CIGAR BOX BULLETIN

Volume 52 No. 46     March 16, 2005

On a sunny morning just four days short of Spring, our President BOB CHURCH opened the meeting and referred to himself as the “lame duck” president [which he technically will not be until after next weeks election ] but he is definitely playing the back nine with just a few holes to go. BOB DYNAN led the pledge as a last minute replacement, followed by Song Leader BOB DRESEL and Pianist JIM SANTORO who led us through, America, and two Irish Specials- My Wild Irish Rose and When Irish Eyes Are Smiling, to commemorate St. Patrick’s Day which is tomorrow. Rec.Sec. BILL DYNAN recapped last weeks meeting in his usual thorough but concise way. MARTIN GRAYSON played the role of Corr.Sec. by reading a couple of post cards then told a joke that is worth repeating. A mother superior in a convent in Ireland was nearing the end and the sisters were gathered around trying to make her comfortable, One sister offered a glass of warm milk which was refused. Then another sister spotted some Irish whiskey and added a healthy portion into the milk and urged the mother superior to drink some. She drank a little and then some more until she finished the whole glass. Then she motioned the second sister to bend closer and she whispered , “Don’t sell the cow!”.

NEW SLATE OF OFFICERS: LINN GRIM then presented the recommended slate of 2005- 2006: Officers for next weeks election- President BRIAN FORROW, 1st. VP SAM MARASSO Jr., 2nd VP- RICHARD LIMBACHER, 3rd. VP MIKE RYAN, Treasurer CARL STONE, Recording Secretary FRED BROOKS, Corresponding Secretary BILL DYNAN.. Directors at Large - PETER ARTURI Term Expires 4/30/06, VINCENT MASI T.E. 4/30/ 06, TOM HEALY T.E. 4/30/ 07, ROLAND HARRIS T. E. 4/30/07, SAL DeANGELO T.E. 4/30/08, DOUG TAYLOR T.E. 4/30/08. Standing Committee Chairman - Audit FRANK PREUCIL, Budget CLIFF WOODS, Cigar Box Bulletin MARTIN GRAYSON, Constitution & By-Laws ROBERT BARNUM, Membership DOUG TAYLOR, Program SAM MARASSO Jr., Volunteer JOHN CRAINE. Five Previous Presidents - BOB CHURCH, LINN GRIM, KEITH HEYMAN, EUGENE WAGGAMAN, CHUCK STANDARD. Nominating Council - BOB CHURCH- Chair, LINN GRIM Vice Chair, JOHN SEEL 4/30/06, HARRY LEIGH 4/30/07, BILL HORTON 4/30/ 08. A really wonderfully strong lineup. OTHER: DOM COGLIANDRO announced a special group of 15 friends had a party to celebrate TONY BOLOGNA's 90th. birthday party. ROGER PIERCE announced the luncheon for the VOLUNTEER volunteers next week at Indian Harbor C.C. $30 Select your menu.. RICH LIMBACHER made a plea for members to be more vocal in speaking up about the RMA and to be more forceful in seeking new members. Apparently we are not as well known as many of us had thought. CHUCK LIVINGSTON reports there will be a rehearsal of the Melody Men on Monday March 21 at the First Congregational Church. Check Chuck for time. 

RETURNEES: DOUG TAYLOR Vail CO, MIKE HARRIS Jupiter FL, JOHN CRAINE Longboat Key FL, TOM HEALY New Orleans LA, JIM SANTORA Lake Worth FL, JOHN GANTZ Austrailia, New Zealand, Tonga, Bora Bora, FRED WALDRON The Villages FL, JOHN GATES Stratton Mt. VT. 

COMMITTEE REPORTS: VISITING: PHIL HAHN reports RAY LeBLANC getting around on a walker, back soon, RICH LIMBACHER here today -looking and feeling great, JIM McPHERSON at home, taking chemo, no calls, BOB OGDEN had a heart attack while skiing, in Bridgeport Hospital, BOB WARD had bypass & valve replacement, at Cornell Medical Center, BOB PREIS here today, looking good. PROGRAM: SAM MARASSO announces today's’ speaker will be Father Michael Moynihan, Pastor of St. Michaels. MEMBERSHIP: DOUG TAYLOR reports 134 Members, 4 Candidates, 1 Guest - Bob Harper guest of LEO FUTIA< TOTAL 139. BIRTHDAYS: TONY BOLOGNA- 90, DICK THOMPSON -78, LOU CHIAPPETTA - 85, IRVING THODE - 74, WARNER FINNEY - 86, BILL GALLAGHER -80, KEN FORD -77. VOLUNTEERS: WALTER HOWE reports 981 hours outside by 74 men and 108 RMA hours by 29 men. SPECIAL EVENTS: TOM HEALY sounded out membership on interest in visiting Tanglewood- reply favorable. Details at end. 

FUN AND GAMES: BRIDGE: For the week of 3/9/05 - 5 Players, 1st. PETE JACKSON -2320, 2nd. FRANK HENDERSON -1010. Pete is always looking to welcome more players. BOWLING: Here’s an interesting point that DOM DePASQUALE presented , on 3/15/05 BOB OPPENHEIMER age 90 bowled 160, DOM COGLIANDRO age 87 bowled 173, and JIM DUNCAN age 93 bowled 182. Bowlers seem to get better with age like fine wine and cheese. TENNIS: RMA tennis for week of 3/11/05 Court #1 LEON FREEMAN 18 games, Court #2 PAUL LEVINE 14 games, Court #3 ROGER PIERCE 17 games, Court #4 KEITH SMITH 10 games . BILL ZBORAY asks all players who would like to join the RMA indoor tennis for next year to give him a check for $50 made out to OGTA. He needs a head count to know how many courts to reserve. 

TODAY’S SPEAKER: Today JOHN CARON introduced Father Michael Moynihan, Pastor of St. Michaels Church who opened with a humorous comment - he said that there was a group of widows and widowers at his church and since the widows are far more numerous, when they learned where he was going to be speaking, they asked that he tell our group that we were always welcome. Then he gave a thoughtful and entertaining talk. He believes that there is not much difference in the various religions, each believe in a Devine being but call them different names. if you have faith that is important- it makes bad moments more bearable and can make a difference in our lives.          

RON KLINGNER, Editor

SPECIAL EVENTS

March 19 Sat. New Broadway Musical - “Good Vibrations” at the O’Neill Theater 2 PM matinee $90pp. Lunch at Le Rivage at 11:30 AM Bus leaves St. Catherine at 10 AM -2 Tickets Available.

June 30 Thurs. Mets vs. Philadelphia Phillies at Shea Stadium Game begins at 1:10 PM $50 pp Bus leaves St. Catherine Parking Lot at 10:15 AM. 25 Tickets Available 

Aug. 10 Wed. Goodspeed Opera House “The Boy Friend” 2PM Lunch at La Vita Gustosa at 12 Noon Bus leaves St. Catherine parking Lot at 10:00 AM $90 pp 12 Tickets Available 

Future events under consideration -
May-Belmont Race Track/ Club house Lunch.
July - Mohegan Sun Casino / Tanglewood

NEXT WEEK

Chris Brulh, Executive director of Southwestern area Commerce & Industry Assn.

In Two Weeks: Bruce Wennerstrom, Concours D’Elegance