CIGAR BOX BULLETIN

Volume 55, No. 40     January 30, 2008

It was promptly at 9:30 – please note that our meetings now start at 9:30 a.m. – that President RICHARD LIMBACHER rang the bell to open the meeting in the now heated gymnasium. Even though the acoustics still leave much to be desired, it was great to have heat again. CHUCK STANDARD led us in the pledge, and with JIM SANTORA at the keyboard, CHUCK LIVINGSTON led us in singing “America the Beautiful” followed by “When Irish Eyes are Smiling” and “California Here I Come”. Recording and Corresponding Sec. BILL DYNAN read a card from SAM MARASSO and then reviewed last week’s meeting, ending with the story of the Scotsman and the Muslim ordering refreshments on a plane.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: MARTIN GRAYSON said that the CBB lunch will be February 13 at the Riverside Yacht Club, $32/pp payable to the Riverside Yacht Club. All past, present and future contributors welcome. TIM NOLAN reminded us that the ROMEO lunch was today at the Field Club. DICK RADCLIFF encouraged our attendance at the Greenwich Symphony concerts this Saturday and Sunday. Those going Sunday should be able to get home before the Super Bowl Game. DAVID DOWNS thanked the all bell ringers and contributors to the Salvation Army and gave a brief report on its beneficial activities for the past year. RICHARD LIMBACHER urged us to increase our meeting attendance over the 90 recorded last week (late arrivals may be responsible for the low count) and to please pick up our coffee cups and not leave them on the floor. Also the one man at the coffee table needs help. The next Board of Directors meeting is Monday, Feb. 4, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00. Volunteers are also needed to fill the shortage of people at the voting booths. To help call Veronica Musca at 622-6497 or Sharon Vecchiolla at 622-7707.

RETURNEES: BILL DYNAN from Puerto Rico; AV RIVEL from the San Francisco Bay area; BOB BISHOP from the White Mountains of N.H. Welcome home!

COMMITTEE REPORTS: Visiting: CHUCK STANDARD said that JOHN LYONS is recuperating at home, DOM DIMAIO is in rehab at Osborn Home, and BILL GALLAGHER is at Yale New Haven Hospital. Program: JOHN CALIMAFDE announced that today’s speaker would be Conrad Teitell, a prominent estate planning lawyer. RICHARD LIMBACHER said that the speaker next week will be Alexander Brash. Membership: JIM FAHY reported a total of 82 present – not counting the late arrivals. There was one candidate, STEVE MYERS, and there were 2 guests, DON CONWAY guest of TOM HEALY and JIM MURSASKI guest of DOUG TAYLOR. Happy Birthday was sung to JOSEPH CARTER 90 and GERALD ISAACSON 81. Special events: TOM HEALY reported there were 26 tickets available at $30 pp for the Foxwoods Casino trip Feb. 21 and 3 tickets available for the N.Y. Philharmonic trip April 3. See below for details. Volunteers: RAY SLOAN reported for the week ending Jan 30 there were 886 volunteer hours to outside agencies by 52 men and 106 hours to RMA duties by 25 men.

PLAYTIME: Bridge: HAP HEYMAN reported that there were 4 players last week. HAP himself was 1st with 1820. FRANK HENDERSON was 2nd with 1080, and DAVID DOWNS was 3rd with 240. Bowling: DOM DEPASQUALE said that yesterday’s scores were HARRY LEIGH 140, DOM DEPASQUALE 148, BOB OPPENHEIMER 152, and LINN GRIM 160. Golf: ERF PORTER reported that the plan for 2008 is to use the same rotating captain system used for 2007, so approximately 16 golfers will be picked to each act as host for 2 consecutive weeks. The RMA Golf Committee (PORTER, HEALY, PIERCE, SMITH, ARTURI and BARLETTA) have had a seat at the Golf Users Group Committee meetings, but in spite of their efforts the ladies will still be followed every other month. We will keep you up to date on the ongoing improvements to the facilities. Tennis: DICK BARTHOLOMEW reported that on Friday, Jan. 25, on court 1 PAUL LEVINE won 13 and lost 7. On court 2 WALTER COUPE and FRANK LEE tied – they both won 10 and lost 8. On court 3 TONY RIGGI won 15 and lost 5. The captains for Friday, Feb.2, are court 1 LEON FREEMAN for HEALY, LEVINE and PARKER. Court 2 GREG GREGORICH for AUGER, RIIS, and SWEGER, and court 3 FRANK LEE for BURGESS, DANIEL and TWITCHELL.

TODAY’S PROGRAM: JOHN CALIMAFDE presented prominent estate planning lawyer Conrad Teitell who gave a most interesting review of the estate tax legislation in Congress and the implications for possible changes to the estate taxes. We were most fortunate to have such a knowledgeable and entertaining professional whose talk prompted numerous questions and interesting answers.

SAM YORK, Editor

SPECIAL EVENTS
Open to all RMA Members, their Ladies and guests. Ticket exchange via the Bulletin Board only.

February 21 – Thursday. Foxwoods Casino Trip. Casino offers $35 in food & keno credits. Optional visit – Mashantucket Pequot Museum. Cost is $30 pp. Bus leaves St. Catherine’s parking lot 8:00 AM. Trip Coordinator Tom Healy. Status – 26 tickets available 

April 3 – Thursday. N.Y. Philharmonic – Lincoln Center, NY. Open Rehearsal begins at 9:45 a.m. – Program includes Beethoven’s Leonore Overture No. 2 & Piano Concerto No. 4, and Vaughn Williams’ Symphony 4. Sir Colon Davis is the Conductor, and Richard Goode is the Pianist. 1 p.m. lunch at Panevino Restaurant. Cost is $75 pp. Bus leaves St. Catherine’s parking lot at 7:45 AM. Trip Coordinator is TBA. Status – 3 tickets available. Tickets will be distributed this week.

NEXT WEEK

Speaker: Alexander Brash