Y's Men News -- Sunday, March 22, 2026 | | |
Table of Contents
(Scroll Down to Find the Article Behind the Headline. Articles are
in the same order as the Table of Contents)
- GIDG Members to Choose Topic to Discuss Tomorrow
- Thursday's Speaker: How to Make AI Work for You
- Wise Words for a Long and Productive Retirement
- Y's Men Sponsor VersoFest '26 Event Sunday, March 29
- Jim Marpe to Interview NBC's Craig Melvin April 8
- Shoah Memorial to Be Discussed Sunday, April 12 at Y's Men
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Ping Pong Players Meet on Mondays at 2:30 pm
- Here's An Opportunity to Strengthen Bonds with Grandchildren
- Trips & Events Lists Outings
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GIDG Members to Choose Topic to Discuss Tomorrow
Members attending the Global Issues Discussion Group (GIDG) meeting tomorrow will choose between Autocrats vs. Democrats or Recent Events in Iran. The choice will be with the Group. The Group meets Monday, March 23 at 9:00 am in room 203/204 at the Saugatuck Congregational Church. "Autocrats vs. Democrats" is the title of a book by Michael McFaul.
For more information on GIDG, contact Y's Man Harvey Luft at harveyluft@gmail.com
| Thursday's Speaker: How to Make AI Work for You | |
Dr. Anca Micu
Y’s Men are bringing Dr. Anca Micu, senior associate dean and professor of marketing at the Charles F. Dolan School of Business at Fairfield University, this Thursday to speak on how artificial intelligence can improve your life.
Micu is the author of "AI Made Simple: Copy and Paste Guides for Everyday Tasks," a practical guide that strips away the jargon and gives non‑technical people ready‑to‑use prompts for email, scheduling, and decision‑making.
As a Fairfield‑based academic and business‑school leader, Micu focuses on “human‑centered AI”—using the technology to save time and reduce stress, not replace people.
Her talk, “How Y’s Men Can Make AI Work For Them,” will zero in on real‑world tools you can use at home, at work, and in community leadership. Whether you’re curious, skeptical, or quietly experimenting already, she’ll offer concrete ideas you can try right away.
Y's Men Thursday morning meetings are in Hoskins Hall downstairs in the Saugatuck Congregational Church, 245 Post Road East in Westport. Coffee, donut, and bagel social hour begins at 9:00 am, business meeting at 10:00 am, speaker at 10:30 am. Come early and meet your fellow members. Guests are always welcome.
| Wise Words for a Long and Productive Retirement | |
Jim Freund addresses Y's Men last Thursday.
Jim Freund is truly a retirement expert.
He's been at it for 30 plus years, written more than a dozen books, plays piano for sing-a-longs and "Octo Tennis"; and as you can see from his "NDY" baseball cap, he's Not Done Yet!
A Princeton grad, star athlete, trustee and M&A attorney, Jim's timely and erudite presentation last Thursday -- sprinkled with quotations ranging from Shakespeare, to Henry Kissinger, Edward G. Robinson, and Bob "May your heart ever be joyful" Dylan -- offered a thoughtful, reasoned guide to making the transition from active, structured and rewarding professional work to the joys, as well as often the solitude of retirement.
Among his bullet points: Have fun and travel; don't neglect your lifetime skills; get involved in public interest/pro bono; and, perhaps the most challenging, make efforts to replace the sense of accomplishment and pride you developed while working, into comparable activities in retirement.
Watch the whole video of Jim's presentation by clicking here and visit his blog at www.jimfreundblog.com
| Y's Men Sponsor VersoFest '26 Event Sunday, March 29 | |
Renowned music entrepreneur Peter Shapiro will be in conversation with Dean Budnick, editor of Relix Magazine, on Sunday, March 29 from noon to 1:30 pm in a VersoFest '26 event sponsored by the Y's Men.
Shapiro has owned and operated concert venues like Brooklyn Bowl and The Capitol Theatre and has produced a wide array of music festivals. Budnick is a rock author, writer and documentarian.
They will be discussing the legacy of The Grateful Dead and the development of the jam band scene over the decades. The conversation will be followed by a screening of the Grateful Dead movie "Dead Ahead," a concert video by The Grateful Dead recorded at Radio City Music Hall and released in 1981 containing acoustic as well as electric song performances.
