THE SENIOR MEN'S CLUB OF NEW CANAAN
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of June 28, 2002
President Bob Witt opened the business meeting at 10:00 on a morning of filtered sunshine with 154 members present. Total membership is 498, with 2 invitees and 30 waiting. Guest Fred Scott was welcomed.
Membership Concerns: Member Bill Couch and former member Steve Campbell died during the past week. Hugh Tourney is at Waveny, details at present unknown. And Ron Seger fainted while in Grand Central Statio~ suffering head lacerations when he fell. He is now home, but diagnosis and proposed treatment are as yet uncertain.
Activities: Bowling is in its off-season, but Bridge will play for sure, at Lapham. Eric Petschek will lead the 4F's to Woodwal beach C.lub today, for an alfresco but covered lunchceon. Golf tees off startIng at 9:30 on July 15 at Ridgefield. Two Racquetballers played this morning in air conditioned splendor. Tennis will work out the morning of the 4th, without AC. Trailblazers head for Weir Farm historical site on the lOth; a pleasant walk, with in-house art exhibitions as well.
Couth: Jim D'Acosta and John Berg extolled the attractions of the CT jazz festival on July 27th. There will be continuous music from 11 to 5 by 15 bands in 5 tents surrounding a food and souvenir tent. A bargain at $40, including our own private happy hour before heading home. Sign up now! On August I5th we ride the Port Jefferson ferry and visit Sagamore Hill, and in September we will win big at Belmont. The October and November events are overbooked. More news later of the December 4 trek to visit Newport mansions.
Announcements: Bob reminded us that the "getabout" is always available to transport members to meetings. He also congratulated Ron Keagy on his 91st birthday on July 4th. Joe Sweet had said earlier that the event would be celebrated with fireworks and other gala family entertainment at Waveny, gates to open at 5:00 PM, rain date the 6th.
Resident Humorist: John Berg tossed off a few one-liners on the theme "only in America". He then described an anonymous threat of bodily harm to a widely experienced philanderer.
Speaker: VP Jack Murray introduced our First Selectman and fellow SMCer Dick Bond, who gave us a Powerpoint illustrated lecture on New Canaan capital projects for five years past and proposed for five years hence. Of significance are the number of projects claiming and receiving private donations, not to mention state and federal support. The lists are long: past achievements include repair and/or restoration of the RR station, various playing fields, the schools (to the tune of $60 million), the Nature Center, the treatment plant, Elm Street, and some bridges. We also built Outback and a Highway Department garage and bought some fire engines. Now we are starting renovation of the "Y", and we are getting ready to rebuild highways and bridges and the high school, buy an ambulance and ladder truck, dredge two ponds, renovate Main Street, and buy more land for open space. All this carries a price: net town debt is projected to increase to $129 million from the present $79 million. We are one of fewer than 30 towns in the US with AAA bond rating. It can vanish in a trice unless we prioritize.
Dick also declared an end to the water shortage; said the P.O. would be rebuilt -- someday; told us we have about 1,000 town employees and 4,000 schoolkids; and worried about cell towers. In sum, his was a masterful overview of a job many of us are grateful not to have.
Peter Schurman - Assistant Secretary