Union City Rotary Club - Weekly Bulletin & News

Today, marks the sixth year Union City Rotary has had the privilege of helping young students from Union City High School further their education through the Verhine Scholarship Fund.

This year’s Verhine scholarships will total $165,000, handed out to some 117 deserving students. This along with the Rotary Scholarships four weeks ago bring the total dollars in scholarships this year to $294,650.00, handed out to 227, Union City, Obion County Central and South Fulton High School Students.

These Scholarships are made possible through a $3.5 million endowment to the Rotary Club from the Vernon Verhine estate. Mr Verhine was a leading 20th Century businessman, property owner and investor in Union City until his death in 1972.

The main theme for the program is to help students get a chance to go to college. We started with helping graduating high school seniors get into college who might not have had a chance otherwise. We encourage each student who received an award this year to apply again next year, allowing us to have a large number of upper classman receiving these scholarships, and help with the expenses of getting a degree in his/her field.

Next week, fellow Rotarian, Larry Vernon, Sensei brings his Shotokan Karate Academy students to our weekly meeting and provide us a brief explanation and class demonstration on principles of ‘traditional karate’.

Larry has been training students in the art of karate since 1982 here in Union City. He began karate training himself in 1977, earned his 1st Degree Black Belt with Japan International Karate Center of Honolulu Hawaii. earned his 2nd Degree Black Belt with Southeast School of Karate of Birmingham, AL. He is a Member of United Shotokan Karate Federation of Memphis, TN and JKA/AAKF of Los Angeles, CA.

In his words, "we teach children through adults at Shotokan Karate Academy, with a combined class structure. Classes offer specialized attention to beginners as well as to more advanced students. Classes are designed to encourage students of all levels to practice together in harmony, and learn from each other, as well as from the instructor in a safe and caring environment".

Sensei Vernon has instructed multiple karate classes and has promoted a number of personal students to the rank of black belt. He has provided self defense seminars and programs to various groups and organizations such as ours.

Last Week, Ray Jamieson and his son Hugh visited Union City Rotary and Ray gave a very interesting presentation on his new venture, a Bourbon Distillery, which he and his son are establishing just down the road on Hwy 125 going toward Kickman, KY.

Ray began by informing the audience that his father gave him a choice of going to school after high school graduation, or going to the Mississippi cotton patch, which they owned and the obvious choice was college, he said.

He then informed us of the time he spent looking for a suitable site for his project and after almost a year came up with the 15 acres purchased from Tommy Hepler just off the highway between Union City and Hickman. He went on to say that the next year was spent, September 06-September 07, planning and building the necessary equipment to run the Still.

He said that when he is in full production with the equipment he is installing now, he will be able to produce 250,000 gallons or 120,000, cases of finished product per year, running 8 hrs a day 5 days a week.

On the site he plans to have a very nice welcome center a meeting hall which will include open fireplaces, a kitchen and a tasting food bar. There will also be two cabins built on the property for "Bed and Breakfast" for friends and customers. He jokingly said these will be called "Jamieson’s Bourbon and Bed" Cabins. There is also going to be a Brick Oven for roasting coffee and making of bread.

Ray spoke of various events he plans to have on the site, such as car shows, cooking events, art shows, moonshine night, music and entertainment shows and several other happenings. He said on moonshine night he plans to drag out one of his own antique stills and make whisky as a demonstration.

After his presentation, there was a short question, answer session, at which time he said opening depended upon a decision as to whether his Mfg. Plant was considered a "hazardous waste" plant. Also several Rotarians were interested in when they could pick up applications to be one of his Tasters.

Coming Attractions

June 13 - Larry Vernon’s Karate Class

June 20 - Business Meeting

June 27 - Officer Installation

July 4 - No Meeting

July 11 - Ron Green & Clay Woods - Boy’s& Girl’s Club

Birthdays

June 8 - Shea Riley, III

June - 9 - Jimmy Cagle

June 11 - David Johnson

Anniversaries

June 7 - Jason and Kristi Kizer

June 8 - Clay and Sherry Woods

June 9 - Dennis and Lisa Sigman

June 10 - Shea Riley, III and Donna

June 11 - Robert and Ann Cameron

Special Announcement!

Let’s all congratulate, Fellow Rotarian, Phillip Creswell, who tomorrow night will be taking the huge steps of Matrimony. His Bride Elect is Katie Hare. They will exchange Vows at the First Methodist Church in Jackson, Tennessee with music starting at 6:30 pm.

Memoriam

In Memory

Jim Cawley

June 20, 1952 - June 4, 2008

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