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, May 12, 2024

• Y's Men Bring Jazz to the Library Tomorrow Evening
• Travel Group Meets Tomorrow Morning
• Jazz Club Luncheon at VFW This Wednesday
• Annual Meeting and Picnic Thursday, May 23
• Interested in "South Pacific" at Goodspeed in July?
• "State of Our Towns" From First Selectwomen Thursday
• Andrew Wilk Captures the Arts for Broadcast May 22
• Gary Mendell: Treating Addiction as a Disease
• Five Upcoming Trips Announced by T&E  
• Future Social Events Listed
• Boating Underway for "The Ancient Mariners"
• Y's Man Bruce Becker Appointed by President Biden 
• Memorial Service for Kathleen Mitchell May 18
• Ann Matlow, Dave Matlow's Wife, Passes Away
• Volunteers Needed for Library Book Sale

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, Westport Library "A Night of Jazz" Tomorrow

The Y’s Men Jazz Club and The Westport Library have a great event coming up as they present "A Night of Jazz" with the Staples High School Jazz Ensemble in Trefz Forum at The Westport Library tomorrow evening (Monday, May 13) at 7:00 pm.

It is sure to be a great evening of music featuring our own Staples students.

To register for the event:"

Travel Group Meets Tomorrow Morning

The Y’s Men Travel Group will meet from 9:00 to 10:30 am tomorrow (Monday, May 13) in Room 203 at the Church. 

All meetings start by talking about one’s recent travel experiences and coming plans. Dave Pressler will be our guest moderator.

This week the discussion will focus on:

• Where are you going on your next trip...and why?
• How far in advance do you plan such a trip?
• Do you plan to travel with a travel group or company? Which one? Why? 
• Which travel websites do you use?

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.

May Meeting of Jazz Club at VFW This Wednesday

The Y's Men Jazz Club will hold its monthly luncheon at the Westport VFW on Riverside Avenue beginning at noon this Wednesday (May 15). The meeting's program will feature a Dizzy Gillespie and Louis Armstrong duo as well as performances by Nina Simone, Wes Montgomery, Dave Brubeck, Sarah Vaughan, and others.

The lunch will again be catered by Calise's with of a variety of sandwiches, green and pasta salads, mixed deserts and iced tea.

The cost is $25.00, pay there. Soft drinks, beer, wine and other alcoholic beverages may be purchased at the bar.

Click the button below for complete details and to reserve your attendance.

Save the Date: Thursday, May 23

For the Y's Men Annual Meeting and Picnic

Who says that there is no such thing as a "free lunch?" Don't miss this annual fun event that winds up the Y's Men 2023-2024 season. Say goodbye to the current board of directors and welcome the new one. Come see who receives the Owl Awards and who wins the Bill Meyer Membership Award.

We meet at the Pavilion at Sherwood Island State Park.

Sign in from 9:30 to 11:00 am.

Coffee and donuts served starting at 10:00 am

Annual meeting begins at 11:00 am

Lunch served at noon.

Be on the lookout soon for an email to register for the event and to make your sandwich selection.

Volunteers are needed to make the meeting a success. If you would like to lend a hand, contact Dewey Loselle at deweyloselle@gmail.com.

Deadline Extended for "South Pacific" Show of Interest

The deadline for a show of interest in attending a performance of "South Pacific" at The Goodspeed Opera House has been extended to this Friday, May 17. The opportunity to see the show came about when Goodspeed added a matinee show on Tuesday, July 9. President Dewey Loselle reserved 30 primo seats for the Y's Men in the 6th and 7th rows of the center orchestra.

Included in the trip will be a great three-course lunch at the Gelson House, within walking distance of the theater.

The price is $150.00 per person including the show, lunch, transportation aboard a Dattco Luxury Coach, taxes and gratuities.

Dewey must know by this Friday, May 17 whether or not to move forward. 

Please let him know ASAP at deweyloselle@gmail.com. There is no financial obligation on your part at this time. 

Actual registration and payment will not be due until Friday, June 7.

"State of Our Towns" From First Selectwomen Thursday

Be sure to join us this Thursday when we welcome First Selectwomen Jen Tooker of Westport and Samantha Nestor of Weston for an informative update on the "State of Our Towns" and various projects. They will be available to answer your questions.

