DIALOGUEletters
ducing thousands of copies that perhaps end
up in the recycle bin.
Ted Cox
Bellevue, Washington
LOR Y WILLIAMS
Members can request to cancel their print
subscription and ask to receive only the online
version of The Costco Connection. See the
instructions in the Subscription Changes box,
below.—Ed
Debate goes on
In response to the July Debate,
“Do politics have a place at the
Olympics?”
America unintentionally depicted our country
negatively and hurt people.
“I am deeply sorry for offending anyone. I
love America unshakably—without hesitation—and am extremely grateful for the opportunities and support our great nation has
always provided me.
MEDIA BAKERY/PHOTODISC
“Over the years I’ve witnessed and advised
others how a thoughtless gesture or comment
can hurt good, caring people. Regrettably, I’ve
proven my own point. Please accept my sincere
apologies.”
Based on the context of her speech and her
subsequent apology, we believe that while
clumsy in its construction, Nooyi’s commencement address was not meant to be insulting or
a condemnation of the United States.
Sometimes the best examples are those that
show that if one has made an honest mistake
and acknowledges it, it is still possible in this
country to succeed and prosper.—Ed.
NO. The Olympics are a sporting event, not a
government operation. The athletes are just
there to compete.
Have something to say?
Readers are encouraged to submit letters
to our editors on any topic or issue covered
in The Connection. Please include your
full name and phone number or address.
Send all letters to: Dialogue, The Costco
Connection, P.O. Box 34088, Seattle, WA
98124-1088; fax to (425) 313-6718; or
e-mail to
dialogue@costco.com. The
editors reserve the right to edit letters
for publication.
Sarah Siameh
Louisville, Kentucky
YES. The venue is an appropriate one to
inform people worldwide and an opportunity
to build consensus and establish change.
Michelle Etchason
Orland Park, Illinois
Efficiency rules
I truly enjoyed June’s Debate: “Is being
neat and organized overrated?” I must admit
that I wholeheartedly agree with Standolyn
Robertson as I find I accomplish more when
I am organized.
Kimberly Chapman
Efficiency Consultant
Santa Maria, California
Subscription
changes
Green is good
I have been a Costco member for many
years, and I read with interest your article
“Green makes sense at Costco” in your July
issue of The Costco Connection.
As an individual, I also have been doing
my share of going green. I put solar panels on
the roof—for the past six months my electrical bill totaled $74.60. I just love seeing my
electrical meter going “backwards”!
I have also installed all dual-pane low-e
windows, a tankless water heater
a nd dual-flush toilets.
T hanks for your well-written
a rticles in your magazine, and
t hanks for being so committed
to shrinking your carbon foot-p rint.
Antoinette Cannizzaro
Apache Junction, Arizona
Odds and ends
Pop goes the cover
As a Navy veteran, spouse of a Navy veteran and father of a USNA [U.S. Naval
Academy] midshipman, I am insulted by your
selection of [Indra Nooyi, June 2008] as a leading story. Her history includes her infamous
analogy of the United States as a “middle finger” [to] the world in her college address to
Columbia Business School. It is insulting to
tout the American Dream
through such a “fluff” piece
[about] an individual who
fails to recognize the roots of
her success.
You’ve changed ...
For subscription address changes or
to stop receiving the print edition of
The Costco Connection, send your
changes in an e-mail to subscription@
costco.com, or mail to: Subscription
Dept., P.O. Box 34088, Seattle, WA
98124-1088. Be sure to include your
Costco membership number.
Patrick Smith
Annandale, Virginia
Subscribe to our
Online Edition
It’s easy to subscribe to the Online
Edition, an electronic replica of The
Costco Connection. Go to costco.com
and enter your e-mail address where
you see “Sign up to receive offers.”
Each week you’ll receive product news,
special offers and a link to the Online
Edition. Costco does not sell or share
members’ e-mail addresses.
Our intent in profiling Indra Nooyi was to highligh t
her vision and mangagemen t
style as the new CEO at Pepsico .
The 2001 commencemen t
speech analogy—which we belie ve
was an honest attempt to addr ess
the importance of sensitivity a nd
tact—was, paradoxically, lacking in those very
attributes. She admitted as much the next day
in a public apology. “Following my remarks to
the graduating class of Columbia University’s
Business School in New York City, I have come
to realize that my words and examples about
O nline Connection
David Fuller [July 2008,
F rom the Editor’s Desk]
o utlines Costco’s admirable
e fforts to produce and dist ribute an environmentally
s ensitive magazine. And on page 7, we are told
that we can subscribe to the Online Edition of
The Connection. But it isn’t clear if, by choosing the online version, we will then no longer
receive the print version. That option would
probably be very popular with many of your
members, and eliminate the expense of pro-
Reader survey
Please take a moment to complete our
anonymous member information survey. Just go to costco.com and search
“Connection.” Click “Reader Survey”
on the welcome page and then select
“Survey A” for current subscribers.
Upon completion, you will have the
option to enter a drawing for a $100 Costco
Cash card.
