Technology User Group (TUG) Discussions for all users at all levels via hybrid meetings (in-person and Zoom) after the regular meeting, at about 11:45 a.m. (first and fourth Tuesdays of the month).
- Aug 5 – A Look at StarLink.
- Aug 26 – Is AI the biggest thing ever?
Timely Topics Discussion in-person and via Zoom, with participation encouraged from all in attendance. Around 11:45 a.m. on the second Tuesday of the month.
- Aug 12 – “Is the American Dream Achievable?” We will look to understand and discuss the challenges that the younger generations face in achieving the “American Dream” of upward economic mobility, home and car ownership, family formation, and other indices of domestic achievement in the post-WWII period. How are things different from when we Old Guardians were at that stage in our lives, and are the younger generations’ goals the same or different?
Trips Scheduled (For Old Guard members and their guests)
This group needs a chair. Any volunteers?
Walkers Group walks or hikes are once again feasible – but this group also needs a chair or coordinator. Volunteers welcome.
September Program Chair – Thad Gabara
- Sep 2 – Rotary Club and “Service Above Self” – Curious about Rotary and how it empowers everyday citizens to make extraordinary change? Join us for a dynamic presentation hosted by Joe Steiner of the Rotary Club of Summit / New Providence. Joe has a distinguished career spanning over five decades in Chamber of Commerce management and organizational consulting. He will explore Rotary’s global impact, local service initiatives, and the inspiring story of “Service Above Self.” Whether you’re passionate about community, looking to connect with fellow change-makers, or simply want to learn how Rotary is evolving to meet today’s needs, this talk will leave you informed, energized, and invited to be part of something meaningful. [in-person and on Zoom – for access: [email protected]]
- Sep 9 – Stories That Move Us: Unleashing the Power of Creative Visual Storytelling – Our speaker Jason Schuler, co-owner of Awakened Films, a video production company in Madison NJ, will share how powerful visual storytelling can move audiences, shape culture, and build brand loyalty. Drawing on neuroscience, cultural history, and examples from his award-winning video portfolio, Jason will explain why authentic, emotionally resonant stories connect more deeply than ever in today’s AI-driven world. [in-person and on Zoom]
- Sep 16 – How to Transition into a Happy and Healthy Retirement – Our speaker James T. Clemens, PhD physicist former AT&T employee, and recently joined Old Guard member, faced an unexpected early retirement during AT&T's major downsizing. Rather than return to the professional world, Jim embraced a bold new lifestyle—becoming a full-time international sailor. In this talk, he shares how he transitioned from corporate life to a decade of blue-water cruising with his wife, exploring exotic locations and meeting remarkable people along the way. Jim will also reflect on the emotional challenges of retirement, and how they transitioned, once again, after sailing by engaging in part-time work, home projects, and volunteering. [in-person and on Zoom]
- Sep 23 – How to Forget – Why do our minds hold on so tightly to the moments we wish we could leave behind? In this thought-provoking talk, Suborno Bari explores the nature of memory— why painful memories resurface so easily, while joyful ones often fade. Are there ways to forget what haunts us, or do those memories serve a deeper purpose? Drawing from psychology, philosophy, and personal experience, Bari asks: Can we forget? And more importantly—should we? Suborno is an omnivore of knowledge, is a student at NYU pursuing a double major in mathematics and physics, and at age 13, the youngest undergraduate ever at NYU. [in-person and on Zoom]
- Sep 30 – My Journey from High-Tech to Art – Guest speaker Miron Abramovici is Life Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). He was a Distinguished Member of Technical Staff at Bell Labs, taught at Columbia, and co-founded a startup. He has 18 patents and more than 100 publications. He is co-author of the textbook Digital System Testing and Testable Design (IEEE Press 1995). But now he has a second career as an artist, doing sculpture, photography, and kinetic art. He had many exhibits and one of his artworks was in the Morris Museum. This talk will illustrate his unusual journey. [in-person and on Zoom]
October Birthday Emcee – Phil Apruzzese
October Program Chair – Roger Walker
- Oct 7 –
Four Hundred Years of History in Six Miles – Our returning speaker Daniel Bernier is director of Park Planning and Environmental Services int Union County. Dan will take us on a virtual trip along the six-mile long Watchung Reservation History Trail, with 16 stops at historical markers, narrating some surprising events that occurred in that area prior to construction of the park and in the early years of the park. Historical references will include a colonial-period roadway, Lake Surprise, farm settlements, the Deserted Village of Feltville, the Copper Mine, the Stationer’s Hall Press factory, and Hermit’s Pond. Dan last spoke to us in Nov 2022 during Covid. [in-person and on Zoom]
- Oct 14 – Ladies Day Luncheon – No Meeting
- Oct 21 – Developing a Coal Export Project in Colombia – Old Guard member Larry Cunningham will recount some of the unique experiences he had during the development of the Cerrejón Coal Project in northern Colombia. By 2016 Cerrejón had become Colombia’s largest coal producer. As Larry will tell us, this was not your everyday engineering project. Even flying in a helicopter in this region was a little hazardous considering the Colombian Army’s directive to crack down on drug smugglers. Indeed, this was a volatile time for Colombia’s coal mining industry. His presentation will draw on his 35 years of expertise in project engineering and management of ports and marine terminals. [in-person and on Zoom]
- Oct 28 –Abandoned Mines and Route 80 Sinkholes – Speaker Timothy Rack is safety and compliance manager for the Morris County Parks Commission and is responsible for both employee and visitor safety within Morris County’s park system. Milepost 34 on NJ I-80 became a well-known location for motorists after three sinkholes suddenly formed along this part of I-80. Road closures followed after the earth suddenly opened up into sinkholes. Timothy Rack will explore the history of mineral mining in NJ that has led to abandoned and often forgotten mines, and how they may now pose a threat to the present. Some have said that the area is like a geologic “Swiss cheese.” Tim’s focus will be on those abandoned mines within the Morris County Park Commission. [in-person and on Zoom]
November Birthday emcee: Bob Beller
