May 2026 Program Chair – Gary Murakami
- May 5, 2026 – 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. [video to appear]
- May 12, 2026 – 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, 2026 – 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, 2026 – 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 uniqune 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]
April 2026 Program Chair – Frank Souder
- Apr
7, 2026 - Imagine, a Resource to Help People Coping with Loss – Imagine is a
center based in Mountainside and Newark, 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 at KIPP, a network of charter schools, in leadership roles.
[video]
- Apr
14, 2026 - The Role Zoos Play in Preserving Species in Natural Habitats – Pat
Thomas, recently retired as vice president and general curator of the
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS, formerly 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. [video to appear]
- Apr
21, 2026 - Senior Living Communities in the Northeast – Nick Rossiello is the
sales director at the Lantern Hill Senior Living Community in New
Providence. He will explain just what a senior living community is and
describe offerings and facilities throughout the Northeast. [video to appear]
- Apr
28, 2026 - Donating Stem Cells to Fight Blood Cancer – 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. [video to appear]
March 2026 Program Chair – Dave Bondy
- Mar 3, 2026 – Perspectives on the Middle East from a Former U.S. Ambassador – Recently retired Steven Bondy had been a U.S. ambassador to Bahrain. Steve will speak about the role of the Foreign Service in advancing U.S. policies internationally, describe his 34-year career with the State Department, and, as a career Middle East specialist, will discuss topics, conflicts, and trends that are strategic to interests of the United States in the region. Among other achievements, he led 6,000 employees and contractors as COO at the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan, worked to reconcile armed militias fighting U.S. and local forces in Iraq, assisted Jordan and Israel to negotiate their 1994 peace agreement, created the 2023 U.S. – Bahrain Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement, and confronted Iranian interference and aggression throughout the region. [video]
- Mar 10, 2026 – Bridge: A Fun Card Game for Players of All Ages – Local bridge teacher and author Rick Hartley will talk about the many facets of bridge. He’ll describe his own journey into the land of bridge, highlight celebrities who play bridge with some interesting quotes, discuss the many personal benefits to playing bridge, describe a scandal in an otherwise honorable game, provide an overview of how to play the game, explain why it might be the only “perfect” card game, and where you can learn to play it. [video]
- Mar 17, 2026 – Life in the Soviet Union – Author Anat Shmulovich will be interviewed about her book "Where the Night Train Ends: How I Survived Ukraine, Russia and the Loss of the Man I Loved". The Book is a personal memoir of her youth in the Soviet Union describing her passion for advancing her education in music, as well as the personal challenges and sacrifices she and her family made along the way. It also describes the experience of life in the Soviet Union in the 1960s and the repression and antisemitism experienced by Anat and her family. She will discuss issues raised in the book and read passages that highlight important milestones in her life. [video]
- Mar 24, 2026 – Investment Strategies for the Retired Investor – Our guests Matthew Wunder and Samantha (Sam) Keane will speak on several investment, tax, and estate planning topics for the retired investor. Matthew is a partner at Park Avenue Capital, an investment advisory firm associated with Northwestern Mutual, and Sam is an account manager and certified financial planner. They will discuss investment strategies deployed by Park Avenue Capital that are designed to produce attractive after-tax returns with reduced risk for their clients, as well as providing insightful tax, retirement, and estate management strategies. [no video]
- Mar 31, 2026 – The Intersection of Art and Science: Art by Humans and Machines – Speaker Larry O’Gorman will describe how technology has contributed to the creation of visual art from the time of Experiments in Art and Technology (E.A.T.) in the 1960s to today’s era of generative AI (artificial intelligence). Over this period, the artist’s role has evolved from solitary creator to orchestrator of immersive viewer experiences to one where the “brushwork” has been ceded to artificial intelligence. Larry, a Fellow at Nokia Bell Labs who has personally collaborated with artists in this type of art, will show a sampling of the interactive artworks starting with the Experiments in Art and Technology that involved New York artists working with Bell Labs engineers in the 1960s and up to the present day.With this increasing use of AI technologies, we will ask the question: whose creation is this—human or machine? [video]
February 2026 Program Chair – Alberto Paredes-Diaz
- Feb. 3, 2026 – How to Make a Better Hip Implant – Prof. Matthew Libera Biomedical implants such as hip and knee prostheses have had a huge impact on human health and have improved the quality of life for millions of patients. However, in addition to their wonderful healing properties, these and other tissue-contacting biomedical devices can also catalyze infection. Infection rates vary from about 1-5% but can be as high as 50%, which can be a life-changing complication. Matthew, professor of materials science at Stevens Institute of Technology, will give an overview using hips as a prime example, and will focus on soft matter, including hydrogels and microgels, with a particular interest in infection-resisting biomaterials; i.e., how to create surfaces that resist infection while promoting healing. Prof. Libera has a doctorate in materials science from MIT. He has held visiting scientist and research positions and has received several awards and recognition for exemplary research and outstanding teaching. [video]
- Feb. 10, 2026 – Nature as Inspiration for Art – Nancy J. Ori has been respected internationally for over 35 years as a photographer and video producer for Ciba-Geigy and Novartis Pharmaceuticals in East Hanover, NJ and is owner of New Jersey Media Center, LLC in Berkeley Heights, NJ. She enjoys teaching photography and mixed media workshops each year internationally. Nancy studied with Ansel Adams and was a teaching assistant for many years with the Ansel Adams Workshop in California. Since then, she has taught at numerous art centers and museums throughout New Jersey. In 1994 she established the NJ Photography Forum, a group of professional and serious amateur photographers that meet regularly to discuss their work as well as exhibit within the state. Under Nancy’s direction, the Forum has grown to be the largest group of exhibiting fine art photographers in the state. A spin-off group has now evolved called the Digital Arts Group at the Visual Art Center of NJ in Summit. [video]
- Feb. 17, 2026 – The Environmental Defense Fund and Its People – Steve Nisberg is associate vice president, Environmental Defense Fund. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management from the University at Buffalo School of Management. He also completed the Executive Business Finance Program at Harvard Business School. Steve will pull back the curtain of this global non-governmental organization (NGO) and share its history, the work that it does around the world to stabilize the climate, strengthen the ability of people and nature to thrive, and support people's health through eight key areas of focus. He’ll also share how it gets results, and the people that make it all happen. [video]
- Feb. 24, 2026 – Embracing Artificial Intelligence: Today and Tomorrow – Ken Cavanagh has a 30-plus year career as a global executive in Fortune 500 IT leadership, working for many companies, including Cisco, Dell, Verizon, and the NBA, and 20 years in cybersecurity. He earned his MS in Information Technology from Stevens Institute of Technology. Artificial intelligence (AI) is now a part of everyone’s lives. Ken will review the various elements of AI and how they affect our daily experiences, including debunking common misconceptions and highlighting ways AI is used today, such as virtual assistants, healthcare, recommendation, systems, safety and security, transportation, communication, and daily assistance. [video]
January 2026 Program Chair – Rich Lander
- Jan. 6, 2026 – 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. [video]
- Jan. 13, 2026 – 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. [video]
- Jan. 20, 2026 – 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. [video]
- Jan. 27, 2026 – 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. [video]
