It was a smart and appropriate choice by Programs Director, Mark Urban to invite a local business person to our Club and is in keeping with Rotary International's theme of Vocational Month in January. Mark said the George Home is a graduate of Georgia Tech and participated in the aerospace Apollo project for years until the project was downsized and thus, George decided to start a new career. He got into auto repair in Carmichael, starting in 1984, quite a different and daunting career change because he had no experience or knowledge in auto repair or running a business. George's business, Carmichael Midas Auto Repair is located at 6840 Fair Oaks Blvd. and is noted for his ever changing iconic signs that you see in front of his business while traveling north down Fair Oaks before the Fair Oaks and Manzanita split (example is below, left).

George, thanked the Club for inviting him to speak and he reiterated what Mark had said about working on the Apollo eleven project where they were building the 3rd stage of the rocket. He said that after that, he bounced around for a while, trying different things and looking at different locations to live. He lived in Denver for 4 years and decided he didn't like the snow and finally settled in Carmichael. George mentioned what we all know is true - that Carmichael's climate and location are ideal. He got into the auto business, tough and lean, made it through and now has celebrated his 36th year. He likes working and living in the same area in spite of the caveat that he has to dress up around town because so many of his customers know him. George said that, over the years, Carmichael hasn't seemed to grow much, he's lucky because Starbucks is across the street so customer's can get a cup of coffee while they are waiting for their cars to be fixed. Carmichael has no real downtown or any big population center - it is spread out and not overgrown - George likes that.

The idea of having the iconic changing signs idea started in the Clinton era (Bill) and they wrote about current events. Lisa changes the signs about once a week and try to keep the message light-hearted.

George has seen some humorous occurrences over the years like when a lady brought in a car and complained that it "runs horribly", they found a squirrel was living in the air filter. Another customer complained that the "horn doesn't work" only to find there was no horn attached. George has seen customers that come in just for a oil change and have the wheels falling off the car. 

The rise in homeless has caused a few problems - his shop has been broken into a few times. George says that he really draws mostly from a radius of about 5 miles, one good thing is that there will be road reconstruction that will occur from Engle to Marconi - giving us a smooth road. He has enjoyed a successful business with 3 very good employees who have stayed with him for many years.

Q and A: George believes that electronic cars are the future and will probably eliminate his business. Electronic cars are much simpler in that gasoline cars have 1,000+ parts, and electric cars much less. The hybrid car makes no sense to George, there you have two engines to worry about. Mark asked about George's hobbies and he said that he has been an avid motorbike rider - having been riding in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco , the Pyrenees in Spain. etc.