VOL. 71, NO. 24- January 27, 2010
(215-360)

Published weekly except, Labor Day, New Years, Christmas, Easter, 4th of July, Thanksgiving and Quilt Show

"The Untold Saga of the Executive Inn"

It's tough to boil down such a complicated story as the demise of Paducah's Executive Inn, its only convention hotel, to a few salient points, but Steve Doolittle, the City's Downtown Development Director, did so for the Club this week. Doolittle, who has worked for the city and county for many years, has had the difficult task of navigating the City to the decision of buying the dilapidated hotel outright for $1.8 million from its owner, Buhpinder Singh.

Why would the city make such a large expenditure for private property? The large hotel is physically attached to the publicly owned Convention Center buildings and is located on publicly owned land. The location behooves the city's burgeoning tourism industry sustained by the Annual American Quilters Society Show, and other attractions downtown, including the Carson Four Rivers Center, which bring in millions of dollars each in revenue each year and provide much needed jobs.

The sprawling, poorly designed hotel complex is now a failed business model. It's sister counterpart in Owensboro has already been purchased by the city government and demolished. The other in Evansville is slated for partial demolition. With no national franchise or national reservation system, it became increasingly difficult to keep the hotels viable.

In Paducah's case, the hotel was infected with mold from a leaky roof and pipes and is in a state of disrepair despite the worthiness of its concrete and steel foundation. Doolittle says Paducah managed to purchase the hotel at a bargain rate compared to the $8 million spent by Owensboro, and will begin a demolition process that will take six months so that the materials like copper and concrete can be recycled.

Paducahans will await the next chapter in this saga of the Executive Inn and downtown development.

NEXT WEEK

World Equestrian Games

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Rotarians offered their condolences to Past Presidents Debbie and Mike Stone on the loss of her sister this week.

Rotarians reaching out to Haiti - ShelterBox started as the brainchild of one Rotarian with the support of his Rotary Club in year 2000 – ShelterBox has grown to become the largest Rotary Club project in The 100 Year History Of The Organization and is a Global Rotary Club Project. President L.V. urged Club members to contribute toward the purchase of 5 to 10 ShelterBoxes to send to earthquake victims in Haiti. The boxes contain a tent, blankets, and other necessary survival supplies for disaster areas. The Board voted to raise at least $5000 by asking every club member to donate $25. President L.V. asks members to contribute more to the effort if possible. Checks are due by next Wednesday and should be made to ShelterBoxUSA. They can be mailed to our office Rotary Club of Paducah, P.O. Box 398, Paducah, KY 42002-0398 or if you prefer ShelterBoxUSA, 8374 Market St. #203, Lakewood Ranch, FL. 34202 http://www.shelterbox.org/

Rotary's Speech Contest will be held February 24th at 4 pm at the Paducah-McCracken County Public Library. The Regional Speech Contest will also be held here on May 5th. Contact Tom Grassham to assist or if you know any students.

Information about District Rotary Scholarships is available. http://www.rotarydistrict6710.org/view/251 Seven scholarships will be awarded in our district. Our local deadline is Feb 25, 2010.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

Jim Brown proposed Michael Byers, the V.P. of Administration for the Crounse Corporation, for membership. Michael is a Marshall Co. native and a graduate of MSU. He and his wife, Mary Ann, have a teenage daughter at St. Mary. His hobbies are golf and travel. Michael was also a member of the Marshall Co. Rotary Club.

Chris McNeil proposed Jim Dudley, the Manager of Enterprise Rental Car, for membership. A graduate of MSU, yet a native of Tennessee, he is an avid UT fan. His hobbies are family, golf and basketball, but also finds the time to serve on the Chamber's Marketing and Development

Welcome to both Michael and Jim!

CHARITY DONATIONS

Fellow Rotarian Glenda Adkission accepted a donation on behalf of the American Red Cross, which is doing extraordinary work in earthquake-ravaged Haiti. She also reminded us locally , they are there assisting with fire s and other disasters in our community. Remember to specify in donations to the American Red Cross- Paducah Chapter or the specific disaster.

GUESTS

J. Patrick Kerr- Pat Kerr, Trish Stechenrider- Mary Hammond, Allan Rhodes, Jr.- John Halsell, Brandon More, Jessica Stinson, Amanda Morgan, - MIke Muscarella

VISITING ROTARIANS

Sim Davenport - Owensboro; Bill Beasley - Henderson KY

JANUARY STUDENT GUESTS

BIRTHDAYS

Roger Cain-January 28
Keith Dickens - January 30
Bill Gore - January 27
Jim Harris - February 1
Roger Kellner - January 27
May Louise Zumwalt - January 29