The Clarksville Sunrise Rotary Club was blessed with a three-person visit this morning on the campus of Austin Peay State University.  Treasurer-Elect Stephanie Voris invited Tennessee Department of Children's Services representatives to our weekly meeting to speak on the need for foster care and adoption.  It was a well-received presentation with much participation and questions from Rotarians.

Earlier this month Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam proclaimed May “Foster Care Month,”joining other states and organizations across the country in saluting foster parents and encouraging others to takes steps to serve children in the year ahead.  More than 5,600 children are in foster care in Tennessee. The Department of Children’s Services works to connect children with stable and devoted foster families to provide permanency in their lives. Tennessee is No. 1 in the nation in time to permanency and No. 2 in the nation in time to adoption.  Congratulations Tennessean's and Tennessee Department of Children's Services!  It is fantastic to see your hard work and efforts paying-off!  We are proud of you!

Interested parties can support foster care and adoption with two events this weekend; one in Nashville and one in Clarksville.  In Nashville, the 5th Annual "Walk Me Home... to the place I belong" 5k walk for foster care will be held at Nashville's Bicentennial Mall this Saturday May 19, 2012. Featured guest is Grammy Award Winning Artist Emmylou Harris.  More at http://www.firstgiving.com/walkmehome/nashville.

In Clarksville, there will be a special event at Hilldale Baptist Church this Saturday May 19, 2012 from noon-4 PM.  This free and open to the public event features games, prizes, inflatables, fun and food for all.  Come help raise awareness to the need for foster care and adoption locally at this very special event.  For more, please contact Anne Marie Cutting 931-217-6320 or Peggy Gibbs 931-302-2897.  Hilldale Baptist Church is at 250 Old Farmers Road, Clarksville,TN 37040.

Thank you ladies for joining us for breakfast this morning.  It was a pleasure to have you here!

Photo L-R: Peggy Gibbs – DCS Community Services Assistant Clarksville; Lawanda Christmon-Meneese, MA - Foster Care & Adoptions Program Co-ordinatior - Office of Child Permanency, Nashville TN Dept of Children's Services; Stephanie Voris - Clarksville Sunrise Rotary Club Treasurer Elect & host of today's breakfast; Marion Biggs - Team Coordinator - Clarksville DCS.  Photo & Report Steven Joseph for Steven Joseph Media & Clarksville Sunrise Rotary Club.  Like our Facebook page here.