 
The United States: The Greatest Democracy on Earth
Senator Bunning spoke about the funding challenges that currently exist in the General Assembly. Per Senator Bunning, the US Federal Government is currently $9 trillion in debt. Our national debt grows by $1 billion per day. Funding goes to discretionary and mandatory spending. Discretionary spending funds activities such as defense and domestic priorities. Mandatory spending funds entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Spending on these entitlement programs has nearly doubled in the past 40 years. By 2017 the Social Security Administration will spend more than it takes in unless there is some sort of reform to these programs. Bunning warned that our children and grandchildren will stand to inherit $79 trillion in unfunded mandates if nothing is done. It is his hope that congress will find a solution to provide a sound financial footing for our future. Senator Bunning believes that the federal government must do what it can to provide the most assistance possible to the most people possible. He stressed that the system was never designed to be utilized in the manner it is currently being used. He feels that tort reform and control over spending in addition to a big picture look at healthcare in our nation is essential for correcting this situation. Among Senator Bunning's concerns is the state of the current economy which he blames on the bust of the housing market. Stocks are low and the cost of borrowing is high. He advised that calm will return only with confidence in the market returns. That will require the investment of funds from risk takers whose investments will translate to jobs and spending in the economy. Finally, Senator Bunning spoke about
his position on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He referred to
our U.S. Soldiers, their spouses and children as our country's most
valuable assets. Soon, 19,000 soldiers from Fort Campbell will be
serving in Iraq or Afghanistan - many on their third tour of duty.
He describes their sacrifice as one that is "beyond words" but necessary.
Soldiers are fighting for the creation of a government who will
be stable allies to the U.S. in a currently unstable Middle East.
This will not be achieved until the threat of the emergence of terrorism
groups is eliminated. Senator Bunning says that the majority of
the populations of those areas want freedom, and we simply cannot
abandon them during this time of need. "The price paid for the path
to success is extremely high," says Bunning, "but a larger burden
will face us in the future if that price is not paid now." "The
United States is the greatest democracy on earth - we must make
sure it stays that way." MARCH PROGRAMS March 5 - Dr. William Hogancamp - Sleep Disorders March 12 - Bill Evans, VP of News & Operations- Digital TV and What is Happening in 2009 March 19 - Merle Paschedag - RecycleNow March 26- Terry Blackwell - CEO Girls Scouts of Kentucy David Jernigan- March program chair TWO NEW MEMBERS PROPOSED Upon recommendation of the Classifications and Membership Screening committees, the Board of Directors, the following people have been proposed for membership in the Rotary Club of Paducah. Objections must be filed in writing to the Club Secretary within seven (7) days. Brandon Barnhill - Paducah Police Department - proposed by Randy Bratton, Classification of Law Enforcement/Criminal Roger Colburn - Florence & Hutcheson, Inc. - proposed by Glen Anderson, Classification of Civil Engineering ANNOUNCEMENTS Eighteen Rotarians are celebrating birthdays in February. Kelly Nuckolls was the winner of the weekly birthday floral arrangement from The Flower Galley. The Rotary Board of Directors will meet today at 5:15 pm at Whaler's Catch. Of special note - Rotary International celebrates its 103rd Birthday this month. The club, founded in 1910, will hold its district conference April 18 - 20 at the Music City Sheraton in Nashville, Tennessee. Any Rotarian interested in attending should contact Phyllis for more details. Did you know….the Rotary Club of Paducah celebrates its 93rd birthday this month. Founded in 1915 and sponsored by the Louisville club, the Paducah club became the 2nd club in Kentucky and 139th club to form in the world! ROTARY CLUB OF PADUCAH SEEKS APPLICANTS FOR AMBASSADORIAL SCHOLARSHIPS The Rotary Club of Paducah is seeking applicants for the 2009-10 Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship, which is the world's largest privately funded international scholarships program. The Club is seeking applicants whose legal or permanent residence or place of full-time study or employment is McCracken County. Applicants must have completed at least two years of college-level coursework or equivalent professional experience by the start of the 2009-10 academic year. Information and