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Wednesday Update -- July 31, 2024

• Great Turnout for Yesterday's Hot Dog Fest
• New Y's Men Calendar of Events Unveiled
• Re-Launched Sunset Cruise Set for August 15
• Improving Civil Discourse "Common Ground" Topic
• Volunteer Needed to Support Afghan Refugee Family
• Pickleball Players Play Tuesdays and Thursdays
• Thursday Morning Gatherings at Sherwood Island
• Ancient Mariners to Meet Tomorrow
• Travel Group Meets Next Monday
• Military Discussion Group to Focus on Napoleon
• Y's Men Invited to Rotaries "Opus for Peace" August 11
• Sign-up For West Point Football Outing
• Five Upcoming Trips Announced by T&E
• Watch This List for Future Social Events

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

Y's Men and guests appeared to occupy all of Compo Beach South last night

for the Annual Hot Dog Festival.

Photo by Allan Siegert

The Annual Hot Dog Festival – A Great Turnout!

The Y’s Men Hot Dog Festival was enjoyed by a big Compo Beach turnout including Selectwomen Jen Tooker and Andrea Moore.

The turnout exceeded projections; the weather, comradery, and food were great; and we ran out of hot dogs. A good amount of money was raised for the Paul Newman Hole in the Wall Gang Camp.

Thank you to the many members who worked so hard to put this event together.

This message from event organizer Jon Fox:

“An apology for hot dog shortage last night. It will not happen again. On a brighter note, every Tuesday we meet at the same place at around 5:00 pm. You won’t starve because you bring your own food. And drink. Try it. You’ll like it.”

Photos of the event will be posted soon.

Westport First Selectwoman Jen Tooker (at right) and Second Selectwoman Andrea Moore with

Y's Men Richard Wiener, Dewey Loselle, and Dick Kalt at yesterday's Hot Dog Fest.

Photo by Baxter Urist

Sunset Cocktail Cruise Re-Launched for August 15

After cancellation of this month's Sunset Cocktail Cruise because of weather, another Y's Men sailing has been scheduled for Thursday, August 15 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.

If you signed up and paid for the cancelled Cruise, you are good to go for this one. If you haven't signed up, tickets are now available from those who were scheduled for the first but couldn't make the second.

The cost of the cruise is $75.00 per person and includes beer, wine, water and "lite bite" appetizers (not dinner). Guests may bring their own food and beverages but no glassware. The ship leaves from Stamford Harbor (details will be provided to those who sign up).

The cruise will be aboard the SoundWaters, an 80-foot tall three-masted ship styled after a 19th century Chesapeake Bay schooner. It's steel-hulled, U.S. Coast Guard-certified, and carries up to 40 passengers (the limit on the number of Y's Men and guests who may attend). The decks are wide and comfortable, and there's plenty of bench seating. For more info on the ship, click:

https://soundwaters.org/sails-rentals/charter-the-schooner

Deadline for reservations and sign ups is no later than Saturday, August 10.

Any questions please contact Dewey Loselle, the event organizer, at

deweyloselle@gmail.com or 203-454-4171

Click Pay Now Below or if paying by check

Mail your check made payable to "Y's Men Westport Weston," to: Y’s Men of Westport/Weston, P.O. Box 167, Westport, CT 06881-0167.

Community Service Announcement from Jim Marpe:

Y’s Men Invited to "Common Ground” Presentation

Just about any Y’s Men conversation involving current public events or political activities inevitably brings out the sad state of civil discourse involving our political leaders as well as everyday citizens. This past year, The Westport Library started the Common Ground initiative to help us learn how to make our own conversations and interactions as civil and productive as possible. You may recall the well-attended and well-received session at the Library featuring former U.S. Senator Roy Blount describing his experiences in “reaching across the aisle.”  

Monday, August 5, 7:00 to 8:00 pm

Steve Parrish with Sally Susman, Pfizer's Chief Corporate Affairs Officer will discuss ways to share information in ways that encourage agreement and avoid confrontation. 

Breaking Through: Communicating to Open Minds, Move Hearts, and Change the World, Sally’s best selling book, draws from her experience at Pfizer where she was charged with rolling out the vaccine to an anxious and polarized world. From that experience she gained insights on leadership and connectivity that are essential going forward as we face challenges from political dysfunction to rampant inequity.

Admission is free but registering for tickets on The Westport Library website is highly recommended. The August 5 ticket reservation link is available now.

