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 14, 2024

• Spring Fling Sign Up Deadline Tomorrow    
• Travel Group to Meet Monday
• Stephen Roach to Speak on US/China Relations
• Pianist Olga Vinokur Performs for Y's Men
• Y's Men Hoot Owls Perform in Darien This Friday
• Save the Date: Clambake on June 19
• West Point Football on September 21
• New Direct Link to Volunteer Opportunities
• Jim Marpe Lists Community Events
• Details You Will Need for Clean Up Westport Day 
• Sunrise Rotary Invites Y's Men to Blumenthal Meeting
• Five Upcoming Trips Announced by T&E  
• Y's Men Bocce Begins on Wednesday, April 24
• 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.

The Y’s Men Social Committee Presents

Spring Fling

Sign-up now. Payment deadline is tomorrow (Monday, April 15)

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.

Travel Group Meets Tomorrow at 9:00 am

The Y’s Men Travel Group will meet tomorrow (Monday, April 15) from 9:00-10:30 am in Room 203 at the Church. 

All meetings start by talking about one’s recent travel experiences and coming plans. 

At this meeting we’ll first focus on these topics:

• What about places that are overrun by tourists?
• Climate issues affecting travel?
• Wine – where to go, and how are climate changes affecting that?
• Current events affecting travel planning?
• What about going to areas that are riskier? Is it worth going and if so, how to prepare?
• China and Hong Kong – worth going to now?

Additions continue to be made to the Y's Men Travel Reference Doc, located here. 

For information about the Y’s Men Travel Group, or to be added to the group’s email distribution list, please contact Art Mann, mannart03@gmail.com

Stephen Roach will speak at this Thursday's meeting.

Asia Expert to Discuss U.S. - China Relations This Thursday

Joining us Thursday will be Stephen Roach, a Senior Research Scholar of the Paul Tsai China Center at Yale Law School, and author of "Accidental Conflict: America, China and the Clash of False Narratives."

He will speak to us about American and Chinese false narratives about each other, their current economic and political relationship, what the future may hold and how it can be improved.

Concert Pianist Olga Vinokur performed for the Y's Men and public at last Thursday's meeting.

Photos by Ted Horowitz

Concert Pianist Olga Vinokur

Plays for the Y’s Men and all Westport

Olga Vinokur, world-renowned concert pianist, played a concert of classical favorites to a full house in the Sanctuary of the Saugatuck Congregational Church at the weekly Y’s Men’s Thursday meeting. Last week’s Y’s Men’s program included compositions by Chopin, Scriabin and Rachmaninoff. 

Says The New York Times of Ms. Vinokur, “She is a dynamic performer of classical music through the strength and consistency of her artistry.” During her long career, Vinokur has concertized in the United States and abroad as a recitalist, with orchestras and with chamber musicians in major venues, including Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Town Hall in New York, and international venues in Prague, London, Shanghai and other cities in China. 

Following her sold out concert, Olga Vinokur receives a thank you bouquet of roses from Y’s Man benefactor Art Greenberg.

Y's Men Hoot Owls Perform in Darien This Friday

The Y's Men singing group, the Hoot Owls, will perform this Friday, April 19, at the Darien Senior Center, at 12:30 pm.

Another gig will be a performance on Thursday, July 18 at 2:00 pm at Atria Darien, an assisted living facility.

The Hoot Owls is made up of nine Y's Men, and new members are always welcome. If you like to sing (reading music is not necessary) and entertain local seniors, please consider joining the Hoot Owls. Chairman Bob Leng says, "Come join us. It's lots of fun."

If you would like to join or want more information, please contact Bob at leng_7@msn.com

Save the Date

Wednesday, June 19, 2024, 6:00 pm

Ned Dimes Marina Clubhouse

BYOB

Lobster, Clams, Mussels, Corn on the Cob, Baked Potato, Watermelon

A Y’s Men Social Committee Event

(Limit 55 Participants)

WEST POINT FOOTBALL

Saturday, Sept. 21 

Army vs. Rice University

The day will comprise the West Point Parade,

a Tail Gating Party, and the Football Game.

    We've bought a section of 25 tickets to the game.

     As in years past we've reserved a tent in field

         parking for use as a “home base” for the day.

Once we know the number of people attending, we'll form

a food committee to help prepare and serve. 

The cost of the tent and tickets is $133.00 per person

plus food & drinks (BYOB).

Click Here to Reserve

 Include your email and number of guests.

Please respond by April 18th.

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 the Town-wide Clean-Up Westport Day (see article below).

Details Announced on Clean Up Westport Day

Saturday, April 27, is Clean Up Westport Day. It may not rise to the occasion of being a national holiday but it’s important to all of us...to our families, our community, and ourselves.

Where: Two sites. The first is  the Baldwin parking lot - which is off Elm Street behind Serena & Lily. The other site is Burying Hill Beach, which is just south of the Greens Farms train station.

Time: We’ll be starting promptly at 9:00 am so please show up before then. We’ll probably be done in one to two hours.

Tools: If you have them, bring pickers, rakes, work gloves and any other ‘implements-of-collection’ that appeal to you.

And, finally, don’t worry ... coffee and donuts will be provided!



Sign up below so we know how many men will be involved in each location. (by the way, willing spouses and significant others are welcome).

Please email Larry Ackerman at lackerman@theidentitycircle.com and let him know you're available to help and if you prefer a particular location or if you're willing to work at either.

Sunrise Rotary Invites Y's Men

To Hear Senator Richard Blumenthal

Westport Sunrise Rotary has invited the Y’s Men to its meeting this Friday, April 19 when United States Senator Richard (Dick) Blumenthal will be the guest speaker. Senator Blumenthal is serving his third term representing Connecticut in the Senate.

The presentation will be at Greens Farms Congregational Church, 71 Hillandale Road, Westport, starting at 7:45 am, and Senator Blumenthal will begin speaking at approximately 8:00 am.

Coffee and bagels/muffins will be served starting at 7:00 am. Visit the website at: www.WestportSunriseRotary.org for more information.

An RSVP is required to Y's Man Ron Holtz at ronholtz.ysmen@gmail.com

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 visit to the Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Center led by Y's Man Tom Failla tomorrow (Monday, April 15) at 11:00 am. The trip is limited to 20 participants. Tom is Weston's Tree Warden.

Second is a tour of radio broadcast studios on Wednesday, April 24. Currently sold out, a wait list is being formed with the intention of another tour.

Third 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 Thursday, April 18.

Next is a private guided tour of the former headquarters building of Union Carbide Corporation in Danbury, CT, on Tuesday, May 14. The tour is about two hours, followed by lunch in the company cafeteria.

Finally, West Point Football on Saturday, September 21, with Army vs. Rice University (see article above).

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

Y's Men Bocce Begins Wednesday, April 24

The Y's Men Bocce Group will begin meeting again on Wednesday, April 24 and will meet every Wednesday (weather permitting), at Veterans Park, 909 Reef Road, in Fairfield. There are six well maintained Bocce Courts available.  

Teams are formed and games start at 10:30 am and usually run to noon.

No registration is required. Just show up and join a team of fellow Y's Men.  

Reminder emails are sent out on Tuesday evening. If you wish to be added to the list, send your email address to Len Ances at ances@sbcglobal.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. This 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.