THE SENIOR MEN'S CLUB OF NEW CANAAN
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of September 6, 2002
President Bob Witt opened the meeting with 121 members present. Membership is 499 with 1 invitee and 36 on the waiting list.
Announcements: Bob Witt announced that Dave Means is retiring as SMC Public Relations Director, to be replaced by Sam Rozel. Good job, Dave, you deserve some time off now to playa little more bridge. Dick DePatie announced that Frank Perron is in Sloan-Kettering and would look forward to some phone calls. Treasurer Joe Elmlinger announced the start of the new dues campaign for 2003. It's still a bargain at $30 and cash is acceptable but please no pennies.. Rod Keagy gave a rundown of the English language before computers.
Activities: Bridge continues Fridays at the Lapham Center, tennis is still in action Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at Mead Park, bowling starts the new season today, and racquetball also kicks off the new season this week. 4Fs next luncheon will be 9/27, hopefully at the Darien Country Club. Trailblazers next hike will be on 9/26 on Constitution Island near West Point, and is limited to 30 hikers. Next SMC golf tournament will be at Ridgefield on 9/26, and the grand finale will be 10/16 at the CC of New Canaan.
Couth: 9/19 Belmont trip is in jeopardy, 20 more bodies are needed. 10/9 Oklahoma, 11/9 West Point, and 12/4 Newport are all fully booked. Next year's schedule will be introduced shortly.
Jester: Joe Sweet told a story about a golf match between Jesus and Moses whom both thought they were pretty good until God decided to join the competition.
Speaker: Vice President Jack Murray introduced Dan Ward who spoke to us about the renovation project of the New Canaan High School. Deb Edwards and Christine Wagner subsequently joined Dan. The proposed amount for the renovation is $40 million. This
compares to $79 million in Westport, $73 million in Darien, $47 million in Ridgefield, and $37 million in Simsbury. Doesn't that make you all feel a lot better? The three reasons for the renovation is the age of the facility ( opened in 1971 ), maintaining educational standards and a future student population growth from 1,000 to 1,500 by the year 2010. The basic needs are new heating, new air conditioning, new ventilation systems, and new windows. Also included in the renovation are new classrooms, new science labs, and an overhauled library and media center . There are actually 11 fewer classrooms now than there were in 1971. These new rooms would
be equipped with the latest technology such as blackboards known as "smart boards" which can be integrated to computers. More space is needed for smaller classes, the auto shop needs to be computerized, and a new television lab is needed. To accomplish all of this, an architect,
owners' representative, and construction manager have already been chosen. The schematics are already being worked on, the presentation to the board will be in October, after which the public campaign will begin. The discussion ended by inviting us all on a tour of the High School and
an invitation to lunch at a very reasonable $3.00 which will definitely help in defraying some of the future renovation costs.
Eric Musa, Secretary