A tradition for the last regular Thursday morning meeting of the Y's Men season, the "State of Our Towns" session promises to be very interesting and informative.

Y's Men Classical Music Society Features

Andrew Wilk Wednesday, May 22 in Special Library Program

In a collaborative program with The Westport Library, the Y's Men Classical Music Society will present "Andrew Wilk Captures the Performing Arts for Broadcast." It will be held in the Trefz Forum of the Library on Wednesday, May 22 from 7:00 to 8:00 pm.

Featured will be a selection of Andrew Wilk’s work in the arts in a wide-ranging interview in which he’ll discuss his productions and the many creative challenges he faced, showing how they were addressed. He’ll also talk about a few of the headliners who helped make those productions award winners. After the video-illustrated interview, hosted by Y’s Man and Past President John Brandt, Andrew will answer questions from the audience.

The program is free but registration is requested by clicking the button below:

Gary Mendell founded Shatterproof following the loss of his son to addiction.

Addiction is a Disease Like All Others;

Gary Mendell Formed Shatterproof to Prove It

Gary Mendell, founder and CEO of Shatterproof, a national non-profit focused on reversing the course of the addiction crisis in America, spoke to the Y’s Men last Thursday about the critical work of Shatterproof. 

He lost his son to the disease of addiction and provided a very emotional account of the terrible pain of the addicted caused by being treated as outcasts by our society because of the stigma attached to addiction.

Addiction is the third largest cause of death in our country. Shatterproof supports those suffering from this horrible disease. 

He pointed out the tragedy of the slow acceptance of addiction as a treatable disease and how Shatterproof is motivating people to change the system.

In this video Gary tells this very moving story and the hope that Shatterproof is bringing to those in need of this life saving support. 

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 down the west bank of the Hudson River tomorrow (Monday, May 13).

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

Third is a guided tour of Prospect Gardens in Westport on Thursday, May 30.

Fourth is a tour of the laboratories at the headquarters of Consumer Reports in Yonkers, N.Y., followed by a wine tasting on Wednesday, June 5.

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

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

Boating Underway for "The Ancient Mariners"

Prior to Covid the Y’s Men had an active boating group known as “The Ancient Mariners.”

They held weekly local sailing or power boating events and less frequent overnight or multi-day trips to other destinations.

They also organized occasional off-season sailing charters in the British Virgin Islands or as far away as Croatia.

Several Y's Men are interested in restarting the Ancient Mariner Program but more boaters and boats are needed to reach the critical mass that will be required.

They are inviting Y's Men to join them and would like to hear from you.

If you own a boat and are interested in participating, but haven’t already been in touch, please contact Y's Man George Kalan via email at gkalan@optonline.net.

Y's Man Bruce Becker Appointed

To U.S. Commission of Fine Arts by President Biden

Y's Man Bruce Becker, who recently joined the Y's Men, has been appointed to the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts by President Biden. Composed of seven members with expertise in the arts, the Commission was established by Congress in 1910 to advise the federal government on matters pertaining to the arts and national symbols, and to guide the architectural development of Washington, D.C.

Click here to read the White House press release announcing the appointment. Scroll down to the sub-head "U.S. Commission of Fine Arts" for complete details.

Kathleen Mitchell

Memorial Service for Kathleen Mitchell Saturday, May 18

A memorial service for Kathleen Mitchell will be held at the Saugatuck Congregational Church on Saturday, May 18, at 2:00 pm.

Wife of Y’s Man and Past President Bob Mitchell, she passed away on April 18 after a long illness. 

Ann Matlow, Wife of Y's Man David Matlow, Passes Away

Ann La Rue Matlow, wife of Y's Man Dave Matlow, passed away Monday, May 6 at NYU Langone Health's Tisch Hospital in New York. She was 77.

A graduate of Occidental College (1968) and Fordham Law School (1975), she enjoyed a 30-year career as a corporate and immigration attorney. She was active in social and community organizations in Westport and Manhattan.

A date and location of a celebration of her life will be announced by the family in the future.