District Governor International President
Jim Springer Ray Klinginsmith
Columbia, Tennessee Kirksville, Missouri
Rotary 2010-11
Building Communities - Bridging Continents
October 15, 2010
Today, we extend a warm welcome to Jeremy Fair, National Collegiate Agriculture Ambassador.
Jeremy is a senior Agriculture Education major at the University of Tennessee Martin. He grew up on a family farm in Newbern, TN and continues to be very active in the agriculture industry. He served as a Tennessee Association FFA State Officer in 2009-10, and is currently serving as a Notional Collegiate Agriculture Ambassador. This year in addition to his studies at UTM, he is traveling around West Tennessee, Western Kentucky, and the Bootheel of Missouri presenting presentations about our nation’s most essential industry, Agriculture. He will graduate in May and plans to teach agriculture at an area high school as well as pursue a Maters Degree in Agriculture Education, Leadership, and Education from the University of Tennessee.
His presentation today will focus on the current issues facing the Agriculture Industry. He will discuss specifically water consumption, bioengineering, renewable fuels, and challenges facing the Animal Agriculture Sector.
Next Week, Obion County’s County Executive, Benny McGuire will pay Union City Rotary a visit. Benny was scheduled earlier, but had to be re-scheduled because of conflicting engagements.
Benny is a lifelong resident of Obion County, having grown up in the Cloverdale/Hornbeak area. He attended elementary school at Cloverdale, graduating high school at OCCHS. He attended UT Martin for one year, he attained an Associate Degree in Electronic Technology degree from Vocational Technical School in Newbern, where he attended for 2 ½ years. He was employed 36 years with Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company where he held a Maintenance Management position.
He is a Charter Member of Obion County Little League Association, served as President of Obion County Girls Softball Association, has been on the Obion County Highway Commission for 18 years, served 2 terms on the Obion County Reapportions Committee, served 6 years on the Obion County Nursing Home Board, serving as Chairman for 2 years, Chairman Northwest TN Development District, and has been our Obion County Executive since 2006. He also serves as Vice Chairman of the Association of County Mayors for the State of Tennessee.
Last Week,
Holly Turner, Vice President of the Obion County Junior Auxiliary, along with three of her fellow members visited Union City Rotary with a power point presentation, explaining the activities and focus they have in our community, primarily helping young children not only on a local level but also nationally.
Holly reminded us that she was the granddaughter of former Union City Rotary President, Joe Barker, who was president 1973-74, and former plant manager of the old Brown Shoe Company.
She pointed out that the National Association of Junior Auxiliary was founded in 1941, with the local branch being founded in 1977.
The logo which is a crown was explained. The 5 points on the crown stands for, Charity, Use, Health, Community Service, and Leadership. She said "we strive to follow all of those in everything we do, and every event we host and every project that we do for the children in our community". She reminded us of the children right here in our community who are going through some really rough times, and the auxiliary’s involvement to try and help.
Their "Spectacular Event" this year is another project which will help these children, saying there were several teachers in the organization who report children saying they do not have much to eat from Friday till Monday when they return to school.
The national slogan for the organization is "Care Today - Character Tomorrow" she said and has been the slogan since their beginning. Louise Cross was the founding member and quotiing her, "Our first duty is to the children of our own community, if we are to build a better tomorrow it is with the children on our doorsteps today". "This quote is used for every project of the auxiliary today", she said.
The scholarship program of the auxiliary is astronomical as reported, it has awarded over 422 scholarships, totaling $924,365.00.
The National Organization has a total of 3,769 members, with over 14,000 members if counting non resident, associate, and non sustaining members, in 8 different states.
She ended her presentation by reporting the sources of the organizations funds, and said they were always looking for more sponsors.
Coming Attractions
Oct. 22 - Benny McGuire, Obion County, County Executive, State of the County.
Oct. 29 - Minica Shumake, WJT public television
Nov. 5 - Jason James, UTM Men’s Basketball Coach
Nov. 12 - Shane Sisco and Eddie Suiter, UCHS Basketball Coaches
Nov. 19 - Kevin McMilland, UTM Women’s Basketball Coach
Not. 26 - No Meeting (Thanksgiving)
Birthdays
Oct. 15 - Kofi Nuako
Oct. 19 - Sam Sinclair
Oct. 20 - Randy Chism
Oct. 18 - Gabe and Amy Sullivan
Oct. 19 - Mark and Shelia Ward
