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Please note this year’s Ladies Day Holiday Luncheon will be held Wednesday, December 18, at St. Mary’s College Soda Center. The cost is $50 per person. In addition to an excellent meal we

are providing an outstanding musical program we know you will enjoy.

Use the Reservation Form on the penultimate page for you alone, you and a guest, or to reserve a complete table for you and eight of your friends.

DO IT NOW!!

LAMORINDA SIR BRANCH 174 OCTOBER 2019

Vol. 11, Issue 10 Branch 174 Website: Newsletter Editor: http://branch174.sirinc2.org/ Dick Curry

OUR NEXT REGULAR MEETING WILL BE WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2019

HOLY TRINITY CULTURAL CENTER – 1700 SCHOOL ST., MORAGA Social Hour: 11:00 – Lunch: 11:45 – Cost $25.00. Payment in the exact amount would be appreciated.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETS AT 9:45 AM

BIG SIR MESSAGE

CLARK WALLACE Hi Gang, Another good month as your BEC (Board Executive Committee) continues together to solve as many issues as seem to always come up. We have a good board which works well together.

Budget-wise, thanks to our Treasurer Jon Leuteneker, we are just breaking even month in, month out which is OK since we're definitely a non-profit with a pretty healthy reserve. Membership is also about breaking

even every month, tho' as our recruiting chairman Juan Kelly advised us last month we need to constantly "think new members", our lifeblood in organization of seniors like SIR (good idea Juan).

Looking forward to Kelly Hope (Bob Hope's son) next month about "Growing up with my Dad" thanks to Tom/Tom (Henry/Vinzent)---see Little SIR column to my right. Many/most of us grew up when Bob Hope was eternal and ever present. I can tell a few personal Hope stories myself about Bob and Jerry Colonna at the Orinda Theater in 1941 and later watching Bob and Bing Crosby golfing at Claremont Country Club back then---now that was entertainment! (Hope) you'll be with us October 9.

Clark

LITTLE SIR PROGRAM

TOM HENRY We learned a great deal about our county public schools from our speaker, Lynn Mackey, at our September meeting. Lynn is the Superintendent of Schools for Contra Costa County. The County Office of Education is an essential part of Contra Costa’s outstanding public school system.

Our guest-presenter for our October meeting will be Bob Hope’s son, Kelly Hope. Thank you to Branch 174 Secretary, Tom Vinzent. His topic will be ‘Growing up with Bob Hope as my father’.

When asked on his deathbed where he wanted to be buried, Bob Hope told his wife, Dolores, "Surprise me." Bob was born May 29, 1903 and passed away on July 27, 2003. He was over 100 years old. Bob became one of America’s best-loved comedians and one of the country’s most respected citizens. Among Bob’s many film credits are the ‘Road movies’ he made with Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour between 1940 and 1962.

Bob moved to Hollywood when Paramount Pictures signed him for the 1938 film The Big Broadcast of 1938, also starring W. C. Fields. The song "Thanks for the Memory", which later became his trademark, was introduced in the film as a duet with Shirley Ross, accompanied by Shep Fields and his orchestra.

He performed his first USO show on May 6, 1941, at March Field in California, and continued to travel and entertain troops for the rest of World War II, during the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the third phase of the Lebanon Civil War, the latter years of the Iran–Iraq War, and the 1990–91 Persian Gulf War. His USO career lasted a half-century during which he headlined 57 times.

This should be a great program so get your guest requests in promptly.

Tom

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HAPPY OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS TO: RICHARD ABRAMS BILL COMLEY ROY ELLIOTT BOB HICKMAN NEAL HUNTLEY JUAN KELLY KERRY KINRADE GEORGE KORTE MICHAEL LaTORRE FRANK LEW DONN MALL ALAN McDONALD HERB WEHMEYER TOM WELTE BOB ZIMMERMAN

One of the above members will win a free lunch if they attend the OCTOBER luncheon. Members whose birth month is OCTOBER and who do not see their name in the above list should call the Big Sir prior to the OCTOBER meeting to ensure their names are included in the drawing.

NOTE: Members 90 years old or more will receive a free lunch in their birth month each year; however they must notify the Big SIR prior to the meeting.

BRANCH REPORTS SUNSHINE REPORT: MARK MAHONEY (415) 269-2999 We regret to inform of the passing of SIR Larry Fox on August 16. Larry was born in Alameda, CA in 1938. He attended Alameda schools before entering the University of California Berkeley in 1956. After graduating in Economics, Larry started a company, Conifer Paper Products, a wholesale packaging and distribution company. The company was sold to Unisource, an Alco Standard company, in 1996 and Larry retired in 1998. During his working career, Larry served on several health care governance boards and community service organizations. He married Joan Siemens in 1963 and resided in Lafayette, raising a daughter and son. Larry also leaves behind four granddaughters.

Please note: If any member of Branch 174 know of any deaths, injuries, illnesses or of members who are recuperating, please email Mark at: mark@mahoneyweb.com and advise him. The cooperation of all members is truly needed to ensure that we may all be made aware of health issues of our members.

