Y's Men of Westport/Weston


ysmenwestportweston.org


Y's Owl Newsletter


April 21, 2024


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.

The Week Ahead -- Sunday, April 21, 2024

  • GIDG to Meet Tomorrow
  • Bocce Resumes This Wednesday
  • Kelley Franco Throop to Speak on Baseball Rivalries Thursday
  • Stephen Roach Spoke on US/China Relations
  • Save the Date: Clambake on June 19
  • West Point Football on September 21
  • New Direct Link to Volunteer Opportunities
  • Jim Marpe Lists Community Events
  • Details You Will Need for Clean Up Westport Day 
  • Four Upcoming Trips Announced by T&E  
  • Y’s Men Spring Golf Outing Set for May 29
  • Kathleen Mitchell, Bob Mitchell's Wife, Passes Away

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.

Global Issues Discussion Group Meets Monday


The Global Issues Discussion Group (GIDG) will meet tomorrow (Monday, April 22) at 9:00 am in Room 203 at the Church. 


The Group will be discussing whether or not the US can be trusted to come to the aid of their allies either in NATO or outside that alliance. Recent events have shown the US backing Israel with the UK, France, and regional countries also helping.


Members have been encouraged to share essays and op-ed pieces on the subject by posting them to ysmenglobal@googlegroups.com.


For additional information, contact Moderator Peter Chelico at pecysmen@gmail.com.

Y's Men Bocce Begins This Wednesday

 

The Y's Men Bocce Group will begin meeting again this Wednesday, April 24, and will meet every Wednesday (weather permitting), at Veterans Park, 909 Reef Road, in Fairfield. There are six well-maintained Bocce Courts available.  


Teams are formed and games start at 10:30 am and usually run to noon.

 

No registration is required. Just show up and join a team of fellow Y's Men.  

 

Reminder emails are sent out on Tuesday evening. If you wish to be added to the list, send your email address to Len Ances at ances@sbcglobal.net

Attorney Kelley Franco Throop will speak about baseball rivalries this Thursday.

Kelley Franco Throop to Speak

On Baseball Rivalries This Thursday


Kelley Franco Throop is a practicing litigation attorney and a baseball media entrepreneur. Her company is Three Inning Fan LLC which features snippets about the legal, transactional, and nostalgic side of the game at one minute each. She hosts her own baseball podcast, “A Date in October with KFT,” and is a frequent guest on other podcasts. 

 

Kelley has been a guest lecturer at the Baseball Hall of Fame and a baseball contributor on CNN’s Financial Network. She will join us this Thursday (April 25) to present “Baseball’s Greatest Rivalries,” a most entertaining and informational audio/video look in to the histories of the greatest rivalries in the sport. There will be moments you will surely remember and either treasure or regret.


Kelley 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 to 10:00 am; business meeting from 10:00 to 10:30 am; and speaker with Q&A from 10:30 to 11:30 am.

Stephen Roach dons a Y's Men cap after his presentation on US/China relationship.

Photo by Ted Horowitz

Y’s Men Hear Professor Stephen Roach Characterize the 

Evolving US/China Relationship 


This week’s speaker, Professor Stephen Roach has been a member of the Yale University faculty since 2010. Prior to joining the Yale faculty, he was Chairman of Morgan Stanley Asia and the firm’s Chief Economist. His unique melding of academic and real-world experience allowed him to bring into sharp relief the current Chinese/American relationship and its future. 


His latest book, Accidental Conflict: America, China, and the Clash of False Narratives, the thrust of his presentation to the Y’s Men, examined the ominous trajectory of conflict escalation between the United States and China, providing a unique roadmap for potential conflict resolution. 


To view the presentation and its accompanying visuals, click below.

Click Here to View Stephen Roach's Presentation


Save the Date

Wednesday, June 19, 2024, 6:00 pm

Ned Dimes Marina Clubhouse

BYOB


Lobster, Clams, Mussels, Corn on the Cob, Baked Potato, Watermelon



A Y’s Men Social Committee Event

(Limit 55 Participants)

WEST POINT FOOTBALL

Saturday, Sept. 21 

Army vs. Rice University

 

The day will comprise the West Point Parade,

a Tail Gating Party, and the Football Game.

