SIR Mission Branch 32 Newsletter

Promoting the Independence and Dignity of Retirement March 2020 Volume 50 No. 3

Branch 32 Website: http://branch32.sirinc2.org/ State Sir Website: http://www.sirinc.org/

Sir Happenings Newsletter: http://sirinc.org/sirhappenings/

March Luncheon at the Three Flames Restaurant. 1547 Meridian Ave, San Jose CA 95125. Wednesday March 18th at 11am

IMPORTANT: Call or email (email preferred) Mike Price (408-472-5219, (mikesj123@sbcglobal.net), or Herschel Booth (408-629-7173), (hvbmhb123@yahoo.com), the weekend before the monthly luncheon, to be excused or you are bringing a guest, Please include your member number.

2020 Branch 32 Roster Available

The 2020 Branch 32 Roster is available at the March luncheon. Please pick one up at the Sign-In table … and remember to take it home with you. This is the last luncheon they will be available for pickup. It contains lots of important information about the branch and we recommend you take a few minutes

to read it. Your Roster Committee From Big SIR

Welcome! March of 2020 is now upon us and while competing with March madness; Corn Beef & Cabbage and voting, we should get back to our branch 32 and join in together with our many activities. SIR members are very fortunate because we get to have our festivities every month while able to be with our members and spouses. Be it with all the great activities we have, or spending a great time meeting with our friends over lunch, and hearing some wonderful speakers.

Our speaker this month will be Ron Berude and he will discuss “Driving Safety Tips for seniors”. So, make sure your license is up to date. We will be inducting Jim Allen this month. Please come to our luncheon on March

18th and welcome Jim into our Branch.

As a note, Bob Grandey, Skip Saunders and My self attended an open house at the Oakridge Mall walkathon. We invited 16 guys to join our club and have a lunch on us. I encourage all members to invite guests to our luncheons. Branch 32 has already started the process of lining up next year’s leaders. Men like you are what make us the great branch we are. We invite you to join us as a Branch 32 officer or committee member. Talk to our nominating committee( Skip Saunders) to see what openings we have. Many positions do not require much work and are fun. Come and see us in action at the BEC (Branch Executive Committee) meeting. We meet every 1st Tuesday of the month at Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 13601 Saratoga Ave., Saratoga, CA 95070. These meetings start at 9:30 AM. Name that SIR ! At our next luncheon I will hold up a picture sent to me of a SIR member. I wonder who it is? Please join in and send me pictures of you or other members’ pre-adolescent. I will hold them confidential. BUT I could present some at our future luncheons or BEC meetings. See a new trip added to the travel section. James LeBlanc Big SIR Branch 32

Branch 32 Website Jim Caratozzolo, Webmaster

The Branch 32 website is a resource for members and an outreach to the public to promote our organization. It highlights our history and goals, describes our management structure and membership, and new members. The website includes a forward looking three month calendar of the full set of branch activities and events. It includes a web based access to the current and several years of past newsletters. There are many other features and photographs that complement the monthly newsletter to share and spread our message of fellowship. Please take a look at https://sirinc2.org/branch32/index.html on your computer, laptop or iPad like device. Questions or suggestions regarding the website can be directed to Jim Caratozzolo at onlinejim@aol.com.

Luncheon Presentation

“Driver Safety Tips for Seniors”

I would like to familiarize everyone regarding the importance ofattendingaDriverSafetyClass.RonBerubewillpresentabriefoverviewregardingthecontentsofthe AARP Smart Driver Program ( i.e., changes that have, or areoccurring) Changesinroads Changesinroadsigns Changesinyourautomobile Mostimportantly,changesinYOUasthedriver

Howmedications,hearing,visioncanaffectyourabilitytodrivesafely WhataboutalcoholandtheeffectofaDUIonyourinsurance Ofcourse,oneofthekeybenefitsistheabilitytoobtainareductiononyourautoinsuranceaftercompletionoftheclass. Timepermitting;hewillalsocoversomepertinenthighlightsoftheDMVDriverHandbookthatareoftenoverlooked. IIfyouownanRV,5thwheelortraveltrailerRonalsohasabookletavailableputoutbytheCaliforniaDMVregardingregulations,laws,etc. Pat Ryan, Program Chairman

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Guest Speaker

Ron Berube spent over 35 years in the banking industry having last worked with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as a Mortgage Risk Analysts. He holds lifetime teaching credentials in Communications, Banking and Finance and California Real Estate required classes for licensing.

