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| Program Chair: Mark Rogo | August 8, 2013 | |||||||||||||||||||
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This Week...
August 15
Dr. Ann Coscarelli, Director "Simms-Mann UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology"
Upcoming...
August 22
Dr. Matt Malkan "Origins, the Grand Philosophical Question" August 29 Jim Crane & UCLA Rotaract "Our Future Leaders Run the Meeting!" |
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August 15 Dr. Ann Coscarelli "UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology" |
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August 22 Dr. Matt Malkan "Origins, the Grand Philosophical Question" |
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Terry M. White led us in
the flag salute and Paul Aslan stepped in for the
invocation, but Phil Gabriel arrived breathlessly at
the last minute with a story to tell. It seems that
a good friend in his 50's with everything to live
for was recently killed in a hot air balloon
accident in Switzerland. Phil urged us all to
consider all those undone deeds we promised
ourselves and others and get them done today.
Rev. Gauld was called
upon to lead us in God Bless America and our
rendition showed more gusto than
discipline-heartfelt, nevertheless.
Pres Mark asked the membership what those seated at
the head table had in common. After many insulting
answers were shouted out, he related that PP Eric
Loberg, PP Don Nelson, PP Chris Bradford, Prof Board
(our speaker), and Dr. Colby Smith are all teachers
or graduates of UCLA. Such statements recognizing
Bruins are usually met with rousing applause, but
not today. It's not wise to stump your audience!
Tom Barron then asked for volunteers to perform good
deeds and a few hands went up. He deputized those
individuals to work their hardest for club
membership this year. After hearing whom Pres Mark
has in the pipeline, we should be ashamed if we
don't bring in a new member every month.
Our Merchant Minute was presented by Vicky Curtis of Curtis and Company which is a full-service marketing, advertising, and design firm. She told us how her clients were using interactive video to communicate their products and services anywhere, anytime, to anyone who tunes in. It beats cold calling!
We were happy to see Bill
Pierce and Kevin Komatsu sneak into the meeting-I
guess they heard that the food had improved or
perhaps they like real estate humor (Pres Mark).
PP Chris Bradford regaled
us with the whirlwind tour he and Ann Samson and
Paul Aslan took visiting Japanese students on last
week, including the Stars Walk of Fame, the Auto
Museum, Yamashiro restaurant, and other Hollywood
Icons.
Dr. Colby Smith, our VP,
introduced his friend, our speaker for the meeting,
Dr. Simon Board, UCLA professor of Economics. Dr.
Board attended University of Toronto and Stanford
Business School.
Dr. Board introduced us
to his study of game theory as it relates to
internet reputations. By reputation, he is referring
to the impression we get of sellers on Ebay, for
example, from the number of reviews they receive and
how many are favorable. Amazon is another good
example-wouldn't you be most likely to purchase an
item from a seller who has many good reviews of
their service? He showed us where more items were
sold-though the product was identical-at a $20
higher price by a seller with a long and
distinguished train of reviews. Buyers must be
perceiving value in these good reviews to pay more
for the same item. Of course there are issues that
cloud the waters. For example, if a buyer disses a
seller, that seller is very likely to diss the buyer
back. It's also clear that some reviewers have an
agenda or are morons and their opinion carries
little weight. Unfortunately, they are incognito
and can pop up elsewhere under another name.
One of our merchant
members complained that buyers came into his retail
store and threatened to give him a bad review on
Yelp if the store owner didn't give him a discount.
To the merchants, this "service" looks like
extortion, though I've heard the same said about the
Better Business Bureau.
Clearly, this is a field
worth studying, but like the study of psychology,
one must bring a grain of salt to the picnic. The
term "garbage in-garbage out" comes to mind. Still
in its infancy, interactive internet "reputations"
are of value and will only become more so. Tens of
millions of internet junkies can't be wrong, or even
if they are, their aggregated opinions carry a lot
of weight. Thank you, Dr. Board, for bringing YELP
to the WVRC!
Don't miss our next
meeting, August
15, when the speaker will be the Dr.
Ann Coscarelli, Director of the UCLA Department of
Integrative Oncology. Jim Crane's UCLA Rotaractors
will be back onAugust
29th to
run our meeting. Until then, don't trust anyone
over 30!
Y O PP Dwight |
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