Directors: Tom Brady Tom Culhane Jim Kleiser George Miller John Freel Doug Twitchell

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www.sir47.org INCORPORATED Our own website TAMALPAIS BRANCH NO. 47 A Non-Profit Public Benefit Corporation of Retired Men Devoted to the Promotion of Independence and Dignity of Retirement.

1 INCORPORATED Our own website TAMALPAIS BRANCH NO. 47 A Non-Profit Public Benefit Corporation of Retired Men Devoted to the Promotion of Independence and Dignity of Retirement. Big Sir - Jake Solomon Little Sir Tim Leveque Secretary - Ned Lawrence Ass t Sect y - Mike Kelly Treasurer - Paul Schofield Ass t Treas. Lon Sykes A SIR PUBLICATION Luncheon Meeting: McINNIS GOLF CENTER, SAN RAFAEL Fourth Tuesday of the month Happy Hour at 11:00 am, as always Editor/Publisher - Ron Kosciusko Attendance Committee Cashier - Glen Ohm Directors: Tom Brady Tom Culhane Jim Kleiser George Miller John Freel Doug Twitchell State President - Donald Dill Region 10 Director - Jim Filippo Area 6 Governor - Frank Sokolowski MARIN COUNTY SEPTEMBER 2016 VOL. XLIII NO. 9 OUR 43ND YEAR BIG SIR S MESSAGE At our August luncheon, Branch 47 received the Presidents Certificate for Success, which was actually presented to me by Don Dill, the SIR state President, at the SIR annual meeting on August 1 st. Please note that this award has been given to Branch 47, not to any individual. However, it takes a village and many of you in the Branch 47 village have contributed to the success of the Branch that is represented by this award. There are too many folks to recognize everyone in this small space, but I must name a few: Paul Bell and Ron Kosciusko for their work on the website; Bill Donnelly, Kurt Heilman, Norm Jensen and Doug Twitchell on the recruitment committee; John Freel, Alan Thomas, Ned Lawrence and Russ Flaum on the nominating committee; and Chris Lewis and Will Kaefer, our Branch 47 Honorary Life Members, for their continued support and encouragement. For the continued success of Branch 47, all of us must continually sponsor new members. This can only be accomplished with the ongoing involvement of all members. Some members have frequently brought guests to our luncheons, but we would like to have guests at every luncheon. It is up to each of us to invite guests, who hopefully will become members. If you feel a need for assistance in bringing a guest, or in encouraging your guest to become a member, please contact Bill Donnelly or any other member of the recruiting committee; all are available to help you. Remember, every guest who completes and turns in a membership application at the luncheon, will receive a free lunch. And, if that guest becomes a member and attends 3 luncheons, his sponsor receives a free lunch. Reminder: Put September 7 th on your calendar, and plan to attend the Branch 47 BBQ at Miwok park in Novato. This is a catered event, and is open to members, spouses, guests and friends. But you must make your reservation with Kurt Heilman and pay $30/pp, if you have not already done so. Time is short, so call Kurt now to make your reservation and send your payment to Kurt at: 457 Fieldstone Drive, Novato, CA94945 Please note that our luncheons begin at 11:45. It would be helpful if everyone could be at McInnis Golf Center prior to that time. We try to end the program by 1:30 (not always possible if the speaker and Q & A go longer), but if we start late, we will end late. Also, Please use our address: sirbranch47@gmail.com or the dedicated phone: if you are bringing a guest or visitor, or if you will miss the luncheon. You may use either to select the alternative entrée. YOUR CALL MATTERS and timely notification is always appreciated. Jake Solomon, BIG SIR Page 1

