THE SENIOR MEN'S CLUB OF NEW CANAAN
Regular meeting of April 20, 2001
MINUTES
President Don Hunziker opened the business meeting at 9:58, on a beautiful spring
day, with 154 members present. With dues collection complete, we now have 482 members,
18 invitees, and 17 wait-listed. Ray Goodell introduced guest (and wait lister) Leo
Antinello.
AND WELCOME BACK TO HUCK WOOD!
Secretary Eric Musa read a proposed amendment to SMC Constitution Section S.2. This
would add the proposed presidential nominee to the nominating committee for selection
of other officers. Vote next week at the annual meeting.
Activities: Bowling, bridge, racquet and Paddle proceed. Golfing start at 8:45 AM
on May 9th
at the New Canaan CC. The Mead Park courts are not yet ready for tennis. The next
Trailblazers' hike will be strenuous: the Housatonic Range Trail on May 14. An easy
walk will follow the
21st at Pound Ridge. 4F's meet today, at Nino's with 12 signed up so far.
Couth: Bert Liebelt still has openings for Goodspeed in June. The UN trip yesterday
was a great success. It was rendered even more memorable by the efficient but sometimes
manic driving of our new "regular" chauffeur, Lady Di, who is apparently an honors graduate
of the demolition derby. The proposed Washington trip, marked for 22-24 October, has 72
signed up, with a
projected price range - for bus, suites, meals, and events - of an amazing $350-375
per person.
Other News: Pete Luke's daughter-in-law, Gaynor, described "New Canaan Cares",
whose mission is to reduce alcohol and drug use among our teens. A major annual
fund raiser is its
"Kitchen Tours" of 6 homes, to be held May 17. Gaynor seeks some SMCers to fill
out her list of 100 volunteers needed for the tours., These folk don't have to cook,
but they must be prepared to meet hundreds of charming ladies. Ralph DiDomenico wants
photos, particularly groups, for the new SMC directory. Jim Wilson asks for volunteer
help for the "Clean Your Mile" activity. Gif Kittredge wants us to fill out and return
Lapham Center questionnaires. And finally, President Don treated us to a brief and
graceful valedictory.
Jester: John Berg showed that claims of amatory prowess among geezers were sometimes
not quite what they seemed.
Speaker: VP Clancy Fauntleroy introduced Arthur Tauck III (Chuck) substituting for
his father, injured skiing. Arthur Jr. himself was a substitute for Chuck's brother
Peter, summoned suddenly to the UK. Chuck presented a video and discussed the history
of Tauck Tours from its almost
accidental founding by his grandfather Arthur in the 1920' s, when 6 people took the
first "package tour" for $69 all inclusive for 7 days in New England. Tauck Motor
Tours moved from NJ to NY City to Westport (in 1971) and became, successively, Tauck
Tours and then Tauck World
Discovery. Milestones were shutdown for WWll, reopening in 1949; the ascendancy of
Arthur Jr, age 27, in 1958 as the jet age began; and the firm's first large volume
bookings, built around Expo '67 in Montreal. Company firsts include the fIrst aircraft
charter, heli-hiking, and small ship cruising. There are now 450 Tauck employees
running 100 itineraries on 7 continents.
Chuck left the company after more than 15 years of service, obtaining an MB A at
Cornell and writing his thesis on succession in family companies. The thesis started
6 years of family
planning) and our speaker shared with us many keen insights into succession issues
at Tauck. He now owns a winery near Ithaca; brother Peter and sister Robin are the
Tauck co-presidents.
Peter Schurman -Assistant Secretary