THE SENIOR MEN'S CLUB OF NEW CANAAN
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of February 8, 2008
President Dick DePatie opened meeting with 97 members, including new member Scott Wallace. Membership is 482.
Minister of Health, Bob Moylan reported that Tucker Scott and Adolph Tomaselli are at Waveny for post surgery care . . . Don Rowland discussed "Touch the Future" program at local schools and would like to see more SMC members involved ( D'Acosta's Whale Boat project, Kelly's reading program, the Science-Math Fair projects, serving as judges at student's "moot court", and WW II Veteran discussions are just some of the ways SMC can help students). Tutoring always in demand; needful families cannot afford the going $40/hr tutoring fee.
ACTIVITIES: Bridge, Paddle, Racquetball as usual. Amateur Chefs meet next on Thurs/21st. Photography meets next Mon/1:30PM, Skyblazers meet Mon/25th, and 4F's meet Fri/22nd at Nino's.
COUTH: NO FEBRUARY TRIP Flatley's Lord of the Dance/dinner at Stamford La Hacienda 03-14-08. April 30th Johnson Glass House Tour booked! See Clancy Fauntleroy to get on waiting list.
HUMORIST: Jack Messert told joke about man meeting with IRS agent and how he ended up winning money from the agent, as well as $20K from the friend that accompanied him to the meeting. (If you missed last week's meeting, ask Messert to describe the details).
SPEAKER: VP Nick Zaccagnino introduced Laura Kaminsky, dean of the Conservatory of Music at Purchase College since 2004, and also executive dean of the School of the Arts and interim dean of the Performing Arts Center. Known around the world as a composer of mostly Chamber works, Ms. Kaminsky said that she really is a composer that has a day job. For our society to be a meaningful civilized humane place there is the necessity of the arts. People like Ms. Kaminsky believe the most important thing to do is to say something thru an artistic discipline, to say something meaningful about the human condition. Institutions like Purchase College help her do that. SMC's George Perkins helped with discussion on what makes art great. For George, hearing music that he likes makes the hair on the back of his neck stand-up. This is example of having an artistic experience that in some way is a transformation or transcendent experience for him-in making him feel something. Looking back at history, we are living with artist's works that resonate today from the renaissance, because their works were supported. Regarding need for schools like Purchase, Ms. Kaminsky discussed a 17 year old boy from upstate NY that wanted to do something about the changing light on the field at dusk that he saw. He needed to find a way to express it and share his feeling thru painting, a composition or dancing. Regarding Abstract Art, which we may not like, no matter what the art form is, if there is an honesty of expression and a skill level that allows that honest feeling to be transformed and transmuted, received and shared--- to many folks, that is the definition of great art. People need to take a chance on art and take a look at new artists. Young artists at Purchase get not only technical skills, but how to be a thinking, feeling, and critical human being. Art students know what they want to do, are incredibly disciplined and spend most of their time trying to hone their crafts as artists. Being an artist and making great art doesn't have a lot to do in determing whether or not you are going to be famous or rich or even make a living. Somehow American society judges artists differently from corporate executives and other professions. And, the artist, doing his thing as a good artist, is not always respected by our society. Purchase College knows that it is important for its students to become the best artist they can be and to become well educated, articulate citizens engaged in society. Purchase has about 4000 people, 35% in Arts and 65% in Sciences/Liberal Arts. It's a place where aspiring artists and others can come together for the betterment of all, and more finely honed human beings. The Neuberger Museum of Art and the Performing Arts Center make it special, providing arts to its outlining community. This year, Purchase is embarking on exploration of the rich cultural heritage of Africa and the African Diaspora, featuring artists from Africa and the Neuberger Museum's acclaimed African collection. SMC members received pamphlets listing programs for year.
Bob Williams, Asst. Secretary