The Surfer JANUARY 2020 1

APRIL 2018

Our monthly General Meetings are our most popular activity, if it’s measured by attendance, but it’s never been a topic of this column, so here goes! They occur on the first Sunday of the month. If you’re not a regular, there are scads of reasons to attend. Here are at least some them… Networking. That’s a technical term for catching up with old friends and meeting new ones. With about 150 of us in the room you’re bound to find some of each! It’s so easy that many of us arrive well before the 2:00 pm stated beginning of these sessions.

Drinks. No. We don’t offer alcoholic beverages, but we do have just about everything else, including coffee, from 2:00 pm on. (see ACTIVITIES, page 3)

The SurferJANUARY 2020

Fort Lauderdale Prime Gentlemen, Inc.

If you missed the December Monthly Membership Meeting, you missed an informative talk about the 2020 Census. Ana Diaz, a Partnership Specialist for the U.S. Census Bureau explained the importance of everyone being counted and answered questions many of us had about the Census. Did you know that Broward County will receive $1,445 per year, per person counted for the next 10 years for programs and services? Did you know that by law the information is kept secret for 72 years? The National Census Bureau actually promoted in their marketing materials that President Trump will not have access to this information and it cannot be used for immigration, inequality or

(see PRESIDENT, page 3)

7

CALENDAR Join in on the fun and

camaraderie!

11

GENTLEMAN OF MONTH Get to know another

great Prime Gentleman

5

FOOD & DRINK When and where we’ll

be this month

4

MOVIE Judy

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE ● Henry Penas

ACTIVITIES ● Dick Huitema

The Surfer JANUARY 2020 2

PRIME GENTLEMEN

A social club of mature men and those who enjoy their company

The Surfer JANUARY 2020 Volume 17, Issue 1

Published byFt. Lauderdale Prime Gentlemen, Inc.

PO Box 100666Fort Lauderdale, FL 33010FtLPrimeGentlemen@gmail.com

web FtLPrimeGentlemen.orgEDITORIAL STAFFEditor

John Velasco (773) 782-1647 HJVelasco@mac.com

ContributorsGary Forman: Card GamesDick Huitema: Calendar, DesignDoug Kent: Diner Lunches,

Informal Dinners, EventsRic Lenzi: Upscale Lunches

Monthly DinnersEd Slough: Monthly MoviesKen South: Gentleman of MonthKaz Takahashi: PhotographyMike Trask: Photography

Please submit all materials to the Editor by the 10th of the month before publication.

DistributorsEddie Green: PaperHenry Penas: Digital

© 2020 by Fort Lauderdale Prime Gentlemen, Inc.

BOARD MEMBERSPRESIDENT Henry Penas(954) 971-6514 HPenas@gmail.com

Buddy Berardi(646) 732-4969 fortlaudcpl@aol.com

TREASURER Jim Flora(646) 208-8092 JamesFlora@aol.comSECRETARY Lou Wangberg(954) 327-9860 Wangberg@gmail.com

Eddie Green(954) 557-5485 ezgoined@gmail.com

Ron Grassullo (516) 670-7799 ronsullo@aol.com

VICE PRESIDENT Carl Hill(954) 557-7794 HillC155@gmail.com

Richard Lefebvre (401) 474-9242 lefebvr@gmail.com

Stew Pepper(954) 532-5451 flpt@comcast.net

TREASURER EMERITUS Mike Trask

To join, go to: FtLPrimeGentlemen.organd click on: Membership

The Surfer JANUARY 2020 3

(ACTIVITIES from page 1) Programs. Our illustrious President also serves as program chairman to find all sorts of informative and/or entertaining presentations for these meetings, starting at about 2:30 pm. Announcements. Several activity leaders show off their Toastmaster skills to describe the events planned for the coming month or more. We are a busy bunch, with about 15 types of activities to enjoy, but we don’t hear about all of them at each meeting so check out the Calendar on page 11 for the skinny.Fifty/fifty. Half fund raiser, half lottery, this exciting aspect of our meetings allows you to both contribute to the Prime Gentlemen coffers for our many worthy endeavors and get a chance to win some moola. You purchase tickets when you arrive, or early in the afternoon. Then, the winning ticket is drawn and announced; Prime Gentlemen (we) get half (50%) of the proceeds and one of us gets the other half (50%)… That’s “50/50!” Pot-luck food. Everyone brings a dish to share. When the Fifty/fifty winner is announced, those luscious dishes are served. You’ll find entrees, vegetables, salads and the hits of the day, desserts! Supporting each other. Making these meetings happen takes effort from lots of us. We purchase supplies (paper plates, flatware, napkins, ice, cold drinks, etc.), set up the kitchen equipment, tables and chairs we use, decorate the tables, serve the food and drinks we consume, return the kitchen equipment, wash serving utensils and collect trash. A hallmark of PG activities is to have fun, including all this!