From Branch 171: ERIC CHO (377-1801) Eric notes there is no sad news to report this month!

Please try to contact your Sir friends with illnesses to offer your support and encouragement and keep them in your thoughts and prayers. A friendly call is always welcome. Cards and letters are also appreciated. If you are aware of an ill Sir, please let Mark or Eric know by e-mail or phone.

TREASURER REPORT: JON LEUTENEKER 376-7035 June 2019 Balance, Beginning $7,403.35 Month's Receipts 1,855.00 Month's Disbursements 1,984.18 Balance, Ending June $7,274.17 ATTENDANCE REPORT: TOM WELTE 330-3934 Attendance at the SEPTEMBER luncheon was 86. There were 80 members (66%), 2 guests, 3 visitors, including the speaker, and 1 that did not record his presence. There were 34 excused members and 8 unexcused who will be asked to pay the cost for the lunch. Certification of attendance at another SIR Branch will be considered a credit to the Attendance Record. MEMBERSHIP REPORT: RICK ZAVATERO 683-2373 Changes:

Candidate List: There are no candidates on the waiting list. Member Roster: SIR Edge Montgomery was inducted into membership this month; Ron Wilson has been approved for

membership and will be inducted at the next meeting he is able to attend. We lost two members in September – Bud VanBokkelen who has withdrawn his membership and Larry Fox who passed away on Aug. 16, 2019.

Current status: Candidate List = 0 Member Roster = 123

Note: To be excused from a future meeting or to bring a guest, please see instructions under ATTENDANCE INFORMATION and TO BRING A GUEST, respectively, on the last page of this Newsletter. If using e-mail

(preferred!) please ensure you use our correct e-mail address.

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Also enjoy reading SIR Happenings, our State Newsletter, and find out about all the fun things that are going on throughout our organization. You can now find the AUGUST 2019 edition of SIR Happenings on our SIR State website at www.sirinc.org. Can you believe SIR is celebrating its 60

th year anniversary? Lots of interesting articles

relating to other SIR Branches. Check out the news article from Branch 171. CHECK WHAT OTHER BRANCHES ARE DOING. See something you like? Let your Activities Chairman know about it and see if we can adopt something similar for our Branch!!

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORMS are available on our website (branch174.sirinc2.org/MembershipForm.pdf), or, preferably, requested from Rick Zavatero, phone (925) 683-2373, zavatero@yahoo.com, or from Rick at our General Meeting. INDUCTIONS: RICK ZAVATERO 683-2373

SEPTEMBER INDUCTIONS

APPLICANT NO. YR. ADDRESS EMAIL PHONE BM

ED (EDGE) MONTGOMERY

248 2019 164 Natalie Dr., Moraga EdwardMontgomery@comcast.net 376-8020 7

GREETERS: There were no greeters at our September meeting. When asked to volunteer for this very important role in our luncheon ceremonies please don’t hesitate to accept. It is a great way to meet many of the members who you do not yet know.

FREE LUNCH: Who says there’s no such thing as a free lunch? Ask STEVE HUNT (our September birthday recipient) and JACK SECHLER (membership recipient) who will receive free lunches at our October 2019 meeting. Were you one of the lucky ones? ROSTER CORRECTIONS: RICK ZAVATERO 683-2373 NOTICE: Whenever your mail or E-mail address, your phone number, or other data reported in the Members Roster changes please advise Rick. He will in turn update the Member Roster and advise the Newsletter staff. Our current Member Roster is posted on our Branch 174 website monthly and may be viewed using your User ID and Password. BRANCH #174 NEWSLETTER: Editor Dick Curry 376-5541 racorinda@pacbell.net, 19 Descanso Drive, Orinda, CA The deadline for receipt of Newsletter material by the Editor is the 20th of each month! E-mail is preferred.

ACTIVITIES REPORTS (Branch 174 & Branch 171) ACTIVITIES CHAIRMAN: Our Activities Chairman is Sir David White. Dave’s responsibilities include supporting the various chairmen of our branch activities, providing liaison with these chairmen and the Branch Executive Committee, and assisting in organizing new activities of interest to our branch members. Dave’s phone number and e-mail address, respectively, are: 376-6152 and dandjw@comcast.net. Please contact Dave if you have thoughts/suggestions on other activities you would like our branch to sponsor.

APPLE USER GROUP ACTIVITY: DICK MACY (Br. 171) 376-1180, STAN HOLCENBERG <sholcenb@icloud.com>, JOE TRACY (Br. 174) 954-7801 Our meetings are held in the conference room at the Contra Costa County Supervisor’s Office at 3338 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette adjacent to the fire station across from El Charro restaurant. Enter through the left side door at top of steps. Meetings are held bi-monthly on the 4th Monday of odd number months from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Our next meeting will be held November 25. Novices and advanced users are welcomed. Come and be a part of the group. Our meetings focus on Apple/Mac computers, iPads,& iPhones. Each meeting includes a discussion of recent Apple/Mac announcements and releases; rumors; a roundtable discussion of applications, general rumors, issues, and problems members may be having, and some formal topics.