2 JULY SPEAKER'S REVIEW Dr. Ken Frost, formerly a Chevron research scientist specializing in the impact of fuel components and fuel additives on air quality, and soon to become Chairman of Dominican University's Natural Sciences and Mathematics Department, is more than qualified to speak on all of environmental issues we've all heard and read about; i.e. climate change and global warming and greenhouse gases, etc,etc. His focus at our luncheon was carbon dioxide emissions which we now know with certainty have been steadily climbing since records first began to be kept in There is no doubt, says Ken, that "the climb is due to the activities of man. Mostly it is due to burning fossil fuels and the inevitable emission of carbon dioxide from combustion." CO2, Ken reminds us, "is one of the greenhouse gases that cause the atmosphere to retain heat by intercepting this infra-red emission coming from the surface of the earth. When this happens, the temperature of the earth's atmosphere and surface begin to rise." This production and retention of CO2 "drives our complex climate system," says Ken. We have to do something to change this trend. If we don't, the CO2 level could triple by the year 2100, "a level not seen for the last 50 million years, a time when the climate above the Arctic Circle was tropical." In spite of all the "bad" news, Ken believes we are making progress. He cites the growth of wind and solar energy and electric and hybrid vehicles as "important changes" which are helping to reduce the amount of CO2 emissions." But lest we get too complacent, here's his list of predicted consequences of global warming: forest fires worsen; prolonged droughts intensify; major heat waves become common; fewer winter deaths in higher latitudes; conflicts over water supplies; modest increases in crop yields in temperate areas; crop yields fall 5 to 10% in tropical Africa; coral reefs are affected by bleaching; glaciers melt and threaten water supplies; sea levels rise and flood lowlying coasts; more exposure to Malaria; extinction of Arctic species like the polar bear. Not a pretty picture! According to Ken, coal is our greatest enemy, followed by oil. China, India, and the US are the three biggest emitters. So, what do we need to do? We need to change the way we make electricity. We need to conserve, conserve, and conserve. We need to explore all kinds of alternatives. We have to figure out how to "sequester" CO2. And we need to come up with the capital to fund projects and research. Ken mentioned the Marin Carbon Project which is experimenting with new and creative solutions for reducing CO2 from the air. He didn't have time to go into this promising subject, but reading I have done tells me that it involves "giving our depleted rangeland a fertility boost, allowing grass to grow more robustly and pull more CO2 from the air and returning it to the soil." Sounds good to me! Ken brought us a big subject, and he admits that there's "a lot of noisy data" out there. Speaking of which, I read recently in a little rag I subscribe to that there are nearly 300 million cows and 200 million more "gas-intensive animals" living in India, all producing methane which "pound for pound traps 25 times as much heat as carbon dioxide." We'll have to ask Ken about the impact of this if he ever returns to talk to us again. And maybe we could get him to tell us in simple terms what the Higgs boson particle is, and how it relates to string theory and dark matter, all subjects that have puzzled me for a long time. Thanks, Ken, for your timely remarks on carbon dioxide and its threat to our planet. Michael Kelly THIS MONTH S MENU Salad Chicken Parmesan with mozzrella and Pasta Alternative: Grilled Salmon with rice and vegetables Rolls and butter Dessert BR 47 BAR-B-QUE Debbie Ghiringhelli is again catering our BBQ at Miwok Park in Novato (on Novato Blvd. between San Miguel Way & Eucalyptus). => You can park at Miwok Park, on Novato Blvd. or on San Miguel Way (from which you can also enter via the back of the Park). We reserved the Trout BBQ Area for Br 47 members. spouses & other guests. As this is a city park, bring your own beer / wine / liquor. Cost is $30 / person Menu is choice of BBQ Tri-tip, BBQ Chicken, or both, or BBQ Tofu with vegetable Kabobs (vegetarian) plus 3 salads, 2 sides and garlic bread. Coffee, water, non-alcoholic drinks & dessert are also provided. Reservations & prepayment required. Call Kurt or heilmanfour@comcast.net The deadline for reservations is Friday, Sept. 2, 2016 Page 2

GOLF 9/7 WEDNESDAY Foxtail South 08:00 151 Note Day Change 9/12 Monday Adobe Creek 08:00 134 9/19 Monday Chardonnay 08:00 134 9/27 TUESDAY Bennett Valley 08:30 134 Note Day Change Tom Brady, 897-8573

Come and share the fun! Contact Paul Schofield, Chair 892-7019 BRANCH 47 BOCCE The first Monday of each month; no cost to play. Spouses and guests are encouraged to attend.

