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The Week Ahead -- Sunday, August 4, 2024

• Tickets Selling Out for Re-Launched Sunset Cruise
• Travel Group Meets Tomorrow at 9:00 am
• Military Discussion Group Focuses on Napoleon
• Y's Men Ping Pong Resumes Tomorrow
• Tuesday Evening Picnics Ongoing at Compo Beach
• Thursday Morning Gatherings at Sherwood Island
• Improving Civil Discourse "Common Ground" Topic
• Volunteer Needed to Support Afghan Refugee Family
• Y's Men Invited to Rotaries "Opus for Peace" August 11
• Y's Men and Guests Tour Governors Island
• We Went to a Chocolate Factory!
• New Y's Men Calendar of Events
• Camera Club Contest Rules
• Sign-up For West Point Football Outing
• 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.

Tickets Selling Out for Re-Launched Sunset Cruise

Tickets are selling quickly for the Sunset Cocktail Cruise which has been re-scheduled for Thursday, August 15 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. The original cruise, set for July, was postponed because of weather.

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.

             Travel Group Meets Tomorrow at 9:00 am

The Y’s Men Travel Group will meet from 9:00 to10:30 am tomorrow (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.

Y's Men Ping Pong Resumes Tomorrow

Y’s Men Ping Pong starts up tomorrow (Monday, August 5) from 2:30 to 4:00 pm at the Westport Center for Senior Activities. Y's Men are invited to participate and have a good time with other members. Skill level is unimportant, and it doesn't matter if, or how long ago, you stretched to hit that little ball.

If you attend, bring your own paddles and ping pong balls.

For additional information, contact Tom Lowrie at 203-292-6089.

Don't Miss Tuesday Evening Picnics at Compo Beach

Summer wouldn't be summer without the Y's Men Tuesday evening picnics at Compo Beach (that's this evening, weather permitting).

Arranged by Y's Man Jon Fox, the gatherings take place on South Beach "642 feet to the right of the cannons." There is no need for a beach sticker. Simply tell them at the entrance that you are attending the Y's Men picnic. It begins about 4:30 to 5:00 pm. Bring your own chairs, finger food, and your choice of beverage perhaps to share (no glass containers are allowed).

If weather is bad (too hot, too cold, rainy), Jon says, "Stay home. Otherwise, just come and enjoy." If additional information is needed, contact Jon at 203-227-2679.

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.

Community Service Announcement from Jim Marpe:

Improving Civil Discourse Topic Tomorrow at Library

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 Man Bob Mitchell, who arranged and led the tour of Governors Island this past Friday, points out features on a map of the Island.

 Y's Men and Guests Tour Governors Island

About a dozen Y's Men, their spouses, significant others and guests, toured Governors Island last Friday. The tour, arranged and led by Y's Man Bob Mitchell, included a stroll around the Island viewing its historic buildings and neighborhoods and enjoying views of the Statue of Liberty and the New York skyline.

Gov­er­nors Island is a 172-acre island in the heart of New York Har­bor. It is a pop­u­lar and unique des­ti­na­tion with an award-win­ning park, year-round edu­ca­tion­al and cul­tur­al facil­i­ties, a rich arts pro­gram, and a 22-acre Nation­al Mon­u­ment man­aged by the Nation­al Park Service.

Click below to see photos of the tour, courtesy of Y’s Man Dave Matlow.

Y’s Men Camera Club Preparing for

21st Annual Photographic Exhibition

November 15, 2024 through January 2025.

Co-sponsored with the Westport Center for Senior Activities.

The rules for entry in the upcoming Exposition

are now available on the Y’s Men website.

Click here to review the rules

and submit a winner!

Plans Shaping 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.