THE SENIOR MEN'S CLUB OF NEW CANAAN
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of January 4, 2008
President Dick DePatie opened meeting with 127 members present and 1 guest from England. Membership is 478. 2 new applications received.
Minister of Health Bob Moylan pleased to report that Ron Keagy well and attending today's meeting. Clark Robinson checked out of the "President Room" at Waveny and is back home.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Next week's speaker is the Chief Financial Officer of Citigroup, Gary Crittenden. President Depatie suggested that members should check out the Christmas items on sale located in lobby. Depatie seeking owner of hat and jacket left after SMC meeting some 4 months back. Jack Messert's DVD of the Amateur Chefs dinner gala will be shown today. COUTH committee looking for additional members.
ACTIVITIES: Bridge as usual. Chefs next dinner on 01-17-08. 4F's meet at DiNardo's/Pound Ridge in January. Racquetball and Paddle as usual. Photographers meet at Lapham on 10th/Thursday, 1:30-4pm. Skyblazers meet at Lapham on 14th/Monday, 1-4pm. Trailblazers will meet again in March.
COUTH: NY Philharmonic/Tavern on the Green trip departure time is 8AM! January 30(Wed). No Feb. activity…Lord of the Dance trip on Mar 14 (Fri).
HUMORIST: Mike Law told SMC about a woman buying Parrot, despite knowing that it came from a house of prostitution. The woman and her daughters were amused at the Parrot's comments -until they heard the parrot's greeting for the husband when he entered the room---Hey, Keith, is that you? Happy New Year!"
SPEAKER: VP Roger Rothballer introduced State Rep. John W. Hetherington. An SMC member, John represents the 125th District, which covers parts of New Canaan and Wilton. John reminded us that there is potential for the unexpected to happen in coming presidential elections due to almost 906K unaffiliated CT voters. He also noted that the ballots will have Obama at top of DEM candidates' list and Giuliani on top of REP candidates. Democrats hold overwhelming number of offices in CT. Chris Shay is the only surviving Rep. Congressman in New England. The CT House has 107 Democrats and 44 Republicans (known as the "fighting 44"). Regarding budgets, the current $88M surplus is in jeopardy due to decrease in income tax and estate taxes, and if economy does decline, we may see surplus disappear. The big gorilla as to budget money spent is Medicaid ($3.6 billion of '08 16B budget). Human Services, Education and Pensions also require big chunks. Ct's largest revenue sources come from Income Tax (39%), Sales Tax (20%) Estate Tax (declining due to people moving out to avoid). Ct's big challenges: spending more every year than we raise in revenue-Debt services continue to grow-long term obligations for pensions and post retirement benefits (exceeds $54B but only 15B funded)-loosing population to FL, NC, CA-health care needs due to aging population-John said we need to hold spending cap, fight tax increases, cap bonding, promote economic growth, and save the surplus. Parole issues came to light this year due to Cheshire murders. Ethics issues also under discussion. John said perhaps we should consider having a full time legislature and pay a salary that allows people to support family comfortably, with no outside employment (When you have people with low income in charge of huge state expenditures, you have recipe for trouble). Today there are people in legislation that appropriate money to the very organizations that employ them (John wants to change this). Illegal Immigration indicated as big concern on recent survey. CT has app. 75k to 100 K illegal immigrants. Among John's 2007 accomplishments: Got the educational cost sharing formula increased-- getting additional $514K for NC schools-- $300K for dredging Mill Pond--$400K for roof on School House Apts--got legislation for NCHS to recover $2.5M in reimbursements for additional asbestos remediation's-- legislation allowing lower cost long-term care plans' --got Dept of Transportation to institute pilot program to assist emergency responders. Today's Air Traffic increase over N.C. is simply increased traffic for Westchester. The State of CT has brought suit to stop funding for air traffic changes, nothing settled, but we are not out of ball game either.
Bob Williams, Asst. Secretary