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 info@summitoldguard.org
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.
Note: For the present, in-person attendance requires full Covid vaccination. Face masks are optional.
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 following 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.
July Program Chair – Jon Reese
July 1 – Small Business Cybersecurity – Our speaker Greg Schwartz will address the question: What should small businesses do to protect themselves from the growing cybersecurity threats? They have these threats in common with larger companies, but they may have special issues. Greg is the founder of GSIT Group, which helps small businesses with risk mitigation. He will describe the system infrastructure risks and challenges for small businesses, both current and anticipated, and the tools available to mitigate them. Particular focus will be on cybersecurity exposures and mitigation, and the issues on the horizon. [in-person and on Zoom – for access: info@summitoldguard.org]
July 8 – Strategic Philanthropy: Charitable Giving If You Are Not Bill Gates – Speaker The Rev. Brooks Smith will explain how you can do your charitable giving in an effective manner to benefit the causes you care about. Rev. Brooks Smith is a retired pastor and currently a minister with the Presbytery of Northeast New Jersey. He will help us by describing what might be called the five “P”s of donation: the Passions that drive philanthropy and the Partners, Processes, Projects, and Pondering that produce effective, mindful giving. [in-person and on Zoom]
July 15 – An Update on Covid – Old Guard member Bob Martin will return as speaker and give us an in-depth update on the Covid and vaccine situation [online with Zoom only]
July 22 – HomeWell Care Services for Veterans – Care at home for seniors and others is an increasing need and can be an efficient way of providing support. HomeWell Care Services, based in Union, NJ, is prominent in meeting this need. Our speaker Jen Kelber is client relations manager for HomeWell. She will describe the different types of services that can be provided at home by HomeWell, with an emphasis on services for veterans. [in-person and on Zoom]
July 29 – Wharton Arts Center: History and Programs – Wharton Arts is New Jersey’s largest independent non-profit performing arts education center serving nearly 2,000 students, located in Berkeley Heights, NJ. Our guest speaker Helen Cha-Pyo is the artistic director of Wharton Arts and is a Julliard-trained musician, award-winning conductor, and promoter of music arts development among youth. She will explain the history and development of Wharton Arts and describe its programs, current breadth and impact, future, and challenges. [in-person and on Zoom]
August Birthday Emcee: Art Mason
For speaker photos, visit us on facebook
For an archive of videos of past meetings,
