District Governor International President
Larry Boyd Dong Kurn Lee
Brentwood, Tennessee Seoul, Korea
Rotary 2008-09
Make Dreams Real
May 22, 2009
Today, we can expect moans, groans, laughter, and maybe even some tears, but they will not be of the sorrowful type. Some will say, "how did he find that out", some will say, "I had forgotten all about that", some will say, "my day is coming". But you can rest assured that most every one will enjoy today’s program.
Art Sparks is a well known Accountant in the area, but that is not where his talent ends. Art has the ability to speak on many levels and subjects, and if you are in a conversation with him to poke some fun, at some point you may think you have the best of him, you don’t have to wait but a split second and he is right back at you, and you are saying I wish I had kept my mouth shut in the first place.
I talked to Randy about this weeks program, asking for some information as to what Rotarians could expect, he informed me that Art is keeping it all to himself, and every one had better show up for the meeting, because when Art takes the podium, you can rest assured that some, if not most people in the audience will feel the wrath of this speaker.
Next Week, due to a conflict of schedule, Dr. Wright Jearnigan had to cancel his appointment with Fridays speakers post.
Randy has hustled around and scheduled a substitute. Derick Ziegler has graciously agreed to come up with a program, which will provide Friday’s entertainment.
I understand it will be a program from the Union City Baptist Hospital and will feature either the Hospice Program or the Behavioral Pattern Process Program which the hospital supports.
With May being National Mental Health Month, this program could not have come at a better time.
With increasing economic troubles piled on to the stress of work and family demands, more and more Americans are suffering from this trauma. In fact, 58 % of Americans reported struggling in their lives at the end of 2008, according to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. This represents an increase of more than 22 million Americans who reported struggling earlier in the year.
Also May is National Children’s Awareness Month, a time for communities to promote positive youth development.
Last Week, Union City Rotary held it’s 28th Annual Rotary Scholarship Banquet, playing host to several local students, Guidance Councilors and Educators from the local School Systems.
This year U.C. Rotary, in spite of the downturn in the economy, was able to award a record amount of dollars to 129 local students, amounting to $144,500.00, this figure is an increase of $14,850.00 over last year, so you can see that Rotarians believe in education. This program, along with the Verhine Scholarships, has been able to invest more than 3.5 million in the futures of our local students over the past 28 years.
There were 8 students form South Fulton High School receiving a total of $9,600, 28 students from Union City High School receiving $31,875, and 38 students from Obion County Central High School receiving $39,000. The alumni from the three schools, who have already completed at least one year of higher education, either in college or vocational technical training, received a total of $64,025, in this years program.
A few years back, Rotary realized that there was a need not only in a students college education, but there was an advantage to invest in students who chose a vocational technology field, therefore our club has invested many many dollars in the future of these students also.
This year as always, it took Emcee Terry Hailey a while to recognize the recipients of the awards, Steve Vaughn did an excellent job of recognizing the outstanding teachers present, and President Conley, with his closing remarks, made sure that all students and educators present knew they were extremely appreciated.
Coming Attraction
May 29 - Derick Ziegler, Program from U.C. Baptist Hospital
June 12 - Newell Graham, First 100 Years of U.C. Coca Cola
