Union City Rotary Club - Weekly Bulletin & News

Today, we welcome Monica Shumak, Monica, a native of Martin, is the General Manager and CEO of WLJT TV, the public educational station broadcasting from the campus of UT Martin.

After receiving a BS degree from UT Martin, Moncia began her working career for her dad, Jack Reese in his accounting office in Martin, she then moved to Paris where she worked for Henry County Farm Bureau as a customer service representative and assistant to the agency manager. She also spent some time with MetLife as an agent for American Corp Services.

She began her career with WLJT in 1999 as the Business Manager, she was then promoted to Director of Finance and Administration and in 2009 was appointed to the position she now holds.

She is involved in the Martin Business Association, the Public Broadcasting Management Association, and the National Educational TeleCommunications Association. She has 2 children and attends First Baptist Church in Martin. Monica has a power point presentation outlining her topics, which will cover the history of the station, their programs and their education and outreach activities.

Next week, UT Martin Skyhawk Men’s Basketball, Coach Jason James visits and gives us a preview into the upcoming basketball season.

Coach James enters his second season at the helm of that program, after spending the last seven seasons as an assistant coach at UTM, including the role of associate head coach during the 2008-09 Ohio Valley Conference championship season. James was named the programs eighth head coach on June 5, 2009.

Coach James a native of St. Louis, Mo., began 2009-10 as the nation’s second-youngest NCAA Division-1 men’s basketball head coach. "This has always been my goal, ever since I was 10," the 32-year-old James said.

James posted several positives during his debut season as bench leader at UT Martin in 2009-10 against arguably one of the toughest schedules in the history of the program. In his ratings for the first week of December, noted college basketball journalist Ken Pomeroy ranked the Skyhawks as having the fourth-toughest non conference strength of schedule in NCAA Division-I.

James’ coaching philosophy is simple: play the game the right way and the rest will fall into place.

Last Week, Rotarian’s gained insight into the county in which we live, with Obion County Executive Benny McGuire’s visit and bringing us up-to-date on the State of the County.

Benny’s presentation concerned mainly the economic development of the county, saying the key ingredients of economic development and the common denominator are transportation and education. Another common denominator he said was regionalism. He used as an example the regionalism of our local airport, joining Weakley County and having the airport become a Regional Airport, saying this word regionalism gives more clout to any project a political body is striving toward. He also brought up the Cate’s Landing project, mentioning the three counties involved in that project. He said "a regional group being formed around Madison County, consisting of all counties which border Madison County are causing concern in our area because Obion County is not in that group and this could cause problems drawing industry to this area". He said he had just learned of a grant available through the University of Kentucky which will enable the two counties above us in Kentucky and the three counties of Lake, Obion, and Weakley are eligible for that grant to formalize a interstate committee of regionalism to give us that clout in this area so as to attract industry.

Transportation was next on the agenda, as Benny spoke of the expansion of the airport, the expenses of that project and where the monies came from and where the money comes from to operate the airport. Next was rail transportation, with C&N Railroad being mentioned and the expansions which have taken place in the area and how it does and will help attract progress. Then it was on to Water, Cates Landing was the topic of water transportation, and the cost of the project. Roads were last on the agenda and of course I-69 was the topic there.

The remainder of Benny’s presentation entailed the financial strength of the county, pointing out how much the county had borrowed on education and other projects and the relatively short period of time in which these obligations were being met.

Coming Attractions

Nov. 5 - Jason James, UTM Men’s Basketball Coach

Nov. 12 - Shane Sisco and Eddie SuiterUCHS Basketball Coaches

Nov. 19 - Kevin McMilland, UTM Women’s Basketball Coach

Not. 26 - No Meeting (Thanksgiving)

Welcome New Member

Andrew Blair

Birthdays

According to records none to report.

　

Anniversaries

Nov. 3 - John and Kristen Miles

Nov. 4 - Ralph and Patricia Moore

Return to Weekly Bulletin News Index page.