January, 2014 Newsletter

Haddonfield
65 Club

      The Retired Men’s Club of Haddonfield

         Web address: http://haddon65club.blogspot.com/ 

110 Rhoads Ave                     

Haddonfield, NJ 08033                                               January 1, 2014

Thought for the Month

If you have not made your New Year’s resolutions yet, be assured that you are not alone. What we all should know, however, is that according to a British study, 88% of all those who made resolutions, failed.  Our good intentions laid low by poor execution. If you do make resolutions, share your goals with someone and you are more likely to succeed in reaching your goal. By the way, women are better at keeping resolutions than men, the same study proclaims.

We hope that our elected representatives in Washington make serious resolutions to govern and not just focus on the next election. We hope they will regard those who disagree with them as true Americans and not as some “other” who love their country less than they do.  The recent budget agreement might be a start in working together. We hope they will not consider compromise a nasty word, rather a way of moving forward. We hope they begin to listen to “We the People” when we speak out for common sense gun laws, fair immigration reform, fair tax changes, assuring the franchise for all citizens, a few of the pressing problems our country faces. This is a tall order for elected officials since too many are beholden to narrowly focused influential groups. However, “big” people can solve big problems.

Christmas is behind us and the days are shorter, afternoons darker and colder.  The early snow and cold caught us all by surprise. Some who are able to escape to warmer climes will keep warm in the southern sun.

Those of us unable to migrate have about a month to begin to notice the Northward traverse of the sun, as days get longer.  Not yet the time to get out the golf clubs, but perhaps to watch the pros on tour and maybe get some tips on putting or bunker play.

Watch out if you are walking in your dormant garden, early crocus might be poking their fragile heads out of the ground.  Even daffodils might send up an inch or so of delicate green from their cold beds. All we have to see is one of these signs and we know spring cannot be far off.

  – – Frank Gaudiano

President’s Message

I expect that most of you gentlemen were good guys during the past year, Santa brought you everything that you wanted and maybe a little more.

No matter what you received, living in Haddonfield and surrounding communities compared to other areas is a blessing. Sure our taxes may be higher than elsewhere, but we live in a basically, crime-free area. These high taxes are primarily for the schools that receive very little from the State. Our children have graduated long ago, but our school systems continue to produce award winning scholars as well as championship teams in sports. It’s almost an insurance policy that keeps Haddonfield the way that it is now, and will be in the future.

Another solid portion of the community is the Haddonfield 65 Club. Reflecting back on the year, we have enjoyed the many activities that the club has to offer our members, from golf to bowling, from bridge to pinochle, trips, luncheons, weekly guest speakers, wine and cheese party and the Christmas party.  Along the way during the past year the club has made a donation of the Perseverance Award to a student at HMHS, a donation for planting a tree for the 300^th anniversary of Haddonfield, worked preparing bags of food for the “Feed Our Starving Children” program, and served as marshals for the annual 5K Heart Run. In addition, many of our members donate their time to other community organizations.  It has been a busy year for our members.

So as we begin to make our personal resolutions for 2014, don’t forget to add your increased involvement with the club, whether it’s getting more involved with the existing programs or offering suggestions for additional activities. It’s YOUR club, get involved.

– – Bill Brown

Dues Dues Dues!

At this printing there are 54 members (40 %) who have NOT paid their membership dues for 2014. Give Walt a call at 856-429-7288 and find out if you have paid. If you haven’t, send a check for $20.00 to Walt Baker, 400 N. Haddon Ave., Unit 209, Haddonfield, N.J. 08033-1736. Please send it in so we don’t have to make a phone call reminding you that you are delinquent. THANK YOU.

Nomination of Officers & Directors for 2014

President:	William Brown	Secretary:	W. Bernard Schaming
1st Vice President:	Dennis Kille	Treasurer:	Walter Baker
2nd Vice President:	Neil Wise	Asst. Treasurer:
Directors for 3 Years	Jack Aharon	Charles Legge	Henry Leimkuhler

This slate of officers will be voted upon at the business meeting on January 9. Bill Hitchens, Ron Howley and Don Windus will continue as directors for 2 years. Joe Ade, Warren Reintzel and Bud Pusatere will continue as directors for 1 year. Bob Parsons will continue as past president.

Christmas Party – Thursday, December 12^th

All the elements of a good party were there. There was the background music and accompaniment for the carol singing; there was a very thoughtful message by Father James Dever, Christ the King Catholic Church; there was the great variety of food and punch. But, the number of our members in attendance was fewer than we have seen for some years. Those who did not come to the Party missed the good socializing and we missed them. Maybe the reduction in attendees was a one-time aberration. But, maybe there was a reason. So, if you have any thoughts as to why it occurred, call Bill Hitchens at 428-7431.

New Members

John R. Taylor and his wife Margaret live at 1628 S. Bowling Green Drive, Cherry Hill, N.J. The telephone number is 795-1139. John retired from UPS where he worked in deliveries. His hobbies are golf, racquetball, tennis, bowling and pinochle.

