"Carnauba"
November 24, 1998 |
| November
24, 1998 On October 22, Dad, Curt and I embarked
on a great adventure, committed to reliving my grandfather’s 1935 expedition to
Brazil. Today, our journey came to an end, as we returned to our homes and the SC Johnson
headquarters in Racine. |
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I imagine it
will be some time before each of us fully absorbs the significance of this trip. We
enjoyed so many wonderful experiences along the way, met so many wonderful people. But
this much I know for sure: We accomplished what we set out to accomplish — and then
some. |
| Since he first
conceived the idea of recreating my grandfather’s expedition, Dad said he wanted to
honor his father’s memory, particularly the spirit of adventure H.F. manifested 63
years ago during his search for new stands of Carnauba palms. |
|
| That spirit of
adventure, Dad reminded us, lies at the heart of our values, as individuals and as a
company. From the beginning, our trip was intended to rekindle that spirit, both for the
current generation of SC Johnson men and women and for future generations. I believe
we’ve done that. |
| Like my
grandfather, we’ve come back from Brazil with more than we had hoped for. Just as
H.F.’s Brazilian experience changed him — and the direction of our company—
we, too, have been deeply touched by the warmth and affection of the Brazilian people. |
|
H.F. saw Brazil
as a land of great promise and the window to the world’s possibilities. It opened his
eyes to business opportunities elsewhere, triggering the company’s expansion around
the globe. Today, SC Johnson sells its products in about 100 countries. |
| Even today, vestiges of my
grandfather’s commitment to Fortaleza and the surrounding area abound. Seeing them
helped connect Dad, Curt and me with H.F.’s memory, as well as with the rich history
of our company. I’ll never forget our time here. |
|
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In Fortaleza,
we visited what used to be my grandfather’s home. Many years ago, H.F. donated the
house to missionaries, who eventually sold it. Since then, it has been converted,
operating today as the Olympo Hotel. |
| The original SC
Johnson facility in Fortaleza is an abandoned warehouse today, although the name
"Companhia Johnson" still graces the entrance. Likewise, while the experimental
Carnauba processing plant H.F. founded at Raposa stands idle today, some of the original
equipment is in place, still bearing the Companhia Johnson name. |
|
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We even
discovered the two Carnauba palms my grandfather planted about 60 years ago when he built
the factory at Raposa. Those trees are still thriving. |
| During our trip
to Fortaleza we also presented gifts to Escola Johnson, the SC Johnson-founded school that
today has an enrollment of 1,200 students, and the state of Ceara, home of the vast
eco-region known as the Caatinga. Working with The Nature Conservancy, the Washington,
D.C.-based not-for-profit organization, we hope to show how local communities can protect
the Caatinga through environmentally compatible development. |
|
|
In his speech
following our celebration dinner in Fortaleza, Dad said he thought that after the original
Carnauba Expedition, H.F. forever carried a little bit of Brazilian music and rhythm in
his soul. I suspect Brazil has had a similar impact on Dad, Curt and me. |
| Before we departed Brazil, we
traveled to our facility in Rio de Janeiro for a reception. More than 400 people attended,
providing another large measure of Brazilian hospitality. |
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| |
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While in Rio, Curt had a chance
to officially open the new entry way to the portion of our facility occupied by SC Johnson
Professional. In Rio, our consumer and professional operations share a building. The
entrance to the professional side of the building is new. |
| |
| This has been a
remarkable journey for all of us, particularly Dad. And even though this trip has focused
on the past, it also has envisioned the future, a future in which each and every one of us
is guided by the same spirit of adventure that charted my grandfather’s course. |
| |
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As Dad has said so many times
before, a great company has to have a great spirit. Ours is the spirit of adventure. This
trip has been a symbol of that spirit, a spirit that lives in each of us. |
| To all of you who have
followed our progress this past month or so, we’d like to thank you one last time.
Your interest has meant an awful lot to Dad, Curt and me. You were with us every mile of
the way. Fisk |
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