My First And Last Rotary Club Meeting

The Chester Lake Almanor Rotary Club caught wind of my intention to enter the small business realm back in 1993. They invited me to their November meeting, "See if you belong in this club." offered a business consultant, who I counted as a friend. Lots of friendly handshakes as I walked in the front door of The Golden Bear in West Chester. The meeting came to order and right away they asked me to speak of my intentions. "I have a ton of passion for cycling and outfitting cyclists", I began. The chairman interrupted, "Now, I think that's worth a $10 fine. One, we don't have those people in Chester more than one day a year." The Mile High Hundred was a twelve year old event that started and finished in Chester every August. I was a little shocked, a $10 fine? What was that all about? A man walked over to me with an empty coffee can and asked for $10. The local grocer put a $10 in there for me. Ok, this is strange...The butcher, a guy named Norm said, "If I may speak...we don't have any of those granola-eating bicycle people in Chester. I don't think this is a good idea." I picked up my sweater and said, I'm done. My bicycle business has thrived for thirty-one years. Nearly all of those Rotarians have left town, died or retired.