THE SENIOR MEN'S CLUB OF NEW CANAAN
(The meeting scheduled for February 26, 2010 was cancelled due to the weather)
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of March 5, 2010
President George Perkins opened the meeting with 118 of 488 members.
NEW MEMBER(S): Jerry Transue introduced new member, Mike McDonagh.
GUEST(S): Mark Thorne, Kirk Jewett, and Bob Ready from the Darien Senior Men's Club.
MINUTES: Don Hudson read the minutes of February 19, 2010.
MEMBERSHIP ASSISTANCE Chairman, Bob Moylan reported that Rod Keagy is incommunicado at home.
ANNOUNCEMENTS were made: The Town Players of New Canaan, presenting The WEIR, a 90-minute single-act play, has some openings remaining for Sunday, 3/7, Friday, 3/12, and Saturday, 3/13. The world's reigning male chorus, Chanticleer, will present a concert at St. Mark's on Monday, 3/8, at 7:30 PM. The first lecture on Connecticut at War was presented yesterday at the New Canaan Historical Society. Refer to the flyer for the schedule of the three subsequent lectures. (Channel 79 will be airing the entire series.) AARP defensive driving courses will be held on 4/19 & 26 and 5/25 & 28; fee: $12/14.
The status and plans were reported for various activities and couth trips:
ACTIVITIES: 4F Luncheon - 3/26 at Roger Sherman. Bridge - sign up. Amateur Chef's - Thursday, 3/18 German bratwurst meal; one spot open. Photography - Tuesday, 3/16, 1:30 at Lapham; topic: Using your Flash. Paddle - 5/24 Swing to Spring Party. Racquetball - (5-3-?).
COUTH: Wednesday, 3/10, New York Philharmonic Rehearsal; 44 signed up; six openings. Wednesday, 4/21, Ellis Island / Statue of Liberty; 10 openings.
HUMORIST: Jack Messert described how a couple visited a sex therapist office to avoid paying hotel fees and even got a rebate from Medicare. He then described how another couple striving for conjugal abstinence was involved in a paint-spilling incident at Home Depot.
SPEAKER: Vice President Brian Hollstein introduced the Reverend David M. Rider, president and executive director of the Seaman's Church Institute of New York and New Jersey and former interim rector of St. Mark's Church. His very interesting presentation described the nature of current day piracy and its impact on the maritime transportation industry, especially in the Gulf of Aden.
Piracy is a big business, transforming the economy of Somalia, with typical ransoms ranging from $3-6 million, up to $10.1 million, for assets at risk (ships and cargo), usually valued at $250-300 million. Reverend Rider described several incidents, including the Maersk Alabama case with its heroic Captain Richard Phillips and the U.S. Navy Seals.
He noted that the American Constitution outlawed piracy and discussed the structural challenges of vast geographic space, the debates within the maritime industry for thwarting attacks, and the institutes study on the clinical needs of crew members and their families under duress (Post Piracy Trauma Assessment and Treatment for survivors of piracy attacks after their release from captivity).
The Q&A session addressed: the Somalia pirate culture, international cooperation of military vessels, outsourcing of paramilitary professionals, and a variety vigilant measures, defensive maneuvers, and protective tools.
Note: Here is a copy of his presentation.
Roger Langevin, Assistant Secretary