THE SENIOR MEN'S CLUB OF NEW CANAAN
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of 17 August 2001
President Lee Hindenach opened the business meeting with 93 members present.
Current membership is 500, with 24 on the waiting list.
Announcements: Dick Depatie reported that Chet Hansen is at Waveny. President
Hindenach announced that Curry Ford, founding president, turned 90. Happy birthday
Curry! He also informed us that the SMC Directory will be mailed out this week, and
gave special thanks to Ralph DiDomenico, Ken DeGroot, Jim Schlumpf, Bob Moylan
and the many others who provided skill, time and lots of elbow grease in the
production of the 2001-2002 SMC Directory.
Activities: Bridge, Tennis and Racquetball continue as scheduled. Bridge will be
at the Lapham Community Center beginning at 10 AM until Sept. The August 4F's
luncheon will be hosted at the Woodway Beach Club on Aug. 17th. Golf will be at
Whitney Farms on Aug. 23rd. The tennis pros made it through the heat wave with
no fatalities, with plans underway for a luncheon. Stay tuned!
Couth: It's off to the races at Belmont on Sept. 12th. Mystic Seaport clambake
is on tap for Oct. 23rd, followed by a Broadway show, "42nd Street" on Nov. 14th.,
with dinner at the 21 Club. The fee for this event was described in uncertain terms!
The Bermuda trip scheduled for May 4-11, 2002, will cost $2,908.02 per couple, plus
insurance. No uncertainty here! Trailblazers will go to Naugatuck State Park
Sept. 19th, to be followed by a crossing of the Hudson to Constitution Island
on Sept. 27.
Resident Humorist: John Berg in his debut as Resident Humorist enlightened us
about the adventures of Ollie Olsen, millionaire swimming pool owners, alligators,
and friends you can do without.
SPEAKER
Vice President Ron Seger, introduced guest speaker John R. Mitchell, CEO of
Mitchell/Richards family owned stores in Westport and Greenwich. John Mitchell
a resident of Wilton, is active in the national fashion industry and also local
community affairs. John thanked the members for their patronage! He described his
enthusiasm for the business and the Mitchell concept of "hugging" the customer,
since a family business is all about relationships. The business started by his
parents in 1958 with three suits, has grown to $50M. The third generation is
currently running the business and planning the 4th generation transition.
Mitchell offers upper end clothing driven by the customers requirements. A
tell tale sign of customer focus is the CEO, financial officer, buyers,
marketing staff, etc., all being on the floor. Mr. Mitchell stated that
technology is the backbone of great companies, and that profiling customer
buying habits, sizes, styles, etc., is essential to supporting high volume
customers. He mentioned that first time customers receive a letter from the
CEO thanking them for their patronage. He described the sales staff as competent,
with positive attitudes, and a passion to grow and learn; since great sellers
who are empowered to make decisions on the spot, are the ones who make great
companies. He emphasized that "Mitchell's" is a customer driven company and
that a "hug" environment is easy to talk about but difficult to implement.
John spoke of a friend's father coming from NYC, who fell asleep on the train
and ended up opening a clothing store in a small Massachusetts town, instead
of Westport. It all has to do with Location, Location, Location.
Stan Stanziale, Asst. Secretary