Committee Reports & General Announcements

On this last meeting before our Christmas party, we heard from three committees. Rick Williams reported from the Public Relations Committee. He discussed plans for getting the word out in the community about Rotary work and projects. He said we need to develop close relationships with every media outlet to make sure the positive things Rotary contributes to the community gets some mention. Rick talked about press releases and invitations to reporters to hear speakers who talk about topics of broad community interest. Scott Lowe reported from the Speaker and Facility committee. They are needing a speaker's chair for next June. Because of the results of a members survey about a year ago, Scott's committee looked at alternative meeting sites for our club. He discussed four viable alternatives but the committee recommended that we stay at the Bowling Green Country Club at least for now. They hired a new food service director about six months ago and there is nearly unanimous agreement that the quality of the food has improved dramatically in that time. Ben Smith gave us the news and recommendations from the Finance Committee. The bottom line is that dues will increase $10 a month beginning in January. Ben also said that we will be looking for fund raisers to help build our reserve back up. Thanks to all of the presenters and their committees for jobs well done. Club President Kevin Mays announced that there will be no meeting of our club December 30 and the first two meetings in January will be at the Carroll Knicely Center.

Local Business Leaders on Values Panel

Program Chair Margaret Curtis presented club member Joe Davis. Joe seen on the right of this photo moderated a panel of local small business owners who talked about operating a business using values that Rotarians incorporate in the 4 Way Test. From left are Russell Hopper who is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor and operates Questhouse. This is a facility that treats persons with addictions. The lady in the photo is Tressia Bandy. Locals see her on TV selling the mattresses that the family business manufactures right here in B.G. Carl Chaney is the gentleman in the white shirt. Carl is a dairyman who expanded into added value marketing and agritourism a few years ago. He and his wife Debra opened an ice cream parlor on the corner of their farm near the Woodburn community in southern Warren County. They received the 2008 Small Business of the Year award from the Chamber of Commerce. Joe Davis on the right owns Gerald Printing. It was a delight to hear from all of these business owners.
One of the things I brought away from the discussion was how important members of the extended family were to these people. Tressia said her grandmother took the time to encourage her everyday. I asked if her grandmother lived with her and she replied "she lived next door". Joe was raised by an Aunt and Uncle and Carl by his grandmother. Russell says that a lot of people today do not have a core value system. Obviously the four people on our panel were instilled with essential moral values from an early age by key people in their lives. This was such an inspiring program and we thank each of the panel members for taking part of their day and sharing with us.

District Governor Chuck Cicchella Visits

We were honored to have our current District Governor Chuck Cicchella visit our club this week. Chuck had a very up beat take on the future of Rotary in our District. I especially liked plans for our District Conference to be held at Holiday World. Chuck said the meeting will be dedicated to the memory of our own Janette Boehman's Dad, Tom Duncan Reed. Tom was well known in Rotary International and by Rotarians around the world.

The photo above is a presentation by the District Governor to our own Club President Kevin May. It is some kind of promissory gift for a country ham but I missed the details. Chuck did say that Kevin had been a big help to him and had come up with the idea of a District Conference at Holiday World. Chuck said last year's conference in Frankfort was poorly attended. Hopefully this next conference will be a lot of fun and better attended.

Rachel Reetzke in Chengdu China

Rachel spoke to our club a few weeks ago. A summary of her visit can be accessed by requesting it from the blog archives. Rachel had problems with her Power Point presentation that day and said she would forward some of the photos from her experience in China. Thank you Rachel for these great pictures.

Rachel Reetzke at Chengdu Autism Center

Rachel Reetzke w Group of Chinese Students

Rachel Reetzke at Great Wall of China

Rotaract Getting Established on WKU's Campus

This week's meeting was about the new Rotaract chapter on Western's campus. Rachelle Phillips Shults spoke at our regular meeting and brought us up to date. The fledgling club sent 150 pairs of shoes to a village in Kenya. This was greatly facilitated by Rotarian Cheryl Kirby-Stokes who works with her husband there each summer. (Cheryl will have baskets from those villages at our meetings for sale soon.) The Rotaract club is scheduled to meet first and third Wednesdays in the first floor of the Cravens Library at 4:30. [It is in the Leadership Office just as you enter the building off Normal Drive.] In the photo are John and Elise. Elise thought a good local project would be to provide toiletries for battered women centers. The club is planning on exploring that.

