 
TOURISM BY THE NUMBERS As residents, most of us already know that the Paducah area is a great place to live, but increasingly thousands of people each year are discovering the area is a great place to visit for leisure travel. Mary Hammond, Executive Director of the Paducah-McCracken County Visitors and Convention Bureau credits Paducah's "cultural renaissance" with a rebirth, rebranding and rejuvenation of leisure travel to Paducah and the surrounding area.
The brand and a subsequent revitalization of its promotional materials and advertising have attracted more visitors. The 2006 figures showed that tourism spending jumped nearly 6% to $276 million for Paducah alone, along with a total $600 million impact in the western Kentucky region. So who are these people who enjoy visiting Paducah? Hammond says the result of a recent survey of nearly 4,000 people shows that most of our visitors are somewhere between 35 to 64 years of age, mostly couples or friends, who come here primarily for leisure. While here, 81% take advantage of downtown shopping and dining, 53% visit the Musuem of the American Quilters Society, 35% visit the lakes area, and 11% for the performing arts events at the Carson Four Rivers Center. A whopping 92% were satisfied with their visit, including 55% who said they were "very satisified." Even more impressive is that 82% said they were likely to make a return visit to Paducah. Hammond said the survey revealed that quilters who visit Paducah for the annual Quilt Show are likely to return here with their spouses and children for subsequent visits. Hammond said most visitors were struck by the friendliness of the natives, had positive comments about the Land Between the Lakes, Patti's 1880's Settlement, and the floodwall murals. She said the visitors' feelings about
Paducah are reflected in the bureau's mission statement: "Only in
Paducah can guests experience high quality diverse art forms, staged
within the elegant sophistication of a vibrant River Town." MARCH PROGRAMS 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 NEW MEMBER INDUCTED
FEATURED ROTARIAN HERSCHEL DUNGEY David Comperry introduced this week's Featured Rotarian: Herschel Dungey, the Human Resources Director for the City of Paducah. Herschel is a native of Chicago, who holds numerous degrees from Illinois institutions, including three masters degrees. He has served twice in the military, and prior to spending 30 years in the human resources field, was an adjunct professor in the Business Department at Governor's State University in Illinois. After moving here with his wife, five years ago, he became the only Rotarian to also become a member of the Lions Club. He is also on the Board of Directors of the Oscar Cross Boys and Girls Club, the River Heritage Musuem, and is a deacon at the Mt. Moriah Missonary Baptist Church. ANNOUNCEMENTS Twenty-one Rotarians are celebrating birthdays in February. Bo Sullivanwas the winner of the weekly birthday floral arrangement from The Flower Galley. The Rotary Board of Directors will meet Wednesday, March 19th at 5:15 pm at Whaler's Catch. The Paducah Symphony Orchestra will be holding a concert about our Planets at the Four Rivers Center on March 1 at 7:30 p.m. L.V. McGinty invited the Club to the kick-off for the Red Cross Heroes on Friday from 5 pm until 6 pm at the Western Baptist Hospital Auditorium. U.S. Congressman Whitfield will be speaking. COMMUNITY DONATION Al Knudsen accepted a donation for the McCracken County Senior Citizens Center, which provides numerous services, recreational opportunities, and daily meals to hundreds of seniors.
GUESTS Fowler Black, Kelm Burchard - Mary Hammond; Susan Edwards, Delphine Operle, Meredith Schroeder - Lorraine Schramke; Larry Cooper - Ken Cooper; Al Knudsen - Club; Jessica Byassee - May Louise Zumwalt; Roger Colburn - Glen Anderson; Laurie Latham - Mike Muscarella
Caitlin Cummins - St. Mary; Chad Wright - Heath; James Sledd - Reidland; Not pictured Zia Choudhury - Lone Oak and Maggie Fort - CCA
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. REPORTED MAKEUPS Gear Teeth: Desiree Owen Invocation: Ron Stonecipher Song Leader: Michael Cochran Family of Rotary Committee: June Antony 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 Board of Directors: George Shaw, Jim Sigler, John Halsell, Steve Shrewsberry, Chuck Heyduck, Scott Taylor, LV McGinty, Missy Eckenberg, Suzanne Farmer, Chris McNeill, Glen Anderson, Rick Coltharp, Phil McIntosh HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
CLUB ANNIVERSARYS The
following are celebrating the date of their induction into Rotary:
Today's editor -Desiree Owen 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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Hammond
said the new branding, "Paducah, Kentucky: Art, Rhythm and Rivers"
has been promoted in full page ads in magazines and newspapers targeting
the St. Louis, Chicago, and Nashville areas, with excellent results.
President
George inducted Sarah Bynum today. Her sponsor, Mike Stone,
described Sarah as being very "involved." Sarah is the marketing
director for Federal Materials and serves on numerous community
boards, is active in many organizations and in Kentucky politics,
as the Vice President of the Republican Womens Association.
Welcome Sarah! 
Bell
Ringing Master Bill Dyer proudly showed off the Salvation Army
Belling Ringers Trophy awarded to Rotary for bringing in the
most donations among service clubs. A "mystery gift" of $12
put us over the top in beating the previous year's donations
by $1 bringing the 2007 total to $5,002. Mike Resnick was the
"Humdinger Bellringer" and received a free dinner at Whaler's
Catch. 
STUDENT
GUESTS