Y’s Men Community Service Opportunity:

Volunteer Needed for Afghan Refugee Family Support

Long-time Y’s Man and Past President Pete Wolgast has been working for several years with a group of Fairfield County volunteers who help relocate Afghan families who supported the U.S. presence in Afghanistan and have had to flee their home country to save their lives. 

This rescue group is looking for a volunteer to coordinate the other volunteers who provide support services to a recently arrived Afghani family. This coordinator is not the person who delivers specific services such as rides, grocery shopping, school enrollment, etc., but instead, develops a relationship with the family and reaches out to other known volunteers as specific services are required.

If you think you would be interested in an ongoing commitment to help a family who risked their lives to help our troops in Afghanistan, please contact Pete Wolgast at akwpete@aol.com or 203-259-4215 for further information.

Y's Men Pickleball players at Town Farms courts recently. From left to right are Ed Diamond, Pete Eyes, Nick Battaglino, Hayes Clark, Larry Shapiro, Jim Perez, Matt McNerney, Drew Murphy and Jim Bennett. Other regular players are Gerry Lillis, Stan Satty, Sal Mollica, Jay Dirnberger, and Mitch Fitter.

Y's Men Pickleball Players Play Twice Weekly

A growing contingent of Y's Men numbering between eight and 12 players meet every Tuesday and Thursday at 12:30 pm at Westport's Town Farms courts on North Compo Road. There they have two courts reserved to play pickleball.

Describing themselves as "a loyal and collegial group," the pickleball players are committed to fun and friendship.

New members at all levels who would like to play pickleball are invited to join the group. Contact Ed Diamond at erdli@aol.com or Hayes Clark at hayesclark53@gmail.com if you have questions.

Plan to Attend Thursday Gatherings at Sherwood Island

Thursday morning gatherings at Sherwood Island Pavilion are a Y's Men's summer tradition. Coffee, donuts, bagels, and conversation from 9:00 to 10:00 am are held every Thursday through August 29.

Plan to attend this Thursday and future Thursdays. No reservations are needed. Just show up and enjoy the free refreshments and conversation.

Following the social hour, an optional walking group forms up to tour Sherwood Island.

Special thanks to the Y's Men team that brings the refreshments. They are Al Landis, Bob Israely, Brian Baxendale, Lou Rolla, and Dick Kalt. Baxter Urist is the organizer of the Thursday morning socials.

Ancient Mariners to Meet Tomorrow at Sherwood Island

There will be a meeting of the Y's Men Ancient Mariners tomorrow (August 1) at 9:30 am during the Y’s Men Thursday morning coffee gathering at the Sherwood Island Pavilion.

The meeting's purpose is to plan the next boating events and solicit feedback from boatowners and crew on how we might be able to improve the program to increase the number of boats and crew participating in each event.

All Ancient Mariner boatowners and crew are invited. If additional information is needed, contact George Kalan at gkalan@optonline.net.

             Travel Group Meets Monday, August 5 at 9:00 am

The Y’s Men Travel Group will meet from 9:00 to 10:30 am on Monday, August 5 in Room 203 at the Church. 

All meetings start by our members talking about their recent travel experiences and coming plans. 

The topic for this meeting, suggested by Lewis Zucker, is: Besides travel books, what do you do to research a location before going there?  Read books on history & culture?

Just a reminder to submit your travel photos for our group’s photo show by August 31, and if you need the details again on how to do so contact Travel Group Chairman Art Mann.  

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.

Military Discussion Group To Focus on Napoleon

On Monday, August 5, the Y's Men Military Discussion Group, led by Jon Fox, will meet at 10:00 am upstairs at the Saugatuck Congregational Church. The discuss will focus on Napoleon's defeat at Leipzig and then on to Elba to Waterloo to Helena.

For additional information, contact Jon at jonfox06880@gmail.com.

Sign-up for West Point Football September 21

A section of 25 tickets have been purchased by the Y's Men for the Army vs. Rice University football game scheduled for Saturday, September 21.

An outing to West Point has long been an autumn event for the Y's Men and this year's program promises to be outstanding. In addition to the game, participants will watch the West Point Cadets Parade and enjoy a tailgating party under a tent that will be "home base" for Y's Men and their guests. Spouses, significant others, families and children are encouraged to attend.

Plans call for car pooling from Merritt Exit 42 at 6:45 am or driving directly. The cost for the tickets and tent is $60.00 per person including tailgate food and byob drinks.

Roy McKay (roymckay@hotmail.com) and Baxter Urist (burist@optonline.net) are the event leaders.