January 27, 2001
This Week's Program
Ed Wardle - Director, Foundation for Health
Last Week’s Program
-Ryan Commings and Chris Copass – DCHS
Don Ross, the brainchild of National City Investors, described in detail the
three legs of the economic “stool.” Dampened economic volatility,
disinflation, and the demand for stocks have made the bull market the
largest since World War II. These legs, according to Ross, are the three
factors that have been and are potentially the greatest driving forces in
the market.
The enormous increase in services as a percentage of the GDP is the primary
factor in increased dampened economic volatility. The services to
manufacturing ratio is currently around 80/20 compared to a 50/50 ratio
pre-World War II. This immense increase in services has led to the
elimination of inventory. This has led to more stability, less risk, and
higher profits. This large increase in stability in the market has led to
lower inflation, which also leads to stable interest rates. America has
seen, needless to say, an incredible increase in the diffusion of technology
throughout this current “information revolution.”
An important scale in determining the importance of new inventions has been
the 30 percent usage scale. It took 60 years for the airplane to be
utilized by more than 30 percent of the American population, and 30 years
for the car. Compare this to a staggering seven years for the cell phone to
reach this mark, and five for the Internet. These new inventions have
contributed to a colossal increase in the demand for stocks.
Although many of these technical stocks have made a very poor showing, there is no doubt that a larger proportion of Americans will continue to use these products, therefore, the desire to purchase these stocks will continue to increase.
Attendance: 96
Highest Attendance This Year: 115
Invocation, Pledge & 4-Way Test: Tim France
Fellowship Report: Garry Baldwin
Introduction of Guests:
Fred Paige and Pat Howard, guests of Tom Smith;
Brian Martin, guest of Todd
Rust;
Ed Smith, guest of Avery Smith;
Kevin Carrico,
guest of Seth Allen.
Guest of the Club: Ryan Commings and Chris Copass – DCHS
Meeting Makeups: Noel Maddox at Breakfast Rotary.
Thought for the Week:
You can’t get ahead when you’re
trying to get even.
YOUR PRESIDENT SPEAKS: FRIENDSHIP
Let me start by saying that I am almost overwhelmed by the deep friendships
– even bonds – that exist between many of our Rotarians. Let any of our
members have a serious illness and I know about it immediately. I will get
calls. And, a dozen members will ask me if I knew about “so and so’s”
illness when they come to our meeting.
Obviously, this is on my mind with Bill Walker passing away this morning. I knew Bill Walker. He sat at “my” table. I never went to his church. In fact, I don’t think I ever really met Bill any place but at Rotary. But, still, he was a little part of my life because we met each week at Rotary. I cared about him and I will miss him. Yet, many of our members didn’t know Bill Walker. One member, today, asked me who he was. If he hadn’t sat at my table, there is a good chance I would not have known him. Even though Bill was a Rotarian for 33 years and I have been a Rotarian in Owensboro for 9 years.
We have a problem. And, I am part of that problem. There’s too many of us who don’t know each other. We meet each week, sit in close proximity, share a common mission, and, yet, we don’t know each other. Even by name. OK – some of you know most of the members. But, I think we can agree that a many of us need to meet and get to know more of our members.
I am not proposing any solutions in this column. I am just recognizing and admitting the problem so that we can begin to resolve it. It’s up to all of us to change this situation. Your board is open to any suggestions you may have. Of course, you know the answer will always get back to you. We should each make it our individual responsibility to know each and every member, even if they don’t sit at “our” table.
Thanks and have a great week!
Sim
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...
Paul Martin February 2
Bob Whitmer February 2
* We are currently in the process of updating our database with new member names and birthdays.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Three new members will be introduced at next Wednesday’s meeting. Let’s
have a big crowd to welcome them and let them know what a great club they
are joining. Have you missed a lot of meetings lately? Make this Wednesday
your big “come back”!
ROTARY REMINDERS...
• Don't forget to make up your missed meetings at breakfast Rotary at 7 on
Tuesday mornings at Moonlite
Barbecue.
• The Program Chairmen for January is Tom Smith.
• The Program Chairmen for February is Ross Leazenby.
Please mail any questions, suggestions, or comments
regarding the Impetus to:
Mike Wallace
MediaWorks Advertising, Inc.
One Executive Boulevard
P.O. Box 1866
Owensboro, KY 42302
Phone: 270-684-4554
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
FEBRUARY IS OWENSBORO BUSINESS HISTORY MONTH!
February 7: Charles Medley - Medley’s Distilleries
February 14: Don Gipe - Gipe Automotive
February 21: John Jones - Modern Welding
February 28: Bill Van Winkle - History of Bluegrass
Civilization was never destined to be satisfied with those things which the unaided mind and hand of man could do. The mind and hand working to the maximum of efficiency and in coordination could never have made the product of a Raphael or an Angelo, nor could they have written the Declaration of Independence. Those tasks drew upon the supreme resource of man, his emotional instinct, his heart. When a job is so big that head and hand fail, try a little heart in it. The greatest of all achievements of which mortal man is capable are the result of the combined effort of heart and head and hand working in perfect coordination.
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