Yesterday afternoon our President Kevin Mays with faculty Adviser Sally Ray, Rachelle, Communications Professor Colonel Jim Allen and myself (Ken Embry M.D.) assembled with this year's Rotaract group for their second meeting of the year. Kevin spoke to the club for a few minutes and encouraged the members to light the Rotary fire on campus. There were nine club members present. This year's officers are Chris Neiswinger, Treasurer; Sarah Moore, President both of these two from Evansville, Indiana. The Vice Presdient is Jade Lynn. The group discussed organizational and project issues. Nearly everyone present participated it is obvious that the individuals in this group will be leaders in their chosen fields. If you get a chance visit a meeting.

Singing at our Meetings

Janet Bass Smith wrote lyrics to Row Row Row your boat and we sang it as a round at this week's club meeting. I think everyone had a big time doing it and thanks to Janet and her helpers. She asked me to publish the words in the blog so here they are: Ro-ro-ro-tar-y A name heard wide and far Hon-or Truth and Ser-vice to all This is who we are.

PDG Kay Sharon talked about our District's Rotary Youth Leadership camp held the past two years in Greenville under her leadership. It is a great program and a great presentation

Mark your calendars for OCTOBER 7. That meeting will be held at the CULINARY ARTS RESTAURANT at the Technical College. Club Member Nathan Hodges is the President of that organization and is anxious to show case to our club the students' achievements.

Next week the lovely Rachelle Phillips Shults talks about Rotaract on WKU's campus.

International Convention Booklet from 1931

Joe Taylor's office is next to mine in the Campus Plaza Suites behind Zaxby's on the Bypass. Recently he shared with me a booklet for the 1931 Rotary International Convention in Vienna Austria. A local opthalmologist, Dr. Jim Willoughby had given this to Joe about fifteen years ago. The invitation in the booklet is so appealing and the photos of Europe are truly of a by-gone era. This is Austria before Hitler. Joe and I decided that if we could find a means of time travel we'd surely like to attend this convention.

I scanned the booklet and have uploaded it here for all to see. Wouldn't you love to know how many American Rotarians actually went and what was the overall attendance? I'd like to know something about the speakers and their subjects. How many countries were represented among the delegates? Look at the photos and if you know, tell us how many of these landmarks survived WWII or have since been rebuilt. This blog site will only display the first several pages on one screen. However at the very bottom there is a button for Older Posts and if you'll press there you can seamlessly see all of the pages. The text is readable if you have a large enough screen or if you use a magnifying glass as I did.

