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.

NO MEETING JULY 4

Just a reminder that there will be no meeting this July 4. Have a great day with your family and friends.