MADISONVILLE KY ROTARY NEWSLETTER FOR WEEK OF              February 15, 2008

GUESTS - Ken Stephens, formerly of Florida. Ken has recently moved to Earlington and is a prospective member. Karen Glenn of First United Bank was the guest of Steve Cox. Patricia Wiles and Lowell Mendyk of the Messenger were the guests of Jayne Barton. Courtney Koeber was the guest of her Father Danny!

BIRTHDAYS / ANNIVERSARYS / SPECIAL EVENTS - Unless, I totally zoned out during this part of the meeting, I don’t believe there were any Birthdays or Anniversaries announced. If there were and I missed them. I apologize.

ANNOUNCEMENTS - Vice-President Jayne Barton was in control of the gavel in the absence of our President Kent Waide.
Jayne congratulated Harry and Kent Waide on the announcement in the Messenger about the huge expansion of Ruby Concrete.

Shane Fortner started passing around the Auction week worksheet. All Rotarians are encouraged to sign up to work at least two nights. The Auction week worksheet will keep making its way around the club until every position is filled for the week. Also, Shane passed around the solicitation list please mark the businesses you would like to contact. Let’s make Rotary Auction 2008 the best yet! Let’s all do our part in contributing time and talents to the cause. We all have a responsibility to our club. Contact one of the Auction Co-chairs Charlie Willett, Sandi Brooks, or Shane Fortner and see what you can do to help!

If you have an up coming program, but do not have a guest speaker, Kent has a Rotary DVD that can be used for an informational program.

The event of the year happens next weekend! Don’t miss the Texas Holdem Tournament for School Counts! It’s sponsored by People Plus, Inc. on February 22 at 6 PM at the Hopkins County Fairgrounds. For more information call Ron Sanders at 825-8939.
The black tie optional grand gala celebration for School Couhts! With all the glamour of Hollywood will take place Saturday, February 23 at 7 PM at the Madisonville Golf and Country Club. Tickets can be purchased for $25 per person for this event. Marion Miller, Sharon Smith, and Chaun Castleberry have tickets available to you for this. Only 1000 Raffle tickets will be sold at $50 each for the chance to win your choice of 3 vehicles… a 2008 Silverado; 2008 Dodge Ram Truck, or a 2008 Charcoal Mustang. Each vehicle is a wholesale value of $25,000.

Just reminder, Dr Rhodes, told us, there is an anonymous donor who will match all donations up to $150,000 if we get the $150,000 by June 2008. We have come to far not to reach this goal.

Contact Harriett Whitaker, Madisonville-Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce President to see if there is a seat available for you to join her February 20th on a Charter bus going to Frankfort for a Legislative reception. The bus will leave at 12:45 PM. All seats are $40 per person. For more information contact the Chamber office at 821-3435.

Contact Margo Scott if you are interested in purchasing Rotary apparel.

MADISONVILLE ROTARY HISTORY MOMENT - Our Historian, Blis Powell was not in attendance at Wednesday’s Rotary Club meeting.

PROGRAM - Bob Burke introduced our guest Roger F. Murtie President and Executive Director of the Center for Courageous Kids! Colonel Murtie served 24 years in the Army and retired in 2001. His most unique assignment was as the Aide de Camp for General H. Norman Schwarzkopf for 2 years including the Gulf War and the first six months of the General’s retirement. Roger was the Executive Director of Camp Boggy Creek, a camp in Florida for seriously ill children founded by Paul Newman and General Schwarzkopf. He has consulted for medical camps in 5 countries. He is now the Executive Director of the Center for Courageous Kids!, located in Scottsville. The center for Courageous Kids is a free camp for children with life threatening illnesses. They’re expecting their first campers to arrive on Friday, February 29th. They’re recruiting campers and their families to enjoy one of the 19 family weekend retreats offered during the year and 9 weeks of Summer Camp. He said none of this would be possible without the magnificent leadership and extraordinary generosity of Founder, Elizabeth Turner Campbell. This year-round medical camp does not charge children to attend. They rely solely on donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations with a heart for seriously ill children. Gifts of any size are needed and appreciated.

For more information about the Center for Courageous Kids, where they prescribe fun, log on to www.couragekids.org

Upcoming Programs/Events - According the program schedule… February 20, it’s up to Skip McGaw and Bill Metcalfe.