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).
- July 7 – TedTalk by Jonathan Hurst on the future of Humanoid Robotics and then discussion.
- July 28 – YouTube video on the complexity of designing a robotic human hand.
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.
- July 21 – The topic will pick up on the theme of America at 250 years. We will discuss whether the separation of powers and related checks and balances among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of our federal government continues to exist.
Trips Scheduled (For Old Guard members and their guests)
Chair - Pete Bolton.
Walkers Group walks or hikes are once again feasible. Chair - Tom Leane. Meeting time is 10:15 A.M. and walks are about one hour. Directions to follow:
- Wednesday, July 8 - Frelinghuysen Arboretum.
- Wednesday, July 22 - Jockey Hollow.
July Program Chair – Steve McCabe
- July 7 – Bayshore Recycling – Curbside and Beyond! – What happens to the materials you place in your curbside recycling bin? Jennifer Solewski will explain how Bayshore Recycling in Woodbridge processes curbside recyclables as well as construction debris, metals, dredged materials, and many other recoverable resources. The company's 58-acre Keasbey facility is licensed to process up to 3,000 tons of curbside recyclables a day to help communities (including Westfield) recover valuable resources while reducing waste. Jennifer is Vice President of Business & Technical Development. With 20 years of experience in recycling, solid waste management, environmental compliance, permitting, and business development, she has played a key role in expanding Bayshore's resource recovery operations. [video to appear]
- July 14 – Autonomous Cars and Trucks: Vehicles and Delivery Systems, Now and in the Future – Speaker Mitch Erickson will recount the status of autonomous passenger and freight vehicles in the U.S. and around the world, and will speculate on the future. Mitch has a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry and has served as the Director of the Environmental Measures Laboratory for the US Department of Homeland Security. Currently he provides testimony as an expert witness. Mitch is a member of Old Guard. [video to appear]
- July 21 – The Role of Community Foundations in Our Philanthropic Landscape – Guest speaker Hans Dekker is President of the Community Foundation of New Jersey (CFNJ). Founded in 1979, CFNJ works with partners in the public and private sectors, offering a wide range of ways to share in its vision. Hans will discuss how this organization unique to New Jersey now manages more than $1 billion in assets and 1,200 funds, and how. as a philanthropic partner, it can design and execute a giving plan at whatever level a donor chooses. [in person and on Zoom – For access: [email protected]]
- July 28 – Integrative Physical AI for Adaptive Robots – This talk will highlight how tighter integration of perception, learning, and planning for vision-driven robot manipulation can address gaps that lie at the interface of these domains at present. Speaker Kostas Bekris is a Professor of Computer Science at Rutgers University and an Amazon Scholar with the Amazon Robotics division. [in-person and on Zoom]
August Birthday Emcee: John Tomaszewski
August Program Chair – Doug Hobby
- Aug 4 – Chatham Senior Center – Our speaker Julie Reich, LSW, is the Executive Director of the Chatham Senior Center. She will discuss the Senior Center’s mission and the significant and positive impact it has on promoting healthy aging in our community. She will highlight the wide range of programs and activities provided by the Center that support fitness, lifelong learning, and social connections. [in-person and on Zoom]
- Aug 11 – St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center – Invited speaker Sarah Sangree is the Director of Community Engagement of St. Hubert’s. She will describe how for over 85 years St. Hubert’s has been dedicated to helping animals in need and has adopted out close to 3,000 animals a year. The center aids New Jersey communities that have programs for helping animals stay with their families. They have pet food banks, vaccine clinics, and emergency pet boarding. Their WayStation Program has moved over 20,000 pets from areas of need to places of opportunity. [in-person and on Zoom]
- Aug 18 – Importance of Print News in Building Strong Local Communities – Local print journalism plays a vital role in keeping communities informed, connected, and engaged. Joe Territo will discuss how local newspapers strengthen civic life, how advances in technology have transformed community journalism, and why the Corporation for New Jersey Local Media (CNJLM) recently consolidated its individual town newspapers into county-wide print editions. He will also explain how residents and organizations can help support local journalism and submit news tips and event announcements for coverage. Joe is CEO and Publisher of the Corporation for New Jersey Local Media. He began his journalism career as an intern at the Roxbury Register, later becoming a reporter for The Star-Ledger and a founding editor of NJ.com. He later held executive positions with Advance Local and other digital media organizations before joining CNJLM. [in-person and on Zoom]
- Aug 25 – NIL and Its Impact on College Sports – NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) has transformed college athletics by allowing student-athletes to earn income from endorsements, social media, merchandise, appearances, and other business opportunities while maintaining their eligibility to compete. Dann Kabala will trace the evolution of NIL, discuss its far-reaching impact on college sports, and examine how the transfer portal and athlete compensation are reshaping today's collegiate landscape. Dann is Vice President of Name, Image, and Likeness at Rutgers University, where he oversees third-party NIL operations for all sports. Before joining Rutgers in January 2026, he spent eight seasons at Penn State, leading its NIL program and its 5th Quarter/Player Development department. [in-person and on Zoom]
September Birthday Emcee: Phil Apruzzese
