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 -- May 15, 2024

• Annual Meeting and Picnic Thursday, May 23   
• Interested in "South Pacific" at Goodspeed in July?
• Y's Men Apparel Ready for Pick Up Tomorrow
• "State of Our Towns" From First Selectwomen
• Memorial Service for Kathleen Mitchell This Saturday
• Large Turnout for "Night of Jazz" Monday
• Volunteers Still Needed for Library Book Sale
• Andrew Wilk Captures the Arts for Broadcast May 22
• Three Upcoming Trips Announced by T&E
• Future Social Events Listed
• Westport Podcast: Strong Network of Support Services
• Y's Men in the News  
• Boating Underway for "The Ancient Mariners"
• Free Mattress Recycling Event

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.

Don't Miss the Y's Men Annual Meeting and Picnic

On Thursday, May 23, at Sherwood island

Sign up below to attend the Y’s Men Annual Meeting and Picnic at the Pavilion at Sherwood Island State Park beginning at 9:00 am on Thursday, May 23.

The event is free. Select your meal by clicking the button below.

Take advantage of the opportunity to meet and socialize with other Y’s Men.

Learn about "the state of the Y's Men" and celebrate the induction of new officers and directors.

Enjoy lunch by the Sound on a beautiful afternoon at Sherwood Island.

To attend, just click the blue box below. Fill out the form and select your meal. If you prefer to bring your own meal or not eat at all, select that option.

Deadline This Friday for "South Pacific" Show of Interest

If you would like to attend a performance of "South Pacific" at The Goodspeed Opera House this July, you should express your interest by 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 needs to know by this Friday, May 17 whether or not to move forward. Please contact him 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.

Pick up Your Y's Men Apparel at Tomorrow's Meeting

If you ordered a windbreaker, polo shirt or baseball cap, your order has arrived. Please come to the Y's Men meeting tomorrow (Thursday, May 16) and pick-up your order.

"State of Our Towns" From First Selectwomen Tomorrow

Be sure to join us this tomorrow 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.

Kathleen Mitchell

Memorial Service for Kathleen Mitchell This Saturday

A memorial service for Kathleen Mitchell will be held at the Saugatuck Congregational Church this 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. She was 81.

A native of Medway, MA, Kathi received an associate degree from Becker College in 1962. She lived for a few years in Boston where she worked for the Chamber of Commerce, then moved to New York City.

In 1975, Kathi and Bob met on a plane from New York to Boston. They were married a year later at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian. Kathi had a career in marketing and communications, working for Hilton Hotels International and Meetings and Conventions magazine where she ran trade shows for the travel industry. 

Her true passion, however, was decorating, and she studied at the NY School of Interior Design. Kathi also loved dogs, flowers, cabaret singing, and shopping. Those who knew her remember a bright, friendly, talented person who always lit up a room.

Large Turnout as Y's Men Jazz Club

Presents Staples Jazz Band at Library

Before a sold out audience of more than 200 enthusiastic jazz fans, including many Y’s Men and members of the Westport community, the Staples Jazz Band hit a musical home run Monday evening at The Westport Library in "A Night of Jazz."

Presented by the Y's Men Jazz Club, there was a mix of big band standards and a world premiere written specifically for the band by composer Dr. Kyle Saulnier. The kings of high school jazz delivered what was described as conservatory level musicianship in a performance far beyond anyone’s expectations. 

Comments from the audience ranged from bravos to a call for a roof raising encore. The consensus among usually critical music fans was this was a once in a lifetime event, to be repeated at least annually, if all parties get their way.

Kudos go to Director of Bands Phil Giampietro for creating an atmosphere of musical excellence at Staples High School.

Volunteers Still Needed for Library Book Sale

There still are open slots for Y's men to help out at The Westport Library Book Sale this weekend. Areas and dates where the most help is needed are:

Any hours this Thursday, May 16 for setting up the books.

On Friday, May 17 for the sale, a few more people are needed as tallyers in any slots between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm.

On Sunday, May 19, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, to help move books from Brooks Place to the Forum.

Monday, May 20 to takedown starting at 4:00 pm. This task usually takes a couple of hours.

For details and volunteer opportunities, please click the button below. Be sure to indicate that you are from the Y's Men.

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:

Three Upcoming Trips Arranged by the T&E Committee

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

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

Second 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.

Third will be 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).

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and Jen Tooker, First Selectwoman of Westport, and Elaine Daignault, Westport's Director of Human Services, discuss the extraordinary number of support services available to Westporters in this extremely informational and helpful podcast.

Y's Men in the News

Three articles involving the Y's Men appeared in a Roundup post on "06880" yesterday:

Y's Man Bruce Becker's appointment to the U.S. Fine Arts Commission by President Biden.

Y's Man Jay Dirnberger's speaking Monday to the Y's Women of Westport/Weston.

The Y's Men sponsored podcast of Westport First Selectwoman Jen Tooker and Director of Human Services Elaine Daignault discussing support services available in connection with Mental Health Awareness Month (see article above).

Click the button below to read the posting:

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.