NOVEMBER 2011 http://175.sirinc2.org/ Branch 175 Vol. 17 Issue 11

BIG SIR Sir Ron McClain

MENU: Traditional Turkey

& Fixin’s

LUNCH: 11:45 Board Meeting: 10:30

With great sadness, I report to you that our Little Sir, Marin Vallejo , lost his wife, Connie, due to cancer. Our prayers are with you, Marin, and your family. May God help you carry your burden. Since Veteran’s Day was November 11, our branch will honor those who have served to protect our great nation. We will have a drawing for a free lunch at our next luncheon. Thank you SIR for your service. Now comes Thanksgiving. Turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, gravy and lots of veggies, yum, yum. Then we rest up for the football games. We are fortunate that we have the means to celebrate with food and family.

Fall has arrived. It seems that just yesterday it was in the 90’s. Come to think of it, it was. Time to dig out the coats and stay warm so as not to get sick. Don’t forget to get your flu shots. Finally, it’s now time to bring a check for $24.00 for next year’s “buck bucket.” We had great participation this year and it really helps with our accounting. Thank you in advance.

Sir Dwight Sale, Past State SIR President and current State Infor-mation Systems Chairman visiting from Burlingame, CA (left in pic-ture), presented Sir Bill Winslow , long time member of Branch 175, with Honorary Life Member award given by the State Board of Directors. Wording on the Certificate reads: In recognition of exceptional and outstanding service to SIR , it’s Branches and Members the State Board of Directors awards this Honor-ary Life Membership for his tireless and skillful efforts in initiating and developing the SIR Website as well as offering service to all branches to start their Website.

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Ms. Joan Thornton District Sales Manager for Collette Vacations

Branch 175’s own Sir John Durant fascinated the crowd of close to one hundred at the SIR Lunch meeting held at Pardini’s on Thursday, October 27, with his slides and outstanding presentation of “The Space Shuttle.” John obviously knew his stuff about the space shuttle program as he walked us through each step of the Space Shuttle using slides, interesting commentary and stories. The steps of the shuttle John covered were: the building of, transport to Kennedy Space Center, firing, time in space, and earth reentry. Thanks John, great job.

Sir Charlie Pepper, Little Sir Elect 2012, (right in picture) congratulating Sir Dan Brown upon winning the October Birthday drawing for a free lunch.

Our TRAVEL Chairman, Sir Richard Beers, hopes all SIR Branch 175ers will bring their wives and/or significant other to the November lunch to see and hear our November Lunch Presenter who will show slides and talk about the up-coming trip to Portugal—Azores—Madeiras and more. It promises to be a fun and entertaining lunch experience

VETERAN’S: Make yourself known to Sir Dean Clark at the November luncheon to receive three extra tickets to increase your

chances at winning a free lunch.

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TRAVEL by Sir Richard Beers

BOWLING by Sir Merle Knapp

MEMBERSHIP by Sir Dean Clark

No one will be switching food plates this month because it will be turkey day for everyone. Remem-ber our November lunch is the THIRD Thursday. All veterans, that bring it to my attention, will be given three tickets to be used in a special drawing for a free lunch. If you don’t win in the special drawing, just add your tickets to the your pile of Proud to be a SIR free lunch tickets. (That would make me have 10 chances.) And of course, the lunch drawing always happens so the way I look at it is; I have three separate opportunities for a free lunch!! Life is good! The special drawing honoring the veterans is just to say, Thank You. It was truly a real guest day in October: Sir Don Luft introduced Herb Schwartz, Sir Gerry Young brought John Fisher, Sir Gene Parker brought guest George Higgins, Sir John Durant brought Ken Dalby and his son Brian, and Sir Ray Born brought his son Randy Born. We should have that many guests every meeting.

Our newest member as of the October meeting, Sir Phil Armstrong (left in pic-ture) is already in the wood-working group.

This is what it’s all about. Join, participate, meet new friends, have a few laughs, and be entertained and informed with great speakers. By the way, our very own Sir John Durant really did a great job telling us about the space program. I can hardly wait till turkey day. A great big ole Cock-a-doddle-do!

