2007 Archive

2007-2008 Award Nominations

Declined Nominations: Gary Rawson, Anna Hicks, Robert Siegel, Rick Kahre, Willie Jemison, Michael Osborne, Mary Campbell

The following members of the MTC-ACF have been nominated for these awards to be given at the 30th Annual Awards Gala -

Professionalism Award Exhibits professional conduct in all matters of business (sponsor: Foodsales East) Mark Rubin Leroy Parker Brenda Lewis Cathy Hoorman Melissa Linkenhoker	Bill James Award Exceptional support for community and chapter education through selfless efforts (sponsor: TW Wilson & Son) Tom Loftis Tammy Sandlin Michael Adams Rick Martinez Rick Kahre
Hospitality Award Provides superior meeting, location, educational format and reception to members and guest. (sponsor:Fresh Point Overton) Loews Vanderbilt Hotel Richland Country Club Mobile Fixture Restaurant Supply Manchester Conference Center Foodsales East Caesars Ristorante Vanderbilt University Commons	Purveyor of the Year For overall chapter and community support and service (sponsor: MTC Chapter) Buckhead Beef Purity Dairy Dixie Produce Fresh Point Overton Foodsales East Kickin’ Coffee & Tea Hobson Foods US Foodservice Gordon FoodService Robert Orr Sysco

Culinary Educator of the Year Outstanding Chapter Member/Instructor providing and promoting the ideals of culinary education outlined by the American Culinary Federation. (sponsor J&M Catering)
Tom Loftis / NSCC Mary Campbell /Glenncliff HS Tammy Sandlin / Smyrna HS Rick Martinez / John Overton HS Crystal Russell /	Michael Adams /Hunters Lane HS Brenda Lewis /Siegel HS Kristy Wilkins /Art Institute Charles Gillespie / Franklin HS

Michael R. Osborne, CEC

Joins the
Adopt-a-Chef
Program

“On Board with the Men and Women of the US Navy”

by: Michael R. Osborne, CEC

This year it was my pleasure once again to cook on-board a US Navy Ship. I was very honored to be selected to travel with the DDG-62, USS Fitzgerald, Guided Missile Destroyer while on duty in the western Pacific. I met up with the ship in Okinawa and a few days later we were underway.

The trip was part of the US Navy’s “Adopt – a – Chef Program”. Civilian Chefs donating their time to provide advanced training for Navy Culinary Specialists (CS’s) in order to promote career advancement and generate retention of good Navy Chefs. Being a veteran, I find it extra special to have this chance to give back some of what I received from the military. A great deal of my culinary training came from the military, including the Armed Forces Culinary Academy at Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Southern Maryland.

Working in the galley of a US War Ship is awesome indeed, the job of preparing and serving food for 300 people is no longer a routine thing, it’s special! The ship’s war time mission is that ever-present aura that is at the forefront of my mind. It over shadows the actions, skills and movements of cooking. The basic products are the same, but…. the heart and soul of the chef, that thing that affects everything about the way food tastes, is crackling with excitement!

Volunteering to go aboard ship with the US Navy is not all work of course, this trip included a couple days off touring. I got to play golf with CS1 Ken Batten, at Kadena AFB in Okinawa, eat Kobi Beef at a Teppanyaki style steak house with CSC Challenger, go to the Hard Rock Café in Yokohama, and take a culinary inspired tour Tokyo. I almost forgot to mention that they let me fire a 50 Cal. Machine Gun at a floating target, ”While Wearing a Chef Jacket” it doesn’t get any better than that.. GET SOME!!!

Being a part of the Adopt a Ship Program, even if for only a little while, I find myself awe struck and pumped up for the challenges that lay ahead. It gets me a little choked-up being surrounded by the Culinary Specialists of such a great ship in the service of our country. That emotional feeling is magnified being from Tennessee the “Volunteer State”. The Chef’s and people where I live know all about that.

The Adopt-a-Chef program is directed by Chef Michael Harrants, CEC, CCE, AAC. He is the Corporate Chef/Chef Instructor, Navy Family Support located in Mechanicsburg, PA. Michael regularly attends regional ACF conventions and the annual national convention. He has a news letter that he sends out quarterly via email. Interested chefs can contact him at michael.harants@navy.mil .

Mike w/ Commander Dusek, Ships Captain (owns a home in Brentwood)	Mike hunting rogue subs or looking for drug lords in cigarette boats
CS1 Macahilis and CSSN Fitzgerald (the guys that make it happen)	Eating Local Cuisine (Yakisoba and Yakitori)
CSN Tiffany Northcutt (of Murfreesboro TN)	Or is it Snoopy looking for the Red Baron?

Tennessean.com
Saturday, 10/27/07

Volunteer finds mission field here at home

Event today provides medical, dental, eye care

By ANITA WADHWANI
For The Tennessean

Nancy Campbell vividly remembers the moment during her first medical mission, two years ago, when an impoverished mother put on a brand-new pair of prescription eyeglasses and got a clear look at her 5-year-old son's face — for the first time.

"It was her first pair of glasses,'' said Campbell, a member of First Baptist Church in downtown Nashville. "She was so grateful.''

That mother and that mission were right here in Nashville, at Edgefield Baptist Church.

Some 350 people had crowded into the church, desperate for medical care. Many more had to be turned away because of a lack of time and resources.

Campbell is now spearheading another mission to provide medical, dental, psychological and optometry care to Nashville residents who can't afford insurance or health care.

The mission at the Church of the Messiah today offers free medical care to residents of the neighborhood, which includes the public housing development at John C. Napier Homes.

It is a joint initiative of First Baptist Church and the Church of the Messiah on Lafayette Street, where the mission is being held.

At least four doctors, four dentists, several nurses and some 20 student volunteers from Tennessee State University will spend today — as they have Thursday and Friday — fixing teeth and doling out eyeglasses, testing hearing and diagnosing medical conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.

The volunteer staff will refer those diagnosed with potentially more serious conditions to local medical resources available to low-income patients.

"There is such a great need here,'' said Campbell, a retired chef. "You always hear of churches going abroad for medical missions. Well, I frankly believe that charity begins at home, and we have people here who cannot see doctors and dentists, and certainly can't afford to get eyeglasses.'' Campbell serves as a volunteer minister at Saint Thomas Hospital, aiding the on-staff pastoral care providers in making patients comfortable, praying with them and attending to their spiritual needs.

Louise Johnson, left, a volunteer from Church of the Messiah, watches as volunteer Charlene Carter assists Leslie McCathern during his eye exam Thursday at the Community Care Health Clinic at Church of the Messiah, Nashville. The clinic is a joint community effort of First Baptist Church and Church of the Messiah. (SANFORD MYERS / THE TENNESSEAN)

Foot injury can't stop her

She is putting off her own medical care to make sure the event goes off without a hitch. With a foot injury that requires an immobilizing cast, Campbell has told her doctors to put on a temporary foot boot so she can hobble around until the weekend is over.

"I fought hard to get this mission back,'' Campbell said. "I'm not about to let anything stop me.''

Child care with Bible readings is offered for parents seeking care. As people sit and wait to see a provider, volunteers "give them a few basics about God,'' Campbell said.

If patients want more information, volunteers help direct them to local churches or other resources, she
said.

Campbell said that she is often taken aback by the reaction she gets when she tells people about the missionary work she is doing.

"People tell me churches don't do this work,'' said Campbell. "I'd like to see more churches doing this sort of work locally, instead of going abroad. You should see how thankful someone is when they get their teeth fixed after not being able to afford it for so long.''