| MDA Jam 2007 |
The MDA Jam is an annual show held Labor Day Weekend at the Stage Stop in Memphis, Tennessee. The Jam is hosted by
the owner of the Stage Stop, Nita Mackris. The money raised each year is donated to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
the owner of the Stage Stop, Nita Mackris. The money raised each year is donated to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
This is the third year I have photographed the MDA Jam. I have posted photos each year. This year I decided the MDA Jam
deserved much more than just posting photos. I wanted to give the Jam a little more "life" for those who have never participated
or for those who might want to participate in the future. I also wanted to pay a small tribute to Nita Makris the host of the MDA
Jam and find out exactly why Nita is so passionate about giving to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
As anyone who has ever been to the Stage Stop knows, Nita Makris is no pushover. She has,
on occasion, physicially and literally thrown the obnoxious drunk out of her club. She is definitely
no June Cleaver, but she has a heart double the size of June's Kenmore toaster oven. A mother
of three and countless informal adoptees, Nita gave me the opportunity to ask a few questions
and to get a bit of history on her and the 31 year run of the MDA Jam.
Nita began running the Stage Stop in late 1976. The club opened 6 months earlier, under different
management, as a strip club. When it failed, Nita took over at the challenge of her husband to run the
club as a club hosting local musical talent. After Nita saw a young musician mimicking Elvis, she decided
she would accept the challenge. "If there's anything I know it's music and I know everything about Elvis."
With her love of music and her inability to turn down a challenge, it soon became apparent who was in charge. This was true
then and is true now, even though most people would assume that running a club is a man's job. Nita has proven that not only
can she run it but she HAS ran the Stage Stop for 31 years better than any man could.
During the same year, Nita added to her own family. John and Rick welcomed their little sister, Nina. While watching the Jerry
Lewis MDA Telethon, Nita's heart was melting for these very ill yet extremely spirited children. She, feeling thankful for her 3
healthy children, decided there was something she could do for the children living with Muscular Dystrophy. Hence, the birth of
the first annual MDA Jam.
Since 1976, without fail, every year Nita hosts the MDA Jam. Her son Rick better known as "Slick Rick",
DJ at the Stage Stop, mans the mic and uses his big voice and his big heart to get donations for the
fishbowl. He also runs the raffles. Nina, vocalist, guitar player, and founder of the Nina Makris Band
plays the benefit every year and has participated in one way or another since she was just a child.
Incidentally Nina and co-vocalist Jessica both played the Jam this
year with the flu.
The Jam includes 3 days of fund raising that consists of a poker tournament, and 2 nights of musical
entertainment. One night of music for those with heavier taste in music and the other night includes bands
with a more classic sound. Nita hand picks the bands herself, just like she has since 1976. She says her
choices for the band line-up depends on several factors. How well the music meshes, the personalities of the members, and
how big of a crowd the bands bring with them are just a few. That's not the only work involved in putting together the Jam each
year. Nita also has to allocate donations for door prizes. She has, over the years, built a list of corporate sponsors that give
monetary and product donations. The Jam is only part of her donations.
She also gathers supplies, medical and food, for the MDA Summer Camp held in June
each year. This year she rallied the troops and sent a truck load, literally, of food and
medical supplies to the camp.
For all of her hard work, this year she was presented with the Hands Award.
The Hands Award is a 2x2 canvas with the camp-goers paint hand prints and
names. The award is a huge deal!! It is not only an acknowledgement for donations, but a
thanks from children themselves. The Hands Award is the greatest honor a volunteer for the MDA Summer Camp could ever
receive.
Nita's generosity doesn't stop with the MDA. She has held 5 benefits shows over the last 2 months for various causes. Some
for families with sick children or for loyal friends of the Stage Stop that have found themselves in tragic situations. Whether it's
the death of a loved one with no life insurance or the recently diagnosed cancer patient,
Nita always comes to the aid of those in need. With the money that her benefits raise
she pays funeral costs, medical and household bills.
In 2006 the MDA Jam raised $16,000 and this year the Jam brought in $10,750. Nita
does not keep a running total of her donations to the MDA. I am sure there would be no
way to keep up after 31 years of MDA Jams and Summer Camp donations. She does
not do it to say "Look what I did!" she does it to say "Look at these beautiful spirited children!
Help me so I can help them."
During my conversation with Nita, I did a bit of eavesdropping. There were two conversations I overheard that I think sums up
Nita Makris. One conversation was on the phone. It was an employee calling in sick due to a death in the family. Nita handled it
the way we all wish an employer would. She was concerned for the employee AND for the other members of the family,
especially the widow. Her motherly advice was for the widow to not be left alone. Her concern was genuine and heartfelt. Never
once was there an attitude of worry with how she would make it without the employee. Motherly advice-not employer guilt trip.
The second conversation was also with an employee. The just of that conversation was "if they can't give 100% then they don't
need to be here." Her expectations of others are no more than what she expects from herself. She also brags "I have the best
staff in the city." I myself know that to be true. She surrounds herself with good people and is a great judge of character.
