September 4, 2004

Last Week’s Program ...
Fellow Rotarian Chalmers Haas, Executive Director of the Owensboro Symphony Orchestra, and Maestro Nicholas Palmer provided for the club an overview of the symphony’s upcoming season and educational outreach programs. Maestro Palmer began the program by describing the orchestra. The OSO is composed of professional musicians from throughout the region and surrounding states. The quality of the orchestra can be attributed to these talented musicians, many of whom are students at Indiana University, plus a fine group of local musicians and a wonderful performance hall at RiverPark Center. Maestro Palmer also reviewed the orchestra’s 39th season, "Just for the Sound of It." The season includes seven Masterworks Series Concerts and two Pops Concerts. The OSO performs throughout the state and has made a number of recordings.

Chalmers explained the opportunities for growth and enrichment the OSO provides through its educational outreach programs. These include the Youth and Cadet Orchestras; Strings Attached, a program to introduce the violin to 4th and 5th graders; Go for Baroque, a program to introduce children to the Baroque period; Musicians in the Schools; and participation in the Arts Teach Kids program at RiverPark Center. Chalmers also reviewed plans for the OSO’s new building on 2nd Street. The renovated building will house the symphony’s administrative offices as well as rehearsal hall, soundproof practice rooms, a large classroom, and a music resource library.

Thank you, Chalmers and Nick, for an informative program about our own wonderful Owensboro Symphony Orchestra.

Attendance: 89

Highest Attendance This Year: 103

Invocation, Pledge & 4-Way Test: Sr. Suzanne Sims

Fellowship Report: Bill Gabbert

Introduction of Guests: Phillip Coleman and Jeff Butterfield, guests of Marilyn Brookman

Introduction of New Member: Matt Francis, Editorial Page Editor for the Messenger-Inquirer, introduced by Todd Inman

Make-ups: Two make-ups by Sim Davenport, one at Marshall County club and one at Murray.

Thought for the Week: "He who can not command his thoughts will soon lose command of his actions." ~ (Woodrow Wilson)

YOUR PRESIDENT SPEAKS:
On Monday, September 6, our country celebrates Labor Day. Labor Day is somewhat unique among holidays. It’s not a religious holiday, a memorial to a certain person or event, or a day commercialized by retail establishments. The first Monday of September is designated as a time to celebrate the American worker.

Although there is some debate surrounding the origin of the holiday, many believe its founder was a machinist named Matthew Maguire. While serving as secretary of New York’s Central Labor Union in 1882, Maguire proposed a celebration that included a street parade to exhibit the 'esprit de corps' of the labor organizations followed by a festival for the workers and their families. By 1884, the celebration was an annual event in the city. The idea of a "workingmen’s holiday" caught on and the observance of Labor Day quickly spread across the country. Despite the popularity of the holiday, it wasn't until June 28, 1894, that Congress declared the first Monday of each September a legal observance.

Labor Day was traditionally observed with parades, speeches, barbecues, and picnics. In recent years, it’s become more of a time for a final summer fling. No matter how we decide to celebrate this long weekend – on the golf course, cooking out, visiting friends and family – we might pause to remember that it was the working men and women of this country who afforded us this opportunity to do absolutely nothing. As a nation, we owe our prosperity to the ingenuity and vitality of our work force. It’s appropriate that we pay tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of our strength, freedom, and leadership -- the American worker.

Enjoy the holiday and have a great week!

Pat

THE FAMILY OF ROTARY    
Our club extends sympathy to:
• Pat Strehl in the death of his mother, Nina Strehl, on August 27
• Bill Gabbert in the death of his sister, Jane Humphreys, on August 27
We’ve received word that former member Don Pinkley, who moved several years ago to Toledo, Ohio, is seriously ill. Our thoughts and prayers are with Don and his family.

ROTARY FACTS     
Did you know…
that a wheel has been the symbol of Rotary since our earliest days. The first design was made by Chicago Rotarian Montague Bear, an engraver who drew a simple wagon wheel, with a few lines to show dust and motion. The wheel was said to illustrate "Civilization and Movement." Most of the early clubs had some form of wagon wheel on their publications and letterheads. Finally, in 1922, it was decided that all Rotary clubs should adopt a single design as the exclusive emblem of Rotarians. Thus, in 1923, the present gear wheel with 24 cogs and six spokes was adopted by the Rotary International Association. A group of engineers advised that the gear wheel was mechanically unsound and would not work without a "keyway" in the center of the gear to attach it to a power shaft. So, in 1923, the keyway was added, and the design which we now know was formally adopted as the official Rotary International emblem.

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...   
Dean Enrenheim - September 4
Cherilyn Kizer - September 4
Brian Crall -  September 6
Brad Belcher - September 8
John Medley, Jr. - September 8
Wendell Ford - September 8
Jack Barnard - September 9

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 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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