August 28, 2004

Last Week’s Program ...
Susie Tyler, president of PRIDE of Owensboro-Daviess County, Inc., and Nathan Nunley, project manager for PRIDE's Signature Projects, spoke to the club regarding the organization’s recent activities and plans. Ms. Tyler mentioned PRIDE’s close ties to Rotary – 50% of PRIDE’s Advisory Council members are Rotarians – and the fact that Rotarian Terry Woodward is a recipient of the PRIDE Celebrates Award for his contributions to improving Owensboro’s downtown. She also reviewed some of PRIDE’s accomplishments of the past year, which included sending a delegation to a seminar in Louisville, soliciting community input regarding Veterans Boulevard, creating a median design committee, instituting the Curbside Architecture & Historical Home Tour program, and conducting a Signature Projects work session.

Nathan Nunley described PRIDE’s two Signature Projects, improving U.S. 60 East / U.S. 231 North from the Natcher Bridge to the RiverPark Center and improving West Parrish Avenue from the KY 81 / KY 56 intersection to Bosley Road. Last month, in a planning “charette” lead by a landscape architect from Lexington, PRIDE members discussed ways of making a good impression at these two entrances to our community. Ideas included incorporating landscaping, lighting, signage, banners, historical data and information about current events to improve appearance and say great things about Owensboro and Daviess County. A second planning session will be held in September to build on these suggestions.

Thank you, Susie and Nathan, for an interesting program and for encouraging citizens of our community to assume "Public Responsibility In Designing the Environment."

Attendance: 91

Highest Attendance This Year: 103

Invocation, Pledge & 4-Way Test: Tom Smith

Fellowship Report: Larry Mercer

Introduction of Guests: Kim Johnson, guest of Donna Risley; Ann Kincheloe, Alice Welsh, guests of Bill Tyler; Beverly Mills, guest of Rodney Berry; Nick Goetz, guest of John Kurtz; Rich Litov, visiting Rotarian from Evansville, IN

Proposed New Member: Rich Litov, director of Pedia Research, proposed by Becky O’Bryan

Thought for the Week: “Well done is better than well said.” ~ Benjamin Franklin

INDOOR PLAYGROUND UPDATE
At last week’s meeting, Sim Davenport, chair of the indoor playground fundraising committee, provided an update on the status of our playground campaign. To date, we’ve received $150,000 in pledges and donations towards our $250,000 goal. The amount donated and pledged thus far comes from approximately 25% of the club membership and several organizations. In the next several weeks, the fundraising committee will be contacting the rest of the club membership. If you haven’t already done so, please complete a pledge form and turn it in to Sim, Pat McFarling, or any member of the fundraising committee. The playground is our club’s Centennial Project - our opportunity to “Celebrate Rotary” by meeting a need and giving back to the community while enhancing public awareness of Rotary and its mission.  

YOUR PRESIDENT SPEAKS:  
When Chicago attorney Paul P. Harris and his friends began gathering in1905 it was to enjoy camaraderie and to enlarge their circle of business and professional acquaintances. These early Rotarians soon realized, however, that fellowship and mutual self-interest were not enough to keep a club of busy professionals meeting each week. Reaching out to improve the lives of the less fortunate proved to be an even more powerful motivation. The Rotary commitment to service began in 1907, when the Rotary Club of Chicago donated a horse to a preacher. The man's own horse had died, and because he was too poor to buy another one, he was unable to make the rounds of his churches and parishioners. A few weeks later, the club constructed Chicago's first public lavatory outside City Hall. With these inaugural projects, Rotary became the world's first service-club organization.

As the club continued to grow, it widened its scope beyond the professional and social interests of its members; civic service began to take a more prominent role in club activities. Rotary founder Paul Harris would later write, “In common with my fellow members, I had learned to place emphasis on the giving rather than the getting.” That ideal of service still holds true for us as Rotarians today.

Have a great week!

Pat  

ANNOUNCEMENTS  
• Celebrate Rotary in the city where it all began! The Rotary International Centennial Convention will be held June 19-22, 2005 in Chicago. For more information see Pat McFarling or visit the RI website at www.rotary.org.
• Indoor playground pledge forms are available at the Fellowship Table.  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...   
Frank Wagner - August 28
Bill McDonald - August 31
Charles Medley - September 1
Ted Smith - September 1
George Thacker, Jr. - September 2  

ROTARY REMINDERS...   
• Tim Bradshaw is the program chair for September.
• Bill Gabbert will be at the Fellowship Table during September.
• Don’t forget to make up your missed meetings at Daviess County Rotary, 7 a.m. on Tuesdays at Heavenly Ham Restaurant in Towne Square North.
• 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:
September 8: Nancy Fuqua – American Red Cross
September 15: Cheryl King – Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education
September 22: Jeff Barber – OMHS
September 29: Steve Henry – Prostate Cancer

2004 - 2005
OWENSBORO ROTARY CLUB OFFICERS
President: Pat McFarling
Vice President: Bill Dexter
Past President: Jeff Ebelhar
Secretary: John Kurtz
Treasurer: Bob Nation
Directors: Tish Correa-Osborne, Todd Inman, Patty Drury, Tim Bradshaw, & Noel Maddox

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