BARBERSHOP HARMONY: BRAD DEWEY (Br. 171) 376-3349, RICK ZAVATERO (Br. 174) 278- 683-2373

The SIRpremes are in need of new blood! This activity has been in existence for a number of years; however, recently, we have lost many of our members. We are a barbershop octet that sings songs in four-part harmony. Notwithstanding, there is great interest by those remaining in our group to continue this very enjoyable and rewarding activity. All parts are open, but another tenor would be delightful. So, if you are with Branch 171 or Branch 174 and have any interest or any questions regarding our group, please give Brad Dewey (Branch 171) at 376-3349 Rick Zavatero (Branch 174) at 683-2373 a call

for information.

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Pete Gates, Tom Boltz and friends got these halibut, salmon and rockfish in

Alaska

BOCCE BALL: Steve Patton (Br. 171), Ed Protiva (Br. 174) 254-1631

You could be a part of this great group of guys. Our Bocce Ball games are played every Tuesday and Friday from 10:00 to 12:00 at the Moraga Commons Park located at the corner of Moraga Road & St Mary’s Rd next to the bandstand in the Town of Moraga. Easy to learn and easy to play. Sign up now by calling Ed.

BOWLING - AREA 16: Mike Kropf (Branch 19) 689-1453 Area 16 Tournament bowling, sponsored by Branch 19, is held at the Clayton Valley Bowl on Wednesdays starting at 10 a.m. The Winter/Spring league has commenced; the league initially consists of 8 teams. Contact: Mike Kropf, 689-1453

mdkropf@astound.net, or John Dorsett, 827-‐2852, for information.

BRIDGE: JOHN SCHICK (Br. 171) STEWART KNUDSEN (Br. 174) 376-4919 We meet at the Moraga Hacienda on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. Please arrive by 9:50 a.m. Play starts promptly at 10:00 a.m. Bring $5 and a bag lunch. Call Stu for further information and reservation.

COMPUTERS & TECHNOLOGY - AREA 16: NEIL SCHMIDT (Branch 116) <np_schmidt@pacbell.net >; DICK CURRY (Br. 174) 376-5541 <racorinda@pacbell.net>. Meetings of the Area 16 Computer and Technology Group are held the 3rd Thursday of each month (except June and December) from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., at the Walnut Creek Elks Lodge, 1475 Creekside Drive.

Our meetings are fun and informative where we discuss applications for computers and technology. Each meeting we have a presentation on a wide variety of computer and technology related topics. These presentations are designed to be of interest to technology “novices” as well as individuals who have “worked in the business”. Topics cover everything from antivirus programs, ways to back up your data, digital photography, genealogy research, smart phones and many other topics. It’s a great way to learn about new technology and to get answers to your computer questions/problems. We also encourage mingling and socializing before and after the meetings; it’s a good way to get suggested solutions to your technology questions and issues. Sirs from all branches and their guests, including spouses, are welcome and invited to attend.

Our next meeting will be held on October 17. Our presentation topic will be on “Organizing Your Photos” by Neil Schmidt. What do you do with all your photos? Most of us have a large collection of old slides and prints and, with today’s smartphones, we now have a massive collection of new digital images. Neil will explore several different techniques for managing your entire photo collection. Members usually arrive around 9:15 to enjoy coffee and a chat with friends and new acquaintances before the presentation. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned user, we try to offer something for everyone. We ask for a donation of $5 to cover the cost of the hall rental, coffee and pastries. Check out our website and obtain our past and current presentation notes available on the CAT Web page (https://sirinc2.org/a16cat/). All SIR members and their guests (spouses included!) are welcome.

DOMINOES: TOM WESTHOFF (Br. 171), Br. 174 DON MERSON 287-0874 DSMERS19@comcast.net We meet every Thursday at the Moraga Royale in Moraga from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Please call Tom Don at 287-0874 for details.

DUPLICATE BRIDGE – AREA 16: TOM HENRY (Br. 174) ) (510) 502-5724 tomh925@icloud.com Area 16 duplicate bridge meets on the 1

st Tuesday of each month at the American Contract Bridge Center (First Christian

Church Fellowship Hall), 3039 Willow Pass Rd, Concord (phone: 925-935-2273). Our next meeting will be held on August 6. Registration begins at 9:15 a.m.; play begins at 10:00 a.m. and finishes by 2:00 p.m. Lessons from Ravi Bhalla will be offered commencing at 9:30. This activity is fully sanctioned by the American Contract Bridge League and, as such, ACBL Masterpoints will be awarded to the top three pairs. Guests of SIR members are welcomed. Interested players must contact Tom Henry in advance of date of play.

