Come for the Programs . . .
* Since the Covid shutdown ended, we have been running in-person meetings with "hybrid" access by Zoom. To join by Zoom send a request to [email protected]
Meetings start at 9:30 AM with coffee and socializing. At 10:00 we sit down, sing a song or two, and hear a few jokes & announcements. The day's invited speaker starts at around 10:30. Visitors are asked to arrive by 10:00 AM to sign in.
Programs consist of stimulating talks by people such as past governors, mayors, politicians, physicians, Nobel Prize winners, judges, professors, historians, scientists, authors, economists, journalists, financial advisors, medical specialists, conservationists, etc. The follow-up Q&A is lively. Put on your business casual attire or jacket & tie (or something more casual from May to September) and attend a meeting with us. All visitors are welcome. Admission is free.
Stay for the Friends*
After the meetings, many members join together to have lunch at various local restaurants.
In addition to the weekly meetings, there are activity groups for golf, bridge, hiking, trips, computer help, tennis and more.
* Or, as one member put it recently, "Come for the Jokes, Stay for the Talks", since we start each meeting by singing a few songs and enjoying a few jokes :-)
Policy on Weather Cancellations
During very bad weather or when the NPPC is unavailable to us, our meetings simply move online with Zoom. We will post a notice at this website and send an email to members.
For more information:
On Retiring – A Stimulating Road Ahead
Where will you find a sense of purpose and satisfaction? How will you find mental stimulus and a sense of community? Click on this PDF file to consider an answer to these questions.
Donations to Old Guard are welcome and greatly appreciated (although they are not tax deductible).
Dues are $55 a year with a $10 early-payment discount, and can be paid using this dues link.
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. For access: [email protected]]
- 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
For speaker phoyos visit us on facebook
For an archive of videos of past meetings,
