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).
- Apr 7 – Mike Martin will speak on AI and Pharmaceutical R&D.
- Apr 28 – Large Language Models (LLMs) and how they work. Neil deGrasse Tyson's advice on How to Tell What's Real Online.
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.
- Apr 14 – Allen Hamilton will discuss “The High Cost of Electricity in NJ and What We Can Do to Reduce Our Costs.”
Trips Scheduled (For Old Guard members and their guests)
Chair - Pete Bolton.
Walkers Group walks or hikes are once again feasible. Chair - Tom Leane
April Program Chair - Frank Souder
- Apr 7 - Imagine -- a Resource to Help People Coping with Loss – "Imagine, A Center for Coping with Loss", based in Mountainside and Newark is dedicated to supporting families and children coping with loss. Lindsay Schambach, the executive director, informed by her own personal losses, will describe Imagine’s programs, including in-person support groups and virtual support for children and adults all over the country. Lindsay’s background is in education, having previously worked as a classroom teacher and more recently in leadership roles at KIPP, a network of charter schools. [In-person and on Zoom. For access: [email protected]]
- Apr 14 - The Role Zoos Play in Preserving Species in Natural Habitats – Our speaker Pat Thomas is recently retired as vice president and general curator of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS, which operates the Bronx Zoo). Throughout his career he has participated in numerous species conservation programs. He traveled extensively for WCS conducting various species conservation and reintroduction programs in Africa, Asia, and South America. He will talk about his experiences and conservation efforts in general. [In-person and on Zoom]
- Apr 21 - Senior Living Communities in the Northeast – the sales director at the Lantern Hill Senior Living Community in New Providence, Nick Rossiello, will explain just what a senior living community is and describe offerings and facilities throughout the Northeast. [In-person and on Zoom]
- Apr 28 - Donating Stem Cells to Fight Blood Cancer – Our speaker, Peter Hanson is the donor recruitment coordinator for the U.S. branch of DKMS. (The initials stand for the German Bone Marrow Donor Center.) In 2016, Peter became a blood stem cell donor through DKMS. It was that rewarding experience that led him to advocate for DKMS. He will speak about its mission to provide every patient searching for a bone marrow match a second chance for life. [In-person and on Zoom]
May Birthday emcee: Joe Geist
May Program Chair - Gary Murakami
- May 5 - Image Creative Outlet and Pursuit – from Photography to AI Image Creation – Speaker Gary Murakami will focus on exploration of AI image creation in the last few years, including early stages from Adobe Firefly, through experimenting with many websites, to the current state of the art with NightCafe (the “AI Art Generator for AI artists, enthusiasts and content creators”). Many images will be used to give an overview of the creation process, composition, challenges, community, multiple image generation models, video, and additional AI tools. Gary, a member of Old Guard, spent the bulk of his career working as a computer scientist and software engineer at AT&T Bell Labs and finally as a VP of Engineering. [In-person and on Zoom]
- May 12 - The American Revolution – Old Guard member Allen Hamilton will lead a hybrid presentation and group discussion. Mr. Hamilton has read a number of books about the revolution's leaders and the military campaigns. Topics will include: politics; British and colonists; logistics of war; key battles won and lost; and Nathanael Greene, quartermaster and head of the Southern Command. Allen took early retirement from Exxon to become an independent investment consultant. He has served as president of the Association for Advancement of Cost Engineering, and chair of the International Cost Engineering Council. Lately he has become an avid student of American history. [In-person and on Zoom]
- May 19 - How Technology Is Reinventing Finance: What Everyone Should Know About the Next Era of Money –Finance has entered an era where technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrencies and advanced data analytics are transforming how money is managed, invested, and transferred. Our speaker Ben Lowe will explain the basic ideas behind financial technology (fintech) and how these innovations are reshaping banking, markets, and global commerce. Ben specializes in building tech teams that deliver commercial results. He founded Lighthouse Technology, an AI consultancy, and led IBM’s AI ecosystem where he helped partners turn new tech into practical business solutions. [In-person and on Zoom]
- May 26 - How the Brain Connects to Reality – Speaker John Tomaszewski will explore the profound biological and philosophical bridge between the objective world and our subjective experience. He will examine how the brain doesn't merely "record" reality like a camera, but rather constructs it through a complex process of predictive coding and sensory integration. By deconstructing the neural pathways that translate raw physical data into the vivid landscape of our thoughts and perceptions, we can better understand the unique mental frameworks that define our professional and personal lives. John was long employed by Dun & Bradstreet in computers and engineering and served as director of Marketing Information Systems. Since joining Old Guard he has become deeply interested in AI and using AI chat-bots to explore the mysteries of the world. [In-person and on Zoom]
June Birthday emcee: Frank Souder
