Have you spotted us in our new T-shirts?

We recently ordered brand new FYP logo t-shirts from SportsZone.  They turned out great and we are all proud to sport our new logo.  Look for us around town and at local events!  We are in the process of ordering "FYP" t-shirts in bulk to sell to anyone who wants to help support our group and help spread the word about FYP.  Stay tuned for more information.  Special thanks to our VP Laura Tallent and to SportsZone!

Lovely ladies of FYP sporting our new logo T-shirts

First Annual Ducky Derby is a Success!

On August 4th, 2012 the Franklin Young Professionals hosted the First Annual Macon Waves Ducky Derby.  The event was held at Big Bear Park on the Little Tennessee River Greenway.  In the morning FYP members helped out with the Big Sweep river clean up headed by Guy Gooder.  There were more than 1.1 tons of trash collected!  From noon to 4 pm we held a small festival at the park.  We had hotdogs, drinks, and snacks for sale, as well as music, games and family fun.  At 2:00 pm the Ducky Derby started.

Over 750 ducks were put into the river and floated down about one quarter of a mile to the finish.  For the past couple of months, members of FYP had been selling duck sponsorships all over town, and even out of state in some cases!  We had also been hard at work getting local businesses to help sponsor the event and donate prizes for the winners.  There were prizes awarded to the first 23 ducks to cross the finish line.  Prizes included a stay at Old Edwards Inn, a night stay at Fly Away Cabin in Pigeon Forge, numerous local restaurant and retail gift certificates, a piece of Barber Pottery, a 3 month membership at Franklin Fitness Center, Dnet Leadercast Tickets, a gift basket from Franklin Veterinary Hospital, Visa Gift Cards from local businesses, and rental packages from Outdoor 76.

Alauna Kiser receiving her Ducky Derby prize

We were able to raise over $4,000 during the event, through duck sales, food, and game tokens.  Proceeds from the event are going to be put towards the Franklin Young Professionals Scholarship Fund and a small portion back to the Greenway.  The first recipients of the FYP Scholarship will receive their awards in the spring of 2013.  The scholarship(s) will be awarded to a well-deserving high school senior who plans to go to college and then return to the Franklin area to work and support the local economy.  

Special thanks to Gooder Grafix for the awesome banners!

We are very thankful to all of the businesses who sponsored our event and to all of those who helped make it a success.  This event would not have been possible without all of the help.  FYP is very pleased and proud that our first big event was a success.  We are very excited about the future and are already preparing for next year!

1st Annual Macon Waves Ducky Derby

The Franklin Young Professionals are preparing to host the first annual Macon Waves Ducky Derby this summer.  The event will be held on August 4th at Big Bear Park on the Little Tennessee River Greenway.  We will be partnering with the NC Big Sweep, a statewide initiative to clean up our waterways.  We have partnered up with the Big Sweep to help promote their cause and to support the beautification and preservation of our community.  We will be participating in the Big Sweep clean up in the morning and will hold our family oriented festival in the afternoon.  At 2 pm we will hold a rubber ducky derby on the Little Tennessee River.  There will be a number of great prizes available, most of which are coming directly from local businesses.  There will be food, music, and games for all ages. 

All proceeds from the event will go towards the FYP Scholarship Fund and back to the Greenway.  We plan to offer a scholarship to a well deserving high school senior (or possibly more than one) from Franklin, who plans to stay in the Franklin area and become a future young professional.  The race ducks will be sold for $5 each or a flock of five ducks for $20.  They will be available from Macon Rental, Repeats Consignment or from any Franklin Young Professional member.   

FYP has Adopted a Highway!

The Franklin Young Professionals have officially adopted a highway.  We have committed to cleaning up a portion of Franklin's roadways to help keep the community and the environment clean.  Our two mile stretch it located on Highway 441 Business Route through Porter Street downtown.  We have been sending groups out quarterly to help with the clean-up effort.  If you see us out there in our bright orange vests give us a wave or honk your horn to let us know you support FYP!!

Have you seen our new sign?

June 16th Clean-Up Crew

Annual Meeting & New Board of Directors

On Friday March 16th, 2012 the Franklin Young Professionals met at Cat Creek Lodge for our annual business meeting.  At this meeting we presented awards to some of our members for their involvement and participation during the 2011-2012 corporate year.  Ten of our members received perfect attendance awards.  A few members received special awards for their superior dedication to the group and our mission.  The award recipients are as follows:

• Most Active - Ashley Freeman
• Most Enthusiastic - Erica Browning
• Most Productive - Ryan Finn
• FYP Mama of the Year - Jessica Jenkins
• Seen But Not Heard Award - Johnathan Dean

We also had the extreme privilege of installing our new board of directors for the upcoming 2012-2013 corporate year.  Our charter board stepped down and handed over the reins to the new board members.  We were pleased to have a few of our previous board members stay on for this upcoming year, but also glad to see a number of new, fresh faces step up.

FYP Board of Directors 2012-2013

Franklin Young Professionals, Inc Board of Directors 2012-2012: 

President - Mandy Lail* 

Vice President - Laura Tallent 

Past President - Ashley Hyder* 

Secretary - Kelly Rogers, DVM* 

Treasurer - Johnathan Dean 

Events Chair - Craig Berry* 

Membership Chair - Bethany Ledford (co-chair Ryan Finn) 

Marketing Chair - Matthew Bateman  

Historian - Ashley Freeman 

* indicates previous board position

The Franklin Young Professionals are looking forward to another great year.  We are already working on some big plans for the year and some great opportunities to get involved with and help support our community.  We plan to continue to help out with and be a major supporter of the CareNet Weekend Backpack Program throughout the year.  Our "Adopt a Highway" stretch will also continue to maintained by the group quarterly, so keep your eyes peeled for us along US 441/Porter Street downtown.  Our group is also planning to participate in at least one more career fair this year, but eventually we hope to have more opportunities for involvement with the young people of Franklin.  

Special thanks to Cat Creek Lodge for hosting another great event for us. 

FYP is Honored with Organization of the Year

Franklin Young Professionals is proud and honored to announce that we were selected by the Franklin Chamber of Commerce as the 2011 Club/Organization of the Year.  The annual Chamber banquet was held this past Tuesday, January 24th in Tartan Hall at the First Presbyterian Church.  We made a great presence at the banquet, as fourteen of our members were in attendance.  There were a number of other prestigious awards given out and the new 2012 board members were announced.  One of our own, Josh Owens (Macon Bank), will serve on this year's Chamber Board.

Organization of the Year 2011 - Franklin Young Professionals

We were very surprised and honored by our nomination for this award, especially since this past year was our first official year in action.  We are very proud of what our group has already accomplished and we are very glad to see the community acknowledging our efforts thus far.  What a great honor to receive.

FYP Officers Accepting the Award at the Chamber Banquet

The 2011-2012 officers for FYP accepted the award at the banquet.  We were given a lovely plaque, which we will definitely put up as soon as we decide the best place to display it.  We were also surprised with another plaque honoring our organization's charter membership and board of directors, which will be displayed permanently at the Chamber Office.  The Town of Franklin definitely has a bright future!  Congratulations to a job well done this year.

Click Here for Full Chamber Banquet Report from the Macon County News
 

Our Organization of the Year Plaque