To her credit, Nita has supported local music for 31 years, built a business based on her love of music, given back to her
community one hundred times over, and raised her 3 children in the midst of it all.
Nita.....thanks for all you do!
Click here to visit the
Click here to visit
deserved much more than just posting photos. I wanted to give the Jam a little more "life" for those who have never participated
or for those who might want to participate in the future. I also wanted to pay a small tribute to Nita Makris the host of the MDA
Jam and find out exactly why Nita is so passionate about giving to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
As anyone who has ever been to the Stage Stop knows, Nita Makris is no pushover. She has,
on occasion, physicially and literally thrown the obnoxious drunk out of her club. She is definitely
no June Cleaver, but she has a heart double the size of June's Kenmore toaster oven. A mother
of three and countless informal adoptees, Nita gave me the opportunity to ask a few questions
and to get a bit of history on her and the 31 year run of the MDA Jam.
Nita began running the Stage Stop in late 1976. The club opened 6 months earlier, under different
management, as a strip club. When it failed, Nita took over at the challenge of her husband to run the
club as a club hosting local musical talent. After Nita saw a young musician mimicking Elvis, she decided
she would accept the challenge. "If there's anything I know it's music and I know everything about Elvis."
With her love of music and her inability to turn down a challenge, it soon became apparent who was in charge. This was true
then and is true now, even though most people would assume that running a club is a man's job. Nita has proven that not only
can she run it but she HAS ran the Stage Stop for 31 years better than any man could.
During the same year, Nita added to her own family. John and Rick welcomed their little sister, Nina. While watching the Jerry
Lewis MDA Telethon, Nita's heart was melting for these very ill yet extremely spirited children. She, feeling thankful for her 3
healthy children, decided there was something she could do for the children living with Muscular Dystrophy. Hence, the birth of
the first annual MDA Jam.
Since 1976, without fail, every year Nita hosts the MDA Jam. Her son Rick better known as "Slick Rick",
DJ at the Stage Stop, mans the mic and uses his big voice and his big heart to get donations for the
fishbowl. He also runs the raffles. Nina, vocalist, guitar player, and founder of the Nina Makris Band
plays the benefit every year and has participated in one way or another since she was just a child.
Incidentally Nina and co-vocalist Jessica both played the Jam this
year with the flu.
The Jam includes 3 days of fund raising that consists of a poker tournament, and 2 nights of musical
entertainment. One night of music for those with heavier taste in music and the other night includes bands
with a more classic sound. Nita hand picks the bands herself, just like she has since 1976. She says her
choices for the band line-up depends on several factors. How well the music meshes, the personalities of the members, and
how big of a crowd the bands bring with them are just a few. That's not the only work involved in putting together the Jam each
year. Nita also has to allocate donations for door prizes. She has, over the years, built a list of corporate sponsors that give
monetary and product donations. The Jam is only part of her donations.
She also gathers supplies, medical and food, for the MDA Summer Camp held in June
each year. This year she rallied the troops and sent a truck load, literally, of food and
medical supplies to the camp.
For all of her hard work, this year she was presented with the Hands Award.
The Hands Award is a 2x2 canvas with the camp-goers paint hand prints and
names. The award is a huge deal!! It is not only an acknowledgement for donations, but a
thanks from children themselves. The Hands Award is the greatest honor a volunteer for the MDA Summer Camp could ever
receive.
Nita's generosity doesn't stop with the MDA. She has held 5 benefits shows over the last 2 months for various causes. Some
for families with sick children or for loyal friends of the Stage Stop that have found themselves in tragic situations. Whether it's
the death of a loved one with no life insurance or the recently diagnosed cancer patient,
Nita always comes to the aid of those in need. With the money that her benefits raise
she pays funeral costs, medical and household bills.
In 2006 the MDA Jam raised $16,000 and this year the Jam brought in $10,750. Nita
does not keep a running total of her donations to the MDA. I am sure there would be no
way to keep up after 31 years of MDA Jams and Summer Camp donations. She does
not do it to say "Look what I did!" she does it to say "Look at these beautiful spirited children!
Help me so I can help them."
During my conversation with Nita, I did a bit of eavesdropping. There were two conversations I overheard that I think sums up
Nita Makris. One conversation was on the phone. It was an employee calling in sick due to a death in the family. Nita handled it
the way we all wish an employer would. She was concerned for the employee AND for the other members of the family,
especially the widow. Her motherly advice was for the widow to not be left alone. Her concern was genuine and heartfelt. Never
once was there an attitude of worry with how she would make it without the employee. Motherly advice-not employer guilt trip.
The second conversation was also with an employee. The just of that conversation was "if they can't give 100% then they don't
need to be here." Her expectations of others are no more than what she expects from herself. She also brags "I have the best
staff in the city." I myself know that to be true. She surrounds herself with good people and is a great judge of character.
To her credit, Nita has supported local music for 31 years, built a business based on her love of music, given back to her
community one hundred times over, and raised her 3 children in the midst of it all.
Nita.....thanks for all you do!
Click here to visit the
Click here to visit
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