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.