Rotary Club of Eureka, California

August 22, 2011
Meeting of the Rotary Club of Eureka

Lunch: enchiladas, chocolate chip cookie

Weather: 57 degrees and overcast

S&P 1127.34

President Pierson called the meeting to order.

Ron Pierre read verse 4 of the Star Spangled Banner.

Visiting Rotarians, announced by John Bartholomew:

Kathy Philp

Rory Hanson, Nicole Schwerdt, Kyle Muteff, Kathy Philp, Kathy Miller, Lee Cunningham, Helene and Zoran Sajovic

Fred Griffith brought Mike Casey of Security National.

Jon Bartholomew brought Ted Sheets, Paul Brisso brought Russ Gans.

Craig Hansen brought “The Birthday Boy.”   

Mandy Nash brought Miguel Sotello, her son.

Lee Cunningham brought Sharon Taylor and Marian Brady.   

Ken Stodder brought Ted Stodder.

Mike Cunningham brought Mr. Nielsen.   

Greg Williston brought his wife Laurel.

No student guests, but our new exchange student Marina joined us and told us about her rafting trip. It was fun, and cool, and she loved it.

PP Lane Strope was in attendance. This would later cost him money.

Mitch Mastroni, our outbound exchange student to Italy, thanked the club and asked for money, since he has “bought the house” for a play and desperately needs to sell those tickets. Bold move Mitch, we’ll see if we can help you out.

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

PP Nielsen and Dan Heinen were called up to show the new, high-tech, web based something or other. PDG Dillon tweeted about it immediately, and PP Schallert blogged about it and posted a link to his Facebook page.  Just kidding, everyone stared blankly at the projector and Dan was unable to log in. Eventually he showed us the many cool features available on the website; the web admin expects traffic to soar to the high single-digits.

WEB ADDRESS:

https://www.directory-online.com/Rotary/Securelogin.cfm?CFID=6882139&CFTOKEN=65197838

(In all seriousness, this is pretty dang neat).

If your photo predates the invention of the internet, please see the photo committee after the next meeting.

Mike Cunningham announced today was the final day to sign up for the Rotary Rafting Trip.

Dues are due. Send a check, please. Or just use PayPal. Kidding again, send a check.

RECOGNITIONS

Kurt Barthel-You went to Portland? For work? Still $50, Kurt.

John Bartholomew went to the Mediterranean? For your 25^th wedding anniversary? Venice? Cruise around the Adriatic? Greece? Istanbul? Croatia? That’s gonna be $145 and a free tape measure.

PP Lane Strope is printing stuff? $145. $95 refund if he comes back soon. $50

PP Brian Papstein has been advertising in the Wall Street Journal? $20.

Ken Stodder? Your grandson was St. Bernard’s athlete of the year? 4.0 GPA? Scholarship? $100.

PP Brian Papstein made a short joke, pitched his product, and introduced proud Eureka citizen, Rob Arkley.

PROGRAM

Rob Arkley, owner of Security National.

Rob noted the currency crisis sweeping the globe since 2007. Rob says growth will be very slow for many years in America and Europe. He predicts the end of the Euro, and applauded the discussion surrounding the debt ceiling debate.  He anticipates tax increases and cuts in services and entitlements. Rob would like a constitutional amendment for a VAT, which would be regressive, and a balanced budget amendment. Rob discussed the “entitlement generation” as those “paid to vote.” They will not be happy in our new future. Suck on that, stoners!

Rob believes the key to the upcoming election is solutions on the budget deficit.  Most banks are now regulated utilities, and real estate will require 40% down. Less leverage and opportunity are in our future. Residential real estate will bottom middle to late 2012.  California is a difficult place to get business done and there will be an exodus of those who can move. Logging is ascendant locally.

The future of Humboldt County is in niche industries and the port.  Security National is adding 25 employees in the next 4-6 weeks and Rob is pleased with the quality of local employees.

National Austerity, Statewide Schizophrenia, Locally we’re in good shape!

Q&A

Corky Cornwell has a “hypothetical” bag of money hidden in the woods. Rob says to buy manufacturing businesses. I’m going to go hiking in the woods…

Chuck Edwards thinks China is taking over the New World Order. Rob says no worries; we’re still running things for the foreseeable future. I am studying Mandarin just in case.

BofA is likely to fail. Moving my money to WaMu Coast Central.

Lorana Farnum said something about the Fed, the gold standard, and that Tim Geithner looks like an idiot. Rob said the Fed sucks and the next 10 years will be rough.

NEXT WEEK: Abbie Hoffman & Noam Chomsky! Oops, my mistake,  looks like we will be hearing from Peter Hannaford, former Ronald Reagan speech writer.

GAMBLING INTERLUDE

$10 Council member Marian Brady $10 Tom McMurray.

Rob Arkley was thanked, the library book was signed, and the meeting ended 3 minutes late.

Respectfully submitted,

John Harper