NEWS NOTES

Tina Taylor from the morning club tells me that they netted $2100 on their auction. She will be by to visit later to thank our club for our support. Way to go A.M. club!

NO MEETING NEXT WEEK

There will be no meeting on December 26. Make yourself a note.

JANUARY 2nd and 9th at the Carroll Knicely Center on WKU's South Campus.

Happy Birthday Colonel Bob - oh yes, Merry Christmas too!

Colonel Robert Spiller was born September 25, 1928 in Philadelphia, PA. He turns 79 this Christmas. Honestly I can't think of anything worse than being born on Christmas. Colonel Bob says it did have it's downside. But what a great present to his parents! He graduated in 1946 from Marple-Newtown High School and came that fall to Western Kentucky State Teachers College to major in pre-veterinary medicine. He joined ROTC here and the rest of course is history. Colonel Spiller is a thirty year veteran of the Army and served both in Korea and Vietnam. He retired in 1980.

Bob is married to the former Cora Jane Morningstar and they have 4 children and 8 grandchildren. Cora Jane is a Bowling Green girl and they married in 1951. They live in Oakland. Bob has a 1930 Model A and a 1972 Dodge with original paint. He is a volunteer guide at Riverview and enjoys caning chair bottoms and repairing porcelain. Bob says he also likes to hook rugs. In addition to supporting the Salvation Army as you see him here at our December 19, 2007 Christmas Party, Bob is a staunch advocate for Veterans. Bob is often asked to lead our invocation and he never does so without asking God's blessing on our troops and veterans. I can assure you that veterans have no greater friend or supporter in our community than Colonel Robert E. Spiller. Happy Birthday Bob and many many more.

Leitchfield Boy a Success - Colonel Jim Allen

Jim and I grew up next door to each other and we were best friends in high school. We're still pretty good pals. You'll have to excuse me for having a lot to say about my old buddy. Jim and I are 1963 graduates of Leitchfield High School - go Bulldogs! There was such remorse after we left that shortly afterwards they closed the school and consolidated into Grayson County.
Jim's dad owned Allen's Lake on US 62 between Leitchfield and Caneyville. Jim and fellow Rotarian Linda Thomas were both lifeguards there. One of the happiest summers of my life was when the electricity in the concession stand went out and all the Dream Sickles and Fudge Sickles kind of melted together. They were salvaged into a chest freezer on his back porch and we spent the rest of that summer prying them apart and eating them. We rode bikes, went fishing, camped, and crawled around caves. Jim's Dad was County Judge and mine was State Representative. Both Republicans and all the time politicking or trying to get one another to run for something. Later Jim actually did run for State Senate in a heavily Democratic district. Jim Bunning was running for his first state office at the same time. The rest of course is history.

Jim started out at Union College at Barbourville and was on their swim team for two years. I had started out at Western. We both ended up at UK sometime in the mid 1960's. Jim and I would likely still be there if Dr. Savant at the College of Agriculture hadn't on separate occasions looked over our collections of huge numbers of college hours and declared us graduates.

While at UK Jim met his wife Judy. They've been married 40 years this year. Jim sold shoes at Myers in downtown Lexington while he was there and started a shoe store in Leitchfield when he moved back home. In 1970 he had the opportunity to buy a little weekly paper called the Grayson County News from my cousin, C.B. Embry Sr. As managing editor and publisher the paper did well. By 1975 he merged his paper with Al Smith of Russellville who also owned some small community papers. Over time they began to buy other community papers. In 1985 Jim and Al had the opportunity to sell out to Park Communications and did so. Jim stayed on as managing editor of the Leitchfield paper until 1990. During 1988 to 1991 Jim earned his Masters in Communications from WKU.

Jim had been in the Army Reserves since 1969 and when he retired from the newspaper business he went full time Army in Public Affairs. He was stationed in Columbus, Ohio and St. Louis, Missouri before being transferred to the Pentagon. He ultimately became the Public Affairs Officer for the Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Staff of the Army. He was there on 9/11. Jim spent his last year and a half teaching at the Army War College in Carlisle, PA before retiring to Bowling Green in 2005.

Jim and Judy have 12 acres on Old Greenhill Road in Alvaton and own a horse and a springer spaniel. They have three sons ages 39, 37, and 35 and 5 grandchildren. Jim teaches a night class fall semesters in speech at WKU. Currently he is rebuilding a 1984 Jeep Scrambler and he enjoys woodworking. He's made some very impressive looking cornhold game sets. I think Jim just likes to stay busy.

