September 8, 2001 

Last Week’s Program... 
Mary Beth Owen, Chair for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, enlightened Owensboro Rotarians about the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and its cause. The Foundation was established in 1982 by Nancy Brinker to honor the memory of her sister, Susan G. Komen, who died from breast cancer at the age of 36. Today, the Foundation is an international organization with a network of volunteers working through local Affiliates and Komen Race for the Cure events to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease by advancing research, education, screening and treatment. The Foundation runs one of the most innovative, responsive grant programs in breast cancer today. In addition to funding research, the Foundation and its Affiliates fund community-based breast health education and breast cancer screening and treatment projects for the medically underserved. Breast cancer is the leading cancer site among American women and is second only to lung cancer in cancer deaths. Approximately 40,800 women and 400 men will die of breast cancer this year. Every three minutes breast cancer is diagnosed in our country and every 13 minutes someone dies from it. 

Mary Beth encouraged Rotarians to join The Komen Evansville Race for the Cure on September 22, 2001. The race is designed to further awareness of breast cancer. The first Race for the Cure had 800 participants. It is now in 112 cities and four foreign countries. 

If you are interested in participating in the race or want to know more about the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, you may contact the Greater Evansville Affiliate, 3700 Bellemeade Ave., Suite 111, Evansville, IN 47714, or call (812) 962-2202. 

We thank Mary Beth for bringing to our attention such a proactive agency in fighting breast cancer. 

Attendance: 106 

Highest Attendance This Year: 111 

Invocation, Pledge & 4-Way Test: Darrell Higginbotham 

Fellowship Report: Donna Risley 

Introduction of Guests: Angie Ross guest of Gary Exline, Gayle Hobbs guest of Ross Leazenby, Mark Langdon guest of Sanford Peyton, and Julie White guest of James White. 

Thought for the Week: Count your blessings! Never overlook the small ones, for a lot of small blessings add up to one big one. 

YOUR PRESIDENT SPEAKS: 
A couple of weeks ago, I included a story from Alexander Lockhart's book about diamonds in Africa. At the next Rotary meeting, Dr. Hugh Gilbert brought the book to me that was the original story. The book was written at least 40+ years ago by Russell H. Conwell and entitled, Acres of Diamonds. Hugh said Russell Conwell had spoken in Owensboro on different occasions and had made a career of telling and writing about the "Diamond Story," which was included in the Revell's Inspiration Classics, along with everything else from Sayings of Poor Richard (Benjamin Franklin) to Friendship by Ralph Waldo Emerson. The introduction to the book noted that the fame of the lecture may have been connected with the method and spirit of the lecturer. Apparently, Russell Conwell had a unique method. He would arrive in the town in which he was to lecture as early as possible, in order to meet with the postmaster, the school principal, the ministers, the factory workers, and local housewives. He said he did this to find out something about the town and its people---"What opportunities they had and what they had failed to do." Then he would address the audience and discuss the acres of diamonds in their own backyards. It never failed. People loved him. Also, every penny he made on his lectures and book went to the founding of Temple University, except for an insurance policy for Mrs. Conwell. 

Acres of Diamonds included many stories of shortcomings of people, which caused their problems and pain. He concluded with the words, "Greatness consists not in the holding of some future office but really consists in doing great deeds with little means and the accomplishment of vast purposes from the private ranks of life. To be great at all, one must be great here and now.......He who can give to this city better streets, better sidewalks, better schools, more colleges, more happiness, more civilization, more of God, will be great anywhere. Let every man or woman here remember this, that if you wish to be great at all, you must begin where you are and with what you are now.” 

Thanks, Hugh, for the book and for a different way of describing Rotary and the many opportunities it provides for us to do something good. 

Have a great week! 

Marilyn 

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS: 
• A special thanks to the decorations committee (Don Pinkley, Millie Killian, Ed Pulliam) for the neat smiley face balloons and notebooks. The decorations gave a smile to our meeting and to our day! The Rotary cups at each table were given to the person who had been a Rotarian for the most years. 
• Next week, September 12, we will have the long awaited attendance awards for 2000-2001! 
• For the next two weeks, we will have door prizes (winners must be present and the drawings will be held after the speakers): September 12 - Fruit/candy basket compliments of Homer Belcher of Wyndall Enterprises & September 19 - Certificate for a whole ham compliments of John Barr of Field Packing Company. 
• On September 26, we will have a MYSTERY GUEST! 
• IT'S A HAYRIDE AND COOKOUT! On Saturday, October 13, all Owensboro Rotarians and guests are invited to a hayride and cookout at Bob and Barb Carper's farm. It will begin around 4:00 p.m. Plan to attend! It will be great fun! 

ANY MORE RI CONTRIBUTORS? The number of Owensboro Rotarians who have joined the Rotary International $100 Club (by saving quarters or otherwise) include: Jeff Ebelhar, Hugh Gilbert, Henry Payne, Ed Pulliam, Charles Ralph, Donna Risley, Frank Yarbrough, and Marilyn Brookman. Why not join this distinctive group and give your RI $100?! 

COMMITTEES
For the past several weeks, we have listed the various committees and co-chairs. Now we can begin activating our committees. At the next meeting, we hope to have information for all committee co-chairs from the Rotary Committee Manual about assignments. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO... 
Brad Belcher - Sept. 8 
John Medley, Jr. - Sept. 8 
Jack Barnard - Sept. 9 
Bill Price - Sept. 12 
Gary Exline - Sept. 13 
Martel Wightman - Sept. 13 
Mike Bruce - Sept. 14 

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 September is Gary Exline. The Program Chairman for October is Tim Bradshaw. 
• Donna Risley will be at the Fellowship Table 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 19: Muhlenberg Judge Executive Rodney Kirtley -- Update on Activities 
September 26: Bradley Wise, Vice President, Prudential: "Investments" 
October 3: Ohio River Developments 
October 10: Sheriff Keith Cain - The Methamphetamine Problem 
October 17: TBA 
October 24: TBA 
October 31 TBA 

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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