MARCH 2024 IS MEMBERSHIP MONTH

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.

Wednesday Update -- March 27, 2024

• Peter Marghella Speaks About New Variant Tomorrow
• Ancient Mariners Set to Re-Group
• Learn How to Use Google Groups This Friday
• Sign Up for Cybersecurity Webinar Set for April 10
• Olga Vinokur Performs for Y's Men on April 11
• Irish Spring Fling Scheduled for April 19
• Travel Group Meets on Monday
• Military Discussion Group to Talk About Africa in Wars
• Six Upcoming Trips Announced by T&E  
• Jim Marpe Announces Community Events
• Hoot Owls Serenade Seniors with St. Patrick's Day Concert
• New Y's Men Facebook Group

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.

Retired U.S. Navy Captain Peter Marghella will speak about a new variant tomorrow.

Peter Marghella to Discuss New Variant Tomorrow

Peter Marghella of The Milken Institute School for Public Health, George Washington University, returns to Y's Men tomorrow (Thursday, March 28) to fill us in on the new H5N1 variant which is 30 times more lethal than the virus outbreak in 1918. He will be giving us the facts we need to know, and how to best prepare for and stay safe from this potential threat.

Peter will speak at the regular, weekly Thursday morning Y's Men meeting in Hoskins Hall of the Saugatuck Congregational Church, 245 Post Road East, Westport. Coffee, donuts and conversation from 9:00 am to 10:00 am; business meeting from 10:00 am to 10:30 am; and speaker with Q&A from 10:30 am to 11:30 am.

The Ancient Mariners Are Re-Grouping!

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 with us, please contact Y's Man George Kalan via email at gkalan@optonline.net.

This Friday, March 29, at 1:00 pm Meeting with Y's Man Art Mann

To Discuss and Learn How to Use Google Groups

  For easier emailing to members of Y's Men Activities.

Meeting will be in Rooms 109 - 110

at the Saugatuck Congregational Church                    

Please RSVP to Baxter Urist at burist@optonline.net

or Art Mann at mannart03@gmail.com

           If you have a laptop, please bring it with you

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 p.m. Attendees will use their home computers to tap into the webinar.

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

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 This Monday

The Y’s Men Travel Group will meet at 9:00 am this coming Monday, April 1, in Room 203 at the Saugatuck Congregational Church. 

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

At this meeting, with summer coming up, it might be a good time to focus on these topics:

• Domestic/Canadian travel:
• Short trips (2-3 days)
• Trips by region
• Northwest
• Southwest
• South
• West
• Tour companies?



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 Meets Monday

The Military Discussion Group, led by Y's Man Jon Fox, will meet this Monday (April 1) at 10:00 am upstairs at the Church. The topic of discussion will be Africa in World War I and World War II. 

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

Six Trips and Events Arranged by the T&E Committee

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

First is a Bridgeport Islanders hockey game at 10:30 am on Tuesday, April 2.

Second is a walk up Broadway from Columbus Circle to Harlem on Wednesday, April 10.

Third 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.

Fourth is the Spring Fling with an Irish Touch on Friday, April 19, at the Gaelic Club of Fairfield.

Next 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.

And finally, 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.

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

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.

 Y’s Men Hoot Owls Return for St. Patrick's Day Serenade

The Westport Center for Senior Activities celebrated St. Patrick's Day with a luncheon and some fantastic entertainment provided by the Y's Men Hoot Owls. Chef Luis from Creative Culinary prepared a delicious, traditional St. Patrick's Day meal of corned beef, cabbage, and potatoes with cake for dessert. A great time was had by all!

If you are interested in joining the Hoot Owls and want more information, please contact Bob Leng at leng_7@msn.com 

New Y's Men Facebook Group

The new Y's Men private Facebook Group now has more than 90 members. It is there for all Y's Men to participate in and enjoy. To become a member of the Facebook Group, go to Facebook.com and enter Y's Men of Westport/Weston, and ask to join.