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APRIL 2026 FENCEPOST
APTOS, CAPITOLA & RIO DEL MAR SIR BRANCH 104 – Website https://sirinc2.org/branch104/
“Just for the fun of it”
LUNCH DATE: 3rd TUESDAY, APRIL 21ST, AT 11:30 AM
SEASCAPE GOLF COURSE
MASTER OF CEREMONY FOR THIS MEETING: RICH HAMLIN
Our activities are open to non SIRs members. Share the following link with your friends and neighbors at sirinc.org to see a short video on SIR activities. We all can learn more about our Aptos Capitola SIR Branch at sirinc2.org/branch104/ or connect with our very own webmaster John.E.Ryan@comcast.net
Be sure to tell your friends about the variety of great speakers and delicious meals we enjoy together every third Tuesday of the month at Seascape golf course.
This month you are in for a special treat as Rich Hamlin will be taking care of the BIG SIR master of ceremony duties for this month’s lunch meeting.
Doors Open at 11:30am. Meeting begins at 12 noon.
LUNCHEON PROGRAM – Linda Ulbrich, PHD candidate History Dept UCSC
Our speaker for this month will be Linda Ulbrich. Linda is a PhD candidate in the History Department at UCSC. Her research has taken her to London in past years to uncover British nurses’ emotional experiences and memory-making of the First World War through analysis of their diaries, photo albums, and fundraising activities. This past summer, Linda was awarded a Public Fellowship through UCSC’s The Humanities Institute to work in partnership with the City of Santa Cruz. Linda was hired to create a new visual timeline to replace the old Santa Cruz history page on the city’s website. She was tasked with coming up with the 25 most significant events in Santa Cruz history. She will discuss the events that were chosen and the ones that were reviewed but not selected. The new timeline offers a more equitable and engaging snapshot of some of the city’s most impactful historic moments and continues to evolve through input from the public.”
LUNCH ARRANGEMENTS – Entrees are $34 (Option #1) and Salads will be $29 (Option 2&3)
Option 1: Chicken Castroville: Breast of Chicken in a cream sauce with artichoke hearts. Served with rice for $34 which includes 1 door prize ticket. Additional tickets can be purchased for $1 each
Option 2: Grilled Salmon Salad: Mixed greens, tomatoes, red onions, and cucumbers with grilled salmon and topped with raspberry vinaigrette for $29 which includes 1 door prize ticket and option to purchase additional tickets for $1 each
Option 3: Southwest Veggie Salad: Mixed Greens, Corn, Black Beans, Tomatoes, Red Onions. Topped with Avocado, Tortilla Strips and Ranch Dressing. for $29 which includes 1 door prize ticket and option to purchase additional tickets for $1 each
Hot Coffee, Tea hot or cold, cold water, bread and dessert is also included.
Special Note: The Dave Selner Annual Memorial Fund Drive – “It’s never too late to donate”
As you know we do not collect dues or charge fees to support our branch. Your donations are what keep us financially afloat. Our Treasurer, SIR Rich Hamlin manages our reserve account. It is from this account that we pay our bills and obligations. Often the money we collect for lunch does not cover our costs for using the room, A/V setup and for the number of meals committed to not meeting the minimum expected level. The reserve also pays for supplies, reimbursements to members who incur expenses, speaker fees if required, as well as funds the branch provides to the State Sir organization to pay for insurance and other administrative expenses. Our past fund drives typically have raised around $6,400 with about 75 members out of 100+ contributing an average of $85 (donations range from $25 to $100+). And we use every bit of that. The branch appreciates any amount you are comfortable giving.
Checks should be made out to SIR Branch #104. Please note you can pick up an addressed envelope to mail your donation at the lunch meeting or drop it off at the next lunch you attend. The address for mailing the donations is shown here.
SIR Rich Hamlin
3245 Terrace Drive
Aptos Ca, 95003
APRIL BIRTHDAY BOYS:
SIR Joel Dedrick, SIR Mike Grant, SIR Richard Green, SIR Daniel Oliver, SIR Yoshi Senzaki, SIR Eric Thompson
Remember, you must be present at the drawing to win the free lunch.
BRANCH 104 MEMBERSHIP: SIR Rick Hornbeck.
Our Branch Membership continues to be strong as we look forward to longer days and shorter evenings. Friends inviting friends to check out SIR continues to be the best way to recruit new members.
Branch 104 continues to have over 100 members.
WE CARE – HONORING JIM MUSLER
It is sad as we age, we become physically unable to do many of the activities that we have enjoyed doing during our early retirement years. Jim Musler has informed us that he physically is no longer able to attend the SIRS lunches. Many of you know Jim Musler as a close friend and/or have fond memories of him playing the accordion at our previous SIRS luncheons. Over the years Jim never missed a lunch meeting. As a special acknowledgement we would like to make a special tribute during the upcoming May meeting thanking him for his long-time participation with SIRS branch #104. If you would like to share some stories (humorous or serious ones) about Jim or to give thanks for his friendship as part of this tribute, please respond to this Fencepost e-mail or contact Mario Beltramo at mlbeltramojr@gmail.com
If you know of any member who is experiencing any difficulty with health or personal issues and you feel it can be shared with all the members, please let your caller know when they call about the next meeting or let the BIG SIR know while attending the monthly meeting.
