OWENSBORO'S ROTARY IMPETUS

April 6, 2002 


This Week's Program... 
Maggie Price, Wendell Foster Center 

Last Week’s Program...  
Dean Ehrenheim, Chief Executive Officer of the Owensboro Family YMCA, took Owensboro Rotarians down memory lane with his interesting presentation about the YMCA, as assisted by his son Jared. The vision statement of the YMCA is, "To put Christian principles into practice through programs and services that help build healthy spirit, mind and body for all." The motto is, "We build strong kids, strong families, strong communities." Dean showed how the YMCA has embraced those values as it has changed locations during the years in Owensboro, with pictures of local people throughout the 1900s. The YMCA employs over 100 people and has over 6,000 members. In addition, services and programs served over 9,000 young people in 2001. At summer camp, financial assistance was offered to 148 children. The YMCA is a 45,000 square foot family facility located at 900 Kentucky Parkway, complete with swimming pool, free childcare, fitness equipment, game room, locker rooms with a family locker room, racquetball, basketball gym, library, preschool classroom and afterschool childcare. Future plans include an outdoor campsite as well as new play fort equipment and a SafePlace location.  

Thank you, Dean Ehrenheim, for the impressive program on the Owensboro Family YMCA and also for the fine job you do in directing the comprehensive programs and activities of the YMCA. Owensboro is fortunate to have the YMCA.  

Attendance: 86 

Highest Attendance This Year: 124 

Invocation, Pledge & 4-Way Test: David Edds, Jr. 

Fellowship Report: Bill Dexter 

Introduction of Guests: Visiting Rotarian Richard Litov from Evansville.  

Meeting Makeups: Robert Cook at Breakfast Rotary. Frank Wagner in New York City and Paris, France. Frank presented the flag from the Paris Club to the Owensboro Club.  

Thought for the Week: "Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before." - James Buckham 

YOUR PRESIDENT SPEAKS: 
On the first Friday of April, the Commonwealth of Kentucky acknowledges "Arbor Day." According to the website foresty.about.com, Arbor Day is a national observance first celebrated in Nebraska in 1872. The day especially encourages tree planting and tree care and has a long history. It is sponsored by the National Arbor Day Foundation. Each year, some Rotary Clubs celebrate Arbor Day, particularly in Nebraska, where the first Arbor Day was celebrated in response to a state proclamation urging settlers and homesteaders to plant trees to provide shade, shelter, fruit, fuel, and beauty for residents of the largely treeless plains. On that first Arbor Day, more than one million trees were planted in Nebraska's communities and on its farms. North America's top 100 trees include Hardwoods and Conifers. Hardwoods are black willow, poplars, black walnut, hickories, redaider, American Beech, oaks, elms, hackberry, magnolias, sweetgum, sycamore, locusts, maples, ashes, birches, and sassafras. The Conifers are pines, larches, spruces, firs, redwood, cedars, and hemlocks. Arbor Day was first promoted by J. Sterling Morton, who was editor of the Nebraska City News. Mr. Morton wrote, "....let us endeavor then by our words on Arbor Day--and all other opportune occasions--to so embellish the world with plant life, trees, flowers, and foliage, as to make our earth homes approximate to those which the prophets, poets, and seers of all ages have portrayed as the Home of Heaven." Isn't it amazing what the dream of one man can accomplish? Not only did J. Sterling Morton greatly improve Nebraska with beautiful trees, but his idea was adopted by other states and eventually other nations. Do you have a dream that can improve our community, state, or nation? Why not use Rotary as the vehicle to advance a plan to improve the lives of others?

Have a great week!  

Marilyn  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO... 
Don Pinkley - April 7
Roy Stone - April 7 
Chris Crumpton - April 7
Pat Berry - April 8 
Todd Rust - April 8
Rev. Paul Whitlock - April 9 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:  
• Door Prizes: The nice Coleman Cooler from Wal-Mart and Gail Nugent was won by Mike Sullivan. Thank you Wal-Mart and Gail Nugent and congratulations Mike Sullivan. The free oil/filter change at Quick Lane at Champion Ford, compliments of our friend Bruce Brubaker, was won by Joey Taylor. Thank you Bruce Brubaker and congratulations Joey Taylor. The YMCA gifts, compliments of Dean Ehrenheim, were won by Sister Suzanne Sims (YMCA membership) and Gary Sisk (YMCA shirt) for correctly identifying people in the pictures in the PowerPoint presentation.  
• The Gala will be held on Thursday, June 13, at the Owensboro Country Club--mark your calendars and plan to attend!  
• The $100 Club has 20 members! The members of the $100 Club for Rotary International welcomes Roy Stone as the newest member. Rotarians were asked to contribute $100 to Rotary International this year to continue the good work of Rotary. The $100 Club in Owensboro Rotary has the following members: Jackie Addington, Marilyn Brookman, Duval Bushong, Jack Darnell, Jeff Ebelhar, Steve Gardner, Hugh Gilbert, Robert Hast, Paul Martin, Pete Moore, David Nelson, Henry Payne, Don Pinkley, Ed Pulliam, Charles Ralph, Donna Risley, Wes Poling, Roy Stone, Martel Wightman, and Frank Yarbrough. We thank these members for their contributions.  

OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY 
Sincere sympathy is extended to Dean Rodney on the death of his father.  

ROTARY REMINDERS...  
• Don't forget to make up your missed meetings at breakfast Rotary at 7 on Tuesday mornings at Moonlite Barbecue.  
• The Program Chair for April is Tish Correa-Osborne
• The Program Chair for May is Candance Brake
Bill Dexter will be at the Fellowship Table in April. 
• If you have an email address and are not receiving the Impetus online, or you have changed your email address, 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 
April 17: TBD
April 24: Randy Capps, My Old Kentucky Home 
May 1: Tom Laswell Scholarships 
May 8: Hager Awards & Combest Awards

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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