THE BEAT GOES ON
The air is chilly, leaves are turning red and orange, and the election results will be known sometime this month. Those were the November rhythms of our lives before this year. Many of us are now adjusting to the reality that COVID-19 may become another beat in our daily rhythms for some time.
The 14 West Hamilton Street Club continues to function and provide food, drink, programs, Zoom discussions, and companionship. Currently, most of the Club’s activities are conducted remotely, but in-person lunches have resumed on a limited basis.
The club is strictly adhering to state and city rules and regulations and following CDC-recommended safety precautions. We have had lunches on the deck and inside—with appropriate social distancing--when there was inclement weather. The dining room is open and can accommodate six people under the current social distancing rules. Two related people can form a “quaranteam” and be one unit of the six. Chef Charlotte Galley takes great care in ensuring the club is safe and clean and meets the highest standards.
Since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, about 20% of the members have participated in an activity inside the Club. It is up to each member to decide when he or she should return to the Club. In the meantime, the Club will offer a variety of remote and limited in-Club activities.
Members do not have to be physically present at the club to engage in interesting conversation. You can choose to participate in Zoom lunches and current affairs and book discussions in addition to the scheduled Zoom speaker meetings. We look forward to the time when all members will feel comfortable in returning to the Club.
NEW MEMBERS
When you have the opportunity, please extend a warm welcome to Howard Friedel and Joe Twist who have joined the Club. Howard, a Guilford resident, started his career as a lawyer and moved on to become a developer of commercial shopping centers in Baltimore, Washington, and Northern Virginia. Joe has spent more than four decades in the pharmaceutical industry working in various marketing-related positions.
THANKSGIVING PIE SALE
The Club has teamed up with local farmers market favorite Farm to Face to bring you amazing quality pies by Chef Miranda. She is offering 9-inch Pumpkin Custard with Maple Nut Streusel, Autumn Spiced Apple with Lattice Crust, and Orange Bourbon Pecan pies. She also makes pies that are vegan and/or gluten free. Pies are $30 each. Place your order before November 20 by emailing the Club. You can pick up the pies at the Club or arrange to have them delivered on November 24 and 25.
VOLUNTEER TO BE A ZOOM HOST
Sam Hopkins is recruiting members to manage the Club’s Zoom events. This responsibility is different from introducing the speaker or leading a discussion. Instead, it involves managing the Zoom software so it works well for all attendees. To date, Sam has Zoom hosted and managed most of the Club’s virtual events. Mike Franch was the first volunteer to join Sam, and Jim Ulmer has s also just stepped up. With more trained Zoom hosts, the Club will be able to keep offering weekly events and even add more to the calendar. More Zoom hosts would make it less burdensome for the current hosts and the Club less vulnerable to a sudden incapacity that our current Zoom hosts may suffer. If you are interested and need more details, please contact Sam Hopkins at https://sbh@hopkinsandassociates.com or 410-935-8540.
NEW BILLING FORMAT
The Club’s bookkeeping and financial software recently has been upgraded. As a result, the next bill will look different from the old ones. This is a good time to let Lynn know if you would like your statement emailed or snail mailed to you.
A NOTE ON UPCOMING PROGRAMS
If you want the most up-to-date information about the Club’s activities, make sure you open the emails from our Manager and Chef. Each member receives two regular emails—one is sent on Friday and the other on Monday. Emails with the subject line "Next Week..." are sent on Fridays, and those with "This Week & More..." are sent every Monday.
The Friday email provides a detailed description of every Speaker Event and Special Event that is occurring in the coming week. It also provides a detailed schedule for the week ahead of Noon Zoom with hosts lunches, which begin at 12:30 p.m. on every Tuesday thru Friday if there is no other event scheduled.
The Monday email repeats the same detailed listings of the coming week’s events that were contained in the Friday email. In addition, the Monday email has the detailed descriptions of Speaker and Special Events, and a section labeled "More" that lists "Future Zoom Speaker Events" and "Future Special Events" that are scheduled beyond the coming week.
In addition to the Friday and Monday weekly emails there are: "REMINDER" or "TODAY" or "TONIGHT" emails are sent on the morning of the day of the event. Chef Charlotte also sends out regular emails listing the next day’s menu.
Since all these emails will be more current than the monthly newsletter and will not be buried deep in your Inbox, we will be cutting back on the listings in future monthly newsletters.
Please take the time to open these weekly emails from your beloved 14 West Hamilton Street Club. Even if you cannot attend the listed events, there is detailed information that the monthly newsletter does not contain. Charlotte puts considerable effort into producing these emails that apprise and remind you of our Club’s many activities. Take advantage of this service!
UPCOMING EVENTS
November 3 (Tuesday) 8 p.m.
Special One Time Event!
Election Night Zoom Gathering and Discussion
Host: Bruce Barnett
November 10 (Tuesday) 12:30 p.m.
Book Discussion Lunch
“Crossing to Safety” by Wallace Stegner,” Tracing the lives, loves, and aspirations of two couples who move between Vermont and Wisconsin, it is a work of quiet majesty, deep compassion, and powerful insight into the alchemy of friendship and marriage.
Host: Lois Schenck
November 13 (Friday) 12.30 p.m.
Current Events Discussion
Hosts: Bill Reynolds, Andre Davis, Peter Danchin
November 18 (Tuesday) 12:30 p.m.
Henry Johnson, Architect, Johnson Berman Architectural & Interior Design
Topic: The Good Old Days in the Hamilton Street Club
Introduced by Sam Hopkins
December 1 (Tuesday) 12:30 p.m.
Book Discussion
“The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison
Discussion Leader: The Rev. Freda Marie Brown, the Church of the Redeemer Host: Lois Schenck
Upcoming Zoom Lunches with Hosts
12:30-1:30 p.m.
November 3 (Tuesday)
Host: Mike Franch
November 4 (Wednesday)
Host: Tim Wolf
November 5 (Thursday)
Host: Mike Franch
November 6 (Friday)
Host: Bruce Barnett
November 11 (Wednesday)
Host: Tim Wolf
November 12 (Thursday)
Host: Mike Franch
November 17 (Tuesday)
Host: Mike Franch
November 19 (Thursday)
Host: Mike Franch
November 20 (Friday)
Host: Bruce Barnett
November 24 (Tuesday)
Host: Mike Franch
November 25 (Wednesday)
Host: Tim Wolf
November 27 (Friday)
Host: Bruce Barnett
We hope everyone has an enjoyable Thanksgiving!