Cover of 1931 Rotary International Convention

Invitation to 1931 Rotary International Convention from the President of Austria

To VIenna in 1931 Page 1

The Danube Page 2

The Rotunda Page 3

Aerial View Belvedere Palace Page 4

Beethoven's House Page 5

St. Stephens' Cathedral Page 6

Vienna City Hall Page 7

Vienna Orchestra Photo Page 8

Johann Strauss Photo Page 9

Schonbrunn Palace Page 10

National Library Photo Page 11

Palace of the Vienna Fair Page 12

Map of Europe Center Fold Page 13

Belvedere Palace Photo Page 14

Hochosterwitz Castle Photo Page 15

Trafalgar Square Photo Page 16

Paris Photo Page 17

Brussels Photo Page 18

Graz Photo Page 19

Hamburg Photo Page 20

Munich Photo Page 21

Badgastein Photo Page 22

Acropolis Photo Page 23

Rome Photo Page 24

Official Tour Companies

Back Cover

Ambassadorial Scholar Rachael Reetzke Speaks

PDG Joe Phillips accompanied Franklin, Kentucky's own Rachael Reetzke today (Sept 2, 09). Rachael has been selected an Ambassadorial Scholar. She plans on pursuing her studies in Autism. She spent part of the last year in China visiting three major cities. She did the tourist thing in Beijing then spent a few days in Xian where she saw the Terra Cotta Warriors. She got to visit a high point in the Great Wall and actually participated in harvesting silk. The bulk of Rachael's work was in Chengdu where she studied at the South West University of Economics and Science. She studied the Chinese Language in the International Studies Institute and also was able to spend time looking at the Chinese management of Autism. She says Autism is still not a common word in the normal Chinese person's vocabulary. In the center that she visited they seemed to be behind in their understanding of the problem. (Racheal is a student at WKU and works at the Kelly Austism Center. ) The therapy she observed involved a lot of group activities. However when she told a grad student what her interests were they did not know what the work autism meant.

Rachael got to see a lot of the cultural heritage of China in a trip that will influence her for the rest of her life. She obviously was a great representative of our country and was a superlative Ambassadorial Scholar. Unfortunately her Power Point failed her and she hopes to have those slides sent to our membership via email. I personally did not think their absence was a major distraction and we appreciated so much Rachael's composure and excellent report.

We Mourn the Loss of Jim Bennett and Tom Baird

In the last two weeks we have lost both Tom Baird and Jim Bennett. I'll try to have special articles on each but sufficient to say they will be missed. Tom had just received his 46 year perfect attendance pin the week before. His widow says he wore it on his lapel to his grave. We have ordered duplicates to present to his two daughers.

Kevin Mays takes the Reins

Kevin is the former head of the local National City Bank branches. When his job was to take him out of Bowling Green he resigned and took a job with Holland CPA's. We are delighted that he elected to stay in Bowling Green. In my opinion Kevin is a natural leader and "do gooder". His whole life has been in service to others and his deep spiritual anchor makes him a treamendous asset to our community and to Rotary in particular. I look for active, forward looking leadership from Kevin during his tenure.

One of the first things Kevin did when he took over as our club president was to outline the challenges ahead and speak about his plan to meet them. He said we need to address the financial challenges of our club and make some difficult decisions. (Spoken like a true banker.) He wants us to help the international organization match the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation challenge grant by assessing $130 from each member.

Kevin wants to improve the quality and quantity of our membership during his tenure. We were one of the few clubs over the last year that actually had a net gain in membership. Hang on to your hats fellow Rotarians we're in exciting and challenging times during the next twelve months. Good Luck Kevin.

Margaret Curtis Talks about Teaching in China

Parapatetic Dr. Margaret Curtis, a retired Professor of Eastern Studies from Western Kentucky Unitversity, spent a block of time over the last twelve months teaching at two universities in China. We have published some of her correspondence on this blog. Those entries can be seen by checking the archives. This time we got a splendid power point presentation from Margaret herself and the audience was captivated. What I took away from Margaret's comments is how beautiful and collegiate her students looked. She obviously became very attached to them and I suspect it had a lot to do with their sincerity and enthusiasm. She commented during her presentation that it was the best group of students she had ever had.

Although Margaret was afforded very comfortable living conditions in heavily polluted industrial cities, the students attended classes in modern looking classrooms that Margaret said were neither heated nor cooled. It rained abundantly during the time she was there. One student is trying even at this moment to get here to Bowling Green to attend Greenwood High School. Let's hope things work out so she can and we'll keep you posted on that story. Thank you Margaret for such important work towards international understanding and for your great presentation at our meeting.

Adopt A Class Review

David Sparks and Alex Downing reviewed the progress of our Adopt A Class. Below on the left is Edmira Christanovich and on the right is Laura Southard. Both sophomore's at WKU. Laura is Pre Vet and Edmira is in Sociology.
What a treat to have them with us today.