Orangeburg Grad Done Good - Dr. Tom Updike

Tom Updike is from Maysville, Kentucky and was born about a week later than Rosemary Clooney. He graduated from Orangeburg High School in the days before all the high schools were consolidated into Mason County High. Tom was in the Air Force stationed in France during the Korean War. He earned a BA in Economics and English from Kentucky Wesleyan in 1958 and a MA in Counseling from UK in 1959. He got a specialist degree in Leadership there in 1961 and later earned his PhD in Leadership and Behavioural Science from Auburn in 1967. He taught at Bryan Station in Lexington before becoming the Director of Counseling in Hardin County. He was a professor at U of L and later VP of the Etown Community College. Tom came to Western in 1968 and held various posts from Assitant Registrar to Director of Admissions as well as a full Professor of Counseling. Tom married his wife Norma in 1960. They have one son, one grandson, and one great grandson. Tom enjoys reading and sports.

MEETING NOTES

Next week is our annual Christmas Party and WE WILL NOT MEET on December 26.

In January we will meet on Wednesday the 2nd and 9th at the Carroll Knicely Center on WKU's South Campus. Make a note.

OAA Founder Vickie Elrod

In discussing Vickie's many achievements we'll have to just hit the high points. Let me start by saying that she is an outstanding recent President of our club. She's a 1987 graduate of Leadership Bowling Green and is the 1991 recipient of the Athena Award for Business Women. After twenty years in banking, in 1998 she went to work at Holland CPAs and is both their Chief Operating Officer and manager of the Human Resources Consulting Division. She is a cum laude graduate of WKU. Vickie is a 1968 graduate of Halls High School in Knoxville where her dad was head baseball coach at UT. Vickie has been married to her husband Robert for 24 years and they have 2 boys and 2 girls and 5 grandchildren including 3 girls and 2 boys. Vickie enjoys hiking, camping, canoing, kayaking, white water rafting, photography, scrapbooking, crocheting and doing counted cross stitch. Oh yes, she is the founder of OAA - Over Achievers Anonymous. It is like any other 12 step program. In this program step one is to do something extremely well, step two is to do it even better, step 3 . . . .

Mayor LeRoy Underwood

I think LeRoy's mayorship is an honorary title in the retirement complex where he lives. Well at 96 he deserves all the accolades he can get. LeRoy was born March 24, 1911 in Temple Hill, Barren County, Kentucky. He started his working life as a school teacher but decided civil service employment was better so he took the test then walked a mail route in Glasgow for thirty years. The exercise didn't do him any harm despite having a mild heart attack in 1957 that slowed him down for awhile. LeRoy couldn't immediately recall what year his wife Margaret died and they had a daughter who has also died. LeRoy says he has four grandchildren and he enjoys woodworking.

Is Patty Alford's Halo Showing?

Patty is a military brat. She was born at Tyndall Field Air Force base in Panama City, Florida. She tells me she went to 16 different schools including four first grades. "You learn to make friends in a hurry." She graduated from Mt. Olive High School near the Goldsboro, North Carolina AFB in 1972. Patty got her B.A. in social work from Western in 1991 and finished her Masters there in 2005. She has been Executive Director of Girls, Inc. since 1996. Coincidentally she became our club's Sergeant at Arms around that time. Patty has been married to her husband Joe for 27 years and they have one daughter and two granddaughters. Patty says her granddaughters got her into scrap booking and she loves to read especially non-fiction and select magazines.

Cliff Long is a good Tax Accountant

Cliff has been keeping me out of trouble with the IRS for a long time and for that I'm grateful. He's worked at Holland CPAs since 1981 shortly after graduating from WKU in 1980. He's a BG High Purple and in the last class to graduate from the old Center Street Campus in 1970. He and wife Marlene have been married 34 years and have two boys Bobby and Chris in their early 30's. Cliff enjoys fishing for crappie on Barren River Reservoir. In addition to having been in Rotary since 1991 he's Past President and advisory board member of Girls, Inc. He graduated in 1989 from Leadership Bowling Green. Cliff's Dad, Bob, served our club for 37 years as Club Secretary. They are one of only a handful of parent-child members in our club. I consider Bob and Cliff some of the salt of our community. God bless'em.