Ron has been a volunteer instructor – District Coordinator with the AARP Driver Safety Program, for 8+ years

April Speaker

“See The World With Russel”

Russel Downing

MEMBERSHIP REPORT The membership activity has greatly slowed this first quarter of 2020 with only 3 new members joining and the loss of 5 members for significant meeting attendance violations. We need to get fired up and bring your friends and neighbors to our luncheons. Remember it is your responsibility to keep our membership viable. With our great luncheon speaker program as well as our increasing activities we offer a great experience for new members. Remember a guest at a luncheon results in a new member most of the time, and you get a free lunch. Keep up the good work.

To be inducted at the March 2020 luncheon: Allen Jim Jim #86 1653 Newcastle Dr. Megan Los Altos 94024-6228 iamaham@sbcglobal.net 650 669-9430 Chief Privacy Office Aligent 2009 Docent Photography Movies Sponsor: Jim Caratozzolo #23 2020

Membership changes: #30 Active Reiad Chikhani - Correct spelling of his name in roster should be: Reiad CHIKHANI #153 Active Tony Ridolfo new address is: 14500 Fruitvale Ave. Apt. 2028 Saratoga, 95070-6168 #47 Active Fred Gardner new address is: 1009 Blossom River Way Apt. 284 San Jose, CA 95123- 6317 #90 Active Dom Norcia died on 2/20/2020. No service has been announced. #57 Active Doug Krause has become Chairman of the Luncheon Ticket Sales Committee #76 Active Max Bokelman has been terminated for Luncheon Attendance Rules violation. #77 Active Don Schilling has been terminated for Luncheon Attendance Rules violation. #137 Active Harry Peabody has been terminated for Luncheon Attendance Rules violation. #140 Active Wayne Whorton has been terminated for Luncheon Attendance Rules violation. #149 Active Ken Nelson has been terminated for Luncheon Attendance Rules violation. Our current membership status, as of March 1, 2020 is: 102 active members, and 1 pending Inductee. Remember, bring a guest to lunch and when they join, you win a free lunch. Respectfully Submitted: Bruce Henry Membership Chairman

ANNIVERSARIES AND BIRTHDAYS

Anniversaries Birthdays

Couple Date Years Name Birthday Morton E. and Barbara Berlant 03/06 60 Steve Sabanovich 03/01 Richard H. and Dianne Priest 03/25 59 Ed Henderson 03/04 William F. and Karen Hausman 03/27 21 Tom Boyce 03/05 Larry See 03/06 Harold Ray Hall 03/09 Gene Zambetti 03/12 Fred Boyce 03/13 Larry Hallinan 03/13 Doug Krause 03/31

MEMBERSHIP CARE

SIR brothers should keep the following in their thoughts: Members Ill or Recovering: Jack Vierhus Bob MacQuarrie Gary Brandenberg Joe Townsend Member Passed: Dom Norcia #90, wife Lydia

Skip Saunders, We Care Committee

LONGEVITY RECOGNITION 6 current members Joined Branch 32 in March Full Name Years As Member Yr Joined Daniel C. Tam 8 2012 James D. Claitor 7 2013 Harold Ray Hall 7 2013 Larry St.Denis 7 2013 Rick Hausman 5 2015 David Pries 1 2019

NEW MEMBERS

No new members were inducted at the February luncheon.

ACTIVITIES

GOLF CLUB

February was a busy month for golf with the weather turning great, enabling four weeks of play. The detailed weekly results are shown below. Beginning in February, we welcomed the ladies and a total of 5 have joined us so far. Great to raise the dignity of

the group!! The Feb Area 11 Monthly Tournament was held on the 24th at Spring Valley GC. Branch 32 fielded 8 players! Don Soderman won a First Place, Bob Grandey won a Third Place, and Rick Hausman won Closest To The Pin. Next months tournament will be at San Jose Muni GC on March 30th. If you are interested, contact Rick Hausman for details and to sign up. The photo shows Jim Caraozzolo, Mark Nocera (a friend of Skip’s from Connecticut) and Skip Saunders at the AT&T Pebble Beach Golf Tournament. Jim also made the hour trip to Pebble Beach more enjoyable by explaining the rules and strategy of a successful game of “Mexica Train”. A dominos game. Rick Hausman, Golf Club Chairman

