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The Men’s Newcomers Club is an
informal, non-sectarian organization in Nassau County that seeks to help
new and old residents learn about their home area.
We meet regularly at lunch for fellowship and to
learn about the community through local speakers, field trips and a
variety of social and special member interest committees. Luncheon
meetings are held, Sept through May, the third Thursday of each
month, 11:30am, at the Fernandina Beach Golf Course club house.
Upcoming Meetings
Sept 18 2008 Steve Nicklas, First Vice
President, UBS Financial Service, and columnist for the News-Leader,
will present his take on the national economy and the financial/taxation
issues facing the City and County. He will also comment on the short
and long term prospects for local commercial development.
Oct 16. Peter Scalco, Park Manager, Ft
Clinch State Park, will talk about the day to day operations of our own
local park as well as describing the management of the Florida State
Park system based on his many years experience in the field at a number
of state parks. He has also served in several administrative positions.
Luncheon reservations,
Phone
Bob Keane at: 277-4590
President Jerry Crandall
jerrycrandall@bellsouth.net
Vice President Carl Meaux
carljmeaux@bellsouth.net
Treasurer Bob Keane
rkeane1793@aol.com
Secretary Bob Jacobs
bjinfb@bellsouth.net
Past President Dick McCarthy
admop@webtv.net
Membership Roy Ennis
ennisinc@comcast.net
Publicity Doran Donovan
meetd2@bellsouth.net
Newsletter Tom Frangos
frangostj@comcast.net
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From The President's
Chair:
Last year we moved our membership through the
100-member threshold and our goal this year will be to increase that
number of members. We accomplished much of that by improving the subject
material and our impressive list of speakers.
It is through listening to knowledgeable peoples
from our nearby community that we can better appreciate what is going on
around us. It is the purpose of the Men’s Newcomer’s Club to keep
bringing you a varied and inspiring list of speakers.
It is also, one of our main objectives to introduce
each of us to others in this community by our membership, to become more
acquainted with our neighbors. It is always neighbor helping neighbor
that makes for a strong foundation in a community. Let us react with
others, and to do that, we need to become a member.
We have developed a series of programs that can
help you continue those interests you have built on for so many years
such as; kayaking, computers, cards but to name a few. And, we always
have room for more; just give me you name.
This is more than a Newcomers Club we are Men
Helping Men.
If any particular visit is of interest to you, let
a board member know and we will pursue it. It is amazing at how many
doors open when we let them know that the Men’s Newcomers club wants to
visit.
Sincerely,
Jerry Crandall
Luncheons Carl Meaux and the Officers arranged for
another season of stimulating Nassau speakers covering a range of timely
subjects of interest in the greater Amelia Island area.
February’s
speaker, Gerhardt Thamm, , local resident and author
told of his life as a young soldier in the German army during World War
II and his subsequent service as a US agent during the Cold War. His
first hand experiences under very difficult conditions took many MNC
members back to that dangerous period in our country’s history. Mr.
Thamm is currently active in the Amelia history museum’s WWII history
project.
March’s
speaker, Victoria Robas, Director of Marine Operations at
JAXPORT, described the complexities of operating this huge
transportation hub, the construction of the new port terminal and the
economic benefits that will accrue to the region from the anticipated
expanded increased global traffic volumes
 May’s
speaker, Steve Rieck, Director, Nassau Department of
Economic Development, continued the economic speaker theme by presenting
the private/public partnership effort to attract business and commerce
to Nassau county that can provide job opportunities and relieve pressure
on rising taxes. The bisecting by Interstate 95, the untapped potential
of the Fernandina port, Jaxport and our railroad network provide unique
selling points to prospective businesses seeking to locate in the
southeast
New
Members this club year. Welcome one and all: Tim
Anderson, Mike Bowhay, Joe Carlson, Al Glover, Jim Grethe, Charles
Horn, Russ Jahn, Gary Marmontello, Jim McCourt,
Frank McGann, Allan Moore, Bob Price, John
Pulsinelli,
Joe Rowley, Mike Sullivan, Ken Thornburg, Bill
Urban and Jim Wood. For our new newcomers and veterans --- spread
the word about the club and solicit new members. Dues are a modest $15
per club year – worth every cent!
