THE SENIOR MEN'S CLUB OF NEW CANAAN
Regular meeting of February 23, 2001
VP Bob Witt opened the business meeting at 10:02 with 105 members present.
Current membership is 500 with 27 waiting. New member Dave Stoner was introduced
and welcomed.
People: Don Freud reported that Ed Codel is still at Waveny and Frank McGarey
will be there tomorrow after hip surgery. Huck Wood and Joe Sweet are home and
welcome visitors.
Activities: Bowling and bridge continue. Paddle draws 12 to 18 players three days
a week, but has room for more. Racquetball trains in Florida for a triumphal return in March.
Phil Toll is leading his 4F's, at least 18 strong, to the Red Barn today.
Couth: Bert Liebelt announced that 6 places remain open for the March trip to the
Cabaret Theater in Bridgeport. The U.N. trip April 19th is sold out, as is the Botanical
Garden visit on May 17th. However, those joining a waiting list may be able to profit
from cancellations. The price of the June trip to Goodspeed for "Brigadoon" will be $80.
Couth has found some interest in an overnight trip to Washington in the fall. It may be
over two nights. Details to follow.
Other News: Wes Liebtag needs an appraiser for a coin collection. Cole Fisher asked that
we fill out a questionnaire for our schools' World Language Department. He also seeks
volunteers for work with the congenial staff of the N. C. Library. Dick Bond urged our
attendance at a meeting to be held at Town Hall Saturday morning, March l0th, at 9:00
to talk about the post office.
Jester: Bob Dalury explained, at least to his own satisfaction, the abstruse
sequential relationship between a stranded motorist, a farmer's daughter, a
roof and said motorist's broken leg.
Speaker: VP Bob Jeffries introduced Howard I. Kilpatrick, supervising wildlife
biologist with the CT DEP. Howard has coordinated and implemented deer research
programs statewide, and he brought to his illustrated lecture a wealth of pertinent
data. The DEP goal is a healthy deer population consistent with environmental limits
and with public acceptance. In 1896 there were thought to be fewer than 20 deer in the
state. The first aerial survey in 1974 counted 19,000. The survey of 2000 showed 76,000.
Both numbers understate the real total. Greatest overpopulation occurs along the coast,
particularly in Fairfield County. There are 3,000 deer/vehicle collisions reported each
year in CT; this probably represents 1/3 to 1/2 of the real total. Fairfield also leads
in this category, because lots of cars and lots of deer are a lethal combination.
A reason for overpopulation is the prolific nature of deer: a mature doe bears 2
or 3 fawns per year, for years. Also, deer thrive on our fragmented wildnerness, eat
whatever is around, and coexist easily with people and coyotes. Overpopulation leads to
defoliation and to an abundance of the ticks which carry Lyme disease. Some deer control
methods have proven ineffective. They include doing nothing, fencing, using repellants,
relocation, and immuno-contraception. Hunting remains the primary control method; seasons
have been lengthened and the permissible "take" increased from one in 1975 to 12 or more
now. Hunting on private land depends on the written consent of the land owners.
Mr. Kilpatrick discussed new initiatives, such as using bait. He emphasized the relative
advantages of archery hunting by qualified bowmen. And in general, he shed much welcome
light on a subject often shrouded in fog and obfuscation.
Peter Schurman - Assistant Secretary