Friday, August 3, 2007 - Rotary Exchange Students Rachel Triplett and Julia Schulz to visit club

Exchange Students Rachel Triplett & Julia Schulz

    Today, Rotarians welcome Youth Exchange Students Rachel Triplett and Julia Schulz, who will report on their recent visits to Germany and the United States.
   Rachel is the 17- 17-year old daughter of Teri and Dr. Jeff Triplett of Union City.  She will be a senior at Union City High School this fall and recently spent five weeks in Germany.
   Julia is the 17-year old daughter of Connie and Lothar Schulz o Mellrichstadt, Bavaria. She attends Martin-Pollich Gymnasium (high school) and is making her tour of America at the present time.
   Rotary International says the most powerful force in the promotion of international understanding and peace is exposure to different cultures.  The world becomes a smaller, friendlier place when we learn that all people—regardless of nationality—desire the same basic things—a safe and comfortable environment that allows for a rich and satisfying life for our children and ourselves. Welcome girls!

Flying Daredevil Mike Rinker on Recent Comp in Spain

  Next week, Rotarian Mike Rinker will tell us about a recent flying aerobatics competition he took part in  in Grenada, Spain on July 7.  Mike spent a month in Spain practicing for and competing in the 24th World Aerobatic Championships.  The U.S. team finished 4th overall. Using a rented Sukhoi, Mike finished 19th overall in the world and 16th in the men’s standings out of 51 total pilots representing 12 countries.
   Mike began flying in 1984 and became Bill Eliott’s corporate pilot in 1987. Mike got the aerobatics bug by flying with Bill in a Belanca Citabria doing some basic stunts.  In 2002, Mike purchased a Pitts S2B and started competing 8in regional and national competitions.  He purchased his own Sukhoi in 2003.
   Mike married the former Rhonda Vaughn in 1992 and moved to Obion County and went to work for Rhonda’s dad, Steve Vaughn at Vaughn Electric Company.

Ron Smith Gives  Social Security Update

     Last  week, Ron A. Smith, the new manager of the Union City Social Security office, reported on the many types of benefits available to qualified candidates and the future solvency of the Social Security agency.
   Ron, who hails from Memphis, but has served in the Union City for nearly a year, is over SS operations in Obion, Lake and Weakley counties.
   Ron spoke about spousal and widow benefits, children benefits, disability programs, age restrictions, and survival benefits during his program. He also discussed SSI—Supplemental Security Insurance, Medicare Prescription Drug plans and other types of subsidies that Uncle Sam has devised through the years.
   Ron said the two most often asked question is whether the SS program will be solvent in the future and if Baby Boomers will be able to get their full benefits when the time arrives.  He assured us that the program will be solvent for at least the next 35 years.
   During Q&A, Ron said the guard that is stationed in the local SS office was mandated by Congress following the terrorists attacks on 9/11 (2001).
   Ron concluded his talk by reminding Rotarians that when Social Security was first conceived, it was designed as an insurance program to supplement other types of retirement—not a full retirement program. 
   This year, nearly 50-million Americans will received over $602 Billion in Social Security benefits.  Workers who have worked in “covered employment” for a sufficient number of years are eligible for retirement benefits when they retire at age 62.  However, there are incentives to wait until your full retirement age, which is between 65 and 67.
   Here in Tennessee, 1,041,360 people received $9.7 Billion in SS benefits in 2003. 
   Thanks Ron for a very informative program.
    

Coming Attractions

8/17        UTM Football Coach Jason Simpson
8/24        UCHS Football Coach Jimmy Fishel
8/31        Bill Lawrence—Pre History and Archeology of Reelfoot Lake
9/7          TBA
9/14        Congressman John Tanner
9/21        Dr. Shirley Raines—President of the University of Memphis & Former
                President of Memphis Chamber of Commerce
 

 Happy Birthdays

8/4        Bill Latimer
8/6        Chris Crockett
8/8        Bill Stephenson

 Happy Anniversary

8/3        Jim and Jenna Glasgow. Jr.

Baseball Weekend

A reminder to support the Union City Greyhounds in post-season play this weekend at L.H. Ladd Field…and to support the 13-Year Old Southeast Regional Babe Ruth Tournament taking place this weekend and early next week at both Ladd Field and Thompson Field.  Ten state champions are competing for the right to move on the Babe Ruth World Series.

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