> Registrations and deadlines

Annual Conference 2012 hotel reservations (VARIOUS DEADLINES)

The following hotels have agreed to offer special rates for reservations made surrounding Annual Conference 2012 in Brentwood, TN. If you plan to stay in the vicinity of Brentwood UMC (MAP) during Annual Conference, please consider staying at one of the hotels on the following list. Booking deadlines vary, please note the deadline to the corresponding hotel with which you would like to make a reservation.

HOTEL / RATE	ADDRESS	PHONE	R.S.V.P. BY
Hilton Suites / $110.00	9000 Overlook Blvd, Brentwood 37027 (MAP)	615.370.0111	May 9
Mainstay Hotel / $109.00	107 Brentwood Blvd, Brentwood 37027 (MAP)	615.371.8477	May 18
Courtyard by Marriott / $99.00	103 East Park Drive, Brentwood 37027 (MAP)	615.371.9200	May 25
Hyatt Place Brentwood / $85.00 * complimentary shuttle service to BUMC by request	202 Summit View Dr. Brentwood 37027 (MAP)	615.661.9477	May 27
Baymont Inn & Suites / $74.95	111 Penn Warren, Brentwood 37027 (MAP)	615.376.4666	May 28

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Seminary luncheons (RESERVATION DEADLINE: May 24)

Clergy: Time to reserve your spot at the Annual Conference Seminary Luncheon!

The cost is $10 which can be paid in advance or at the door. If you are paying at the door, please bring exact change. The food will be from the Copper Kettle, and the menu is hot chicken salad casserole, baked apples, green beans, dessert, tea, water. Please contact your alumni representative for more information and to make reservations:

DAY	DETAILS	TIME	LOCATION
Sun.	Educational Opportunities dinner	5:15 pm	B149
	Youth/Young Adults AC Member briefing	5:15 pm	Haney Hall
Mon.	Order of Deacons lunch	Noon	A393
	Retirees Luncheon	Noon	Family Life Ctr.
	Black Methodists for Church Renewal lunch	Noon	B149
	Local Pastors Meeting, lunch	Noon	A391
	TN JFON/Access to Justice lunch	Noon	Haney Hall
	COSROW dinner	5:15 pm	A389
Tue.	Minister's Mates lunch	11:30 am	B149
	Christian Educator's Fellowship lunch	Noon	A292
	Laity Luncheon ($15 at door, no reservations)	Noon	Family Life Ctr.
	Seminary Alumni lunch - Asbury (monicamowdy@gmail.com)	Noon	A391
	Seminary Alumni lunch - Drew (chaynes1@drew.edu)	Noon	A395 (hall)
	Seminary Alumni lunch - Duke (revweller@bellsouth.net)	Noon	A390
	Seminary Alumni lunch - Emory/Candler (revsquires@bellsouth.net)	Noon	A394
	Seminary Alumni lunch - Garrett (brian.marcoulier@gmail.com)	Noon	A389
	Seminary Alumni lunch - United Theological (william.miller@tnumc.com)	Noon	A392
	Seminary Alumni lunch - Vanderbilt (m.forrester@vanderbilt.edu)	Noon	A393
	Seminary Alumni lunch - Boston (jack3680@gmail.com)	Noon	Offsite
	Seminary Alumni lunch - Perkins (jackson@stmarkstn.org, wesley foundation@comcast.net)	Noon	Offsite
	Seminary Alumni lunch - Wesley (brianrossbert@gmail.com)	Noon	Offsite
	Martin Methodist College dinner	5:15 pm	Family Life Ctr.

Please make sure you preregister by May 24th, so we can guarantee the correct amount of food. There will be a limited number of walk-in meals available.

Perkins will be eating off-site. Jackson or Bill will have information regarding the location.

We invite you to bring prospective students and persons interested in learning more about a particular seminary with you to the luncheon.

* Each school will have a display at Annual Conference this year in the Parlor under the
Narthex.

