Berkshire Hathaway 2006 Annual Report Download - page 25

to 6 p.m. on Sunday. On Saturday this year, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., NFM is having a special shareholder
picnic featuring chicken and beef tacos (and hamburgers for traditionalists like me).
At a remodeled and expanded Borsheim’ s, we will again have two shareholder-only events. The
first will be a cocktail reception from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, May 4th. The second, the main gala, will
be held on Sunday, May 6th, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. On Saturday, we will be open until 6 p.m.
We will have huge crowds at Borsheim’ s throughout the weekend. For your convenience,
therefore, shareholder prices will be available from Monday, April 30th through Saturday, May 12th.
During that period, please identify yourself as a shareholder by presenting your meeting credentials or a
brokerage statement that shows you are a Berkshire holder.
On Sunday, in a tent outside of Borsheim’ s, a blindfolded Patrick Wolff, twice U.S. chess
champion, will take on all comers – who will have their eyes wide open – in groups of six. Last year I
carried on a conversation with Patrick while he played in this manner. Nearby, Norman Beck, a
remarkable magician from Dallas, will bewilder onlookers. Additionally, we will have Bob Hamman and
Sharon Osberg, two of the world’ s top bridge experts, available to play bridge with our shareholders on
Sunday afternoon.
To add to the Sunday fun at Borsheim’ s, Ariel Hsing will play table tennis (ping-pong to the
uninitiated) from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. against anyone brave enough to take her on. Ariel, though only 11, is
ranked number one among girls under 16 in the U.S. (and number 1 among both boys and girls under 12).
The week I turned 75 I played Ariel, then 9 and barely tall enough to see across the table, thinking I would
take it easy on her so as not to crush her young spirit. Instead she crushed me. I’ ve since devised a plan
that will give me a chance against her. At 1 p.m. on Sunday, I will initiate play with a 2-point game against
Ariel. If I somehow win the first point, I will then feign injury and claim victory. After this strenuous
encounter wears Ariel down, our shareholders can then try their luck against her.
Gorat’ s will again be open exclusively for Berkshire shareholders on Sunday, May 6th, and will be
serving from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m. Please remember that to come to Gorat’ s on that day, you must have a
reservation. To make one, call 402-551-3733 on April 1st (but not before).
In the 2006-2007 school year, 35 university classes, including one from IBMEC in Brazil, will
come to Omaha for sessions with me. I take almost all – in aggregate, more than 2,000 students – to lunch
at Gorat’ s. And they love it. To learn why, come join us on Sunday.
We will again have a reception at 4 p.m. on Saturday afternoon for shareholders who have come
from outside of North America. Every year our meeting draws many people from around the globe, and
Charlie and I want to be sure we personally greet those who have come so far. Last year we enjoyed
meeting more than 400 of you from many dozens of countries. Any shareholder who comes from other
than the U.S. or Canada will be given a special credential and instructions for attending this function.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Charlie and I are extraordinarily lucky. We were born in America; had terrific parents who saw
that we got good educations; have enjoyed wonderful families and great health; and came equipped with a
“business” gene that allows us to prosper in a manner hugely disproportionate to other people who
contribute as much or more to our society’ s well-being. Moreover, we have long had jobs that we love, in
which we are helped every day in countless ways by talented and cheerful associates. No wonder we tap-
dance to work. But nothing is more fun for us than getting together with our shareholder-partners at
Berkshire’ s annual meeting. So join us on May 5th at the Qwest for our annual Woodstock for Capitalists.
We’ ll see you there.
February 28, 2007 Warren E. Buffett
Chairman of the Board
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