Thursday, February 27, 2014

Nashville Religion Communicators Council Meets at Horton Group

The Nashville Chapter of the Religion Communicators Council (RCC) meets monthly to learn from one another and hone their skills in public relations and communications. This month, members met at Horton Group to learn key principles on design.


According to Rev. Brian Fesler, president of the Nashville chapter of the Religion Communicators Council (RCC), meetings are supposed to be helpful and informative. “When our group gets together, we should be learning something,” he says. That is why he brought the chapter together at Horton Group this past week. 

Horton Group is a Nashville-based web, mobile and marketing agency founded in 1996. Horton's full marketing services include creative web design, web development, mobile app development, internet marketing, search engine optimization (SEO) and strategic business planning. According to its website, “Horton Group builds websites and critical marketing tools for effective communication on the internet and beyond. We help our clients with custom lead generation and search engine marketing tools.”

Senior Designer of Horton Group, Corey Lamp, took RCC members through basic principles of good design. He showed real examples of what to do with balance, proximity, alignment, spacing, contrast and hierarchy.  To see examples of Lamp’s work, visit coreylamp.com.  

“Our group was very excited to visit Horton Group and learn from seasoned professionals in marketing,” says Fesler, “and Mr. Lamp was amazing.  He demonstrated a passion for his work and represented the Horton Group well.  Obviously design is more than a job for him, as it is for religious professionals.”

The Religion Communicators Council (RCC), founded in 1929, is an interfaith association of religion communicators at work in print and electronic communication, marketing and public relations. Members of the RCC come from many different religions and backgrounds including Christianity, Judaism, Baha’i Faith, Islam and Scientology, among others. For more information, visit religioncommunicators.org. For more information about Horton Group, visit hortongroup.com.


Realizing New Potentials Through Scientology

Attaining higher states of existence is core to the Scientology religion.  Read how a man found answers at the Church of Scientology to help him regain his spirit and do better in life.

At the Nashville Church of Scientology, it is routine to see parishioners arrive for spiritual counseling to help them in various areas of life—such as communication, how to resolve problems, how to resolve past upsets and so forth—but what isn’t always publicized are the incredible success stories which follow.

One such story comes from Matt Klumpp, an Outfitter from Montana who usually spends his days booking hunting trips, guiding clients on archery and rifle excursions for elk, whitetail deer and antelope, and guiding fly fishing trips on the Yellowstone River.

Klumpp says that Scientology has helped him to understand and deal with others: “Scientology tools apply, whether I am talking with a friend or a client or someone I just met on the street, they apply in life.”  He became involved in Scientology three years ago, when he signed up to do the Purification Program. The Purification Program is a detoxification program which enables an individual to achieve spiritual well-being by ridding himself of the harmful effects of drugs, toxins and other chemicals.  

Klumpp continued progressing spiritually in Scientology and says, “I used the added energy that I gained… to help improve the ranch that I hunt on.” He says he was able to make several upgrades around the ranch after receiving spiritual counseling. “I’ve been wanting to do it for many years, and this last season I made it happen.  My hunting clients have noticed the change and appreciate it.”

Rev. Brian Fesler, pastor of the Church of Scientology says, “Scientology spiritual counseling helps parishioners regain energy and vitality.  They often find it easier to work, help their family and generally do better in life.” 

Klumpp agrees: “I would like to say that Scientology has brought life back to my spirit and has me moving upscale… and my outlook has completely changed for the better.”

For more information on Scientology, the courses, or beliefs and practices, visit www.scientology.org.


Monday, February 17, 2014

Religion Communicators Council Discovers Basic Principles of Good Design

The Nashville Chapter of the Religion Communicators Council (RCC) meets monthly to learn from one another and hone their skills in public relations and communications. This month, members will get a crash course in basic design.  


Horton Group in Nashville is to host the Religion Communicators Council (RCC) for a seminar in “Basic Principles of Good Design” on February 18th over lunch.

Horton Group is a Nashville-based web, mobile and marketing agency founded in 1996. Horton's full marketing services include creative web design, web development, mobile app development, internet marketing, search engine optimization (SEO) and strategic business planning. According to its website, “Horton Group builds websites and critical marketing tools for effective communication on the internet and beyond. We help our clients with custom lead generation and search engine marketing tools.”

So in February, Horton Group will help religious communicators learn more about the principles of good design from Senior Designer Corey Lamp.  Lamp is a graduate of Western Kentucky University, though he began his studies in graphic design long before college years. His biography online describes, “…a boy who turned his math book into a sketchbook…” and, “…creating websites in Photoshop ‘for fun.’”

“Our group couldn’t be more excited to visit Horton Group and learn from seasoned professionals,” says Rev. Brian Fesler, President of the Nashville RCC Chapter, “the objective I have for RCC is to provide forums of professional development for the members, and this lunch meeting will be an excellent opportunity for designers to improve their craft.”

The meeting will take place on February 18, 2014 over lunch at the Horton Group offices. Interested religion communicators are encouraged to attend, and join the RCC.

The Religion Communicators Council (RCC), founded in 1929, is an interfaith association of religion communicators at work in print and electronic communication, marketing and public relations. Members of the RCC come from many different religions and backgrounds including Christianity, Judaism, Baha’i Faith, Islam and Scientology, among others. For more information, visit religioncommunicators.org. For more information about Horton Group, visit hortongroup.com.


Thursday, February 13, 2014

Church of Scientology Presents “Vision” Seminar by David Robert Farmerie

The Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre Nashville will host David Robert Farmerie for a seminar titled “Vision,” on March 15th from 1-3pm.

Nashville is more than just the music capital of the world, it is also home to a wide variety of artists: painters, photographers, filmmakers, designers, sculptors and more. The Church of Scientology strives to help these aspiring artists, by arranging seminars for them delivered by professionals.

