SCA: Finding and Meeting Needs
by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer
The Aug. 27 Sewanee Civic Association (SCA) meeting, the first SCA meeting since February, provided a much-needed opportunity to address business. The meeting was held at the Dubose Conference Center Pavilion and via Zoom to accommodate social distancing. President Brandon Barry updated the membership on the new 37375 Campaign to supply COVID-19 health and safety supplies to the community, and the Community Chest, which funds initiatives throughout the Plateau, enriching the quality of life of children, seniors, and everyone in between.
The 37375 Campaign, a partnership between the SCA and the Sewanee Business Alliance (SBA), hopes to raise $37,375 by the Sept. 30 deadline. A panel made up of SCA and SBA members will then review applications from area organizations expressing a need for health and safety products and attempt to meet these needs. To donate to the campaign, send a check payable to Sewanee Community Chest 37375 Campaign, P.O. Box 99, Sewanee, TN 37375. For online giving via PayPal go to www.sewaneecivic.org. The Sewanee Community Chest is a 501 (c) (3) organization. Donations are tax-deductible.
The Sewanee Community Chest (SCC), the SCA’s annual fund drive, supports a wide array of community projects and organizations providing books, elderly care, children’s programs, recreational spaces, animal care and much more. Last year the SCC funded 25 local programs. To apply for SCC funding visit
Barry presented and the membership approved the 2020-21 SCA budget. The only change from the 2019-20 budget was a $500 decrease in insurance premiums. Insurance costs decreased because responsibility for area parks now falls to the Sewanee Community Council Parks Committee, Barry said.
The membership also approved several bylaw revisions. The revisions provided for making the Community Chest Administrator a board position and described the duties for this position; eliminated the MOUs for the parks; changed the name of the Opportunity Fund to the SCA Endowment, as more accurately descriptive of the SCA fund reserve; and provided for appointment of a second member-at-large in the event the past president declines to serve on the board.
Barry thanked departing board members Theresa Shackelford, past president; Jesse Bornemann, secretary; Jade Barry, vice president; and Stephen Burnett, member-at-large.
The membership approved the following slate of officers for 2020-21: Brandon Barry, president; Brett Del Balso, vice president; Chris Champion, secretary; Erin Kunz, treasurer; David Michaels, member-at-large; Jared Sorenson, member-at-large.
The membership discussed possible meeting venues accommodating social distancing where the organization could resume the practice of having speakers and a meal. No future meeting date has been set at this time.
SCA dues are $10 annually. Membership includes a subscription to the Sewanee Classifieds listserv. To join the SCA visit