Fred Borgini lives at 452 Gladstone Ave, Haddonfield, with his wife Josie. The phone number is 429-8791. Fred is retired from Lockheed Martin where he was an Engineer. His hobbies are golf and reading.

Ralph Kramer lives with his wife Natasha at 401 Tanforan Dr., Cherry Hill, 08002. The telephone number is 667-3760. Ralph is retired as a math teacher in the Philadelphia School District. Ralph’s hobbies are bridge, travel, politics, gardening and cooking.

Gentlemen, we are glad to have you as members and hope you enjoy the 65 Club.

Clubhouse Programs

Thursday	Jan 2	NO MEETING
Thursday	Jan 9	Directors meeting	10:00 AM
Thursday	Jan 9	Business meeting	1:30 PM
Thursday	Jan 16	A NEW APPROACH TO HIP REPLACEMENT ………....Dr. David Vegari	1:30 PM
Thursday	Jan 23	MIA MARE-New Restaurant on Tanner St……………….Walt Ziekewski	1:30 PM
Thursday	Jan 30	THE ACCORDION SCHOOL IN WESTMONT……………………..….Jo Anne	1:30 PM
Thursday	Feb 6	Directors meeting	10:00 AM
Thursday	Feb 6	ST PAUL'S FOOD PANTRY IN CAMDEN…………………….Dick Hammond	1:30 PM
Thursday	Feb 13	Business meeting + BRIEF TALK BY VISITING JAPANESE STUDENTS	1:30 PM
Thursday	Feb 20	TBA	1:30 PM
Thursday	Feb 27	FINE ART APPRAISING (Bring your art)………………………..Andrew Huber	1:30 PM

NOTE: We have an insatiable appetite for presenters. We rely on the vast experience of our members to satisfy this need by suggesting speakers. So, be on the alert and notify Bill Brown (429-4368) if you have any suggestions for speakers.

January Birthdays

1  John H. Burgess, Jr.	6 John Hempstead	10  Richard C. Lucas	20  Joseph Coelho
4  Warren A. Reintzel	7 Robert L. Wells	12  William A. Smart, Jr.	22  Emil Weiler, Jr.
5  William Hoeberg	8  Joseph Ade	12  Leonard G. Walden Jr.	23  Ronald Howley
5  John H. Aharon	9  Robert Herbert	13  Dennis Kelleher	30  Marshall Warrington
6  John E. Nuneville Jr.	9  Charles Pusatere	14  Frank Gaudiano, Jr.	31  Thomas Schultz

Final Report from Pocomoke City, MD

Incident Number 2: (This occurred during my later years)

My wife Janet and I had driven down to near Cambridge, MD to visit her brother Jack and his wife Pat. They had a summer place about 13 miles out of Cambridge, toward the Chesapeake Bay, on the shores of the Little Choptank River. One day, we were eating dinner at a picnic table out on the glass enclosed porch, overlooking the river.  All was peaceful when Pat hurriedly left her seat and went toward the kitchen. I thought she had something to attend to regarding dinner. But, after a short time I looked and saw her standing in the living room, clutching her throat with both hands, apparently having trouble breathing. I was the only one who could see her from where we were seated. I went to her and got behind her and put my arms around her, balled up my fists and gave her what I thought was a good Heimlich squeeze. Nothing happened. She was still struggling for air. I then moved my fists higher toward her rib cage and gave her a good sudden squeeze. A chunk of food came flying like a projectile, out of her mouth. Thank goodness. Pat picked up the food chunk. We both went back to the table and resumed our dinner. Jack and Janet were not aware of what had happened. And, neither Pat or I said anything. Why? I don’t know.

Before moving to the farm when I was nine years old, we lived in town. My father was a quail hunter and he had two bird hunting dogs in a house and pen in the back yard.  The dogs were an Irish Setter (Chubby) and an English Pointer (Rex). Dad was proud of the dog house, because in was an all-weather design recommended by the U.S. Government. Hunting dogs were never allowed in the people house. Before hunting season Dad would take the dogs out into the country-side to sharpen their skills. It was a pleasure to watch them. They would instinctively hunt a field, zig-zagging back and forth, until the entire field was covered. If one of them discovered a whiff of bird smell he would stop and go into the classic pose. The other dog would back-up the first dog. And, they would not advance until the hunter was in position and gave them a quiet signal.

My father had an arrangement with some State of Maryland agency whereby they would send him baby quail, in a cardboard box, through the U.S. Mail. We would pick them up at the Post Office and Dad would take them out into the country-side to locations where he thought the quail population was low, and he would release them.

