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.
August Program Chair - Bill Joyce
- Aug 5 – A History of Humans and the Great Swamp: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly – We all know of the Great Swamp. But there is a less known long history of people and the Great Swamp. Thousands of acres of swampland have been a boon to people for thousands of years. Patricia Wells will tell us the fascinating story of how people have used, abused, and finally saved the Great Swamp. She is an educator, historian, and storyteller. Since retiring, she has been deeply involved in the Chatham Township Historical Society and the Friends of the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. [in-person and on Zoom]
- Aug 12 – Addressing Wrongful Convictions – New Jersey Conviction Review Unit – The criminal justice system in the United States is designed to ensure that only guilty individuals suffer the total loss of freedom of imprisonment. However, a number of factors, including DNA evidence, have demonstrated in recent years that a number of unjust convictions do occur. New Jersey established a Conviction Review Unit to review the cases of individuals who claim to be innocent. Our speaker Carolyn Murray was the first director of New Jersey CRU and will discuss the process used by the unit to review cases for possible wrongful convictions. Carolyn will discuss the process used and the case of a man who was exonerated after serving 20 years. [in-person and on Zoom – for access: [email protected]]
- Aug 19 – The Nature of Addiction – Our speaker Robert Alexander has served for 50 years in the treatment of drug addiction in various positions. For the last 41 years he has served as executive director at the Paterson Counseling Center. He has also taught as an adjunct professor at several universities in our area. Robert will discuss the history of methadone treatment as one of many treatments for addiction. He will describe the introduction of buprenorphine as an alternative form of medication-assisted treatment, and the challenges to effective treatment regimens presented by the AIDS epidemic, and more recently, hepatitis C. [in-person and on Zoom]
- Aug 26 – Managing Life’s Transitions – All of us experience life transitions. Kelly Falcone has spent the past several years helping her clients navigate these changes with more ease, from career reinventions to health transformations to adjusting to new stages of life. She brings to us her experience as a human resources professional and career counselor as well as her personal experience. In this presentation, Kelly will share some common life transition themes she has seen in both her work and research, and discuss how shifting our attention to a few key areas can help us more effectively cope with challenges that come up when we are in these liminal spaces in life. [in-person and on Zoom]
September Birthday Emcee - Steve Waddell
September Program Chair - Thad Gabara
- Sept 2 - Rotary Club and “Service Above Self” – Joe Steiner 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 changemakers, 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]
- Sept 9 - Stories That Move Us: Unleashing the Power of Creative Visual Storytelling – Jason Schuler, co-owner of Awakened Films, a video production company in Madison, 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]
- Sept 16 - How to Transition into a Happy and Healthy Retirement – James T. Clemens, PhD physicist and former AT&T employee, faced an unexpected early retirement during the company’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]
- Sept 23 - How to Forget – Suborno Bari 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]
- Sept 30 - My Journey from High-Tech to Art – 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
