Next Week, Rotarians can expect,......... Man who know what to expect, as Art Sparks takes to the podium and does what Art does best. Art knows more on more people in this area than anyone around. Art has a talent that can make the most laid back human being squirm in his seat, sweat and turn red all over.

He is on schedule to do some roasting of some of our newest members, and you can be sure some of the older members will get blasted also.

I called Art this week for maybe a preview of what might be happening and he said "Randall DuuuWayne Barnes is in my office and I am not going to divulge anything to him either". I then got on the phone to some of his buddies, and as of this time they are not willing to put him down, as I assume they fear a come-back at a later date.

Anyway, next week should be a very interesting meeting, and it would be in everyone’s interest to be present Friday Noon, if only to defend yourself, should your name happen to pop up.

Last Week, John Rufli, Executive Director of Land Between The Lakes Association, visited and left Rotary members with an up-date of things going on at one of the most visited recreation areas in our area.

He began by asking Rotarians how many had been to LBL, and experienced the many different happenings which go on at the recreation facility, with many of our members making a positive response. He then responded by saying that within a 100 mile radius, he found that many people in his audiences had been there at least once and had the LBL experience.

He said that LBL was established in 1963, by an Act of Congress, making it 46 years old, TVA was the original managers of the complex, and that 50% of what is currently LBL, was privately owned. There were large tracts owned by timber development companies. The land owned by private families, was purchased and the owners were asked to move, some had to be told to move he said, and he said to this day there is still some animosity toward the development of the 170,000 acre complex. He said some of the people were actually moved as many as three times, so he said the LBL organization can understand some of the people not being very happy.

He said in 1999, TVA gave up management of the LBL, and the responsibility was turned over to the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is in control today. He went on to say that of the 170,000 acres, 89% of this land is Forest, and is typically the 1st or 2nd largest visitor attraction in the state of Kentucky, in competition with Mammoth Cave, and in Tennessee, it ranks #3.

He closed with a question and answer session bringing some interesting questions from the audience.

May 22 - Art Sparks, New Member Roast

May 29 - Dr. Wright Jernigan

June 05 - Verhine Scholarship Program

June 12 - Newell Graham, First 100 Years of U.C. Coca Cola

Anniversaries