CIGAR BOX BULLETIN

Volume 51, Number 13   July 30, 2003

Well folks, it doesn't get much better than listening to Jim Santora's walk in music while settling in to the sumptuous YMCA Rendezvous Room to swap lies with your RMA buddies. Prexy Linn Grim gaveled us to order right on time and Dick Willstatter not only led us in the pledge, but gave us a brief, but complete, history of it. This is a test. How many of you knew that it was written by Francis Bellamy and Pres. Benjamin Harrison issued a Proclamation in 1893 that said, "Let the national flag float over every school house in the land and impress upon our youth the patriotic duties of American citizenship"? With the aforementioned Jim Santora at the giant Wurlitzer and Jim Smeriglio as stickman, we gave full voice to God Bless America, I'm A Yankee Doodle Dandy and I'm Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover. Bill Dynan, who somehow finds humor which escaped us the previous week, reviewed the highlights. In his role as a substitute, Wayne Wright reviewed 2 cards, including 1 from Bill Boom showing some well displayed boom-booms. He then told a funnier story than he had related in 27 years as official Corresponding Person. You may think the Ayes have it, but in fact it is the ears, at least according to Wayne.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Can't think of any.

RETURNEES:
 A bunch of returnees: Sal DeAngelo/London, Henry Baker/NJ (sez he was visiting a cat house), Gene Gormley/Highland Lake, NY, Bob Underwood & Fred Kiachif/Adirondaks, Ben Evans/MD, Carl Van Aken/Italy. A hearty welcome back!

COMMITTEE REPORTS:
 Well, it turns out Monday was not a beautiful day after all. Dick Thompson told us our own Chuck Standard collapsed during RMA golf on Monday and is in the hospital. Chuck, you know our thoughts and prayers are with you and come back soon. Bill Eustis told us about this week's (terrific) program - see below. Also there will be a Program Committee meeting on August 13th, usual time and place. Then it was on to el jefe of the Membership Committee himself - Doug Taylor advising of 180 on board today including guests Bob Gerwig of Ray Sloane, Carl Richter of Tim Nolan, Ed Bachman of Doug Francefort, Byron Rosenbaum of Bob Kitchen. By the looks of the birthday list, early November is a great time to make babies. Tony Riggi 71, Alec Robertson 73, Jim Whalen 72, Fred Elser 69, Bob Button 88, Walter Humstone 90, Sal De Angelo 80, Chuck Standard 84, Sam York 74, Topper Cook 83, John Riis 79, Dick Radcliffe 79, Brian Spille 61. Whew, that is a whole lot of candles. Then THE leader par excellence of Special Events, Rich Limbacher brought us up to speed on outings - see below. One of our premier volunteers, Doug Francefort told of 976 hours by 89 troops and 86 RMA hours by by 29 stalwarts.. Doug urged us on to greater volunteer heights with a shot at a new RMA annual total record for the year.

TODAY'S INDUCTEE:
Then it was time to bring Bob Phillips into our highly selective and exclusive organization. Bob. Give him a call! He was enthusiastically sponsored by the duo of Mike Ryan & Bob Negele. Mike told us about Brown University, Texaco, law degree, etc. Bob Negele (does everyone need to be a comedian?) told us about everything that Bob Phillips ISN’T; including not being the owner and bottler of Phillips Milk of Magnesia. Although our cup runneth over with lawyers, Bob was a shoo-in.

FUN AND GAMES:
Since Pete Jackson is so shy, he had Graham Whitehead report bridge scores for him. Yep, Pete himself had 2600, Al Hartig 1790, Hap Heyman 1420. Then it was Bob (Tiger) Johnson for golf. Nearest the pin on #7 Sam Marasso, # 15 Frank Henderson, longest drive #17 Sam Marasso. Get a load of these low gross scores, Reid McIntyre 83, Cal Darula 85, Dick Bartholomew 88. Remember guys, we tee off late in August (vs the ladies) and also be sure to sign up for Burning Tree.

PROGRAM:
Subbing for Chuck Standard, Bill Eustice introduced James (Jim) DeRose, author of UNRESTRICTED WARFARE, a well researched review of U.S. submarine warfare in World War II. by a Sloane scholar, former naval officer, Stanford MBA. This was the only truly successful/effective use of submarines by anyone ever. The submariners comprised 1.6% of the U.S. Navy, and sent far more ships or tonnage to the bottom than all other weapons combined. It came at a terrible cost, 1 in 5 men in the submarine service were killed in action, another record high. The submarines swept Japan's maritime service from the seas resulting in near starvation conditions in the home islands. The speaker talked about how at the beginning of the war the skippers, trained in the 30's, were overly cautious, would not fight at night and were trained to avoid aircraft at all costs. By the end of the war the average age of the skippers was 27 and they were aggressive and very effective. The second problem was with ineffective torpedoes, a problem that was not solved until 1944. Our guys were on the edge of their chairs during the program due to the content and the skill of the speaker. Although not advised this was a book signing opportunity, do we have a solution for you! If you can wait a couple of weeks, send $20 now to James F. DeRose, 123 Harbor Dr., #212, Stamford, CT 0690 and you'll get an autographed copy, postage paid, in the mail. If you are impatient, you'll get it a few days earlier for about $21 from Amazon.com. Guys, this is a no brainer. We look forward to Jim's return for another great program in the future.

Jim Lennox, Editor

 

SPECIAL EVENTS

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

Aug. 20 - Wed. - Fjord Fisheries boat trip with lobster/chicken dinner. $80 PP. Sailing from Cos Cob Harbor 6:30 PM, view fireworks @ Playland. Wait listed.
Sep. 10 - Wed. - ROMEO luncheon @ Belle Haven. Details to follow.
Sep. 11 - Thurs. - Goodspeed Opera House, "Very Good Eddy," lunch Bee & Thistle, wait list
Sep. 18 - Thurs. - RMA Annual Picnic, Greenwich Point.
Oct. 2 - Thurs. - Culinary Institute. & Old Rhinebeck air show. $59 PP. (wait listed).
Nov. 6 - Thurs. - Rockwell Museum, lunch @ Cork & Hearth, Stockbridge, MA, $64, open.
Dec. 4 - Thurs.- Spinning Wheel Christmas Show, U drive, $40, open.
Dec. 20 - Sat. - Boston Pops, Bridgeport Arena, U drive, 1:30PM, wait listed.

 

NEXT WEEK

NEXT WEEK IS PART II OF RMA W.W.II VETERANS. COME SEE AND HEAR OUR FOLKS TELL IT LIKE IT WAS. SEE YOU THERE!!