> See it on the calendar

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Summer Enrichment Program (APPLICATIONS DUE: May 25)

Now through May 25, 2012, Gordon Memorial UMC is accepting application for their 2012 Summer Enrichment Program - Ages: Pre-Kindergarten through Sixth Grade.

The Summer Enrichment Program is open to girls and boys regardless ofrace, color, religion, national or ethnic origin.

Please visit www.gordonmemorialumc.org (News and Events) or call 615.329.2779 for registration form and complete program information.

Registration fee and registration form must returned on or before May 25, 2012, to Gordon Memorial United Methodist Church, 2334 Herman Street, Nashville, Tennessee 37208.

> DOWNLOAD FLYER

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Cookeville Dist. lay speaking ministries 6-week advance course (REGISTRATION DEADLINE: May 28)

DISTRICTS	DATES	LOCATION	COST	RSVP BY	BASIC COURSE OFFERED?	ADV. COURSES	CONTACT	MORE INFO
Cookeville (6-wk Adv. Course)	Jun. 18 - Jul. 30	Allen's Chapel UMC	$40	5/28/2012	No	"Opening Ourselves to Grace" (L. Tollett, CLS)	H. Neal (931.265.0824)	Event brochure

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Peter Storey, guest speaker (RESERVATION DEADLINE: May 31)

On Wednesday, June 6, Belmont United Methodist Church will host a dinner and conversation with Peter Storey about “Being Church in Today’s World.” Peter Storey is a South African Methodist minister who served inner-city churches such as District Six, Cape Town, and the Central Methodist Mission in Johannesburg. This event is open to the public and will include dinner from 5:30 - 6:30 pm, followed by a presentation, conversation, and brief reception with Dr. Storey from 6:30 – 8:00 pm in Belmont’s Community Center.

In the 1960s Storey founded the first Life Line telephone counseling centers in Southern Africa and was chaplain to political prisoners on Robben Island, including Robert Sobukwe and Nelson Mandela. During the 1970s and 80s, as President of the South African Council of Churches and of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa (MCSA), he played a significant public role in the anti-apartheid struggle. In the 1990s he was a regional chairperson in the National Peace Accord structures intervening in political violence in the run-up to the 1994 election. Storey was founding editor of the
MCSA newspaper, and founder of Gun Free South Africa, the nation’s anti-gun lobby.

In 1994 President Mandela appointed him to help select the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

After retiring in 1997 as Methodist Bishop in Johannesburg, he taught for nine years in the United States and is an Emeritus Professor of Duke University Divinity School. He returned to South Africa in 2006 and has just finished leading the project to build the Seth Mokitimi Methodist Seminary in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. He is married to Elizabeth and they have four sons and five grand-daughters. Peter Storey lectures internationally and his books include: With God in the Crucible – Preaching Costly Discipleship, Listening at Golgotha – Meditations on the Seven Words, And Are We Yet Alive? – Revisioning our Wesleyan Heritage in the New Southern Africa, and co-authored Journey Begun – Story of the MCSA’s Journey to the New Land.

To make dinner reservations please call 615.383.0832 by Thursday, May 31. Cost for dinner will be $10.00 per person ($8.00 for seniors - 70 and older, and for college students with current ID) and can be paid on the evening of the event. For more information, please contact Rev. Pam Hawkins at pam@belmontumc.org.

> See it on the calendar

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Making your teaching come alive

Duffy Robbins is Professor of youth ministry at Eastern University in St. Davids, PA. A thirty-five year veteran of youth ministry, he is a bestselling author, speaker and youth ministry trainer. His books include “Enjoy the Silence”, “Speaking to Teenagers”, and “Youth Ministry Nuts and Bolts.”

Duffy travels around the world sharing the gospel with teenagers and training youth workers. During this training Duffy will share insights on how to more effectively communicate the gospel in the context of youth ministry.

This training is for pastors, youth ministers, sunday school teachers, and just about anyone who cares about teenagers.