(PRESIDENT from page 1) discriminatory purposes.

And that’s not all. Here are just some of the ways in which the information gathered by the Census is used,

Planning for hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and location of other health services.

Forecasting future housing needs for all segments of the population.

Creating maps to speed emergency services to households in need of assistance.

Designing facilities for people with disabilities, the elderly or children.

Reapportioning seats in the House of Representatives.

Planning for publ ic transportat ion services.

Delivering goods and services to local markets.

To read a booklet that explains all of the questions covered in the questionnaire and tells you what that information is used for go to:

https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2020/operations/planned-questions-2020-acs.pdf.

Once there, right click on it and download it to your computer. The downloaded version makes it easier to navigate to the parts that interest you the most.

Be counted!

The Surfer JANUARY 2020 4

FOOD & DRINK

DINER LUNCH

GENERAL MEETING

INFORMAL DINNERS

UPSCALE LUNCH

UPSCALE DINNER

January 5, 2:00 pm Pride Center, 2040 N Dixie Highway, 33305 Pot Luck Meal served after the meeting program. Please bring a dish to share!

January 9, 1:00 pm Coral Springs Diner, 10410 W Sample Rd, Coral Springs 33065 See full description on page 6.To reserve a place, please text, call or email Doug Kent at dutchwood@att.net or (305) 495-2978. You’ll pay your server.

January 23, 6:00 pm Bobby Rubino’s, 2501 N Federal Hwy., Pompano Beach 33064 See page 8 for details and reservation form. Send it with payment.

Every Monday, 7:00 pm01/06 - Miller’s Ale House, 2861 North Federal Hwy., 3330601/13 - Chuck’s Steak House, 2824 E. Commercial Blvd., 3330801/20 - Tee Jay Thai Sushi, 2254 Wilton Drive, 3330501/27 - California Pizza Kitchen, 2301 N. Federal Hwy., 33305No reservation needed. Just show up, eat and pay!

January 30, 1:00 pm J Mark’s Restaurant, 1245 N Federal Highway 3330 To reserve a place, please text, call or email Ric Lenzi, at (754) 303-7600 or richard.Lenzi@gmail.com. Pay your server in cash.

MIXERS Every Monday, 5:30 pm Matty’s Bar, & Grill, 2100 Wilton Dr, 33305 Drinks followed by free hot food No reservations; just pay for your drink(s).

The Surfer JANUARY 2020 5

During 1945, young men fixated on a teenage Elizabeth Taylor in the movie National Velvet and President Franklin D. Roosevelt died suddenly in Warm Springs, Georgia.

In September, World War II ended when the surrender of Japan was accepted by the Supreme Allied Commander, General Douglas MacArthur, on board the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.

On the 19th of that month, in the Inwood neighborhood of Manhattan, Mr. January was born seconds after his twin brother. Six years later, a kid sister joined the family. Mr. J’s parents both immigrated to the US from Galway, Ireland in 1929, then met and married in NYC. Mr. J attended Roman Catholic grade and high schools in NYC, and graduated from HS in 1964. He especially enjoyed being on the schools’ swim team and participating in family gatherings with the Irish clan.

Mr. J’s first job, while in HS, was at a Horn & Hardart automat on 34th street. Following graduat ion , he attended Rogers College in Ossining, NY. w h e r e h e m a j o r e d i n community development, and then entered a Roman Catholic missionary order. He received intense training in Pastoral care and attained a Master’s Degree from Loyola University

in Chicago.

He went on to serve the people of East Africa for the next twenty years and even learned Kiswahili, the national Kenyan language. He helped develop community-based trade schools. He also spent considerable time in the inner-city slums of Nairobi, again establishing trade schools for unemployed youth, near where Out of Africa was filmed. After returning to the States in 1989, he earned a MA in counseling from Loyola University in Maryland and then returned to Kenya. When HIV-AIDS emerged in that region, he worked with a counseling center to spread the news of prevention and train indigenous community leaders in counseling skills.

Mr. J was assigned to San Francisco to provide mission education, specifically, ’conscientizing’ (South African for making somebody/yourself aware of important social or political topics) students about

poverty and justice issues, and about recruitment for overseas ministry. He also provided these services in Hawaii and Las Vegas. While in San Francisco, he served on the beard of Dignity, the organization of Gay & Lesbian

(see MAN, page 6)

GENTLEMAN OF THE MONTH ● Ken South, interviewer

The Surfer JANUARY 2020 6

(MAN, from previous page)

Catholics.

