Upcoming Speakers:
3/12...Tom Corbett, Jan Mandrell, Jerrie Patterson, Pamela Tuft, John FitzGerald Petaluma’s Sesquicentennial Celebration -

3/19...Casa Grande Interact Club “Rent-er-Act” Auction and Highlights of District 5130 Interact Leadership Conference
Bid to “rent” an Interact student who will clean your yard, wash cars, babysit, cook, sing, file, etc.

3/26...Ben Stone, Sonoma County Economic Development Board Business & Economic Shifts in Sonoma County

 

Today's Greeter: Monica Lukes

 

President Sally calls the meeting to order.

 

Forrest leads the flag pledge.

 

Thought for the Day: Presented by Debra M.

Chinese Proverb:
WITH MONEY YOU CAN BUY A HOUSE BUT NOT A HOME
WITH MONEY YOU CAN BUY A CLOCK BUT NOT TIME
WITH MONEY YOU CAN BUY A BED BUT NOT SLEEP
WITH MONEY YOU CAN BUY A BOOK, BUT NOT KNOWLEDGE
WITH MONEY YOU CAN A DOCTOR, BUT NOT GOOD HEALTH
WITH MONEY YOU CAN BUY A POSITION BUT NOT RESPECT
WITH MONEY YOU CAN BUY BLOOD BUT NOT LIFE

 

Special Welcome Back! Tabitha, Rose and Jennifer...we have missed you! (great shot of Tabitha by subing photog. Dave Johnson.)

  

PVR guests:  

Andrew Kern was introduced by Russell Rice.

Stephanie Tuft was introduced by Mom, Pamela

Oscar Ventinella was introduced by Ron Johns

Pedro was introduced by Jennifer.

Andy Ferguson was introduced by Libby.

 

Announcements:  

 

3/20 Senior Sunrise Party

3/21 First Friday at Finbar Devine's

3/27 SCARC Dinner

4/5 Madhatters Ball

4/27 Chili Cookoff

4/11- 4/12, District Assembly in Ukiah, nine PVRs signed up already- club pays for registration and reception with form from Liz. 

May 22, Golf Tournament

 

Reminder that semi-annual club dues are payable now - help Sally, Walt, and Liz by getting yours taken care of if you haven’t already.  Thanks.  

                                                                                                                                Forrest gets a hug from Rickie

   

Special Recognition - Russ Freudenberg and Rickie Roark presented "Service Above Self" recognition pin to our own Forrest Frey for all he has done and continues to do in serving our club unselfishly and with good cheer. Congratulations, Forrest!

 

Lights, Camera, Action! Chuck Lewis gave us a nice feel for his recent days on the set of a new movie highlighting the life and times of Harvey Milk, he is getting quite a bit of camera time but knows anything can happen on the cutting room floor! He also appears in a now released film , Sherman's Way being shown at the San Jose Film Festival.

 

Birthdays:

Austin Garner celebrated not only his birthday but son, Jackson's - and paid the piper!

Sheila had a several mix-ups getting a date for her birthday but did enjoy a glass of wine with Libby. Gardner still waits at home, we think.

Mike Levin rang the bell after paying off his fine in celebration of the 25th Anniversary of his 39th, also led a rousing "Happy Birthday" for his family of Rotary.

Shadi pitched in $10 and rang the bell celebrating her husbands birthday.

Deni's daughter is enjoying her birthday over in Maui, and Deni pitched in $10 to her Paul Harris.

Past President Ron Johns noticed today's bell ringers using a wimpy mallet and suggested Prez Sally be fined for such an abomination - confusion ensued.

 

Volunteer Bartending: Jim F. and Jo Ann Pozzi reported back of the successful evening in our volunteer bartending where we raised close to $1000!

 

Raffle:

Lane's ticket is chosen but no luck on selecting the blue marble.

 

Speaker:

Andy Ferguson - China USA Partnership....Is it Possible?

Today, Andy Ferguson gave us a thumbnail sketch of his lifelong involvement with China, its culture, people, and economy. He first worked in China in 1978 after graduating from the University of Oregon.  He also spent time as an Engineer in Singapore. He was married in 1980 and returned from overseas to Sonoma in 1991. Since 2001 he has consulted on numerous occasions with businesses doing business in China and also independently run China cultural tours.

 

Andy spoke of China's emerging economy, its grand love affair with the National Basket Ball League (and of course, their own star, Yao Ming).  Andy felt that, in many ways, the people of China share attitudes much closer to ours in the United States than those in European countries or Japan. Their business policies can be seen as Provincial - where policy is given from above, and opposition can be seen from below. Since they do not have the court system or the body of laws we do in conduction business, much of their business is done by taking advantage of networking. The government can be corrupt and there are no opportunities to sue.

 

Interestingly, the Chinese have been able to build a massive infrastructure of freeways throughout their country in only 17 years - modeling after the United States. Currently, there is more IPO money in Hong Kong and Kowloon than in all of the US and London.

 

China will continue to grow economically, reach for resources in Africa, and slowly move toward democracy, according to Andy.

 

Meeting Adjourned

More pictures can be seen by clicking here.