> REGISTER ONLINE

> DOWNLOAD event flyer, help spread the word!

> See it on the calendar

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Howard Olds Scholarship application (APPLICATION DUE: Jun. 1)

Brentwood UMC has a strong commitment to educating and training clergy. One of the ways we do this is by offering a scholarship for persons who are pursuing Masters of Divinity degrees. The Howard Olds Scholarship Program honors the life and ministry of Dr. J. Howard Olds who was the pastor of BUMC from September 2000 - June 2008.

All applications need to be submitted by June 1 with the award ot be given out on August 1.

> DOWNLOAD Cover letter/sampla application

> APPLY ONLINE

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COSROW dinner (REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Jun. 1)

Enjoy music from Sherri Cochran Woolsey as we celebrate our 40th Birthday

Menu: roast beef, potato casserole, green beans, salad, desert, roll, and tea or water (catered by Stroud’s Barbecue)

Cost: $10.00 per person – make checks payable to Tennessee Conference (ATTN: Rita Stephens)

> See it on the calendar

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Adoption info-seeking gathering

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Miriam's Promise
Contact: Dietz Osborne, Director of Communications (email, 615.292.3500)

Miriam’s Promise Hosts European Adoption Consultants for Informational Meeting

NASHVILLE, TN - International adoption information is available for couples seeking assistance in a free informational session with European Adoption Consultants (EAC) and hosted by Middle Tennessee pregnancy, parenting and adoption agency, Miriam's Promise, on Saturday, June 2 from 10:00 am Noon at Christ United Methodist Church, 508 Franklin Road, Franklin, TN, 37069 (MAP).

The informational meeting will focus on topics such as country eligibility requirements, the home study process, training requirements, types of children available for adoption, travel and post placement requirements. Deborah Miller of EAC and Tami Schultheis of Miriam’s Promise will facilitate the meeting.

European Adoption Consultants is a 501 c 3 non-profit agency that has been placing children from around the world since 1991. In that time, EAC has brought home over 7,500 children through international adoption.

“If you’re interested in growing your family through international adoption, this is a great place to start”, said Tami Schultheis, an international adoption counselor at Miriam’s Promise. “EAC has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to international adoption and we’re glad we’re able to partner with them.”

Seating is limited. To reserve your spot, please contact Tami Schultheis at 615.292.3500, ortamis@miriamspromise.org.

About Miriam's Promise | Miriam’s Promise is a 501 c 3 non-profit organization and has been offering hope and healing to those coping with issues of grief, loss and transition in the Middle Tennessee area since 1985. Their mission is to ensure the well-being of children—before, during and after birth. For more information, please visit www.miriamspromise.org.

# # #
> TNUMC.org: Extension Ministries

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John Wesley Open Golf Classic (EVENT DATE: Jun. 4)

Old Hickory church offers golf challenge to the churches of the TN Annual Conference

OLD HICKORY, Tenn. - The folks at the Old Hickory United Methodist Church take their golf seriously; so seriously in fact that they are challenging the churches of the Tennessee Annual Conference to come to Old Hickory this June to compete for bragging rights and to take home the coveted Wesley Cup.

The Old Hickory United Methodist Church is sponsoring their inaugural John Wesley Open Golf Classic on Monday, June 4 at the Old Hickory Country Club (MAP). The tournament was created to raise funds to help with making their hundred year old building more handicapped accessible and to support other ministries throughout the area. The tournament will be held at the history Old Hickory Country Club, and organizers are recruiting teams and sponsors through the state.

"This is a church who takes their golf seriously," said the Rev. Jay Voorhees, pastor of the church. "As we were looking for ways to fund updating our building it made sense to build on something we already know."

It was Rev. Voorhees' idea to offer the challenge to other churches to compete for the Wesley Cup. "I've heard several of my colleagues in ministry bragging on their golfing ability," said Rev. Voorhees. "This is an opportunity to show who really has some game."

