Come for the Programs . . .
* Since the \Covid shutdown, we have been running in-person meetings with "hybrid" access by Zoom. To join by Zoom send a request to [email protected]
Meetings start at 9:30 AM with coffee and socializing. At 10:00 we sit down, sing a song or two, and hear a few jokes & announcements. The day's invited speaker starts at around 10:30. Visitors are asked to arrive by 10:00 AM.
Note: For the present, in-person attendance requires full Covid vaccination. Face masks are optional.
Programs consist of stimulating talks by people such as past governors, mayors, politicians, physicians, Nobel Prize winners, judges, professors, historians, scientists, authors, economists, journalists, financial advisors, medical specialists, conservationists, etc. The following Q&A is lively. Put on your business casual attire or jacket & tie (or something more casual from May to September) and attend a meeting with us. All visitors are welcome. Admission is free.
Stay for the Friends*
After the meetings, many members join together to have lunch at various local restaurants.
In addition to the weekly meetings, there are activity groups for golf, bridge, hiking, trips, computer help, tennis and more.
* Or, as one member put it recently, "Come for the Jokes, Stay for the Talks", since we start each meeting by singing a few songs and enjoying a few jokes :-)
Policy on Weather Cancellations
During very bad weather or when the NPPC is unavailable to us, our meetings simply move online with Zoom. We will post a notice at this website and send an email to members.
For more information:
On Retiring – A Stimulating Road Ahead
Where will you find a sense of purpose and satisfaction? How will you find mental stimulus and a sense of community? Click on this PDF file to consider an answer to these questions.
Donations to Old Guard are welcome and greatly appreciated (although they are not tax deductible).
March Program Chair -- Matt Wyvratt
- Mar 5 – "Ion Channels: Targets for New Therapeutics" – Invited guest Dr. Greg Kaczorowski (ex-Merck) will discuss the importance of ion channels in our health. Ion channels are a large and diverse family of integral membrane proteins that are present in all cells of the body. These proteins span the plasma lipid bilayer membrane and contain an internal pore structure which can be opened/closed by various stimuli to allow the gated passage of ions (e.g., sodium, potassium, calcium, or chloride ions) into or out of a cell. Nature has used this rather simple mechanism to modulate all major biological activities, both somatic responses like voluntary muscle movement and autonomic actions like cardiac and respiratory activities. Because of their fundamental importance in systems biology, Greg will discuss how ion channels can be modulated for therapeutic benefit or be targeted to kill an organism. [video to appear]
- Mar 12 – "History Of Children’s Specialized Hospital 1891 to Present" – Jessica Arkel is the development officer at Children’s Specialized Hospital Foundation. She will discuss the history of Children’s Specialized Hospital in New Jersey from its early days in 1891 in Westfield to becoming a preeminent provider of pediatric rehabilitation with 15 facilities across New Jersey serving more than 35,000 children annually who are living with a variety of complex pediatric medical conditions—from chronic illnesses and complex physical disabilities like brain and spinal cord injuries—to a full scope of developmental, behavioral, and mental health concerns. [video to appear]
- Mar 19 – "Three Public Health Emergencies and Drugs Developed to Control Them" – Prof. Dennis Liotta has led a group of synthetic/medicinal chemists at Emory University for over four decades. He will provide an overview of his research in the antiviral arena, featuring stories of three highly successful antivirals he developed in collaboration with his academic colleagues and biotech partners. Dr. Liotta has contributed to 18 FDA-approved therapies, with perhaps his biggest impact coming in the HIV/AIDS field. He will also highlight recent drug discovery endeavors in various therapeutic areas, including oncology and neurological diseases. [in-person and on Zoom – for access: [email protected]]
- Mar 26 – "From Science to Photography" – Dr. Lenny McDonald will discuss the importance of experimentation and creativity in photography sharing his journey from science (ex-Wyeth/Pfizer) to his present avocation. Macro and close-up are his favorite styles and he’ll discuss the impact of exploiting fine details. He’ll also show some of his non-macro abstract work. Lastly, he’ll briefly share his perspective on AI in photography and how it fits into his workflow. Lenny has exhibited his work in various venues across New Jersey, including Reeves-Reed Arboretum, Mayo Performing Arts Center, and the Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie Mansion. You can review some of his work on his Instagram page at https://instagram.com/lennysfineartphotos [in-person and on Zoom]
April Birthdays emcee – Steve Varley
For speaker photos, visit us on facebook
For an archive of videos of past meetings,