OWENSBORO'S ROTARY IMPETUS

June 1, 2002 


This Week's Program... Cap Gardner Day

Last Week’s Program..
United States Senator Jim Bunning, spoke to Owensboro Rotary about several pressing legislative issues that are in progress---energy, trade, and defense. Both the House and Senate have passed serious energy legislation and will get a final compromise bill to send to the President this summer which will be good news for Kentucky. The Senate bill contains $2 billion in funding for clean coal technology. Problems in the Middle East and the war on terror have increased the importance of energy. One half of our nation's oil comes from the Middle East and cutting our dependency on them is crucial.

The Senate passed Trade Promotion Authority last week which is a bill that gives the President the authority to negotiate new trade treaties with other nations. Healthy trade enables nations to make the best use of their resources. It also brings nations together in working toward a common goal of mutual economic benefit instead of armed conflict. Countries that trade together do not fight and are less likely to work against each other.

The Senate Armed Services Committee also passed out the Defense Authorization Bill for 2003. It is a solid proposal that boosts spending to $393 billion for 2003 and includes a military pay raise and a big increase to help the Department of Defense fight the war on terror. Senator Bunning was able to add $175 billion in spending for the military in Kentucky. The next few months will be very busy in Congress. Several bills will need to be passed--an updated version of welfare reform, a bill to reform Medicare and expand prescription drug coverage, and 13 spending bills that keep the federal government running.

We appreciate Senator Bunning's representation of Kentuckians in Washington and commend him for his dedication. We also appreciate the updated information he shared with us and wish him success as Senate bills are passed this summer.

Attendance: 106

Highest Attendance This Year: 146

Invocation, Pledge & 4-Way Test: Mike Wallace

Fellowship Report: Nancy Fuqua

Introduction of Guests: Gary Boswell guest of Ross Leazenby, Dr. Cheryl King guest of Martel Wightman, Scott McCain guest of Jim Ed Oberst, Ray Askins guest of Mark Treesh, Gavin Roberts guest of Todd Inman, Bruce Kunze guest of Gary Sisk.

Membership Minute: Darrell Higginbotham gave attendance information and requirements during the Membership Minute.

Meeting Makeups: Noel Maddox at Breakfast Rotary.

Thought for the Week: Try to avoid looking forward or backward, and try to keep looking upward. - Charlotte Bronte

YOUR PRESIDENT SPEAKS:
Wednesday, June 5, Owensboro Rotary will declare "Cap Gardner Day" with a program to honor Casper S. Gardner. In June, Cap Gardner will be a member of Owensboro Rotary for 60 years, having joined in 1942. Cap has been President of Owensboro Rotary and is a Paul Harris Fellow. He has been Mayor of Owensboro and a Kentucky State Senator. When he was a Senator, he was designated the Most Outstanding Senator by the Kentucky Press and TV Corp in Frankfort, and he was also elected Majority Leader, which was the first time a first-term Senator ever achieved this honor. He also served in the US Navy during WW II as an Aircraft Carrier Landing Signal Officer serving on carriers both in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. He earned his Bachelor's Degree at George Washington University in Washington, DC. He is married to Gayle and has one son Chris.

No doubt about it, Cap Gardner is a very special person who has spent a lifetime working in public life on behalf of others. When Mrs. A. J. Stanley wrote the following words, she must have had Cap Gardner in mind: "He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often and loved much; who has gained the respect of intelligent men and women and the love of little children; who has filled his niche and accomplished his tasks; who has left the world better than he found it, whether by an improved poppy, a perfect poem, or a rescued soul; who has never lacked appreciation of earth's beauty or failed to express it; who has looked for the best in others and given the best he had; whose life is an inspiration, whose memory will be a benediction."

We thank you, Cap Gardner, for sharing your life with us. We appreciate all you have done, and we appreciate you!

To our members: come join with us as we roast Cap Gardner (kindly) on Wednesday, June 5. Members participating in this fun program will include Candance Brake, John Carpenter, John Darnell, Sim Davenport, Hugh Gilbert, Esther Jansing, Kirk Kirkpatrick, Donna Risley, Gary Sisk, Frank Wagner, Martel Wightman, and chaired by Glenn Higdon.

Have a great week!

Marilyn

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...
Bill Jones - June 2
Jean Wells - June 6

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
• The Gala will be held on Thursday, June 13, at the Owensboro Country Club-- mark your calendar and plan to attend! You may bring a guest. THERE WILL BE NO REGULAR CLUB MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12
• Door Prizes: The great glass basket filled with delicious strawberries compliments of Target and Jennifer Meador was won by Scott Holder. Thank you Target and Jennifer Meador and congratulations Scott. The free oil/filter change at Champion Ford Quick Lane compliments of Bruce Brubaker was won by Grey Hurt. Thank you Bruce Brubaker and Champion Ford and congratulations Grey Hurt.

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 June is Glenn Higdon.
Henry Payne will be at the Fellowship Table in June.
• 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
June 12 - No meeting due to Gala on June 13
June 19 - TBD
June 26 - President's Awards Program 

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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