Y's Men News -- Sunday, June 21, 2026 | | |
Table of Contents
(Scroll Down to Find the Article Behind the Headline. Articles are
in the same order as the Table of Contents)
- Tomorrow: Planning the Future of Travel Discussion Group
- Y's Men Gather at Compo Beach Every Tuesday Evening
-
Thursday Morning Social Hour Continues at Compo Pavilion
- Clambake Rescheduled to Wednesday, September 2
- Y's Man Bob Weingarten Authors Book on Westport History
- T&E Lists Outings
- T&E Committee Seeks New Members
-
Y's Men Philosophy Club Proposed
- Interested in West Point Football This Fall?
- Y's Man Frank Wood Keynotes Achievement First Graduation
- The Westport Library Receives Cultural Alliance's Mark Award
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Y's Men Gather at Compo Beach Every Tuesday Evening
Every Westporter knows the toughest reservation to get in town is a picnic table at South Beach in Compo (to the right of the cannons). Some even break the rules (gasp!) and spread their stuff all over one table. We’ll let them live with their conscience.
Instead, we just show up early before the sunset dinner rush even starts. Around 5:00 pm every Tuesday (weather permitting). BYOEverything is the order of the day, including a beach chair. Tons of parking right there. Beach picnic rules apply; nothing made of glass, and maybe bring a snack to pass around.
Need more good news: no beach pass required! Just tell the nice young guy or gal in the gatehouse that you’re headed for the Y’s Men event. Although you don't have to have a beach pass, if you have a car with a beach pass, please use it if possible.
| | Thursday Morning Social Hour Continues at Compo Pavilion | | |
Y's Men are showing up to enjoy coffee, bagels, and doughnuts at Thursday morning Social Hour. The event is held every Thursday from 9:00 to 10:00 am. Unlike previous years, the gatherings are at the Compo Beach Pavilion, not at Sherwood Island which is undergoing renovations.
If you don't have a parking permit, just tell the gate attendant that you are there for the Y's Men gathering.
The Social Hour Committee has asked for help in improving our visibility at the beach this season. If you have a beach sticker on your car, please consider driving that vehicle to next week’s Social Hour. Having more stickered cars on site helps present a clearer picture of Y’s Men's participation and supports our ongoing efforts with access and permits. Thanks for the help.
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Clambake Set for Wednesday, September 2
A new date has been announced for the Y's Men Clambake. It will be on Wednesday, September 2 from 5:30 to 8:30 pm at Ned Dimes Marina.
This is a Y's Men event that sells out quickly. Don't wait to lock in your spot. Click here to sign up. Only nine spots are available!
This is a BYOB event.
| | Y's Man Bob Weingarten Authors Book on Westport History | | |
Y's Man Bob Weingarten
A book about the history of Westport written by Y's Man Bob Weingarten will debut on Wednesday, July 8 at 6:00 pm at the Westport Book Shop. Entitled "Westport Connecticut: The Old and New Historical Accounts,” the book consists of 37 articles (or chapters) about various aspects of the town including the settling of Green's Farms, the history of "Long Lots," Longshore, and the five oldest known houses in Westport.
The 234-page book — plus four appendices, and an index — is the first history of the town since Woody Klein’s “Westport Connecticut: The Story of a New England Town’s Rise to Prominence” was published in 2000.
A complete write up appeared last week in Dan Woog's "06880." Click here to read it.
For more information, and to purchase the book, email Bob at rwmailbox@aol.com.
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Wednesday, June 24
Tour of Amazon Fulfillment Center
Due to anticipated demand, we must restrict
participation to Y’s Men members only.
https://conta.cc/4v4R1Ar
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Friday, June 26
Governors Island Tour
Spouses, Significant Others, and Guests Welcome!
https://conta.cc/4uFdNyb
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Monday, June 29
Copp’s Island Oystering
This event is sold out. Later opportunities will be offered if possible.
https://conta.cc/48EKHGf
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Friday, July 10
Studio Museum of Harlem
Spouses, Significant Others, and Guests Welcome!
https://conta.cc/4fQMkoH
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Wednesday, September 2
Clambake by the Sound
Spouses, Significant Others, and Guests Welcome!
https://conta.cc/4oMvlWX
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Be sure to refer to the NYC Travel Hints on the T&E website. They were revised recently, and are helpful to those who may not be familiar with train travel to and from the City.
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T&E Committee Seeks New Members
Almost weekly, the Y's Men Trips and Events committee sends out emails offering a wide variety of activities: Walks, history and art museums, places of interest, cultural gems, baseball and football games, gardens, boat trips, train rides amongst many other things to interest the Y’s Men.
