October 27, 2001 

Last Week’s Program... 
Humor can be a healing agent, as Dr. John Combs, Professor of English at Kentucky Wesleyan College shared with Owensboro Rotary. Dr. Combs knows this from personal experience as he is a cancer survivor. He discovered through his illness that humor is a sanity factor in many instances. He believes that mindset has so much to do with how we feel. When he was diagnosed with cancer he began to study how laughter can relieve serious problems, relieve tension, aid in the pain and discomfort of illness, and help us learn to laugh at ourselves.

Dr. Combs went on to say that 10 minutes of laughter equals 2 hours of pain free sleep and that 20 seconds of laughter equals 3 minutes of rowing a boat. This might explain how laughter can be a relief mechanism and also a stimulant in our bodies. 

We thank Dr. Combs for sharing with us a most serious subject in such a humorous way and for making us laugh in such an outstanding program. We are grateful to him for rearranging his schedule to be with us due to a last minute program change. 

Attendance: 118

Highest Attendance This Year: 124

Invocation, Pledge & 4-Way Test: Darrell Higginbotham

Fellowship Report: Dean Ehrenheim

Introduction of Guests: Frankie Hager guest of Larry Hager; John Hager guest of Scott Holder; Olive Burroughs, Charlie Castlen, Linda Minton, Waymond Morris, Marwan Rayan, & Cyndi Sturgeon, all guests of Ron Payne; Brenda Lowry guest of Gary Sisk; and Brenda Stone guest of Becky O'Bryan.

Meeting Makeups: Noel Maddox at Breakfast Rotary, Joey Taylor at Marshall County, Mark Treesh at Breakfast Rotary (2 times), Larry Vick at Paris, TN, and Martel Wightman at Marshall County (2 times).

Thought for the Week: Never forget why you joined Rotary--to serve your community, to serve your world, to serve its people!

YOUR PRESIDENT SPEAKS: 
Owensboro Rotary has long been known for its benevolent spirit of giving and its contributions to scholarships and charitable community groups and activities. In 2000, the Owensboro Rotary Foundation was formed to receive and to distribute contributions on behalf of Owensboro Rotary. The Owensboro Rotary Foundation is a separate legal entity from the Owensboro Rotary Club and had actually been created several years ago but never activated. It is a 501-C-3 entity, and it manages all contributions made to community requests. Flowing money through the Foundation is necessary in order that charitable deductions can be utilized by members and donors. Foundation members consist of the four most recent past presidents (David Edds, Sr., Bob Carper, Bob Burns, and Sim Davenport) and the current president (Marilyn Brookman). The senior president serves as president and this year the President is David Edds, Sr., who was President of Owensboro Rotary in 1997-1998. The Secretary of the Club (Jeff Ebelhar) and Treasurer of the Club (Bob Nation) serve as Secretary and Treasurer of the Foundation but are non-voting members. The Owensboro Rotary Board of Directors establishes the annual contribution policy as well as the amount of money available for disbursal each year, at the time the budget is approved. This year, $10,000 was dedicated to Rotary Readifest, $7,000 to the Big Project, and $7,000 to be distributed according to applications filed with and chosen by the Foundation. It is the responsibility of the Foundation to determine when and how contributions are to be selected and to make the actual selections. The Board of Directors is notified of the selections through the Club Secretary at the board meeting following the meeting of the Foundation when selections are determined. At the October 18 meeting of the Board of Directors, a report was provided by Secretary Jeff Ebelhar about the October 4 meeting of the Foundation. At the October 4 meeting, the Foundation approved the following contributions: Owensboro Sister Cities Scout Program--$500, Family YMCA Children's Swimming Program--$1,000, and Music at Maple Mount for Young Musicians--$500. The next and final meeting of the Foundation for 2001-2002 will be held on Thursday, February 7, 2002, to review applications for contributions and to choose recipients. Guidelines for contributions include the following: (1) the Owensboro Rotary Club will consider making financial contributions to eligible community organizations primarily in four areas: (a) Health and Human Services, (b) Civic Programs, (c) Education, (d) Culture and the Arts, and programs sponsored by Rotary will be given first priority; involvement by Rotary members will also be considered; (2) groups eligible for support may include: (a) 501-C-3 not-for-profits, (b) other civic organizations, (c) some public funded organizations, (3) services supplied by requesting organizations would be available to citizens within the Owensboro area or supported by Rotary, (4) support generally will cover a one-year commitment, (5) applications shall demonstrated a commitment to provide services regardless of race, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin, and (6) Rotary does not contribute to political organizations, political fund-raising events, or individual political campaigns. I thought you might want to read a review and update of our contribution policy and choices.

Have a great week!

Marilyn

ROTARY ANNOUNCEMENTS:
• Kirk Kirkpatrick announced that on Wednesday, November 14, our Club will meet at the Executive Inn for Philanthropy Day. When your invitation arrives and you respond on attending, be sure to indicate you are with Owensboro Rotary.
• Donna Risley announced she will be participating in the Theater Workshop of Owensboro "Fall Shorts," which will be a dinner theater format with three short plays on October 25, 26, and 27 at the Owensboro Country Club. Everyone is invited to attend.
• STONES AND BONES EVENT... On Friday, November 9, the Owensboro Area Museum of Science and History will hold its annual membership/fund raising banquet and special activities evening, the "Stones and Bones Event." Special thanks to several Owensboro Rotarians who are helping with the event: Ross Leazenby, who is chairing the event and who has tickets, Ed Allen, Marilyn Brookman, Sim Davenport, Steve Gardner, Millie Killian, Jim Ed Oberst, and Becky O'Bryan.
• Nancy Fuqua won the two round-trip plane tickets to St. Louis (or area) provided by Tim Bradshaw and the Owensboro/Daviess County Airport. Congratulations Nancy and thank you Tim for the nice door prize! On Wednesday, October 31, our door prize will be some neat gifts from Area Bank, as provided by Darrell Higginbotham: denim shirt, cap, golf tees, golf balls, cup holder, and pen. This is your chance for good stuff, Golfers! On November 7, we will have two door prizes! As a part of the Kentucky Wesleyan College anniversary program, two basketball season tickets for bleacher seats for all home games will be given away, courtesy of Wes Poling and KWC. The tickets are valued at $100 each! The second door prize will be a gift certificate for a delicious smoked turkey from Old Hickory Pit Bar-B-Q Restaurant--compliments of Harl Foreman. What a nice Thanksgiving gift!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...
Jarred Barron - October 30
Brenda Clayton - October 31

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 October is Tim Bradshaw.
• Dean Ehrenheim will be at the Fellowship Table in October.
• 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
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208 West 3rd Street
P.O. Box 1866
Owensboro, KY 42302
Phone: 270-684-4554|
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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
November 7: Wes Poling - KWC Anniversary
November 14: Executive Inn - Philanthropy Day
November 21: Todd Love - Minister’s Thanksgiving Message
November 28: Larry Vick - Superintendent of OPS

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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