Bulletin
Rotary Club of Memphis East
May 1, 2013
Editor Julia San Roman
Photographer:
Reg Udouj, Sr.
2012-2013 Our 23rd Year
Leighanne Hart, President
www.rotaryclubofmemphiseast.org
Like us on Facebook/EastMemRotary
Follow us on Twitter/eastmemrotary
May 8, 2013
Michael Glenn, Federal Express
T. Michael Glenn is executive vice president of Market Development
and Corporate Communications for FedEx Corporation, a $43 billion
global transportation, ecommerce and business services company. He
is a member of the five-person Executive Committee, responsible for
planning and executing the corporation’s strategic business activities.
Glenn also serves as president and chief executive officer of FedEx
Corporate Services, responsible for all marketing, sales, customer service and retail operations functions for all FedEx Corporation operating companies including FedEx Office.
Before FedEx Corporation was formed in January 1998, Glenn was
senior vice president, Worldwide Marketing, Customer Service and
Corporate Communications for FedEx. In that role, he was responsible
for directing all marketing, customer service, employee communications and public relations activities for the world’s largest express transportation company.
Glenn joined FedEx in 1981 and has held management positions in
the Sales and Marketing divisions.
A native of Memphis, Tennessee, he earned his bachelor's degree
from the University of Mississippi and his master’s degree from The
University of Memphis. Glenn currently serves on the board of directors for Level 3 Communications and Pentair, Inc.
May 1st
William B. Dunavant, III
William is excited about Memphis and he joined us to tell us why
he believes in this city. William is a 6th generation Memphian with a
family that is steeped in Memphis history and culture: from the yellow
fever epidemic to the Martin Luther King Assassination to today's issues. He is confident in the cities ability to come together and tackle
whatever issues may come.
Program Previews
May 8, 2013
Michael Glenn, EVP
Federal Express
Market Development &
Corporate Communications
May 15, 2013
Kevin Huffman
TN Commissioner of Education
May 22, 2013
Dr. Bill West
Founder, The West Clinic
May 29, 2013
Jason Levien
CEO & Managing Partner
Grizzlies
No Meeting on June 5th
June 6th
Newcomers Reception
Opera Memphis
June 12, 2013
Commissioner Greg Gonzales
TN Dept. of Financial Institutions
June 19, 2013
Jack Sammons
Airport Authority
June 26, 2013
PASS THE GAVEL
Speaker Gift Sponsor
William referenced the city and countywide excitement over the Grizzles as an example where the
whole community can come together and rally around things that make us proud to be Memphian. He sees
this same enthusiasm as the springboard to resolutions to the educational problems facing the city today.
In regards to business development, William sees that we have come full circle in what makes Memphis
a great city to grow a vibrant business community: Logistics and Agriculture. In the area of logistics, William emphasized the assets Memphis has in river, rail, air and highways. With our connecting highways, Memphis is the 4th biggest in trucking. Thanks to FedEx, Memphis is the 1st
in air freight. Memphis is 1 of only 5 US cities that connects to all 5 railways. William listed
the large projects that have recently been completed or that are in the works that will expand on Memphis logistics abilities. The logistic resources is what promotes companies
like Nike who recently invested $300 MM to expand operations. William sees the area
around Piperton as an excellent location that may attract a future automaker.
In keeping with the Memphis focus, Dunavant's company is also focused on logistics
and agriculture. Dunavant Enterprises sees America and Brazil as the bread basket of the Thanks to Terry
Dunger for being our
world. Thus they are seeking ways to expand on their two inter-modal companies and
photographer today
real estate ventures to promote internal growth in logistics and agriculture.
with his cell phone.
RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Academy)
by Chris McDermott
Last month, our district held the 32nd RYLA Leadership Conference. This conference represents a major
commitment by the Rotary clubs in our district to enhance the leadership of today’s youth so that they may
more effectively answer tomorrow’s challenges. Each year over 120 high school juniors are selected as delegates to the conference and are sponsored by various clubs within the district. During their four days at the
conference, these young people have an opportunity to associate with students from different locations and
backgrounds, become exposed to a broad range of business and professional leaders, and become more
fully aware of the value of our American free enterprise system. This conference is the largest commitment
our district makes every year, both in terms of monetary resources and club involvement.
This is the seventh year RYLA has partnered with the University of Memphis Emerging Leaders. Justin
Lawhead and Jon Campbell are in charge of the Emerging Leaders program. They come in Friday and run
the delegates through a barrage of leadership techniques. Saturday, the juniors in the UofM leadership
program prepare much of the program material, using their resources to make sure that the delegates are
exposed to excellent material to help in the development of their leadership skills in the future. This conference conveys leadership tools in a fun way that the students will understand and be able to use for the rest
of their life.
Between the leadership training, there is a dance, karyoke, scavenger hunt, egg drop challenge, mousetrap
challenge, tons of great food, door prizes, grand prizes, team spirit prizes. The speakers this year were Don
Hutson, Austin Baker, and Cedric Sparks from Birmingham (the best speaker we’ve ever had; google his
videos and watch this young man go; it’s amazing!!!).
Memphis East has played a major role in the success of this conference. Wilson Blake, Norris McGehee, Lee
Hughes, Nita Hurdle and other Memphis East Rotarians passed the torch to Jack Robinson, David Luiken,
Bernice Pittman, Reg Udouj, Van Menard, Jamie Cochran and Chris McDermott. Terry Dunger has been
involved for so many years, we have all lost count; he’s the common thread. If you are looking for an
awesome way to get involved in a great Rotary event, this is it.
Fantastic group of High School Juniors
Two of the great line-up of speakers for RYLA.
Top: Austin Baker
Bottom: Don Hutson
The Staff who make it all happen. Notice the Memphis East
volunteers: Chris McDermott, Terry Dunger, Reg Udouj.
Memphis East Volunteers not pictured: Jack Robinson, David
Luiken, Van Menard, Bernice Pittman, Jamie Cochran