FISHING - AREA 16: KARL DROESE (Br. 171) 376-0468, Big Fish HARRY SHERINIAN 510-207-7067 All SIR members and guests are welcome and, indeed, encouraged to participate in fishing trips as well as attend the monthly meetings. Our next meeting will be held on Thursday, October 24, at the Legend Sports Bar and Grill, Diablo Creek Golf Course at 4050 Port Chicago Highway in Concord. Meetings start at 8:30 a.m.

Halibut in the Bay is remarkably still going strong, and this has been a spectacular year for that. Too many of us have caught them to list here. The Bay is chock full of smaller halibut, and the future looks magnificent. Joe Miscione, Mario Moritorio, Phil Scimonelli, and Brion Beetz fished piers in the lower bays for mixed bags of stripers, smelt, rays,

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sharks, and even a guitarfish. Phil, Brion, Ron Lew, Ray Pixton, and Carl Moyer caught catfish from San Pablo Reservoir. Bob Stein, Carl Moyer, Brion Beetz, Ron Lew, and Rich Fiscina caught rock fish and ling cod from the ocean. Many of the members of the fishing group met with the Sirs in the Kitchen at host Ed Benson’s house for our annual fish feast. This is an incredible food and drink gathering. Over 40 pounds of fish fillets were devoured. Meanwhile, Tom Kostik and Mike Corker sought black and striped bass in the Delta. Pete Gates and Tom Boltz caught halibut and salmon in Alaska. Jerry Hicks took a guided fly fishing trip to Oregon for lots of trout.

Please contact Karl Droese (Br 171) at 376-0468 or Carl Moyer (Branch 8) 685-5243 for more information.

GOLF: 18 Hole Golf - BILL WADSWORTH (Br. 174) 963-0442, Gene Bell (Br. 171) Our 2019 champion golfer of the year is Gordon Steele. After two full 18 hole matches where he and Steve Wright tied, Gordon finally prevailed at Franklin Canyon. Recently at Franklin Canyon, four of our members scored a number for 18 holes that matched or bettered their age…a great achievement. Congratulations to Bob Heaney for his 75, Al McDonald for his 83, Don Kavanagh for his 77, and Ron Leiker for shooting an 82! We currently have a 2-man team championship going on with the winners having their names engraved on the Mark Niemela Memorial Trophy. October outings include Hiddenbrooke in Vallejo on 10/7 and Boundary Oak on 10/21. Check us out online at www.sirlamorindagolf.com or contact Bill Wadsworth at 925-963-0442. Come join us for the camaraderie and exercise.

9 Hole Golf – TIM FREEMAN (Br. 171) 283-5945 Open (Br. 174) For those that don't want to play 18 holes, or want to play a shorter course on occasion, there is a 9 hole group that meets each Friday morning at Diablo Hills Golf Course in Walnut Creek. Tim Freeman coordinates this and sends out a note to all members on his interested party list each week, a few days before the game, to see who is interested in playing. Lunch follows at the Diablo Hills clubhouse. Email Tim if you would like to be added to the interested party list. He’s gotten a tremendous response. Contact Tim (timfre@comcast.net) if you are interested on being on his email list for those events.

HISTORICAL ADVENTURE and VETERANS ACTIVITIES: OPEN (Br. 174) JIM KLINE/KEN FISHER (Br. 171) 376-4173/518-3104 The Historical Adventures Committee continues to review new and exciting outings to undertake. Dates for touring Bay Area historical sites will be announced as they are firmed up. Your suggestions of activities to add to our list are always welcome.

Branch 174 needs a volunteer(s) to assist Jim and Ken and liaise with our Branch so that our members are current with upcoming events!! Please contact Dave White at dandjw@comcast.net for information.

INVESTMENT GROUP - AREA 16: TOM HENRY (Br. 174) (510) 502-5724 tomh925@icloud.com, DAVID SUTTON (Br-8) 686-0158

The Area 16 $ums In Retirement investment group meets at 8:00 a.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month (except November when we generally meet on the third Wednesday and December when there is no meeting) at the Diablo Creek Golf Course in Concord, off Port Chicago Highway. The Legends restaurant opens at 7:00 a.m. so plan to have a leisurely breakfast along with your fellow members. Bring along a prospective member or two to hear this very timely talk and see what the Investment Group offers as an activity. Let me know if you are bringing a guest so we can acknowledge them. Let’s support the restaurant and its excellent staff. Occasionally we will ask for a $2.00 donation which we need to pay for items that come up. Please make sure that you all support us in this regard.

Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, October 23, at 8 a.m. Our speaker will be Mike Frazier of Bedell, Frazier Investment Counselors in Walnut Creek. Mike will talk on the conflicting signals from the bond market about a possible recession.

Also see the $UMS website which lists topics covered at $UMS meetings starting in 2013. Many of these include attachments with speaker's outlines and slides. See: https://sirinc2.org/a16sums/.

POKER: DICK MEDEL (Br. 174) 376-5568 Our low-stakes poker group meets the fourth Wednesday of each month from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. We meet at various locations. To join, please call Dick for information.

