Viewpoint  March 26, 2008

    PT reporting....JPB editing..RTC shooting

Meeting convened by President-Elect

Jim O’Grady, theme for the year ‘Rotary Shares’.

Forrest F. led the pledge.

Thought of the Day:  Fear is a reaction, courage is a choice.  Winston Churchill.

VISITING ROTARIANS:  Stu (Terry’s finance), Lou Reinstein (Maureen’s son-in-law); there was mysterious sharing of monies as Maureen flaunted her daughter’s and son-in-law’s downtown businesses.

VISITORS:  Stephanie Tuft, newly elected President of the Southern Sonoma County Rotaract Club; Ben Stone, Executive Director of Sonoma County Economic Development Board; Raymond James Jensen (grandson of Walt and Sue); Mo J. recognized the wonderful name of Raymond James Jensen with a $5 donation.

ANNOUNCEMENTS / EVENTS.

Rotaract President Stephanie Tuft updating the Club on the chartering of the new Rotaract Club: she met with DG Ken Moulton to get his signature on the Charter form; first service project is Rebuilding Together on April 19th; helping with the Golf Tournament; kick off party (Charter Party) at the end of April.  Once the SSU Rotaract charters they will have District 5130 wide party.  Libby shared the Rotaract newsletter (genius of Kellie O’Grady).  Make-up is available for a very small fee of $10.  They meet every other Thursday at Rooster Run; 6:30 social; meeting starts at 7 PM.

Libby updated the Club on the Interact management of our meeting last week, resulted in raising $1200, partly going to Piggery and Poultry project in Osukuru, Uganda.

Golf Tournament meeting – after next week’s Club meeting.  Next week’s meeting is a Club Assembly; plan on attending with great ideas.

Maureen reported on the great event last Friday at Finbar’s.  Rickie announced the upcoming income tax First Friday, April 18th, location TBD.

Rotary Moment:  Sheila shared information from the Rotarian magazine.  April is Rotary magazine month.  Faces in the World, a wonderful story about a young man from Canada.  Since 2001, raised $3 million dollars for clean water; projects in 14 different countries, 500,000 people now have clean water.  His mother went to France and his father went to Mexico as GSE team members.  Ryan is now a Paul Harris Fellow and his mother is Executive Director of his foundation.

Derek updated the Club on the Peace and Conflict Seminar, April 19th, 10 AM to 3:30 PM at the Berkeley Faculty Club.  Wonderful International event.

HAPPY DOLLARS, FINES, ETC.:

Jerrie Patterson. celebrated her 10 year Club anniversary and recognized the combined Besses/Patterson Club tenure with a donation toward her Harold Alexander Gold.

Deborah Matteri, celebrated the purchase of Bank of Petaluma, which is now part of Wells Fargo with a donation to finish her fine schedule.

Linda P. announced her happiness with having Stanley Mouse at the Gallery; members are welcome to the private reception Tuesday night, 7 – 9 PM with a fine toward her fine schedule.

Lane M. was fined for her wedding anniversary; she celebrated the life of a friend who lost the battle to cancer with a large fine (and rang the bell for finishing her fine schedule).

President-Elect Jim recognized the Club members

who have been involved in the wonderful parties at

Sunrise Assisted Living; started two years ago by Sheila to celebrate a 100-year old birthday of one resident (coincided with Rotary’s centennial).  The Club was able to give a Christmas party for the COTS kids and their parents; the residents of Sunrise Assisted Living partnered with PVR to pull off this great event.  JoAnn has already started collected little things for the “kid’s store” that allowed the kids to shop for their parents; Interactors helped the kids wrap the gifts.  The Club recognized all members who have been involved.  Sheila and the Club recognized band Joanne O’Grady for leading this great effort.

Raffle:  The ticket was won by Jo Thornton but the wrong colored marble wasn’t picked by anyone since the marbles were nowhere to be seen. (more next week!)

PROGRAM:  Ben Stone, Executive Director of Sonoma County Economic Development Board.  Ben is the Rock Star of the Sonoma County Business Community.  He has served for 21 years as Executive Director of the Sonoma County Economic Development Board.  In February he was presented the 4th Annual Spencer Flournoy Good Government Award from the Sonoma County Taxpayers’ Association.  Ben did his undergraduate

work at Whitman College, and received an MBA from

University of Washington.  He has worked in the

public and private sector in the Pacific Northwest.

A few of Ben’s hobbies include jazz, hiking, travel

and Sonoma County wines.

Ben offered a dose of reality with his visit:  Highlights:

Looking at global economy – never have so many

countries been living so well (except Chile and

Portugal). What that means to Sonoma Country –

wine sales and tourism, buying technology products.

It’s amazing how profitable our companies have

been; buying back stock.  Economy slowing down but a lot of people are working; even more than ever (193,000 workers in Sonoma County).  Ben showed progression of the price of a barrel of oil over the last 30 years.  A housing correction is taking place, a more balanced market is the result.  Median price of a home is $400,000 (going way down); good news for younger people looking for homes.  Sonoma County is one of the few areas in the greater Bay Area to have a housing correction – good news for companies looking to relocate to Sonoma County.  Over 19% of County has bad credit (sub-prime loans, etc.).  Sonoma County is low as compared to the Country in foreclosures and defaults.  Ten years ago banks had very little money in mortgages; now much higher and the impact has hit – results:  bank layoffs.

US Household debt is much higher.  Percentage of personal income that is household debt way over 130%.  Something to watch!  The dollar is falling; Euro was 85 cents in 2002; now over $1.50; too bad we didn’t invest in Euro’s back then.

Personal savings rate is negative since 2005; taking more out than putting in.  Life expectancy is growing; 80 years for those born in the last 30 years.  Population elsewhere in the world are getting younger and more successful (e.g. China).  China graduates 2.2 million more college graduates than the US per year.  China graduates more engineers in one year than the rest of the year combined.

Trends in Sonoma County – Petaluma is a hot bed of technology.  Sonoma County has a high number of patents compared to rest of Northern California.  Big picture:  we’ve created a lot of jobs, more people working than ever before.  Sonoma County is performing relatively well on living wage job creation.  We’ve lost young people, moving to Marin and Sacramento for jobs.  Young people are moving to Lake and Mendocino Counties for lower housing prices.  Manufacturing is stabilizing, 30% employment in manufacturing.  Wineries are classified as manufacturing.  Creative professional services cluster is growing; an animation company is starting up soon in Petaluma.  Computer gaming is growing; small scale is popular and easy to start.  Population will probably grow slower in the future than in the past due to the aging of the population.  Younger folks like to move more often (exception is the young person sitting next to this editor).

Good news for the future in new jobs – trickle down benefit to real estate sales.  Unfortunately, foreclosures have jumped dramatically.  Commercial construction is doing well, factored by businesses doing well and the time it takes to get a commercial job moving.

Sonoma County needs to find its fit for the future.  We no longer lead the state and the nation in growth.  Ben showed growth and drops in the various sectors of the job growth.  Creative sector growth is largest and fastest growth.  Long-term slow down in the labor force, due to the aging of the labor force.  If we have skilled workers, they can stay here and grow here.  If we have rises in business, the biggest affect is felt by health, retail and other service businesses.

The US is on sale right now for tourism.  Ben outlined the challenges to Sonoma County.  Sonoma County Economic Development Board has a Talent Attraction Program underway to bring new employment talent into the City; a Wellness and Disaster Preparedness Program.  Overall, we are well poised for prosperity and success.  Ben outlined upcoming activities hosted by the Board.

Your hapless Editor/Reporter,

pt