THE PIKES PEAK SERTOMANNow in our 62^nd Year  

Meeting on December 10, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

A great turnout of 22 members showed up for the meeting, setting a near attendance record!   The menu included turkey, veggies, rice, bread and butter and great cookies thanks to Chris Walters (or should we thank Janet).  Our Prez got things going with the Sertoma Song. Our guest speaker suggested we sing Smile which was a disaster and mercifully  ended half way through.  Skip Hale then said we should try When you’re Smiling, which made everybody smile as we made it to the end in grand style. Mike Cimino led the pledge and Gay Hatler prayed for us and asked the Lord to be with Midge Smartt’s  and Dave Wilson’s families in their time of grief.

 

     

             Guest Sertomans & Guests

 

Norm Andersson  introduced Maria Macafee (sp) and Rob Brinson. Rob announced he was with Bailout Bucket Brigade, an organization to help those who have helped so many in the past and now need help themselves. They are newly formed and are asking for monetary contributions.  Maybe we should consider contributing.

 

            

                     Announcements

 

Frank Ulrich asked for additional members to help with the Salvation Army Red Kettle collection, December 15^th at King Soopers, Academy and Austin Bluffs. Call Frank at 598-0292 if you  can help.

Your Board Of Directors has announced that all members will be receiving a survey asking for your opinions  and views on several subjects within our club. It is important that you give this your utmost attention and return  your completed survey,  by the middle of January, as per the instructions. A fellowship meeting   will be scheduled after all surveys have been received to review the results.

Ladies night out,  celebrating Valentines Day, is tentatively scheduled for February 13^th  with dinner and show at UCCS. More specifics on this later but mark your calendar for 2/13/10!  

       

            

               

                    Business Notes

 

                            None                                   

 

                           Culture

 

                             None

 

 

                           Program

 

Jon Handy  introduced our speaker of the day, Tom Binnings who spoke on the national, state and local economy.  Tom is a graduate of Colorado College with a BA in economics and an MBA from Dartmouth College. Tom has taught business and economics at both Regis  and Webster Universities and is a partner in Summit Economics. He stated  unemployment is up and inflation is close to historical rates, but leading indicators such as the stock market are up, which is good.

The job growth average is in a downfall since the mid 1990’s as many jobs have gone overseas. 

As far as Colorado goes, gaining government, military strength , federal and defense outlook is good for  jobs and Colorado is the 4^th most preferred state to live in.   Those jobs that seem to be improving are in health services, education, professional and business services and leisure and hospitality. The economic bad news is in wages, unemployment and  building  permits.

Nationally the years of our resilient dollar may be over, baby boomers are aging  and retirement is facing a reality check and 17%  of our GDP is spent on health care.  It was a general consensus that leadership from the business sector in Colorado Springs is in decline and that we can possibily expect changes in the way our government does business.  Thanks to Jon for a good program.

 

                           

                                $$$$$$$$

 

Sorry, didn’t note who won the money, all I know it wasn’t me.