Pat Schwind Presents: Strategic Edge Thursday, 08/28/08

H.L. 'Buster' Quist, author of "The Aftermath of Greed; Get Ready for the Coming Inflationary Boom".

Minutes of 08/14/08

1. Attended 8/14/8: Frank Rickey, Mark Sorhdal, Ed Stroup, Pat Schwind, Trudy Perez, Olga Strickland, Rich Woods, Lyle Schossow, Art Consoli, Billy Lee, Sharon Gates, Vicki Allison, Howard Crowe, Jim Shabazian & our speaker, Don Robinson, coach of the 1986 National Championship ASU men's gymnastics team.

2. My wife & I were both gymnasts in High School; Marie was quite accomplished, I was not. It's great training to help one deal with situations, (e.g. 'life'), when you feel you're "really upside down", & things seem to be simply "spinning out of control". I met Don Robinson in '93, when he requested some folks help on a finance committee, to raise money to at least keep the men's team at ASU as a 'club sport', & if possible, stay in the NCAA, with substantial funding from both private, & ASU sources. The team survived as a club, but like so many other great Olympic sports programs, at so many colleges, gymnastics will never again be a sanctioned (NCAA) sport at ASU. That's life; we eventually "move on"; hopefully with success. However, it's only natural to feel somewhat bitter after significant disappointments; & Don's entitled to do so. I'm not going into the details about the problems with 'Title IX' & 'gender equity', but I must mention what a miserable failure & fraud, former ASU Athletic Director Charles Harris was, & how he personally targeted the men's gym. program for termination. ASU hired Mr. Harris based on a fake resume, showing he had a Masters degree. He had no real success to speak of while at ASU, but did oversee the termination of some quite successful Olympic sports programs. ASU, I believe, eventually paid him handsomely to simply "go away". Reminds me of the way Austria handed their nation, & tons of Jews to the Nazis, escaped the punishment of Soviet enslavement, became a major recipient of "Marshall Plan" aid, & eventually had one of the strongest economies in Europe! I guess "no good deed goes unpunished"! Austria deserved what Dresden got; Charles Harris should've never been hired, & ASU could have kept some of those programs. But that's life! Bad behavior is rewarded routinely in America. Don, however, was "tossed out like the trash", after 25 years of producing one of the most successful sports programs at any level, ever, in U.S history, both in the 'won-loss' stats, & academic achievement of his athletes. He was more successful than the 'god' of ASU sports, Frank Kush, & virtually every other coach, ever, at ASU. Don mentored his athletes & coaching staff. His long time assistant, Scott Barclay, has had great success as head coach since Don stepped down in '94. Don's become quite an artist, & motivational speaker, lecturing frequently to business & sports associations. He volunteers hundreds of hours each year, inspiring children to reach their full potential. Unfortunately, Don can't devote as much time as he used to, to community service, because he now must care for his lovely wife Audrey, who is battling Alzheimer's Disease; they recently celebrated their 50th! He's still the consummate motivator, imparting the wisdom of his favorites, Og Mandino & Walt Disney: "Dream, Believe, Dare & Do!" This was truly one of the most "positive" presentations we've ever had at the S/E!

3. Our next meeting is this Thursday, 8/28/08

   Please arrive before 7:30 Am at “JIM’s CONEY ISLAND CAFE”, 1750 No. Scottsdale Rd., Tempe, at the southwest corner of Scottsdale & Cavalier, Click Here for a map, 1 block south of McKellips, ~ 1 mile north of the 202 Freeway.

   Our speaker will be H.L. 'Buster' Quist, author of "The Aftermath of Greed; Get Ready for the Coming Inflationary Boom". Bring guests!

   Bring Guests!

4. Future Speakers
   • 9/11- Barbara Blewster re: "The Real Origins of Nursery Rhymes & the Cultural Implications".
   • 9/25- Randall Holmes of the Az. Advocacy Network, re: “Election Fraud 2008 — How Bad Can It Be?!”
   • 10/09- Local Progressive Radio talk show host, Cynthia Black, re: "Election Preview".
   • 10/23- Open Forum for candidates; If you have any candidate in mind, for any office, call me directly.

Sincerely, Pat Schwind, MBA