CIGAR BOX BULLETIN

Volume 57, No 13      July 29, 2009

A loud clanging by JOHN CRAINE caught the gang's attention and we were off and running: The Pledge by WALTER COUPE, the songs lead by CHUCK STANDARD (in his summery green jacket, just perfect): God Bless America, with verve and confidence, America the Beautiful, with feeling, and then You're a Grand Old Flag – all of which sent the message from the guys that they were glad to be here, almost as if they'd just gotten off the boat and that better times are a'coming. JOHN said there was a swimming meet or something like that that made the parking very full. BILL DYNAN remarked via another member of what Churchill said: “We make a living by what we get, make a life from what we give”. He also showed Al Hartig's postcard from a Mickey Mouse cruise with his grand kids, and how much he felt at home with them. Then Bill gave us story of how some no-particular-person collected parking fees for 25 years from a lot that was somehow forgotten about between different town departments – in England, that is – and one day left Bye Bye for Spain with trillions of Pounds. Proving that it can be done, if you just know how.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: JOHN CRAINE announced the RMA Board will meet next Wednesday at 8:30 on the 3rd floor. He also said that the Greenwich Times weekly report on volunteer needs in the town will be posted regularly on the BB. GEORGE SHADDOCK will be seeking parking helpers for the Annual Picnic. JOHN deCSEPEL invited jazz afficionados to the Bearcats Jazz Band concert at Roger Sherman Park at 7:30 Wednesday August 5. Come at six and bring your chairs. (Also the Bcats will be at the 1st Presbyterian Church at 1101 Bedford Street in Stamford at 7 on Thursday July 30).

COMMITTEE REPORTS: Visiting: CHUCK STANDARD reported on DOM DiMAIO, BILL GALLAGHER, CORY DUNHAM and JOHN PHILLIPS. JOHN CRAINE announced that MANNY BONVENUTO's wife DEDE passed away. Our heartfelt condolence to Manny and his family. Returnees: FRED BROOKS returned well from his Danube Cruise. Membership: Attendance: 137 with 1 candidate JOHN FEEBLES. Guests were: SOIHER MARKS by MEL SILVER, PAT LINSKEY by PETER UHREY. Birthday boys were many: CHARLIE MARSHALL 79, KURT SCHAFFIR 84, ARTO SZABO 74, TONY RIGGI 77, ALEC ROBERTSON 79, JIM WHALEN 78, Fred ELSER 75, WALTER HUMSTONE 96, SAL DeANGELO 96, CHUCK STANDARD 90, SAM YORK 80, JOHN RIIS 85, DICK RADCLIFFE 85, BRIAN SPILLE 67. Volunteer hours: 365 by 47, 238 RMA by 39 men. Program: JOHN deCSEPEL announced next week's speaker will be Robert McDonald former CEO of the Red Cross.

TODAY'S INDUCTEE: was BARRY MONTGOMERY, introduced by PETER UHREY and JOHN deCSEPEL. Barry's a developer in Greenwich, and is a Free Mason, and also a member of the Granges and the Interfaith Council. Welcome aboard, Barry!

PLAYTIME: Golf: 36 swingers spent 4 hours and 20 minutes to score: BOB MCKAY 81, DICK BARTHOLOMEW and REID McINTYRE 87's. MIKE RYAN and PETER ARTURI were closest to the pin, and JOHN AWDZIEWICZ had the longest drive. The Bethpage golf outing will be August 4. One opening. Cost:$55. Bridge: The scores were the following: MOONIE 4930, HENDERSON 4880, ROE 4060. Tennis: Play will start on September 11. Tennis luncheon will be September 9 at RYC. Details to follow.

TODAY'S PROGRAM: Introduced by JOHN deCSEPEL, RON BARBA, a commodities trader, who gave us the best reason to own commodities: INFLATION. The US debt will do us in, and the way to avoid going down, down, down is with commodities. A well presented thesis. This reporter noted that the membership may have known almost as much about the subject as the presenter. P.S. Does anyone know the tax implications of commodity trading?

Editor, FRANK LEE

SPECIAL EVENTS

Open to all members their ladies, candidates, guests. TX means ticket exchange via the BB after events are sold out. Checks made out to RMA.

Mon. Aug 24 Mets game. Depart 10:30. 2 openings. Call RICH LIMBACHER.

Thur. Sept. 10. Camelot. $95 pp with lunch at Gelston House. Depart 10AM. Tkx Ex.

Thur. Dec 3^rd. Cirque du Soleil Christmas Show. $95 pp. Restaurant Le Rivage. Depart 9 AM Tkt Ex.

NEXT WEEK

Robert McDonald, former CEO Red Cross.