Mary Thom Adams of ETTAC is holding a soft, stuffed, electric toy that has been modified by Knox Makers so a child with disabilities can easily play with it.

Speakers: Mary Thom Adams, Exec Director – ETTAC
Doug Laney, President – Knox Makers
Program: East Tennessee Technology Access Center (ETTAC)
ETTAC was started in 1988 by a group of parents, adults with disabilities, business people and service providers in the community who held an uncommon belief in the power of technology to help people with disabilities reach their goals.
They help people with disabilities gain knowledge about and access to assistive technology devices.  These devices help people with disabilities gain education and employment skills, perform activities of daily living, and lead more independent, productive lives. ETTAC’s assistive technology equipment is used for assessment and training, and some devices may also be available for loan.   Check out their ETTAC web page.

Doug Laney is president of Knox Makers in Knoxville where engineers, inventors, and artists have come together to create special devices and other innovation things to help people with disabilities live more productive lives.

Knox Makers is housed in the same facility and works together with ETTAC. They modify toys for disabled kids as well as developing adaptive technologies.  Learn more by checking out their Knox Makers Facebook page

Attendance: 15 Members, 4 Visitors – Francesca Barbaro, Mary Thom Adams (ETTAC), Doug Laney,
Member Tidbits:
● Kathy Dickson attended PETS last week.
● Everyone welcomed our newest member Dave Case, who brings our club membership to 21.

New Member Induction – Welcome Dave!
The March 30 meeting included the induction of new club member Dave Case. He was a former member of the Rotary Club of Urbana, OH from 1983-1988.  He and his wife Dorothy have relocated to WindRiver.  Dave is nearing retirement from Bayer Crop Science, where he is National Account Manager. If you missed this meeting, please be sure to welcome Dave to our Tellico Lake family.  Our roster is now at 21 members.

Multi-District Conference
The Multi-District Conference is coming up on April 21-22 in Chattanooga at the Marriott Hotel and Convention Center. Still time to register.  Individual meal tickets can be purchased. Your conference registration is included with the meal to make it easy.  The Saturday Awards Luncheon, with the Parade of Presidents, is already shaping up to be a very large crowd. This meal will only be for folks from District 6780. At this lunch, President Everson will be coming forward to receive all of the awards that our club has earned so far this Rotary year! Please plan to attend the Saturday Awards lunch to cheer on your president.  To register for the individual meals, just go to the conference website at www.2017discon.com and click the ‘Register’ button.

“Conversation would be vastly improved by the constant
use of four simple words: I do not know.” – Andre Maurois