Hard Assets Investment Conference in San Francisco (Nov.30-Dec.1)

The last time I had visited San Francisco was about 5 years ago for a personal development course through Brian Klemmer & Associates.  But, most of that trip was spent indoors and then having my limits stretched in the forest with confidential stuff that they don’t want me to talk about.  I’d tell you more, but they actually made me sign a confidentiality agreement – that is a story in itself.

Anyway, this time around San Francisco seems different.  I’m staying at the San Francisco Marriott downtown.  It is a great location with lots of destinations within walking distance.  Most of my time is being spent at the conference meeting with potential investors, mining industry experts and other industry players.  However, I find a couple of hours in the evening before my late night meetings begin.

Walking out the front doors of the hotel I’m greeted by heavy pedestrian traffic.  But, its not the traffic I expect.  Last time I was here people I recall being surrounded with well-educated, high income earning individuals that dressed the part.  Then I remember that was at the Wharf where the shops are nicer and the city is cleaner. 

During the day I find myself with a runny nose and feel a cold coming on.  So I head out to the local drug store chain across the street.  It was an interesting experience buying Advil.  In Canada all I have to do is pick it up off the counter and pay for it at the cashier.  Well, in California they ask for my passport.  When I ask why they tell  me its a controlled substance – huh?  Later on someone tells me that it can be used to make some addictive street drugs.  So, I’m thinking but couldn’t they do that in Canada as well if that was the case?

Coming out of the drug store I find myself in front of a man and woman wearing overcoats and nothing else underneath.  They look like they’re either drunk, drugged or on leave from a mental institute.  They’re also covered in dirt.  Looking around I see that many people are poorly dressed.  Perhaps this is a poorer part of town I think to myself.  Despite this, the architecture and even the streetscape is beautiful.  Somehow the buildings don’t match the people.  So, I’m thinking that either the people will dress better or the buildings will deteriorate with time.  Oh, how profound – this seems to be the point at which the United States as a nation is at – a real turning point in its history.

Anyway, back at the conference I check in with the staff at our booth to make sure everything is under control.  Then I start to walk through the hundreds of booths.  Its a real treasure of exploration and mining companies.  What a collection of wisdom has gathered here.  I find myself overwhelmed by the degree of knowledge.  No matter how much I absorb, there is so much more to absorb.  It is at conferences like this that one finds out about what is really happening in the industry and on the market.  Business professionals from around North America have gathered here for these few days.

Before the conference is over, I establish a relationship with Resource World Magazine as well as a number of potential investors and strategic partners.  There are lots of opportunities to acquire mineral properties this year because of the liquidity crisis and the fall-out it has created.  For companies like Delta Uranium Inc (publicly traded on the TSX as DUR) this is a great opportunity for acquisition at great prices and developing joint ventures.

Very much suffering from jet lag after travelling back from Japan (14 hours ahead of Toronto time) to Toronto last week and then leaving for San Francisco (3 hours behind Toronto time) I feel like I’m in a fog.  I arrive at the airport just in time for my flight and look forward to sleeping in my own bed where I hope to finally get a full night’s sleep after three months of heavy travelling.

Baldo Minaudo