a non-profit group that provides Home Care Services to allow caretakers and families of disabled folks to rest. Lindsey is very interested in Argentina’s social work, especially for the caretakers of disabled people and the services available to them. She would also like to see how charitable donations are raised and the events designed for those.

Lindsey is driven by her dynamic community spirit in all facets of her life: professional, social and spiritual. She appreciates this opportunity to not only travel, but to also immerse herself in the daily culture. Family and church are very important to her. Lindsey is ready to try new things and will gladly try anything once.

Nació el 29 de mayo del año 1982 en Aurora, Colorado y creció en Springfield, Missouri. Lindsey vivía con sus padres y dos hermanos, Erik y Matt. Cursó estudios de sociología en la escuela cristiana Abilene University de Texas. Enseñó inglés por dos años con su iglesia en Santiago de Chile y allí es dónde se aprendió su español. De regreso, encontró su vía nueva de hacer del mundo un lugar mejor y se convirtió en la Coordinadora de Programas, Subdirectora de Desarrollo, Coordinadora de Servicio Telefónico de Asistencia y Gerente de Oficina para la Tennessee Respite Coalition, lo cual es un grupo sin ánimo de lucro que ofrece programas de respiro/desahogo familiar para el cuidador habitual y la familia en general de personas con discapacidad. A Lindsey, le interesa mucho el trabajo social de Argentina, haciendo hincapié en los cuidadores de personas deficientes y los servicios ofrecidos para aquellos; y además de eso, le gustaría ver como se busca donaciones a obras de caridad y los eventos diseñados para ellas.

Lindsey se anima por su civismo y cumple con su dinamismo de servicio comunitario en todas facetas de su vida: profesional, social y espiritual. Le agradece la oportunidad de no solamente viajar, sino de sumergirse en la cultura cotidiana. Le importa mucho a su iglesia y a su familia. Lindsey está dispuesta de probar cosas nuevas y con mucho gusto probará cualquier cosa una vez.

Meet Melia

Family: I was born and raised in Washington, D.C. but Nashville, Tennessee has been my home for the last nine years. I have one sister that lives in Kentucky. My parents and the rest of my family live on the west coast, in California, Oregon and Washington state.

Education: I graduated from a small college in Ohio, where I played soccer and ran track. My major was communication studies and my minor was women’s studies. Six years after graduating from college I travelled to Costa Rica to learn Spanish and to travel for three months.

Professional History: I have been in the National Service field for over 10 years. I began my service as an AmeriCorps member in Arizona. AmeriCorps is our domestic version of the PeaceCorps. I continued my service within other service agencies as a youth advocate, outreach coordinator, trainer, and administrator working with women, children and senior citizens in Arizona and in Washington state. I moved to Nashville, Tennessee to direct an AmeriCorps program at Vanderbilt University, working with the elderly. For the last four years I have been working with Volunteer Tennessee, the state service commission. Our office supports AmeriCorps programs and service-learning initiatives across Tennessee. I direct a service-learning leadership program called Aspire. I work with diverse groups of high school students across the state providing leadership training. These students address issues in their schools through service to create a positive school climate. I love what I do and the students I work with.

My Passions: I love travelling and meeting new people! I really enjoy spending time learning about other cultures and countries. As our world feels “smaller” as technology allows us the ability to connect at higher rates of speed I believe it is increasingly important to make connections at the human, personal level.
My other passions include anything athletic. I am very active and enjoy being outdoors. I love to run, mountain bike, adventure race, play soccer, hike, and camp.

Professional Interests: I am interested in change through service at the local, national, and international level and my professional mission is to foster youth leadership development through service. I want to learn how schools and communities in Argentina use the service-learning (aprendizaje-servicio) methodology as a learning tool and how they encourage their youth to serve as agents of change in their communities and country.

My unrelated interests are alpaca breeding and wine making – yes, really! I do not have experience in either of these fields, but I am very curious to learn more about both of them.

Nació el 30 de abril del 1974 en Washington, D.C. Cursó estudios en una universidad pequeña, The College of Wooster, en Wooster, Ohio, dónde se graduó en Ciencias de La Comunicación y Estudios de La Mujer. Unos seis años después, viajó por San José y la comunidad de Durika, Buenos Aires, Costa Rica unos tres meses para aprender al español. Posteriormente encontró su vía en servicio comunitario nacional por la AmeriCorps, la cual es igual al Cuerpo de Paz, sólo centrándose en temas dentro de los EE.UU. Durante los últimos diez años, Melia ha servido como Defensora de la Juventud, Oficial para la Ayuda Comunitaria, Entrenadora, Administradora Encargada de Mujeres, Niños y Adultos Mayores, y ahora tiene cuatro años como Directora de un programa de aprendizaje-servicio, dedicado a desarrollar liderazgo en los estudiantes del secundario por todo el estado de Tennessee. Su programa se llama Aspire y es parte del grupo estatal, Volunteer Tennessee, que promueve voluntariado y servicio comunitario. A ella, le encanta su trabajo y a los estudiantes quienes usan el metodología de aprendizaje-servicio para crear un ambiente positivo en sus escuelas.

Melia disfruta mucho conocer de varias culturas y países. Ella cree que mientras la tecnología facilita nuestras comunicaciones, valoramos las conexiones personales de cara a cara. Según su propósito principal de fomentar liderazgo de la juventud por aprendizaje-servicio, le interesa cómo, dentro de la práctica docente de Argentina, alienta a los alumnos a que se encarguen de sus comunidades y de su país.

Melia le gusta mucho estar al aire libre, jugar al fútbol, hacer excursionismo e ir de camping. Otros intereses en el futuro incluye la cría de las alpacas y de producir el vino.