Pat Schwind Presents: Strategic Edge Thursday, 01/29/2009

Financial Pros: Steve Alonge, Anita Leafty, Michael Deaton and Thala Taperman Rolnick, CPA. The topic is the Economy & How to Protect Your Assets & Future.

Minutes of 01/15/2009

1. Attended 01/15/2009 : Frank Rickey, Mark Sorhdal, Olga Strickland, Donna Hancock, Pat Schwind, Howard Crowe, Ed Stroup, Rich Woods, Rene Houlihan, Ted Goldberg, Margot Wittenberg, Geri Seckinger, Barb Bently, Anita Leafty, Les Landon, & our speaker Don Robinson.

2. My good friend Don Robinson is quite an accomplished artist, in many pursuits. I met Don in '93, when he requested some folks help on a finance committee, to raise money to at least keep the men's gymnastics 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 gymnastics will never again be a sanctioned (NCAA) sport at ASU. That's life. Don said little about his ASU years, except to provide some relevant examples of the 'prep' & training that goes into the pursuit of excellence. I want to mention a few things from Don's presentation at the S/E, last summer, that he doesn't talk about too much. The truth is, that 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, Don was "tossed out like the trash". He was more successful than the 'god' of ASU sports, Frank Kush, & virtually every other coach, ever, at ASU. Don's team won the NCAA National Championship in '86. He mentored his athletes & coaching staff. His long time assistant, Scott Barclay, has had great success as head coach since Don stepped down in '94. Since then, Don's become quite an artist & entrepreneur. As a motivational speaker, he lectures frequently to business & sports associations. He also markets his art work, & volunteers hundreds of hours each year, inspiring children to reach their full potential. Since '93, he's given cartooning demonstrations to > 20K kids!! He's an amazing motivator, imparting the wisdom of his friends & sources of inspiration, as diverse as Og Mandino, Walt Disney & Willie Nelson. On 1/15, Don's theme was "Even You Can Learn to Draw Cartoons!" He gave a great lesson on the basics of simple sketches, based on very simple geometrical figures, to produce real cartoons. I'm looking at the figures I drew, & I'm frankly impressed. It was really one of the most interesting meetings we've had at the S/E, & I've seen > 200! Don's greater message is that almost anyone can accomplish some real success, given enough preparation, training & hard work. If you ever need a high caliber speaker for an interesting & motivational presentation, please call Don directly, at 602-677-7935.

3. Our next meeting is this Thursday, 01/29/2009

   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 Financial Pros: Steve Alonge, Anita Leafty, Michael Deaton and Thala Taperman Rolnick, CPA. The topic is the Economy & How to Protect Your Assets & Future.

   Bring Guests!

4. Future Speakers
   • 1/29- Financial Survival; Financial “Pro’s” Discuss the Economy & How to Protect Your Assets & Future.
   • 2/12- Get “HEART SMART” with Naturopathic Cardiologist, Dr. Decker Weiss.
   • 2/26- Economist, Dr. Stephen Happel: Economic Update & Critique of the FED.
   • 3/12- Marriage Survival 101: Lessons from the front lines of marriage longevity, with my good friends Bill & Barb Blewster (45 years, Dr. Paul & Cybil Eppinger (50 yrs), and Steve & Sanda Alonge (50 yrs).
   • 3/26- Phoenix NORML: What's Up with that wonderful WAR ON DRUGS?
   • 4/9- John Chester Stuart: One Man's Struggle Against an Unjust System.
   • 4/23- OPEN SO FAR
   • 5/7- Kenpo Instructors Ted Goldberg & Jack Wimbish: Self Defense for Women. Note: Pending Permission from Jim's Coney Island, we'll have a real live 'Hands On' demonstration, in the parking lot, (on thick carpet).
   • 5/21- DEBATE: Do Gay & Lesbian Folks "Choose" to be Homosexual, or are they JUST BORN THAT WAY?
   • 6/4- OPEN SO FAR
   • 6/18- Secular Humanist Monti Gaither: How Religion has Messed Up the World, Forever!
   • TBD'd- Former Olympic Wrestler & Current Mixed Martial Arts Fighter, Mike Van Arsdale.

5. Help! I need more speakers for the debate, 5/21, especially Gay, Lesbian, & hard core religious folks. I also need a Carpet Co. to donate some used carpet for the 5/7 & future Martial Arts presentations. THANKS! Just call me!

Sincerely, Pat Schwind, MBA