 

    We've bought a section of 25 tickets to the game.

     As in years past we've reserved a tent in field

         parking for use as a “home base” for the day.

 

Once we know the number of people attending, we'll form

a food committee to help prepare and serve. 

 

The cost of the tent and tickets is $133.00 per person

plus food & drinks (BYOB).

 

Click Here to Reserve

 Include your email and number of guests.

Please respond by April 18th. 

Y’s Men Now Have A Direct Link

To Community Service Opportunities


Westport and Weston are great communities, in large part because of dedicated volunteers who participate in the activities of not-for-profit and local government organizations.


In the spirit of “Giving Back” to our communities, the Y’s Men are actively engaged in many of these volunteer activities on both an individual and group basis. To help Y's Men volunteer on their own in Westport, the Community Service Committee has established a direct link to the "Town of Westport’s Volunteer Opportunities" page on the Town’s Website. 


You can find that link on the Y’s Men website in the Activities section on the Community Service page (click here). Take a look - there’s bound to be a volunteer opportunity of interest to you and a way to give back to the community “in kind” that suits your skills and experience.

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 the Town-wide Clean-Up Westport Day (see article below).

Details Announced for Clean Up Westport Day


Saturday, April 27, is Clean Up Westport Day. It may not rise to the occasion of being a national holiday but it’s important to all of us...to our families, our community, and ourselves.


Where: Two sites. The first is the Baldwin parking lot - which is off Elm Street behind Serena & Lily. The other site is Burying Hill Beach, which is just south of the Greens Farms train station.


Time: We’ll be starting promptly at 9:00 am so please show up before then. We’ll probably be done in one to two hours.


Tools: If you have them, bring pickers, rakes, work gloves and any other ‘implements-of-collection’ that appeal to you.


And, finally, don’t worry ... coffee and donuts will be provided!



Sign up below so we know how many men will be involved in each location. (by the way, willing spouses and significant others are welcome).


Please email Larry Ackerman at lackerman@theidentitycircle.com and let him know you're available to help and if you prefer a particular location or if you're willing to work at either.

Four Trips and Events Arranged by the T&E Committee

 

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

 

First is a tour of radio broadcast studios on Wednesday, April 24. Currently sold out, a wait list is being formed with the intention of another tour.


Second is 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 tomorrow (Thursday, April 18).


Next is a private guided tour of the former headquarters building of Union Carbide Corporation in Danbury, CT, on Tuesday, May 14. The tour is about two hours, followed by lunch in the company cafeteria.


Finally, West Point Football on Saturday, September 21, with Army vs. Rice University (see article above).


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

Y's Men Spring Golf Outing Set for Wednesday, May 29


Save the Date!


The 2024 Y’s Men Golf Spring Golf Outing will be held on Wednesday, May 29 at the Longshore Golf Course.



The first tee time is at 10:30 am. The entry fee is $75.00, covering greens fees, cart rental, refreshments, and goodies at the 19th hole, which will be at the Black Duck. 

Prizes will be awarded to the lowest scoring team and to individual golfers for the longest drive, closest to the line, and closest to the pin (on two holes).


The Tourney’s format will be Scramble or best ball utilizing team of three or four players.


Register now for the outing by contacting Bob Leng by email at leng_7@msn.com or by text at 978-289-0940.

Kathleen Mitchell

Kathleen Mitchell, Wife of Y's Man

Bob Mitchell, Passes Away


Kathleen Mitchell, wife of Y’s Man Bob Mitchell, a past president of the Y's Men, passed away at Autumn Lake Nursing Home on Thursday, April 18 after a long illness. 


Kathi had a long, vibrant life and will be missed by those who knew her. Her final days were spent in comfort, and she passed away peacefully. A quiet memorial service will be held in May. Further details will be announced.