February 5, 2005

Last Week’s Program...
Morton Holbrook, Owensboro attorney, author of judicial reform, and noted civic leader, provided Owensboro Rotarians a fascinating look into the life and leadership of General George S. Patton. During World War II, Mr. Holbrook served under General Patton’s command for a period of time following the invasion of Normandy. He related some of his personal experiences and observations from the Third Army’s march across France and the siege of Metz in 1944. Through his descriptive narrative, Mr. Holbrook brought history to life for those in attendance. He provided a fresh perspective on the somewhat checkered career of a great patriot and military leader.

Thank you, Mr. Holbrook, for your very interesting recollections and reflections.

Attendance: 82

Highest Attendance This Year: 103

Invocation, Pledge & 4-Way Test: Jody Wassmer

Fellowship Report: Becky O’Bryan

Introduction of Guests: Jim Kincheloe, guest of David Nelson; Bob Morris, guest of Marilyn Brookman; Ann Kincheloe and Susie Tyler, guests of Bill Tyler; Mike Fiorella and John Edge, guests of Mike Goad; Madison Silvert, guest of David Edds, Jr.; Allen Holbrook, Ron Sullivan, Tyson Kamuf, Hugh Moore and Bryan Reynolds, all guests of Bill Dexter and Mike Sullivan; Margaret Holbrook, guest of the club.

Meeting Make-Ups: Randy Spaw, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Proposed New Member: Bo Barron, proposed by Jarred Barron. Bo is a sales representative with Wm. G. Barron Enterprises.

Introduction of New Member: Clay Ford, introduced by Jane Noble. Clay is with Money Concepts.

Thought for the Week: "The game of life is a lot like football. You have to tackle your problems, block your fears, and score your points when you get the opportunity." ~ Lewis Grizzard

ROTARY ANNOUNCEMENTS...
• HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ROTARY!!! Wednesday, February 23, 2005 is Rotary’s centennial anniversary. We’ll have a special birthday celebration at our meeting that day, so mark your calendar and plan to join us as we Celebrate Rotary!
• Indoor Playground contributions and/or pledges may be mailed to Jeff Ebelhar, Owensboro Rotary Foundation treasurer, at the following address:

Jeff Ebelhar
100 W. Third Street
P.O. Box 1824
Owensboro, KY 42302-1824

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...     
Bill Van Winkle - February 5 
Tim France - February 11

ROTARY REMINDERS
• 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.
• Rodney Berry is the program chair for February.
• Ken Lawson will be at the Fellowship Table during February.
• 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!

YOUR PRESIDENT SPEAKS:   
This is a very special month for Rotary clubs worldwide - a month that has been 100 years in the making. On Wednesday, February 23, Rotary will celebrate its centennial anniversary. The four men who gathered in a downtown Chicago office on that date in 1905 surely had no idea they were sowing the seeds of the world's greatest service organization. Few organizations last 100 years. The fact that Rotary has achieved this milestone is a tribute to the selfless dedication of its members. For almost a century, and in spite of two world wars and numerous armed conflicts, Rotarians have remained united under the banner of "service above self."

RI President Glenn Estess has referred to Rotarians as "ordinary people who accomplish extraordinary things." Millions of people worldwide have benefited from Rotary's projects and programs. I'm proud to be part of an international organization with such a long history of achievement. I'm also proud to be an Owensboro Rotarian. Our club was chartered in 1915, just 10 years after that first Rotary meeting in Chicago. For the past 90 years, members of the Owensboro Rotary Club have given of their time, energy and financial resources to help build a better community and a better future for our young people. Those past generations of Owensboro Rotarians set a wonderful example of service and leadership. We have a lot to live up to!

During this centennial month, let’s not only celebrate our successes of the past – let’s celebrate the future and where we're going in our next century of service.

Have a great week!

Pat

A CENTENNIAL MOMENT
Meet Paul Harris…
Paul P. Harris was born in Racine, Wisconsin on April 19, 1868. He spent his early years in Wallingford, Vermont, prior to attending the University of Vermont, Princeton University and the University of Iowa. Following his graduation from the University of Iowa law school in 1891, he spent five years seeing the world. He worked as a newspaper reporter, a business college teacher, a stock company actor and a cowboy. He also traveled extensively in the U.S.A. and Europe as a salesman for a marble and granite company.

In 1896, Paul Harris settled down in Chicago to practice law. During the early years of his practice, he devoted a great deal of time reflecting on the conditions of life and business, and by 1905 had formulated a definite philosophy of business relations. Talking it over with three of his law clients - Silvester Schiele, a coal merchant, Gustavus Loehr, a mining engineer, and Hiram Shorey, a merchant tailor - he decided, with them, to organize a club banding together a group of representative business and professional men in friendship and fellowship. On February 23, 1905, the club's first meeting took place, forming the nucleus for the thousands of Rotary clubs throughout the world.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS
February 16: Helen Mountjoy - Member and former Chair, Kentucky Board of Education
February 23: Mitch McConnell - U.S. Senator

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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