THE SENIOR MEN'S CLUB OF NEW CANAAN
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of January 8, 2010
President George Perkins opened the meeting with 104 of 486 members present and reviewed the SMC policies on weather closings. Roger Langevin, Assistant Secretary, read the December 18, 2009 meeting minutes and reminded members that meeting changes are posted on the SMC web site. George noted that the Red Cross cookbook (with some recipes from our Marvin Newman) would be on sale after the meeting, half of the proceeds going to charity. Jane Nyce, executive director of Staying Put, gave a brief update on its activities, a membership of 200 and about 2000 requests for assistance last year. This organization offers members many links to resources (e.g. transportation, companionship, small repair jobs, health care planning, and special social events).
MEMBERSHIP ASSISTANCE: Chairman, Bob Moylan, reported that Richard Bond, former First Selectman of New Canaan, died yesterday, a report posted on the SMC bulletin board. He also noted that Bea Robinson, wife of past SMC President Clark Robinson, died (funeral at St. Aloysius Church at 11:00 AM, Saturday, January 16).
John Newman is recovering at Waveny from injuries suffered in a recent car accident.
ACTIVITIES: Racquetball 2-?-? Bridge and Paddle Tennis as usual. Nick Zaccagnino described the Amateur Chef's tasty flank steak lunch, planned for 1/21. Photo Club doing introduction to Power Point, 1-4PM, 1/13, a free precursor to the Waveny tuition charge program. 4F's to meet 1/22, probably at DiNardo's (Scott's Corners).
COUTH: Don Hunziker announced the trip to the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) Italian restaurant 2/9, departure at 9:30AM, return 3:30-4:00PM, probable cost $50/pp.
HUMORIST: Jack Messert told of a Red Cross contribution call on a wealthy lawyer who gained the worker's sympathy with bizarre stories of his relatives' many needs only to note since he wasn't going to do a thing for them, he could hardly help the Red Cross.
SPEAKER: Vice President, Paul Stein, introduced Scott Graham, Chief Response Officer for the American Red Cross's Greater New York Chapter and Stacey Hafen,
Senior Director of Community Response for Connecticut, substituting for Mario Bruno, Chief Response Officer for Connecticut, who had to be in Hartford to cover a major building fire. Their presentation "Are We Ready, Metro New York?" focused on Connecticut and parts of New York and New Jersey. The goals are higher service quality with lower cost, strong chapters, strong partnerships, and worker satisfaction. Disasters were defined as CATASTROPHIC (e.g. 9/11), MAJOR (e.g. power outages) and finally EVERYDAY (e.g. building fires), ranked on a combination of severity and probability, involving around 3000 responses per year. The hurricane Katrina was a recent example of catastrophic with 1.2 million homeless, 30 million meals served, $1.2 billion direct aid, 2500 families evacuated to New York City (10 to New Canaan), and 220,000
volunteers! The preference should be to be prepared not scared and active not reactive.
Family plans are critical with emphasis on communications (even text messaging), supplies, and procedures, including local plans for evacuation, operation of the reverse call system, and available first aid and CPR courses. The Q and A session covered FEMA improvements, nuclear disaster responses, evacuation/shelter planning, and feeding arrangements. Jim Cole, Deputy Director, New Canaan Emergency Management, provided some information on Town activities.
Don Hudson, Assistant Secretary