Here is a poem that long time member Gary Schilling created and wanted to share with the group
SIRS……by Gary Schilling
We are the walking wounded
Old gents at the end of the trail
We fought the good fight
With all of our might
And with SIR friends we just couldn’t fail
BRANCH 104 ACTIVITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
COFFEE AND CONVERSATION – SIR Joel Dedrick
The group meets every Wednesday at 10:00AM. The Coffee and Conversation group has moved their get-togethers to Sevy’s formerly Severino’s.
We don’t have a formal agenda, at least so far; we discuss politics, religion, current events, public policy, technology, and pretty much anything else that’s on our minds. The conversations are spirited but always respectful – and I guarantee you’ll learn something new every week.
No RSVP required – just swing by if you can!
BOCCE—SIR Brent Paine Email: brentp1955@gmail.com PH: (408) 355-4623
We will be playing pick-up games. So, just come, have a good time and everyone will play!
Bocce play is scheduled from 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon on the 1st Tuesday of the month at the Felt Street County Park. Following Bocce, optional Dutch Treat lunch with the guys at a local restaurant.
GOLF – SIR Doug Deaver Email: ddeaver@yahoo.com PH: (831) 234-1210
The nine hole golf group (Deaver’s Duffers) will be playing Mondays and Thursdays at Seascape Golf starting at 1:45pm. If you’re interested in joining the group, please contact Doug Deaver at ddeaver@yahoo.com
GOLF – SIR Jim Stott Email : JimPams@sbcglobal.net PH: (831) 212-3393
The eighteen-hole (multi-branch) SIR golf group plays on Monday mornings at various courses and is coordinated by SIR Jim Stott. If you interested in learning more about the 18 hole group you can contact David Harken at harkend@comcast.net (831-662-3109) or Jim Stott at contacts noted above.
BOOK CLUB — SIR Rick Hornbeck Email: rhornbeck@sbcglobal.net PH (831) 226-4350)
The Book Club will be meeting on Thursday, April 23rd at 4:30pm at Sevy’s Bar + Kitchen (formerly Severino’s). As we have done for the past several meetings, we are continuing the “reader’s choice” option. If there is a book that you have read that you think other folks may be interested in, please let us all know about it at the meeting.
If you are interested in learning more about the Book Club, please contact SIR Rick Hornbeck. He will be glad to add you to the Book Club email distribution list to get more up-to-date information
INVESTMENT CLUB
This month we will be meeting on April 14th at 10:00 am. On the call we share ideas and usually drill down on a couple of stocks. We share our mistakes and occasional wins. We can’t promise big gains, but we usually have some laughs.
Until we find a new lead for this group, please contact Doug Deaver at ddeaver@yahoo.com
or (831) 234-1210 for further information.
CARDS GAMES – POKER CLUB
Please come by to join us with the poker club to have some fun competitive games and good conversation. We meet every Wednesday from 1:00 – 4:00 usually at various members homes. On the second Wednesday of the month, we instead will meet at the Aptos Grange on 255 Mar Vista Drive.
Please contact Rich Hamlin at hamlin.rich.w@gmail.com PH (276-732-134) for further information.
OTHER UPCOMING SIRS EVENTS TO MARK IN YOUR CALENDARS
Schedule for 2026 SIR Monthly Luncheons. Not too early to mark your calendars!
- Tuesday May 19, 2026
- Our guest speaker will be Jenn Capps, the new president of Cabrillo College
- Tuesday June 16, 2026
- Tuesday July 21, 2026
SF Giants Day Baseball Game at Oracle Park – May 6th at 12:45
“ Take me out to the ballgame”….A SIRS group outing is being planned to see the SF Giants against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday May 6th. It is an afternoon game starting at 12:45. Tickets are $64 each. These are great seats at 30%. discount. Joe will be accepting payments at our next luncheon meeting. Checks are written to SIR Branch 104. Transportation arrangements will be made as we get closer to game day. Again we’ll car pool with most choosing to go to Dierdon in San Jose and ride the train in at Senior discount.”
Branch 104 Website https://sirinc2.org/branch104/ Webmaster: SIR John Ryan (650) 743-3040 or John.E.Ryan@comcast.net. Our Website has been recently been re-organized and updated in order to provide easy access to all the SIR activities within our Branch and SIRs State news and activities.
Branch 104 Fencepost Newsletter Editor: SIR Bob Basel (707)-373-2484 or rbasel@sbcglobal.net