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.