February 4th February 11th February 18th February 25th Low Gross Bill Hawk 90 Jim Claitor 85 Mike Sinnott 86 Skip Saunders 87

Mike Sinnott 90 Mike Sinnott 89 Jim Claitor 89 Jim Claitor 87

Gil Mesa 97 Jim Caratozzolo 91 Skip Saunders 91

Jim Caratozzolo 89

Low Net Bill Hawk 68 Wes Howard 65 Bruce Henry 64 Aare Onton 57

Mike Sinnott 70 Jim Claitor 65 Mike Sinnott 65 Bob Grandey 63

Gil Mesa 73 Gil Mesa 67 Aare Onton 66 Skip Saunders 65

Rick Hausman 67

Low Putts Mike Sinnott 33 Mike Sinnott 33 Mike Sinnott 33 Linda Soderman 34

Bill Hawk 34 Gil Mesa 33 Bruce Henry 34 Aare Onton 34

Ed Wright 39 Larry Hallinan 34 Galen Gipson 34 Mike Sinnott 35

Gil Mesa 39 Jim Caratozzolo 34 Jim Claitor 35

Closest //////// /////// Janice Gipson 6'4" Rick Hausman 11'1" to Pin Gil Mesa 9'6" Bob Grandey 15'1"

Mike Sinnott 10'4" Jim Caratozzolo 21’1”

BOCCE CLUB

We meet on every Tuesday of the month with the exception of the Tuesday just preceding the SIRS luncheon scheduled for the third Wednesday of the month. For this year, this exception may occur on either the second or the third Tuesday of the month. We play at the Almaden Lake Park (Winfield Road side) in South San Jose starting at 1:00pm. Depending on the number of players present, we form either two, four, or six teams through a totally random process. Each team plays two Bocce games to determine the winning team. It’s a lot of fun and allows everyone to get to better know their fellow SIRS. Last year, a total of 30 Branch 32 SIRS participated in our Bocce games. Guest players are welcomed at all matches. That includes potential new members, friends, wives, and all significant others. Hope to see you there. No reservations are needed and there are no court fees. There is always space for additional players. For the month of February, we had 15 Branch 32 SIRS participate in at least one of our three matches along with two guests, resulting in an average of 13 players per match. For this month, both Fred Gardner and Stan Schneider were our 2 match winners. Congratulations gentlemen.

MATCH RESULTS .

FEBRUARY 4TH *** Fourteen players participated in the event including guest Merlin Dorfman and our one regular guest, N.J. Olson. The team of: Roger Earle, Fred Gardner, and Stan Schnieder won both their matches (11/5) and (11/4)

FEBRUARY 11TH *** Eleven players participated in the event which included our one regular guest, N.J. Olson. The team of Fred Boyce and Larry Turner, won both their matches (11/3) and (11/10)

FEBRUARY 25TH *** Fourteen players participated in the event which included guest Merlin Dorfman, and our one regular guest, N.J. Olson. The team of Fred Gardner, Bill Olson, Ken Roberts and Stan Schneider, won both their matches (11/6) and (11/5) Roger Earle and Hersh Booth, Bocce Club Chairmen

POOL/BILLARDS CLUB

Last month we had 9 players, 8 ball seems to be the game of choice for our group, we had a visit from Big Sir Jim LeBlanc and he plays a pretty mean game of pool, we are always looking for more players so come out and join us at Cuetopia Cafe 4700 Almaden Expressway, San Jose on March 16th at 1:00PM.

Pool Boys Left to Right: Bob Shook,Ed Henderson,Fred Jones,Jim LeBlanc,Fred Jones brother,Skip Saunders,Jim Caratozzolo,Galen Gipson,Hersh Booth.

Galen Gipson, Pool/Billards Club Chairman

BRIDGE CLUB

Bridge Club Activities will be held at Harry Wenberg’s house each Thurs. 10:00 to around 2:00 until further notice. From left to right are Lee McLaughlin, Harry Wenberg, Reiad Chikhani, and Nick Marafino.