TV Man Ed Groves

Ed graduated from Nashville's John Overton High School in 1967. He later married his high school sweetheart Donna and they've been married 38 years. They have a son and a daughter and 3 grandsons. Ed manages the local NBC and CBS affiliates at WNKY. He moved to Bowling Green in February of '03. In 1974 he started out in sales at Channel 2 in Nashville and was there 8 years. This was followed by stints in Chattanooga, Columbus, GA, Little Rock, Augusta, GA, back to Columbus, GA then to Johnson City, TN, to Charleston, WVA, and finally to Missoula, Montana before coming to B.G. Early on he spent 6 years in the Army Airborne Reserves and jumped out of perfectly good planes. Nowadays he gets his kicks by riding a Harley in the summertime and playing golf. Ed says he got involved with Rotary first in Johnson City in 1997. We're delighted to have him as part of our club and community. I see Ed frequently at the gym when I work out and he is an inspiration.

When it Counts call Kevin

Four of our members work at J.C. Holland CPAs. Kevin Counts is a Financial Planner there. He is a 1986 graduate of Bowling Green High School with a BA and MBA from WKU. He's involved with Junior Achievement and enjoys golf and fishing. Kevin and his wife Tanya just celebrated their eleventh wedding anniversary and have two lovely daughters Rebecca 8 and Rachel 4. Vickie Elrod provided the glamour photos of the Holland people.

In Coming President - Mac Jefferson

Mac is serving as Director of Club Service this year and as such will succeed Alex Downing next year as president. He was born September 5, 1972 and graduated from Bowling Green High School in 1990. Mac went on to get his degree from the University of the South in 1994. He married his wife Kyla on September 2, 2000 and they have three daughters ages 5, 3, and almost 2. Mac says the oldest is taking dance lessons and he's looking forward to them getting old enough to start soccer. Mac is a financial consultant at Hilliard Lyons and a lifelong member of Christ Episcopal. Mac is active with the Salvation Army's Kettle drive and helped our Rotary Club build a Habitat house some years ago when Larry Pack was president.

Danny Howell - this is your Bio

Danny Howell and his trademark smile! Danny always seems to be in a good mood. He and Tom Baird are best buddy's and have been taking canoing trips together to Canada's Quetico Provencial Park in Western Ontario for the last several years. Danny has been in Rotary since 1972 and has worked for Scott Tobaco Company for 41 years. He was born August 5, 1943 and married Dru on January 31, 1964. They have a son David and a daughter Neill. Danny says they have four grandchildren and one on the way.

A Fun Program on Notable Kentuckians

Dr. Jim Claypool is History Professor Emeritus from Northern Kentucky University and came to us through the auspices of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Jim says he was with Northern Kentucky University when it started on a hill overlooking Covington as a Community College. At one point he served as Dean. My wife was there too in the beginning and was homecoming queen one year. At that time many students went on to UK to finish their degree and that's where we met. But back to Jim's presentation. He had numbered sheets with historical quotes and club members in turn would stand and read their quote. Jim would elaborate and took us through many interesting and informative personages. We all had a blast doing this and Jim said he regretted we ran out of time before he could highlight Diane Sawyer (her step-dad was a professor of mine in Medical School), George Clooney, et. al. Thank you Dr. Jim and program chair Shannon Morgan for inviting him.

Bob Kleier's Bio

Bob Kleier has got to be one of the nicest guys you're ever going to meet. Bob is full of stories and some of them may actually be true. Ask Bob about the time he caddied for Happy Chandler, Billy Graham, and Bear Bryant. Nowadays Bob rents office space from me and occasionally we get a chance to sneak off and play golf.

Bob is the quintessential Rotary man. He was Assistant District Governor from 1998 to 2003 and both he and his wife Charlotte are Paul Harris Fellows. Bob also was club president in the North Jackson, Mississippi club and later in the Charlotte, NC club. Born 25 March 1935 he grew up in Lexington, Kentucky and graduated in 1952 from Lexington Catholic High School. In 1958 he received his degree in Civil Engineering from UK. He was in the Army and later the Reserves. He worked for Standard Oil both in Mississippi and later in Charlotte NC. Bob got his MBA from Mississippi College in Clinton.

Bob and Charlotte live just over the line in Edmonson County. She was a Webb and they married in 1965. Bob loves to play golf and to follow UK football and basketball. Like me and a lot of other Kentuckians his blood bleeds blue. Bob and Charlotte attend the Pleasant Union Baptist Church in Brownsville.

Gene Farley is 88 Years Old Today

The members rose to sing Happy Birthday to long time Rotarian Gene Farley today. Afterwards I called him at home to ask him a few questions about his life. Although suffering some lingering low back issues from a truck wreck, his mind is clear and it was a joy to talk to Gene. Gene was in the North African and Italian campaign during WWII as a member of the 34th Infantry, 175th Field Artillery. My Dad was with the First Armored out of Ft. Knox and Gene said that outfit gave his people a lot of support during those campaigns.