In 2000, Mr. J moved back to NYC where he left the missionary order to work for Goodwill Industries, assisting welfare recipients to find employment. He also served as a parish business manager for 6 years and for the next 10 years at (AHRC) Association for People with Intellectual Disab i l i t ies he lp ing manage the ir employment programs. On October 31st, 2017, Mr. J retired and moved to Fort Lauderdale where he resides in a Coral Ridge Intracoastal co-op.

Mr. J has a very active social life here in Florida. He enjoys singing with the Fort

Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus, volunteering at the front desk of the Pride Center, attending Yoga & meditation classes there, and line dancing at Scandals! He still works part-time for Intercruises Shoreside & Port Services, assisting arriving and departing cruise passengers. He has also delighted in his own cruises to the Caribbean and a trip to Ireland to attend a family wedding. Mr. J is grateful for the Floridian hospitality, and many friends and social activities which keeps him young and energetic.

Now that you have read this brief but exciting description of his life, do you know the identity of Mr. January?

Find it out by turning to page 10!

Our first Diner Run for the new year will be on Thursday, January 9, 2020 and it will take us west to Coral Springs. The Coral Springs Diner boasts that they will keep their customers happy and coming back because they use only the best of ingredients. This family owned diner will be a great experience for those of us who enjoy the diner life. So saddle up, mark your calendar and join us for a culinary delight at the Coral Springs Diner. Call or text Doug Kent at 305-495-2978 or simply e-mail him at Dutchwood@att.net to save your seat. You will not be disappointed!

DINER LUNCH AT CORAL SPRINGS DINER ● Doug Kent

The Surfer JANUARY 2020 7

MONTHLY MOVIE ● Ed Slough

This month’s SAGE/Prime Gentlemen Free Movie will be Judy, starring Renee Zellweger, on Friday, January 17 at 1:30 P.M. Free popcorn and sodas will be served during the movie. It runs 1 hour, 58 minutes and has an IMDB rating of 7.2 (of 10). It’s Winter 1968 and showbiz legend Judy Garland arrives in Swinging London to perform a five-week sold-out run at The Talk of the Town. It is 30 years since she shot to global stardom in The Wizard of Oz, but if her voice has weakened, its dramatic intensity has only grown. As she prepares for the show, battles with management, charms musicians and reminisces  with friends and adoring fans, her wit and warmth shine through. Even her dreams of love seem undimmed as she embarks on a whirlwind romance with Mickey Deans, her soon-to-be fifth husband. Featuring some of her best-known songs, the film celebrates the voice, the capacity for love, and the sheer pizzazz of "the world's greatest entertainer."

For many people, Judy Garland’s story is the story of Hollywood: a natural talent who grew up in front of the movie camera, the pressures of fame that consumed her, and the tragedy she eventually met. She comes to mind anytime we lose a star too early. Naturally, she’s a figure whose story still has t h e p o w e r t o f a s c i n a t e m a n y , a n d in  the movie “Judy,” we revisit the last  few months of her time on earth with us: the booing crowds, the empty bank accounts, and the custody battle to come. It’s less the portrait  of the glamorous Judy Garland, forever young and singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” or “The Trolley Song,” and more the wounded figure still unsure if she could perform again the next night.Join us for lunch beforehand! There’ll be an optional lunch before the movie at Galanga Thai Restaurant, 2389 Wilton Drive (corner of  NE 9th Avenue), starting at noon. It offers a 2-for-1 lunch menu with around 20 items priced between $10 and $13 (i.e., $5 - $6.50 per person + beverage).

The Surfer JANUARY 2020 8

Our Prime Gentlemen’s January Dinner Will be held at

Bobby Rubino’s 2501 N Federal Hwy., Pompano Beach 33064

Thursday, January 23, 2020 Cash Bar @ 6:00 PM – Dinner served @ 7:00 PM

Appetizer of Soup OR Salad (make choice at restaurant)

Entrees: 1. ½ BBQ (or dry) Chicken 2. Grilled Tilapia 3. 8 Oz Prime Rib 4. ½ Rack Baby Back Ribs

*** Dessert: Cheese Cake *** Choice of Coffee, Iced Tea, Ice Water or Soft Drink

$30 per Member - $35 per Guest (Appetizer, Entree, Dessert, Tax & Gratuity Included)

Member Name _______________________________ Entrée _______

Member Name _______________________________ Entrée _______

Guest Name ________________________________Entrée _______

Please complete the above information & send the bottom half with your payment for “Bobby Rubino’s” to Fort Lauderdale Prime Gentlemen - P. O. Box #100666, Fort Lauderdale 33310 or go to our web page

(ftlprimegentlemen.org) and click on the Reservations Link to pay with a credit card.

