February 8, 2003

Last Week’s Program...
Dave Johnson, sports writer for the Evansville Courier Journal, shared some of his experiences and memorabilia. He has an extensive sports memorabilia collection, including such objects as 2 baseballs from the 1919 World Series, the San Diego chicken mascot outfit, hundreds of uniforms, and over 1,000 baseball gloves and bats.

Dave started his career at the age of 12, by covering little league games for his hometown newspaper in Monmouth, Illinois. He graduated from Western Illinois University with degrees in Journalism and Mathematics. He was drawn to Evansville by the chance to cover Triple-A baseball, taking a sports writing job with "The Press" in 1976. Dave’s journalism career has led him to cover many World Series, All-Star games, 2 NCAA basketball finals, 5 Kentucky Derby’s, an NBA All-Star game, and an NHL All-Star game. (He’s even been privileged to get to know Owensboro Rotary’s own Rodney Berry and Bruce Brubaker!)

Attendance: 86

Highest Attendance This Year: 109

Invocation, Pledge & 4-Way Test: Tony Dunn

Fellowship Report: Lucy Gip Neal

Introduction of Guests: Tom Poole, guest of Bill Kurtz

Meeting Makeups: None

Thought for the Week: "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away."

YOUR PRESIDENT SPEAKS:
(Some of the following information came from the book Courageous Leadership, by Bill Hybels.)

You don’t have to be a cynic to feel a little skeptical when someone starts talking about changing the world. Even if you agree that the world is due for some reconstruction, you probably consider the chances of such change to be slim.

In the late 1800’s, the brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright, after 10 years of disappointing experiments, made history when their small bi-plane lifted off a sandy beach in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. In the early 20th century, Henry Ford vowed to make automobile transportation affordable. The nation laughed out loud, but 15 years later, Ford’s Model T sold for $290 each. In the 1940’s, Billy Graham had a dream that people everywhere could hear the gospel. As of this year, 210 million have seen and heard him live, while over 1 billion have heard him by television and radio.

Scrolling through a list like this, even a skeptic has to see that inspired leaders actually can change their world. What did all these leaders have in common? What they had in common was compelling vision. Vision is the fuel that leaders run on. "Without vision, the people perish." (Proverbs 29:18) What is your vision for your world?

Have a great week,

Larry

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
• Welcome new member Rick Crabtree.
• We will weekly honor our active past presidents. Highlighted this week was Cap Gardner, president from 1960 – 1961.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...
Tim France - February 11
Ben Hartz - February 12
Esther Jansing - February 13
Ross Leazenby - February 13

ROTARY REMINDERS...
• Don't forget to make up your missed meetings at Daviess County Rotary (formally breakfast rotary) at 7 on Tuesday mornings at Moonlite Barbecue.
• The Program Chair for February is Bruce Brubaker.
• The Program Chair for March is Kirk Kirkpatrick.
• Lucy Neal will be at the Fellowship Table during February.
• Chris Reid will be at the Fellowship Table during 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
Feb. 19 - Ray Harper
Feb. 26 - General Jerry Humble
March 5 - Kate Higdon
March 12 - Dr. King Alexander - President Murray State
March 19 - Todd Inman - Chair Friday After 5
March 26 - Brian Crall - Ky Legislature Update

2002 - 2003 OWENSBORO ROTARY CLUB OFFICERS
President: Larry Mercer
Vice President: Jeff Ebelhar
Past President: Marilyn Brookman
Secretary: Pat McFarling
Treasurer: Bob Nation
Directors: Candance Brake, Bill Dexter, Darrell Higginbotham, Bob Hudson, Jane Noble 

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