Duncan Book Signing

From Batboy to Congressman

Congressman John J. “Jimmy” Duncan, Jr.

Join us for a discussion and book signing at our February 11th monthly meeting at the Boys and Girls Club (407 Caswell Ave, Knoxville). Arrive 7:45 to network and the meeting will kick-off at 8 am. Our speaker, John J. Duncan, Jr. served as a respected criminal defense lawyer and judge before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for Tennessee’s Second Congressional district in 1988. He retired from Congress at the end of his 16th term in January of 2019. Throughout his decades-long career, Duncan was known for his commitment to his constituents.

This book contains timely reflections on issues of war and poverty, leadership and the lack of it, and the proper relationship between citizens and government. Its intention is to highlight moments in a singular career. “As you will read in the book,” writes Congressman Duncan, “every job gave me strange, funny, and unusual stories.”

Support a local business and purchase your copy at Union Ave Bookstore From Batboy to Congressman: Thirty Years in the US House (Paperback) or pick up your copy at the meeting.

Don’t forget to renew your membership this month, click here.

Learn about Compass – local news in a new world

Scott Barker, Co-founder of Compass

Our speaker this month will be Scott Barker the co-founder along with Jesse Fox Mayshark, of Compass, a local news website, and newsletter focusing on government, politics, education, and business (www.compassknox.com).

He was born in Chattanooga and raised in Kingston. After attending Austin Peay State University and the University of Tennessee, he worked in various jobs until he was hired as a reporter at the News Sentinel in 1999. He won numerous national, state, and regional journalism awards as a reporter and editorial page editor over his 18-year stint at the paper. He was the lead reporter of the News Sentinel’s coverage of downtown Knoxville’s redevelopment, Black Wednesday and its aftermath, the Kingston coal ash spill, and other seminal news events over the past two decades.

In 2020, Scott and Jesse were inducted into the East Tennessee Writers Hall of Fame. He lives in North Knoxville with his wife, Kimberly Jones. His daughter attends the University of Tennessee.

Register to attend in person

Meeting Details

• When: 8 am
• Where: Emerald Youth Foundation (1718 Central St.)
• Zoom option available – email nkbpa.info@gmail.com for the link before Friday’s meeting.

Meeting Schedule for 2022

Mark your calendars for this year’s meetings. Join us on the 2nd Friday, of every month at 8am.

Here are the dates to add to your calendar:

• January 14
• February 11
• March 11
• April 8
• May 13
• June 10
• July 8
• August 12
• September 9
• October 14
• November 11
• December 9

Locations and upcoming speakers to be determined. We hope you can join us.