THE SENIOR MEN'S CLUB OF NEW CANAAN
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of February 8, 2002
President Lee Hindenach opened the business meeting with 137 members present. Current
membership is full at 500 with 43 on the waiting list.
Announcements: Dick Depatie reported that Bob Troup and his wife were in an auto
accident, fortunately with only minor injuries. President Hindenach announced the
SMC 25th Anniversary Luncheon will be held on May 3, at Woodway Country Club. This event
will convene at 1130, with a 1215 business meeting, 1230 lunch; followed by entertainment
from the Gentlemen Songsters, and an historic profile of the SMC. Door prizes will be
awarded, as well as a raffle of Jet Blue airline tickets. Personalized announcements
will be sent to members and their spouses. You’ll get all of this for about $35.
Lee also informed us that the last SMC meeting at the YMCA will be March 22nd.
Beginning on April 5th, the venue will be in Morrill Hall at St. Marks Church.
There will be no meeting on Good Friday.
Activities: Bowlers who are shattering scoring records convene at 1230 today.
The Olympian Bridge players compete today, and inform us that refresher training resumes
next week. Paddle tennis continues on M/T/TH, 9-11am, in Waveny. And as for the
Racquetballers, we’re awaiting word. Also, Eric Petschek will announce the site
for the February 4F’s luncheon. Trailblazers are back on track with two hikes planned
for March, as well as a Brooklyn Bridge hike on May 1st. Jack Murray promised
excruciating details will be forthcoming.
Couth: On Feb. 22nd, it’s off to the Bridgeport Cabaret Theater to see Dr. Jekyll
and Mr. Hyde; a box dinner is included for $60. BYOB. On March 5th, for $45 you can visit
the Philadelphia flower show. In April we will go to the CIA, and in May you can meet with
ancestors at the Bronx Zoo. April 23-25, is the date for the Washington, DC trip and to
see the cherry blossoms. A few openings remain.
Resident Humorist: Bob Dalury described the temptations of passion and ecstasy
vs. the economic value of a talking frog.
Speaker:The eloquent Bob Witt introduced Nilqun Ogun, Program Operations Director,
Asia, Save The Children Foundation, who addressed Afghanistan Challenges and Hopes. Save
the Children has a budget of $140M with operations in Asia, Latin America, Europe/Middle
East, and Africa. Ms.Ogun has been involved in Afghanistan since 1985. She spoke with
admiration about Afghanistan and the Afghan people, describing them as strong, generous,
and always hopeful, despite the long and constant hardships they have been suffering for
years. The Afghan refugees maintain a passion to return to their homes. She shared some
statistics about the country: there are 10M children and 10M mines; one doctor for 50K
people; one out of four children dies before the age of four; only 12% of the population
has potable water; there are 3M refugees in Pakistan and Iran; no social services; and
few sources of income. Drought for three consecutive years have caused crop and flock
failure which has led to starvation. To alleviate some of these conditions NGO’s
intervened to help rebuild human services and infrastructure, provide food, salaries,
education, etc. The biggest challenge is security. Before the Soviet invasion,
Afghanistan was seen as one nation. Today there are factions not supportive of the
central government impacting country unification. The future of Afghanistan is not
bright. Ms. Ogun closed by saying "aid money is not the cure-all."
Stan Stanziale, Assistant Secretary