March 20, 2009

Today, Jo Ann Speer, manager of Everett-Stewart Regional Airport, will be our guest speaker, and we can expect to be up-dated on the improvements and expansions of the local Airport.

Jo Ann was the owner/operator of Jo-Aire, LLC, a business she closed after accepting the position of Manager of Everett Stewart Airport in July of 2007.

She was raised in Rutherford, graduated from Rutherford High School and attended the University of Tennessee Martin and has lived most of her life in the Walnut Grove Community, east of Kenton. She and her Husband Kerry own and operate Cutting Edge Bindery, which is a post press process that involves stitching and trimming on printed publications. the are also co-owners of a Cessna 172 in which she provides flight instruction.

She has served on the Board of the Obion County Chamber of Commerce, and also she is a member of the Weakley County Chamber, she is a member of Union City Main Street, served as a Fall Fest Board Member and she is the Event Coordinator for the Airport Extravaganza. In 2008 Jo Ann was appointed to the Tennessee Aviation Hall of Fame Board.

She began flying in 1998, earned her Private Pilot’s license and Advanced Ground Instructor License at Everett-Stewart Airport, Commercial license and Instrument Rating at Chandler Air Service in Chandler, Arizona, and CFI in Carbondale, IL.

In the past she has hosted several FAA Safety Seminars and Aerobatic Camps, planned and hosted an "Airport Extravaganza" as part of Obion County’s Fall Fest, and a "Sky School" for children. She has also organized 2 flying poker runs for Cystic Fibrosis and served as a Chairperson for the Weakley/Obion County Great Strides Walk for CF which was held in Martin on April 28.

Jo Ann and her husband have two children, a daughter, Tara Wingo, who lives in Jackson and a son , J.P. Yarbro, who also lives in Jackson, and she has two grandchildren.

Next Week, I am sure you have noticed, Union City Rotary has had an excellent year as far as new membership is concerned.

Next week will be an induction day for the newest members, with Mike Cox breathing pretty hard down the necks of a few of them. Among those who are to inducted into the Club next week are: Troy Arnold, Matt Turner, Dyland Bondurant, Mike Calfee, John Watts, Nick Hall, Jim Prather, Jay Davis and Wess Creech. Congratulations to these newest members, and lets make them feel welcome.

Last Week, there was a house-full of youth at Union City Rotary Friday Luncheon and meeting, as Rotarians held the Annual Celebration of our Kid’s. There were some thirty five children who were guests of Rotary and everyone enjoyed a very delicious meal consisting of some favorites of both adults and kids alike.

The meeting began in an unusual manner as our song was led by Pierce Kizer, son of Jody Kizer, The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Caroline Connley, daughter of Steve Connley and the Prayer was given by David Wholfarth, son of Dr. Matthew Wholfarth.

After all introductions, the floor was turned over to local entertainer and musician Larry, alias "Magical Mink", who entertained adults as well as all children, Larry was dressed in the magical blue suit, and the ever popular Top Hat, which magicians usually pull several animals out of, this was not the case today, as his time was limited and he also had several Kids help him with his program who were gathered around him with eyes and ears attached to him completely. Larry began his magic show with several balloons, forming them into several different likenesses of animals, and then presenting these balloons to his assistants, which he pulled from his captive audience.

Some of his magical illusions were very mystifying, such as the nail he pierced a balloon with, without exploding it, and also the audience was very captive, both adults and children, as he drove a lighted candle through his entire forearm.

Larry has been captivating audiences over five states for the last thirty years, and the experience shows, as he is very popular in our area, and vary popular with area youth as he travels from one gathering to another entertaining youth with good wholesome entertainment.

Mar. 27 - New Member induction and Roast Day Mike Cox will do the honors on three of our new members

April 03 - Mike Sparks, Director of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes

April 10 - Mark Hayes, Dyersburg Rotary Breakfast Club and his International Rotary Mission Trip

April 17 - Harry Lane, Senior District Executive Boy Scouts of America

April 24 - TBA

May 01 - Rotary Relays and Club Business

David Russell

Mar. 24 - Mike Rinker

Mar . 20 - Robert and Martha Clendenin

Mar. 24 - Jim and Rosalee Thompson

In 1963 baseball pitcher Gaylord Perry remarked, "They’ll put a man on the moon before I hit a home run. "on July 20, 1969, a few hours after Neil Armstrong set foot on the Moon, Gaylord Perry hit his first and only, home run.