March 1, 2003

Last Week’s Program...
Koren Blackstone, Ford Motor Company Zone Manager for the Cincinnati Region, gave an update on Ford’s achievements and new vehicles for the coming year. According to Ms. Blackstone, Ford is currently ranked the #1 brand for cars and trucks. This ranking is determined by sales, profits, customer satisfaction, and quality. The F Series is the #1 selling truck, and the Explorer is the #1 selling SUV.

Over the next 5 years, Ford will introduce approximately 65 new products throughout all their vehicle lines. Since this year is the 100th year of Ford, there will be 5 special edition vehicles produced in limited quantities this year. To be released in 2004, is the alternative fueled vehicle Escape, which achieves 40 miles per gallon with a 300 volt battery that recharges every time the break pedal is pressed. Other new releases include a new model of the F Series truck, a new model of the Mustang, a sedan and SUV hybrid similar to a station wagon, a new mini-van model, and a limited edition 2-seater GT that has over 500 horsepower.

Thank you Koren Blackstone for speaking to our club about Ford Motor Company.

Attendance: 94

Highest Attendance This Year: 109

Invocation, Pledge & 4-Way Test: Tony Dunn

Fellowship Report: Barry Young

Introduction of Guests: Tommy Miller, guest of Tom Smith

Meeting Makeups: Robert Cook at Daviess County Rotary

Thought for the Week: Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.  - Henry David Thoreau (1817 - 1862)

YOUR PRESIDENT SPEAKS:
I thought you might be interested in Rotary projects and accomplishments throughout the world. The following are news briefs from ‘Rotary World’ publication.

Removing land mines planted during the Balkan wars is a service focus of Croatia’s 16 Rotary clubs. The clubs have raised about $500,000, enough to clear 380,000 square meters, with help from Austrian clubs.

The Rotary Club of Patras, Greece, helps the plights of immigrants, whose number in Greece has grown to 1.2 million in the past decade. The club takes part in a program with the municipality and the Greek Orthodox Church to provide immigrants with housing, clothing, food, and childcare.

Relations between Israelis and Arabs in the Middle East were at low ebb last October. But in Israel, the 35 member Rotary club of Nazareth hosted Rotarians, both Jews and Arabs, from 13 clubs, as well as the Christian mayor of Nazareth, and the Jewish mayor of Haifa. The crowd toasted a $20,000 matching grant project co-sponsored by the Nazareth club, which will help provide entrepreneurial skills to Arab young people in Nazareth. Five clubs in California and Nevada are the international sponsors for the project.

Have a great week,

Larry

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
• Welcome new member Bob Hunzinger.
• This week we honored past president Dr. David Nelson. He was president from 1968 – 1969, and became a Paul Harris Fellow in 1987.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...
Chuck Young, Jr. - March
Glenn Higdon - March 5

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 March is Kirk Kirkpatrick.
• The Program Chairs for April are Kirk Kirkpatrick, Steve Gardner, & Bill VanWinkle.
• 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
March 12 - Dr. King Alexander - President Murray State University
March 19 - Todd Inman - Chair Friday After 5
March 26 - Brian Crall - KY Legislature Update
April 2 - Ed Hatchett - Computer Security
April 9 - Gabrielle Gray - International Bluegrass Museum
April 16 - Thomas Laswell Scholarships
April 23 - Harris / Hager Scholarships

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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