Ron Lewis, KY's 2nd District Congressman Speaks

A well known friend to our club spoke to us today, May 30. Representative Ron Lewis talked about two main concerns of his - immigration reform and the war against terrorism. Ron was passionate about these issues. Jim Skaggs introduced the speaker. After Ron's brief remarks he took questions from the field.

The questions were wide ranging from pending legislation concerning hate crimes that Ron thought would not pass to continuing questions about immigration reform. Ron said that Congress has had more phone calls and response from the nation concerning the immigration issue than anything that has come up during his tenure.

What a treat to have someone of Ron's stature take time out of a busy schedule to talk to us. Thank you Congressman Lewis.

NEXT DISTRICT CONFERENCE In NASHVILLE

After a very successful District Conference last weekend here in B.G. hosted by our club with the morning club it was announced today that next year's conference will be a combined conference with Middle Tennessee's District and will be held in Nashville. Stay tuned for details later.

Margaret Curtis to Turkey

Margaret is on her way to teaching in an orphanage in Turkey this summer. She wants to UPS a package of rewards and prizes for her students and a large supply was brought to our meeting on 23 May. She will continue to collect items at next week's meeting on 30 May so if you weren't able to participate this week please bring your items next week. As an alternative you can bring a check made out to our club that will be combined and presented to Margaret as a lump sum.

Here's the list of items that Margaret has requested: 1. Cassette tapes of children's songs 2. thin paper back books at 3rd grade level or below not religious or US Holidays 3. Stickers, lots of stickers 4. Children's jewelry 5. Small Ty dolls or animals 6. balloons 7. small balls 8. smiley faces, magnets 9. other items along these same lines

Linda Thomas receives a Sapphire

Already a Paul Harris Fellow, Linda Thomas was awarded a single sapphire award for additional contributions she made to the Rotary Foundation. She said she made the donation in the memory of Past District Governor Jerry Parker. Linda says Jerry had been a great influence in her life.

Jerry was honored in another way by our club. It was announced at the District Conference over the weekend that the annual scholarship that our club awards a Bowling Green High Senior has been named the William Jerry Parker Scholorship. Each year we give a $750 per semester scholarship to a senior at each of the four county high schools. It can be used at any college or trade school in Kentucky.

Bill Sherman talks about SCORE

SCORE is an acronym for Service Core of Retired Executives. We have a liaison from the Louisville center that works out of our Chamber of Commerce. Bill Sherman pictured here is past president of the Prospect- Goshen Rotary Club and a counselor in SCORE. Retired business men and women contribute their time and talents to assist people getting ready to start a business or to help those already in businesses.

The main focus is to help the entrepreneur of small businesses which comprise 99% of all employers in this country who employ 52% of the private work force and produce 51% of the domestic GDP.

Bob Long Honored for 36 Years as Club Secretary

Bob Long has served our club well and long if you'll forgive the pun. He will have been secretary 36 years when he steps down at the end of next month. In a surprise award his family was present when he received a plaque during our District Conference Luncheon on Friday May 18. Here he is pictured with his wife Jane. Son Cliff is a member in our club and daughter Tricia Harper and her husband Doug were also present for the award.

Our weekly meeting had been changed from Wednesday to Friday in order to coincide with the District Conference. Almost all of our regulars were present and were able to see Bob honored. Thank you Bob.

Kelsey Tamayo Wows Us with her Marimba

District Governor Kay Sharon found a pearl in the Hardin County school system and invited Kelsey Tamayo, a senior at John Hardin High School, to entertain us during our luncheon. Kelsey played several styles of music and did it wonderfully. I suspect that's why she will be continuing her education this fall at John Hopkins.

Don Collette PDG Addresses Club at District Conference

Our weekly meeting was combined with the 6710 District Conference luncheon and Past District Governor Don Collette spoke. Don is from District 6780 which is Middle and part of East Tennessee. He was governor there in '93-'94.

