Civic Association Names 2014 Award Winners

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

Community member Barbara Schlichting and Sewanee native Ian Prunty were honored at the April 16 dinner meeting of the Sewanee Civic Association. In the business portion of the meeting, the Civic Association elected officers, received an update on the Community Chest and approved a bylaws revision.

Prunty received the Summa Cum Laude award for being the “galvanizing” force behind the creation of the Mountain Goat Trail. Ten years ago Prunty, then a sophomore at St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School, was inspired to undertake the project by a suggestion made to him at an Earth Day event. Prunty currently lives in Nashville, where he is an account executive for Arlington-based software provider Opower, which partners with utilities around the world with the goal of reducing residential energy consumption.

Barbara Schlichting, who grew up in Sewanee, received the Community Service Award. Throughout her life, Schlichting has been a voice for the community in University and community relations and grass-roots alliances. She is active in the Sewanee Business Alliance and Community Council. She has served as the superintendent of leases since 1989 and was recently tapped to take on the responsibility of community relations for the University.

The Civic Association approved the following slate of officers for 2014-2015: Kiki Beavers, president; Lynn Stubblefield, vice-president; Kim Seavey, secretary; Lisa Rung, treasurer; and Cameron Swallow, member-at-large.

Beavers announced that the Community Chest fund drive reached its goal of $108,000. This year 107 new donors stepped up to support the Community Chest, which sponsors 28 organizations and groups whose work makes a marked difference in quality of life on the Cumberland Plateau.

The Civic Association is seeking two stewards to chair the 2014–15 fund drive. This year’s stewards, Kiki Beavers and Theresa Shackelford, spoke briefly about the role. The Community Chest stewards’ core responsibilities are marketing and launching a public relations campaign, including overseeing mailings and record-keeping.

The Civic Association approved a bylaws revision that takes into account new initiatives undertaken by the organization, including the Sewanee Classifieds email list and the parks and investments committees. The updated bylaws will be submitted to the IRS in conjunction with a request to restore the tax-exempt status of the Civic Association. The nonprofit charter of the Civic Association lapsed in 1988 when the annual renewal process was not completed. The Community Chest is chartered separately and no laps in nonprofit status have occurred.

Jade McBee Barry, chair of the July 4 committee, announced that this year’s theme is “A Razzle Dazzle Fourth of July.” The committee is $700 short in funds since donations last year were lower than expected.

In response to a question about the Sewanee Community Center, Sewanee Business Alliance representative John Goodson said plans for a new community center were a “high priority” in the downtown renovation planning process, and a survey would be circulated via Sewanee Classifieds and Announcements to invite community input.