Our club adopted Mrs. Jan Coombs class from Warren Elementary in the year 2000. They graduated in 2007. Of the original 24, four moved away and 12 are either in higher education, have been, or will be this fall. This was our second attempt to adopt a class. We had learned several important lessons from our failed original attempt in 1991. This time each student was assigned to a mentor to kept in touch on a regular basis. We had outings with the students and took many to WKU's campus to introduce them to campus life. We are anticipating a third group in the near future and will use the successful students and continuing lessons learned to have another successful adopt a class.
Many thanks to Charles Hardcastle for generous funding and to Linda Thomas, Col. Spiller, and many other members who contributed lots of time and effort.

Dr. Brian Moore talks about his deployment to Afghanistan

Brian Moore M.D. is the son of our own Bill Moore M.D. Both are ENT doctors. Brian is a Major in the Air Force and is currently based at Eglin Air Force Base near Pensacola. He has recently returned from a deployment to Bogram, Afghanistan. Brian's Mom and Dad along with other friends of the family watched a Power Point presentation along with the rest of us about his tour of duty. It has only been within the last few years that ENT surgeons were deployed in this War Zone. Brian showed come captivating photos of the terrain, facilities, and personnel. Some of their work is humanitarian as well as military. He said much of the country is still mined with all the deadly consequences to civilians and military personnel alike. Brian also said that U.S. forces are trying to bring Afhanistan medical facilties and professioinals up to speed on modern medicine. At best it has been very rudimentary throughout the country. Thank you Major Moore for taking the time and effort to come all the way to B.G. to give us such an outstanding program.

WKU Rotaract Club Launched

Rachelle Phillips is a graduate assistant to Dr. Sally Ray in Western Ky University's Communications Department. Rachelle is Miss Kentucky 2007 and will be teaching freshman speech this fall. This semester she has been very helpful assisting Cheryl Kirby Stokes, Dr. Sally Ray, Kevin Mayes and Vickie Elrod in establishing a Rotaract Club on campus. Rotaract is a special program of Rotary for College Students of any age or in a community club for people ages 18 to 30.

We had a big turnout of dignitaries for the inauguration. I'll have more photos later but I'll summarize the happenings at our April 22, 2009 meeting. District Governor Terry Shockley commended the success of this endeavor. Bill Sherman was here from the Prospect Club and is our District Rotaract Club Chairman and also down from Louisville was Mary Kathryn DeLodder. She is the District 6710 Rotaract Representative. She was in Interact the High School program for Rotary and was in the Rotaract Club in Murray and in graduate school at U of L. She is now in a community Rotaract Club called Rotaract Club of Greater Louisville.

Mary Kathryn reviewed the history of Rotaract. It was started by the Charlotte NC club in 1968 in cooperation with the UNC Charlotte. (Our own Bob Kleier was a member of that club later and knew the man that was instrumental starting Rotaract.) The name may be a contraction of Rotary Interaction. There are clubs all over the world. Members meet twice monthly and in nearly other respects mirror a standard Rotary Club. Mary Kathryn reviewed the goals of an Rotaract Club and also talked about the responsibilties of the sponsoring clubs. In this instance the Noon and AM clubs need a continuing involvement. We are invited to attend meetings. We may be called upon at times to mentor or speak as well as help with club projects. Finally we need to help Rotaract members to transition into regular Rotary.

Michelle Phillips introduced the 14 members who were present (out of a total of 17). Each member identified himself and all were leaders on campus in some capacity or another. I'll try to present mini-bios with photos when I get a chance to compile the necessary information. What a wonderful program and exciting group to have on campus.

Jim Johnson Talks About the Auto Industry

My good friend Jim Johnson spoke to our club today about the current status of the automobile industry in this country. I had asked Jim to speak on the same subject 20 years ago when I was president of the Auburn club. So many of the things Jim talked about then have since prophetically come true. Jim and I were next door neighbors for a number of years and is still a dear friend. My daughter Molly babysat his grandchildren when they were much younger.

