Rotary Club of Eureka, California

Meeting of the Rotary Club of Eureka
May 13, 2013

Craig Hansen led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Tom McMurray gave the invocation.

Jim, John & Ken enjoy their lunch

 Guests
Fred Van Vleck and Patrick Cleary.

Student Guests
Exchange student, Larissa, held her potato dinner last weekend.  It turned out pretty good and she thanks the Rotarians who attended.  She also reflected on loving her time in Humboldt County.

Birthdays and Anniversaries are in the book; congrats to all.

Announcements
Gregg Williston picked up the Group Study Exchange team in Willits.  They had fun and he didn't understand a word they said.  After lunch in Garberville, he found out the restaurant didn't take credit cards.  He will mail a check.

The Rotary District conference is coming up at the end of the month. 

John Bradley reported on the Backpacks for Kids fundraiser dinner.  It raised over $18,000 for the program.

Past President Steve Justus announced a donation from the Sign Smith Committee of $10,000 to the St. Joseph Hospital Volunteers for a new shuttle.  A big check was awarded and a fuzzy iPhone photo was taken for the Burl.

Fun Fact:  Glyndon "Sign" Smith was a ;member of the Eureka Rotary Club for 69 years.  He had perfect attendance. 

Past President Bruce Rupp announced Economic Fuel has picked winners of a $25,000 prize for 2013 an the winners also get an honorary one-year membership in our club.

Dr. Fred Van Vleck was brought into the club today.  He received his pin, some words of wisdom and there was applause.  Welcome aboard, Doc!

Club members were reminded politely not to push or endorse their political views in the context of Rotary.   

Recognitions
Mindy Bussman was recognized for buying a new car.  She swears it is to deliver backpacks for the Backpacks for Kids program.  Rainmaker.

Gambling Interlude:  $10 to Gregg Gardiner and $10 to Tom McMurray.

Program
Greg Siler introduced our speakers: 

• Gary Rynearson- Public Relations -Green Diamond & California Redwood
• Carter Welch- VP Marketing Humboldt & Mendocino Redwood Companies
• Jacqueline Debets- Coordinator Humboldt County Economic Development

Greg also introduced Bob Murtz, CEO of Redwood Capital Bank and Chris Gaines, also from Green Diamond and California Redwood Company.

Gary discussed the long-term decline of the redwood industry.  Share of decking and fencing had declined due to competitors like plastic composites.

Carter from Humboldt Redwood looked at the cotton industry for parallels.  Cotton suffered a similar decline and rebuilt their market share by aggressively marketing an developing a strong brand.

Jacqueline Debets partnered with the redwood producers and the Headwaters Fund to come up with a plan to increase demand for redwood and get the industry companies to work together.

Working with an experienced ad man, they came up with a concept to turn the commodity of redwood into a brand and make it competitively superior to plastic composites int eh consumer perception matrix.

TV and an online campaign were launched, as well as aggressively attending consumer home shows  They also did a viral video...good luck with that.

The guests were thanked, the library book was signed and the meeting ended two minutes late.

Respectfully submitted, 
John Harper