March 2023 Program Chair – Jim Blinn
- March 7 -- "Finding Common Ground in Divided Times: An Introduction to Braver Angels" -- Cindy Mullock, New Jersey state coordinator for Braver Angels, will describe the mission of Braver Angels. As a nonprofit organization, Braver Angels is committed to finding common ground and is equally balanced between conservatives and progressives at every level of leadership. The organization works in communities, on college campuses, in the media, and in the halls of political power to depolarize American politics through grassroots organizing based on patriotic empathy and the idea that our love for our country is shown by our concern for our fellow citizens. [in-person & on Zoom]
- March 14 -- "Under-appreciated Excellence: The Pianism of Duke Ellington" -- Marcel Simon, retired from Northrop Grumman and jazz aficionado, whose knowledge was gained from semi-obsessive listening over 45 years of jazz fandom and discussions with numerous jazz experts, will focus on Ellington’s piano style with a few biographical details supplemented by excerpts from various performances recorded during Ellington’s life. [in-person & on Zoom]
- March 21 -- "Understanding the Most Common Types of Arthritis in Older Adults" -- Dr. Dimitri Baldwin, DPT, COMT, and owner of Blueprint Physical Therapy and Wellness, will define what arthritis exactly is, its common symptoms, treatment, and short and long-term management techniques, including the difference between cortisone injections and gel injections. [in-person & on Zoom]
- March 28 -- "Islam: Religion, Beliefs, Practices, and Facts" -- Saba Laeeq, co-chair, Interfaith Committee, Islamic Community & Cultural Center (ICCC Parsippany), will provide both a historical overview of Islam and of Islam today. Islam is one of the major religions in the world with almost two billion Muslims around the world, just slightly fewer than Christianity, and yet there are misinformation and myths surrounding it. She is looking forward to answering your questions about Islam. [in-person & on Zoom]
February 2023 Program Chair – Pete Bolton
- Feb 7 – "Current Financial Market Promises and Perils" will be laid out by Old Guard member and returning speaker David G. Dietze, JD, CFA, CFP managing principal, senior portfolio strategist at Peapack Private Wealth Management. David's widely-respected opinions are heard on TV, most recently on Bloomberg, TD Ameritrade Network, and Fox. Currently David also heads the Suburban Chamber of Commerce. [in-person & on Zoom]
- Feb 14 – "GRACE Helping Neighbors" – GRACE founder Amanda Parrish Block, recipient of the Union County Women of Excellence Reward, will explain GRACE’s role in ministering to Summit area residents with 16,000 lbs. of food a week to over 500 families, coats for the winter, and many other helping services. [in-person & on Zoom]
- Feb 21 – "Private Art Market Today" – The real art market today and how it works will be explained by Vivian Brodie, a well-respected expert in the contemporary art market. Vivian headed both online sales and mid-season post-war contemporary sales for Christie’s until she left to start her own successful art consultancy, working closely with artists and collectors alike. [in-person & on Zoom]
- Feb 28 – "Summit Area YMCA – COVID behind Us" – Returning speaker Paul Kieltyka, president and CEO, will explain trends the Summit Y, now in its 136th year, is seeing: many more groups, young and old (did someone say pickleball?) coming back after COVID, including new fitness trends and local outreach. [in-person & on Zoom]
January 2023 Program Chair – Mike Bennett
- Jan 3 – "Bridges: Outreach to the Homeless" – For over 30 years, Bridges has been a non-profit organization committed to meeting people in the streets, providing for many of their most basic needs, and connecting with them as fellow humans and neighbors in locations like NYC, Newark, Irvington, and Summit. Richard Uniacke, president of Bridges, will show us how Bridges addresses homelessness through volunteer-driven outreach and individual case management focused on health, housing, and independence. Time spent on the streets by the Bridges teams can provide more than provisions or supplies—it can provide connection and meaning to the homeless. [video]
- Jan 10 – "Food Insecurity in New Jersey" –The Community FoodBank of New Jersey was founded 45 years ago and has served as a model for many food banks around the country. Carlos Rodriguez, President and CEO of The Community FoodBank of NJ with headquarters in Hillside, and Lauren Snyder, a Volunteer Organizer, will discuss food insecurity in New Jersey and why the food lines are not shortening despite the unemployment rate approaching a 50-year low. [video]
- Jan 17 – "Pine vs. Elm: The Impact of Community Engagement on Urban Development Proposals" – Richard A. Zdan, professor of sociology at Rider University and Rahway Zoning Board of Adjustment commissioner, will discuss both the Pine Street and Elm Street applications for urban development in Rahway, with a focus on the manner in which local community members were mobilized in support of or opposition to the two proposed projects. He will also discuss the broader role that communities play in guiding the course of urban development, both in a historical and in a contemporary context, as well as how neighborhoods might be actively mobilized around development issues. [video to appear]
- Jan 24 – "History Repeats Itself" – Eva Jedruch is the author of Crossing the Bridges, published in Polish in 2013 and English in 2021. What Putin is doing to the Ukrainians is a mirror image of what Stalin did to the Poles 83 years ago, across these very same lands, which at that time were part of Poland. It is a familiar story of a familiar modus operandi: Thousands of Ukrainian citizens are being rounded up, packed onto trains and deported to Russia, to the euphemistically called “filter camps.” Hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians have been executed. Eva will present her family’s story prior to and after 1939 and compare it with the events in Ukraine today. [no video]
- Jan 31 – "VA Health Services" – Many of our Old Guard members served in the United States military. We are fortunate to have many Veterans Administration facilities in the immediate area. Scott Dadaian is a VA outreach speaker who will detail the services provided by the VA, some of which may be new to our members. [video to appear]