Jim surmises that GM is now Government Motors. Until recently Jim had the local Pontiac Dealership. While he is still in the car business he has the Nissan and Hyundai lines. He spoke optimistically about the future of our country and of the automobile business. He conjectured that GM will survive as a leaner tougher business. He thinks Saturn will have to be jettisoned probably to a foreign auto company that needs a ready made distribution system. He believes Cadillac and Chevrolet will remain with support for Buick, Pontiac, and GMAC as well. It is Jim's guess and hope that Corvette will remain here in BG as a viable product line for GM. It is obvious to everyone in BG that Corvette is important to our community.

Jim thinks that all of the major dealerships in Bowling Green are well enough established and strong enough to survive. He thinks if there are changes that it will be at the owner's discretion. Jim talked about having the opportunity to buy and resurrect a Buick, Pontiac, GMAC dealership in Tennessee. After he looked at it he realized that with his experience the dealership could be turned around and be profitable in 8 or 10 years. This would have meant keeping 50 people at work and the opportunity to continue to send tax revenues to the local, state and federal governments. Then he figured that he would be in his late 70's in 10 years without taking any profit from that dealership in that length of time. When it went into his estate half of it would be taken by the Federal Government in estate taxes. This would essentially leave nothing or little to show for his years of risk and oversight. With that realization he dropped the idea. The disincentive of that government policy cost 50 people their jobs, a community an important business and governments a steady stream of revenue. Jim went on to explain that not every taxing scheme ultimately nets additional revenues for government.

Jim said auto dealerships can survive and work their way around market issues. He said farmers don't expect to make a profit every year but take a broader view of their business plan and expect to make a good living over time. Jim said that when you factor in direct government management of businesses you take market factors out of the equation and no one can actually know how they will turn out. Jim guessed that from 2007 - 2012 a third of all automobile dealerships will go out of business. Jim said just think what it would be like to lose a third of any productive segment of society.

Thank you Jim for your insight and remarks. Thank you program chair Ryan Smith for inviting him.

North Vietnamese Fighter Pilot Visits Club

General Dan Cherry introduced a former North Vietnamese Fighter Pilot to our club today. His name is Nguyen Hong My and he was accompanied by his son and a beautiful Vietnamese student from WKU that was his translator. Mr. My is in town for the dedication tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m. of the Aviation Heritage Park on Three Springs Road. Dan said CBS News is in town to do an interview this afternoon and also will be on hand for the dedication tomorrow. The piece will air on the evening news next week and perhaps there will also be a segment on the Sunday morning show.

Several months ago Dan was made aware of this pilot's identity. Mr. My and General Cherry were combatants in an areal dog fight over Vietnam on April 16, 1972. Dan shot Mr. My's plane down. Fast forward 35 years and a popular TV show on Vietnamese TV show finds out about these two airmen. Dan says it is the No. 1 rated show in Vietnam and it reunites long separated people. The show brought Dan over to Hanoi to actually introduce these two former combatants on the air. Afterwards Dan was invited to Mr. My's home in Hanoi and they became friends. While Dan was visiting he helped Mr. My celebrate a grandson's first birthday. Now that little boy has turned two. Mr. My is a retired insurance executive. Dan had hoped to bring him to the States and was fortunate enough to get him here for the dedication of the Aviation Heritage Park tomorrow. Dan's actual fighter plane (an F4D Phantom II) has been restored and is parked in the new Park. Please make your plans to be at the dedication tomorrow.

News & Notes for week of April 5-11

The lovely Rachelle Phillips (Miss Kentucky 2007) was present to announce the formation of the WKU Rotaract Club (a Rotary Club for the college age.) They will be here on April 22 for our program. In the meantime Rachelle says they have 17 members to start and will meet at 4:30 Wednesday April 15 at in the Cravens library on the first floor in the Center for Leadership Studies room. We are invited to attend. Sally Ray and Kevin May have worked with Rachelle to get the club rolling on campus. Rachelle is a natural leader and will be a tremendous leader of the new club.

Our own Joe Davis was chosen as the Chamber of Commerce Small Business Person of the Year. Joe is the manager of Gerald Printing.

Margaret Curtis was back home after spending several months teaching English in China. Welcome home Margaret. We're anxious to hear more about your travels.