Tickets are free but reservations are required. Click here to obtain your tickets. There will be coffee, bagels, and cream cheese as well as delicious pastries from Cobs Bread beginning at 10:00 am. Two VersoFest '26 panel discussions start at 10:30 am before the Shapiro/Budnick conversation begins at noon in the Trefz Forum.
| | Jim Marpe to Interview NBC's Craig Melvin April 8 | | |
Craig Melvin
An evening with Craig Melvin, co-sponsored by the Y's Men and the The Westport Library, will be held Wednesday, April 8, at 7:00 pm at the Library. Melvin is Co-Anchor of NBC’s “Today” and Co-Host of “3rd Hour of Today.” He will be interviewed by good friend Y's Man Jim Marpe.
A Westport resident along with his wife, award-winning sportscaster Lindsay Czarniak, Melvin will share stories from his career at the NBC News desk and transition into his current role as a Co-Host of "Today."
He will offer a "behind-the-scenes" glimpse into his most memorable interviews and global events such as the Olympics, various Super Bowls, as well as his perspective on the future of news.
A Westport resident, Melvin will discuss his life here and experiences that shape his work. Join us on April 8 for an unforgettable night of storytelling, and an opportunity to spend an evening with one of the country’s most respected broadcasters.
Click here to obtain your free tickets.
| | Shoah Memorial to Be Discussed Sunday, April 12 at Library | | |
"She Wouldn't Take Off Her Boots," a sculpture that will be discussed at The Westport Library on Sunday, April 12.
The Shoah Memorial Fairfield Connecticut will be discussed and presented Sunday, April 12 from 2:00 to 3:30 pm at The Westport Library.
Y’s Man Paul F. Burger is Chairman and primary sponsor of the project, a nonprofit dedicated to Holocaust remembrance, education, and interfaith civic engagement. It revolves around a sculpture entitled "She Wouldn't Take Off Her Boots" that will be installed as a memorial at Fairfield University.
The sculpture will be the centerpiece of the Sunday program entitled "Fighting Antisemitism and Celebrating Community: An Introduction to the Shoah Memorial."
The memorial is being created as a permanent educational resource—honoring Holocaust victims and survivors while fostering dialogue about human dignity, moral courage, and the consequences of hatred for future generations.
For additional information on the program and to obtain free admission click here.
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Y’s Men Ping Pong Players Meet on Mondays at 2:30 pm
Y's Men Ping Pong players meet every Monday at the Westport Center for Senior Activities to play from 2:30 to 4:00 pm.
Extra paddles are available if needed. Typically, the group plays singles or doubles depending on the number of folks who come.
Players at any level are welcomed even if they have not played in 40 or 50 years..
For additional information contact Y's Man Jeffery Silberman at jefferymsilberman@gmail.com
| | Here's an Opportunity to Strengthen Bonds with Grandchildren | | |
Y's Men pilot program provides a platform to better know your grandchildren.
Sign up now for a new pilot program: Grand Play Day, coming to Y’s Men of Westport/Weston. It’s an afternoon where you and a grandchild (ages 5–12) play together, face‑to‑face and screen‑free. Using simple tools — question cards, paper‑and‑pencil table games, storytelling dice and cards, and easy, low‑impact activities — you’ll share laughs, swap stories, and likely discover something new about each other.
Why it matters: Grand Play Day is built on “Connections Thru Play,” created by Playocracy founder Lynn Campanella in partnership with the National Institute for Play, where Y’s Man Joe Miller serves as a volunteer executive.
Research highlighted by the Institute shows that play supports our health, our brains, our learning, our creativity, and our emotional resilience. It is as essential as sleep and nutrition. This Y’s Men pilot, planned for the week of April 24–30, 2026 to coincide with Global Intergenerational Week, will involve 15 to 20 Y’s Men families, be facilitated by Lynn and Joe, and include academic input from Eastern Connecticut State University’s Center for Early Childhood Education and Fordham University’s Center on Aging and Intergenerational Studies as a potential model for other community groups.
To participate with a grandchild ages 5–12, contact Joe Miller at josephamiller@yahoo.com.
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