Harry Wenberg, Bridge Club Chairman

BOWLING CLUB

The SIR Winter Bowling league meets at the 4th St Bowl located at 1441 North 4th Street, in San Jose. We start league bowling at 10:30AM each Monday with practice at 10:20AM. The SIR bowling league is having the same problem of losing bowlers due to age and illness just like all SIR branches here in the valley. The SIR league will now be bowling in the Dons 4-Some League. We are still badly in NEED of bowlers of all skill level. As in this year’s Summer League we will be accepting both senior men and women. Weekly bowling fee is $16.00 per person per week. In addition you will have to purchase a $20.00 USBC bowling card for league sanction (This price may increase). So come out and join us. It’s great exercise and also a lot of fun. Looking forward to seeing more of you there. With your help hopefully we will be able to keep the SIR bowling league going for another

year. PLEASE come early and visit with some of the BEST people in the world. For info you may contact me Victor Miller at 408-718-5379 if busy leave a message or email me at vicgjan@att.net.

Victor Miller, Bowling Club Chairman

GARDENING CLUB

Our garden club is part of the SIR Area 11 and Garden Club. Members meet on a monthly schedule to enjoy guest presentations on gardening topics and to exchange information on gardening. Wives are encouraged to attend. We meet on the 2nd Wednesday of every month at 11:00 AM at the Denny’s Restaurant at 1140 Hillsdale Ave. (near Almaden Expy) in San Jose, CA.

Bill Allman, Gardening Club Chairman

HISTORY CLUB

The History Club is currently inactive.

Wesley Howard, History Club Chairman

LADIES WALKING GROUP

The SIRS wives walking group is now meeting weekly every Monday at 9:30, at the parking lot at Oak Meadow Park in Los Gatos. Please come join us, get some exercise, make some friends.

The walk is along a lovely level, paved path through the trees and along the creek in some spots. We walk for about 45 minutes at a moderate pace. Come join the fun! Please email Rosalie Howard at rohoward@sbcglobal.net if you would like to join us.

BOOK CLUB

Bring some and take some

TRAVEL

Tahiti & So. Pacific Islands

November 10th thru 22nd,2020 Br. 32 escorts: Mike Console-(408) 246-1080 and John Pletsch-(408) 274-2992. This is a 10 night round trip cruise from Papaete ,Tahiti aboard the Paul Gauguin, a luxurious small ship ( Max. 332 guests) The ship allows you to enjoy a carefree experience with absolutely no hidden fees. The All-Inclusive fares include: round trip airfare, all meals in a choice of venues, 24 hour room service, complimentary beverages (wine, beer, soft drinks ,water and hot beverages), your in room refrigerator is replenished daily with sodas ,beer, and water, all shipboard entertainment, all port taxes, all gratuities for room stewards and dining staff,

use and instructions on how to operate all sorts of water sports equipment, and one shore excursion in

each port are all included in the costs.. (Special optional excursions are offered at extra cost at some ports). Islands visited are : Tahiti, Huahine, Motu, Makanal, Moorea, Bora Bora, Ranginoa, and Fakaraoa. Prices range from: $6575 to $9775 per person D/ OC (subject to change) . A deposit of $2000 per person is required to reserve a cabin. First come, first served.

Make checks payable to: Travel Adventures Unlimited Trust Account. Mail checks to: Mike Console 3527 Parkland Ave. San Jose, Ca. 95117

Note: The PRESENTATION for the Tahiti So. Pacific Islands trip scheduled for Oct 29th 2019 has been postponed and will be rescheduled for a later date (to be announced). However if anyone wishes to sign-up before that date they will receive a $50 discount per person on the final payment.

Chicago as Never Seen Before

September 6th thru12th, 2020. Pack only once. Six nights at the Palmer House Hilton. Deluxe motor coach tour with Professional Tour Manager that includes Chicago's top attractions: Tour of Wrigley Field, Narrated Architectural Chicago River cruise, The Untouchables Tour (the story of the gangster 1930's era), Skydeck at top of Willis (formerly Sears) Tower, Frank Lloyd Wright Oak Park Studio, Art Institute of Chicago, Day trip to Racine, WI to see F.L.Wright's SC Johnson Wax Headquarters+ Wingspread home, Catigny Park (former 500 acre estate of Col Robert McCormick (Editor of Chicago Tribune)+ WWII Museum dedicated to the 1st Infantry Division.

Your trip includes: Home pick up + airport transfers, round trip air, 11 meals (6 breakfaast, 2 dinners, 3 lunches), admission fees, baggage handling and airline baggage fees. Total Cost including estimated airfare is $2997 per person (dbl occ) ($3757 single occ). Deposit including Travel Protection ($388 ($540 single) Check/Major Credit Cards payable to Talbot Tours Trust Account.540 single) or $250 without Travel Protection. Mail to John Pletsch, 2697 Suisun Ave, San Jose, CA 95121. For brochure call John (408) 274-2992 or (408-504-1255) OR Mike Console (408) 246-1080. Brochures also available at luncheon Travel Table. Final Payment due June 28, 2020

See brochures for more information

Be sure to stop by the travel table at the luncheon to obtain brochures on the latest trips!!

