YMCA of Greater Hartford
The Old Guard, Inc.
March 2018 NEWSLETTER
Volume 54                                                No. 7

CLICK BELOW FOR


 






 
STORYTELLER
 CODE OF CONDUCT


MARCH PROGRAMS
Mar 6            Howard Schwartz, Greater Hartford Better
                      Business Bureau
                     "How To Protect Yourself From 95% of Scams "
                      Introduced by: Peter Tiernan
                      STORYTELLER: Peter Tiernan

Mar 13          Kevin Nathan
                     "Highlights of the Winter Olympics "
                      Introduced by: Bob Schaefer
                      STORYTELLER: Ron Van Winkle

Mar 20          Judge Al Dabrowski, Retired
                      "The Wells Fargo Robbery"
                      Introduced by: Bob Schaefer
                      STORYTELLER: Bob Cave

Mar 27           Lowell Fewster
                      "Barn Stories: What They Tell Us"
                      Introduced by: Dennis Carrithers
                      STORYTELLER: Courtney Bourns


PRESIDENTS MESSAGE                       Al Nweeia, President
March brings us the beginning of Daylight Saving Time, St. Patrick's Day, the first day of Spring, Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Passover. It also brings us another great month of speakers, a great trip to the Peabody Essex and Salem Witch Museums and several fun activities. So as we enter the homestretch of our 2017-2018 program year, let us continue to give to the programs we support, let us continue to thank the members of the Executive Committee, the Board of Directors, the Story Tellers and all those that make the Old Guard the great organization that it is, and most of all let's have fun! Thank you Old Guard!
 
MEMBERSHIP                                   Tom Goodrum, Chairman
So are this year we have had 31 guests and voted in 15 new members. Great job by the 26 members who have brought quests! And we need to keep this momentum going and finish the Old Guard year strong. It is up to each of us and all of us to search for a man to bring as a guest. You can do it; we can do it.
Meet the newest members :
Tom Tresselt : Voted in as a member on January 16. Tom's sponsor was Tom Trumble. Tom lives with his wife Sally in West Hartford. They have two children and four grandchildren. Tom's degrees include Yale University undergraduate and University of Michigan JD Law School. Tom spent 35 years with Shipman & Goodwin. His interests include reading, travel, hiking, exercise, politics and gardening; his volunteer interest includes Loaves and Fishes, American School for the Deaf and Asylum Hill Church.
Don Cole : Voted in as a member on January 16. Don's sponsor was Bob Hoffman. Don lives with his wife Mary in Avon. They have two children. Don's degrees include Drew University, B.A, University of Montana, M.A. and Ohio State University, PhD. Don taught Economics for 41 years at Drew University. His interests include genealogy, cinema and film making, classical music and reading. His volunteer interests include Society for Value in Higher Education, Habitat for Humanity and Food Bank Initiative.
Paul Pendergast : Voted in as a member on January 23. Paul's sponsors were Bob Hill and Tom Trumble. Paul lives with his wife Linda in Avon. They have three sons, two daughters and 14 grandkids. Paul's education includes BA - Grove City College, MBA - St. Edward's University, and Executive Education at Harvard University and Pace University. Paul career includes 30 years with IBM Corp., 3 years with U.S. Air Force, 9 years with UConn and 7 years with St. Francis Hospital. And during 2011 - 2012 Paul was Interim Athletic Director at UConn. Paul's board memberships include The Hartford Symphony Orchestra, Grove City College, Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce and Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation. His volunteer interests include Hands on Hartford and The Miracle League of CT.
Jim Schepker : Voted in as a member on February 13. Jim's sponsor was Tom Goodrum. Jim lives with his wife Anita in West Hartford. They have two daughters. Jim's degrees include BA degree from Merrimack College, MALS degree from Wesleyan College and an MBA from UConn. Jim's career includes healthcare, banking, marketing firm and teaching. Jim's interests include CT Forum and former board member of Camp Courant. 
Bob Metzler : Voted in a member on February 13. Bob's sponsor was Bob Schaefer. Bob lives with his wife Deborah in West Hartford. They have 4 children. Bob's education includes Princeton University, A.B. and UConn School of Law, J.D. Bob is a semi-retired lawyer. Bob's affiliations and interests include United Way of CT board of directors, Metro Hartford Alliance, CT Bar Association, tutoring English as a second language, drives in the Town's Medical Escort Service and serves at a soup kitchen once a month.
Bill OConnor : Voted in as a member on February 13. Bill's sponsor was Tom Goodrum. Bill lives with his wife Patricia in West Hartford. They have two children and two grandchildren. Bill has a BS degree in Business and Insurance from UConn. Bill served in the military including 8 years as CT National Guard Unit Commander. Bill worked 29 years at Aetna and 11 years at the Travelers. And Bill spent several years teaching Insurance & Risk Management. One of Bill's interest is Save Our Water CT.
 
STORYTELLERS                                Bernie Weiss/Jim Doran
March winds blow. But there's no hot air-only interesting and amusing tales-from our storytellers: Peter Tiernan on the 6th, Ron Van Winkle on the 13th, Bob Cave on the 20th, and Dennis Carrithers on the 27th.
 
HOSPITALITY                                       Ray Goulet, Chairman
To any members who do not have transportation and wish to attend the weekly meetings please call 860-521-9567 and arrangements will be made with a fellow member in your area to provide you with transportation.

UCONN HEALTH VOLUNTEERS  Bruce Hamilton, Chairman
For information on how you can volunteer at UCONN Health please contact Bruce Hamilton at 860-613-2441 or email me at BandCHamilton@gmail.com for more information.
 
