Friday, July 13, 2007 - Exchange Students Report to Rotary

RI Exchange Students Visit UC Rotary

      Today, Union City Rotarians welcome Hailey Fishel and Carolina Foghammer, Rotary International Youth Exchange students. 
     Hailey, the 17-year old daughter of Eric and Camille Fishel of Obion County, will be a Senior at UCHS this fall.  She will share her memories and photographs of a recent trip to Sweden while Carolina will talk to us about life in Sweden and her impressions of America.  Carolina lives with her family on an island called Lidingo, near Stockholm.  In August, Carolina be attending Hersby Gymnasium (same as a U.S. high school) as a Junior.  Her interests include scuba diving and spending time with family and friends.                
     The RI Youth Exchange program is designed to permit young people to learn the culture and language of a foreign country through active participation in family, school and community life in order to further international goodwill and understanding.

Rep. Phillip Pinion Offers Legislative Roundup

     Next week, State Rep. Phillip Pinion will report on the accomplishments of the just completed First Session of the 105th Tennessee General Assembly.
     Pinion, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, just completed his 9th term in the Legislature and is now campaigning for a 10th term.  Phillip was honored as the 1992 Legislator of the Year by the National Association of Self-employed, 1996 Legislator of the Year by the TN Development Association and 1996 Pride of Obion County recipient.  The Tennessee Center for Labor-Management recognized his leadership and support in the pursuit of industrial partnership and productivity in the state in 2002. The new Dyer County Rescue Squad building was named after Pinion in June.  Phillip has two sons, Chip and Chad, a daughter-in-law, Tammy, and a grandson, A. J.  Phillip is a graduate of UCHS and UTM.

Rotary Installation Program Starts New Rotary Year

     Last  week, Barry Keathely was installed as the new president of the Union City Rotary Club while a host of other Rotarians took other places of leadership in the club.  The installation ceremonies were conducted by Dee Ann Culbreath, District Governor Designee, from Jackson.
     Outgoing president Steve Goodrich thanked Rotarians for helping him have a successful year and for their work on many projects internal to the club. He said membership had been a focus of his administration and listed the names of 15 new members and those whom we lost during the past year.
     Prior to swearing in the new officers, Rotarian Art Sparks announced this year’s three Paul Harris honorees as Dr. Rodger Lewis (a Paul Harris Plus One recipient), Dr. Leland Davis and Jim Cawley.
     District Gov-Elect Culbreath then installed in a mass swearing-in Steve Conley as president-elect, Randy Barnes as secretary, Gary Houston as sergeant-at-arms, Al Creswell as ascending director and Jody Kizer and Jim Bondurant as directors and Goodrich as past president and director.
     “Your $300,000-plus in scholarships is absolutely amazing,” Dee Ann said. “Your legacy of Rotary service I second to none for a club your size and my admonition is to ‘keep it up’.”
    Newly installed president Keathley said he was excited and overwhelmed to assume leadership of the club and a bit nervous as well.  He said he joined Rotary because of its
giving nature and his desire to be a part of that spirit.
     He asked for Rotarians help in finding other projects to consider in the coming year and to help keep new members coming into the club.  He then presented Goodrich with his gavel and past-president’s pen and led the club in a recital of the Four-Way Test, which will become a weekly event at Rotary.
     President Keathley was born at the former Obion County General Hospital on March 30, 1958. After graduating from UCHS in 1976, and attending Union University, he married and started his family.  During his professional career, Barry has been Vice President, manager and buyer for Five Seasons, Inc.  His love of music led him to become Music Director of Second Baptist Church.   He and wife, Janet, have three children: Jeremy, Justin and Katie.  Barry has served on several boards in the community, including First Citizens Bank, the Obion County Chamber of Commerce, and Lifeline Blood Services.  He has also served with the Union City Babe Ruth Board, is a member of the Tennessee Baptist Men’s Chorale and is a director on the board for Mas Verde, Inc.   Congratulations Barry Keathley and best of luck during your year as President of the Union City Rotary Club!

Coming Attractions

7/27        Ron Smith—Social Security
8/3          Rachel Triplett—Rotary Exchange Student on Trip to Germany
 9/21       Dr. Shirley Raines—President of the University of Memphis & Former
                President of Memphis Chamber of Commerce

 Happy Birthdays

7/13      Matt Goodrich
7/18      Jason Kizer
7/19      Steve Sedberry

Happy Anniversary

7/17      Larry and Beverly Vernon

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