RUBBER BRIDGE - AREA 16: ROD SPICER 935-5306 Rubber bridge is played on the 1

st Thursday of each month from 9 a.m. to 1:00. We meet at Carl’s Jr. located in the Nob Hill

Shopping Center on Oak Grove Road near Ygnacio Valley Road in Walnut Creek. Call Rod for information.

STAMP AND COIN GROUP: LARRY BEANS 376-7306 & BRUCE BERMAN (Br. 171), DON MERSON (Br. 174) 287-0874 We meet on the Friday following the first Wednesday of each month at Larry Bean’s home, 20 Carr Drive, Moraga. Call Don or Larry for information. TABLE POOL - AREA #16: BILL WEINBERG 682-0962 We meet every Monday at 11:30 a.m. at Masse's - 2721 North Main in Walnut Creek. No advance notice is necessary. Just show up and play. Cost is $5.00 for as long as you want to play. This is a special rate that Masses gives SIR members. You can also play during the day, at other times, for the same $5.00 fee. Just tell them you're a member of SIR. We play mostly two man teams of eight ball, or a unique three-player game, called “Crazy Eights”, depending on the number of participants. We usually play about 2 hours but not everyone stays for the final curtain. All SIRs in our area are welcome.

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View along the Abrigo Valley Trail in

Briones Park – courtesy of Jorge Escobar

TENNIS: RALPH THORNICROFT (Br. 174) 376-8140, (Br. 171) Jim Countryman (Br. 171) 631-1766 We play at St. Mary's on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:30 a.m. during the summer and 9 a.m. during the winter. An email call is sent out on Friday and the roster is emailed Sunday. Let Ralph know if you would like to be on the email list. Open to members of both SIR Branches. Ralph can be reached at 925-376-8140 and at grtincal@aol.com.

WALKING: We have three walking groups as outlined below. There is a group for each of us based on our needs and abilities.

ORIGINAL WALKING GROUP: AL DONNER (Br 171) 376-0421 LYLE DECK (Br. 174) 254-3829

We meet every Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. at the Serbian Church, unless we advise you otherwise via E-mail.

SENIOR STROLLERS WALKING GROUP: JIM COUNTRYMAN (Br 171) 631-1766 (Br 174) Open This is a second walking group formed by Jim Countryman who, with Clay Sealy, began the original Walking Group more than a decade ago. The Senior Strollers meet every Wednesday at 9 a.m. for an easy walk of less than a mile around/near Moraga Center, generally with a stop for coffee at some point along the way. It is a group of SIRs who prefer a more relaxed walking outing. Our starting point varies so please contact Jim Countryman to get on the mailing list and to obtain other information.

BIG HIKERS: AL DONNER (Br 171) 376-0421. In its continuing effort to fill SIR members’ interest in a range of activities, a Big Hikers group has been established. The Big Hikers walking group aims to engage SIRs who want some longer and stronger routes than our two around-town walking groups. It offers opportunities for hikes more than 3 miles in length and, perhaps, with a little more elevation. It is an outgrowth of several hikes that attracted a half dozen SIR members from Branch 171 and 174 recently. One was a 6-mile hike in canyons and hills on the north side of Mt. Diablo; another was a guided hike into the remote Vasco Caves of Far East County. The Big Hikers operate on a varied schedule, and will try to do a couple hikes each month. Contact Al Donner (aajdonner@gmail.com) to get on the Big Hikers notice list.

WINE TASTING: GENE BELL (Br. 171) 284-1786, JON LEUTENEKER (Br. 174) 376-7035 There are now two wine tasting groups. Both are couples events and normally held in-home starting about 7:00 p.m. with a cost per person averaging about $15. Jon Leuteneker is chairman of the group that meets on the second Tuesday of each month - this group has a full roster. Gene Bell is chairman of the group that meets on the third Tuesday of each month - membership in this group is still open. For more information give Jon a call.

TRAVEL: JOE TRACY (Br. 174) 954-7801 e-mail: jotracy@comcast.net, Br. 171 (Open)

October 18-25, 2019 Niagara Falls & The Grand Hotel. Includes home pick up, round trip airfare to Detroit, 7 nights accommodations, deluxe motor coach, 13 meals, admission fees as noted, baggage handling. From scenic drives, museums, the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, horse drawn carriage rides, and magical Niagara Falls. Highlights include greenfield village, Henry Ford Museum, Mackinac Island, Mighty Mac suspension bridge, city tour by horse drawn carriage around Mackinac Island, Frankenmuth, IMAX Movie, Hydro Floral Clock, whirlpool Rapids, Table Rock, Maid of the Mist Cruise. Cost $3,335 per person includes roundtrip airfare. Larry Yarberry (Br. 8) 925 890-9245 l.yarberry42@comcast.net.

