| July/August Feature Instructor: Joyce Guthrie |
Personally, I do not have children, but I do have my students who mean
just as much to me as my own children would. When I think about any
of them experiencing the slightest bit of pain.... ugh.... I can't take it. I
get a lump in my throat and my eyes tear up. When I think of the pain
that Joyce Guthrie and her family have had to endure, it breaks my
heart.... and then.... makes my heart soar. We can all take a lesson from
this lady and her family.
Joyce's 16-year-old son Joshua died in a car accident at the age of 16.
Afterwards, Joyce founded "Joshua's Hands," a non-profit organization
that was established in memory of Joshua. Just like fingers on a hand,
"Joshua's Hands" has a five-fold mission: 1) Community Service, 2)
Scholarships, 3) Young Drivers' Education, 4) The Annual Fall Festival,
and 5) Education.
Once a month in Joyce's home of Loudon County, Virginia, court is
held to distribute driver's licenses to excited teens. Joyce attends this
ceremony each month to tell the tragic story of Joshua to teens and
their parents and to encourage Louden County's newest licensed
drivers to use their recently acquired privilege with caution and care.
In addition, "Joshua's Hands" has partnered with Panera to provide
food to the elderly and needy once a week, which delivers a total of
$25,000 of food annually. The organization also provides scholarships
to deserving students throughout Loudon County and also holds an
annual Fall Festival where Joyce's long time group, the Blue Ridge
Thunder Cloggers, provide entertainment for their community.
The newest goal of "Joshua's Hands" is the "American Heritage Project."
The organization hopes to acquire Wheatland Manor, a beautiful piece
of Pre-Revolutionary War property, for educational purposes that
emphasize America's history, heritage arts (including Clogging), and
foundation of faith. In order to purchase this property, "Joshua's
Hands" must gather a staggering amount of $5 million. This amount
would deter many people, but not the folks of "Joshua's Hands." They
are reaching out to ask for donations to reach their goal and purchase
this piece of property. For more information or to make a donation
toward purchasing the Wheatland Manor property please click here.
May the heroic actions of Joyce and her family and the memory of
Joshua Guthrie inspire us all to turn life's lemons into lemonade.
Dorothy Stephenson, VirginiaClog.com Editor
The mother of seven children - three accomplished cloggers - Joyce
Guthrie has been dancing since 1997. She recently received CCI
(Certified Clogging Instructor) recognition through C.L.O.G., the
national clogging organization.
A graduate of the University of Florida (Go, Gators!), Joyce spent some
interesting years as a trauma nurse. She set aside her stethoscope to
raise and homeschool her children. She now leads three nonprofit
organizations, which keep her involved with home-education, teen safe
driving, education, community service, organ donation, faith-based
initiatives and clogging:-)
Since 2002, Joyce has been the president of BRTC. She guided the
organization through incorporation and helped to secure its nonprofit
status. She was pleased to coordinate fundraising and trip planning
for BRTC’s Ireland trip in 2005. A dreamer at heart, she is always
coming up with ideas for the group; some are met with enthusiasm - to
her delight:-)
Joyce loves choreography and enjoys web design. She has created free
websites for numerous clogging groups (including BRTC) to help
clogging come into the 21st century:-) Her most recent clogging
brainchild is iClog - which hosts the most comprehensive and up-to-
date list of clogging groups on the web and offers a line of T-shirts and
clogging magnets.
just as much to me as my own children would. When I think about any
of them experiencing the slightest bit of pain.... ugh.... I can't take it. I
get a lump in my throat and my eyes tear up. When I think of the pain
that Joyce Guthrie and her family have had to endure, it breaks my
heart.... and then.... makes my heart soar. We can all take a lesson from
this lady and her family.
Joyce's 16-year-old son Joshua died in a car accident at the age of 16.
Afterwards, Joyce founded "Joshua's Hands," a non-profit organization
that was established in memory of Joshua. Just like fingers on a hand,
"Joshua's Hands" has a five-fold mission: 1) Community Service, 2)
Scholarships, 3) Young Drivers' Education, 4) The Annual Fall Festival,
and 5) Education.
Once a month in Joyce's home of Loudon County, Virginia, court is
held to distribute driver's licenses to excited teens. Joyce attends this
ceremony each month to tell the tragic story of Joshua to teens and
their parents and to encourage Louden County's newest licensed
drivers to use their recently acquired privilege with caution and care.
In addition, "Joshua's Hands" has partnered with Panera to provide
food to the elderly and needy once a week, which delivers a total of
$25,000 of food annually. The organization also provides scholarships
to deserving students throughout Loudon County and also holds an
annual Fall Festival where Joyce's long time group, the Blue Ridge
Thunder Cloggers, provide entertainment for their community.
The newest goal of "Joshua's Hands" is the "American Heritage Project."
The organization hopes to acquire Wheatland Manor, a beautiful piece
of Pre-Revolutionary War property, for educational purposes that
emphasize America's history, heritage arts (including Clogging), and
foundation of faith. In order to purchase this property, "Joshua's
Hands" must gather a staggering amount of $5 million. This amount
would deter many people, but not the folks of "Joshua's Hands." They
are reaching out to ask for donations to reach their goal and purchase
this piece of property. For more information or to make a donation
toward purchasing the Wheatland Manor property please click here.
May the heroic actions of Joyce and her family and the memory of
Joshua Guthrie inspire us all to turn life's lemons into lemonade.
Dorothy Stephenson, VirginiaClog.com Editor
The mother of seven children - three accomplished cloggers - Joyce
Guthrie has been dancing since 1997. She recently received CCI
(Certified Clogging Instructor) recognition through C.L.O.G., the
national clogging organization.
A graduate of the University of Florida (Go, Gators!), Joyce spent some
interesting years as a trauma nurse. She set aside her stethoscope to
raise and homeschool her children. She now leads three nonprofit
organizations, which keep her involved with home-education, teen safe
driving, education, community service, organ donation, faith-based
initiatives and clogging:-)
Since 2002, Joyce has been the president of BRTC. She guided the
organization through incorporation and helped to secure its nonprofit
status. She was pleased to coordinate fundraising and trip planning
for BRTC’s Ireland trip in 2005. A dreamer at heart, she is always
coming up with ideas for the group; some are met with enthusiasm - to
her delight:-)
Joyce loves choreography and enjoys web design. She has created free
websites for numerous clogging groups (including BRTC) to help
clogging come into the 21st century:-) Her most recent clogging
brainchild is iClog - which hosts the most comprehensive and up-to-
date list of clogging groups on the web and offers a line of T-shirts and
clogging magnets.
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Welcome
Cloggers!
Cloggers!
| Site Maintained By: |
| The Sundance Studio Home of the Sundance Express |
| Joyce's Bio |
