ECONOMIC RESEARCH GROUP

MEETING

June 17, 2009

 

Bill Schinagl opened the meeting in place of Tom Keefer who attending to personal duties. Bill commented on the recent drop in attendance and speculated of some of the reasons for the drop off. One of the more accepted reasons was due to the highway construction on 101. It was mentioned that we are still waiting to hear from the new management of the Coyote Point Restaurant of any changes to our next year’s luncheon schedule and pricing.

 

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT ATTENDING ON A REGULAR BASIS PLEASE ADVISE BY RETURN E-MAIL THE REASON FOR NON-ATTENDANCE.

 

After luncheon secretary Schinagl introduced Past Big Sir Phil Manriquez who worked for the State of California for 34 years before retiring in 1991. His career included tours of duty at three correctional institutions and in the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services. After his retirement Phil helped the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services responding to various earthquake calls. While he was in Los Angeles he was recruited by FEMA.

 

Phil Told of his assignments with FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) that took him to almost every state in the union as well as to our possessions in the Caribbean,

the Pacific including an assignment in the Federated States of Micronesia. In the last assignment on the Island for Turk Phil told of some of his island hoping by way of a small boat with one outboard motor for propulsion. Phil also told of the changes in organization and reporting structure that occurred in FEMA that has affected their response time to disasters such as Hurricane Katrina. They have become part of the Homeland Security Group reporting upward though two layers of bureaucracy before getting authority to respond when called upon by a State needing assistance.

 

Phil retired for good in 2008 and now enjoys bowling and playing golf and you may see him on a trip you may take with your SIR group.

 

Our next meeting will be on July 15^th at the Coyote Point Restaurant. The Speaker Chairman is Don Neumann. Don has asked Debbie Griffiths to speak to us. Debbie is
a Burlingame resident and 18-year employee of the Better Business Bureau and she will be taking about how they serve the community.

 

Call Bob Way (345-7014) if you haven’t made your meal selection as yet. The choice this month is Roast Pork or Salmon.