June 6, 2020, Grand Baltic Sea Voyage—Small Ship Adventure by Overseas Adventure Travel. Ports of call include This upcoming great trip to the Baltic departs June 6, 2020 and we have 9 Sirs signed up already, but there is still room for more if you act soon.14 days from $8,255 includes international airfare from Sacramento. 14 days from $6,695 without international airfare. Single Supplement: $1,395. Trip extensions available to Copenhagen and/or Stockholm from $1,295 each. Please mention code GO-23630 when booking. Reservations & Information call 1-800-955-1925 www.oattravel.com/crb2020. For details contact Milt Smith (Br. 146) (925) 285-2897miltsmith549@gmail.com.

September 14-26, 2020 Imperia Splendors and OBERAMMERGAU. Tour includes home pickup, round trip airfare, professional tour manager, 19meals, 11 nights first-class hotel, land transportation via private deluxe coach, admission to all activities indicated. Tour highlights: Munich welcome dinner, visit the famous Hofbrauhaus, Prague guided sightseeing, Hradcany Castle , Bratislava the capital of Slovakia, Budapest guided sightseeing, Danube cruise, Salzburg guided walking tour and special dinner at St. Peter Stiftskeller restaurant, Oberammergau Passion Play. Cost $6,267 includes estimated airfare. Larry Yarberry (Br. 8) 925 890-9245 l.yarberry42@comcast.net

Know Your SIR

Please Note – The biography of our newest member, Ed “Edge” Montgomery, has been added to our website this month. You can view Edge’s biography as well as your biography and the biographies of our other Branch members’ by visiting our website and clicking on the Member Biographies link in the left column on the page. You will need your User Name and Password to access this section and the section with our current Member Roster. If you have forgotten or misplaced your user name and/or password, check with Dick Curry at racorinda@pacbell.net. Do we have your biography?

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Know Your SIR is edited by BILL WADSWORTH, 963-0442, wadsy1@aol.com. We would like to have all of our members’ biographies included in this directory which can be viewed by Branch 174 members on our website. If you have not previously done so please write down the salient points of your life (1/2 page) and provide it to Bill (via e-mail if possible). It will then be written up and posted on our website.

Ask not what your Country can do for you; ask what you can do for your fellow SIR

We all enjoy our SIR Branch, the activities, the camaraderie, the speakers, the food. But there is more! You can help make our organization more enjoyable and add to that which you draw from the Branch by filling a position and helping to distribute the work load from a few to many. Remember, many hands make for little work!! If you have an interest in serving in an activities capacity in Branch 174 please contact Dave White at 376-6152 dandjw@comcast.net. If you have an interest in a position on our BEC as an officer or director (and get your picture in the Newsletter!!) please contact Jon Leuteneker at 376-7035 or jonleuteneker@comcast.net.

2019 YOUR OFFICERS YOUR DIRECTORS

Big SIR: CLARK WALLACE 254-0753 Director (1 yr): TOM VINZENT 254-4509 Little SIR: TOM HENRY 510-502-5724 Director (1 yr): ALAN MCDONALD 283-8854 Secretary: TOM VINZENT 284-1763 Director (2 yrs): ROY ELLIOTT 283-6261 Asst. Secretary: DICK CURRY 254-4509 Director (2 yrs): DAVE WHITE 376-6152 Treasurer: JON LEUTENEKER 376-7035 Director (3 yrs): RALPH THORNICROFT 376-8140 Asst. Treasurer: RICK ABRAMS 945-1024 Director (3 yrs): HUGO KAPELKE 631-9335

October 2019

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 Walking Tennis Bocce Ball Duplicate Bridge

2 League Bowling Senior Strollers

3 Rubber Bridge Tennis Dominoes

4 Stamps& Coins Bocce Ball

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6 7 Table Pool Golf-Hiddenbrooke

8 Walking Bridge Wine Tasting 1 Tennis Bocce Ball

9 SIR Branch 174

General Meeting League Bowling Senior Strollers

10 Tennis Dominoes

11 Bocce Ball

12

13

14 Table Pool Astronomy

Columbus Day

15 Walking Wine Tasting 2 Tennis Bocce Ball

16 League Bowling Senior Strollers

17 Tennis Dominoes

18 Bocce Ball

19

20 21 Table Pool Golf-Boundary Oak

22 Walking Bridge Tennis Bocce Ball

23 Poker League Bowling Investments Senior Strollers

24 Tennis Dominoes Fishing

25 Bocce Ball

26

27 28 Table Pool

29 Walking Tennis Bocce Ball

30 League Bowling Senior Strollers

31 Tennis Dominoes

Halloween

Template © calendarlabs.com

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SIR ORGANIZATION 2019

STATE PRESIDENT ED BENSON SIR Inc. Website: http://www.sirinc.org

REGION 5 DIRECTOR BILL HOLLY Area 16 Website: http://area16.sirinc2.org/ AREA 16 GOVERNOR WALT BUSENIUS Branch 174 Website: http://branch174.sirinc.org

BRANCH 174

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN:

