Tuesday, November 17, 2026 at 12:00 PM
LWV Oak Ridge hosts Lunch with the League: Dr. Michael Toomey on the Revolutionary War
Dr. Michael Toomey is a retired professor of history from Lincoln Memorial University where he was a member of the faculty of the Paul V. Hamilton School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. He was the recipient of the LMU prestigious Houston Award for Teaching Excellence. He was also managing editor of the Journal of East Tennessee History and curator of history for the East Tennessee Historical Society. He has written chapters to many peer reviewed books, authored numerous articles, and given professional presentations. Dr Toomey received his BA degree in history from the University of Tennessee - Chattanooga and his masters and PhD degrees from UTK.
We are all familiar with the many roles that slaves and slavery played in the Civil War. And, we are familiar with the 3/5th compromise made during the formulation of the Constitution regarding slavery. However, less known is the active role that many slaves and their families played during the Revolutionary War. Many ran away from their owners to take refuge in the promise of the British to protect them while granting them freedom and many died. Dr. Toomey will give us a deep dive into this part of our history - which in many ways was setting the stage for the inevitable Civil War.
The Lunch With the League (LWL) is scheduled for the first and third Tuesdays of each month (except September 2026) from September through May. The League meets in the Social Room of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike. Lunches may be purchased for a nominal fee beginning at 11:30 a.m. (eastern time) or attendees may bring their own lunch. Coffee and tea will be provided. The presentation by the speaker begins at 12:00 noon, followed by a question-and-answer session. Guests are welcome to attend these interesting and informative events. Members will be informed via email of any last-minute changes to the program.
Tuesday, December 01, 2026 at 12:00 PM
LWV Oak Ridge hosts Lunch with the League: Courtney Atnip of Capitol & 5th Public Strategies
Courtney Atnip, founding partner of Capitol & 5th Public Strategies, master’s degree, UTK, She is a government public relations consultant; where she serves as an independent Tennessee government public relations firm serving corporate, government, nonprofit organizations; and Lobbyists for the League of Women Voters TN, She will bring us up to date on the successful (and not so successful)legislation that was passed in the last two sessions and walk us through the legislative process of September 2026 Volume 89, Issues 1 Page 3 the Tennessee General Assembly and how we can engage with that process at the most beneficial time.
The Lunch With the League (LWL) is scheduled for the first and third Tuesdays of each month (except September 2026) from September through May. The League meets in the Social Room of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike. Lunches may be purchased for a nominal fee beginning at 11:30 a.m. (eastern time) or attendees may bring their own lunch. Coffee and tea will be provided. The presentation by the speaker begins at 12:00 noon, followed by a question-and-answer session. Guests are welcome to attend these interesting and informative events. Members will be informed via email of any last-minute changes to the program.
Sunday, December 06, 2026 at 12:00 PM
LWV Oak Ridge hosts Lunch with the League: Denise Kiernan on "Women who ignited the American Revolution"
Denise Kiernan is a New York Times best-seller and award winning author. Two of her previous works are particularly note worthy: the Girls of Atomic City and The Last Castle were instant best sellers.
Her latest narrative nonfiction title, Obstinate Daughters: The Rebels, Writers, and Renegade Women Who Ignited the American Revolution, arrived June 23, 2026. She is also the co-author of We Gather Together; Signing Their Lives Away; Signing Their Rights Away; and Stuff Every American Should Know. She has been published in The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Village Voice, Rolling Stone, Time, Ms. Magazine, and many more publications.
Throughout her career, Kiernan’s engaging personality and expertise has made her a featured guest on many radio and television shows, including NPR's “Weekend Edition,” “PBS NewsHour,” “MSNBC Morning Joe,” and “The Daily Show” with Jon Stewart. Kiernan is the creator and host of “CRAFT: Authors in Conversation,” works with nonprofits WriteGirl and Equal Playing Field, and serves on the Board of Governors of the William L. Clements Library at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. She lives in North Carolina. Books will be available for purchase and signing.