February 12, 2010 Meeting

Pledge and Guests Introduction

Stand-in president Howard Perkins led members in the usual Pledge of Allegiance and Four Way Test. Guests included Rotarian-in-the-wings Sonia LaRock and speaker Michael Reddy. Due to the inattentativeness of the writer there may have been a guest that escaped the attention of this eagle-eyed reporter. Let's hope the editor reads my copy. [Editor's note: I don't know of any others either.]

Speaker - Michael Reddy, Suffolk University

You expect a talk from a business consultant to start off with a bang and Michael Reddy did not disappoint. Leading members through a number exercise in which the results could not be predetermined he had most of us mentally picturing a gray elephant from Argentina. [editor: actually I think it was Denmark.]

MIchael is not just an Ivory Tower academic. His 30 years in industry led credibility to his sermon on the mount. The theme of his talk was superior customer service and the underlying take-home lesson was "staying with the fundamentals." These include cash flow, cost control, marketing and creating a superior customer value. As an example of a product that embodies all of these he brought out the quirky but loved Fiat Panda, a car that was more than just another econobox by virtue of its canvas seats and endearing design. The car sold well for over 2 decades. For a counter-example he did not have to stray far from the front page of the newspaper where Toyota has gotten a public black eye for its bungled response to sticky gas pedals. The company made as its priority the fixing of new cars rather than repairing those that are already on the road. The simple mantra goes back to the old aphorism to treat those the way you would want to be treated.

Every healthy business needs to arrive at the optimal pricing -- the price that is profitable but that keeps customer coming back. Professor Reddy likens keeping focus on that all important figure of merit to the simple piece of advice for landing a jet on an aircraft: Land on the ship or, for sports enthusiasts, keep your eye on the ball.

Landing on the ship for a business owner means knowing what you sell and who buys it. To train today's business leaders to make perfect landings Michael and his staff at Suffolk runs an executive tailored MBA program that holds most of its classes on Saturdays. The regular MBA program is situated in our own backyard at Merrimack College.

Announcements

For the chance to save a life come to Brian Mercer's CPR class to be held on 3/16/10 from 8:30 to 10:30. Give Brian a call to sign up and to find out more. On February 27 Andover Rotarians will take turns manning the Shelter Box on display at the Rockingham Mall (in front of the Apple Store). Volunteers are needed. PC users are welcome.

Al Gettler and his minions are going gangbusters on the planning for the Citizens Who Care and Educator of the Year bash on June 10 at the Wyndham. Pete Johnson is in charge of collecting nomination forms and distributed copies for members to bring back with candidates written in. Every member should either know someone who fits the criteria or someone else who does. Jimmy Snyder is spearheading the auction item collection. For original high value items think of service items. Al is marshaling his considerable resources to put together an auction booklet. A full page goes for $250 and the goal is to raise $7500 just from the booklet.

The tryouts for "Merrimack Valley has Talent!" will be on Sundays March 14th and 28th at 1:00pm. Sorry, Club members and relatives are not eligible, but it should still be fun! The Finals will take place on Sunday April 25 at 1:00pm at the Claddagh restaurant in Lawrence. This is a cooperative effort with the North Andover Club. You can visit it's new website at http://MerrimackValleyHasTalent.com for more information.

Raffle

The pot is up to a tempting $150. Dave Lindsay's Queen was enough to beat out Sonia LaRock's Jack.

Fines and Happy Dollars

Howard's stint as acting President opened the door for closet comedian Dave Sollars to take the reins as Sargent-at-arms. Dave primed the pump by relating his 57 mph jaunt down Haverhill Street that ended with a police stop and, thanks to his Rotary pin, merely a warning. He then punished latecomers that included Pistol Pete, Big Al and the earliest of the latecomers, Gentleman Jim. Jamie Lyman's cell phone interrupted the decorum of the meeting not once but twice and was appropriately fined.

"Leadership has its price" was the raison d'etre for Dave to go after the movers and shakers of the club: Ray, Al and Dave Lindsay. Maestro Marie celebrates having 3 boy sopranos (who, with proper surgery, should continue to sing for years to come) and for Marie's sister taking care of their mother. Dave S offered up more pesos to stop himself and others from thinking of what Marie might say next. Jim Greeley tossed a Lincoln for a great talk and for the chance to enlighten the good deeds done by the Suffolk University Business School. Michael elaborated with the admission that $200,000 is spent on each veteran who comes to Suffolk for study.

Alan Michel tooted Marie's horn by announcing that her article on her YOCNE group appeared in print and for the unprecedented coverage of our club in the Townsman and Eagle Tribune. Dave LIndsay saluted the speaker and the upcoming CWC-EOY extravaganza. The momentous happening was not lost on Jim Sutton who advised that the ad booklet is a good opportunity for non-profits to avail themselves of good, cheap advertising. He also duly noted that the day was Lincoln's 250th birthday. Katharine Barr's church raised $81K to send to Haiti. If I could read my own writing I would tell you why Brian Mercer gave freely.

Fresh from being fined for unruly cell phone conviction Jamie backed up the good words for our mighty publicity machine. John Colbert's payment of the last tuition of his youngest child only underscored the number of years the club has been in existence since said child was just entering grade school way back when. Thanks to the snowstorm that was nevermore Bob Troiano and family will have to wait until Sunday to traipse to sunny Cancun. He also celebrated a full week in which not one single Rotarian was arrested. Al Gettler received the dreaded AARP invitation right on schedule with his momentous birthday. Jimmy Snyder capped off the collection by toasting the speaker and accusing Dave Sollars of identity theft (or at least the theft of someone else's name badge).

The morning ended appropriately enough with Maestro Marie's conducting members in a alcohol-free rendition of Let Me Call You Sweetheart.