communications@ysmenwestportweston.org

Please use this email address to contact the Communications Committee directly should you have questions concerning Y's Men communications, the Newsletter, or other information, requests or concerns.

The Week Ahead -- Sunday, April 7, 2024

• Two Y's Men Pass Away Recently
• GIDG to Meet Tomorrow
• Learn How to Keep Yourself Safe Online
• Jazz Club Lunch This Wednesday
• Olga Vinokur Performs for Y's Men on April 11
• Spring Fling Scheduled for April 19
• Danielle Dobin Discussed Westport Civics Last Thursday
• New Direct Link to Volunteer Opportunities
• Jim Marpe Lists Community Events
• Five Upcoming Trips Announced by T&E  
• What’s Next in Weston Podcast
• Spring Golf Begins at Longshore April 22
• Fiction Book Club to Discuss Hemingway

Videos of all 2024 meeting presentations are now available on the Y's Men website (ysmenwestportweston.org). Then click on the “Meeting Photos & Videos” tab.

Y's Men George Erickson and John Monks passed away recently.

Two Y’s Men Pass Away in Recent Days

Two long-time Y’s Men passed away recently. George Erickson, a Y’s Man since 2006, died the week before last, and John Monks, who joined the Y’s Men in 1999, passed away last weekend.

George was 86 and John was 93. 

No funeral services are planned for George at this time. 

Click here for a full obituary on John. There will be a graveside service for him at 11:00 am on Saturday, April 27 at the Town Cemetery in Orange, CT followed by a luncheon at the Pine Orchard Country Club in Branford, CT. If you would like to attend, please contact Linda Francis, John's wife, at linda.francis419@yahoo.com

Global Issues Discussion Group Meets Tomorrow

The Global Issues Discussion Group (GIDG) will meet tomorrow (Monday, April 8) at 9:00 am in Room 203 at the Church. The subject they will discuss is the UN Law of the Seas Convention which the United States did not join. If time permits, the Ukraine and Israel/Hamas conflicts also will be discussed.

Background reading material may be found on the Group's email list.

For additional information, contact Moderator Peter Chelico at pecysmen@gmail.com.

How Do You Keep Yourself Safe?

Sign Up for This Y's Men Webinar

Sam Disraelly made a presentation to the Y's Men in February on ways to keep ourselves safe.

In an April 10 webinar, "Keeping yourself safe from online crime," Sam will show us how to build protection around our on-line selves.

The webinar will take place on Wednesday, April 10 at 2:00 pm. Attendees will use their home computers to tap into the webinar.

To get on the invitation list, click the button below.

Jazz Club Lunch This Wednesday

There are a few openings available for the Y's Men Jazz Club lunch this Wednesday, April 10. The program will be a mixed bag of jazz and vocals including such artists as Erroll Garner, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Tony Bennett....and more.

The lunch will be at the VFW starting at noon. Cost is $25.00 per person, pay there.

If you are interested in committing to attend, please contact Jeff Hare at jeffhare@optonline.net.

The regular Thursday morning meeting of the Y's Men this week will be the performance by Ms. Vinokur in the sanctuary of the Saugatuck Congregational Church. As usual, there will be coffee, donuts and conversation with limited seating beginning at 9:00 am in Hoskins Hall. Then we move upstairs to the sanctuary where the performance will begin at 10:00 am. NOTE: No food or beverages are allowed in the sanctuary.

The Y’s Men Social Committee Presents

Spring Fling

Sign-up now. Payment deadline is Thursday, April 11.

Time is running out! Don't wait for it to be SOLD OUT.

Come join us for a Y's Men Annual Spring Fling & Buffet Dinner

Ballroom of the Gaelic Club of Fairfield

74 Beach Road

Fairfield, CT

Friday, April 19, 6:00 to 9:00 pm

Buffet Dinner just $75.00 per person

Music by

Sharon and Her Band

Traditional Irish Music and Good ole' Rock 'n' Roll

Dancing

Cash Bar

Click here to hear the Irish Pub Song, one of Dewey's favorite songs which will be played at the Spring Fling.

An addition to the evening will be a performance by the Lenihan Irish Step Dancers. Click here for a brief preview.

The Spring Fling is a party not to be missed.

Don’t miss out on a great social opportunity.

Dress is casual with a touch of green.

The private Gaelic Club is a special party venue, 

a must see if you have never been. https://gaconline.org/ 

Or pay by check ASAP made out to Y's Men of Westport/Weston and mailed to Y's Men of Westport/Weston, P.O. Box 167, Westport, CT 06880-0167.