Gene was born in Harlan, Kentucky on today's date, November 28, in 1919. He graduated from Hall High School in 1938 and from Eastern Kentucky State Teacher's College in 1943 with a degree in English and History. After the war he taught school in Pulaski County and found his wife Beulah there. Gene went on to get his Ph.D. in Education from George Peabody College at Vanderbilt and served in the Glasgow School system ultimately as Superintendent before moving on to Christian County where he was also Superintendent. Later he taught in the Education Department at WKU and retired from there in 1982.

Gene and Beulah had one daughter and two grandchildren. Beulah died in 2001. Gene likes to fish and played an occasional round of golf when he was able. He still raises cattle on three farms totalling over 1000 acres in Warren and surrounding counties. Gene has been very loyal to Rotary ever since I can remember. He attends regularly now with the assistance of fellow Rotarian Dr. Tom Updike.

Joe Taylor Interview

Over the next several weeks it is my ambition to interview each of our 167 members and publish a brief biographical sketch with photo here on our blog. I started with my good friend and business next door neighbor, Joe Taylor. Our offices adjoin in the Campus Plaza Suites off the Bypass behind Zaxby's. Joe has been our club treasurer for the past 11 or 12 years.

Joe was born in Glasgow 24 Oct 1934 but moved as a young child to Tompkinsville. (Known as T-ville to Monroevians.) He was the middle of seven children. He has two younger brothers and a sister still living. Joe graduated from Tompkinsville High School in 1953 and worked for the next year with a brother and cousin in the War Claims Commission in Washington D.C. He had joined the National Guard while still in High School and served with them until 1961. He was discharged as a Sargent First Class.

For about five years from 1955 he worked for a rock quarry. He married Margaret Quinn from Jeffery in 1959. They have three children - Joe Jr. 43, Charles 37, and Mary 32. Joe and Margaret have four fine grandsons but one delightful granddaughter. A friend talked Joe into going to college in 1960 and he attended Bowling Green Business College now part of WKU. He graduated in 1963 and worked for J.C. Holland until 1969 then started a firm with David Snead and Joe Cook. He worked a short time for American National Bank before starting his own CPA firm in 1985.

Joe joined Rotary in 1983 and is a Paul Harris Fellow as are both sons. He enjoys sports and working in the yard. He is a charter member of Christ United Methodist church on Cave Mill Road and serves as treasurer of the Warren County Water District. He is the senior partner of Joe W. Taylor CPAs.

Final Push to Eradicate Polio

Today's Wall Street Journal (27 Nov 07) has a news item on page D2 about the international effort to eradicate Polio. The (Bill and Melinda) Gates Foundation has given Rotary International $100 million dollars to boost immunizations in Afghanistan, India, Nigeria and Pakistan. Rotary has promised to match this amount over the next three years. Rotary International has been involved in the eradication of Polio for twenty years. In 1988 there were300,000 cases reported and last year 1997 cases. Almost all of these cases came from the four countries mentioned.

NEWS ITEMS from November 21 Meeting

* FLU SHOT clinic at our December 5 Meeting - Dr. Ken Embry will be giving flu shots in an adjacent room. The charge will be $30 and $5 of that will go to the Rotary Foundation.

* Margaret Curtis is off to Thailand for eight weeks. Our peripatetic WKU prof will be teaching English at Patumthani University as an "unofficial" Rotary volunteer in Bangkok. Margaret tells me that arrangements were made through the Rotary Travel and Hosting Fellowship. Good luck Margaret.

* Cheryl Kirby-Stokes sent laminated cards explaining the origin of the baskets she sold last week. She wanted everyone that bought a basket to have one of these cards to go with it. For more info and more baskets you can contact her at wkusife@gmail.com

Tina Taylor brings news of A.M.'s Silent Auction

Tina brought fliers announcing a fund raiser from the A.M. Club. They are doing a silent auction at their December 18 meeting from 7 to 9 a.m. The cost is $10 per adult and $3 per child.

There is no charge if you bring in a receipt from Goodwill from things you've donated.

Breakfast will be served. They have had some excellent items for auction in prior years and I'm certain this year will be no exception. Mark your calendars.

An Attitude of Gratitude from Chris Patterson

Club President Alex Downing stands as program chairs Amy Milliken and Chris Cohron sit to his right. Between them is St. James Methodist minister and B.G. High graduate Chris Patterson who brought us our Thanksgiving message this year.

