CIGAR BOX BULLETIN

Volume 57, No. 23       October 7, 2009

President JOHN CRAINE opened the meeting precisely on time at 9:30 and reminded us that is a $2 day. MANNY BONVENUTO, reciting a little ditty about 1992 and the ocean blue, reminded us that next Monday is a holiday celebrating the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus, and then led us in the Pledge.TOM HEALY, accompanied GEORGE STOCKBRIDGE on the keys, led us in a hearty rendition of The Star Spangled Banner, followed by That Old Gang of Mine and Paper Doll. Rec/Cor Secy BILL DYNAN gave us a quick recap of last week’s meeting and told us a truly funny story about a misdirected email with a killer P.S.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: RMA ANNUAL DINNER at The Burning Tree: DAN BARRETT reminded the membership that table hosts must your checks in hand to select a table. Give the guys a break and pay up! Those of you who plan to attend but have as yet not been contacted by a table host should see DAN for a table assignment. JACK CARON who made a pitch for the Greenwich Jazz Concert at Round Hill Community Church tomorrow at 10:30 was followed by STEVE BOIES for the Arts Council and the Greenwich Symphony, JIM DANIEL for the Chamber Players, and ERF PORTER for A Broadway Sing-Along and the Harmonia Opera Company. JOHN DE CSEPEL, on behalf of our weekly speakers, noted that some of our questions were rambling speeches in themselves and asked us to keep them short and to the point. FRED ELSER, speaking for Senior Net, noted the availability beginning next week of computer classes on Excel Monday and Wednesday mornings, 10/14 – 21, and Windows Vista on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, 10/13-11/5. To enroll, or for more info, call Sig Ahl at 203 862-6734. RETURNEES: PREXY JOHN CRAINE welcomed back MARTY WAINE and FRANK ZAVATTERO. INDUCTEE: Today’s inductee is TOM HOLTON. His sponsors are RAY SLOAN and GERRY MAYFIELD. TOM is a CPA by profession and was, before his retirement, Chairman & CEO of KPMG Peat Marwick. Welcome aboard!

COMMITTEE REPORTS: Visiting: CHUCK STANDARD reported on the status of JOHN PHILLIPS, VIN MASI and KEN FORD. KEN will be at Nathaniel Witherell for an extended period. He is in room 417and would enjoy having visitors. Program: WIN ATKINS told us today’s program would feature our own STEVE MYERS, Ph.D., speaking on the subject of Nuclear Proliferation. Membership: JIM FAHY reported 135 members and 2 candidates (TOM BOLTON and JOHN FEBLES). Birthdays: GERRY MAYFIELD 74, DICK HERMANCE 81, PETE MCSPADDEN 79, RAY SLOAN 83, ROBERT BRUGO 81, and ROGER PIERCE 80. Special Events: RICHARD LIMBACHER and FRANK FLORES reminded us of the coming events. See below for details. Volunteers: DOUG FRANCEFORT reported 652 outside hours by 74 men, and 94 RMA hours by 29 men.

PLAYTIME: Bridge: KURT SCHAFFIR reported 8 players on 9/30/09, HUGO GRUNDEL 5050, RALPH VIGGIANO 4020, and AL HARTIG 3980. Bowling: -DOM DEPASQUALE reported: himself 144, MARIO BONAPARTE 145, HARRY LEIGH 156, and RALPH VIGGIANO 193. Golf :BOB PHILLIPS reported 22 players. Absent the usual 80’s players, NICKY ACHIWA was low with a 91 followed by JIM SANTORE with 93. Closest to pin 7 - BOB HORTON. Closest to pin 15 -TED KRAMER .Longest drive on 17-TED KRAMER. Tennis: MIKE SMITH reported: Court 1, PAUL LEVINE - 10 of 17. Court 2, ROGER UHRY -13 of 44. Captains for Friday, Oct 9th - PAUL LEVINE and HARRY TWITCHWELL

PROGRAM: WIN ATKINS introduced our own STEVE MYERS who brought us up-to-date on the subject of nuclear proliferation. Something he discussed with us about a year ago. Citing a current article in Newsweek on the subject as a good source of background, he expressed his opinion that leaders both right and left now seem to agree it is time for a diplomatic gradual disarmament without serious risk. Nations like Iran and North Korea cannot develop sophisticated nuclear weapons capability without periodic testing. Our own weapons can be periodically disassembled and validated without actual testing and our ability to detect the testing of even minimum yield weapons anywhere in the world provides us with significant protection. He also believes that no rational government would launch an attack against us or Israel in the face of our ability to pinpoint their source and our vastly superior capacities to retaliate. He acknowledged that weapons could end up in the hands of Jihadists and noted that North Korea had signed a non-proliferation treaty and then withdrawn from it a few years later. Our own Senate has never ratified the treaty. It requires a 2/3 majority vote which, with Obama’s backing, now may be possible. An Interesting presentation with answers to some but not all of this scribe’s questions.

DAVE DOWNS –Editor

SPECIAL EVENTS
Open to all members, their ladies, candidates and guests.Note: Tx xchnged via the BB after events are sold out.

Thurs. 15 Oct. Peter Luger Restr, New York. $100 pp. dep 1:15 PM (Frank Flores -- 698-3060)

Thurs. 3 Dec. Cirque de Soleil "Wintuk" Christmas Show, lunch Le Rivage, $95 pp. dep. 8:30 AM (RL) (TX)

Thurs. 14 Jan. 2010, NY Philharmonic Rehearsal at 9:45 AM, rest Arpeggio food & wine $78 dep. 7:30 AM (RL) (TX-1 ticket available)

Thurs 25 February, 2010 Culinary Institute, cooking tour, 10:15 AM rest. Caterina, $60, dep 8:30 AM, (RL) status: open.

NEXT WEEK

Jack Garcia, retired FBI Agent who spent most of his 20+ year career working undercover in the mob. He has recently written a book about his experiences and will, I am sure, be a most interesting speaker.

CBB TV

12:30 PM- on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

8:00 PM- on Sunday, Tuesday and Saturday.

6:00 PM- on Thursday.