applications are available on line at www.rotarydistrict6710.org. On the home page, click Higher Education, then Ambassadorial Scholarship. Completed applications must be received by March 10 by the Rotary Club of Paducah, 608 Broadway, Paducah KY 42001. The Rotary Foundation requires that applications be submitted through and endorsed by a local Rotary Club. For information, please call 442-3418. Almost 37,000 men and women from 100 nations have studied abroad through this program in the past 60 years. The purpose is to advance international understanding and friendly relations among people of different countries. The program sponsors scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students as well as for qualified professionals pursuing vocational studies. Each scholarship involves an academic year of study and has a value of up to $24,000. Characteristics of ideal applicants include: success in academics and/or vocation, proficiency in the language in the country in which he/she seeks to study, record of community service; knowledge of the history, culture, and politics of the applicant's home community and study country; and ideas as to how he/she will improve international understanding and world peace. Spouses, children, and grandchildren of Rotarians are not eligible to apply. However, members of Rotaract Clubs are eligible and encouraged to apply. GUESTS Jim Tidwell, - Andy Wood; Leslie McKinney - Tara Kolb; Gary Adkisson - Glenda Adkisson; Mike Karnes - David Bailey; Joni Hogancamp - Carolyn Roberts; Kelm Burchard,Fowler Black - Mary Hammond; Mike Frisbey - Mike Resnick; Stacey Grimes - Randy Bratton; Fran Johnson, Betsy Hudson - Elaine Spalding; Rick Hughes - Brenda Allcock; Lindsay Helm, Stephanie Choudhury, Kathryn Polk - Mike Muscarella; Sue Tharp, Randall Dawson - Gerry Montgomery; Mary Bunning, Debbie McKinney, Anna Caryl Guffey, Rachel McCubbin - Club; Martie Wiles - Bill Howerton; Ronnie Freeman - David Jernigan; Bill Holsapple, Leon Owens - Georgann Lookofsky; Danny Carroll - Herschel Dungey; Roger Colburn - Glen Anderson; Sarah Bynum - Mike Stone VISITING ROTARIANS Clyde Wills - Metropolis, IL REPORTED MAKEUPS Gear Teeth: Amy Clevidence Invocation: Ron Stonecipher Song Leader: David Jernigan Family of Rotary Committee: June Antony, Don Barger Sgt. At Arms: Art Feather, Marvin Devers, Chuck Heyduck, Ken Schuppert Program: Rick Coltharp Featured Rotarian: David Comperry Student Guests: Michael Cochran Other Clubs: Bill Gore - Naples North Rotary Club eClub One: Hardy Roberts World Community Service: Mike Muscarella, Eileen Duobinis-Gray HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
CLUB ANNIVERSARYS The
following are celebrating the date of their induction into Rotary:
Today's editor -Amy Clevidence List of Unfilled Classifications
Artist/Retail,
Arts Administration, Attorney (Civil, Commonwealth, Social Security
Administration, Marine Law), Banking (Mortgage Lender, Trust Management),
Bed & Breakfast/Hospitality, Building Materials, Cable TV/Advertising,
Chemical Plant, Chemical Plant Management, Commercial Door Contracting,
Communications Systems Integration, Community Development/Administration,
Contractor/Commercial, Day Care Management, Director/Substance Abuse
Prevention, Education ( Pre-school, Administration), Employee Leasing
(Permanent, Temporary) Engineering/U-235 Plant, Equine Farming,
Facility Manager, Film Making, Financial Management/Jewelry Business,
Financial Planning, Government/Risk Management, Hardware/Retail,
Hospital, Human Resources, Industrial Supplies/Wholesale, Information/Management,
Information Technology, Information Technology/Internet Director,
Insurance - Sales, Judge/Family Court, Judge/District, Law (Corporation,
Litigation, Domestic), Medical/Podiatry, Medical Center Management,
Medical/Public Relations, Men's Clothing/Retail, Ministry/Christian,
Motion Pictures Theatres, Moving & Storage, Municipal Human Relations,
Nursing/Geriatric, Orthodontics & Facial Orthopedics, Photography
Equipment & Supplies, Public Service/Emergency Services, Rape Crisis
Manager, Real Estate/Commercial, Refined Oil Products/Retail, Restaurant/Italian,
River Transportation/Port Authority, Sales - Temporary Employees,
Scout Executive, Space Education, Special Gifts/Retail, Total Wellness,
Waste Water Utility
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Today
the club welcomed Senator Jim Bunning as our guest speaker. Senator
Bunning began his legislative career in 1977 as a city councilman
for Fort Thomas. In 1979 he was appointed to the Kentucky State
Senate. He served on the US House of Representatives for twelve
years beginning in 1986 and then was appointed to the US Senate
in 1998 - a position he maintains today. He currently serves on
the Finance Committee, Banking Committee, Energy Committee and Budget
Committee for the U.S. Senate. 