Baskets from Kenya

At our November 14 meeting Cheryl Kirby-Stokes shared photos of her trip this summer to rural Kenya. She brought large folders for each member with documentation and photos of her work. In addition she brought a large number of beautiful baskets made in that area. This is her sixth year to make this trip with her husband Mike as a cooperation between WKU and the University of Nairobi. They have worked out a plan with seven village cooperatives to bring back as many baskets as they can in their luggage to market here between $15 and $70 and return the money to the women who made them. Our club sent $2400 with Cheryl who used those funds to assist 16 young people to continue their high school education. Schooling is free through the seventh grade. Many high schoolers have to board because of the very poor transportation in the area. Tuition and board averages $400 a year which is the average annual family income. I was struck by how beautiful the children are and how backward the countryside is. There is no electricity in the villages, no paved roads, no running water. Cheryl and her entourage live in tents in the African bush for three weeks. They sleep amongst scorpions and wilde beasties of all sorts. Amazingly with further assistance Cheryl is willing to go back again in the summer of 2008. She brought many of the baskets with her and sold several at our meeting to members. I'm certain she would be glad to sell more of those she has remaining. She can be reached at (270) 782-0653 or cheryl@alivebg.org Vickie Elrod said they would make great Christmas presents. I think so too, I bought three and they were well received by their recipients.

Millenium Adopt a Class Students Visit

Matthew Davenport below and Brion Gilbert on the right are two of our Adopt a Class students at Western. Alex says we have eight there this semester and are due to pick up two more next semester. Brion says he plans on becoming an accountant. God bless him! Neither seem destined to become orators but we were delighted to see them. It is the fruition of a well conceived and executed community project.

Tom Hiles Talks About WKU's Successes

Amy Milliken and Chris Cohron are co-captains this month in organizing our programs. With such a strong club presence from Western Kentucky University, Amy asked our own Tom Hiles to talk about his and the University's great success in accumulating over 100 million dollars in endowments with a new goal of $200,000,000. We're lucky to have such a great University President in Gary Ransdell and in having such a great Vice President of Institutional Advancement in Tom Hiles. Thank you Tommy for sharing with the club.

Margaret Presents Banners to Club

We wanted some photos of Margaret presenting her club banners from Turkey. Now her frineds in Turkey can check it out on our blog. I have a 20 minute video in Quick TIme of Margaret's Power Point presentation. Does anyone know how we can get that on the internet?

Students in Free Enterprise Speak

Janette's daughter is in a club at Western that is promoting entrepreneurship and participation in free enterprise. Four of those students came with their instructor, Krist Schell, and gave us an introduction to some of the programs they have been involved in. From left are Ron Ryne, Shannon Kleis, Lauren Kervlis, and John Lamon on the right.
Cheryl Kirby-Stokes stood up to tell us what an asset John Lamon had been on their trip to Kenya last summer. Cheryl and her husband Mike Stokes purchase exquisite hand crafted baskets from village cooperatives. They bring back as many as they can to sell here in the states so that seed money can go back to the villages. Cheryl said that John's talents and personality aided greatly in their endeavors.
A great group of students and a great program. Thank you Janette for inviting them.

Chuck Coates Rejoins

Vickie Elrod welcomes Chuck Coates back into the club. Chuck is a former club president and I think Vickie said is the person who introduced her to Rotary. Chuck we are all glad to have you back.

Elvis Visits October 31st Meeting

We report, you decide!

Margaret Talks Turkey

Margaret Curtis has the distinction of being the first person in our district to apply for and receive an educational grant. She went to an area in Western Turkey decimated by a 1999 earthquake that killed over 25,000 people in 45 seconds. Her focus was teaching English to grade school and middle school kids with assistance from her "Team Rotary" which consisted of high school and college age young adults. I have reproduced the letter she distributed at our 24 October meeting. (from the Editor Ken Embry M.D.)

Margaret's Newsletter "The pencil is above the table."

"I think this would be easier if she learned to speak Turkish", a bright 12 year old commented on day one of my four week program teaching English at Sarayli Primary School, Degirmendere, Turkey.

The classroom was hot with temperatures between 90 and 100 degrees every day. Only the smallest breeze found its way through the open windows. Occasionally the loud bleating of goats drowned out my carefully enunciated words. More often, on those first days, the loud voices of energetic 10 -13 year olds performed the same function. The prayer call from the mosque sometimes interrupted the flow of ideas. Once or twice a bemused parent entered the room, asking why I had come from America to teach a summer class in this primary school, half way up a mountain.

