THE SENIOR MEN'S CLUB OF NEW CANAAN
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of April 23, 2010
President George Perkins opened the meeting with 102 of 492 members present.
NEW MEMBER(S): Gerry Transue introduced new members, Mike Glazer and David Findlay.
GUEST(S): Brian Hollstein introduced guest, Norman Jensen.
MINUTES: Don Hudson read the minutes of April 16, 2010.
MEMBERSHIP ASSISTANCE: Wendy announced that her father and long-time SMC member emeritus, Rod Keagy, passed away on Wednesday at noon at the age of 98. Up to the end, he had excellent medical assistance. She said Rod was a writer and even wrote his own obituary. Members are invited to submit their written thoughts through Lorry Koch. No (only private) services are planned; no phone calls please.
ANNOUNCEMENTS were made: Ralph DiDomenico is taking photos of new members and Gerry Transue is collecting updated contact information for the Members' Directory. Dues are now due.
Next week's meeting will be at the Presbyterian Church. The Annual Meeting will be held on Friday, May 7, at 11:30 AM, at the New Canaan Country Club; $45 per person; $50 at the door. The Clean Your Mile Campaign is scheduled for Saturday, 4/24 and Sunday, 4/25; looking for volunteers. The Nature Center Garden tour will be on Friday, 6/4; hosts are requested. Touch-A-Truck is this Sunday, 4/25 from 11:30 to 2:30. AARP Driver's Ed course 5/25 and 5/27 at Lapham.
The status and plans were reported for various activities and couth trips:
ACTIVITIES: 4F Luncheon - Today at One Twenty Three restaurant on route 123 in Vista, South Salem. Amateur Chefs - Thursday, 5/20 at Lapham. Bridge - Sign up. Cyclists - Wednesday, 4/28.
Golf - First outing is Monday, 4/26 at Ridgefield (pay $5.00 for the year); 5/14 at Smith Richardson; 5/24 at Sterling Farms. Paddle - Had 8-10 each day; Annual party will be Monday, May 24 at at Waveny, starting at 6:00 PM. Photography - Compiling DVD of trips; now planning for Lee Memorial Gardens. Racquetball - (4-4-4?); a good week. Trailblazers - Central Park walk on Wednesday, 5/5.
COUTH: Had a good turnout for a great Ellis Island/Statue of Liberty trip. New York Botanical Gardens is scheduled for 5/20. Belmont Park is scheduled for 6/17; $70/pp.
HUMORIST: Bob Moylan described a man's funeral service, which was attended by two of his close friends. The mortician had some not very complimentary things to say about both of them.
SPEAKER: Vice President Brian Hollstein introduced SMC member Les de Villiers, who spoke about animals in the wild and "The Things Animals Do." Les grew up in South Africa and has authored several books, including: "Safari Guide" and "The Third Eye ... and Other Animal Riddles." He spends at least six weeks every year on safari with cameras (not guns) and manages his independent publishing company, Business Books International.
Through extraordinary photos, Les described the joys of spending time with animals in the wild. He explained Ethology (the study of the behavior patterns of animals), Anthropomorphism (the attributing of human characteristics to non-humans), and what animals do (the 4Ss): sex, sustenance, survival, and socialize).
He described the behavior of lions, told fascinating stories of elephants, and shared experiences about buffalos, rhinos, hippos, hyenas, cheetahs, wild dogs, zebras, baboons, giraffes, antelope, birds, ducks, ostriches, chimpanzees, and even pink flamingos. But what seemed to be of the greatest interest to the members were the copulation habits of lions.
Roger Langevin, Assistant Secretary