Next week, Union City Rotarians will witness inductions of new members into that prestigious group of "Paul Harris Fellows". The meeting will begin slightly earlier than usual, so please make your plans to that effect.

After the inductions, we will be entertained by Betsy Appleton. Betsy is the daughter of of Mike and Cathy Cox and Thomas Appleton. She is a 2007 honors graduate of Union City High School. She is currently a junior majoring in Political Science with a minor in Business Administration at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Betsy is also a member of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority, Orange Pride Vol Hostesses, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and a 2009 Recruitment Counselor.

She will be speaking about her recent travels in China and the study of Chinese culture and politics through the University of Tennessee Programs Abroad office. She will also highlight the advantages of studying abroad.

Last Week, Union City Rotary held it’s first meeting under the new Board of Directors for the year 2009-2010, with Randy Barnes presiding as President. Randy began by asking Rotarians to help him through the year, by suggesting program formats, and to please attend as much as possible, so that the coming year will be one of the best for U.C. Rotary.

Director Richard Graham introduced the guest speaker, Obion County’s Emergency Systems Director, Danny Jowers.

Danny said he came from a law enforcement background, serving both in Florida and Tennessee in all types of capacities, including boat infusions from Cuba, six hurricanes, and after deciding he didn’t want to do that all of his life, he retired from in in 1992.

He spoke briefly of his experience on the Obion County Budget Committee, serving as Chairman of that Committee and his experience as a small farmer, raising strawberries in the Kenton area, along with the Late Tom Wade.

"What is Emergency Management?", he asked. He said he worked for several different agencies, and half of his salary was paid by Department of Homeland Security, of which Federal Emergency Management is a part of that system. His job is to have everything prepared for and emergency, and to see that this area is taken care of in case of that emergency.

"An act in 1951, created the Civil Defense Department and this department became the Emergency Management system", he said. "What happened in 2001 changed our entire lives, and brought the Emergency System to front stage, then the Katrina catastrophe really got The Emergency Management System to the front and on everyone’s mind" he said.

He spoke of the "Ice Storm" which hit this area in January and his part in that, as he had just taken over the job. He said he had to coordinate all of the emergency crews for this county, deal with FEMA, as well as help take care of the Fulton Co. Area, because they were hit so much harder than we were.

July 24 - Betsy Appleton, China trip, and her study of Chinese Culture.

Also on July 24, Paul Harris Awards presented, the meeting will begin slightly earlier than normal. Please note this in your schedule.

July 28 - Jason Kizer

July 22 - Bill Flood

Anniversaries