It’s always great to take short trips with the SIR Group. It always seems there is a refresh-ing feeling of anticipation in the group when we take a trip together.

This trip (to Lemoore Naval Air Station) to experience the terrific precision flying team of the United States Navy (The Blue Angels) seemed to get the old adrenalin flowing for all of us. It’s always a shame that all who wanted to participate, couldn’t fit into our chartered transportation, but that’s the way it goes. The Blue Angels performance was flying to it’s absolute perfection. Thank God there were no accidents. Hope-fully we will be able to arrange similar trips for our roosters in the future.

Come, join us in the SIR Bowling League which meets At 9:30 every Friday at AMF Sierra Lanes (Blackstone and Sierra). Show up or call Sir Merle Knapp at 439-3658. Branch 175 Winners: Oct. 14 Hi Series Bill Ripley 673 Oct. 28 Hi Series Bill Ripley 658

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GOLF by Sir Charlie Pepper BOOK CLUB by Sir Tim Finley

Happy Thanksgiving to all SIR golfers everywhere! This year, I’m especially thankful for all the golfing friendships I’ve been lucky enough to acquire over the last few years. In this regard, I heard that one of our member’s granddaughter was asked at school to write a composition entitled, “What I’m thankful for on Thanksgiving”. She wrote, “I am thankful that I’m not a Turkey”. Me too! Our last 175/179 golf tournament was played at Madera Municipal golf course on October 25 and If you were smart enough to wear long pants, the weather was per-fect. Sir Gene Parker was the second place winner in flight #1 and Sir Wayne Schwartz finished second in flight #2. Sir Jerry Long was not on the leader board (due to his handicap….me) but still added a bit of gold to his ever increasing stash. So far, Jerry is this year’s leading winner by a bunch for Branch 175. The remaining scheduled tournaments for the year will be held at Riverside on November 22 and Airways on December 13, both will be a 0900 shotgun start. In ad-dition, we are adding a tournament on Tuesday, De-cember 27. The start time has yet to be announced but watch your email for details. You can avoid the rush by calling Sir Charlie Pepper at 433-0646 or email at charliepepper@cs.com. The tournament schedule for next year is being firmed up even as we speak. Several great courses have al-ready been confirmed and include Eagle Springs, Ridge Creek, Madera C.C., Riverbend and many of the old favorites as well. Look for the finished product for all four branches to show up in your email very soon. In addition, we plan to have it available on our Branch 175 website as well. Did you know, “Golf is a game that steadies your nerves, toughens your muscles, improves your health and increases your stamina so you’re strong enough to play again next week”. See you on the tee. Sirs:

Ed Nicholson Bud Pope

J.L. Morrison George Dado Don Washer

The SIR Book Club met at Pardini’s Café at 9:30, prior to our monthly General Meeting. Six book reviews were presented. The titles and topics were varied and interesting. Discussions were as hot as the coffee and the topics were interesting and intriguing. Murder in the Garden by Scott Morrison was reported by Sir Paul Dehn. This book takes place in the early days of Fresno County, 1849-1930’s. Volume 2 covered 1880’s to 1950’s. The book deals with 15 famous criminal cases in Fresno County. The Chosen by Chaim Potok, Random House Publishing Group, 1967, reported by Sir George Zerlang. The book is a description of two Jewish boys who grew up in different Jewish sects and with totally different family up bringings. Dog Walks Man by John Zeaman, Lyons Press Publishing The Places In Between by Rory Stewart published by Harcourt Inc., 2006 Marcus Zusak, I Am The Messenger by Alfred A. Knopt, 2002, which is a very readable little mystery, interesting characters with a surprise moral. The Book Club will be meeting in November, so come and join us. If you want to just sit in and listen, that would be great, too. We’d love to see you.

