‘We become what we celebrate.’
Vivian Crymble introduced the 2005 Tri-Cities Tech Star Awards with this slogan, first introduced into the media by Dean Kamin, the inventor of the Segue Scooter. The Northeast Tennessee Technology Council along with several regional sponsors including The GoTriCities Network held their annual awards ceremony this past Friday, October 22, 2005 to recognize regional technology innovations produced here in the Tri-Cities. This noon-time awards program was held at MeadowView Convention Center and was attended by 80 of the brightest knowledge workers in the region and recognized several innovative ideas.
As a member of the Board of The Directors, I’ve been working with Vivian and her group including Attorney/Columnist Shelbourne Ferguson and graphic designer Jane Hillhouse to prepare for this event and my contribution was to perform on piano prior to the event.
That said, I wanted to comment a bit on the performance. The Yamaha grand piano at MeadowView Convention Center is probably my least favorite piano in the Tri-Cities. They usually have it sitting in the lobby as you come in and it’s got a CD player underneath the keyboard that plays by itself – very similar to the one at Allandale. Nevertheless, I sat down around 11am and started off with Kind of Blue by Miles Davis and ran through all of my other improv arrangements. My best piece was the new work by Jelly Roll Morton (Dead Man Blues) and I’ll look forward to working that again on Friday
The program started about noon and after the introductions and accolades to board members and sponsors, the following awards were presented to technology companies in the Tri-Cities for outstanding innovative achievements;
2005 TECH STAR AWARDS
MeadowView Convention Center
Kingsport, TN
Friday, October 21, 2005
2005 TechStar Award Winners:
– Development of New Technology (Sysdine Technologies)
– Use of Technology in Education (N.TARA)
– Use of Technology by Non-Profit Group (Wellmont Health System – Hancock County Hospital)
– Technology in Bio Science (Orison Corporation)
– Use of Technology in Government Agencies (Landmark GIS)
– Application of Technology within a Larger Business (Mountain States Health Alliance)
– Application of Technology within a Smaller Business (MedAlliance Management)
– Use of Internet or Web Technologies (Mountain States Health Alliance)
The Tech Star Awards came to a close as Vivian Crymble was honored for her extraordinary effort with the Tech Council over the past few years. She recently accepted a position with Mountain States Health Alliance and is stepping down from the board. She was a delight to work with a major foundation for the organization’s success.
Here acceptance speech included this quote which forever affect my perception of community service;
Big Men
Rarely do you run into a really bad man in the circle of business- industry and government. They’re good men by and large…………
But you meet so many small men! Not small in stature – but men who think little, talk little, and plan little. Like eagles staked to the ground, there’s no soar in them. Ceiling is zero – and their horizons are limited.
Not that these men are selfish. (Some of course are). But it’s just that they’re preoccupied most of the time with their own little bailiwick. They don’t allow their minds to stretch and breathe. They don’t think – they just rearrange their prejudices….
These men are indifferent to problems other than their own. They have no concern for those things which do not hold a personal reference. They refuse to be bothered!
Here lies the tragedy of the little man – his unavailability. He is needed but unavailable! Needed by his community – his nation – the world…. And he doesn’t see beyond the four walls of this miserable little existence!
In this desperately crucial, convulsive time, unavailability is a terrible sin. These times demand big men. Not men who are big shots (they’re useless), but men who are big in heart and mind. Great men! Large-soul men!
Men with a vision – whose feet are on the ground but whose eyes are on the far horizon. Farsighted, selfless men. Men with a goal. Men whose hearts God has touched. Men committed – dedicated to God and his holy, high purpose! Men of integrity!
Richard Halverson
Delivered by U.S. State Congress
Third District of Tennessee
Zack Wamp
Washington, D.C./ Summer 2005