The cost for the tournament is $90 per individual and $360 per team. You may register alone and be teamed up at the event, or register an entire team. The cost includes green fees, cart rental, and dinner. Registration will begin on the 4th at Noon with a shotgun start at 1:00 pm. An awards dinner will be held in the evening.

For more information on the John Wesley Open Golf Classic, please call 615.847.5067 or visit oldhickoryumc.org.

> See it on the calendar

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June CONNECTOR newsletter content deadline (CONTENT DUE: Jun. 6)

Please submit your content to the Office of Communications no later than June 6, 2012 at 4:00 pm cst.

> view the production schedule

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Annual Conference blood drive

Give blood - win a Gibson guitar!

You must register online through the Red Cross to give blood at this year's Annual Conference, please register today!

Registration:
> Please go to: redcrossblood.org
> Then enter code "TNUMC19"

> DOWNLOAD flyer

> See it on the calendar

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JFON/Access to Justice luncheon

Annual Conference Justice for Our Neighbors/Access to Justice Luncheon
$10 (Reservations are required)
An offering will be collected to support the work of JFON*

> REGISTER ONLINE

Please join us on Monday of Annual Conference for lunch and for an opportunity to celebrate two ministry opportunities. We’ll have brief presentations from David Esquivel from Justice for Our Neighbors and the TN Supreme Court Justice Connie Clark with the Access to Justice program, plus time for questions.

Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors (UMCOR partner program) has been serving immigrants in Middle TN since 2008. Justice for Our Neighbors is a faith driven ministry, welcoming immigrants into our communities (local churches) by providing free, high quality, immigration legal services, education, and advocacy. Navigating the immigration process is an expensive, complicated process fraught with many pitfalls. Clients receive guidance, and where possible legal representation, in order to fulfill the legal requirements for their particular situation. For some, an honest explanation of the law, even if it means nothing can be done, helps them make appropriate decisions and avoid exploitation by people who promise what is impossible.

Access to Justice (TN Supreme Court) - People with civil legal problems (ones that do not involve a crime) do not have a right to a free lawyer. Sometimes people who cannot afford a lawyer have to handle their own legal case. In response to this problem, the Tennessee Supreme Court made access to justice its number one priority. The Court announced their Access to Justice Initiative in December 2008. Due in part to our work with civil legal needs as a part of our Disaster Ministries and with JFON, Access to Justice reached out to the TN and Memphis Conferences to see how we could partner with them in recruiting pro bono attorneys, holding legal clinics, and otherwise assist persons who cannot afford legal representation.

* Note - Access to Justice does not directly or indirectly provide financial support for JFON

> REGISTER ONLINE

> See it on the calendar

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The Tom & Betty Cloyd Scholarship Fund (APPLICATIONS DUE: Jun. 20)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | UMFMTC
Contact: Rev. Dr. Vincent Walkup (email, 615.259.2008)

Applications for the Tom & Betty Cloyd Scholarship Fund

Several years ago friends and family of Tom and Betty Cloyd established a scholarship fund in their honor. Each year a scholarship is given to a student who has been a member of a United Methodist Church in the Tennessee Conference for at least two years. The student must also be enrolled in or accepted to a United Methodist related college or university.

To apply for this scholarship, please contact Rev. Dr. Vincent (Vin) Walkup, President of the United Methodist Foundation for the Memphis and Tennessee Conferences. Call 615.259.2008 or email (vwalkup@umfmtc.org) to obtain an application. Applications must be in the Foundation office by June 20, 2012.

