Pledge: President Alan Schwarz
Prayer: Susan Beaudoin
4-Way Test: Alan Schwarz
Guests: Sheila, Judy Sullivan, Dan
Card Game Winner: Marty
Raffle Winners: Susan B, John A, Gail F
Happy Bucks: PZ for the large number of people at the meeting today, the nice lunch, and just happy; DL happy to be here; SB daughter getting married; NM guests; GM first grandson is going to college ; RS daughter here and another on the way; JA guests; JA did MOW with Gary, daughter got a real job; JD being here, friend from Ghana visiting; BO guests, golf tournament; AS guests, speaker, golf tournament; TW 3 new members coming in and has connections to all 3; CR guests; GF guests, MD happy to give back $18 from card game, good turnout, golf tournament, high price of daycare rivals college tuition!
Program: Bill McLaughlin introduced our guest speaker, Jim Phillips.
Jim's presentation on power point was titled: "Sharpening Your Companies Saw: Navigating the White Water in an Uncertain Business Climate". Jim is a native of Virginia and was Dean of the School of Business of Marist College. Jim talked about the Pandemic and how it changed things, especially in higher education.
Changes we have seen in the business sector include:
- Working remotely (from home) which can isolate people
- Shift to service based business
- Increase in business startups
- Outsourcing is the new normal
- Extensive use of mobile phones and APP use
- Direct sales to consumers (i.e. Amazon)
- Evolution of social media
- The fast growth of digital media necessitating continuous training
In the next 10 years:
- Middle management will have different responsibilities
- Skills and digital dexterity will outweigh tenure and experience
- Data collection will grow
- Smart machines and Artificial Intelligence (AI) will prevail although we aren't sure how
- People will work for purpose and passion as priority over salary compensation - think 4-Way Test
To be successful, businesses will have to implement ideas and try them. It is important that businesses think and act upstream meaning understanding what circumstances cause conditions that exist and respond accordingly. A key will be to build and maintain relationships. There are barriers to thinking upstream: problem blindness, lack of problem ownership, tunneling (just looking straight ahead and not at peripheral issues). What is success? Boost the bottom line while facilitating ease of work. Does it prevent problems? Again, think 4-way test.
Presidents Items:
- Golf Tournament Aug. 28: Charlie Renshaw says now is the time for final push for players and sponsors. So far we have 47 sponsors ($10K) and 56 players signed up with 2-3 more foursomes expected. Charlie was given notice by Fox Hopyard that the prices will be going up next year with a minimum number of players required (92?). We are set to go. Let Charlie know if you plan to work at the golf tournament. He will assign jobs and time slots. Saybrook Ford will provide a car for the hole-in-one hole. Bring any raffle items to Gary by Friday. Next meeting is breakfast at the Estuary when we will get the ditty bags ready.
- Summer Concert Series: next Wednesday is our last concert. We will have 2 new inductees at the next meeting - Bill Quish, Michael Donovan
- The last meeting (5th Wed of Aug) will be a dinner social at the Hideaway Restaurant in Old Lyme at 6pm. The cost is $24 with cash bar. There will be 3 dinner choices. You can pay at the door. Let Nancy know if you plan to attend, guests are welcome.
- Macaroni Dinner: John Aforismo reported the date is Oct. 15 at Clarke Field. A committee that manages the facility will be meeting to discuss so we don't have official clearance yet.
- Walk for Alzheimers: Sept. 23, 10am in New London. Please contact Susan Beaudoin if you would like to participate. Walk to End Alzheimer’s will take place on Saturday September 21st at Ocean Beach Park in New London. Registration for the walk begins at 9:00 a.m. and the walk starts at 10:00 a.m. Nearly 5000 people from Connecticut are expected at this year’s event in locations around the state to raise awareness and funds to fight Alzheimer’s disease
- Outreach: Tara Winch has received a request for $2,000 from the Shoreline Soup Kitchen/Pantry. Request was approved. A second request from an individual for funds was rejected with the suggestion they appeal to the town social services department.
- Membership: Joan Winters says new members are coming in - great job Joan!
- Website: Marty made a change to the home page. A picture of the Commodities Exchange ribbon cutting will rotate with the Lighthouse picture. A new album was added to the Picture Gallery. Our appeal for funds for Maui was added to Club News with a link to the home page. Nancy has some ideas to get more funding. The club will match dollar for dollar up to $5,000. At the last concert (Aug 16) a table was set up and Nancy announced the effort to raise funds for Maui relief. $550 was collect in cash donations that night. John Donnelly suggested the district may have matching funds available as well.
