THE SENIOR MEN'S CLUB OF NEW CANAAN
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of March 7, 2003
President Bob Witt opened the meeting with 122 members present. Current membership is 524, with 1 invitee, and 11 on the waiting list. New member Norman Troy was introduced and welcomed.
Announcements: Dick DePatie informed members that Russ Gough and Elly King are still convalescing at Waveny, and Jim Bridgman is at home recovering from pneumonia. Who has the coat? President Witt appealed to the members for the return of a missing coat. Charlie Morris is once again traveling, arranging for our May 2nd, annual business meeting at the NCCC.
Activities: Bowlers although not responding will probably bowl! Bridge players will certainly play; For paddle players it’s BAU. The March 4F’s; luncheon will be at Eric & Michael's in Wilton. Eric Petschek disavowed any personal interest. Trailblazers will hike to the Housatonic rail bed on March 26th. A walking tour of lower Manhattan led by Peter Stair is planned for June 4th.
Couth: On March 12th., we see the Broadway hit Mamma Mia. On April 24th, we travel to the Connecticut State Capitol. On May 8-9, is the overnight trip to Boston.
Resident Humorist: John Berg told us of the latest high tech methodology and instrumentation used to determine the gender of fly’s.
SPEAKER: Vice President Jack Murray introduced Jeff Benedict, author of several books, 2002 candidate for US Congress, and president of Connecticut Alliance Against Casino Expansion (jeff@jeffbenedict.com). Jeff began his talk describing how the biggest casino in the world came to CT., and by stating a motto, ”never underestimate the ignorance of your opponent”. He described how a lawsuit on behalf of the Indians to help regain their land, resulted in the plaintiffs agreeing to drop the lawsuit if the defendants:
1) would join the plaintiffs and get legislators to enact a statute to make the settlement law:
2) get Congress to pay for the settlement and purchase the land:
3) get the group to be recognized as an Indian Tribe.
This resulted in the Land Claim statute passed in 1983, which gave the Bureau of Indian Affairs the right to negotiate with the Indians and to hold their land in trust. Jeff investigated the Congressional transcripts leading to the Land Claim law, and concluded that legislators were not bought, but were fooled into thinking the land would be used to house the Indians, not to permit gambling. Foxwoods which was financed by a Malaysian investor, is the most profitable Casino in the world, is a state within a state, is not subject to environmental controls, and is the model for casino developers. There are currently 12 applications pending with the Bureau of Indian Affairs from Connecticut Tribes to be recognized, and 263 nationally. When Jeff ran for congress he ran on a platform to stop the proliferation of gambling casinos in CT., and lost. He stated no one in congress wants to get near this legislation which has become a national issue.
Stan Stanziale, Asst. Secretary