CIGAR BOX BULLETIN

Volume 56, No. 41        February 11, 2009

On a beautiful (warm for a change) winter’s day, Prexy Mike Ryan opened the meeting on or very close to the dot of 9:30. AL Knight led us in the pledge and TOM HEALY, accompanied by MIKE HAUPTMAN, led us in singing America the Beautiful, Carolina in the Morning and Once in Love with Amy. Rec/Corr Sec BILL DYNAN reviewed last week’s events, reported no mail, and told us a story about a hypnotist who raised a big stink at a senior center when he dropped his antique watch.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: JOHN CRAINE reported the results of membership survey will be emailed to those of us who are semi-computer-literate and snail mailed to our dinosaurs for review and, possibly, further suggestions and refinements. FRED ELSER updated and passed out the SeniorNet schedule for computer classes at the Senior Center through June. Classes are now being taught based on three operating systems, Windows XP, Windows Vista and Apple Leopard. Classes cover basic introduction, digital photography at three levels, and additional information on Word, Excel, Quicken, and the three operating systems. For more info or to enroll, call SeniorNet at (203) 862-6734 or check their web site at greenwichseniornet.org. JOHN de CESPEL gave us some background on today’s speaker, Jeff Cianci, and JEFF PARKER gave us a similar briefing on Daniel Carr who will address us next week. MIKE RYAN then welcomed back returnees DOUG FRANCEFORT (Antigua) and ARNOLD STANCELL (California).

COMMITTEE REPORTS: Memorial: DICK HERMANCE read a memorial for RALPH ANDERSON, 93. RALPH joined us in 1985. He was an active volunteer at Hill House, Parsonage Cottage and First Church in Old Greenwich. A memorial service will be scheduled. R.I.P. Visiting: CHUCK STANDARD reported that FRANK FLORES and LINN GRIMM were both home from hospital stays. His news that MANNY BONVENUTO was back with us today produced cheers from all present. Membership: JIM FAHY reported 123 members present, 2 candidates, Tom McEvoy and Steve Boies, and 3 guests, Dieter Blennemann (FRED BROOKS) Fred Keire (KEITH SMITH) and Neil Connelly (FRANK LEE). We sang Happy Birthday to BRIAN FORROW–82, BOB PHELPS–70, NICK ROBERTO–85, GRAN BURGESS–62, HAROLD FROST–75, BOB JOHNSON-82, BILL OSGOOD-73, and CHARLIE MOSHER-78. We also gave a round of applause to PETER & TIMMI ARTURI, LOU & JUDY CARAVELLA, and ROS & ANGELA CURTIS who celebrated their 56th wedding anniversaries on February 7th . Volunteer: ROGER PIERCE reported 906 hours by 67 men to outside agencies and 120 hours by 21 men to RMA duties. Special Events: See below.

SCOREBOARD: Bridge: KURT SCHAFFIR reported February 3rd results: DICK CASE -- 4120, DAVE DOWNS – 3320, KURT SCHAFFIR -- 2360 and RALPH VIGGIANO -- 2190. Bowling: DOM DEPASQUALE reported February 10th scores of 152 for himself, 146 for BOB OPPENHEIMER, 168 for HARRY LEIGH , all topped by RALPH "The Ringer" VIGGIANO with a 622 series (177, 191 and 254). Tennis: MIKE SMITH reported February 6th winners: Court 1 – MIKE SMITH, Court 2 –LEON FREEMAN. Captains for February 13: Court 1 – PAUL LEVINE, Court 2 – FRANK LEE.

TODAY’S SPEAKER: Jeff Cianci, Chief Investment Officer of Green Science Partners, a Stamford based fund management company, gave us a fascinating presentation on "green technology." There is no question that the technology currently exists and spans many areas, solar, wind, many bio-fuels, geothermal, tidal, nuclear and more. When oil was selling at $150 bbl, funding was available and development proceeded apace. Participants included corporate giants and numerous small developmental companies who are currently vying for very large amounts of funding from capital markets in disarray. The economics of developing these technologies with oil at its current price of about $35, even in a friendly political environment, are now problematic and a lot of the smaller companies may fall by the wayside, end up in bankruptcy and/or be snapped up at bargain prices by their larger energy sector competitors. Invest with caution. Under any circumstance, oil is likely to continue to be our primary source of energy for some years to come. It was a most interesting and informative presentation!

DAVE DOWNS, Editor

SPECIAL EVENTS
Open to all members, their ladies, candidates and guests.

Thurs. Feb. 26: Yale Center for British Art and Scoozi’s Restaurant, $60. Bus leaves St, Catherine’s at 10:30. Rich Limbacher, leader.

Thurs. March 26: Google Building and Forbes Museum, $30. Bus leaves St. Catherine’s at 9:45. Steve Marino, leader.

NEXT WEEK

Daniel Carr, Assistant General Counsel of shipping giant, Stolt Nielsen, will discuss "Piracy on the Horn of Africa."