August 25, 2001 

Last Week’s Program... 
U.S. Representative Ron Lewis, Second District, discussed the national scene in his address to Owensboro Rotarians. Congressman Lewis spoke on three major issues: 1) Capital Gains Tax Relief, 2) Social Security, and 3) Energy. Congressman Lewis is convinced the tax rebate check returns and lower interest rates are indications of the economy turning in the right direction and will be beneficial in strengthening the economy. Over the next 10 years, the economy will have ups and downs but overall will be resilient. Social Security, on the other hand, could be heading for bankruptcy by 2015, according to Mr. Lewis. He noted President Bush has formulated a solution to the Social Security situation by recommending a 2% tax credit for investment in an annuity program. Each person would have his/her own account, and this would be a win-win solution for participants and Social Security. Congressman Lewis reported that 55% of the oil used in America comes from foreign sources, and he believes our country should be less dependent on foreign sources. He also reported there have been no new power plants or refineries built in years. He said the proposed drilling in ANWAR (Artic National Wildlife Refuge) in Alaska would not harm the ecology in the desolate area in which it would occur. Congressman Lewis is a member of the prestigious Ways and Means Committee and its Social Security, Human Resources, and Select Revenue Measures Subcommittees. 

We thank Congressman Lewis for enlightening us on important issues and for the many hours he spent in traveling, speaking, and working on bills for laws on vital issues. 

Attendance: 111 

Highest Attendance This Year: 111 

Invocation, Pledge & 4-Way Test: Guy Hisle 

Fellowship Report: Grey Hurt 

Introduction of Guests: Larry McCubbins guest of Bruce Brubaker; Doug Coolman, Paul Kissinger, Sam Phelplan, and Tom Tapp, all guests of Bob Whitmer; Lee Denney guest of Gary Exline; Linda Pruess guest of Ed Allen; Mark Langdon guest of Sanford Peyton; Congressman Lewis and two staff members, Scott Miller and Keith Rogers, who were all guests of the club. 

Thought for the Week: Nothing ruins the truth like stretching it! 

YOUR PRESIDENT SPEAKS: 
Alexander Lockhart wrote a neat little book entitled, The Portable Pep Talk.....Motivational Morsels for Inspiring You to Succeed. In this book, there is an article called, ‘The Coach’s Pep Talk On.....Opportunity.’ It goes as follows... In a lecture given by Russell Conwell, founder of Temple University, he stated that, “If you wish to be great at all, you must begin where you are and with what you are now.” He tells this story. One day a traveler came along and told an old African farmer about people who had discovered diamond mines in other parts of Africa and had become very wealthy. Upon hearing this, the farmer became very excited and decided to sell off his farm and journey into Africa to find his own diamond mine and become fabulously wealthy. He searched the vast African continent for years looking for diamonds and finally found himself broke, alone, sick, and thoroughly disgusted. So, he threw himself into the ocean and drowned. 

Meanwhile, back on the farm he had sold, the new owner was out watering a mule in a stream which ran through the farm. As he looked down into the water, he noticed a strange stone that reflected light in an unusual way. He took it back to his house and placed it on a mantelpiece as a curio and thought no more of it. Some months later, the same traveler stopped by the farm. He walked into the house, looked up on the mantelpiece, and exclaimed, “Did the original owner of the farm return?” The new owner replied, “No, he did not.” The traveler picked up the stone and said, “This is a diamond of inestimable value,” and asked the new owner to show him where he had found it. They went to the stream where the new owner had been watering his mule, and as they looked, they found another diamond, and another, and another. It turned out that the whole farm was literally covered with acres of diamonds. The old farmer had gone off seeking diamonds somewhere else without looking right in his own backyard. 

Many of us are like the farmer--looking for opportunity when actually many opportunities lie under our own feet. Most of us don’t recognize them at first. Diamonds don’t look like diamonds in their rough form; at first they look like rough rocks. They must be cut, shaped, and polished to bring out their best facets. Opportunities are also sometimes disguised as challenges and hard work. You must use your talents, abilities, and experience to recognize, polish, and shape them. Rotary is like that. Each one of us has our own definition of what Rotary means. If you are involved in some part of Rotary, it can bring personal and professional satisfaction through the many opportunities for participation. Why not decide what kind of opportunities you want from Rotary--your “diamonds” - and help your officers, your board, and yourself define what our club is and what it should be striving to become. 

Have a great week! 

Marilyn 

OWL CONTEST WINNERS: 
• Two First Place Winners: Sim Davenport & Dean Rodney 
   Sim’s winning name: “4 Way” - Sim won two $10 gift certificates for Texas Roadhouse 
   Dean’s winning name: “Four Way” - Dean won two free meals at Applebee’s 
• First Runner Up: Scott Holder 
   Name: “You Who” - Scott won four free appetizers at O'Charleys 
Congratulations to the winners and THANKS to all who participated! We had some great name suggestions! 

COMMITTEE FOCUS THIS WEEK: 
Vocational Service/Public Relations: Larry Mercer 
SPOKE/VOTREK: John Meister 
Rural/Urban Environment: Millie Killian 
Health/Safety: Dean Ehrenheim, Bill Price 
Why not sign up for one of these fine committees next Wednesday?! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO... 
Richard McFarland - August 25 
Frank Wagner - August 28 
Bill McDonald - August 30 

ROTARY REMINDERS... 
• Don't forget to make up your missed meetings at breakfast Rotary at 7 on Tuesday mornings at Moonlite Barbecue. 
• The Program Chairman for August is Candance Brake. The Program Chairman for September will be Gary Exline. 
• Grey Hurt will be at the Fellowship Table during the month of August. Donna Risley takes over in September. 
• If you have an email address and are not receiving the Impetus online, please send an email to kim@mediaworksadvertising.com and you will be added to the Rotary email address list. 
• Log on to Rotary’s website at www.owensbororotary.org. You’ll find our current member directory, photos of new members, past copies of the Impetus, some interesting history, and more! 

Please mail any questions, suggestions, or comments regarding the Impetus to: 

Mike Wallace 
MediaWorks Advertising, Inc. 
208 West 3rd Street 
P.O. Box 1866 Owensboro, KY 42302 
Phone: 270-684-4554 
Fax: 270-684-7314 
Email: mike@mediaworksadvertising.com

DEADLINE FOR ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE IMPETUS IS THE WEDNESDAY PRIOR TO MONDAY'S PUBLICATION DATE. 

UPCOMING PROGRAMS 
September 5: Mary Beth Owen, Chair of the Komen Race for the Cure 
September 12: Burley Phelan - Tourism: The Economic Impact on Daviess County 
September 19: Muhlenberg Judge Executive Rodney Kirkley -- Update on Activities 
September 26: Bradley Wise, Vice President, Prudential: "Investments" 

2001 - 2002 OWENSBORO ROTARY CLUB OFFICERS 
President: Marilyn Brookman 
Vice President: Larry Mercer 
Secretary: Jeff Ebelhar 
Treasurer: Bob Nation 
Directors: Sim Davenport, Bill Dexter, David Edds, Jr., Tom Smith, Darrell Higginbotham, Pat McFarling, Jane Noble 

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