Rotary News

President Judy Moore called the meeting to order.  Invocation by Bill Rose.  Visiting Rotarians and guests were introduced.

 John Dillworth and Tim Kilmartin led the group in song and to honor the day we sang Rain Drops Keep Falling My Head.  Very appropriate.

NEW MEMBER:  Al Heilman introduced Don Ryan, who was inducted as a new member.  Don is in charge of Public Relations at Senior Services.  He was born in Attica New York, famous for its prison.  His father told him that he thought a few years in the Army would do him good so he joined the Air Force.  And 26 years later he retired (1990)  He came to Kalamazoo.  He worked for 7 years at the Boy Scouts and for the last 10 years has been with Senior Services.  Don is married and has two children, a boy and a girl.  His four year old grand daughter is also living with he and his wife.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:  Ann Drummond announced that there will be a few more weeks of opportunity for Rotarians to bring in money and books for the literacy project.  She also announced that a blood drive will take place on March 17th (St. Patricks Day).  To make the event more exciting, Ann, along with Jack Hopkins, Ed Sackley and possibly Henry Holland will each donate $10 per pint donated by Rotarians to the Rotary Foundation.  Karl Sandelin announce that Fit 2007 has become Fit MI 2008.  The program has grown to include all of Michigan.  Last year there were 1837 people involved over the summer.  This year the project will involve 3 sessions, each lasting 8 weeks.  The 1st session will be sponsored by the Kalamazoo Public Schools.

Jerry Albertson sent a letter acknowledging the donation of $10,000 for the Kalamazoo River Trailway Shelter which will be name in honor of the Kalamazoo Rotary.  As Rotary Foundation cheerleader, Rick Briscoe presented a challenge to Rotarians.  For every $100 donated, he will donate $10.  As it stands this club only averages $7 per member.  He'd like to see that increase.

PROGRAM:  Drew Elliot introduced our speaker, Dr. Brian Long.  Dr. Long received his PhD from Michigan State University and has held many position with groups involving labor research.  He conducts an annual survey of local purchasing managers of SW Michigan.  Dr. Long is highly respected in his field. 

Following up on George Erickcek's program, Dr. Long agrees that SW Michigan and in particular, Kalamazoo is a "Sturdy Ship in a Stormy Sea."  Kalamazoo is on a role with all the new jobs that have recently been announced, including some announcements that are so secret that even Dr. Long can't tell.  Local companies like Fabri-Kal, Stryker, MPI and the relocating Kaiser Aluminum are all adding jobs to the local market.  Biotech companies have been successfully attracted to Kalamazoo and the Kalamazoo Promise has been a plus.  Compared to the east side of the state, SW Michigan is doing well and the cost of living is more attractive here. 

Among some problems Michigan faces are the decline of the big three auto makers, unions, job losses through Pfizer and deficits.  Confidence is at an all time low. 

China does very well in foreign markets but its own provinces can't get along.  China is among the world leading polluters.  They are the biggest consumer of minerals and natural.  China is growing at an incredible rate.  However, in a few years you will see the graying of China.  Why, because of the one child law.  They will not be able to sustain such growth with a deminishing population of able bodied workers.  Internationally every nation is loosing manufacturing jobs and this is due to automation.  But China still has cheap labor, efficient education, no environmental concerns, low health care costs and very few attorney's among other things.  China is also riddled with corruption.  At some point you will see a decline in China.  

How can Michigan compete?  Reduce the cost of doing business, financial incentives to bring companies here, reduce healthcare cost, establish right to work legislation (as negative as it is perceived to be), and reform workers comp.  We can still tout that Kalamazoo is not typical of all of Michigan and it is on a role.  To see the entire PowerPoint presentation, Dr. Long is more than happy to share.  Contact him by email at brian@mmii.org  

Next weeks meeting will be on Building "GREEN"