Minutes for March 21, 2016

 

President John Starnes called the meeting to order promptly at 12:24, and welcomed everyone to the club meeting.

 

 

Brett Johnson and Susie McMurry were the greeters today, and Brett introduced the members who brought guests:

First, our exchange student Elise Verbooman;

 

 

Dennis Lower was gone this week so Denise Prugh cracked us up with a dentist joke, and then Gary Pehrson led us in singing “God Bless America”

 

Martha Rakestraw let us know that Jimmy Goolsby took a fall down in AZ and while he was getting looked at for those minor injuries they discovered he has a brain aneurism. We will get a card ready for him and please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

Tara Short nominated Dr. Fowler for hosting the new member orientation at his home and she also nominated the following Rotarians for helping and participating in that orientation; Dr. Al Metz, Mary Bates, Mary Koernig, Fred Feth, Deanna Frey, Brett Johnson, Caryn Luberto, Jim Ruble, Lori Klatt, and Bill DeGraeve.

John Griffith nominated Lynette Boatright for her work with the Symphony Orchestra and the great show they put on over the weekend.

Tucker LaPrade then seconded that nomination and told us that Symphony Conductor Matthew Savery spoke with about 60 cub scouts and their families and taught them to conduct with chopsticks.

 

Today we heard from a great student from Midwest HS, Nicholas Ray, a great young man who enjoys working with his hands and especially working on his truck.

 

Nicole Tholson introduced herself to us today. She was born and raised here in Casper, graduated from KWHS (Go Trojans!!), she attended Casper College, UWCC and UW School of law. After graduating with her law degree she took and passed the bar and decided that she never again wanted to take the bar exam. She worked for District Court Judge Park until he retired and while doing that she was also volunteering for Meals on Wheels and when she left the District Court she went to work full time at The Meals on Wheels Foundation and thoroughly enjoys it. She loves her dogs and loves reading and spending time with her parents.

She loves being a part of the Rotary Club and the opportunities to serve people.

 

 

Senator John Barrasso was with us today and he spoke to us for a few minutes about what is happening in D.C. John said that he saw an ad on T.V. for the McMurry Foundation which reminded him of a poster in his office about the Cowboy Code that says “live each day with courage” and he thanked Susie McMurry for all of her hard work with the foundation and all of the good that they do. He is excited for our speaker today to hear more about the Wyoming economy and he referred to the three legged stool of our economy that is made up of agriculture, tourism and energy. He remembered that when he joined Rotary back in 1983 that oil was at $9/barrel and how things have changed since then. With energy being a “master resource” needed around the world he, along with others in D.C., is working on a bill to export liquefied natural gas and crude oil and feels that this is a very important issue especially for Wyoming. Senator Barrasso told us that on Wednesday Bill Clinton will be in Cheyenne lobbying for his wife. He said that if anyone is in Cheyenne and gets the chance to ask him questions on Wednesday that we should ask what Hillary meant when she said that there will be no carbon based energy allowed on public lands during her administration and also what she means by saying that she will put all coal miners out of work. He said that they are working in a bipartisan way in D.C. with like-minded states that also have energy industries. He was with our Wyoming National Guard men on Thanksgiving in Afghanistan and he said that the man in charge is a young man from Hulett who was a page at the Wyoming Legislature where he met him. He said that our future is in capable hands with all of the HS students he has seen in his travels they will do great.

 

PE Jim Ruble introduced our speaker, fellow Rotarian from Buffalo and State Treasurer Mark Gordon. Mark showed us a slide from the Wyoming Tax Payers Association that shows just how fortunate we are to live in Wyoming. It shows that we pay around $3,000 in tax per year from the various sales tax etc. and we get about $31,000 worth of services so Wyoming has a very favorable tax climate. We have a little more than $19 billion in our investments and we make a good return on these investments which help us keep this favorable tax climate. He showed us slides on the growth that we are getting from the investments portfolio, over the years we have done quite well. The wisdom of the people who put this together is fantastic to see how well they prepared for the future. We are now seeing the downturn in the energy industry and so we are much better prepared to survive this downturn because of this wisdom. He said that the market in 2015 was the 3^rd worst year since 1926 to be broadly invested in the stock market. He showed us slides of the decline in the oil and commodities and the overall market and how much this is affecting Wyoming. We are seeing the downturn in sales tax collection and all over tax collection in the State, some counties are doing better but they have more tourism. The other counties are seeing devastating effects in our economy with this downturn. He said that the legislature had a very hard job to balance the budget this year and they have done a good job. The spending policy is so elaborate that it is very hard to follow and make sure that the spending is in check. He said that he feels there are some very bright times ahead for the State because of all of the great people in Wyoming that are building businesses and working hard. They are trying to help local counties invest and have an opportunity to grow their money as well which will help in the long run. He said that the State’s new CIO, Patrick Fleming, has already saved the State $560,000 in fees this year and is looking to save even more. Each of the different funds for the State have different objectives and they are working towards diversifying them each differently depending on what the fund is for. They are focusing on saving fees and increasing investment income for the State. He showed us a graph showing what the passing of Amendment A would have accomplished if it had have been passed years ago, very impressive. The Amendment will allow the legislature to invest the non-permanent funds the same way they are doing the permanent funds to allow for a greater return. Great presentation on what is happening in our State with our treasury.

 

President John adjourned the meeting at 1:25 p.m. reminding us that we are back at the Parkway Plaza next week.