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.
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.
November Program Chair – Dick Hancock
- Nov 3 – AI Can Seem like Magic – Our speaker Keith Miklas is a Summit resident and the founder of Xulii, an AI platform focused on marketing, advertising, and data. He has spent roughly 30 years building enterprise software, including work at JPMorgan Chase, Merck, Tradeweb, and Point72. He is a New Jersey certified teacher of computer science and mathematics and has taught at Brookdale Community College, Kean University, and Monmouth University. He holds an MS in information systems technology from George Washington University and a BS in computer science and mathematics from Rutgers. AI can seem like magic, but how do large language models (LLMs) actually work? What is a hallucination, and why is a human-in-the-loop (HITL) important? Will AI kill humanity, or will data centers boil the ocean? In this talk, Keith will cover practical ways generative pre-trained transformers (GPTs) are useful in daily life, along with their growing role in medicine, law, and other fields. Throughout, the theme is an old one: trust, but verify. Time will be reserved for questions. [in-person and on Zoom – for access: info@summitoldguard.org]
- Nov 10 – New Ideas About Dinosaurs – the Stories Behind the Stories – Speaker Larry Felder's creative output encompasses several dimensions. He is an accomplished artist, writer, illustrator, and paleo artist, the creative field that bridges fine art and paleontology. Larry's illustrations have appeared in numerous books and magazines, such as Scientific American, Earth and New Jersey Monthly. His work on the field of paleo illustration has been featured in books, magazines, museums, on-line services, TV shows, and films, such as the Discovery Channel, the Boston Museum of Science, and the 2011 Terrence Malick film, The Tree of Life, starring Brad Pitt and Sean Penn. His 2000 book, In the Presence of Dinosaurs, was the only TIME/LIFE volume ever awarded a starred review in Publishers Weekly, and remains one of the most popular and well-received titles on the subject of dinosaurs. [in-person and on Zoom]
- Nov 17 – History of Battleships – Invited speaker Mike Czuchnicki's career included executive positions in technology offices at the AMEX and American International Group (AIG), before he began consulting around the world on some interestingly large financial systems. He believes creating content and sharing is not an obligation, but his greatest pleasure. He tries to combine interesting information and give perspective to understand it. Mike will present the history of battleships: See nations race to launch ever bigger, faster, more powerful, and deadlier battleships to control the sea. This history has relevance today, to explain why the world’s last battleship (launched in 1946) was scrapped in 1960. There have been none built since then. [in-person and on Zoom]
- Nov 24 – Colonial Taverns of New Jersey –Speaker Michael Gabriele is a lifelong New Jersey resident and a graduate of Montclair State University. He is an author of many books focused on New Jersey. Colonial Taverns of New Jersey, published by The History Press, is his newest book. Taverns were the hub of colonial villages and were the places where the voices of history took shape. A haven for Patriots and Loyalists alike, colonial taverns were the “seedbeds” of the Revolution, strongholds for political activities, beacons for travelers, and venues for entertainment, merriment, and libations. Taverns became colonial information “portals,” creating opportunities for the exchange of ideas regarding politics, business, and current events, leading up to the Revolution. [in-person and on Zoom]
December Birthday Emcee – Marv Gersten
For speaker photos visit us on facebook
For an archive of videos of past meetings,