Don spoke of many accomplishments of Rotary International and the Rotary Foundation. He said we might encounter "individuals you would not have met without the magic of Rotary." Our many thanks to Don for giving his time and energy not only to speak to us but for all his efforts for Rotary.

Dave Weller in coming District Governor for our district said Don's remarks reminded him of a comment a member of the Frankfort club had said. The member siad that the Rotary Foundation gave feet to the 4 Way Test. An interesting and fitting comment I thought.

KY Academy for Math & Science

Our program today, 9 May 2007, was presented by Tim Gott from WKU. He talked about a program for high school juniors and seniors that will bring 120 students from all over Kentucky to Western's Campus. Sixty young men and sixty young women will reside in Snyder Hall in combined education that will earn them a diploma from their respective high school and 60 hours of college credit from Western. Tim talked about "mining [Kentucky's] intellectual capital." This fall will start an ongoing program that hopefully will add 60 news students each fall.

Advanced plans have been made to care for each student's intellectual and social growth as well as physical safe keeping. As a personal note I came to Western in the summer of 1962 on a National Science Foundation Scholarship along with about 100 high school kids from all over the state. I had finished the course work from Leitchfield High School so I stayed on that fall and started pre-med. I was 16 years old so I can relate to what these kids will be going through.

Incredible Program on the Civil War in Bowling Green

Well with visiting dignitaries, check presentations, and several other annoucements we left our speaker only a brief period for his program. Elvin Smith Jr. did not seem to be perturbed and had a slide show on Civil War movements in the Bowling Green area especially around Lost River Cave. Elvin is a retired school teacher and is researching a book on the Civil War and Lost River Cave. He showed slides of an upper room in the cave off limits to the public that has the names of Civil War soldiers written on the ceiling. He has been able to determine who some of these men were, what happened to them and even had some photos of a few.

The crowd was mesmerized with Elvin's presentation and our President Shannon Morgan wisely let Elvin finish his remarks. This took us to about ten minutes past the hour but I think we were all glad that we got to see the whole program. It was fabulous and one we will long remember.

New Member Profile - Don Gerard, Jr. CPA

Our newest inductee is Don Gerard Jr. He is a Bowling Green native and an avid sportman. Don says he especially likes to hunt. Don graduated from B.G. High in 1980 and has two degress from Western in Accounting and Finance. He's married with a son 16, daughter 13 and niece 18.

Don just started a new company which is Bowling Green's only mobile document shredding service. His company is called LAND SHARK SHREDDING and you check them out at www.LandSharkShredding.com or call the office at (270) 793-0880.

Don welcome to our club.

Meeting May 16 Moved to Friday May 18

Please note that we will not be meeting at the Bowling Green Country Club on Wednesday May 16. Instead the directors have asked that we meet with the District Conference on Friday at Noon at the Sloan Convention Center. There will be no charge to our members for that meal.

Rotary Dignitaries Visit

There was a delegation in town getting ready for the District Conference which will begin at the Convention Center on May 18. This delegation was comprised of two past District Governors - Barry Holder from Frankfort and Loretta Williams from the Owensboro club. Also with the group were Terry Shockley and Don Dykman from Frankfort. They encouraged our members to come out and support the meeting. There will be no registration fee for any of the meetings. There is a fee for the various meals and banquet. In photo L to R Holder, Shockley, Williams, Dykman.

Money Distributed to Three Local Organizations

We netted $1200 in our auction and the directors determined to give $400 each to Community Action of Southern Kentucky, Girls Inc., and Kids on the Block. Accepting the checks were L to R Cheryl Allen, Patty Alford, and Heather Higgins from the respective organizations.

Western's Speech Team To Give Exhibition

Dr. Sally Ray told the club about Western's incredible speech team's upcoming exhibition. This Sunday afternoon, May 6, in the Garrett Ball Room at 3 p.m. the team will perform several of their pieces in an event called A Showcase of Excellence. I can assure you it will be a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.