“Artists uplift society,” says Corinne Sullivan, president of the church, “Our founder, L. Ron Hubbard, knew that artists influence others and that this could be positive or negative. If artists are doing well, they can uplift people and the society will flourish.”

That is why the church will host a free seminar for artists, delivered by professional photographer David Robert Farmerie. The seminar will give an in-depth understanding of the creative process and the importance of personal vision as an artist, for anybody who desires to create passionately.

According to Farmerie’s website, “…David quickly established himself as a rising professional. Discontent, he followed his passion for telling stories, and immersed himself into the coveted territories of photojournalism.”

Farmerie has photographed a virtual who’s who of world leaders and the events shaped by them, including three U.S. Presidents, and several Presidential races. His camera also bore witness to the Solidarity Movement in Poland and the Peace Conferences between the Zapatista Revolutionary Group and the Mexican Government. His career diversified even further with clients such as BBC Television, Paramount Pictures, The Broadway Series and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre.

The Huntsville Museum of Art Red Clay Survey awarded Farmerie as one of the most influential artists of Southern Contemporary Art in 2012. He is a founding member of SouthLight, a salon of eight established photographers from the United States and Europe, all now residing in Nashville, Tennessee.

Farmerie is also an educator in photography. He’s lectured at prestigious centers of learning such as Temple University, Columbia University, University of Texas, DuPage University, Washington University and Webster University. In March, he will travel to New York City to lecture on behalf of Leica Camera. 

The seminar titled “Vision” will be delivered by Farmerie on March 15th from 1-3pm at the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre Nashville. To find out more about the Church of Scientology’s upcoming seminars, call 615-687-4600. For more information about David Robert Farmerie or his artwork, visit davidfarmerie.com.  


Monday, February 10, 2014

Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre Nashville Displays Fine Art by the Femine Studio

Artwork by Lucille Femine is currently on display at the Nashville Church of Scientology.

The Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre Nashville has a primary mission to the support the artists in society. This includes musicians, photographers, fine artists, filmmakers—anyone creative, trying to produce something aesthetic. The reason behind this is simple: L. Ron Hubbard who founded Scientology said, “A culture is only as great as its dreams, and its dreams are dreamed by artists.” The Church carries this forward today by hosting a number of events to drive forward the dreams of artists, and thereby uplift the culture.

The Church is now hosting artwork by fine artist Lucille Femine, who began painting at an early age. She expanded her knowledge in art by attending the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, the New School and the School of Visual Arts in New York. 

Femine says she found her calling in capturing the world around her. “The most amazing thing about her art is that although based on reality, she transforms her subject into something more magical by finding the life in it,” according to her biography on artistsrunthisplanet.com.  

Femine uses acrylic and watercolor to communicate the brightness of life. Her New York landscapes, from Greenwich Village to Times Square to Wall Street, all have excitement and activity. Her artwork has been displayed in exhibitions at Laemmle Theatre & Gallery in Los Angeles, St. Margaret’s House Gallery in New York, Art a la Carte Gallery, the Atrium Gallery in New Jersey, Artlightenment in Nashville and the Vera Langer Studio in New York, among others.

Femine’s watercolors are currently on display at the Church of Scientology, located at 1130 8th Avenue South in Nashville, TN. For more information on the Femine Studio, visit feminestudio.org. For more information on Scientology, visit scientology-ccnashville.org.



Thursday, February 6, 2014

Registration Open for Religion Communicators Council National Convention

Faith-group representatives to meet April 3-5 in Nashville, Tennessee.


Registration is now open for the 85th annual Religion Communicators Council National Convention. The meeting runs April 3 to 5 at The Inn at Opryland in Nashville, Tenn.

Skill-building workshops and plenary sessions during the three-day meeting will focus on how communicators share stories of their faith groups.

The convention schedule includes presentation ceremonies for the 2014 Wilbur Awards and DeRose-Hinkhouse Memorial Communication Awards.

The council has presented Wilbur Awards annually since 1949. They honor excellence by individuals in secular media – print and online journalism, book publishing, broadcasting, and motion pictures – in communicating religious issues, values and themes.

DeRose-Hinkhouse Memorial Awards have been given annually since 1967 to active council members who demonstrate excellence in religious communications and public relations.

Remziya Suleyman of American Center for Outreach is to deliver the April 3 keynote address. She is to give “A Muslim Perspective on Interrelation of Religions and the Role of Religious Communication in Public Advocacy.” Plenary sessions are to feature the Rev. Larry Hollon, chief executive of United Methodist Communications in Nashville; Sybril Bennett, professor of media studies at Belmont University in Nashville; the Rev. Michael Waters, founding pastor of Joy Tabernacle African Methodist Episcopal Church in Dallas; and Sarah Wilke, Publisher, Upper Room Ministries with Lindsay Gray, Editorial Director of Magazines for the Upper Room.

Workshop topics include Religion and the First Amendment, How to Handle a Crisis in Your Church, Religion in the Mainstream Media, and Communicating Faith in a Culture of Fear.

The convention program includes optional service opportunities at Room In The Inn, a homeless ministry, and Magdalene & Thistle Farms, a residence recovery program for women surviving addiction, prostitution and human trafficking.

Registration deadline is March 28. Registration fee is $395 per person. Registration information is available online. The hotel deadline for special room rate is March 3rd.

The Religion Communicators Council is an interfaith association of more than 400 religion communicators. They work in print and electronic communication, advertising, and public relations. Members represent Bahá’í, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Scientology faith communities. Founded in 1929, the council is the oldest public relations professional association in the United States. For more information, visit religioncommunicators.org.