Official Minutes – HVBS Meeting on Wednesday, October 10, 2007

  1. On a cloudy day with sporadic sprinkles, Shadow brought the Upright Upstaters to the Hoffman House at a respectable 11:20 AM. However, we found that Geronimo had apparently fallen asleep waiting for our arrival. Shadow gave a few hearty blasts of his horn and awakened our doughty Southern Anchor. Upon entering the premises, we heard "here they come" as the staff recognized us. We were heartily greeted by HVBS Official Waitress Erin, hostess Ginny Bradley and her husband Pat. Offered the center table under the light, we nonetheless returned to our traditional inside corner table. Erin took our beverage orders: a cabernet sauvignon for Deliberator, Diet Coke with lemon for Geronimo, a Killian's Red for PC Wiz and a Heineken for Shadow. A toast to friendship and good health was offered.
  2. Shadow started the meeting by stating that he had brought some pictures of work that he has been involved in recently. Five photos showed some impressive repairs being made to an RPI building parapet brick wall that had deteriorated badly. The remaining five showed restoration work being performed on the Diana Hydro Project dam: photographing the gunite work being performed and masons hand-finishing a dam face. Deliberator asked how many hours a week Shadow commits to his part-time work and he replied that it varies; apparently more than 20 hours a week, Geronimo concluded after some discussion. Referring to the agenda, Deliberator informed us that Ryan is doing quite well at college (although he hasn't seen his grades because of the "FERFA" law; to which Shadow quipped he was sure there was no problem getting the bowling team results). They are going to Pennsylvania this weekend for a tournament - Ryan is #2 on the team already, a senior being #1. Concerning the LASIK (Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis) surgery that Mark had undergone, he seems to be doing fine.
  3. Shadow reported to us on his travails related to getting the "enhanced" STAR school tax reduction he had applied for last January. The Charlton tax assessor's office bungled the application and Shadow called Senator Farley's office for help. He and Associate Member Shirley have received a new corrected bill but are still pursuing the State check for the "2007 Middle Class STAR Rebate Program" that is automatically sent to enhanced recipients (and received by Deliberator and PC Wiz). Geronimo, who does not qualify for enhanced, applied and has also received his check. Deliberator informed Geronimo, after being told that the Poughkeepsie rolls were appraised by a firm from Westchester, that GAR Associates (?) had done the recent Rotterdam re-assessment. Apparently the Westchester people had brought their inflated values with them to the job burdening Geronimo with a $300,000 "fair market value" - which HVBS members, familiar with his property, agreed was outrageous. Of our group only Deliberator was favored with a reduction in value. Shadow also related how the local assessor sets a home value - by comparison with comparable houses recently sold in the town, the problem relating to "comparable". Geronimo felt that schools are allowed to run amok by the State, which Shadow related to their coming up with the STAR program to avoid a tax revolt. Deliberator then informed the group that the Rotterdam Mohonasen schools were third from the bottom in expenses and was very pleased with the administration (also PC Wiz).
  4. As members enjoyed their lunches (3 French dips), Deliberator said he found it, on his first try, "good". PC Wiz, with his fish and chips, asked Shadow exactly what the "French dip" was. It is evidently an "au jus" (with its own juice) beef sauce, declared very good by all. Conversation turned to yard work which Geronimo appropriately called "bullshit". Deliberator is pleased to hire a landscape firm to mow and clean up after all the leaves have fallen. Shadow commented that he also is considering hiring someone to do the clean-up. Geronimo tries to use his leaf blower as much as possible, having a problem with deer droppings which led Shadow to suggest that deer shit should be on the agenda! We then came to the agenda item for Geronimo to offer a "motion for a specific action by members". He made the motion that HVBS members pay for "Ronald Ludwig Vogt's" lunch and drinks, considering the imminent celebration of both his 50th wedding anniversary and birthday. There was no second. Deliberator objected to both events being in the proposal so a new motion was made by Deliberator that the lunch and drinks of an HVBS member celebrating his birthday should be "free". This motion was seconded by Geronimo and passed unanimously. Upon being prompted by Geronimo Shadow ordered a second Heineken, Deliberator asking Erin to bring him a coffee. On the subject of his foot problems, Geronimo said he was "not gaining much ground", being able to walk for only 5-10 minutes at a time. Associate Member Kay is having therapy for her knee. PC Wiz asked what type and Geronimo said it consisted of exercises, not hydro therapy.
