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).
- Dec 2 – No meeting - Old Guard’s 95th Anniversary Celebration.
- Dec 23 – No meeting - Holiday break.
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.
- Dec 9 – The topic will be: “GLP-1s, which have ushered in a paradigm shift in metabolic health and have become a major factor in global pharmaceutical treatment plans.”
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.
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. Marta is also the wife of Old Guard member Kirke Bent. [in-person and on Zoom]
- Dec 16 - Special Event: Holiday Party
January Program Chair - Rich Lander
- Jan 6 - U.S. Civil War: Causes and Comparisons to Today – Rich Lander Old Guard member Rich Lander is a great grandson of John R. Lander, a Union soldier. John emigrated from Germany,enlisted with an Illinois regiment at age 14, and was a soldier for the duration of the war. Generations of the Lander family since then have been interested in and studied the Civil War and have been members of the SUVCW (Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War). His presentation will describe the events leading to the Civil War, including cultural, political, economic, and military. Attendees may recognize parallels to current events. [in-person and on Zoom]
January Birthday emcee: Colin Fowlis
- Jan 13 - A Brief, Selective, Personal View of the Apollo Program: What Did We Do? How Did We Do It? – Dr. Dean Eppler The Apollo Program was one of the seminal engineering and science achievements of the 20th century, one which completely changed our perception of the history of our planet, and what it was possible to do with space travel. However, many of the achievements and difficulties have fallen into the “fog of history,” are poorly remembered and often inaccurately portrayed in popular media. Dr. Dean Eppler will concentrate on the areas he thinks are key to the success of the missions and discuss Apollo’s accomplishments and continuing contribution to human spaceflight. Dr. Eppler is a retired NASA scientist with over 35 years of experience in human spaceflight. He has a broad background, including Apollo Program history, advanced space suit systems engineering and testing, facility development for the International Space Station, training the astronaut group in field geology, and making the astronaut selection in 1990,1996, and 1998. [in-person and on Zoom]
- Jan 20 - New Jersey Volunteer EMS: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow – Howard Meyer is a past president of the EMS (Emergency Medical Services) Council of New Jersey, the largest association of volunteer squads in the country. Prior to that he served as volunteer legislative director for the council for over 20 years. Among the offices he has held in his squad are president and chief. He has served with volunteer squads in rural, suburban, and urban environments in NJ since 1971. Howard will describe how the volunteer EMS system began, the changes and advances made through the years, and the volunteers’ importance to the New Jersey EMS system. He will cover some of the most notable state and local events, as well as the challenges local volunteer squads face moving forward. [in-person and on Zoom]
- Jan 27 - The Forgotten Victory Trail: The Battles of Springfield and Connecticut Farms – Bob Gula is a trustee of the Forgotten Victory Trail Association and is the education officer of the West Fields Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. He is also the patriotic instructor of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War and is a member of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants. The Forgotten Victory Trail explores one of America's most overlooked Revolutionary chapters in the brutal campaigns of 1780 in NJ, when burning towns, secret networks, and fierce local resistance helped turn the tide of the war. The Battles of Springfield and Connecticut Farms in June 1780 were critical in the defense of New Jersey (and Washington’s forces in Morristown) and in the weakening of the British forces ahead of the Battle of Yorktown. [in-person and on Zoom]
February Birthday emcee: Mort O'Shea