We lived next door to the Sheriff of Worcester County. He and his friends were raccoon hunters. The Sheriff had about five or six Coon Hounds in a pen and house in his back yard. Oh, how I longed to be invited along on one of their hunts. But, of course, moving through the woods and swamp, in the dead of night trying to “tree a coon” was not something I should have been allowed to do. They never invited me to their coon dinners either. That hurt also. You should have heard the din (barking) that occurred when, in the middle of the night, a cat or other foreign thing crossed the yard and the dogs woke up. By the way, this was on a good residential street in town. There were no rules against the situation nor did any of the neighbors complain. 

– – Bill Hitchens

Activities

Bowling

We still have room for you at Laurel Lanes, Rt. 73, Maple Shade. Down Kings Highway towards Moorestown and turn right onto Rt. 73m and you are there. We start at 9:30 AM on Friday. The cost is only $6.55 (open bowling is $2.99 a game) and that includes shoes, ball, coffee and pastry. Come on out and have some good fellowship bowling with us. We’re not pros as you can see by the following averages: Charles Legge -117: Frank Gaudiano-125: Tom Mervine-126: Dick Gimigliano-125: Bill Brown-138: Bill Coggins-143 and Walt Baker-161.

– – Dick Gimigliano and Walt Baker

Bridge

Cumulative Bridge Scores Through December 23, 2013
39.5	Bob Ball	16.5	Frank Gaudiano	11.0	Bernie Schaming
35.5	Howard Rementer	16.5	Rich Cosentino	11.0	Charles Legge
29.5	Tom Mervine	15.5	Phil Aronow	9.0	George McConville
29.0	Jack Walden	15.0	Bill Hoeberg	6.0	Ralph Kramer
23.0	Hank Bauer	13.5	Milt Leontiades	5.0	Denny Griffin
17.5	Bill Hitchens	13.5	John Petrozzi

We play at the Clubhouse every Monday. If you are interested in Duplicate Bridge please join us.  We start at 1:00pm sharp so please arrive by 12:45.

– – Bernie Schaming

Pinochle

Cumulative Pinochle Scores Through December 18, 2013
65	Bud Pusatere	37	Howard Rementer	28	Albert Cipolone
52	Jack Walden	36	Henry Leimkuhler	24	Don
42	Len Walden	36	Tom Mervine	23	Bill Hoeberg
41	Roland Heilig	36	Joe Ade	20	Mart Warrington
41	Ron Howley	34	Charles Legge	12	Lloyd Gardner

Pinochle is played every Wednesday at 12:30 PM at the Clubhouse. Play begins at 12:30 PM; please arrive by 12:15 PM. You are invited to join us.

– – Tom Mervine

Crabby Old Man

When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a small hospital near Tampa, Florida, it was believed that he had nothing left of any value. Later, when the nurses were going through his meager possessions, they found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital.

And this little old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this poem winging across the Internet.

What do you see nurses? What do you see?

What are you thinking, when you're looking at me?

A crabby old man, not very wise,

Uncertain of habit, with faraway eyes?

Who dribbles his food, and makes no reply.

When you say in a loud voice, "I do wish you'd try!"

Who seems not to notice, the things that you do.

And forever is losing, a sock or a shoe?

Who, resisting or not, lets you do as you will,

With bathing and feeding, the long day to fill?

Is that what you're thinking? Is that what you see?

Then open your eyes, you're not looking at me.

I'll tell you who I am . as I sit here so still,

As I do your bidding, as I eat at your will.

I'm a small child of Ten, with a father and mother,

Brothers and sisters, who love one another

A young boy of Sixteen, with wings on his feet

Dreaming that soon now, a lover he'll meet.

A groom soon at Twenty, my heart gives a leap.

Remembering, the vows, that I promised to keep.

At Twenty-Five, now, I have young of my own.

Who need me to guide, and a secure happy home.

A man of Thirty, my young now grown fast,

Bound to each other, with ties that should last.

At Forty, my young sons, have grown and are gone,

But my woman's beside me, to see I don't mourn.

At Fifty, once more, babies play 'round my knee,

Again, we know children, my loved one and me.

Dark days are upon me, my wife is now dead.

I look at the future, I shudder with dread.

For my young are all rearing, young of their own.

And I think of the years, the love that I've known.

I'm now an old man, and nature is cruel.

Tis jest to make old age, look like a fool.

The body, it crumbles, grace and vigor, depart.

There is now a stone, where I once had a heart.

But inside this old carcass, a young guy still dwells,

And now and again, my battered heart swells.

I remember the joys, I remember the pain.

And I'm loving and living, life over again.

I think of the years, all too few, gone too fast.

And accept the stark fact, that nothing can last.

So open your eyes, people, open and see.

Not a crabby old man. Look closer, see ME!

My Living Will

Last night, my kids and I were sitting

In the living room and I said to them,

“I never want to live in a

vegetative state, dependent on some

machine and fluids from a bottle.

If that ever happens, just pull the plug.”

They got up, unplugged my

Computer and threw out my wine.

The little brats!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Bill Hitchens                                     Editors                                 Frank Gaudiano

      Composing Editor Bernie Schaming