  5. In our tech section Deliberator said he did not understand the difference between "spam" and "spyware". Geronimo explained that spam consisted of unwanted e-mail messages while spyware was malicious - stealing address lists, taking over the machine or interfering with its operation. PC Wiz, with a clipped PC World article, noted that Geronimo's use of the free Spybot and AdAware programs was not adequate to protect him. Suggesting that RoadRunner probably has a better spyware program available, PC Wiz advised using it instead. Geronimo replied that the RoadRunner program is not free (included in the monthly fee) but PC Wiz urged him to pay for an anti-spyware program such as CounterSpy which he and Shadow use ($20 a year). Deliberator, being an AOL subscriber, is automatically protected by AOL's anti-virus, spam and spyware programs. Geronimo regaled us with his receipt of a scam letter from Nigeria informing him of $10 million dollars waiting for him if he fulfilled conditions which included his bank account number!
  6. Shadow asked the members if they read many books, stating that he knew PC Wiz is an avid book reader. Deliberator and Geronimo said very few. He then mentioned buying Allan Greenspan's new book which, having just started, he found fascinating reading. Shadow informed members that Greenspan went to Washington Heights High School in New York; Henry Kissinger three years ahead of him and many other famous people in the school. Greenspan played saxophone and clarinet in jazz bands (including Stan Getz's band) for five years as a professional. In national politics, Deliberator opined that if Hillary is nominated Guiliani would be the best opposing candidate but would lose New York (a blue state); if Hillary is not the candidate, Guiliani might carry New York. Members agreed; Shadow said he is impressed with Guiliani (and also Romney) as a national leader. He feels that Hillary is corrupt and is only interested in the power of government. Deliberator re-iterated that he is a fiscal conservative and a social liberal, which directs his selection of candidates. Geronimo strongly supports a national primary day instead of the present turmoil. Which prompted PC Wiz to comment that national conventions are superfluous if the candidates are selected in the early primaries and voiced his preference for the old convention system. Geronimo did not like the "bosses" making the selection but PC Wiz thought we might get better qualified people in that way.
  7. In sports the wild-card Yankees did not survive their encounter with Cleveland: 3-1. Geronimo said the Cleveland hits were "bloopers" and also brought up the unbelievable gnat swarm, Deliberator felt sorry for Joba Chamberlain - the gnats affecting his pitching in the crucial game. In a comment on the coverage, Geronimo said Joe Buck is "the worst sportscaster". Shadow opined that team captain Jeter was a failure as a leader while Deliberator bemoaned the Yankees paying $15 million for the aging Clemens. Geronimo commented that he felt ARod was "all about him, not about the team". Concerning the staff, Deliberator thinks Ron Guidry is not the best pitching coach; there was none better than Mel Stottlemyre. To replace Joe Torre as manager, PC Wiz heard several commentators mention St. Louis Tony LaRussa : HVBS members said it was unlikely and they did not want him, Deliberator suggesting Joe Girardi or Don Mattingly. In a parting shot, Geronimo said Jorge Posada stinks as a defensive catcher.
  8. Official Waitress Erin arrived to take our coffee orders. She told us the dessert specials of the day and mentioned a coconut cream custard pie made by our Hostess Ginny. It sounded so good (and was great) that Shadow and PC Wiz ordered servings. Erin then brought the bill and Shadow generously offered to pay the tip; Geronimo made a motion that he could not participate in the tip. The motion passed. HVBS Official Scheduler Deliberator suggested Wednesday November 28, 2007 (alternate date December 5) as the date for our last meeting of this year. The proposal was adopted and the meeting adjourned.

Thanks to Geronimo for his correction and Deliberator for his review.

HVBS Official Scribe Laureate PC Wiz

October 26, 2007