OFFICERS: MEMBERSHIP RICK ZAVATERO 683-2373

BIG SIR CLARK WALLACE 254-0753 ROY ELLIOTT 283-6261

LITTLE SIR TOM HENRY (510) 502-5724 RALPH THORNICROFT 376-8140

SECRETARY TOM VINZENT 254-4509 ASST.SEC. DICK CURRY 376-5541 ATTENDANCE TOM WELTE 330-3934

TREASURER JON LEUTENEKER 376-7035

ASST. TRS. RICK ABRAMS 945-1024

DIRECTORS: TOM VINZENT 254-4509

ALAN MCDONALD 283-8854 ASST. TO BIG SIR RICK ZAVATERO 683-2373 ROY ELLIOTT 283-6261

DAVE WHITE 376-6152 PROGRAMS TOM HENRY 284-5724

RALPH THORNICROFT 376-8140 CHAPLAIN TOM HENRY 284-5724

HUGO KAPELKE 631-9335

PAST BIG SIR INDUCTION RICK ZAVATERO 683-2373

2009 BILL SUMNER (deceased) 2017 BILL LUND PIANIST MIKE MERCHANT 324-1911 2010 BILL SUMNER (deceased) 2018 BILL SUMNER/PETE GIERS SUNSHINE MARK MAHONEY (415) 269-2999

2011 PETE GIERS BAR ARRANGEMENTS PETE GIERS 254-4667

2012 RON BASS 2013 NEAL HUNTLEY ROOSTER TAILER FRED GEORGE 284-1763

2014 DICK COURTNEY BRANCH AUDIT BILL WADSWORTH 963-0442

2015 DAN CAWTHON (deceased) LADIES DAY FRANK MAY 376-8195 2016 JON LEUTENEKER ASSISTANT RICK ZAVATERO 683-2373

PUBLICITY TYLER HUNT 284-5561

HONORARY LIFE MEMBERS: ACTIVITIES CHAIRMAN DAVID WHITE 376-6152

2011 BILL SUMNER (deceased) NOMINATING COMMITTEE JON LEUTENEKER, Chair. 376-7035 2014 PETE GIERS NEWSLETTER EDITOR: DICK CURRY 376-5541

2019 DICK CURRY BACK UP

SENIOR CERTIFICATE AWARD WEB MASTER DICK CURRY 376-5541 DON REICHERT WOODY CONE (SUPER SENIOR) BACK UP

JACK CLARKSON STU KNUDSEN BILL MANN KNOW YOUR SIR BILL WADSWORTH 963-0442

BILL COMELY BRUCE JOHNSON PHOTOGRAPHER JOE FITZGERALD 376-4656 DON HOSKIN JIM KRUGER

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD RECRUITMENT JUAN KELLY (954) 636-9684

DICK CURRY

ACTIVITY BRANCH 171 COORDINATOR BRANCH 174 COORDINATOR AREA 16 CHAIRMAN

APPLE USERS DICK MACY/ STAN HOLCENBERG 376-1180 JOE TRACY 954-7801 B’SHOP HARMONY BRAD DEWEY 376-3349 RICK ZAVATERO 683-2373

BOCCE BALL STEVE PATTON 510 409-2916 ED PROTIVA 254-1631

BOWLING OPEN LLOYD WEST, Br 19 228-9037 BRIDGE JOHN SCHICK 376-9412 STU KNUDSEN 376-4919

COMPUTERS & DICK CURRY 376-5541 NEIL SCHMIDT, Br 116

TECHNOLOGY DEREK SOUTHERN, Br 8 253-1646 DOMINOES TOM WESTHOFF 376-2609 DON MERSON 287-0874

DUPLICATE BRIDGE-ACBL TOM HENRY (510) 502-5724 TOM HENRY (510) 502-5724

FISHING KARL DROESE 376-0468 OPEN HARRY SHERINIAN 510-207-7067 GOLF GENE BELL 284-1786 BILL WADSWORTH 963-0442 RAY WEISZ Br. 146 240-0424

HISTORICAL ADVENTURES

& VETERANS JIM KLINE/KEN FISCHER 376-4173/ 518-3104 OPEN HORSESHOES OPEN

INVESTMENT OPEN TOM HENRY (510) 502-5724 TOM HENRY (510) 502-5724

DAVID SUTTON 686-0158 LEARY WONG 457-0807

POKER DICK MEDEL 376-5568

RUBBER BRIDGE ROD SPICER 935-5306 STAMPS LARRY BEANS 376-7306 DON MERSON 287-0874

TABLE POOL OPEN BILL WEINBERG, Br 146 682-0962

TENNIS JIM COUNTRYMAN 631-1766 RALPH THORNICROFT 376-8140 TRAVEL OPEN JOE TRACY 954-7801

WALKING AL DONNER 376-1594 LYLE DECK 254-3829

WINE TASTING GENE BELL 284-1786 JON LEUTENEKER 376-7035

BOLD – INDICATES ACTIVITY CHAIRMAN

9

SIR Branch 171 and 174

Ladies Day Holiday Luncheon

WEDNESDAY, December 18, 2019. Mark your calendars, get into your holiday mood and come along

with us for another enjoyable and festive Ladies Day Luncheon at St. Mary's Soda Center. Reception with wine

and conversation begins at 11:00 AM, followed by lunch at noon. We will have the Devil Mountain Chorus

entertaining us with your favorite holiday songs.

