THE SENIOR MEN'S CLUB OF NEW CANAAN
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of October 18, 2002
President Bob Witt opened the meeting with 144 members present. Membership is 500 with 41 on the waiting list.
Announcements: Friday was "VOLUNTEER" week at the SMC. Karen Kyles paid us a visit to look for help for the Connecticut Communities for Drug Free Youth program. The Nature Center is still looking for help at tomorrow's fair. Huck Wood needs veterans to talk to the high school students on November 8. Ed Shorkey asked for drivers for the Red Cross. Boy, are we in high demand, we must be very talented or else we come very cheap. Dick DePatie, thankfully, was not looking for volunteers nor had any new news.
Activities: Tennis is retired, paddle starts Monday, permits required. Bridge is thriving with 3 tables today, bowling had 3 participants and racquetball 4. The next golf outing is Oct. 23 at Country Club of New Canaan. Trailblazers next hike is also on Oct. 23 at Macedonia State Park.
4Fs next luncheon will be next Friday, also at the Country Club of New Canaan. Bring checks; no plastic and no hard currency accepted.
Couth: 11/9 West Point, 12/5 Newport, 1/30 the New York Philharmonic, February, date TBA the Connecticut State Capital, and 3/12 we go to "Mama Mia."
Jester: John Berg told us a loving story of the value of being an old geezer, and then expanded upon the subject by giving us a few definitions of the word "old" as it relates to us.
Speaker: Vice President Jack Murray introduced John Gilfeather, vice chairman of Roper ASW, an international polling and research organization. Mr. Gilfeather's subject was corporate reputation, its importance, and how it is defined. Obviously, a good reputation is better than a bad one but how is it attained, and who is it aimed at. Some companies try to sway the general public, others try to influence top executives and stock analysts. Most people are influenced by how a company cares for its customers, the quality of its products, and its over all honesty. The analysts and executives are more interested in the quality of the management team and the ability to develop and keep good people. Reputation is often more important than product. Nike has a great product but not a very good reputation. Johnson and Johnson has a great reputation which helped them out immensely a few years ago when they had a few deaths from their Tylenol product. In today's world, companies looking good are dealing in medical products, industrial and farm equipment, and hotels. Those companies on the bottom of the list are airlines, or are involved with tobacco or telecommunications. A good example is Philip Morris, now changing its corporate name, but unfortunately still will have a hard time from the "selling death" image. Still worse off are the American steel companies that didn't manage their reputations or their businesses very well.
Eric Musa, Secretary