Last season MNC passed the 100 member mark. We
need to continue to grow and add new members to fill in for those that
move from the area or don’t renew. Consider inviting a friend or
neighbor to join.
Interest Groups The club has a number of informal
interest groups that have been organized by members and meet
periodically as scheduled by the individual groups themselves. Active
hobbies or interest areas include bridge, poker, personal computers and
high tech stuff, golf and kayaking)...If you are interested in joining
with a group, contact a board member and you will be pointed to a group
contact. Check the last pages of your Member Directory for others with
your interests
Bridge Benny
Benzel (277-6775) report that the bridge playing will continue to be
a year round activity, every Friday afternoon.
Poker
Buck Weaver (261-7297)
Pinochle
Richard Tiensch (261-4131)
Computers
Bill Hooper (261-8476) plans the meetings, call Bill.
Habitat for Humanity
Richard Tiensch (261-4131) and Ted Wessel (491-7607)
Volunteer some time, they always need hands and hammers.
Kayaking
Through Russ Cavanaugh’s (321-4196) initiatives the kayaking
group will be again active this spring. Russ reports that it’s a great
way to exercise, get out into our great environment, have fun and meet
people.
Tennis
Carl Meaux (321.2510)
Spring Fling A reminder
to mark your calendar for April 18, 2009 for our annual
spring fling dinner dance. This has proved to be a popular event for
an opportunity for club members and their spouses and  friends to socialize, enjoy good food,
drink and dancing at a classy venue (Walkers Landing). 2008’s event
featured live music by the Instant Groove, a popular local group
that has played at the Ritz and other local venues. It’s a fun time and
shouldn’t be missed. More details will follow. We are seeking a ’09
chairman, and a few good men to serve on the dance committee.
Dick & Carl made
it happen
Club Tours and Events Field trips can help fulfill our
mission. If you have any suggestions for future outside trips,
activities, or have a special contact please let Carl Meaux
know. E-mail or phone Carl if any of list below interests you:
Fernandina Beach Museum...Law Enforcement Training Center, Brunswick, GA
...JAX Port/Shipping...Nassau Port/Shipping...Kings Bay
Sub-base...Rayonier and or Smurfit Stone Mills or Both....Air National
Guard, JAX Airport...Naval Air Station JAX...Air Traffic Center,
Hilliard.
Rayonier
Corporation. In March we visited our local manufacturing
company and major employer. Rayonier manufactures specialty high
porosity cellulose fibers from local timber plantations. Their end
product is used in a wide variety of goods such as LCD screens,
pharmaceuticals, filters and plastics. Observation of the production and
distribution facilities was very informative and the excellent overview
of the corporation by our hosts was extremely professional. It was good
to learn more about a neighborhood industry.
White Oak
Conservation Center.
In April, 61 persons toured this unique facility located on the banks of
the St. Mary’s river. The entire facility includes a conference center
and golf course used for high level government and private corporate
meetings, the site of a major dance training and education institution,
and a Conservation Center. The 700 acre Center, located within 7000, is
devoted to wildlife breeding,  research and training committed to
maintaining genetically diverse populations of threatened species. The
center provides leadership in veterinary care, developing holistic
animal management techniques and developing a better understanding of
the biology of endangered species.. On a guided tour we viewed cougars,
cheetahs, rhinos, giraffes, bald eagles, tortoises and more. A once in
a lifetime experience. Photos of animals seen can be found at
http//www.wocenter.org/index.asp?id=wocc/animals.asp
Naval Submarine
Base Kings Bay
 Again
the MNC toured this key national defense facility. We observed first
hand the complexity of this installation that is home to the Navy’s
Atlantic nuclear submarines. We were fortunate to have excellent guides
who provided detailed information on the facilities and systems that
support these high tech vessels. The staff hospitality was first rate.
We were fortunate to have such professional guides and left us feeling
good about our military readiness. Kudos’s to Dick McCarthy and Carl
Meaux for the entrée.
Annual Jacksonville baseball trip
In July Benny
Benzel again lead a group of MNC fans to Jacksonville for our annual
baseball outing. Good food, drink and fellowship and a chance to see
baseball played with energy and enthusiasm the way the game should be
played, Thanks to Benny for making the arrangements
See you on Sept 18th.,,,
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Men's Newcomers Club
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