August 26, 2006

Last Week’s Program... Congressman Ron Lewis
Congressman Lewis devoted the majority of his time on a message about energy and specifically how our country’s dependence, 60%, on foreign oil compromises our position on the world stage and increases economic volatility at home as well. The Cecilia, Kentucky Representative says that America needs a comprehensive energy plan that allows responsible energy exploration and increases our supply, while encouraging conservation and increasing alternative and renewable energy sources.

Lewis voted for, and the House passed, a number of bills that accomplish some of these goals. "Only by acting on each of these goals can the U.S. lower its dependence on Middle Eastern, Venezuelan and other foreign sources of oil."

The Deep Ocean Energy Resources Act promotes new oil and gas exploration off the nation's coasts. The states can decide whether or not they want to allow exploration, and will receive a significant share of revenues generated by the leases. This is an incentive for the states to permit exploration.

Another Act would open up a 2,000 acre portion of the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to energy exploration. The Congressman reports that ANWR could produce nearly 1.5 million barrels daily for approximately 30 years. For comparison, that is about the same amount of oil as the U.S. currently imports from Saudi Arabia.

A new refinery hasn't been built in the U.S. in over 30 years. The Refinery Permit Process Schedule Act will help make the process easier for states that would like to build new refineries.

Expanding the infrastructure for alternative fuels like Ethanol and Bio-Diesel would help ease our dependence on foreign energy and boost the local economy as well.

Thank you, Congressman Lewis, for your presentation.

Attendance: 81

Highest Attendance This Year: 90

Invocation, Pledge & 4-Way Test: Nancy Fuqua

Fellowship Report: Jeremy Bradford

Introduction of Guests: Joe Bowen was the guest of Jeff Carpenter; Ottie Pantle was the guest of Drew Kirkland; Lt. Jeff Jones was the guest of Keith Cain; Commissioner Bruce Kunze was the guest of Gary Sisk; Steve Scott was the guest of Jim Ed Oberst.

Introduction of New Member: Fred May by Dean Rodney

Thought for the Week: "Every right implies a responsibility; every opportunity, an obligation; every possession, a duty." ~  John D. Rockefeller

YOUR PRESIDENT SPEAKS:
I’m so excited to have Richard Stallings, Nick Cambron, Barry Young and Fred May to join us since my presidency started. And yet as I was leaving the meeting last week I asked Dean Rodney if he was going to remain in Rotary. Sadly, with his departure from U.S. Bank in 33 days, he will also no longer be a member of this Club. I now realize how a president can take a resignation personally, and I guess we should all take it personally. In Dean’s case and many others I understand that there are reasons people can no longer maintain their membership – service to this club is rigorous if you do it right. Thankfully, with Fred’s induction, Dean’s departure was a zero net loss (that’s a semi-optimistic way of looking at it.). But I challenge you – as all presidents have challenged each of you – bring in at least two new members over the next 10 months. I’ve asked the board to think of ways we can all make this club the best version of itself – and you are in the hands of a superb board of directors.

Tim Bradshaw shared with me the notion that good programs and membership development go hand-in-hand. Right or wrong that is one of our current realities. The caliber of speakers we’ve had, and will hopefully continue to have, should be such that they rise to the level of quality and significance that this club has had in this community since 1915. Our weekly meeting is a forum for people and organizations to put forth interesting and meaningful ideas for us and the greater community to consider. Speakers should see this forum as a must-do for their strategies and for their organization - which in turn should be a hot ticket both for speakers and members (we only have 140 seats and we should fill at least 100% of them).

We all need to take advantage of opportunities to invite someone to Rotary and then invite that person to be a Rotarian.

Have Fun!
John

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

ANNOUNCEMENTS...
• Great Job! – The water is back on the tables this week. You helped us raise $169 last week for our International Clean Water Initiative – Keep it Up. Please share any ways you, the club or your organization can help raise funds and awareness for this project…Sr. Suzanne is all ears.
• The beautiful tent that Tim Bradshaw showed off last week is available for club events and "not-for-profit" organizations free of charge. If any company or individual would like to use it, contact Tim at 685-4179 and he’ll decide how much your donation to the Owensboro Rotary Club Foundation needs to be….either way it’s a deal.

ROTARY REMINDERS
• Don’t forget to make up your missed meetings at Daviess County Rotary, 7 a.m. on Tuesdays at American Bounty.
• Bob Morris is the program chair for August.
• Jeremy Bradford will be at the Fellowship Table during August.
• Chief John Kazlauskas is the program chair for September.
• 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
Sept 6: Mr. Bill Parrish - Owensboro Department of Sanitation.
Sept. 13: Dr. Doug Adams - Owensboro Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons.
Sept. 20: Gary Murphy - Westport, New Zealand/International Local Government Managers Exchange Program
Sept. 27: Major Alecia Edgington, Director of Kentucky Homeland Security.

2006 - 2007 OWENSBORO ROTARY CLUB OFFICERS
President: John Kurtz
Vice President: Tish Correa-Osborne
Past President: Bill Dexter
Secretary: Tim Bradshaw
Treasurer: Bob Nation
Directors:  John Kazlauskas, John Medley, Sister Suzanne Sims, Jeremy Bradford, Kirk Kirkpatrick, Ed Wathen