February 26, 2010

Today, we welcome another Union City Native as Dr. John Cummings visits and brings with him a brief overview of health department services and discusses the much publicized and much dreaded Novel H1N1 influenza virus.

Dr. Cummings is currently the Primary Care Director for Tennessee Department of Health, West Region. He was educated at the lower level here at Union City High School, graduating in 1971. He earned His Bachelors Degree in Biology from University of Tennessee, Martin, earned his Medical Degree from University of Tennessee Health Science Center, completing his Internal Medicine Residency at Methodist University Hospital in 1981.

He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, member of American Board of Internal Medicine, and a Member of Tennessee Medical Association.

His roots here in Obion County go way back, as his wife Millie LaVaughn’s, mother was Millie Irick who was the OB Nursing Supervisor at the former Obion County General Hospital. They have three children, Amy, Allison and Amanda, plus a grandson Dylan.

Next Week, as waste is becoming an ever growing problem all over the world and as our nation is fast becoming a re-cycling environment, and each and every family and business in our area are still getting used to the idea of recycling, Union City Rotarians will gain some professional knowledge, when Dennis Kosta visits and shares his expertise on the subject.

Dennis was born and raised in northern Wisconsin. He started to work for UTM in 1986 and is manager for the Custodial Services Department. Due to his background of living up north in Wisconsin and Minnesota where recycle is a way of life he was excited to join the project recycle and be a part of recycling at UTM.

Before taking the job at UTM he visited several other campuses such as Murray State, University of Memphis and Knoxville to observe their recycle programs.

He attended a seminar at Lipscomb University in Nashville the last two years on recycling and how it affects universities. Dennis is in the process of incorporating the Martin community into the recycle program.

Last week, long time local educator/coach Barry Duncan was on hand and left Rotarians with a new knowledge of his recent change of career, Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Barry left his position of U.C.H.S. Principal just this year to become the Northwest Tennessee Director of F.C.A.

Barry began by taking a couple of shots at President Barnes, then he was on to a couple of books he brought, which were written by former Colts Coach Tony Dunje, which he presented as gifts following the program.

He said one of the neatest parts of his job now is getting to develop a working relationship with the many coaches in the Northwest Tennessee area and how he seems to be able to help some of the young coaches. He said one of the things he enjoys telling young coaches is about the thrill of taking a young athlete from point A to point B, and to be able to influence these kids in some way, not only to be a better athlete, but to also make them better human beings and to build solid character. He also said he told young coaches that they have a great influence on these young kids and they have to be aware of that in the classroom, on the field and in the community.

As he got into the F.C.A. Subject, he expressed much concern for our kids, he said "the pressures, stresses, challenges and things which our young people are exposed to these days are absolutely beyond belief". He said "this is from kindergarten thru grade 12". He also said "we as adults often time forget what it is like to be a kid, and we do not need to do that".

Barry said the vision of F.C.A. Is to impact the world for Christ using the influence of coaches and athletes. And also he said F.C.A. Is the largest campus ministry in the world as they impact ½ million students each year. He touched briefly on some of the inspiring young college athletes and some of the famous professional players he has been in contact with during his brief tenure and spoke of the influence these athletes have on the youth of our nation.