July 27, 2002 

Last Week’s Program....
Dr. Barry Holtz with Large Scale Biology Corporation spoke to the club about the company’s activities. Large Scale Biology is a leader in the production of biopharmaceuticals and other commercial proteins from plants. As a matter of fact, the company is one of only 2 in the world to have biopharmaceuticals currently in clinical trial. Dr. Holtz began his presentation with a video clip of a San Francisco TV news story on the clinical trial of a new cancer vaccine produced by Large Scale Biology from protein grown in tobacco here in Owensboro. The vaccine is being tested in the treatment of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and is customized to the characteristics of each individual patient’s cancer. Dr. Holtz reported that Phase I of the trial has now been completed with no adverse events among the 16 participants. Phase II will begin soon and will involve hundreds of participants.

Dr. Holtz described the company’s Geneware technology, which uses the tobacco plant as a bioreactor to manufacture human protein. Tobacco plants are infected with a virus modified to contain human genetic information. As the virus spreads through the plant, the plant produces the gene’s protein in its cells. Two weeks later, this protein can be extracted and used to manufacture products such as cancer vaccine. Using this technology, patient-specific vaccine can be produced in 6 weeks. This is an improvement over other production methods that take many months. According to Dr. Holtz, the tobacco plant is ideally suited for Geneware technology. It’s a fast-growing, robust crop we have years of experience growing. It’s also a non-food crop and supports viral infection without being destroyed.

Large Scale Biology is a 14-year old company with 3 locations in the United States: a research and development division in Vacaville, CA; a facility in Washington D.C.; and a biomanufacturing plant in Owensboro. The 30,000 square foot Owensboro plant includes a specialized greenhouse and presently employs 30 individuals. Large Scale Biology plans to expand its local manufacturing facility to include more buildings as it expands its line of products.

We thank Dr. Holtz for this fascinating look at his company’s progressive work in biotechnology. Owensboro is fortunate to be able to count Large Scale Biology among our corporate citizens.

Attendance: 90

Highest Attendance This Year: 104

Invocation, Pledge & 4-Way Test: Frank Yarbrough

Fellowship Report: Todd Inman

Introduction of Guests: John Kazlauskas, guest of Keith Cain; John Hall, guest of Tom Smith; Lisa Newcom, guest of Bob Garmon; Adam Berry, guest of Rodney Berry.

Meeting Makeups: Keith Cain at Owensboro Breakfast Rotary; Barry Young at Paducah, KY.

Thought for the Week: "The only way to have a friend is to be one." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

YOUR PRESIDENT SPEAKS:
You are all hopefully familiar with the many ways we, as Rotarians, are helping our community in such projects as Readifest, Alma Randolph Foundation, and scholarship funds, among others. Along with these local projects, I would like to make everyone aware of one of the projects that Rotary is involved in on an international level.

The project is called Fulfilling Our Promise: Eradicate Polio, which is a one-year campaign to raise $80 million. Part of this money will be matched by the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation and the World Bank. Rotary’s $80 million will be in addition to the nearly $500 million Rotary has already committed to eradicate polio by 2005.

Rotary International is encouraging each club to participate in this worldwide program. More information will be presented to our club in January. If anyone is interested in being on this committee to support this project, please contact me.

Have a great week!

Larry

THANK YOU
On behalf of the Daviess County Schools; mere words cannot express how grateful we are for all you do for our students and their families. The Rotary Club does make a difference!!

Thank you,

Lori McDonald
Family Resource Center

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...
Steve Gardner - July 27
Jim Goetz - July 28
Ruth Ann Hughes - July 28
Tom Smith - July 28
Bob Burns - July 29
Richard Edwards - July 29
Tom Castlen - July 30
Jim Ed Oberst - July 30
Tish Correa-Osborne - August 1

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Rotary Readifest is Monday, July 22, 2:00-6:00, at the Owensboro Sportscenter, and Wednesday, July 31, 1:00 - 5:00, at Burns Middle School.

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 July is Kirk Kirkpatrick.
• The Program Chair for August is Keith Cain.
• Todd Inman will be at the Fellowship Table during July.
• Jeff Oldham will be at the Fellowship Table during August.
• 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
Aug. 7: Mark Compton - Boy Scouts
Aug. 14: Pamela Fox- Owensboro Community & Technical College System
Aug. 21: Steve Pence - US Attorney for Western District Kentucky
Aug. 28: Jeff Jones - Owensboro Area Museum of Science & History 

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