Why indeed? Because a very small Rotary Club, Kocaeli-Golcuk, in Rotary District 2420, had vision enough to make a positive impact on the lives of children in this village community. The area is close to the epicenter of an earthquake - a terrible upheavel that took 25,000 lives in only 45 seconds on that darkest of nights, August 17, 1999. The children that I taught survived that earthquake. They were too young to remember the horror of it all, but the lives of their families were forever changed. The volunteer activity that evolved from this event is geared to give these children some small enrichment in their task of learning English. The goal of the project is to show the children that learning English can be fun, that there is a right way to pronounce the words, and that Rotary really does care about the quality of their lives.

I normally teach university students who generally sit in straight rows and pay attention. This new situation was a challenge. The students were divided into two classes with about 18 students in each. The younger ones came in the morning and the older ones in the afternoon. I planned the lessons accordingly. However sometimes the younger ones had Arabic class in the mornings so they showed up for the later class. Or maybe they slept late and couldn't make it in until noon. And sometimes the older ones came in earlier. Sequencing the instruction proved difficult.

I was grateful for the advice I received before leaving the United States. The person in charge of planning English as a Second Language instruction for immigrant children in my local school district, Bowling Green, Kentucky, had spent time with me talking over the methods used in the schools here in the United States. I immediately put this guidance to use, and planned the class sessions using every tool I could devise. My home Rotary Club, the Rotary Club of Bowling Green, District 6710, Kentucky had donated many helpful teaching items, posters, activity books, felt tip pens, and stickers. I made plans to put them all to good use.

In the beginning I noticed that several sixteen year old girls were hovering in the background, wanting to listen in on the class. I invited them to attend both class sessions and to help with the younger students. In addition, the Kocaeli-Golcuk Rotary Club had provided me with one or two young people who were my official helpers. Together we called ourselves "Team Rotary", and each day we worked to make the time fun and helpful to the children giving each child individual attention acting out learning strategies, working on group projects, and listening to each child read.

It became a slick operation with helpers and children all joining in enthusiastically and everyone benefiting from the learning process. To my amazement the methods worked, and the children started to speak very nice English. Some were bashful and some were bold. Some were just confused. When we were talking about feelings, for example, "My name is Murat and I feel excited", one girl spoke brightly and said "My name is angry and I feel Aysenur". The class was completely silent for a moment and then everyone, including Aysenur, laughed. I realized they really knew what they were doing. It was a good moment.

The Kocaeli-Gulcuk Rotary Club did more than arrange a volunteer program. The members welcomed me into their homes and shared a part of their lives with me. "Service above self" is a simple phrase, but it is worked out in the many dimensions of every day life in unmistakable ways. I am proud to be a Rotary Volunteer. I have experienced a camaraderie and warm fellowship that extends way beyond language and culture. I understand more clearly that a person cannot be everywhere and do everything that needs to be done, but a person can find one small thing and do it, if the opportunity is provided by a Rotary Club such as this one in Kocaeli-Gulcuk, Turkey.

Rail Road Museum and Park

The mayor's husband, Dorian Walker, talked to us on 10 October 2007 about the now open and running Railroad Museum in the Old L&N Depot. It is open Tue - Sat 9 - 5 and Sun 1 - 4. It is closed Mondays. Check out their website for more details www.historicrailpark.com

After consulting with many other rail museums Dorian and other local citizens came up with a concept that is sure to please old and young alike. The local model railroad folks also have space in the museum and their exhibit will highlight some old historic structures in Bowling Green that no longer exist.

Dorian has contributed a good deal of his own money and time along with many other folks and several of our Rotarians to make this a genuine attribute and bragging point for Bowling Green. Thanks Janette for inviting Dorian.

Mi CASA es su CASA

Program Chair Janette Boehman (on left in photo) invited Paula Minnicks (on the right) to talk to our club on October 3 about child advocacy. CASA is an acronym that stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate. After thirty hours of training and a special swearing in ceremony, volunteers are assigned foster children to shepherd through the system and to keep a watchful eye on. Paula said we have 44 volunteers in a five county area that includes Warren, Barren, Butler, Edmonson, and Metcalfe. She said that experience has taught us that children who are so represented are less likely to get into trouble and more likely to make decisions that lead to a better adjusted adult life.

Club Secretary Alan Vilines Now A Paul Harris Fellow

Club President Alex Downey presented our new Club Secretary Alan Vilines with a Paul Harris Fellowship at our 19 September 2007 meeting. Bob Long held that position for 37 years and we're wishing Alan a long and successful tenure as well.

