July 8, 2006

Last Week’s Program...
Rev. Titus Ahabyona – Uganda Clean Water Initiative (Rotary International Program). Rev. Titus Ahabyona, a Catholic priest stationed in Owensboro, described the dire situation in his native Uganda - where the lack of safe water for human use is one of the greatest problems affecting the health of children throughout his native region of Kyenjojo as well as Uganda in general. Contaminated water results in intestinal infections that increase malnutrition and contribute to the severity of other illnesses. Until their partnership with the Rotary Club of Bainbridge Island, Washington, many communities in Kaberamaido District, Uganda, had been using unsafe water from open wells, ponds, streams, and rivers. Our club, with it’s $2,500 investment in this clean water initiative, is providing materials, supplies, services and technical assistance to construct a well that will provide safe water for a community’s children and their families.

Thank you Sr. Suzanne Sims and Fr. Titus for this enlightening program and update on our club’s activities on the international level.

Attendance: 82

Highest Attendance This Year: 82

Invocation, Pledge & 4-Way Test: Gary Noffsinger

Fellowship Report: Tish Correa-Osborne

Meeting Makeups: Roger Coomes had a make-up at the Daviess County Rotary Club

Introduction of New Member: Nick Cambron inducted by John Kurtz. Nick is with Coldwell Banker Commercial Realty Group.

Thought for the Week: To repeat what others have said, requires education, to challenge it, requires brains. ~ Mary Pettibone Poole

YOUR PRESIDENT SPEAKS:
Last week’s program was a great kickoff to the new Rotary year. Your board and foundation have already decided to make a difference in the lives of those in Uganda who have no feasible access to clean water – something you and I probably take for granted. I, like many of you, wondered why we would need to look halfway around the globe to find a home for this club’s money and resources. But then it dawned on me after hearing Sr. Suzanne talk about how good we have it here in Daviess County, KY. Sure we have our problems – and we’re addressing some of those with our other projects and will continue to make a difference on a local scale - But what is needed in far off parts of the world is not very far up the hierarchy of needs....we’re talking about water, not literacy, oral hygiene or even a polio vaccine. These folks just need water before they could even start to think about addressing those needs that we consider basic in our land.

1.1 Billion People on our planet have unsafe water for drinking, cooking and bathing. Our club cannot solve this problem by itself, but we can begin where we know we can make a difference for someone like you or your child or grandchild this year. The $2,500 this club and its foundation have spent with the Rotary Club of Bainbridge Island, Washington gets multiplied by a factor of at least 3. This total donation is enough to drill a well through the bedrock on top of the water, and install a U-2 hand pump that even a kid can use to bring clean, clear water to the surface as a refreshing drink. Think about that when you sip from your glass at this Wednesday’s meeting. Please share your ideas about how this club can fund more water wells or make this initiative a more "hand’s on" project for the club.

Have Fun.

John Kurtz

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...
Jerry Haase - July 8
Jeff Ebelhar - July 9
Rick Crabtree - July 10

ROTARY REMINDERS
• Don’t forget to make up your missed meetings at Daviess County Rotary, 7 a.m. on Tuesdays at Ponderosa in Towne Square North.
• Steve Gardner is the program chair for July.
• Bob Morris is the program chair for August.
• Jim Mattingly will be at the Fellowship Table on July 12.
• Phillip Travis will be at the Fellowship Table on July 19.
• Anne Federlein will be at the Fellowship Table on July 26.
• Jeremy Bradford will be at the Fellowship Table during August.
• 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
July 19: Coach Brent Holsclaw, KWC Football, and Coach John Edge, Owensboro Catholic Football - New Stadium & Season Preview
July 26: Judge Thomas O. Castlen, Circuit Court Judge Division II - Daviess Circuit Court and Status of Drug Court
August 2: Dean Ehrenheim – Owensboro Family YMCA
August 9: Muhammad Ali Center
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