Obion County
Trip Start
Apr 17, 2006
1
9
15
Trip End
Jun 26, 2006
Union City, Tennessee
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Yesterday toured the MDT plant here in Martin which makes ride-on lawn mowers. Had an exclusive tour of the production line (one complete machine every 32 secs) and saw 80,000 machines ready for export (each machine retails for about $1800). Impressive stuff! After that we gave our presentation to the Rotary Club of Martin at the University of Tennessee at Martin complex. Great meeting close to a 100 present, then toured UTM for several hours before resting before a mexican dinner (another meal out and the quality of the food increasingly feeling pretty marginal .. just seems more like stuff to eat rather than fresh, quality, light and tasty .. as our food is).
After dinner came home and an early night .. just great.
Today we went to CBK (or Kirklands HQ) a huge import business selling Chinese and other Asian home decor stuff. We were given red carpet treatment as we were shown state of the art american business practice from go to whoa. AND, given presents on departure. Following this we gave a presentation to the Union City Rotray Club at the Holiday Inn.
Male only club, very conservative, not much of a sense of humour. Can you believe it has $6million in its bank account! It got so much money it can not spend it fast enough altho their book program (every kid aged 0 to 6 gets free 'approved and appropriate' book every month until they turn 6) is very impressive. Afterwards we played golf at the Wingfoot Golf Club (sponsored by the giant Goodyear tyre plant next door) and had a great game as well as seeing a raccoon for the first time.
After golf we visited the Kirkland mansion (unbelievable) for drinks before heading for a pizza shop for dinner with the Pres of UC Rotary (Dr Leland Davis (VET) & wife and son Matt). Home again and very tired at 9.30 am.
Off to see the Missisippi tomorrow
Cheers
Ross