If anyone desires to continue to honor Tom and Betty with a donation to this fund, you may also contact Dr. Walkup as instructed above. Tom served as a minister in the Tennessee Conference in a variety of positions with churches such as Madison Street, McKendree, Springfield, Belle Meade, and Seay Hubbard. He was also Director of the Conference Council and the Cumberland District Superintendent. Beyond the Tennessee Conference, Tom served in Brussels, Belgium; in Lubumbashi, Zaire; in the Congo; and in New Mexico. Betty served as a Diaconal Minister in Christian Education at McKendree and Hermitage in the Tennessee Conference and as a Director at the Upper Room, as part of the General Board of Global Ministries. They are now retired and live in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

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At-Risk Children and Family Grant funds (APPLICATION DEADLINE: Jul. 2)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Children & Family Ministries
Contact: Patty Smith (615.329.1177, email)

Patty Smith, Director of Children and Family Ministries for the TN Conference, today announced that the At-Risk Children and Families Fund Grant Review Team invites proposals for faith-based ministry programs that directly engage children from birth up to and including age 12 from various ethnicities and demographics who are at-risk in Tennessee. A maximum of $2500 can be awarded to each applicant via the standard application process.

To make funds more readily accessible, the team has added The At-Risk Grant Short Form that allows applicants to apply for a maximum of $500. Applicants may choose to apply using the standard application process (DOWNLOAD standard form, .PDF) OR the At-Risk Grant Short Form (DOWNLOAD short form, .PDF).

At-risk children are defined as children in one or more of the following circumstances: living at or below poverty level, from single-parent households, temporarily homeless, abused or neglected, having documented special needs, orphaned, or displaced suddenly by unforeseen, sudden situations (tornadoes, hurricanes, fire).

Grants will support programming or projects tailored to at-risk children and families targeted by local churches and other faith-based United Methodist initiatives.

The programs/projects should:
• Help children at-risk know, love and follow Jesus.
• Provide faith-based and Scriptural solutions to conditions/circumstances that place these children at-risk.
• Contain intentional strategies to minister to and equip children and families who are at-risk with the necessary tools to be successful.

At-Risk Children and Families Fund Grant Review Team encourages programs/projects that:
• Focus on intentional outreach and evangelism with specific follow up and plans for integration into the life of the local church. Programs/projects should reach a specific at-risk community that exists within close proximity to the local church.
• Make faith development central to the program/project. Competitive proposals will have a team of leaders and volunteers whose expertise and passion is tailored to the particular needs of the project and the curriculum and/or design of program is Bible-based. The lead pastor of the applicant’s church should play an active role in shaping the project’s goals, implementation, and outcomes.
• Collaborate with other churches to extend the reach of the project.

Applicants are encouraged to capitalize on the connectional structure of the United Methodist Church and work with other churches to design and implement a multi-site or multi-church program or project as a means of increasing project resources (human and financial) to reach more at-risk children and families.

> Grant submission deadline: Monday, July 2, 2012 (DOWNLOAD .PDF forms: 2012 Standard | 2012 Short form)
> Grants awarded: Thursday, August 2, 2012

For additional information on the At-Risk Children and Families Fund Grant, contact Patty Smith at psmith@tnumc.org or 800.403.5795.

> A.N.O.W.: Nurture, Children & Family Ministries

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July CONNECTOR newsletter content deadline (CONTENT DUE: Jul. 3)

Please submit your content to the Office of Communications no later than July 3, 2012 at 4:00 pm cst.

> view the production schedule

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Mountain T.O.P. and Martin Methodist camp (CAMP SCHEDULE: Jul. 15-21)

Joining hands to further God’s kingdom...

For the first time in Mountain T.O.P. history, we will be hosting a Youth Summer Ministry camp week at Martin Methodist College!

Campers will arrive Sunday morning at 9:00 am, work Monday-Friday on minor home repair projects and depart Sunday morning. Every day will include daybreaks, sharing, and worship. Rooms will be AIR CONDITIONED! These campers this summer will be the FIRST M-TOP GROUP in a BRAND NEW SERVICE AREA!!!

Dates:
Week 7, Sunday, July 15th - Saturday, July 21st, 2012

Cost: $375/person, includes meals, lodging, staffing and material fees! Tools and programming space will be
provided by FUMC Pulaski.

