CIGAR BOX BULLETIN

Volume 57, No. 16     August 19, 2009

I have good news to bring, and that is why I sing
All my joys with you I'll share
I'm going to take a trip in that old gospel ship
And go sailing though the air Gospel Bluegrass Song

Today's like taking a walk through the park. Starts nice and ends nice. It's easy. Starting with JOHN CRAINE's "good morning" to GEORGE SHADDOCK's leading the pledge to our good old flag and then CHUCK LIVINGSTON's America the Beautiful, Darktown Strutter's Ball and Toot, Toot, Tootsie. MIKE HAUPTMAN on the piano. BILL DYNAN gave us another terrific story about a fellow like us who met his former high school crush, only to see that she had changed (aka looked older), and then learned, unbeknowst to himself, that he had changed even more (aka looked even older himself). Now that's a bummer.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: REBECCA FRETTY, the YMCA Pres. and CEO believes in transparency in matters financial, and gave us details which supported her problem. Her tenure started with the YMCA in a big hole, and so the downturn in membership and revenue is really hurting. BUT, they're getting the deficit down and hope to break even by the middle of 2010. Her message today is that revenue and donations from Senior and Adult members are VERY IMPORTANT and any additions can be a big help to get over this dry spell. PETER SCHIEFFERDECKER reminded us that the RAFT-UP will be tomorrow at 12 noon tomorrow at Tod's Point. Be there for fun; they've got four/five ships (or is it boats?) ready to go. PETER also said the Nathaniel Witherell Golf Tournament is SOLD OUT. Simply said: fantastic! GEORGE SHADDOCK is asking for volunteers to help out on the Annual RMA Picnic on Thursday the 17th, and especially wants to meet any guys who know any merchants in our area. BOB BISHOP gave an update on the plans for handling a health emergency during a RMA meeting and named his helpers: PETER ARTURI, DON CONWAY, JIM FAHEY, and DON SARGEANT. To be noted: the EMS will come through the side door under the basketball net. Also a "hot line" will be set up to the front desk. TIM NOLAN announced the next ROMEO: The Stanwich Club on Sept. 30. $35 beef or fish.

COMMITTEE REPORTS: Visting: from CHUCK STANDARD -CORY DUNHAM is in rehab at Nath. Witherell (call 618-4373), MIKE BALINT is in rehab at Edge Hill after back surgery 276-4728), GENE LOUGHLIN had an angioplasty and hopes to be back next week. Membership:118 of us, 4 candidates, and 2 guests: TERRY FULLER by DAVE DEWEY, and TOM HORTON by RAY SLOAN. Birthdays: DICK BARTHOLOMEW 72, HUB SCHAFLY 90, GENE SCHWARTZ 76, FRANKLIN LANG 78, VIN MASI 82, JOHN SEEL 80, GORDON JAMIESON 85, ED ANDERSON 87, BOB MEYER 82, TIM NOLAN 84. Special Events: SEE BELOW. Volunteering: From JACK BAUSMAN -174 hrs by 54, 97 RMA by 20.

FUN and GAMES: Bridge: GRUNDEL 3320, SCHAFFIR 2380, ROE 2360. Golf: Longest MACKAY, next VIGGIANO; Closest: MACKAY, then LESSUK.

TODAY'S PROGRAM: Introduced by RICH HOPKINS, BILL ANDERSEN, former Greenwich Police Chief. A very personable speaker, and we very much enjoyed his talk: how the U.S. MARSHALLs got started and what they do: they are the enforcement arm of the federal courts and are involved in virtually every federal law enforcement: Judicial Security, Fugitive Investigations, Witness Security Programs, Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation, Federal Prisoner Services, and Asset Forfeiture Programs (this is where the $$'s are). Here in Connecticut there are four offices with 20 deputies and 25 court officers. In the US there are 94 U.S. Marshals, one for each federal judicial district – with more than 3,320 Deputy Marshals and Investigators. All in all, a subject his audience was really into, and it was fun to listen to, too. Thanks to RICH HOPKINS.

Editor, FRANK LEE

SPECIAL EVENTS
Open to all members their ladies, candidates, guests. TX means ticket exchange via the BB after events are sold out. Checks made out to RMA.

Mon. Aug 24 Mets game. Depart 10:30. St. Cath.(1 opening ?). $63 Call RICH LIMBACHER.

Thurs. Aug. 27. Jean Louis Luncheon. 5 openings. $29 pp. Frank Flores 698-3060.

Thur. Sept. 10. Goodspeed Opera. Camelot. $95 pp with lunch at Gelson House. Depart 10 AM. Tkt Exch. Rich Limbacher 531-9515.

Wed. Sept 30. ROMEO. Stanwich Club $35. Tim Nolan 661-6749.

Thurs. Oct. 15. Peter Luger Luncheon. $100 pp. Bus. Room for 6 more couples. Dep 1 PM. Frank Flores 698-3060.

Thurs. Dec. 3. Christmas Show Cirque du Soleil. $95 Bus St. Cath. 9:00 AM. Tkt Exch. Rich Limbacher 531-9515.

NEXT WEEK

The chief exec of National Exec. Service Corps. - about support for non-profits.

CBB TV SCHEDULE

12:30 PM- on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

8:00 PM- on Sunday, Tuesday and Saturday.

6:00 PM- on Thursday.