June 2015 SACC Monthly Planning Committee Meeting Notes Published

The June Planning Committee Meeting Notes are now available online.  You can view them by clicking on the link below.

Read Meeting Notes (opens file from Google Drive)

Author Steve Snyder Presents "Shot Down"

Author Steve Snyder gave a book talk last night on his recently published, award winning work, “Shot Down,” the story of the author’s father, Howard Snyder, and the crew of the B-17 Susan Ruth, shot down over Belgium in WWII.

Mr. Snyder recounted the fascinating story of the five out of ten crew members of the Susan Ruth who survived the crash and were taken in by Belgians who risked their lives to hide them from German soldiers.

As one recent reviewer noted “stories like the ones in Shot Down revive the past, give it new life, and offer a link between the heroes of yesterday and the men we now call “Grandpa.” Steve Snyder’s extensive research, careful storytelling, and humane treatment of his subjects make Shot Down a must-read for anyone with an interest in this gripping period of American history.”

Mr. Snyder’s appearance was sponsored by the Friends of Smyrna Library.

The June SACC planning committee meeting was held last night at Brawner Hall. The mission statement was finalized and the schedule and next steps for creating the bylaws was defined. The membership committee also started recruitment and defined an initial annual fee structure.

Meeting Agenda

Purpose

To continue development and organization of the SACC operations

Objectives

·   Finalize mission statement

·   Set schedule for final revision of by-laws

·   Establish membership fee structure

·   Establish membership recruitment and solicit volunteer information

Agenda

·   Report on Visioning Executive Committee

·   Mission statement

·   Draft of by-laws

·   Nomination process for elected officers

·   Membership fee/annual donation

·   Membership recruitment

·   Report on the proposed uses of the Reed House

·   Committee updates

95-Year-Old WWII Soldier Robert Walker Presents Combat Experiences in WWII

Our June First Sunday Lecture Series guest speaker was Mr. Robert Walker, a 95-year old World War II veteran who resides in nearby Mableton. Mr. Walker served with a bomber squadron in England and on the European continent in the 1943 to 1945 period. 

Yesterday’s program consisted of a videotaped interview with Mr. Walker in which he recounts many fascinating tales of his many harrowing wartime experiences. Mr. Walker introduced the hour-long video and answered audience questions about his wartime experiences.

Click here to watch excerpts of the video interview: http://www.witnesstowar.org/combat_stories/WWII/745

The "First Sunday" lecture series is held in the Smyrna Public Library Meeting Room and is sponsored by the Friends of Smyrna Library.