Our lunch menu will feature a choice of either Beef Short Ribs (BR) or Chicken Marsala (CM) with Garlic

Mashed Potatoes, Steamed Green Beans and Baby Carrots. You'll start with a Mixed Green Salad with

Thinly-Sliced Apples, Crumbled Blue Cheese, Dried Cranberries, Candied Pecans and a Dijon Vinaigrette.

Dessert will be Holiday Cupcakes and Petit Fours. Wine will also be served at your table during lunch.

Please submit your reservations using the form below. A vegetarian (V) and gluten free entrée of Sauteed

Spinach and Mushrooms with Sun Dried Tomato Risotto will be available.

RESERVATIONS MUST BE IN BY DECEMBER 8th•

This is a joint event between Lamorinda Branches 171 and 174. Your support is not only appreciated but is

essential to both our Branches. Please sign up early. Last year was close to selling out. Guests are welcome.

LADIES DAY HOLIDAY LUNCHEON RESERVATION FORM

Cost for the luncheon remains at $50 per person –Please use the reservation form below. Full table

reservations for one party of 8 should be made by one person submitting checks totaling $400 along with the

preferred badge names and menu selections. Please make the checks payable to SIR Branch 174 and mail the

check(s) together with this form to:

Ed Beatson, 9 Teodora Ct., Moraga, CA 94556.

Branch/ SIR#

Member

Badge Name

Menu Guest

Badge Name

Menu

V BR CM V BR CM

BR – Beef Short Ribs CM – Chicken Marsala V – Vegetarian Risotto

Number of Parking Passes Required _______________

10

GENERAL INFORMATION

SONS IN RETIREMENT INC. is a Non-Profit Organization for Retired Men, Devoted to the Promotion of Independence and Dignity of

Retirement.

NON RESPONSIBILITY DECLARATION: All activities and trips arranged for or by, or sponsored by, Sons in Retirement Incorporated or its

Branches, are for the convenience and pleasure of the members and their guests who desire to participate. Sons in Retirement, Inc., Lamorinda

Hills Branch 174 Inc., and its Officers, Directors, and Activity Chairmen do not assume any responsibility for the well-being or safety of the

participants; their property; or for any monetary loss in matters pertaining to SIR activities or to travel.

PARKING: Luncheon parking is available in the lot at the side of the Holy Trinity Cultural Center, 1700 School Street, the lot at Willow

Springs Church across the street, and on the street. Car-pooling is recommended.

TABLE RESERVATIONS: Seats at tables at our luncheon meeting may only be held or “reserved” when a paid luncheon ticket is placed on

the table in front of the seat.

ATTENDANCE INFORMATION: Members missing three (3) consecutive meetings without being excused, or attending less than six (6) of

the last 12 meetings (excluding Ladies Day), are subject to termination. Certification of attendance at another SIR Branch will be considered a

credit to the attendance record.

TO BE EXCUSED FROM A FUTURE MEETING: At each regular meeting, a sign-out sheet will be available at the Attendance Table for

the next 2 regular meetings. If you have other planned activities for either of those meeting dates, please enter your name and number on the

appropriate sign-out sheet. You can also be excused from a meeting by Email to lunch677@gmail.com providing your name, membership

number, and request to be submitted prior to 1 p.m. on the Saturday before the scheduled meeting (for those without E-mail capability see

instructions below). UNEXCUSED MEMBERS will be asked to pay the cost of the missed luncheon.

TO BRING A GUEST: A member may bring a guest to a meeting with an Email request (preferred) to lunch677@gmail.com providing your

name and number and the guest’s name as he wants it on his Guest badge. Only if you do not have Email capability, you may call the HOTLINE

at 925-377-5880, identify yourself as a Branch 174 member, and provide the information above for either being excused from a meeting or for

bringing a guest. Either the call or your Email request must be submitted prior to 1 p.m. the Saturday before the meeting. Sponsors must make a

reservation for each guest for each meeting attended and will be responsible for paying for his guest(s) meal should his guest not show.

EMAIL CONFIRMATION: If you advise the Attendance Chairman using our Email address (lunch677@gmail.com) you will receive a

confirmation response. If you fail to receive a response please submit your request again.

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS: A Guest must attend a regular meeting before submitting an application for membership. Branch 174

application forms can be obtained at the front table, on our Branch website at http://branch174.sirinc2.org/MembershipForm.pdf or from Rick

Zavatero. Completed applications should be handed to Rick or mailed to Rick at his residence at 809 Villa Lane, Apt. 1, Moraga, CA 94556.