On Tuesday, November 27 2018, our lunch speakers will be Roger Lee (CEO) and Brian Vierra (Venture Catalyst) from EDCO, who will be talking to us about the history and purpose of the Bend Venture Conference.

Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) hosted the 15th Annual Bend Venture Conference (BVC) to a sold-out crowd at the Tower Theatre in Downtown Bend this past October. 14 companies presented their ideas to 600 attendees in hopes of gaining investments from prominent funds. Of those 14 finalists, half of them walked away with funding totaling $1,807,500 in both investments and cash prizes. Side investment deals are still being finalized.

Over the past five years, the Bend Venture Conference has awarded upwards of $9.6 million in funding to 41 companies, completely reinventing Oregon’s angel and venture landscape.

At EDCO, Roger is responsible for the tri-county area’s economic development strategy, business recruitment, oversight of the organization and its satellite offices, and development of special projects including industrial parks, expansion of commercial air service and creation of new programs to assist the region’s traded-sector employers and improve the overall business climate.

Brian is an international business entrepreneur and start up/ early stage investor. He successfully founded and directed three businesses in Asia over a 17 year period. He’s currently active as an angel investor in the Pacific Northwest and Venture Catalyst with Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO), consulting for and connecting early stage businesses with resources.

On Tuesday, November 20 2018, The Bill Berg Foundation will provide its semi-annual update to the Club.

On Tuesday, November 13 2018, we’ll be having our Rotary Student Recognition lunch.

The Rotary Student Recognition lunch is a unique opportunity to recognize and hear from five outstanding students (one from each of the five Bend-La Pine high schools) who best exemplify Rotary’s motto of “Service above self.” This is always a high energy, feel-good program as we get a glimpse at the best and brightest of our future and a peak at the caliber of students going through our local schools.

On Tuesday, October 30 2018, our lunch speaker will be Robyn Holdman, who will be talking to us about the Civility Project.

Based on community input, Citizens4Community launched the Sisters Country Civility Project in February 2016 to encourage civil dialogue and civic engagement throughout Sisters Country. The initiative is using 9 basic tenets offered by Speak Your Peace and P.M. Forni’s book “Choosing Civility.” Those tenets are presented on the Sisters Country Civility Project’s “9+1 Tool Cards.” Drawing upon the talents, time and passion of Sisters Country C4C team members, citizens and valued partners, the Project includes quarterly community-wide meetings, educational sessions with partners, speaking engagements with area stakeholders and locally produced content and materials—all of which are designed to support respectful communication and build trust.

John Kitzhaber graduated from South Eugene High School, Dartmouth College and the University Oregon Medical School. He practiced emergency medicine in Roseburg Oregon from 1974 to 1988. John was elected to the Oregon legislature in 1978 and served for 14 years – eight years as Senate President. He was elected governor in 1994 and served three terms from 1995-2003; and 2011-2015. During his time in office he focused on health care, public education, at risk children and families, and environmental stewardship. His approach to solving difficult problems in public policy was based on investing in relationships and collaboration built on trust and respect. John is motivated by the belief that “Oregon won’t be a good place for any of us to live unless it’s a good place for all of us to live.” He is a dedicated fly fisherman and avid white-water rafter; and remains committed to continuing to contribute to the Oregon community.