Don Pippo of Pippo Ranch was an excellent host and provided a scrumptious dinner for the 134 attendees at our Annual Dinner on June 27. Our outgoing Chair Patsy Van Ouwerkerk was absent due to other out of state commitments, but was seen by one and all on a specially prepared video. We had a very good year under Patsy’s leadership and look forward to 2009/2010 under the guidance of Chair Gary Passama, whose comments struck a cord of positive progress for your Chamber.
We are very grateful to our presenters NorthBay Healthcare, Alza Corporation, PG&E as well as sponsors Sunrise Rotary Club and Kaiser Permanente. In addition we ended our meal compliments of Fenton’s Ice Cream – what a treat. Very special thanks also go to our great entertainment provided by Ron George and Eddie Ka’anoi. A great venue, delicious meal (thanks Don) positive messages and sweet silver throated entertainment. Truly a fantastic event.
FOURTH OF JULY
Independence Day, 1776 just 233 years ago and I seriously doubt if any of those that lived through our war of freedom would recognize the nation they founded.
The news from both Washington DC and Sacramento is not good. Not being an economist I have concluded our leadership is determined to bring this Recession into a Depression. The system of capitalism that has built our business prowess is seemingly on the way out. Complete governmental control over us seems to be a course of action. Remember those heroes who fought for freedom from tyranny? Remember reading about their exploits as they built a Republic where the government was of the people and for the people?
Now we have Cap & Trade that promises higher cost and taxes for We the People. We hear from Sacramento that the Legislators are expected to vote soon on a budget that includes several billion dollars in new taxes, business and government withholding taxes on contractors and an Internet tax. Senator Alquist; D-Santa Clara is proposing SB 227 – this bill creates a new bureaucracy and increases health premiums that business will pay for a Major Risk Medical Insurance Program. This bill requires a health plan to accept coverage at specified rates to those previously denied, or pay a “fee”. Thus yet another scam of avoiding the 2/3 vote for a new or increased tax by calling it a “fee”.
Oh well! Future Fourth’s of July will in all likelihood be abolished as environmentally harmful.