Nov 1 - Secret Service Man Tommy Smith

Our Speaker

A.T. (Tommy)  Smith will talk about his career in the secret service and some of his 

personal experiences. He’ll also tell us what writers often get wrong concerning his field and include a little about his plans for the Greenville County sheriff’s department if he is elected.

Mr. Smith is a native sixth generation South Carolinian. He grew up in Taylors and graduated from Wade Hampton High School in 1976.  His law enforcement career began in 1978 when he was hired as a communications dispatcher for the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office under Sheriff Johnny Mack Brown.  His 29-year Secret Service career began in 1986 as a Special Agent assigned to the Miami Field Office. He served as Senior Advisor on cybersecurity and transnational organized crime and finally as Deputy Director of the Secret Service.

Among his many assignments, he served as Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office and Assistant to the Special Agent in Charge of the Presidential Protective Division.  

He has received numerous citations, including the Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Service, the Department of Homeland Security Secretary’s Silver Medal, the Secretary’s Award of Excellence, and awards from the New York’s Finest Foundation and the American Society of Industrial Security. 

Mr. Smith holds master’s degrees in Science in Criminal Justice from both Alabama and USC. He is an active member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Association of Former Agents of the United States Secret Service, and National Sheriff’s Association member.

Smith is running for sheriff of Greenville County, but the election cannot officially begin until Will Lewis no longer holds the title.

Meeting Details

Our monthly meeting will take place on Thursday, November 1, at The Runway Café, 21 Airport Rd, Greenville, SC.  Be there at 6:15 p.m. to meet Tommy Smith and enjoy chapter fellowship. Supper is served at 6:30. Our speakers will begin after new and old business at about 7 p.m. Both dinner and the meeting are open to the public.

Please e-mail your dinner and drink order before Thursday the 1st to Ellis Vidler (click on link). This speeds service and helps us plan. The link for our special menu is located on the right hand column listing. If you place an order and do not attend or fail to cancel by noon, you will be charged for the meal. And like always, we'll enjoy it. 

Looking forward to seeing you!

JOIN US FOR COMING EVENTS

December 2--Christmas Party

January 3--Phil Carter, postal inspector, formerly with secret service

February 7--to be announced

March 7--Debra Goldstein, judge, litigator, and author of the Sarah Blair mysteries

Minutes from the October 4. 2018 meeting

Twenty-six smart, talented, and charming members and guests attended our October meeting at the Runway Café in Greenville. After everyone was sufficiently settled in and fed, President Sally Handley brought the meeting to order, and we began with the usual intros and news from the assembled gang.


Madam President (she goes by Sally almost always) then gave a summary of all the new business: Sally’s presenting a “We Love Libraries” check of $1000 to the Landrum Middle School Library on October 11^th at 11 am, and invited anyone who wishes to join her to meet her at the library that day. 1000 bucks! Wow! SinC’s a great organization, no? In other new business the Hampton/Easley library is hosting a Fall Authors Showcase on November 11th. If interested, contact the library. And the library on Augusta Road in Greenville is hosting an author talk on November 5^th. Moving on from all the library news, our own Judy Buch will be the new moderator for the Mystery Book Club at Fiction Addiction in Greenville. The book club meets the second Wednesday of the month at noon, and this month they will be discussing Judy’s own, Venom. The Fiction Addiction website gives further details!


Also in new business, Linda Lovely reminded us it’s time to think about our annual Holiday Party. We have chosen the date of Sunday December 2^nd at the clubhouse in Seneca where we have held the festivities for the past few years. Keep the date open, cuz we always have loads of good fun and loads of good food! More details coming soon…


But onto the main event for this month! Our speakers at our October meeting were Jill Hendix and Vally Sharpe. Seeing a real need among self-published authors, Jill and Vally began their business, Fiction Addiction Self-Publishing Services. Jill brings her twenty years experience in the book-selling business to the partnership, and Vally is an editor with marketing and design experience. Together, they promise to help any indie author achieve their goals of bringing a professionally designed and edited book (both paperback and ebook) to the market. Boy, do these women know their business! The gang learned lots of details about current business trends, and editing and cover-design do’s and don’ts. If you missed the meeting, DO check out their website: info@fiction-addiction.com And DON’T forget to join us next month!


Respectfully Submitted,


Cindy Blackburn, chapter secretary