August 5, 2006

Last Week’s Program...
Dean Ehrenheim – Owensboro Family YMCA

Change is inevitable but Growth is optional. That was the message Dean brought to us after attending the National YMCA Conference last month. Dean pointed out that competition for the Y isn’t necessarily from Atlantis, The Healthpark or other providers of programs that create healthy Minds, Bodies and Spirits, the threat to our Family Y is from elements within our own culture, media and relationships that are increasingly dangerous and unhealthy to all of us but especially children.

Last year, the Y assisted more than 1000 families who couldn’t afford the wholesome programming provided. This assistance cost more than $180,000. $58,000 alone was spent on the Summer Day Camp – one of the Family Y’s most successful programs. Dean thanked all Rotarians who have supported the Y over its 111 year history.

The future has other challenges for the YMCA in Owensboro. Dean noted that the per family income in Owensboro is $4000 less per year than that of the national average. That fact coupled with a higher ratio of families to singles makes for a unique landscape for the Y moving forward. A recent marketing study of the Y, its members and non-members pointed to the need to develop the 25 acre site on New Hartford Road to enhance the Y’s programming, day camp and facilities to better serve the needs of the community.

Attendance: 81

Highest Attendance This Year: 88

Invocation, Pledge & 4-Way Test: Tom Smith

Fellowship Report: Gavin Roberts

New Members Proposed: Fred May, Richard Stallings, Allen Wade

Introduction of Guests: Dean Ehrenheim had 3 guests: Angus McKinley, Kent Rea, Mary Rea

Meeting Makeups: Frank Wagner had 4 make-ups: Two at Spartanburg, S.C. West and Two at Spartanburg, S.C. North.

Thought for the Week: Never laugh at anyone’s dream. People who don’t have dreams don’t have much!

YOUR PRESIDENT SPEAKS:
If you read this, please give me your feedback. Does the Impetus work for you? I’ll throw out some ideas and you respond how you wish. The Impetus is printed every week and mailed to our members. I enjoy writing the Impetus, even though the quality may not be as high as you’d like it and the material may not be what you’re looking for - and that’s part of my question. What’s the point of the Impetus and what’s the best way to make that point. If the point is to inform and entertain, I think we can continue to do that, though the entertainment part is a tall order. If the point is to give people a heads-up or summary of the meeting and therefore encourage truancy, we may need to re-think how to convert absence into attendance and whether that is even possible through changes in our newsletter. What do you think? Status Quo – Email Only – Monthly Postcard?...

I know many of you already receive the email version of the Impetus along with the printed piece. In an effort to reduce expenses perhaps we could clean-up and beef-up our email list and even diminish our snail mail list. Whatever form the future holds for the Impetus: post card, telegram, smoke signals etc., I’ll do my best to serve the club’s needs. Regardless of the outcome of this Impetus issue, we need to update our contact information. Many of you didn’t have email and now you do and many new members’ email addresses have not been harvested yet. If you have an email address and you are not receiving the Impetus in your outbox, please send an email to: kim@mediaworksadvertising.com with the word "Impetus" in the subject line and she’ll do the rest.

Thanks for being a Rotarian.

Have Fun! - John

ANNOUNCEMENTS...
Tish Correa-Osborne is in need of program chairs for a few months in 2007. Please help if you have good program ideas.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...
Rodney Berry - August 8
Mark Millsap - August 10

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
August 16: Dr. Jeff Barber – Owensboro Medical Health System
August 23: Rep. Ron Lewis – Congressional Update
August 30: District Governor Kay Sharon

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