CIGAR BOX BULLETIN

Volume No. 53, No. 3                          May 18, 2005

President, BRIAN FORROW, opened the meeting promptly at ten. PETER LASORSA led the Pledge of Allegiance, and with none other than BOB BUTTON at the piano –welcome back BOB – CHUCK STANDARD led us in singing America the Beautiful, There’s a Long, Long Trail and Smiles. Recording Secretary FRED BROOKS started by telling us about a 98 year old woman who, remarkably, claimed to have no enemies. When asked how, she replied "I’ve outlived all the bitches." He then thoroughly reviewed last week’s proceedings. Filling in for Corresponding Secretary, BILL DYNAN, PETER SCHIEFERDECKER in his pink pants, responded to those who had commented on his attire by saying that he was comfortable in his sexuality. He then presented a card sent by BOB CHURCH from Greece that depicted a very sexy, minimally attired well-endowed young lady. He closed with a story about a man who had to take a second suppository with the aid of his wife who had only one hand on his shoulder.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: CARL VAN AKEN said that at today’s meeting of the Investment Club, at noon in the YMCA Boardroom, Larry Martin of Fidelity Investments will present the first quarter economic report of the US economy and give us his analysis of its meaning and implications for the near future. TIM NOLAN reminded us of the ROMEO luncheon at the Stanwich Club June 8, $30 PP. GENE SCHWARTZ announced that the Computer Club will meet next Wednesday, May 25, promptly at 12:00 noon at the Senior Center Computer Lab for a presentation by Portero of how to buy and sell objects through eBay on the Internet. BRIAN FORROW sadly announced that ROBERT PETERSON had died on Friday. The memorial service will be on Saturday, May 21 at the First Presbyterian Church in Greenwich at 11:00 am. 

RETURNEES: TOM SCHWARTZ from the Pocono Mountains, MIKE BALINT from Vero Beach, FL, BOB MCKAY from Jupiter, FL, BOB CHURCH from Greece. Welcome home!

COMMITTEE REPORTS: Visiting: CHUCK STANDARD reported on BOB ALDEN, DAVID DONALD, BUD HALL, DICK WILLSTATTER and, welcome back, CHASE RITTS. Program: SAM MARASSO announced that today CHUCK LIVINGSTON will introduce the Melody Men. Next week, May 25, HARRY TWITCHELL will present Nimr Ibrahim, Professor of History at the American University of Beirut, who will speak on US – Arab relations in the Middle East. In two weeks the speaker will be Rabbi Mitchell Hurvitz of Temple Sholom. Membership: MIKE RYAN reported a total of 169 present --163 Members, 4 Candidates and 2 Guests. Candidates were JIM DEAN, BILL GERECKE, JERRY ISAACSON, and JACK BAUSMAN. Guests were BERT KLEBANOW, guest of BILL ZBORAY, and DOM RUSSELLO, guest of DAVE DOWNS. Birthdays: FRAN AUGER 82; DICK CASE 70; BOB PHILLIPS 64; MARION CLINE 94; CLIFF WOODS 80; DON TOWNSEND 80, PHIL KNOWTON 86; AL STEVENSON 91; JOHN KENNEDY 88. Happy Birthday! Special Events: TOM HEALY reported that 10 tickets were still available for the June 30 Mets-Philly’s game at Shea Stadium and the December 10 Boston Pops Holiday Concert. See below for the sold out events on ticket exchange status. Also check the bulletin board for the information posted. Volunteer: REID MCINTYRE reported for the week ending May 18: 1013 hours to outside agencies by 88 men and 149 hours to RMA duties by 34 men. 

PLAYTIME: Bridge: LORING WEBER reported there were 11 players last week. Scores – DICK CASE 2520, KURT SCHAFFIR 2040, HAP HEYMAN 1770. Bowling: DOM DEPASQUALE reported there would be no scheduled summer bowling. Those wishing to bowl should make their own arrangements. Golf: BOB JOHNSON reported all 40 men teed off on time yesterday. Low gross: REID MCINTYRE 85; MIKE SMITH 91; DICK BARTHOLDMEW 92. Nearest pin #7 – TOM SAWER. Nearest pin #15 – MANNY BONVENUTO. Longest Drive #17 – LEON FREEMAN. Golf scores are available on the RMA website: www.greenwichrma.org. Tennis: BILL ZBORAY reported court #1 BILL OSGOOD 18 games, court #2 MIKE SMITH 15 games, court #3 WALTER COUPE 18 games, court #4 Ted Hanser 12 games. BILL also presented the trophies for the 2005 Champions: Group #1 - PAUL LEVINE; Group #2 - LEON FREEMAN; and Group #3 - HAVEN KNIGHT. 

TODAY’S PROGRAM: CHUCK LIVINGSTON introduced the Melody Men after EMMET EATON led the men in. With BOB BUTTON on the piano, the Melody Men led off with their RMA signature song followed by "If They Could See Is Now" by BOB BUTTON and "Read the Bible." Next was "Once in Love with Amy" from "Where’s Charlie," "The Brotherhood of Men" from "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," and "Mississippi Mud." The community sing produced "Take Me Back," "The Yankee Doodle Boy," "You’re a Grand Old Flag", and "America the Beautiful." The Melody Men then sang "Alexander’s Ragtime Band," "It’s a Small World," a medley from "A Desert Song," and "Oklahoma!". The finale before the sign off was "Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines." A truly enjoyable performance! 

SAM YORK, Editor

SPECIAL EVENTS

2 June, Thurs. -Belmont Race Track, Private Buffet in Clubhouse. Ticket exchange, $60 PP.  Bus leaves St. Catherine’s Parking Lot, 10:30 AM and returns around 6:30 PM. 

30 June, Thurs. - Mets vs. Phillies at Shea, 10 tx avail. $50pp. Bus leaves St. C, 10:15 AM 

10 July, Sun. -Boston Symphony at Tanglewood, lunch Cork N'Hearth, Lee, MA. Ticket exchange $85,  Bus leaves Old Gr. Civic Ctr. 9 AM 

10 Aug., Wed. -Goodspeed Opera House, matinee of 'The Boy Friend.' Ticket exchange, $90 PP. Lunch at La Vita Gustosa. Bus leaves St. C 10 AM 

10 Dec., Sat. -Boston Pops Holiday Concert, Arena at Harbor Yard, 10 tx avail, $60pp, U-Drive, performance 7:30 PM. Note: for information visit our RMA website: www.greenwichrma.org.

NEXT WEEK

Nimr Ibrahim speaks on: “Current US–Arab Relations in the Middle East”