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THE SENIOR MEN'S CLUB OF NEW CANAAN

Regular meeting of May 4, 2001

MINUTES

President Lee Hindenach opened his first meeting with 165 members present. Current membership is 490 with 10 invitees and 17 on the waiting list.

Announcements, etc. Ken Degroot introduced new members Jim Andrews, Cliff Parris, Arthur Kiratsous, and Cliff Irving; and Curry Ford introduced his son, Bill. Joe Sweet asked for any musician volunteers to play for the town band. Lee Hindenach announced that Ralph Didomenico is the Men's Club official photographer. Lee also announced the summer schedule as follows: Meetings will be held 7/6, 7/20, 8/3, and 8/17. There will be no meetings on 8/24 and 8/31.

Activities: All activities continue as announced. Tennis should start May 14, so until then sweat it out on the paddle courts. Golf outing at N.C. Country Club is Wednesday May 7. Bring check or cash, no plastic accepted.

Couth: 5/22 N.Y. Botanical Gardens, 6/20 Goodspeed Opera, 7/28 Connecticut Jazz Festival at new venue, Guilford Fairground. Washington D.C. trip dates are 10/23- 10/25. 72 are now on list but only 50 can go. Cost somewhere between $350-400. Once the figure is finalized, those who pay first will go. Once again, no plastic accepted.

Jester: John Berg told how the key to corporate executive success is "envelope preparation." He also told about the elderly couple who unwittingly confused "Kissimmee" with "Burger King."

Speaker: Vice President Bert Liebelt introduced Dr. Jonathan Waxberg from tamford Hospital who gave a very informative speech about prostate disease. Dr. Waxberg stated that urology is a recession proof profession. As cancers are concerned, prostate cancer is the number one cancer killer of African Americans, and number two of Caucasians. However, caught early, 4 out of 5 patients can be cured. Detection is the key, and can be accomplished through rectal examination and PSA testing. PSA is a wonderful test but can be affected by variables known as "SAS",(spice, alcohol, and sex.) The normal PSA number also usually goes up relative to age. The important factor is not the number itself, but the acceleration of the number over a short period of time. Genetics is also a very important factor. If in the past family, screening should begin in the early forties. Three methods of curing the cancer are seed implantation, external radiation and surgery. Hormone treatment can also be effective in arresting the cancer. There are many other benign prostate problems such as urgency, poor stream, and frequency at night. These can be treated by a host of drugs such as Saw Palmetto, Prostata, Proscar, Pygeum and Cardua, etc. Some of the drugs are herbal, and some are muscle relaxents or blood pressure medicines. All are very effective. In the long term, however, a good reaming is the best treatment. Sorry about that.

Eric Musa, Secretary

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