Soundings (11/22/05)
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Guest Rotarians: Scott Wallace.
Bucks in the Bay
Mike Ryan - Article in Herald about child adoption;
Randy Watts - Matt Elich sighting;
Denise Bosman - Engerbretson party, Drew's venture with the X-Box;
Brad Cornwell - 17th wedding anniversary;
Harold Scott - Thanks to all the G&G big ticket buyers;
Stew Ellison - Hospice auction and spring skiing;
Julie Guy - Thanks on behalf of Bob Rice for $80,000 raised for Big Brothers Big Sisters;
Eddie Hansen - Thanks to Dr. Ed Zech for successful operation on Eddie's great aunt;
Dan Wilkerson - Memorial to Dick Smith;
Mike Kirkland - Thanks to all who helped at Hospice Auction, raised $178,000;
Lynn Templeton - Foundation check, thanks to Dale for United Way campaign, thanks Phil X and Pearson for being good neighbor during construction of project next to B&G Club, and lastly welcome to Husky BASKETBALL season!
Larry Andreson - Missed meetings, visit to company headquarters in Thailand;
Barry - Progress on Lake Padden Golf Course management contract;
John Templeton - Son's first week at Microsoft, no employee discount on X-Boxes.
Chip and Lynn for making money on GP stock swap, Ron for son's Acoustic Tavern next to Wing Dome, Carol's Coffeehouse Cinnamon rolls, Avian Flu prevention: sauerkraut and kimchee. BTV10's search for the "The Face of Bellingham", Barry Kramer and Bob Newell, Eddie's shirt, Denise and Marijuana, non-UW/WSU fans.
Program - Orphalee introduced our club's own Shannon Terrill, who took a business trip to Cuba earlier this year on behalf of his company, Brooks Manufacturing.
Shannon related how Brooks was invited to go on the trip for the sale of cross arms to Cuba. Such deals go through special trading companies that have licenses to sell to Cuba. Although the U.S. has a trade embargo with Cuba, telephone poles and cross arms are allowed because they are considered agricultural products. Over 80,000 telephone poles are in need of replacement throughout Cuba.
Shannon showed slides of Havana and the surrounding environs: Mostly public transportation, some old American cars, and a decaying infrastructure. The entire county has been poorly maintained since Castro took control in 1959. Shannon's delegation stayed at the Hotel National in Havana, special for foreigners. Among their meetings they met with Pedro Alvarez, the number 5 guy in the Cuba Government.
The Cuban policy: Work with as many individual U.S. companies as possible as a way to help loosen the embargo. President Chavez of Venezuela has become a big supporter of Castro and is currently sending a lot of his oil to Cuba. Castro has a succession plan in place (his brother), but there is no younger generation in the Castro family. Americans are generally very well received in Cuba, and Cubans recognize they need the U.S.
Thanks, Shannon, for a very informative slide show!
Respectfully submitted,
Stowe Talbot