Travel Bulletin If you would like to receive your Bulletin via E-Mail, email your request to brodman@sbcglobal.net from the email address that you want your Bulletin delivered to. If you are not interested in travel get your name taken off our E-Mail list by contacting Bill Rodman at (408) 274-4521, email brodman@sbcglobal.net or your branch Travel Chairmen

Non-Responsibility Clause: All Tours and other activities arranged for or by Sons in Retirement, Inc. and its branches are for the convenience and pleasure of the members and their guests wishing to participate. Sons in Retirement, Inc. and its branches do not assume any responsibility for the well being or safety of the participants or passengers, or their property, in any matters pertaining to said tours, trips or other activities.

PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB

In Planning

Bob Dougherty, Photography Club Chairman

From Editor’s Desk

I am in the process of adding material to the SIR newsletter. I would like to add human interest stories (e.g. something interesting happened at a golf tournament or travel event), honor someone for contribution in or out of SIR (e.g. story about a vet with old photo in uniform), or “guess who this is” with a member’s photo from the distant past. Also, unique hobbies or toys or games you played and with whom when you were growing up. I will be including some humor (what I think is humor). Send me your recommendations (feboyce@comcast.net) Newsletter deadline is the first Wed of each month by 6:00 pm.

Some Humor? For those of you that are “ computer challenged”, I am including a photo of my first

computer. Still works.

Events

SIR Branch 32 Ladies Summer Lunch Event

Mark your calendar for Wednesay, June 17th 2020 at the Saratoga Prospect Center, Prospect Road, Saratoga 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM (same location at last year)

Winter Walk and Senior Resource Fair Oakridge Mall

SIR Bob Grandey and Big SIR Jim LeBlanc and working the crowd at Oakridge Mall. They succeeded in interesting 16 potential SIR candidates. WAY TO GO!

March2020Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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2 LADIES WALKING group 9:30AM

3 BEC 9:30AM BOCCE 1:00 pm GOLF – Los Lagos 9:30 AM

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9 LADIES WALKING group 9:30AM BOWLING 10:20AM

10 GOLF – Los Lagos 9:30 AM BOCCE 1:00 pm

11 GARDEN CLUB 11:00AM

12 BRIDGE CLUB 10:30AM CO-ED GOLF – Deep Cliff 9:30AM TBD

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16 BOWLING 10:20AM POOL 1:00PMLADIES WALKING group 9:30AM

17 GOLF – Los Lagos 9:30 AM

18 BR 32 LUNCHEON 11:30 AM

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23 LADIES WALKING group 9:30AM BOWLING 10:20AM

24 GOLF – Los Lagos 9:30 AM BOCCE 1:00 pm

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30 BOWLING 10:20AM LADIES WALKING group 9:30AM Golf Tournament San Jose Muni 10am

31 GOLF – Los Lagos 9:30 AM BOCCE 1:00 pm

April2020Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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6 LADIES WALKING group 9:30AM BOWLING 10:20AM

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9 BRIDGE CLUB 10:30AM CO-ED GOLF – Deep Cliff 9:30AM TBD

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13 BOWLING 10:20AM LADIES WALKING group 9:30AM POOL 1:00PM

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27 BOWLING 10:20AM LADIES WALKING group 9:30AM Golf Tournament Moffitt Field 10 am

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4 LADIES WALKING group 9:30AM BOWLING 10:20AM

5 BEC 9:30AM BOCCE 1:00 pm GOLF – TBD Los Lagos 9:30 AM

6 GARDEN CLUB 11:00AM Ladies Game Day 1:30 pm

7 BRIDGE CLUB 10:30AM

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11 BOWLING 10:20AM LADIES WALKING group 9:30AM POOL 1:00PM

12 GOLF – Los Lagos 9:30 AM BOCCE 1:00 pm

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14 BRIDGE CLUB 10:30AM CO-ED GOLF – Deep Cliff 9:30AM TBD

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25 BOWLING 10:20AM LADIES WALKING group 9:30AM Golf Tournament Spring Valley 10AM

26 GOLF – Los Lagos 9:30 AM BOCCE 1:00 pm

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