Meeting Recap for July 22, 2013
Rotary Club of Sacramento weekly luncheon had an international flavor with presentations by an expert on global trade and a Rotary Youth Exchange student headed home to Germany.
Jock O’Connell, international trade advisor to Beacon Economics, was the keynote speaker for Monday’s luncheon at the Red Lion Hotel - Woodlake.
Introduced by Chair of the Day Ron Crane, O’Connell spotlighted our region’s latest effort to put itself on the map in international trade: an office in Chongquing, China. Located in southwest China, Chongquing has a regional population of nearly 33 million people, approximately seven million of whom live in the urban core area. “This is an important opportunity for us,” said O’Connell. “The population of Chongquing is about the same size as that of Canada, which is the United States’ second-largest trade partner. “Most people here have never heard of Chongquing. Most people there have never heard of Sacramento, even though we’re the capital of the eighth largest economy in the world.
“People know about California, but mostly because of Hollywood. This is a chance for us to get our name out there—not only to increase trade but also to potentially attract investment.” O’Connell, who was in Chongquing in May, said the one thing people there do know about Sacramento is the Kings.
“We had a Sacramento Pavilion at their international trade show,” he said. “It was a big deal when it was announced the Kings were staying in Sacramento. They had been following the news.”
---
Rotary Youth Exchange participant Frederic Malcherek made a brief slide presentation highlighting his about-to-end year in Sacramento and thanking RCOS for the opportunity. The very poised and well-spoken 16-year-old attended both the Met Charter High School and then C.K. McClatchy High School during his stay.
Malcherek is about to head back home to Bottrup, a city of about 100,000 residents approximately an hour north of Cologne in western Germany. His parents, Uwe Malcherek & Sylvia Holtz attended the meeting with him.
---
WARNING: Don’t forget to wear your Rotary Pin to weekly luncheons. Failure to do so could get expensive.
President Thom Gilbert had staff place envelopes on all the tables at Monday’s luncheon and members who didn’t have their pins each had to place $5 in the envelope. Two people seated at the table with yours truly had to cough up the five bucks, including a past president who shall go unnamed. A total of $222 was raised for RI Foundation.
---
In keeping with his “new tradition,” President Thom had two members seated at the head table “introduce” each other to the club: Mary Healy and Denny Elgin. Mary Healy, Executive Director of the Sacramento Zoo, has been an RCOS member more than three years. Elgin, a human resources consultant, has been in the club less than three years. Mary Healy later was recognized, along with Katrina Salazar, for having been named one of this year’s “Women Who Mean Business” by the Sacramento Business Journal.
---
Monday’s meeting was officially sponsored, but anonymously, and the speaking time was turned over to Bill Knowlton from Next Move Sacramento (NMS). Formerly known as the Sacramento Area Emergency Housing Center, NMS helps homeless families find places to live. Unfortunately the need has grown significantly over the last several years. Fortunately NMS has been able to expand services, but not proportionately. Bill noted that there are well over 11,000 school aged children in the Sacramento area that are considered homeless.
---
Dave Higdon again provided the pre-meeting wine reception, during which Elfrena Foord played the piano. Susan Drack, Sgt-At-Arms introduced guests, visiting Rotarians, prospective members; Nancy Zingale (Marilyn Park) & Jeff Glenn (Becki Roberts), and thanked our greeters Bob Miller & Rex Berry. In lieu of an invocation, Dick Osen led the club in singing “America the Beautiful.” President Thom said he plans to alternate an invocation with a song every other week. Jim Craig again provided the final thought, the poem “Friendship”.
---
Next week’s speaker will be Garrick Brown, Director of Research for Cassidy Turley, the Burlingame-based commercial real estate firm. His topic: The Impact of E-Commerce & How It Affects You.