High Gear for January 26, 2015 reported by Rosalie McCloud Feautring Marc Friedman

Posted by Scott Hartley 
 
   HIGH GEAR
              JANUARY 26, 2014
 
Queen Mary called the meeting to order at the appointed time.  Joe La Mariana graciously led the Pledge of Allegiance and Debbie Wong delivered the invocation.  No one is called to mediocrity, so says Debbie.  Regretfully, a few find it anyway.
 
Fritz Brauner is ailing.  Charles Voltz looked dashing in an arm sling.  Just elbow bursitis.
Everyone else looked hale and hardy – all things considered. 
 
Nicole Armstrong thanked Joe La Mariana for hosting a fireside chat.  Another will be scheduled soon. 
Most important Rotarian on January 26 was Mark Jorgensen who received his round badge.  Nicole will be shadowing him while he completes the hazing portion of the program.  He’s a  few inches taller than the statuesque Nicole and an over-achiever, so good luck with that, Nicole.
 
Mark Jorgensen is the Director of BCE.  He is a native of Denmark, born in 1969 which was the year Americans landed on the moon and porn was legalized in Denmark.  What a year it was!
After playing some serious basketball, he joined the army and served in Yugoslavia, then joined the Danish intelligence service.  While he was resting, he completed all the letters in the alphabet necessary to earn a Ph.D. 
 
Thank Buddha he married the lovely Sabrina who was born and raised in Burlingame, so together they returned to live a normal, well-adjusted life in ye olde Burlingame.  Mark’s goal is to become more integrated into the community.  We can help with that, Mark.  Welcome aboard! 
 
There was a question and answer period where we learned Mark has yet to visit, and would love to visit, Maine.  Maine as in the United States?  Yup.  I was thinking Dijibouti or at least Pescadero.  Also, his favorite Danish pastry is shinfoligrum or something very near that. I’ll be sure Ralf Nielsen has some on hand at Copenhagen when Mark and Sabrina visit.
 
Queen Mary cautioned Mark to steer clear of the back table; we all know what they’re about.
Uh oh, turns out the back table is ultra sensitive. They walked out in a straight, somber line.  Queen Mary followed them to assuage their bruised egos, but they had re-entered the room via the kitchen.  Now, Mary was missing! 
Plans are firm for our Kentucky Derby fundraiser to be held on May 2, from 1:00 to 4:00 at a venue in Woodside.  There will be drinking, horse betting, fabulous hats, a live auction, a silent auction, maybe a horse, or at least the aroma of one.
 
Mary introduced Lena Potts an Outreach Specialist from HIP housing who gifted us with colorful calendars, all illustrations by school children.
 
Frances Boscacci and Dr. Jo announced that we have until February to reach our goal of $22,000. While we are doing well – thanks so much to all – we must continue working.   Over $1.2 million has been raised for the hospital, and it is hoped the groundbreaking will occur
this year.  Complying with regulations is a challenge as the regulations change like the weather.
Bob Doerr announced a cruise, San Francisco to Ensenada, from October 17 through October 22.  Bill Chow will be doing the cooking, there will be dancing lessons and photography lessons, courtesy of our own Bob – the photography lessons, not the dance lessons, pray.    Talk to Bob about cost and deposits required.
 
Who knew Cheryl  Fama is a stone cold comedian?  Cheryl was subbing for the absent Jennifer Pence, chuckle-worthy herself.    Cheryl promised no jokes about leprechauns walking into a bar or slutty lady Rotarians. Say what?  And isn’t that a contradiction in terms?
Opportunistic, ambulance-chasing, smut-loving attorney Gloria Allred is defending ten of the 12 deflated NFL balls.
 
The doctor observed the patient was not in fact retaining water; she was retaining food.
 
Three mice out knocking on doors:  We’d like to talk about cheeses!
 
Why can’t an atheist solve exponential equations?  Doesn’t believe in higher powers.
 
Sweet child asks mommy, what is normal? It’s a setting on the dryer, dear.
 
Laughing at your mistakes can lengthen your life.  Laughing at your wife’s can shorten yours.
 
There was lots more, but this is a venerable publication after all.  Enough with the frivolity.
 
                                              
Speaker for the day was Marc Friedman, a partner with McMillan/Doolittle, and Senior Faculty with the Keller Graduate School of Management. 
 
His presentation was on trends and innovation in retail.
 
  • The year 2009 will be known as the Great Recession.  The top three retailers in the country controlled 39% of the business in 1986; in 2011 they controlled 76%.  There is major concentration in retail.
  • Consumer confidence is way up, but not all the way back to pre-recession levels.
  • The market today is 86MM millennials (15-30 years of age)) and 77MM Baby Boomers.
  • People are marrying older, having children later, and buying homes later.
  • Costco makes its profit from membership fees primarily.  Stocks high-end products with little mark-up.
  • Income growth goes to the 20% already rich.  The top 15% spend 50% of retail dollars.
 
Mark showed photos to illustrate how retail is changing internationally.
 
Au Bout Du Champ in France is very much like the old automat we see in black and white movies.
 
Argos UK features a bright Apple-type store with mounted iPads.  You order online at home and stop in to pick up your merchandise.
 
There is a retailer which calls itself “Hedonism” and sells wine. Duh!
 
 
                                NEXT WEEK: MIKE HARVEY ON THE AUTO BIZ