3 GOLF 9/7 WEDNESDAY Foxtail South 08: Note Day Change 9/12 Monday Adobe Creek 08: /19 Monday Chardonnay 08: /27 TUESDAY Bennett Valley 08: Note Day Change Tom Brady, Hole Golf at McInnis Park Mondays at 9:00 am, weather permitting BOWLING Bowling League bowling is every Friday at Country Club Bowl, 88 Vivian Way, San Rafael. Start time: 10:45 AM. Come and share the fun! Contact Paul Schofield, Chair BRANCH 47 BOCCE The first Monday of each month; no cost to play. Spouses and guests are encouraged to attend. We start with 12 the Swiss Hotel on the Sonoma Square. Then we play about 1:30 pm at Depot Park behind the Swiss Hotel. Bring your own Bocce balls, if you have them. Contact: Kurt or heilmanfour@comcast.net to let him know if you want to be on the mailing list or to join us for lunch and bocce. SIR ROLLING ROAMERS RV CLUB Join us for lunch 2nd Tuesday of each month & on our outings. For information, contact SIR Ray Canziani Branch 22, Wagon Master (415) TENNIS, ANYONE? Every Wednesday 9 AM McInnis Park Bill Donnelly or Glen Ohm REMEMBER: Our regular lunch dates are on the FOURTH TUESDAY, of every month TRAVEL. Sep 6-17, 2016: Colors of Canada & New England. 10 day cruise aboard Holland America s ms Zuiderdam. Cruise from New York to Gloucester, Bar Harbor, Halifax, Sydney, Nova Scotia, Charlottetown, Prince Edwards Island and Quebec City. Cruise the scenic gulf of St Lawrence and the sights of Saquenay Fjord..Cost $3325 to $4125. John Pletsch, Br 32, San Jose, or Mike Console, Sep 8-23, 2016: NCL Canada & New England Cruise. Enjoy the fall colors of New England, Nova Scotia, Prince Edwards Island and New Brunswick all the way to Quebec City. Experience the New NCL cruise line service, food and hospitality on this 15 day cruise. All meals included onboard from only $2510. Bruce Bentley, Br.20, Santa Cruz, Sep 13-27, 2016: Essence of the Elbe - Praque to Berlin. This trip starts with 2 nights in Prague, 7 nights aboard the M/S Allegro and 3 nights in Berlin. Included are meals with wine and beer served at lunch and dinner. There will be 10 exclusive tours with personal headsets. Cost start at $3595 plus air. Ken Richter Br. 146, Walnut Creek, Sep 28-Oct 3, 2016: Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup. Trip includes Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup, Badlands National Park, Wall Drug, 1880 Train Ride, Buffalo Roundup Arts Festival. Price including airfare $2065. Larry Yarberry Br.8, Walnut Creek, Oct 15-23,2016: Paddle Wheel Cruise on the Columbia. 7 night cruise aboard the American Empress Paddle wheeler cruising the scenic Columbia and Snake Rivers to Clarkson, WA. The price of $3850 to $4935 includes group insurance, wine with dinner, cocktail party, transfers and skycap tips and more.allen Daily, Br,74, San Jose, or Don House Questions?? Your Travel Chairman: Kurt Heilman Page 3

4 COMPUSIRS QUICKEN SIG 2nd Tuesdays, 10:am B. Bloch, GGCS, PERSONAL COMPUTERS (PC only) 1st WEDNESDAYS DIGITAL CAMERA STUFF 3rd Wednesdays Russ Flaum WEBSITE DESIGN SIG 3rd Tuesdays Paul Bell All Wednesday sessions are from 1:30 to 3:30 pm GGCS COMPUSIRS classroom First Presbyterian Church Fifth Avenue, San Rafael All are welcome. Open to all of Area 6. INVESTORS LUNCH BUNCH Second Friday of the month at Sam s Place at 1545 South Novato Blvd. Order off the menu, and Meeting will start at 11:45, followed by presentations and discussions. Contacts: Pete Petrofsky , Will Kaefer , MEMBERSHIP REPORT Summary: Actives Inactives - 7 Gains: 0 0 Losses: 0 0 PERFECT ATTENDANCE 2015 Russell FLAUM,Harry FORST, John FREEL, Bob GONZALEZ, Richie GUETTER, Mike KELLY, Peter C. KERNER, Ron KOSCIUS- KO, Ned LAWRENCE, Carlos A. MARTIN, George MILLER, Earnest RAVANI, Paul L. SCHOFIELD, Al SPRINGSTEAD, Laurence SYKES, Alan THOMAS, Doug TWITCHELL Richie Guetter won the free lunch. Alan Thomas and Peter Kerner won bottles of wine. AUGUST LUNCH TICKET WINNER Our Guest Speaker, Sara Pearson SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAY BOYS 3 rd Hank Zoubek, 9 th Ron Broyles, 14 th Oscar Ling, 16 th Bill Smith, 19 th Herb Ancell, 19 th Jim Watt, 20 th Knut Larssen, 21 st Jack Brandon, 22 nd Russ Flaum, 22 nd Glen Ohm, 26 th Don Sugrue AUG ATTENDANCE REPORT Total Members 105 SIR S GREAT BOOKS DISCUSSION GROUP Reading Maketh The Full Man We meet in Hangar 5, Hamilton Field, Suite 200, Marin Community Foundation; August 25th: Hell Screen, by Ryunosuke Akutagawa, pages 205 to 234 in Great Conversations 5. Jay Wayne will lead the discussion. Dick Locke, Chair, Howard Bassett, Emeritus Chair; Al Crozier & Dan McGreevy, Ass t Chairs, Jim Rohde, master, Don Pierce, Google man. BRIDGE GROUP The bridge group meets on the third Thursday of each month at a member s home. Play is from 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm. To reserve space and get directions for the next event, call or Charles Caviness: c.caviness@sbglobal.net Members Present 78 76% Guests: 1 Visitors: 0 To call-in non-attendance, order an alternative plate or to notify you re bringing a guest/visitor. Call or Text or sirbranch47@gmail.com with your request, giving name and badge number Please call by noon of the Friday before the lunch date THURSDAY WALKING/HIKING GROUP 1st week each month: Jake Solomon nd week: Jim Hancock (Br.151) rd week each month:al Springstead th week each month: Alan Thomas th week (if applicable): Dee Stuever Call leaders for details about future walks and hikes Page 4