SENIORS JOB BANK                         Hank Boulton, Chairman
The Seniors Job Bank will have openings for those that may wish to join the Board. The Seniors Job Bank is very pleased with the number of Old Guard members that have stepped up as volunteers, Board members and Officers. Also, many Old Guard members have found enjoyable and profitable part time work through the Seniors Job Bank. In addition, the Seniors Job bank has helped our neighbors with tasks around the house and local businesses with part time office work. The community as a whole benefits from this great organization. Get involved! Contact Hank Boulton: h.boulton@snet.net or 860-830-2386.

WEST HARTFORD FOOD BANK           Lou Aiello, Chairman
The first Tuesday for March's meeting we will be collecting money and/or food for the West Hartford Food,  Foodshare and/or Loaves & Fishes. It would be VERY helpful for contributions for the holidays!!! WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT. So far we have contributions of $27,000 in food money value. This year there is more need than ever for contributions than past years. We have to preserve, protect, and help our community with the changes going on in our world, and have Old Guard out in front as a top contributor to support our community. Our goal now is $12,000 in food value money. The need for more contributions is greater than ever.
A contribution of $30.00 would feed one person for 30 days with the organization cost. We could donate money to West Hartford Food Bank and/or Foodshare: Greater Hartford & Tolland County; also Loaves & Fishes.  1. For collecting non-perishable food will be for the West Hartford Food Pantry. 2. To contribute by check for West Hartford: Paid to the order of -Town That Cares-West Hartford Food Pantry, and for Foodshare: Paid to the order of Foodshare. Will except donations for Loaves & Fishes too. 3. To contribute by charge card: West Hartford Food Bank   www.westhartford.org/townthatcaresclick on Donate Now. Foodshare (860)286-999 or www.foodshare.org . And for Loaves & Fishes (860)524-1730 Alice Hild 646 Prospect Ave., Hartford, Ct. 06105. Let me know if you contribute by charge, so I can add contribution to our total. All money is tax deductible. Any questions call me (860) 970-6502 or email me lou_aiello@yahoo.com. Thank you and appreciate all your help.
 
CORRESPONDENCE VIA EMAIL
We currently have 139 members who have opted to receive their Monthly Newsletter via email. If you are not currently receiving your newsletter via email and would like to receive yours that way please contact Sharon in the Y office and she will make the change for you. All new incoming members will receive the newsletter by email only. The newsletter can always be found on the Old Guard website at www.oldguardct.org. We always have paper copies available at meeting as well. You can email her at sharon.tagulaid@ghymca.org. PLEASE NOTE : IF YOU CURRENTLY RECEIVE YOUR NEWSLETTER VIA EMAIL IF YOU EVER RECEIVE ANY EMAILS FROM THE YMCA PLEASE DO NOT  UNSUBSCRIBE AS YOU WILL BE BLOCKED FROM RECEIVING THE NEWSLETTER BY THE EMAIL DELIVERY SERVICE PROVIDER.
 
INCLEMENT WEATHER MEETING CANCELLATION REMINDER : If the West Hartford Public Schools are closed or have a delayed opening due to inclement weather there will be NO meeting held. Please check your local news, the WHPS website or you may visit the Old Guard website and there are links provided to these pages.
 
SPECIAL EVENTS                                     Paul Dean, Chairman
Salem Trip Wednesday March 28
Which way to GO
This trip provides docent tours for the Peabody Essex and the Salem Witch museums and lunch at a noted Salem Restaurant. All for $90.Because the museums and the restaurant are near of each other we can offer a flex plan. After lunch you may opt to either go to the Witch Museum or return the Peabody Museum for a more extensive tour of the Georgia O'Keefe art exhibit or the 200-year-old Chinese house that was exported to and resurrected on the grounds of the Peabody Museum. The listing and floor plan of the exhibits of the Museum can be found on the pem.org website   If you wish to pursue this option let us know and we will schedule additional tours at the Peabody Essex Museum for you.
 
Never Forget and See the City by Sea
A.K.A, The 911 Museum and Circle Line Cruise April 18 Trip
The 9/11 museum is located on the grounds of the World Trade Center and honors the 2,983 people that were killed in the attacks. The Memorial consists of two reflecting pools set in the footprints of the Twin Towers and a plaza of trees, including the Survivor Tree which was damaged in the attack but was nursed back to health. When we visit the Museum, we will get an in depth look at the story of 9/11 through artifacts that range in scale from the monumental to the intimate, while presenting stories of loss, compassion, reckoning and recovery. There are many touching testimonies provided by the families of the victims from September 11th and we will also discover some firsthand accounts from survivors.
The Circle Line Cruise is an iconic New York City treat. We'll sail down the Hudson River, around the Battery, and into the East River, passing beneath the Brooklyn Bridge, while an onboard guide points out the sights of the city. The view from the water provides a fascinating perspective... even for native New Yorker's and frequent visitors.
 
Yard Goats Game Wednesday Morning May 9,10:30 AM
Last year 20 Old Guard Members enjoyed sitting in box seats and watching a Yard Goats baseball game. The Stadium was beautiful, the food was inexpensive and good, and the atmosphere was big League. We were not surprised to learn that the Yard Goats had a successful first season at Dunkin' Donuts Park in 2017. Overall, the club drew 395,196 fans last season and sold out 41 of its home games. We have reserved 40 box seats for this year's morning game, This year we will car pool to the game from our parking lot at the church to a designated parking lot. We recently learned that this game is now sold out. Sign up now if you wish to attend this game.
The nickname "Yard Goats" was selected as part of a "Name the Team" contest which drew over 6,000 submissions. "Yard goats" is rail-yard slang for the switch engines or terminal tractors that shuttle train cars between different locomotives, but the logo features a goat chomping on a baseball bat and the team makes heavy use of animal imagery and symbolism. [5]