CIGAR BOX BULLETIN

Volume 56, No. 35        December 31, 2008

On the last day of the year (and a snowy one at that), MIKE RYAN cranked up the ole school bell at 9:30 AM. The pledge was led with vigor by RALPH VIGGIANO. Music was provided by MIKE HAUPTMAN on the baby, baby grand electronic piano, and GRAN BURGESS as the leader. Our first song was the ever-popular Star Spangled Banner. Your editor neglected to record the other two songs, but they were sung with gusto. BILL DYNAN told us what had happened at the prior week’s meeting and told us an exceptionally clean story about a man calling police because some men were stealing from his shed.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: MIKE RYAN reminded the powers that be that there will be a Board meeting next Wednesday at 8:15 AM on the 3rd floor of the YMCA. Returnees were: DOUG TAYLOR from Vail, CO, CHUCK STANDARD from VT, JERRY ISAACSON from San Francisco and RAY LEBLANC FROM Atlanta, GA.

MEMORIAL: DICK HERMANCE gave a eulogy for FRED VEITH, an RMA member since 1988 who died on December 16. FRED had been married to CORNELIA for almost 60 years and was active in the First Congregational Church, Riverside Yacht Club, Meals-On-Wheels, Inland Wetlands, and RMA. There will be a memorial service at the church in January. Rest In Peace.

COMMITTEE REPORTS: Visiting: JAN MEYER would have been back but had holiday houseguests, JOHN PHILLIPS, DOM DIMAIO, and FRANK ZAVATTORO continue their recuperation. Membership: JIM FAHY reported there were 78 hardy souls in attendance, 76 members and 2 candidates. The candidates were: GERRY LESSUK and STEVE BOIES. Of special note: RAY and GLORIA LEBLANC celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary on December 26. CONGRATULATIONS! Our birthday boys were: JOHN CRAINE 72, CAL DARULA 78, DOUG FRANCEFORT 80, THOMAS CLEMENTS 82, LEE DAVENPORT 93 and BOB OPPENHEIMER 94. Volunteers: STEVE MARINO reported that there were 555 volunteer hours by 44 men and 78 hours to RMA duties by 19 men. Bridge: KURT SCHAFFIR had no bridge report, but wished everyone a Happy New Year!

TODAY’S SPEAKER: JOHN deCSEPEL introduced our speaker, and his longtime friend, BLAISE PASZTORY, an expert in international law, especially in law of the countries of Eastern Europe. He spoke eloquently of his personal experiences in Hungary and in the United States. He came to the United States at the age of 5 Went on to Harvard and Harvard Law School and then joined a law firm. He joined the International Bar Association in 1966, but made special note of 1988 when lawyers from Communist countries were allowed to attend international conferences.

In 1992 he opened his firm’s office in Budapest. They weren’t allowed to open branch offices, so they called them Representative Offices. He closed with the startling announcement that Captain James Smith of Jamestown was really Hungarian!

JERRY ISAACSON, Editor

SPECIAL EVENTS

Open to all members, their ladies, candidates and guests. Note: Tx xchnged via the BB after events are sold out

Thurs. January 8. The Bearcats at the Silvermine, Tavern in Norwalk To carpool, meet in the parking lot across from Exit 5 at the Chinese Restaurant at 5:45 Buffet is $19.95 Sign up by January 7. See JOHN deCSEPEL.

Wed. Jan 21, Romeo Luncheon at the Field Club. $35. Reservations and payment taken on January 7 and 14. See NORM COLLINS.

Thurs. 22 Jan., CIA Escoffier rest, West Point, bus trip, $65pp. A few tickets left. RICH LIMBACHER, leader, 531-9515.

NEXT WEEK

Tim Armstrong, -V.P. of Google, “The Americas for Google”