Laura Goodman with Junior Achievement Speaks

Many of our members participate with Junior Achievement and local Program Manager Laura Goodman was at our April 8th meeting to bring us up to date. JA has programs for all school age kids from kindergarten through High School. They try to tailor their curriculum to match teaching units required by the State. Our own Bob Kleier help do a unit for Edmonson County Seniors last year and their principal was so taken by the material that he required all Seniors to take the class. Bob said they had a phenomenal response. The photo outlines several special events that JA sponsors. This year's mini Corvette rally is going to take place at the Corvette Museum. It should be fun.

The Center for Courageous Kids

Tim Turner from Scottsville is a retired GE executive who grew up on the same street in Scottsville, three blocks and worlds apart from the Cal Turner clan to whom he is not related. Nevertheless after touring Betty Turner Campbell's Center for Courageous kids Tim volunteered then became hooked on the project. His constant volunteering led to a second career. Tim did an outstanding job of bringing us up to date of this center for very sick children and their families.

Stormy Norman Murray spoke to the club a few years ago outlining their plans. The facility was based on one near Mt. Dora in central Florida started by General Schwarzkopf. Last year was the first year in operation for our Center and they served 1800 people including kids and their families from 17 states. This is one of only six such facilities in the U.S. In the summertime kids come for a week at camp when all the other kids have similar problems. During camp sessions volunteer medical specialists and support personnel are present 24/7 to assist. The $20 million facility has abundant facilities for fun but is also a fully equipped medical facility. For much of the balance of the year families come with their kids for weekend retreats. When not in use, parts or all of the camp are available to rent.

Tim encouraged everyone to come visit. Vickie Elrod said a plan is in the works for the seven clubs of our sub-district to have a meeting there. Thanks Tim for your excellent presentation.

LeRoy Underwood turned 98 this week!!!!!

He's got to be one of the oldest active members of Rotary anywhere. We are so proud of LeRoy and glad to have him among us that we stood and sang Happy Birthday. He turned 98 this week on Tuesday March 24. He is still very agile mentally and physically. The rest of us can only stand in awe and admire the remarkable genetics and good fortune that have brought an unassuming retired mail carrier this far. Thank you Lord for the blessing to our community snd our club of LeRoy and give him many more birthdays to celebrate.

Our Club Eases Hunger in Kenya

Cheryl Kirby-Stokes reported to the club that monies earned from the sale of Kenyan baskets was used to buy 7,000 pounds of grain to help feed the people of the villages that made the baskets. Elephants had destroyed the local crops leaving an already impoverished people with even less. Our club has been very supportive of Cheryl in her endeavors there and she wanted to let us know how that has translated into some very needed and humanitarian efforts. I am often asked what Rotary does, well here is one good response. Thank you Cheryl for the report and your continuing efforts in Kenya.

Dr. Andrew McMichael talks about Thomas Jefferson

Culminating a fabulous month of programs on U.S.Presidents Dr. Larry Pack brought WKU professor Andrew McMichael today. Andy spent two years in the National Archives pursuing original material on Thomas Jefferson. He had free reign of the place and opened many "Miscellaneous" boxes. He said his most revealing find were documents that revealed incidents where T.J. borrowed money from his slaves. T.J. lived in an era where he inherited the debt of his in-laws and it took him 30 years to pay that off. Later he used his own money to help furnish the White House. All in all he died heavy in debt and his assets were sold to satisfy his creditors including Monticello.

Dr. Andy talked about T.J. being enigmatic and contradictory. He told us that T.J. was a consummate politician who could embrace both sides of an issue at the same time. He was opposed to slavery but owned slaves for example. Then Andy examined Thomas Jefferson's views on religion. According to Andy, Jefferson's thinking reflected the Enlightenment philosophy of the day. Jefferson thought Christianity was an acceptable form of moral governance but he rejected all the basic tenets of Christianity. T.J. published after his presidency his version of the N.T. which ends with Christ in the tomb. The rest T.J. held as superstition.

Thank you Dr. McMichael for a very interesting and enlightening program.