5 SEPTEMBER SPEAKER Our September Luncheon Speaker will be Charlie Tsegeletos. He is the Wine maker at Cline Vineyards. We will be having a wine tasting of some of Cline's red and White wines. Little SIR, Tim Leveque Executive Committee Meeting Highlights AUGUST Big Sir's Remarks: We are reconstituting the "Orientation" committee which will henceforth be named "The New Member Welcome Committee." Its members will be Kurt Heilman, Will Kaefer, and Richard Charvat. The "Spotlight" on Individual Sirs on our website looks really good, but we need to "spotlite" more SIRS! Members should be encouraged to write short biographies of themselves so we'll have a starting point. State's RAMP initiative is impressive, and the videos on their website are well done. All branches have the same problem: recruiting; getting new people involved is important. The first video on the state's website SIR.INC can be adapted to fit each branch (for a fee!). We should put it on our website. Jake remarks that we need to change the names of some of our committees so that they correspond to committee titles the state uses. For example, "Membership Growth & Records" should be changed to "Membership"; "Special Events" should be changed to "Activities/Special Events"; the "Publicity" and "Recruitment" committees should be combined into one committee called "Publicity & Recruitment." "New Member Welcome" committee should be changed to "Orientation." Jake commented that changing branch by-laws is a very complicated process that we may well wish to avoid; however, he thinks it is possible and desirable to clean up some of our operating procedures without changing any by-laws and triggering State's complex review process. [Doug Twitchell emphasizes that our branch should take care to safely back up our data, updates, records, changes, files, policies, decisions--practically everything that we do--in the event that the people who are keeping these records, etc., "are suddenly taken out of the picture." This would ensure continuity, but the question is how to do it and where to store the backup material. We need to defer to our tech guys.] Treasurer's Report: Lon Sykes reported that we have 103 paid members, our checking account balance is $10,841.70, and we have a Luncheon Deficit of $1, Report accepted. Old Business: Doug Twitchell reported that we have two new membership applications. One is from a former member who is reapplying; the other is a new applicant. Both applications were approved. Assistant Secretary Mike Kelly Branch 47 Outings 1. Sat. Sept. 6 pm -Tiburon Sunset cruise. Bring your own drinks & appetizers to share on-board. The cost is $20/person. The cruise runs from 6:30 pm 8:00 pm, but plan to arrive early to be in the cue, so we can sit together. A sign up will our Tues July 26 and Aug 23 luncheons, so we can have an idea how many will be attending. You can purchase tickets ahead to guarantee booking by going on to their website angelislandferry.com or call Marin Jazz Group regularly performs at The Mayflower Inn, th Street, San Rafael, (415) The 2nd & 4th Wednesdays of every month rom 7:30 9:30 pm. No cover, no minimum. Please join in the fun & good music and check out their website: 3. Sunday Pancake Breakfast on the the West Point Inn on Mt. Tamalpais from 9 am to 1 pm. Next times are Sunday June 19, July 10, Aug 14, Sept 11, and Oct. 9. Adults $10 / Kids $5. Hike or bike in if you wish. 4. The Richmond Museum Association pancake breakfast aboard the Red Oak Victory from 9 am -12:30 pm. Next times are on: June 19th Father s Day, Aug 14th, Sept. 11th Grandparent s Day and Oct. 9th. Adults $9; Children 8 & under $5. Breakfast includes pancakes, eggs, sausage, bacon, apple slices and coffee. For more info call or visit 5.Fresh Start Chief Events by Homeward Bound of Marin. Food prepared by celebrity chiefs on Thursdays. June 2 (Brian Jones), July 6 (Josh Silvers), Oct. 6 (Tanya Holland), Nov 10 (Mark Stark). For more details contact: cookingschoolsofamerica.com/freshstartscookingschool or ex Sept 12 Oct 2 Novato Theater Company: A Street Car Named Desire Sept 12 Oct 2 Novato Theater Company: For tickets contact contact novatotheatercompany.org. 7.Marin theater Company Sept 8 Oct 2 August: Osage County By Tracy Letts. Fiercely funny, turbocharged tragicomedy The New York Times When Dad goes missing, the Weston sisters reluctantly return home to Mom cancer stricken, drug-addled, and a bigger piece of work than ever. Cutting remarks take deadly aim in Tracy Letts Pulitzer Prize-winning family cage match. For tickets contact marintheatre.org. Cheers, Kurt Heilman Page 5

