CIGAR BOX BULLETIN

Volume 56, No. 20          September 17, 2008

RMA members responded enthusiastically to JOHN CRAINE’s (pres MIKE RYAN’S backup today) precise 9:30am bell. Sure is nice to have a precise bell here, not like the clanky bell that has been playing on Wall Street recently! JOHN PHILLIPS then led us in the Pledge after giving us a history lesson about it. Maestro GRAN BURGESS, accompanied by JIM SANTORA, directed our singing of my personal favorite, the inspirational God Bless America followed by Bye Bye Blackbird, and Smiles. Rec/Cor Secy BILL DYNAN reviewed last week’s CBB, presented a couple of post cards, and gave us a few chuckles with a story about a trio of ladies and responses they received to their individual effort to put more spice in their lives.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Congratulations: DOUG and ELEANOR FRANCEFORT for your 58^th wedding anniversary. JOHN CRAINE reminded us of the meeting of a new organization called "Not Alone," which will provide opportunities for friendship for widows, widowers, and other singles. Its first meeting is at the Jewish Family Services, 1 Holly Hill Lane, Sept. 21 from 2-4 PM. Annual Picnic: DICK BARTHOLOMEW gave us a brief recap of last week’s wonderful Annual Picnic. He will have a final report next meeting. MIKE BALINT gave us a heads-up about some new procedures for the Annual RMA dinner coming up on November 12^th at Burning Tree. His committee is expecting a big crowd, and wants improved procedures in-place to address previous problems at large events. BOB BISHOP told us about improvements to the management of our Bulletin Board. FRANK FLORES is taking reservations and payments for a Romeo and Juliet event to be on Oct. 30. See listing on Special Events below.

RETURNEES: Listed are: BOB CHURCH –Bobs Lake, Ontario; GENE SCHWARTZ –Cruise to Canada & New England; and BOB NEGELE –Cape Cod & Maine. Welcome Back!

COMMITTEE REPORTS: Visiting: CHUCK STANDARD reported on the status of FRANK ZAVATTARO (in rehab, tph him at 698-9363), GENE GORMLEY, and JACK BRILL. Program: JOHN de CSEPEL told us today’s speaker would be one of our own, STEVEN MYERS speaking on the frightening subject of nuclear weapons. GERRY MAYFIELD told about next week’s speaker, Scott Bates –VP & Senior Fellow for National Security at the Center for National Policy. See details below. Membership: JIM FAHY reported 136 members, 2 candidates (JOHN CROCCO and MARIO BONAPARTE -today’ inductee), and 2 guests (Ralph Viggiano/LOU CHIAPPETTA, and Arto Szabo/WIN ADKINS). Happy Birthday to JACK BRILL, WILLIAM BRIA, JIM SANTORA, JOHN TONER, CHARLIE VOLK, GRAHAM WHITEHEAD, HARRY TWITCHELL, and ALEX PATTERSON. Special Events: For Sagamore Hill (is tomorrow with 5 tickets available -See DICK BARTHOLOMEW) and Naugatuck scenic RR. See the Special Events below. Volunteers: DOUG FRANCEFORT reported: 802 outside hours by 75 men, and 187 RMA hours by 37 men.

INDUCTEE: MARIO BONAPARTE –MARIO was presented by STEVE MARINO and MIKE SMITH. He is a graduate of Greenwich HS, served in WWII as a combat air crewmen in the Philippines, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross & Air Medal. He obtained a BA from NYU, then an MA from Fordham U. in Social Services. Mario has been professionally active in local child, family, and charity organizations. He has served as Commodore of the Old Greenwich Yacht Club and a leader of Troop 11 of the Boy Scouts. Welcome aboard, MARIO!

PLAYTIME: Bridge: –KURT SCHAFFIR reported on 9/10/08 scores– DAVE DOWNS (3840), AL HARTIG (3450), with both CLYDE MOONEY and CORY DUNHAM at 2850. Golf: Closest to Pin #7 -MANNY BONVENUTO; Closest to Pin #15 -TOM HEALY; Longest Drive # 17 -DICK GRIEB Lowest Scores: -DICK BARTHOLOMEW, an amazing 76; TOM HEALY, 83; BOB MCKAY, 84; T. WAKIM, 86; K. SHULZE 89; JIM MACKAY, 90; and SAM MARASSO, 89. Bowling: DOM de PASQUALE reported: BOB OPPENHEIMER 144, DOM himself had 149, DOM COGLIANDRO 156, and Ralph Viggiano 160. RMA Summer Tennis: GENE SCHWARTZ said, “come on out to Binney Park, for good tennis & fun times on Tue. & Thurs. from 9am to 11am”.

TODAY'S PROGRAM: JOHN de CSEPEL introduced a nuclear physicist, Stephen Myers, PhD, who also happens to be an RMA member. Steve opened by saying the two best ways to clean out an audience from an auditorium is to yell “fire”, or to announce a 30 minute speech would be given about Nuclear Weapons. Steve, you were wrong, but maybe only because of your presentation skills! He then went on, telling us about the magnitude of the world’s existing arsenal of such weapons, who has them, and especially discussing certain of those countries with questionable motives or stability issues. Proliferation and a nuclear “event” are frightening specters, and there are respected world figures that are thinking about solutions. One of which is a vision of a nuclear free world, which would need to be built over many years with international trust, broad cooperation, and absolute verification. Yes, there is a risk, but then the odds may be better than on the current path the world is now on. This was a most intriguing and thought provoking presentation.

HAROLD FROST –Editor

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

Thurs., Sept. 18 – Sagamore Hill, leave St. Catherine’s parking lot at 8 AM. TX/$70

Tues., Oct. 7 – Naugatuck scenic RR, autumn foliage, and wine tasting. TX/$80

Thur., Oct. 30 -Romeo/Juliet event 11:15am at Greenwich Council for Arts, then 12noon lunch at Figaro’s restaurant on GCH Ave. See Frank Flores for details.

NEXT WEEK

Scott Bates –VP & Senior Fellow for National Security at the Center for National Policy in Washington, & Adj Professor of Defense/Homeland Security at the National Defense University.