If you have to cancel, notify Richard Lefebvre (401-474-9242) no later than 5 PM the day before the event or you will not get a refund. All dinners will be served at the time listed above. Please try to arrive at least 20

minutes before dinner is scheduled to be served so the meal order can be placed properly.

Bobby Rubino’s Cut Off date for reservations is January 20

The Surfer JANUARY 2020 9

Special EventsDoug Kent

JANUARY: Our long awaited trip to Miami will become a reality on January 15, 2020. Those who are interested in going will congregate at the Fort Lauderdale Brightline Train Station at 10:30 am, to catch the 11:09am train to Miami. We will arrive in Miami at 11:45 am, then catch the People Mover to Bayside Park. Once at Bayside Park we will walk to Lombardi’s Italian Restaurant to have a spectacular lunch with a view of the Bay. We can dine inside if the weather is not conducive to outside seating. After lunch we can walk around the Shop’s and enjoy an ice cream or gelato, or just enjoy the surroundings, which ever your prefer. We will catch the 4:40 pm train to Fort Lauderdale and will arrive at 5:10 pm. Everyone who is interested in the trip will be responsible for their own train ticket, their own lunch, and be responsible to arrive in sufficient time to join the group in Fort Lauderdale. Call or text Doug Kent at 305-495-2978 or e-mail him at dutchwood@att.net to let him know that you will be making the trip. This is very similar to our trip to West Palm and it was very popular, and this trip to Miami should also be lots of fun.SPOILER ALERT: This trip does require lots of walking, so if you are concerned about your ability to walk you should NOT consider this activity. Call Doug if you have any questions. FEBRUARY: Our next special event will be on Sunday, February 16, 2020. We will visit the iconic Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables Florida and have lunch pool side. For those of you not familiar with the Biltmore Hotel, its pool is one of the largest pools in the country, where 5 movies have been shot in the past 10 years. In the 1920's and 30’s, the Biltmore Hotel hosted elaborate water performances in its Olympic-size pool. These Sunday aquatic galas featured synchronized swimming and alligator wrestling. The shows were known as “Alexander Ott’s Water Follies.” The pool has been meticulously preserved and has become the gathering place of the Who’s Who in South Florida’s social scene. We will gather in Fort Lauderdale at the Pride Center Parking Lot in Wilton Manors at 11:00 am on Sunday morning, February 23rd, rain or shine. We will wait about half an hour and match up car pools as much as we can, then drive on to the Biltmore in Coral Gables. On Sunday morning the traffic should be light and it is estimated that the trip will take about one hour and 20 minutes.Parking is very easy at the Biltmore and it will be a short walk to lunch. The hotel will seat us pool side if the weather cooperates or inside if it is raining. Either way it should prove to be a very exciting and interesting afternoon. After lunch we will take our time and return to Fort Lauderdale. If interested in the trip, call or text Doug Kent at 305-495-2978 or e-mail him at dutchwood@att.net to reserve your place. Everyone going will be responsible for their own lunch ordered from the Biltmore menu. Of course if you ride with another person, a donation for their gas expense will be appreciated. Anyone who is interested in older, elegant hotels, will certainly enjoy a visit to the Biltmore. Anyone who has never been to Coral Gables will also enjoy seeing one of South Florida’s most elegant neighborhoods. You’ll be delighted with this adventure. Don’t miss out.

The Surfer JANUARY 2020 10

BIRTHDAYS ANNIVERSARIES

MILEPOSTS

Steve Essof 1/1Bill White 1/1Arthur Finnel 1/2John Actman 1/3Kenneth Crush 1/3William Nyquist 1/3Manabendra Ray 1/3Ricardo Otero 1/6Joseph Giovanangelo 1/7Francis Laverty 1/8Robert Baker 1/8Andres Henriquez 1/9Fernando Branco 1/10Robert Smith 1/11Al Natali 1/11Douglas Kent 1/11Nelson Dayton 1/11Robert Gourlay 1/11Larry Rosenblatt 1/13Robert Logan 1/13Michael Litvin 1/14John Siegfried 1/18Jefy Gaines 1/18

