CIGAR BOX BULLETIN

Volume 52, No. 34     December 22, 2004

Prodded by a few of his lieutenants who frantically signaled that our faithful clock was a few minutes behind, President BOB CHURCH opened the meeting at 10:03 AM, reminding us that sixty years ago the commander of the US troops holding on to encircled Bastogne in the battle of the Bulge, responded to a German demand for surrender with the now famous word “NUTS”.  DICK THOMPSON led us in the pledge.  JIM SMERIGLIO followed, directing the singing.  His choices were: America the Beautiful and in tune with the season and reflecting our secular society Jingle Bells – sung with gusto, and Santa Claus is Coming to Town, sung a little hesitantly – because it was not in the book.  All this ably accompanied by PETER RYAN on the piano.  Recording Secretary BILL DYNAN clomped to the podium with a now repaired foot and gave us his usual smooth and funny review of last week’s proceedings.  PETER SCHIEFERDECKER, subbing as Corresponding Secretary summarized a letter LES VERNEY sent to Membership Director DOUG TAYLOR in which he related how coming to the RMA meetings was just too painful for him since he had found his wife dead at home after returning from a RMA meeting last March.  Poor health also made it harder for him to stay alone so he had decided to return to the UK and become a nonresident member.  We will look forward to seeing him again when he comes to visit.  There also was a letter from ED BROADBENT thanking RMA members who had contributed to making this year’s Neighbor to Neighbor collection a success.  PETER then had a story about a fellow who was in the extermination business.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Starting out with a story about a Pastor’s son who was reduced to walking after having begged  his father in vain for the use of the family car, JACK SWEGER made an impassioned appeal for drivers, not walkers, for Meals on Wheels.  They really need drivers there, especially in winter.  You drive once a week for 1 ½ hours in the morning, to make 10 deliveries.  Call JACK and help with the driving!  MARTIN GRAYSON, chief Ink Stained Wretch, announced the annual CBB luncheon will be held on Feb. 2, see below.  FRANK LEE reported that the Salvation Army’s traditional Christmas collection had yielded a satisfactory result, about 10% above last year.  He wanted to give special thanks to BOB GAROLA, manager of the Food Emporium in Riverside and BOB VIRTUE, “Mr. Salvation Army.”  Returnees:  DOUG TAYLOR – Vail CO, LEON FREEMAN– London, England; PETE LA SORSA – Fla.; and  WARREN LEIBFRIED – Tahiti, Bora Bora and Shoulder Surgery (!).  

COMMITTEE REPORTS: Visiting: CHUCK STANDARD reported on the status of six of our own who are not well.  They are CHARLEY SWEATT, DICK GRIEB, JIM MCPHERSON, JOE ROBINSON, JIM INNIS, and BEN BACON.  Our best wishes go out to them.  We hope they will recover soon and follow CONNIE KAJACK’S example who was welcomed back after a long absence.  Program: SAM MARASSO announced today’s speaker would be Ambassador HEIMBOLD (see below).  Next week we will hear the experiences of four members – DOUG FRANCEFORT, SAL DEANGELO, PETER RYAN, and FRED BROOKS. Membership: DOUG TAYLOR reported we had an attendance of 173 Members and 2 Guests – CARL RICHTER II, guest of CARL RICHTER, and JACK BRILL, guest of KURT SCHAFFIR.  We serenaded the birthdays of four active Members – LOU MURANO – 82, NORMAN COLLINS – 76, JACK MEYERING – 86, and BILL ROSS – 81.  Sustaining Member FALLON MAHER – celebrated his 85th.  Special Events:TOM HEALY reviewed the outings listed below.  Volunteer: BILL BURKE reported that for the week ending Dec. 22, 678 outside hours were given by 75 men and 78 RMA hours by 17 men, for a total of 756 hours.  Bridge: PETE JACKSON reported the scores for Dec 15, LORING WEBBER 1970, PETE JACKSON 1630, and JOE ROE 1420.  Bowling:  DOM DEPASQUALE gave the scores for Dec. 21, WALTER COUPE 157, and LOU CHIAPETTA 164.  Tennis: BILL ZBORAY reported the scores for Dec. 17: Court 1 – FRANK LEE, 14 games, Court 2 – TOM HEALY, 16, Court 3, – BILL OSGOOD, 15, Court 4, HAVEN KNIGHT 14. 

TODAY’S SPEAKER: JOHN PHILLIPS introduced today’s speaker, Ambassador CHARLES HEIMBOLD who served until his retirement as Chairman and CEO of Bristol Myers Squibb.  He was until recently US Ambassador in Sweden.  Speaker was supposed to assume his duties in Stockholm in October 2001, but after the attack of September 11 of that year, he decided to move to his post as quickly as possible.  He flew to Sweden on September 12 after a Federal Judge in New York City hastily swore him in.  His talk focused on US foreign policy and how it affects Europe.  US foreign policy is set by the President and carried out by his Ambassadors.  Since World War II our foreign policy has changed drastically from its prewar position.  The US has moved away from isolationism and has reached out to European countries that needed to repair war damage.  The Marshall Plan was a major part of this.  The US has supported all collective organizations established over the years that fostered democracy and opposed Soviet expansionism.  NATO is still a vital aspect of our Transatlantic relationships, despite the end of the cold war.  Sweden’s behavior during the war was questionable and it was not invited to join NATO.  It has, however, joined the ECU (Common Market), but it has rejected the Euro as its national currency which according to Ambassador Heimbold was understandable given the weak performance of the larger European economies relative to Sweden’s record.  The Clinton Administration was popular in Europe for its support of the “third way” movement, and its limited reaction to a large number of terrorist acts committed against the US and others.  The Bush Administration has lost some of its popularity because of its more aggressive stance against terrorism, which in the opinion of Europeans, should have been controlled by the UN.  How this could ever be accomplished is a question, because when action against Serbia was required, NATO was called to force a solution.  The Security Council would never have been able to act since Russia would have vetoed military interference.  The European press does often not have the wherewithal of sending its own reporters around the world so it regurgitates what it reads in the American press, which leads to an anti Bush point of view.  However, in matters of security the cooperation between Europe and the US is excellent and growing.  A fascinating presentation that elicited many questions.

G. PETER SCHIEFERDECKER – Editor.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Jan 13 -  Thurs. Culinary Institute of America, tour of FDR’s Hyde Park Home.  Bus lvs. St. Cath. At 8:30 AM.
$60. pp. Status  - Ticket Exchange.

Feb. 2  - Wed . Noon Cigar Box Bulletin lunch Riverside Y.C.  All eds., ex-eds., and mail crew welcome.
Swordfish or flank steak, $ 30.

Feb. 23 – Thurs. NY Philharmonic Concert.  At 6:45 PM. Light dinner at O’Neal’s café at 5 PM.  Bus lvs St.
Cath’s at 3:15 PM.  Cost $80. pp – Status – Eight Tickets available.

Mar. 19 – Sat. New Broadway Musical “Good Vibrations” matinee at 2 PM, lunch at 11:30 AM Bus lvs St.
Cath’s at 10:00 AM  Cost $90 pp. – Status – 20 Tickets available

NEXT WEEK: Experiences of four members – DOUG FRANCEFORT, SAL DEANGELO, PETER RYAN, and FRED BROOKS.