It’s a lot of work coming up with ideas, organizing the event and getting out the emails. We’re looking for new members who might have fresh ideas and are willing to put in the effort to learn the system and help us provide even more variety to the membership.
If you see this as a possible fit, please contact Y’s Man Alan Zimbard at azmajor@msn.com
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Y's Men Philosophy Club Proposed
A Philosophy Club has been proposed by Y's Man John Schwartens, in which concepts of the groups' choosing are examined within the broader context of the Western Philosophical tradition. The main focus is intended to be on “doing” philosophy - employing critical thinking to examine theoretical concepts, and understanding how such concepts are viewed in different contexts which have evolved over time.
Readings may be selected by the group, or suggested by John such that a specific philosopher’s work will assist in probing the deeper meaning of a particular issue. As an example, when discussing civic duty (or lack thereof) we could use Plato’s dialogues (Apology, Crito), Thoreau (Civil Disobedience) and/or Martin Luther King (Letter from the Birmingham Jail).
After obtaining a Master’s Degree in Philosophy from the University of Chicago, John's career turned to earning a living in banking and corporate finance, so it is not without a sense of irony that he hopes to return to his academic roots.
If you are interested in joining this new club, please send John Schwartens an e-mail at john@schwartens.net
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West Point Football -- October 10 or October 17
Interested in seeing a game?
In recent years, we've made trips to see West Point Football. We are going again this year. We aim for a good match-up while fall weather is still pleasant.
To gauge interest, please click here.
| | Y's Man Frank Wood Keynotes Achievement First Graduation | | |
Y's Man Frank Wood delivers commencement address at Achievement First Bridgeport Academy Middle School last week.
Over the years, Y's Men have been very supportive of innovative and creative programs providing a quality education to young scholars in Bridgeport as well as Westport. In particular, Y's Men have developed a close connection to the Achievement First Charter Schools of Bridgeport. Its representatives have spoken at Y's Men meetings detailing the remarkable work they do; and Y's Men Dick Kalt and Dewey Loselle are on the Bridgeport Achievement First Board. Y's Man Andy Boas oversees the entire network of 41 schools in New York, Connecticut and Rhode Island.
Last week, Y's Man Frank Wood was invited by Stephanie Fox, principal of Achievement First Bridgeport Academy Middle School, to give the commencement address at its graduation, appearing before more than 200 students and their parents. Tapping into more than four score plus years of life experiences, Frank delivered an inspirational, well received presentation. Here are some highlights:
Although ultimately becoming a successful international business man in Africa and Pakistan, as well as graduating from Bucknell and serving in the Peace Corps, Frank as a child did not get the hang of math, and brought home poor grades on his first exam.
His mother "marched me over to the school swiftly," and told a guidance counselor: "Frank got a GE - a grade lower than a D - What can he do to improve? " The counselor said: "Don't worry; he doesn't need math. He's not going to college." His mother reacted forcefully: " He is going to college and will do well in math. Don't say just because he is Black he will not do these things!"
What lesson did Frank convey to AF graduates? "Failure is a part of Success. You will have Failures. You will have Disappointments. But just get up and keep going. That's what I did with my math. So, as a little kid, I learned, with my parents' help, to turn Failure into Success."
Unfortunately, Frank's guidance counselor, likely relying on stereotypes, provided the guidance of failure to Frank. Fortunately, Frank's strong family refused to accept that guidance, instead putting Frank on the right course to success. Fortunately as well for students at AF's middle school, a dedicated staff of professionals, works with concerned and active parents to provide the intellectual support and grounding, setting challenging goals, and converting potential failures into successes.
For additional information on Y's Men's involvement in Achievement First Charter Schools, contact Y's Man Dick Kalt at dickkalt@gmail.com.
| | The Westport Library Receives Cultural Alliance's Mark Award | | |
Bill Harmer, executive director of The Westport Library, accepted the Mark Award from the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County. With him on the screen is David J of Bauhaus, a keynote speaker and performer at this spring's VersoFest.
Congratulations to The Westport Library. Last Tuesday, the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County presented the library's Executive Director Bill Harmer with the Mark Award. It's given annually to groups and individuals who create and support the arts. The ceremony was hosted by Honorary Y's Man Jim Naughton.
The Library was honored for VersoFest, which is sponsored, in part, by the Y's Men, with Y's Man Dick Kalt serving on the VersoFest Advisory Board since its inception. The event has entertained state residents with four days of immersive music, multimedia, panels, workshops and more.
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