Technology User Group (TUG) Discussions for all users at all levels via hybrid meetings (in-person and Zoom) after the plenary meeting, at about 11:45 a.m. (first and fourth Tuesdays of the month).
- Oct 7 – "Technology Myths Debunked" by John Tomaszewski.
- Oct 28 – How to check your email address against all the major known data breaches that have occurred in recent times, and quickly return a "digital footprint" analysis containing details about what information of yours has been compromised -- including email address, phone numbers, street address, and passwords (and maybe other things).
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.
- Oct 14 – No meeting this month due to Ladies Day Luncheon
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.
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 Historical references will include a colonial-period roadway, Lake Surprise, farm settlements, the Deserted Village of Feltville, the Copper Mine, the Stationer’s Hall Press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 –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
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. [in-person and on Zoom]
- 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]
- 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 – Step into a world where photography slows down, light bends through the tiniest of openings, and the image feels like a quiet meditation. Our guest speaker 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. 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