Skip Wirth Talks About the Benefits of Fitness

Thad Connally has certainly brought in the dynamic speakers this month. Skip gave an impressive talk on the multiple benefits of regular exercise and watching what we eat. He said that if we accumulated an average of walking 30 minutes on five days a week that we could reduce our cardiovascular accident and stroke risk by 50%.

Skip said that Kentucky is #1 in Adult Onset Diabetes incidence. It is estimated that 40% of adults get no exercise at all. In Kentucky it must be even higher.

Lots of Snores During Dr. Zacheck's Presentation

Actually the whole presentation was on snoring. Dr. Zacheck is a local Pulmonary Specialist and talked to us on 12 September 2007 about Obstructive Sleep Apnea. He estimates that between 5 and 9 percent of men have it and about half those percentages for women. I know members of our own club deal with it on a first hand basis. Vickie Elrod spoke about her experience with treating her husband for it. Great job Mike!

On another note the COG listed three prospective new members and solicited comments from the members. The names include former club president Chuck Coates; Greenwood Ford employee Jeff Keyes and Rodney Kirtley in Regional Development.

Understanding the Generations with Ty Bello

Thad Connally invited coaching and business development leader, Tyrone "Ty" Bello to talk to our club today about dealing with Generation X & Y. At the end of his dynamic presentation Ty invited Shaun Ayres to hop on his back. Ty is a baby boomer and had discussed the steps that boomers needed to take in order to work successfully with Shaun's generation (X) and even those younger called generation Y.

Ty lives in Ft. Wayne, Indiana but grew up in Yonkers, NY. His business is called Team@Work LLC.

It was also noted in our meeting that yesterday was Leroy Underwood's 96th birthday. Happy Birthday Leroy!

Perfect Attendance Recognized

At the 29 August 2007 meeting we honored 10 of our members for perfect attendance. These three, left to right, are Tom Baird, Leroy Underwood, and Lewis Graham who have 44, 32, and 44 years of perfect attendance respectively. Leroy is in his mid 90's and is as sharp and spry as he can be. He generally drives himself to the meetings. Others honored today and not pictured are Tommy Holderfiled, 18 years, Joe Taylor 12 years, Bob Long 7 years, Vickie Elrod 6 years, John Grider 4 years, Charles Hardcastle 2 years, and last Patty Alford 1 year. Congratulations to this group of good examples.

Pastor Rick Bard on Multi Site Ministry

Ben Smith invited his preacher at Broadway United Methodist Church to come talk to us about multi site ministries. Broadway is in the process of doing just that with the Greenwood Church. That facility has been renovated and will be called the Greenwood Campus of the Broadway United Methodist Church with complete cooperation between both sites.
This is an interesting and apparently up and coming concept. Rick Bard is lead pastor and says he preached four times last Sunday on a test run.

Margaret Curtis Teaches in Turkey

Margaret Curtis is the only person in our Rotary District to ever have received a Teaching Grant from the Rotary Foundation. She taught English this summer in a Turkish orphanage. Here is her summary of that trip:
Margaret Curtis has returned from her Rotary Volunteer Service Project
in Kocaeli-Golcuk, Turkey. Margaret taught English to 35 children aged
10-13 at Sarayli School. She took with her a big supply of gifts for the
children, thanks to the generosity of this club. The gifts were
distributed at the end of each class. Strong bonds were formed with
members of the Kocaeli-Golcuk Rotary Club, Turkey.

Margaret will be making much more extensive presentations about her trip both in person and in print but we thought you'd enjoy a capsule preview.

Coach Kevin Wallace Speaks

Coach Wallace is starting his 12th Season as head coach of the Bowling Green High School Football Team. His record is 118 wins vs 24 loses. He gave a summary of his team and the upcoming season but concluded by urging all of us to become an athletic supporter. He emphasized how welcome public support at all public schools would be for their athletic programs. (Us band parents could echo that for the band as well.)

I was taken by how genuine Kevin is and how concerned he is for the kids in his program. His success in coaching has got to be a reflection of how much his players, staff, and parents hold him in esteem.

Shoes for Kenyan Orphans

Joe Taylor received several photos and letters from orphans in Kenya who received new shoes from our club. Here you can see several of the kids smiling wearing their new shoes and socks. Below is one of the letters. It reads "My Friend It is only you who remembered me." Catherine Ayera 6 years old. (Check out her new shoes in the self portrait.)

