Tremont Welcomes Home Alumni

(Great Smoky Mountains National Park) –  Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont will celebrate 39 years of connecting people and nature on Sunday, September 14th from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.  This event brings Tremont alumni and supporters together to enjoy music by Mike Clemmer, mountain bingo, a Southern Appalachian barbeque dinner, and storytelling by Elizabeth Rose.  
 
“Last year, we hosted 166 registered guests and raised about $20,000,” stated Meredith P. Goins, Tremont’s PR/Development Director. “This year, we are aiming for 200 attendees.” Tickets are $50 each and may be purchased by calling 865/448-6709.  
 
The funds raised during this event will support Tremont’s annual fund.  “Although our campus is in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, as a private, non- profit, we receive no federal funds.” reminds Goins.  “Just over 80% of Tremont’s funding is earned through user fees, with the remaining coming from our generous donors.”
 
Mike Clemmer owner of Wood-N-Strings Dulcimer Shop in Townsend will begin the evening playing dulcimer music during the social hour. Clemmer serves as one of Tremont’s community artisans, playing for school and adult groups, teaching them about the arts that came out of the Appalachian Mountains.  Clemmer is featured in the most recent edition of Tennessee Home and Farm. To see a video of Clemmer playing, visit: http://tnhomeandfarm.com/index.php?/site/video_gallery/play/wood_n_strings_dulcimer_shop/tennessee_living  
Mountain bingo will be held before dinner with attendees mingling with Legacy members to discover a bit of history about the park, Tremont, and our Legacy volunteers.  For example, one question is, “Who attended Tremont as a 6th grader in 1970?”  Guests will have to talk with Legacy volunteers to find out their connection with Tremont and to the park! Gift certificates to Legacy alumni events will be given to those who correctly complete the entire board.
 
Elizabeth Rose, another of Tremont’s community artisans, will share her skills towards the end of the evening. Rose’s stories include a blend of traditional southern folklore, fairy tales, ghost stories, and folktales from around the world. She has won multiple storytelling awards and is the Executive Director of the National Youth Storytelling Showcase.
 
There will also be a silent auction including a mountain bike, day and weekend vacations in the Smokies, UT football ticket package, plus food and much more!  View the full list at: www.gsmit.org/homecomingauction.html.  
 
This homecoming was made possible by the Legacy of Tremont, a group of volunteers who help heighten public awareness and support Tremont in the community-at-large by creating and managing a variety of activities, including friend raising, to assist Tremont with accomplishing its mission of connecting people and nature in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
 
Legacy of Tremont board members include: Melba Harmon as chair, Robert Dowbiggin as secretary and Debbie Claypool, Sam Curtis, Jodi Eanes, Robin Goddard, Bonny Millard, Jeanie VanWinkle, Tom & Christy Walsh, and Kathy Wilbanks.
 
Special thanks to the following supporters: The Knoxville News Sentinel, Miss Lily’s Café & Catering in Townsend, School Care Inc., Tetra Tech of Oak Ridge, The Trust Company of Knoxville and other private donors for their sponsorship and support of this event.
 
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont is a private 501(c) 3 non-profit organization that provides in-depth experiences to thousands of people of all ages through educational programs designed to nurture appreciation of Great Smoky Mountains national Park, celebrate diversity, and foster stewardship. ###