THIS MONTH S ACTIVITIES CALENDAR Thursday Sep 1 Walking Group Friday Sep 2 Bowling Monday Sep 5 Bocce CANCELLED Wednesday Sep 7 Golf Note date change Wednesday Sep 7 Personal Computers Class

6 THIS MONTH S ACTIVITIES CALENDAR Thursday Sep 1 Walking Group Friday Sep 2 Bowling Monday Sep 5 Bocce CANCELLED Wednesday Sep 7 Golf Note date change Wednesday Sep 7 Personal Computers Class Wednesday Sep 7 Tennis Thursday Sep 8 Walking Group Friday Sep 9 Bowling Friday Sep 9 Investors Lunch Bunch Monday Sep 12 Golf Tuesday Sep 13 Rolling Roamers Wednesday Sep 14 Tennis Thursday Sep 15 Bridge Thursday Sep 15 Walking Group Friday Sep 16 Bowling Monday Sep 19 Golf Wednesday Sep 21 Digital Camera Stuff Wednesday Sep 21 Tennis Thursday Sep 22 Great Books Thursday Sep 22 Walking Group Friday Sep 23 Bowling Tuesday Sep 27 Golf Note date change Monday Sep 26 Executive Board Mtg Tuesday Sep 27 Lunch Tuesday Sep 27 Tamal Talk Deadline for Oct Wednesday Sep 28 Tennis Wednesday Sep 28 Tennis Thursday Sep 29 Walking Group Friday Sep 30 Bowling AREA 6 MONTHLY MEETINGS Br. # Branch Phone 7 The Club at McInnis Park 1st Thursday The Club at McInnis Park 1st Tuesday Club at Mcinnis Park 4th Tuesday Happy Hour - 11:00 am; Luncheon - 11:45 am 68 The Club at McInnis Park 2nd Tuesday Embassy Suites 1st Tuesday ATTENDANCE: Failure to attend three consecutive meetings without giving prior notice to the Attendance Chairman, and/or failure to attend at least 6 meetings within the previous 12 months, may result in termination. Condensed from Rule 100 of State Policy Manual Attendance at another branch meeting, duly recorded with the Attendance Chairman of that branch, will be credited to a member's attendance record (Rule 101). Call the branch phone listed above to secure a guest spot. SUNSHINE COMMITTEE Please report SIR illnesses or deaths to Bill Donnelly at EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE will meet Monday, SEP 26, :30 AM at the Marin Community Foundation, Suite 200 Hangar 5, Hamilton, Novato TAMALTALK, SIR Branch 47 Ron Kosciusko, Publisher 402 Hilary Drive Tiburon, CA If undeliverable Return to Sender FIRST CLASS Place First Class Postage Here

Directors: Tom Brady Tom Culhane Jim Kleiser George Miller Jake Solomon Doug Twitchell

Directors: Tom Brady Tom Culhane Jim Kleiser George Miller Jake Solomon Doug Twitchell www.sir47.org INCORPORATED Our own website TAMALPAIS BRANCH NO. 47 A Non-Profit Public Benefit Corporation of Retired Men Devoted to the Promotion of Independence and Dignity of Retirement. Big Sir --