Old Guard | Programs

November Program Chair - Terry Dwyer

Nov 4 - Making the Case for Public Art – Our speakers are Estelle Fournier and Vivian Furman Rubin of Summit Public Art (SPA). SPA is a volunteer-based city organization whose mission is to bring art to public spaces throughout Summit. Since 2002, SPA has installed over 100 pieces of temporary art throughout the community, including artists of national and international renown. Estelle Fournier has been a longtime board member of SPA and is founder of Partner in Art, a boutique art advisory firm. Vivian Furman Rubin has been involved with SPA since its inception and has also been a docent at the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey for many years. Together, Estelle and Vivian have experienced firsthand the value of public art—which led to Summit being recognized as one of the seven “New Jersey Towns with Great Art Scenes” (https://thedigestonline.com/new-jersey/new-jersey-art-towns/). They also will speak about the many challenges that come with the pursuit of public art. [video to appear]

Nov 11 - Palliative Care: How It Is Carried Out at Overlook and/or Home – Our speakers Dr. Abdul Mondul, MD and Chaplain Sarah Galo will explain how Overlook Hospital’s comprehensive palliative care program deals with the symptoms and stressors of illness, including pain, nausea, and difficulty breathing. The multi-disciplinary support team at Overlook consists of doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and others. Dr. Mondul and Chaplain Sara Galo will explain how the team can tackle the challenging social, personal, and spiritual issues that frequently arise during serious illnesses. [in-person and on Zoom -- for access: [email protected]]

Nov 18 - Without Early Diagnosis, ATTR-CM Can Lead to Impaired Quality of Life – Amyloidosis with Cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) is an underdiagnosed and progressive disease that can lead to heart failure, commonly experienced as shortness of breath, fatigue, weakness, and swelling of the legs, which may limit physical activity. Being aware of the symptoms is critical to getting the right diagnosis as early as possible. Our speaker Dr. Sabahat Bokhari MD, professor of medicine, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, is an internationally recognized amyloid expert who pioneered the development of a non-invasive imaging method which is used worldwide. He also serves as the director of the Cardiac Amyloidosis and Cardiomyopathy Center, the first program of its kind in New Jersey. [in-person and on Zoom]

Nov 25 - Seeing the World through a Pinhole Camera – Jim Provenzano, a member of the NJ Pinhole Club, will explain the surprisingly long history of pinhole photography, from ancient experiments with the “camera obscura” to today’s cameras. Step into a world where photography slows down, light bends through the tiniest of openings, and the image feels like a quiet meditation. He will share many of his photographs that transform ordinary scenes into dreamlike visions, proving that the simplest tools can create powerful art. Jim has been passionate about photography for more than 50 years. He discovered pinhole photography at the New York Camera Club and has been exploring the art form ever since. [in-person and on Zoom]

December Birthday emcee: Marv Gersten

December Program Chair - Lee Schumann

Dec 2 - Special Event: Old Guard’s 95th Anniversary Celebration – The Old Guard will be celebrating its 95th Anniversary on December 2, 2025. Members are invited to submit personal stories for the 95th Anniversary celebration. These may include stories about personal memories, participation in Old Guard activities, thoughts gleaned from one of our digitized bulletins, recorded presentations, other items stored in our archives, or from other members. Any questions or, better, submissions, contact Mitch Erickson, (202) 255-2312, [email protected]. [in-person and on Zoom]

Dec 9 - All the Presidents’ Gardens – Marta McDowell is an award-winning author of ten books on famous gardens and a well-traveled lecturer, teacher, and most importantly, a gardener whose husband sums up her bio as “I am, therefore I dig.” Her New York Times bestseller, All the Presidents’ Gardens, recounts the rich history of the White House grounds, revealing how the story of the garden is also the story of America. In her book, she explains that the grounds have remained beautiful and a powerful reflection of American trends. Her talk will be an entertaining romp through our nation’s garden history, starring the presidents, first ladies, and their gardeners. [in-person and on Zoom]

January Birthday emcee: Dave DeLonge

[ earlier programs ]