Applications can be found at www.mountain-top.org • Contact sam@mountain-top.org • 931.692.3999

> TNUMC.org: Extension Ministries

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Caregiving conference (REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Jul. 20)

Help for those caring for an older adult with a special focus on dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease

Where do I start?, Maribeth Farringer, Council on Aging of Greater Nashville
Navigating the legal system, Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands
Navigating the healthcare system, Nancy Pertl, Mental Health America of Middle Tennessee
How do I decide to keep my loved one at home or move to a higher level of care?, Gretchen Funk, FiftyForward Care Team
Taking care of me, Jennifer Abernathy, TN Respite Coalition

> There is NO COST to attend, but registration is required by JULY 20.

Box Lunch provided and attendees will receive the FREE book, Aging & Caring: Things Families Need to Know

> See it on the calendar

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The 5-Day Academy 2012 (DISCOUNTED REGISTRATION: Before Aug. 1)

Who should attend?
- Laity & Clergy from any denomination seeking spiritual growth & balance, renewal & enrichment
- Those who have begun a spiritual journey
- Those willing to share the rhythm of the Academy, including full time attendance & on-site residency

Cost includes lodging, meals, & program
Before August 1: $495
After August 1: $550

> REGISTER ONLINE

For more information and registration options, please DOWNLOAD the flyer:

> ANOW: Advocacy, Education-Spiritual Formation

> See it on the calendar

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The 5-Day Academy 2012

Who should attend?
- Laity & Clergy from any denomination seeking spiritual growth & balance, renewal & enrichment
- Those who have begun a spiritual journey
- Those willing to share the rhythm of the Academy, including full time attendance & on-site residency

Cost includes lodging, meals, & program
Before August 1: $495
After August 1: $550

> REGISTER ONLINE

For more information and registration options, please DOWNLOAD the flyer:

> ANOW: Advocacy, Education-Spiritual Formation

> See it on the calendar

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August CONNECTOR newsletter content deadline (CONTENT DUE: Aug. 8)

Please submit your content to the Office of Communications no later than August 8, 2012 at 4:00 pm cst.

> view the production schedule

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September CONNECTOR newsletter content deadline (CONTENT DUE: Sep. 5)

Please submit your content to the Office of Communications no later than September 5, 2012 at 4:00 pm cst.

> view the production schedule

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Nashville Dost. lay speaking school

DISTRICTS	DATES	LOCATION	COST	RSVP BY	BASIC COURSE OFFERED?	ADV. COURSES	CONTACT	MORE INFO
Nashville	Sep. 21-22	Hillcrest UMC			Yes (instructors: B. Brown & B. Whipple)	"Devotional Life in the Wesley Tradition (D. Ladd), "Dancing w/Words (R. Brown)	B. Whipple (615.832.1769), B. Brown (615.832.4626), C. Edgen (615.865.0398)

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October CONNECTOR newsletter content deadline (CONTENT DUE: Oct. 3)

Please submit your content to the Office of Communications no later than October 3, 2012 at 4:00 pm cst.

> view the production schedule

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Youth/Adult lay speaking conference (REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Oct. 26)

DISTRICTS	DATES	LOCATION	COST	RSVP BY	BASIC COURSE OFFERED?	ADV. COURSES	CONTACT	MORE INFO
Youth/Adult Retreat Conference	Nov. 16-17	Beersheba Spgs.	$50 (private) $30 (double)	10/26/12	One basic course offered to youth & adults	YOUTH: "Dancing w/Words" (M. Newman) ADULT: N/A	H. Neal (931.265.0824)	Event brochure

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November CONNECTOR newsletter content deadline (CONTENT DUE: Nov. 7)

Please submit your content to the Office of Communications no later than November 7, 2012 at 4:00 pm cst.

> view the production schedule

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December CONNECTOR newsletter content deadline (CONTENT DUE: Dec. 5)

Please submit your content to the Office of Communications no later than December 5, 2012 at 4:00 pm cst.

> view the production schedule

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