Friday, March 9, 2007 - Retiring UTM Chancellor Dr. Nick Dunagan to speak to Rotary

Retiring UTM Chancellor Nick Dunagan to Visit

      Today, Union City Rotarians welcome retiring UTM Chancellor Dr. Nick Dunagan to Rotary.  It will be Dr. Dunagan’s final talk to Rotary as UTM Chancellor before his retirement this summer.
     Nick is sure to use the occasion to reflect on his 30-plus year association with UTM and Obion County as well as the Tennessee Scholars Program, the Education Pipeline, and other educational opportunities available to Obion Countians, including WestStar, the university’s regional leadership program for West Tennessee.
     Dr. Dunagan began his work at UT-Martin in 1973 as director of development. His most recent job assignments have included executive vice chancellor, vice chancellor for student affairs, and vice chancellor for development and administration.  He has served UTM as its interim chancellor three times.   A native of Caruthersville, MO, Dunagain is married to the former Cathy Porter of Humboldt. They have four grown children and four grandchildren. 

Ron Green Reports on Boys & Girls Club, Choir to Sing

     Next  week, Rotarians welcome fellow Rotarian Ron Green, chief professional office for the Boys and Girls Club of Northwest Tennessee. Also joining Ron will be the Boys and Girls Club Choir, which will be entertaining us as well.
     Boys and Girls Clubs are a safe place to learn and grow—all while having fun.  Club programs and services promote and enhance the development of boys and girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging and influence.  Ron Green heads to local B&GC—part of the nation’s fastest-growing youth development organization with a primary focus on young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. 
     BGCA now serves more than 4.6 million girls and boys through some 3,900 affiliates in the United States and on military bases in Europe and Asia.
     We look forward to Ron’s presentation next week and hearing the young people sing.

Joe Antal on Lennox Hearth Products, Future of LHP

     Last week, Rotarians welcomed fellow Rotarian Joe Antal, who provided us with an update on Lennox Hearth Products, where Joe serves as plant manager.
     “I’ve worked at a lot of places around the country,” Joe said. “This is one of the finest groups of employees I have ever worked with.”
     Joe told Rotarians that Lennox Hearth was “breaking new ground” with its new design of fireplaces, new marketing approaches, and adaptation of Toyota’s “lean manufacturing” concept inside its manufacturing plants across the country.
     Antal said the Union City Lennox plant will process some 30 million pounds of metal a year, spending $20 million a year with the local economy.
     “That’s big business in our community,” Joe said.
     It was back in 1998 that Lennox Hearth bought out Superior Fireplace facilities in Union City and other locations around the country.  Last year, the company purchased Country Store plants.
     “Our plants compete on delivery and quality,” Joe said. “We are constantly striving to bring our manufacturing costs down and using visual management tools inside or facilities to help streamline our costs.  We will continue to use the talents of every associate in the plant to reach our goals and objectives. Value-Stream-Teams are being identified inside each plant and safety issues are being dealt with as they are identified.”
   Thanks Joe Antal for a very informative program and continued good luck with your Lennox Hearth Products operations in Union City and elsewhere in the country as you compete in a demanding marketplace!

Coming Attractions

3/23    Pat Fligor--Retail Recruitment in Obion County
3/30     Gary Roach—UTM Rodeo
4/6       Jo Ann Spears and Ron Cooper on Coming Airport Improvements
4/13     Virginia Betts—TN Commissioner of Mental Health
4/19     (Thursday)—DSA Banquet featuring Jim Ellis
4/20     No Meeting Today
4/27     Rotary Relays and visit from Paul Tinkle of Thunderbolt Broadcasting
5/4        Rotary Scholarship Program

Happy Birthdays

3/9       David Parks
3/11     Bob Montgomery
3/13     Rob Terrell
3/15     Jim Cooper

Happy Anniversaries

3/10     David and Dianne Critchlow, Sr.
3/11     Chris and Jenny Virgin
3/12     Bentley and Celene Beard

Welcome Newest Rotarians

Say Hello to our four newest Rotarians:

Larry Baker
Phillip Creswell
Doy Daniels
Matt Goodrich

Time Change

   Don’t forget it’s time to “Spring Forward” this weekend as America reverts back to Daylight Saving Time at 2 Sunday morning.  The time-change comes three weeks earlier this year!
   This weekend is also a good time to change your smoke alarm batteries.

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