Call to Order: Eric called the meeting to order at 7:32 a.m. Oscar Zavala gave the invocation, Scott Burns led the flag salute and Tina Ballue provided the raffle that was won by Sandra O’Meara.
Announcements:
Student of the Month: Eric announced the La Cuesta Student of the Month but there was no video because the students are back in person at the school. He read complimentary comments about the student from his teachers.
Next Meeting: the June 16 meeting will be recognitions and acknowledgements.
Paul Harris Fellow Presentations: Eric presented Paul Harris Fellow awards to Michelle Seagraves, Oscar Zavala and Tina Ballue for their continued volunteer work in behalf of Rotary and Oscar received the District Excellence in an Avenue of Service award for his leadership to various international service projects during the year.
Committee Reports:
Club Service: Diana Washburn polled members regarding having a July 4th party in person at her house. There was overwhelming support so the party will happen.
Fundraising: Jim Ruh will be hosting another meeting in July.
Membership: The committee’s final meeting will take place next Tuesday at noon at the restaurant Lilac when Hannah will hand off to Sandra. Hannah reminded everyone that the new Board will be holding a retreat on Saturday.
Pay & Tell: Bruce thanked Dennis for some camping gear donated to the Boy Scouts. Bruce’s daughter will be graduating as a Speech Pathologist in August. His son Will, who lives in Italy, accepted a film festival award in Ostia, Italy, on behalf of Grace Fisher for the film, Amazing Grace. Bruce’s wife, Gloria, received a distinguished alumni award from Santa Barbara High School.
Scott announced that his son, Christopher, has just moved back to Santa Barbara. Jody announced that her daughter, Erin, graduated from the University of San Diego in finance. Joanne said she met up with Don Bennett yesterday. He is hanging in there. She is off to Seattle for her grandson’s high school graduation. He will be going to the University of Washington.
Sandra said her grandson, who is almost a year old, is visiting. Dan, her husband, swam 75 laps (four and a half miles) to celebrate his birthday. Judith said that Old Spanish Days Fiesta pins are on sale for $5. Michelle reported that her daughter, who is in her second year of law school in Maryland, was distressed because there are cicadas everywhere. Her son, Chris, graduated from the University of Miami.
Program: Joanne introduced President Eric as our speaker about China. Eric was born in Woodland, California, but spent some time in High School in Thailand. He went to college at Santa Clara University and spent his junior year at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. At Thunderbird College he studied Mandarin and, in 1988, moved to China for three and a half years working for a medical equipment company. When Tiananmen Square happened, he spent a short time in Hong Kong, then returned to the mainland.
In 1992 Eric started his own business selling security technology to China.
In 1996 China fired missiles towards Taiwan. U.S. aircraft carriers were sent and to protect Taiwan and it was a humiliation to China. Since then, they have been rapidly building up their military capability, especially the navy.
In 1997 Britain handed over Hong Kong (that had been taken by the British in 1842). This was a huge psychological boost of national pride to China. The President of China, Xi Jinping, has stated he wants to take Taiwan back during his lifetime, which is of great concern. Will it be a two-state solution or by force? The U.S. response must be determined.
In 1999 the U.S. bombed the Chinese embassy in Yugoslavia accidentally. The Chinese perceived the attack to be intentional.
In 2001, one month after 9/11, there was a large international forum, called the Apex Conference, hosted in Shanghai and attended by George W. Bush and Condoleezza Rice. Security was high. That year China entered the World Trade Organization.
In 2008 China hosted the Olympic Games and in 2010 a World’s Fair.
China is now trying to expand its military by opening overseas military bases – currently one in Djibouti. China has become aligned with Russia as a result of the last four years. They share a large border. However, Putin is likely to keep them at a distance.
China and the U.S. have different cultural norms. China thinks that the U.S. will never accept the authority of the Chinese government. There is consternation in China that Xi is going too far too fast. China has become more repressive at home and more assertive abroad.
The U.S. response to a powerful China should be to improve its health care system, have a bipartisan immigration system to attract brain power, and to have a functional government to agree on long-term plans to confront China. U.S. companies should invest in China to serve the Chinese market; not to bring products back to the U.S.
Adjournment: the meeting adjourned at 8:35 a.m.
