March 16, 2002 

Last Week’s Program...
Hugh Haydon, President and CEO of Owensboro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc., spoke to Rotary about transportation, specifically the Interstate 69 Project. The Interstate 69 Project is a relatively short term plan to continue building I69 (which presently connects Detroit to Indianapolis) to connect with Evansville, Indiana. At present, there are three location options in this plan. The one option that Mr. Haydon and others feel like would benefit Owensboro most is to build this section of the interstate east of Henderson, Ky. He believes this would put Owensboro on an interstate system, which would create more traffic in Owensboro and that would lead to an economic boost. Hugh Haydon reported The US 231 Coalition is a lobbyist group that is a voice for Kentucky in Indiana, as the I69 Project is being formulated. The Coalition is working to insure that US 231 will become four lane to I69. Mr. Haydon told Rotarians to be alert for more details regarding a new extension to the by-pass around Owensboro before the end of the year. A completion goal for this project should be realized by 2006-2007.

Our thanks to Hugh Haydon for the up-to-date report on interstates and highways that are so important to the future of Owensboro. We appreciate his hard work and that of his staff on behalf of Owensboro.

Attendance: 101

Highest Attendance This Year: 124

Invocation, Pledge & 4-Way Test: Tom Smith

Fellowship Report: Todd Love

Introduction of Guests: Bill West, Director of the Sister Cities Program, introduced Dr. Ivana Mrozkova, Fulbright Scholar, from the Czech Republic.

Thought for the Week: "If a man does his best, what else is there?" - General George S. Patton (1885-1945)

YOUR PRESIDENT SPEAKS:
It's hard to believe, but it's time to celebrate St. Patrick's Day! St. Patrick's Day is celebrated in honor of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland (where there are 72 Rotary Clubs and 2,582 Rotarians), who died on March 17 around 460 AD. St. Patrick was actually born in Wales, but he moved to Ireland to teach the people about Christianity. In Ireland, St. Patrick's Day is primarily a religious occasion, and schools and offices are closed. Many families attend mass and community gatherings, and some people wear shamrocks, a symbol of good luck. In other countries like ours, the celebrations are usually nonreligious. Many people wear green clothing and attend parties and parades. Some St. Patrick Day trivia: Green is the color of St. Patrick's Day, because it is the color of spring, Ireland, and the shamrock. According to legend, St. Patrick drove all of the snakes out of Ireland by beating a drum. The first American St. Patrick's Day celebration took place in Boston in 1737. The Irish saying, "Erin Go Bragh," means Ireland Forever. Step dances--Irish jigs--were created by Irish dancing masters who traveled from town to town improvising steps and generally jumping up and down with hands at their sides. A shillelagh is an oak club used as an Irish walking stick. One of the more interesting stories about Irish custom is the Blarney Stone--a stone in the wall of Ireland's Blarney Castle. Legend has it that an old woman cast a spell on the stone to reward a king who saved her from drowning. Kissing the stone gave the king the "gift of gab" or the ability to speak convincingly--thus kissing the stone is said to bring good luck to the kisser. Another story is about the leprechauns. Irish legend describes leprechauns as shoemakers who will lead you to their hidden gold, if you can catch them. This week we salute our Irish Rotarians and our Irish ancestors. In an Irish blessing for when that time comes, "May you be in heaven 30 minutes before the devil knows you're dead." And, "May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind always be at your back."

Have a great week!

Marilyn

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...
Scott Plain - March 17
Jeff Carpenter - March 19
Joe Hancock - March 19
Steve Ford - March 20
Patrick Roos - March 20

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
• The Gala will be held on Thursday, June 13, at the Owensboro Country Club--mark your calendars and plan to attend!
• Ross Leazenby announced that the Boy Scouts' Wild Game Dinner would be held on March 18, 6:00 p.m., at Settle Memorial Methodist Church ROC Building and everyone is invited to attend.
• Glenn Higdon announced the Heroes Breakfast of the Big Rivers Red Cross Chapter would be held on March 19, 7:30 a.m., at the RiverPark Center with Major General Jerry Humble as the speaker, and everyone is invited to attend.
• Door Prizes: The two free oil and filter changes at the Champion Ford Quick Lane, compliments of our own Bruce Brubaker, were won by Jim White and John Carpenter. Thank you Bruce and congratulations Jim and John! The two St. Patrick Day hats with crisp $5 bills attached (for Wearin' of the Green!) were won by Mark Millsap and Sarah Devlin. Congratulations Mark and Sarah!
• The Owensboro Easter Pageant 2002 will be at the RiverPark Center on March 28, 29, and 30, and everyone is invited to attend. Owensboro Rotarians participating or associated with the Pageant are Garry Baldwin, David Edds, Sr., Grey Hunt, and Larry Mayfield.

SPECIAL THANKS...
• Thanks to Donna Risley for her neat St. Patrick's Day information on how to catch a Leprechaun, with the help of Sim Davenport, Jeff Ebelhar, and Gary Sisk! That was fun, Donna!
• A special thanks to the Decorations Committee (Ed Pulliam, Millie Killian, Pat Berry, Don Pinkley, Judy Rouse) for the great St. Patrick's Day decorations! We appreciated your shamrocks and pots of gold!

ROTARY REMINDERS...
• Don't forget to make up your missed meetings at breakfast Rotary at 7 on Tuesday mornings at Moonlite Barbecue.
• The Program Co-Chair for March are Darrell Higginbotham & Brenda Clayton.
• Todd Love will be at the Fellowship Table in March.
• 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
March 27: Mary Bryan Hood and Dean Stanley, 25th Anniversary of the Museum of Fine Art 

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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