Meeting

Report

JIM ROGERS
By: Suzanne Fetscher

Sadler Barnhardt introduced the guest speaker, Jim Rogers, CNBC Investment Commentator. However, investments and the economic climate were not foremost on Jim’s mind in addressing the Charlotte Rotary. It was his recently completed “Millennium Adventure,” drive around the world. It was a three-year journey (1999 – 2001) covering 152,000 miles through 116 countries with his new bride and Charlottean Paige Parker.
 
Jim narrated his presentation with the help of a power point presentation of slides taken from the many, many places he and Paige traveled through. He described their accommodations as anywhere from five-star hotels to barnyards and sheds. In some cases there was no electricity or running water. They came up with their own rating system, which included the “five-roach” hotel. Food in exotic parts of the world included tequila worms (grilled), porcupine, guinea pig, and silkworm. They drank what was available while avoiding water. In one instance, they drank warm camel milk, which was quite good. They were very careful not to get sick. They understood that, if they got sick, it could be the end of the trip or the end of them. Neither was a happy prospect. It seemed the only time Paige got sick (three times) was after eating in five-star restaurants. Money was easy to obtain.
 
Telecommunications has made the use of credit cards and ATMs nearly universal. Cash could be gotten from ATMs in dollars or local currency. A Mercedes was strategically purchased before the trip as THE car to get them around the world because “every dictator or Mafioso drives a Mercedes,” and parts and service could by attained anywhere in the world. It held to be true. The only time they didn’t drive their “two-seater” was when it was loaded into a boat to cross a body of water (including the ocean). Otherwise, their diesel car made the entire journey.
When describing how they were received, Jim stated that everyone welcomed them and treated them genuinely well. Americans and America is generally well liked around the world. People disagreed with our governmental policies and they may have been angry and/or bitter about them. Debates and discussions were had in some instances. However, people didn’t hold our governmental policies against Jim and Paige as Americans.
 
They experienced danger in the desert, epidemics, war zones, and blizzards. And, they were terrified by being made to travel with military convoys carrying machine guns and automatic weapons (and wearing bullet proof vests) in Angola, and potentially being caught in military ambushes in eastern India. They regularly had to gently bribe their way through borders with whiskey and/or cigarettes.
Jim’s overarching impression is that people are the same all over the world. We desire the same things and have deep spiritual needs, whether Christian or Muslim. People don’t want war. It is bungling politicians who start them. People are terrified of what they don’t know - each other.
 
Head Table:
John Granzow, John Galles, Sadler Barnhardt, Tom Robertson, Roger Sarow, Bob Brietz; Invocation: Tim Newman
 
Visitors and Guests:
David Lewis; Health & Happiness: Roger Sarow; Music: David Erdman

Attendance Record 12/09/03 12/10/02 visitors & guests 32 13 club members 186 167 total attendance 218 180 Wedding Anniversaries 17 Malinda and Bob Freeman 19 Norma and Tom Burgess 20 Jo Anne and Fitz Dove 20 Kristi and Jerry Walters 22 Jane and Randall Groves    New Members - December Ed Lewis Jody Billiard Gregg Walker    Roaming Rotarians Randall Groves, Aurora, Colorado Birthdays and Birthplaces 16 Price Gwynn, Reidsville, NC 18 John Tabor, Charleston, WV 19 Ed Wadsworth, Iowa 20 Wes Clark, Morganton, NC 20 Darrell Holland, Raleigh, NC

Click here for photos of this Meeting