CIGAR BOX BULLETIN

Volume 55, No. 22     September 26, 2007

President RICHARD LIMBACHER rang the opening bell and remarked that we were enjoying another gorgeous day in a string of fine weather. TONY PARISI led the pledge to the flag, followed by the confident singing of America under the leadership of CHUCK LIVINGSTON. We were a little more wobbly singing Won't You Come Home Bill Baile and Peggy O'Neil despite JIM SANTORA'S firm piano playing. BILL DYNAN, in his double-duty role as corresponding and recording secretary, relayed an appeal from NICK MECCA for pharmacy volunteers at the hospital and then reviewed the last meeting. He closed with a fine story about presidential treatment of a saxophone.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: MIKE RYAN announced that sign-up sheets for table hosts at the annual dinner would be opened, with the help of MIKE BALINT and ROS CURTIS, at the intermission. FRED ELSER reported schedules were available for the fall season of courses at SeniorNet, which marks its ninth year of computer instruction. The organization this term offers its basic course for beginners and 11 other specialized and advanced classes for those beyond the beginner stage. PETER SCHIEFERDECKER announced a hedge fund talk at the Harvard Club of New York on Nov. 8. TIM NOLAN announced today was sign-up day and pay-up day for the Romeo lunch set for next Wednesday at the Stanwich Club. RICH LIMBACHER reported JOE COLEMAN, BEN BENSON and candidate GRANVILLE BURGESS had responded to the recent urgent call for volunteers to help with pastry duty for the mid-meeting coffee break.

RETURNEES: LARRY SCHMITZ came back from Italy, BRIAN FORROW from Bass Harbor, Maine, JIM SANTORA from Rockland, Maine, GRIFF GRIFFIN from Sicily and the islands of Stramboli, Lapuri and Salina, LARRY REBAK from Vancouver, Alaska and San Francisco, TIM NOLAN from Nova Scotia, DICK GEISMAR from Rockport, Maine, and AL HARTIG from Portland, Ore., by train, via Columbia and the Snake River.

COMMITTEE REPORTS: VISITING: - CHUCK STANDARD reported on these hospitalized members: PETER DIXON, released from Stamford Hospital and now at rehab; JAN MEYER, sedated and unconscious for a week; GEORGE EVANS, to undergo more tests; LES YOUNG, suffering from a cracked pelvis from a fall at home; FRANK HENDERSON, in hospital but no visitors permitted; and GENE GORMLEY, taken to hospital after a fall. PROGRAM: - STEVE MARINO reminded us that today's speaker will be Dr. Robert Stark, cardiologist from Greenwich Hospital. RICH LIMBACHER announced next week's speaker will be Col. Wendy Keller. MEMBERSHIP: - JIM FAHY reported 145 members in attendance, along with one candidate, Granville Burgess, and three guests: Art Robinson, guest of LEON FREEMAN, Bill Wurst, guest of SAL DE ANGELO, and Bill Hutto, guest of SAM MARASSO. JIM also announced that JIM MACKAY and his wife Catherine celebrated their 66th anniversary on Aug. 23 and read the following list of birthdays: STEVE MARINO, 78, HUGO GRUENDEL, 81, MIKE HANNIGAN, 78, WIN LANGE, 82, DAVID DEWEY, 75, MIKE LANGEN, 85, JOHN LOVELL, 76, BOB STARR, 80, and TOM SAWYER, 82. All were greeted with the singing of Happy Birthday and wishes for many more years. SPECIAL EVENTS: - TOM HEALY noted the Oct. 25 trip to the New York Botanical Garden, with lunch at Mario's Restaurant (see below) and said he was still working on the projected trip to the Culinary Institute of America in November. He asked for a show of hands on preference for a trip that included a museum visit. VOLUNTEER: - DOUG FRANCEFORT reported 722 hours to outside agencies by 72 men and 95 hours for RMA duties by 31 men.

GAMES PEOPLE PLAY: Bridge: - Results of last week's play were read by RICH LIMBACHER for HAP HEYMANN who reported that of five players last Wednesday, HUGO GRUNDEL finished first with 590 points, HAP HEYMAN was second with 470 and KURT SCHAFFIR was third with 290. Year to date, AL HARTIG LEADS with 12,920 points, followed by JOE ROE with 12,130. Bowling: - DOM DEPASQUALE reported that on Sept. 25 he scored 142 and LINN GRIM had 163. Golf: - ERF PORTER reported results of the RMA 2007 Individual and Team Championships played on Sept. 25. The prize for low individual gross went to DICK BARTHOLOMEW with a 77, followed by REID MCINTYRE at 82. Low individual net went to ROS CURTIS at 63, ahead of MANNY BONVENUTO at 65. The closest to pin on all par threes was won by ROS CURTIS on number 5, MANNY BONVENUTO on number 7 and PETER ARTURI on 11 and 15. The longest drive on all par fives was won by GRANVILLE BURGESS on number 8, REID MCINTYRE on number 14 and BOB BISHOP on 17. Tennis: - DICK BARTHOLOMEW reported that last Friday TOM HEALY won with 14 of 23 games on Court 1, JOHN HOFFMAN won on Court 2 with 11 of 18 games and Court 3 had a tie between TONY RIGGI and JACK SWEGER with 12 of 21 games. On Sept. 28 captains on courts 1, 2 and 3 respectively will be LEON FREEMAN, JOHN HOFFMAN and FRANK LEE.

TODAY'S PROGRAM: STEVE MARINO introduced Dr. Robert Stark, cardiologist at Greenwich Hospital, who announced his chief goal is to prevent heart attacks, which are the most common "bad thing" that happens to men. He said the odds for men to have heart problems is 1 in 2, compared to 1 in 17 for colon cancer. He said cardiologists should spend more time predicting heart disease by asking such questions as: Did either of a patient's parents have a heart attack at a young age? Or, does the patient smoke? A man who smokes is four time more likely to have a heart attack than one who doesn't smoke. Or, does the patient exercise? Lack of exercise raises the risk of heart problems. Or, how is the patient's blood pressure? Or, is there significant colesterol buildup? Or, does the patient experience stress? Stress can accelerate development of heart disease.

After discussing prevention of heart disease in general, the speaker took questions from the floor. The numerous inquiries showed the doctor had hit a subject of keen interest to his listeners, He was warmly applauded by the intensely attentive audience.

JACK BAUSMAN, Editor

SPECIAL EVENTS
Open to all RMA Members, their Ladies and guestss. Ticket exchange via the Bulletin Board.

Thursday, Oct. 25 - NY Botanical Gardens. Lunch at Mario's. Bus leaves St. Catherines at 9 AM. Ticket Exchange. Meal preferences needed.