Thank you from Catherine Ayera

District Governor Dave Weller Speaks

Dave Weller and his wife meet International President Wilfrid Wilkinson and his wife. Dave gave an excellent talk that started by asking "What would the world be like without Rotary?"
He gave specific illustrations of the contributions that Rotary makes in both educational and humanitarian realms. Dave thought that more people may know about Rotary through the work of the Foundation than through the work and members of local clubs. On a more somber note he said that membership in the USA & Canada has been in a steady decline as has the numbers in all service organizations. Our numbers have dropped from 435,000 in 2002 to a current membership of 412,000. Because of this Dave said we need a renewed emphasis in recruiting new members. Each club is challenged to have a net gain of one this year.

On a brighter note the Rotary campaign to eradicate polio is going well. This year to date there have been 285 new cases world wide as compared to about 1500 cases at this time last year.
Finally Dave said his Stretch Goal for his administration is to raise $300,000. He left a Mason Jar for us to put our loose change in as we sign in each week. We passed it around the room and collected $ 200. Dave suggested we take each $1000 collected and give a Paul Harris Fellow to some worthy individual perhaps a local hero.

Football Coach David Elson Speaks

Ben Smith introduced his friend WKU Football Coach David Elson with a fishing story. After that we were left wondering whom we could believe. Coach Elson did have a lot of good news about the team and especially our transition to IA football. Progress on the stadium is going well. David also told us that because of NCAA rules we are ineligible for post season play for the next two years. He did say that due to increased funding most players are on campus this summer in Summer School under full scholarships. It's always a pleasure having coach Elson with us. Next week we are scheduled to have Governor Ernie Fletcher visiting.

Former Police Chief Bill Waltrip Recollects

Our July 25 meeting was interesting for a number of reasons. It was announced that this would be the last meeting that Paul Schnoes would be meeting with us as a member. He is moving to Ft. Myers Florida. With that announcement the members stood in applause wishing him well and God speed. Alex also had Joe Davis and Vickie Elrod display our newly designed banner and Alex being one of the few people in the room tall enough to hang it did.

Here we see Rick Debose talking with Bill Waltrip before the program began. Bill took us through the thirty years he has been in Bowling Green remembering both local, national, and international events. Some things were sad and some things were funny. It was a good trip down memory lane. Bill is now working as a consultant with Randy Capps' group and left us with a poem urging us to live in the moment and he showed us a placard he said was inspired by one he saw in the Reagan Library - it read "it CAN be done". Good job Bill and thanks.

The Civil War in Bowling Green

Rick Dubose introduced Western History Professor Dr. Glenn LaFantasie. Glenn's career has focused on the Civil War. Now at WKU, he also taught at Gettysburg College for a time. He introduced us to Nancy Baird's compilation of a diary of Josie Underwood, a teenage girl who lived on Mt. Aire. LeRoy says they were distant relatives. Her family was pro Union and Glenn talked about the social friction in Bowling Green during the War.

New Officers & Directors Sworn In

Judge John Grise swears in (Left to Right) Shannon Morgan, Past Presdient; Patty Alford, Sergeant-of-Arms; Alex Downing, President; Alan Vilines, Secretary; Mac Jefferson, Club Service Director; Kevin Mays, Vocational Service Director; and Sally Ray, International Service Director. Not pictured were Joe Taylor, Treasurer and Ron Wilson, Community Service Director.

Adopt A Class Rocks!

President Alex Downing gave an update on the 20 kids we adopted in grade school some years ago. They're scheduled to enter college this fall. Nine have already signed up to attend Western and four more from the class are expected to come by the time classes begin. An additional student got a full athletic scholarship to another school so 14 of the 20 are going on to higher education. This is a much higher success rate than we had the first time we tried this and none of the students went on to higher education. This time we paired each student with a club member who stayed in touch during the entire remainder of their schooling. There is an appreciation dinner next Tuesday on campus to meet with these young adults. Alex says we'll be getting the details in an email if you haven't already.
The reason I have Charlie Hardcastle's photo here is because he and his wife have challenged the club with a matching grant to secure the future of our Adopt A Class program. The Board of Directors have accepted that challenge and will be matching those funds over the next five years. I think that's a pretty classey act in itself. Thank you Charlie and Mrs. Hardcastle.

Judge John Grise is Paul Harris Fellow

Jerry Parker was remembered today in Shannon's review of the year of his tenure. Past District Governor Parker was very interested in seeing as many of our members as possible become Paul Harris fellows. To that end he helped financially for 30 or so of our members do just that. In keeping with the spirit of Governor Parker and as a benefactor to the Rotary Foundation and the ideals of Rotary International we welcome John Grise as a new Paul Harris Fellow.