Danielle Dobin, a member of the Westport Board of Finance, dissected town government for Y's Men last Thursday.

Y’s Men Learn Westport Civics 101 From An Expert

Board of Finance member Danielle Dobin offered Y’s Men a bit of Westport Civics 101 last Thursday. She told the group that the town charter embodies consent of the governed, the separation of powers and incorporates checks and balances.

Concentrating on “The Big Five” in town government among nearly 100 boards, commissions, committees, etc., she talked about the Board of Selectwomen, Board of Finance, Planning and Zoning, RTM, and the Board of Education.

 

The First Selectman is the town’s CEO who manages all town departments and appoints the heads of all of the town’s approximately 30 boards. All appropriations are initiated in this office.

The Board of Selectmen oversees all municipal operations.

The Board of Finance is responsible for approving all expenditures and for taking on all debt, while the P&Z exercises land use oversight.

The RTM is a 36-member town legislature and the voice of the people. It is the most powerful town board; it checks all other elected boards, approves all town budgets and can restore Board of Finance cuts.

The Board of Education is an agent of the state, inasmuch as Connecticut’s schools are creatures of the state.

She commented that Westport has lost a bit of its former small town feeling as traffic has been increasingly redirected onto town roads.

Ms. Dobin also offered a pat on the back for Westport schools, noting that she “couldn’t be more pleased” with the education her children are receiving.

Y’s Men Now Have A Direct Link

To Community Service Opportunities

Westport and Weston are great communities, in large part because of dedicated volunteers who participate in the activities of not-for-profit and local government organizations.

In the spirit of “Giving Back” to our communities, the Y’s Men are actively engaged in many of these volunteer activities on both an individual and group basis. To help Y's Men volunteer on their own in Westport, the Community Service Committee has established a direct link to the "Town of Westport’s Volunteer Opportunities" page on the Town’s Website. 

You can find that link on the Y’s Men website in the Activities section on the Community Service page (click here). Take a look - there’s bound to be a volunteer opportunity of interest to you and a way to give back to the community “in kind” that suits your skills and experience.

Community Relations Events Announced by Jim Marpe

Y's Men Community Service Chairman Jim Marpe has announced three upcoming events: Wednesday, April 24 for the VFW Blood Drive; a whiskey-tasting on Wednesday, April 24 (see poster below) to benefit the Westport Uniformed Firefighters Charitable Foundation; and Saturday, April 27 for Westport's Town-Wide Clean-Up Day.

Five Trips and Events Arranged by the T&E Committee

Five upcoming trips for Y's Men have been announced by the Trips and Events committee under the chairmanship of Bill Blaufuss.

First is a walk up Broadway from Columbus Circle to Harlem this Wednesday, April 10.

Second is a visit to the Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Center led by Y's Man Tom Failla on Monday, April 15, at 11:00 am. The trip is limited to 20 participants, and RSVPs should be received by Monday, April 8. Tom is Weston's Tree Warden.

Third is a tour of radio broadcast studios on Wednesday, April 24 with a reservation cut-off on April 15. The tour is limited to 15 participants.

Next is a tour of the New England Air Museum and Vintage Radio Museum on Friday, May 3. This tour is limited to 24 people and reservations should be made by April 18.

Finally, West Point Football on Saturday, September 21, with Army vs. Rice University.

Complete dDetails for each of these events are available under the Trips and Events tab on the Y's Men website (ysmenwestportweston.org).

In the latest "What's Next in Weston" podcast, First Selectwoman Sam Nestor provides details on the proposed Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Weston town budget.

In this very informative discussion, there is a lot of good, and positive information for Weston residents.

Y's Men Monday Golf at Longshore

Y’s Men Spring golf at Longshore begins on Monday, April 22 with three exclusive tee times at 11:30, 11:40 and 11:50 am. Weekly sign-ups on Friday are for the following Monday, beginning April 19.

If you are interested in this great opportunity, you will need to register in advance. Selected players will be notified by email on Sunday. Early responders get priority but not exclusivity.

If you have any questions or need more information, contact Marshall Breines, 203-856-6789 or email marshallbreines@optonline.net.

Y's Men's Fiction Book Club

To Discuss "For Whom the Bell Tolls"

The Y's Men's Fiction Book Club meets on the third Thursday of each month. On March 21, it discussed Henry Roth's Call It Sleep. On Thursday, April 18 the Club will discuss Ernest Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls. Walker Percy's The Moviegoer will be the subject of May's meeting.

If you are interested in joining the Club or want additional information, contact Chris Lewis at celewis14@gmail.com.