CIGAR BOX BULLETIN

Volume 59, No. 31      December 7, 2011

The Old Man of the Mountain

The granite contingency
Of boulders on Cannon’s cliff
Is quite chopfallen;
Gone the strong chin
The distant smile
Brooding over Echo Lake
The giant face of Hawthorne’s tale
Has disappeared
Perhaps in sadness,
Despair at our oligarchic state,
With armies everywhere,
Lacking only Emperor and slave
To emulate the past;
For even granite wears.

President Bart rang the bell and promptly announced the (groan) $3 day. MIKE AMOROSO fondly led the Pledge. STEVE PIERSON conducted the Star-Spangled Banner, I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter, and Toot, Toot, Tootsie, with nimble accompaniment by JIM SANTORA on the fake piano. Corresponding Secretary PETER SCHIEFERDECKER noted that today was the anniversary of the date shall live in infamy and read an e-mail by BOB STONE from Argentina where he professes to be getting polo lessons. PETER ( note the name) then objected to last week’s joke about peters and then proceeded to tell one about a colloquial name for a policeman.

Announcements: Prexy BART described upcoming TV programs on ch.79, etc. of prior speakers and noted that a dvd will be on our website for direct viewing. Also, Greenwich library has a “Ruby” magnifier to aid visually impaired readers.

And today is the last chance for Medicare enrollment changes.

● HORST TEBBE thanked donors to ‘midnight run’ and said next week would be a collection day.

● JIM SANTORA said Neighbor-to-Neighbor would collect canned foods next week and the Boys and Girls club will host a $5 pancake breakfast on Saturday, complete with youth choir (8-11am at the club).

● DAVE DOWNS and JOHN FEBLES discussed the collection results for the Salvation Army bell ringers

● CARL VAN AKEN touted next week’s investment club topic: Estate Planning.

● ERF PORTER, arriving late and breathless, discussed the upcoming vote in the RTM on renewal for Nathaniel Witherell. A fact sheet was distributed for those concerned with this critical decision.

Returnees: CHARLIE MOSHER from CA, and GEORGE CHELWICK from Southern CA,

Visiting: CHUCK ( the calendar) STANDARD said he had 9 big ones and needed a small one. He pleaded for the return of the missing medallion belonging to our prior speaker . CHUCK LIVINGSTON has pneumonia, FRANK HENDERSON is recuperating at home, LINN GRIM is in Greenwich Woods, getting his memory back, and RICH HOPKINS is in Edge Hill for rehab. Then we welcomed HERB EGLI back. Keep well guys!

Program: WIN ADKINS told us about today’s speaker and BOB ALDEN said next week we would have Lara Spenser from Good Morning America. AL KNIGHT informed us that future speakers would be players from the Harvard/Yale game of 1968.

Membership: JIM FAHY announced 109 members ( probably low owing to the earlier start–meetings now begin at 10:00am, not 10:30am, and 2 candidates: Bob Rimmer and John Romans, as well as 3 guests: Joe Imm g/o MIKE RYAN, Arnold Gordon g/o KURT SHAFFIR and Paul Brady g/0 LOU CHIAPPETTA. Then we all sang Happy Birthday, sans music, to BIN BINSHADLER,93, DANA LOW,79, TOM MORRISON, 77, and TED CHIN, 76.

Special Events: RICH LIMBACHER summarized the upcoming trips ( see below) after protesting that he would not make chicken divan for the Melody Men annual dinner ( I believe you cook it on a sofa).

SPORTS: RMA Bridge: KURT SHAFFIR said DICK CASE took first with 3380 pts, JOE ROE second with 3100, and HOLLISTER STURGES brought up the rear at 2980. Bowling: DOM DePASQUALE said scores were as follows: JERRY BERRAFATI, 129, MARIO BONAPARTE, 130, TONY RIGGI, 138, DANA LOW, 139, and DOM topped the list with 152.

Speaker: WIN ADKINS introduced Heidi Hadsell,PhD, President of the Hartford Seminary at some length because she has a distinguished career in theology and lots of managerial experience in theological venues, as well as degrees from Berkeley, USC and Columbia. Her topic, Moslem, Christian, and Jew; Issues of Communication and Conflict, concerned the many issues, both of commonality and conflict that confront the Abrahamic religions. The 180 year old Seminary also trains muslims to be chaplains in the armed forces. A first for many of our speakers, she kept her talk to the 20 minute time and proceeded to deal with a range of questions. A fascinating talk of great interest to the group.

Martin Grayson -Editor

Special Events: Open to all members,their ladies, candidates,and guests,Tickets exchanged via the BB after sold out events,

Thur. 26 January, NY Philharmonic rehearsal, lnch Le Rivage, $90pp, lv 7:45am St. C. Tkt Xch.

Thur. 23 Feb., CT State Capitol, lnch cafeteria, on your own, Wadsworth Ath. Mus., $35, lv St.C. 8:30am, 26 openings

Thur., 8 Mar., Mus. Of the City of NY, lnch tba, $95pp, lv 8:15am, St.C., 30 openings

All trips coord. By Gerry Lessuk and Rich Limbacher.

NEXT WEEK: Lara Spenser of Good Morning America..

For all schedules, live speaker video feed, CBBs,etc: @www:greenwichrma.org.