Frank Pires 1/20Gaden Kaskey 1/20Albert Wakefield 1/21Walt Rogal 1/21Buddy Berardi 1/21John Ring 1/22Dale Dawursk 1/22Richard Werner 1/23Steven Florio 1/24John Danley 1/24David Schneider 1/24E. Stewart Mittler 1/25Daniel Byrne 1/27John Ricardo 1/27Horacio Rodrigues 1/28Efrain Campomenosi 1/29Anthony Tsagris 1/30John Gillespie 1/30William Robertson 1/30Carl Korynas 1/30John Scott 1/30Steven Kovacik 1/30Daniel Bale 1/31

John Gillespie & Henry Penas 1/31/1969 51 yearsGerald Dean & Sam Letinich 1/6/1979 41 yearsBernie Amero & Tony Serratore 1/19/1993 27 yearsRon Grassullo & Ed Witkowski 1/19/1993 27 yearsDon DiDomenico & Dan Shanholtz 1/1/2000 20 yearsEd Lieberman & Bill Nissen 1/17/2003 17 yearsTom Daniel & Andrew Langley 1/26/2003 17 yearsJim Restrick & Roman Cisneros 1/13/2005 15 yearsRobbie Simoes & Luiz Ramos 1/27/2006 14 yearsDudley de Give & Scott Hawes 1/1/2011 9 yearsFunsi Bujosa & Jack Faraci 9 years

MR. JANUARY JIM FAHY

The Surfer JANUARY 2020 11

JANUARY 2020 CALENDARSUN MON TUE WED THUR FRI SAT

*LOCATIONS AL = AMF Margate, 2020 N. State Rd 7 33063 BP = Brummer Park, 3500 W Palm Aire Dr 33069 HB = Haulover Beach,10800 Collins Ave 33154 ML = Manor Lanes, 1517 NE 26th St. 33305 MT = Matty’s, 2100 Wilton Dr 33305 PC = Pride Ctr, 2040 N. Dixie Hwy 33305 SC = Skolnick Center, 800 SW 36th Ave 33069 SL = Stonewall Lib,1300 Sunrise Blvd 33311Noon

1

11:00 Bowling @ ML*

2 10:00 Tennis @ BP* 11:00 Bowling @ AL* Collector*s @ SL

7:00 Walking @ SC*

3 4 10:00 Tennis @ BP*

5 Noon Cards @ PC* 2:00 General Meeting @PC*

6

5:30 Mixer @ MT* 7:00 Informal Dinner, see p 4

7 10:00 Tennis @ BP* 11:30 Cards @ PC*

8

11:00 Bowling @ ML*

9 10:00 Tennis @ BP* 11:00 Bowling @ AL* 1:00Diner Lunch, p 67:00 Walking @ SC*

10

2:00 History @ PC*

11 10:00 Tennis @ BP*

12 Noon Cards @ PC* 12:30 Ballet @ PC*

13 2:30 Roundtable @ PC*

5:30 Mixer @ MT* 7:00 Informal Dinner, see p 4

14 10:00 Tennis @ BP* 11:30 Cards @ PC*

15

11:00 Bowling @ ML*

16 10:00 Tennis @ BP* 11:00 Bowling @ AL* Collectors @ SL* 5:00 Monthly Dinner, p9 7:00 Walking @ SC*

17

1:30 Movie @PC* p7

18 10:00 Tennis @ BP*

19 Noon Cards @ PC*

20 5:30 Mixer @ MT* 7:00 Informal Dinner, see p 4

21 10:00 Tennis @ BP* 11:30 Cards @ PC* 4:00 Board Mtg @ PC*

22

11:00 Bowling @ ML*

23 10:00 Tennis @ BP* 11:00 Bowling @ AL* 7:00 Upscale Dinner, p8 Walking @ SC*

24

2:00 History @ PC*

25 10:00 Tennis @ BP*

26 10:00 Beach @ HB* Noon Cards @ PC* 12:30 Opera @ PC*

27 2:30 Roundtable @ PC*

5:30 Mixer @ MT* 7:00 Informal Dinner, see p 4

28 10:00 Tennis @ BP* 11:30 Cards @ PC*

29

11:00 Bowling @ ML*

30 10:00 Tennis @ BP* 11:00 Bowling @ AL* 1:00 Upscale Lunch 7:00 Walking @ SC*

31

Please send updates by the 10th of the month to: DHuitema@comcast.net

The Surfer JANUARY 2020 12

Here’s What You May Have Missed… If you did, see this month’s activities on page 11 and go this month!!

If you don’t see your picture go to the galleries at ftlprimegentlemen.org

January’s birthday Prime Gentlemen

A view of our December monthly meeting

Our “Holiday Dinner & White Elephant Exchange” was a huge success as usual