DESERT REGION – LAS VEGAS CHAPTER
4th Quarter 2019 Pt 1/3
Written by John Ratto
Edited by Chuck Damus
The last quarter of 2019, home to the Holiday Season, was relatively quiet for the Club. Many were travelling or celebrating at home with family and long standing friends. The mainstay of this time for the Club is the Holiday Party, and that seemed to be a big success for all those that attended. As you read this, it is probably cold and dark outside, and it may actually even be raining. Thank you God for that moisture from the sky – we need it! But that only means that spring, and warmth but not heat, is just around the corner. And that means that new Club events are coming soon. We hope you will attend some or all, as we would love to see you.
OPENING COMMENTARY
The 4th quarter of 2019 began with rumblings that Congress would impeach the President, and it ends with impeachment proceedings moving forward. Where this all ends, no one knows. I doubt it will be anywhere significant. Meanwhile, the bipartisan condemnation arising from the abandonment of (our allies) the Kurds has mostly evaporated as other, new ‘hot topics’ have popped up.
While the vast field of Democratic presidential hopefuls has been somewhat thinned through attrition, enough new candidates have joined the fray to keep the field oversubscribed. Things have been relatively quiet for some time, but look for the action to resume soon as the primaries approach.
Having lived in China (the real China, the Communist mainland one, not Taiwan or Hong Kong), I find the most interesting of these new hot topics has been the unrest in Hong Kong. Based on firsthand experience, I can say with certainty that China is not a police state, as many of our politicians and journalists would have you believe. I would also say that the ‘typical’ Chinese man or woman ‘on-the-street’ is generally pretty happy with his/her government and the state of the country. This is likely due, in great part, to the great improvement in living conditions in China over the past 20-30 years. When things are getting better, and getting better fast, people tend to be contented. Yes, the government is far more intrusive and omnipresent there than here, but that is true in virtually every other country in the world. Meanwhile, the Chinese people (but not those living Hong Kong) have far more liberty and prosperity than they have ever before experienced. Those in Hong Kong on the other hand, see the national government tightening the strings on their liberties. I am most interested to see how this crisis plays out, and I would advise that we keep our noses out of the mess: if there is one thing the Chinese despise it is outside interference in running their country.
Enough politics and civics, let’s have a gander at the fun stuff the Club was involved in during the 4th quarter of 2019.
October 23: Social at Marche Bacchus
Maybe it was the proximity to Halloween, or maybe it was the sudden cold snap, or maybe it was just the turn of the season, but this event failed to generate much enthusiasm, as indicated by a sparse attendance and blasé reviews of the event itself. Apparently, the food was slow in arriving, and that exacerbated the chill in our bones. Oh well, they can’t all be great.
November 13: Board Meeting at Bravo Cucina in the Galleria Mall
Once again, we had a very nice turnout for a Board meeting, indicating perhaps that our members are quite interested in the inner workings of the Club. Or maybe they have heard that Board meetings are kinda fun, or maybe that this restaurant has some pretty good Italian food. In any case, all are welcome – so plan to attend one. The first order of business was discussion regarding the upcoming Holiday Party. Everything seemed set, with only minor details to be finalized. By the time you read this, the Party will be in the rear view mirror, but we hope you all enjoyed it. Then we progressed to the real business, nomination of board officers and directors for 2020. Unfortunately, a lot of familiar names are on the roster, including yours truly. Most of the new nominees are past board members, including Lindsey Freeman, Elda Fanucchi, and Chuck Damus. We really need some fresh blood – so please consider stepping up and joining the Club’s executive branch.’
December 7: Holiday Party at Towbin Motorcars
On a beautiful, balmy December Las Vegas evening many of the usual suspects gathered at Towbin Motorcars, our dealership, to celebrate the holiday season and the passing of another year. We must note the presence of two new members. Be sure to say a warm hello to Sandy and Katlyn Cornelius (California exiles, as many of us are) when you meet them on a future event. They are the proud owners of a 458 that Sandy was quick to point out is driven whenever possible, as is proved by the 20,000 plus miles already on its odometer. Moreover, this was also an opportunity to welcome back Al and Lorene Lindahl after an extended, illness forced absence. The food was good, the music perhaps a taste too loud, and the comradery palpable. It certainly seemed that a good night and a good time were had by all.
Well, I am embarrassed to say that, other than a Board Meeting scheduled for January 8th, the cupboard is bare. That puts the onus on you dear member to find our website – ferrariclubvegas.com – and periodically check the Calendar for new events. We hope to see you there.