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Everyone that came in person had the pleasure of being greeted by Jim Crane. PP x2 Steve Day presided over today’s hybrid meeting at Hillel at UCLA. President Benjamin still recovering from Knee surgery attended in person so we could all see his pretty face. Teya McCockran was back as well, meaning the meeting ZOOM/OWL set up went off without any problems! PP Steve announced it was National Tongue Twister Day before asking PP x2 Tom Barron to recite the 4-Way Test which he did flawlessly and with humor (no that is not a tongue twister). PP Steve then asked PP Tom to read the first Tongue Twister of the Day stating whoever reads one of the 4 selected the best, will get a prize all the way from Switzerland! PP Tom did a wonderful job reading about a wood chucker chucking wood. Janet Scwartz then led everyone in the pledge while no song was to be sung and yet, led by PP Steve Scherer & PP Mike Newman, “God Bless America” did get sung!! PP x2 Chris Gaynor gave the Thought of the Day based on unpredictability (his new stents for example) with a prayer that the USA stay calm and accept no matter what happens in November with the election. Visiting Rotarian Bob Simon, who is in his 14-day approval process to move to the WVRC, was there along with two guests of Sunda (where have you been hiding) Croonquist! Sunda also talked about a possible upcoming podcast with our very own President Benjamin!
PP Steve then had PP Gordon Fell read the next tongue twister something about seashells by the seashore; newbie Sam Botbol on Peter Piper picking something and finally, new knee President Benjamin reading a special Marsha Day tongue twister on Roger Ruby’s retirement!! Overwhelmingly, newbie Sam Botbol won for best reading of a tongue twister and the Switzerland prize!
Sam Botbol gave a recap of the recent District Breakfast where they collected many supplies and treats for the animals in the LA City Animal Shelters. He left with a strong feeling that all Rotary Clubs can work as a community to help others such as those in need, the elderly, and even Rotarians.
President Benjamin was asked to introduce today’s speaker, Steve Davis, Owner of Summit Project Management (Summit). His brief intro told us we were in for a special treat today as Steve will tell us who, what when and how his company came to be. Steve began by calling himself today’s victim (do we have a reputation of being a tough crowd??) and explaining that Pres Benjamin gave him two hours to speak!! WHAT??? All kidding aside, Steve has a really interesting job. He told us he represents First Nations in realizing First World developments. But let’s go back to his beginning.
Steve graduated from the University of Colorado in Boulder as a bike riding architect who became an owner’s representative for tribal nations in building casinos on their reservations. Steve began his career in Colorado designing custom solar homes. This is where he meant his wife to be and her two very young children, giving him an instant family (I believe I heard he added two daughters along the way). The crew moved to LA, California in 1984 where he continued as an architect. In 1995 he became an owner’s representative and project manager on large building projects. In 2000 with the passing of proposition 99 allowing Indians to operate casinos, he became their representative and project manager. We learned Indian casinos are Federally recognized and tied to the specific land (reservation) they are on. The land must first be secure in a federal trust before a contract can be signed to proceed. Environmenntal impact studies, budgets, design, financing, plan checking and building codes to name a few of the Federal codes to be followed in building on reservations. There are 76 tribes in California with 63 aligned with a gaming facility. Casinos have been a financial boom for reservations taking many of them from 3rd world living conditions to state-of-the-art environments. Tribes also work together and share information on their projects so other tribes can also benefit. Tribes also share their financial success with “suffering” tribes through a tax on profits. Tribal casinos are free from most US taxes but not Federal taxes. There is a Federally recognized Native American Tribal Government (NIGC) that operates on reservations or other tribal lands. This agency helps make decisions on the building on tribal lands.
Before building a casino on a reservation, permits must be obtained and, the casino must be on Indian land within that tribe’s jurisdiction. The Tribe must submit a gaming ordinance to the NIGC for approval before anything can begin. So, gaining the trust of the NIGC and various tribes was instrumental to the success of the Summit. Summit Project Management has a comprehensive portfolio, program, and project management services with focus on hospitality, medical facilities, gaming, tribal facilities, and infrastructures. Summit has more than $2Billion of completed and current construction value in their portfolio. Some of Steve’s projects have included the Chumash Casino & Hotel Resort, West Valley Resort, and the Hollywood Casino.
It was a remarkably interesting presentation and can be heard on the WVRC.net website if you missed it. Thank you, Steve Davis!
Acting President for the Day, Steve, ended with a, Abraham Lincoln quote: “Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing. Well done acting President, thank you.
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