OWENSBORO'S ROTARY IMPETUS

May 29, 2004

This Week’s Program...
IMPORTANT MEETING NOTICE: John Kurtz and Representatives of InterActive Playground will present their drawings and final plans for the Rotary Indoor Playground. Please mark your calendar to be at this important meeting and learn about what is to become the Centennial Project of the Owensboro Rotary Club. Following this presentation we will hear from Jim White on Music at Maple Mount.

Last Week’s Program
Ron Crouch, Director of the Kentucky State Data Center at the University of Louisville, addressed trends affecting individuals, communities, and businesses in Owensboro, Daviess County, Kentucky and the United States. Throughout his talk he used statistics to "debunk" various myths such as the rational for decline in student enrollment and the so called "Brain Drain" to which he explained you cannot bring back people that were never born. He challenged us to focus on the likely and not the unlikely and to develop the critical thinking skills of our community giving us the collective skills to distinguish between the likely and the unlikely. Ron stated that in his view we are wasting resources focusing on the unlikely and gave numerous examples including the nation’s response to safety in schools after students were killed at Columbine. Based on statistics more young people are killed in automobile accidents – his conclusion, resources would be better used to provide auto driving instructions. Pointing to the future, Ron stated that the United States is experiencing a major demographic revolution, diversity by race and age are both critical issues, the "middle-aging", not the aging, of our population is now taking place. The aging of our population is a decade or more off. Our economy is changing and we are not prepared for the new knowledge economy. The costs of an aging society are "unsustainable" and we need to rethink the concept of "old".

Thanks for an interesting and informative program.

Attendance: 86

Highest Attendance This Year: 111

Invocation, Pledge & 4-Way Test: Ross Leazenby

Fellowship Report: Jim French

Meeting Makeups: None

Introduction of Guests: Keith Sanders guest of Larry Hager and visiting Rotarian Bob Marvel from Lancaster, PA

Thought for the Week: "The thing always happens that you really believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen.."  - Frank Lloyd Wrght (1869 - 1959)

YOUR PRESIDENT SPEAKS:
The following have been members of the Owensboro Rotary Club for 50 years or more; Cap Gardner (62 years), Jarred Barron (53 years), Pete Moore (51 years), Jack Darnell (50 years), Frank Yarbrough (50 years) and Scott Holder (50 years). Each of these men has made a major impact on our community through their occupation and civic involvement. Each is a leader that has set the standard for the rest of us to live up to as Rotarians. I am proud to say that I am a Rotarian because of them. It will be our privilege to recognize and honor Jarred, Pete, Jack, Frank and Scott, for their 50 year anniversary in Rotary, individually at our annual gala on the evening of June 24, 2004 at the Owensboro Country Club.

Have a great week,

Jeff

ANNOUNCEMENTS
• New member welcome: Please welcome Mike Dick, General Manager of the Summit Country Club as our newest member. Mike was introduced to the membership by his sponsor Ed Allen.
• Annual Gala: This Gala will be held on Thursday June 24 at the Owensboro County Club. Please invite your spouse or significant other and mark your calendar to attend an enjoyable evening of food, fellowship and fun as we wrap up the Rotary year!
• Rotary Readifest: Tish Correa Osborne announced that this year’s Rotary Readifest will be held on July 27th at the Executive Inn Convention Center. This year all of the schools will be combining to have one Readifest. Please mark your calendars now. We will need twice as many volunteers this year.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...
Bill Jones - June 2

ROTARY REMINDERS...
• The program chair for May is Becky O’Bryan.
• Jim French will be at the Fellowship Table for the rest of May.
• Tish Correa Osborne will be the program chair for the month of June.
• Jim French will be at the Fellowship Table the first week 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 9:  TBA
June 16: TBA
June 23: No Meeting - Annual Gala held on June 24th

2003 - 2004 OWENSBORO ROTARY CLUB OFFICERS 
President: Jeff Ebelhar 
Vice President: Pat McFarling 
Past President: Larry Mercer 
Secretary: Bill Dexter 
Treasurer: Bob Nation 
Directors: Candance Brake, Darrell Higginbotham, Bob Hudson , Tish Correa-Osborne, Todd Inman , & John Kurtz .

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