Thursday, January 25, 2007
Salvation Army's Tanners honored:
About 30 people came out Wednesday for a breakfast of grits and eggs, coffee and juice, and to honor Majors Bert and Teresa Tanner.
Bert Tanner served as area commander of the Sarasota Salvation Army for eight years, and his wife served with him, overseeing some of the nonprofit agency’s programs.
They have been reassigned to Atlanta to serve as territorial and associate directors of a Salvation Army project to build state-of-the-art community centers in the country.
“I hate to be here for this,” said Mimi McAdoo, who has served on the Salvation Army board since 1979.
“I hate to be here for this too,” Bert Tanner responded.
He and his wife were given a proclamation from the city and a plaque from the Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness, who organized the breakfast.
They were praised for their dedication to helping the homeless in this community and people in need.
Richard Martin, chairman of the partnership, said he was sorry to see Santa Claus leave Sarasota. Each year Bert Tanner grows out his beard to play the jolly elf for senior citizens and children.
Many at the breakfast voiced their appreciation, and said the couple will be missed.
The Tanners spoke lovingly of a community where they hoped to retire.
“My regret is I didn’t find a way to do more for more people,” Bert Tanner said.
He encouraged the community to continue working on finding solutions to the root causes of homelessness.
“I know your heart, and your intent is good,” he said. “You’re an ideal city, and you have the opportunity to be a lighthouse and a beacon on the hill. I think you can find a legitimate solution. I encourage you to look everyday for new ways to do that.”
By PATTY ALLEN-JONES Sarasota Herald Tribune
About 30 people came out Wednesday for a breakfast of grits and eggs, coffee and juice, and to honor Majors Bert and Teresa Tanner.
Bert Tanner served as area commander of the Sarasota Salvation Army for eight years, and his wife served with him, overseeing some of the nonprofit agency’s programs.
They have been reassigned to Atlanta to serve as territorial and associate directors of a Salvation Army project to build state-of-the-art community centers in the country.
“I hate to be here for this,” said Mimi McAdoo, who has served on the Salvation Army board since 1979.
“I hate to be here for this too,” Bert Tanner responded.
He and his wife were given a proclamation from the city and a plaque from the Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness, who organized the breakfast.
They were praised for their dedication to helping the homeless in this community and people in need.
Richard Martin, chairman of the partnership, said he was sorry to see Santa Claus leave Sarasota. Each year Bert Tanner grows out his beard to play the jolly elf for senior citizens and children.
Many at the breakfast voiced their appreciation, and said the couple will be missed.
The Tanners spoke lovingly of a community where they hoped to retire.
“My regret is I didn’t find a way to do more for more people,” Bert Tanner said.
He encouraged the community to continue working on finding solutions to the root causes of homelessness.
“I know your heart, and your intent is good,” he said. “You’re an ideal city, and you have the opportunity to be a lighthouse and a beacon on the hill. I think you can find a legitimate solution. I encourage you to look everyday for new ways to do that.”
By PATTY ALLEN-JONES Sarasota Herald Tribune