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NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS from Sir Richard Scheidt

John Dennis Chuck Franklin Ed Lutz Jack Palsgaard Gene Parker Mo Rana Richard Scheidt Rex Tolladay Bob Vert Louis Volpp Winner of Free Lunch from the October Birthdays: Sir Dan Brown Winner of a Free Lunch from the October Lunch Ticket Numbers: Sir Stan Nappe

BRIDGE by Sir Bob Cleveland

HARDWARE Sir Jerry Stoltenberg

Polo Shirts—$28

Baseball Style Caps—$12 Windbreakers—XLs $40 XXLs up— $42

Rooster Pins — $1 Bolo Ties — $3

Window decals—- $1

SUNSHINE by Sir Bill Almeida

Health concerns were reported during the month for Sirs: Bud Rayburn and Louis Giorgetti

WOODWORKING by Sir George Pisching

Colors Available for all shirts, jackets and caps: Red, Royal Blue, Navy Blue, White, and Black. Winter is coming, so it’s time to order your Windbreaker Jacket w/SIR 175 logo—call me 289-9278 or order at the meeting.

The woodworking group (aka SWIG) meets in/at the Pardini’s Bar at 10:30 on Luncheon dates. Members bring in items they are working on or completed for show and tell and discuss further ideas and plans for the group.

(Both pieces by George)

We are still looking for more members. If interested in woodworking, wood carving, or furniture crafting, be sure to come to a meeting or call George at 275-0100

November Couple’s Bridge was played on November 9th at the home of Sir Bud and Grace Pope (scores in December Echo) There will be no December Couple’s Bridge.

IN MEMORIAM

SIR FLOYD MATTHEWS

SIR Branch #175 Jerry Long, Editor 9260 N. Green Meadows Lane Fresno, CA 93720

SIR BRANCH # 175 2011 OFFICERS Big SIR Ron McClain 292-1919 Little SIR Marin Vallejo 275-4622 Treasurer Robert Bakman 434-1975 Asst. Treas. Andy Provost 439-3295 Secretary Merle Knapp 439-3658 Asst. Secy William Weber 229-4183 DIRECTORS Tim Finley 2011 299-5210 Richard Grigsby 2011 439-8540 Charlie Pepper 2012 433-0646 Gary Beacom 2012 434-4007 Fred Ketcham 2013 225-4041 Russ Mott 2013 441-1115 ACTIVITIES Book Club Tim Finley 299-5210 Bowling Merle Knapp 439-3658 Bridge Bob Cleveland 435-5773 Golf Charlie Pepper 433-0646 Travel Richard Beers 431-3728 BARN-YARD ACTIVITIES Attendance (Open) Bulletin-ECHO Jerry Long 287-4023 Chaplain James Scroggin 431-5052 Database Ed Richard Scheidt 435-2536 Hardware Jerry Stoltenberg 289-9287 Historian Merle Knapp 439-3658 Librarian Dennis Murane 276-1866 Asst Librarian Tim Finley 299-5210 Membership Dean Clark 439-8455 Photographer Tim Finley 299-5210 Special Events Fred Ketcham 225-4041 Sunshine Bill Almeida 226-4485 Telephone Ray Born 438-5804

SONS IN RETIREMENT 2011 STATE OFFICERS

President Robert Mannell (408) 264-7121 Vice President James Stedman (925) 932-1636 Secretary Eckart Sellinger (415) 602-7176 Treasurer Adolph Lopez (650) 270-3875 Director, Region 8 John Levis (559) 433-1740 Governor, Area 29 Ed Dorn (559) 433-0670

Non-Responsibility Declaration All travel events and other activities 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, Incorporated, and its Branches, do not assume any re-sponsibility for the well being or safety of the participants or passengers, or their property or any damages whatso-ever, in any manner pertaining to said travel activities. Where the travel literature is prepared by a travel agency, the following words shall be added to the above wording: “Any other ‘disclosures’ or non-responsibility provisions contained herein shall not in any way incur any liability attaching to Sons in Retirement, Incorporated, or any Branch thereof.”

“Sir Happenings” is the State Bulletin: www.sirinc.org

Visit our SIR Branch 175 website at:

http://175.sirinc2.org/