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JANUARY 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, JAN. 20TH, AT 11:30 AM
SEASCAPE GOLF COURSE
BIG SIR MESSAGE: RICH BRANSON
HAPPY NEW YEAR,
SIR Branch #104 had a great 2025 with great speakers and entertainment.
Our Aptos, Capitola & Rio Del Mar SIRs continues to grow as more retired people are finding our SIR’s Luncheon Meetings to be a great place to make new friends and enjoy an assortment of activities. Remember the best way to continue our growth is by you inviting friends and neighbors to be our guest for a luncheon.
Feel free to share this Fencepost message with your guest.
Be prepared to give your caller the name of your guest and their meal choice.
Our annual SIR Branch #104 “Dave Selner Fund” continues this month. You can bring your donation and in the envelope provided at our last meeting or get an envelope as our check in for lunch on January 20th. Remember we do not collect dues or charge fees to support our branch. Your donations are what keep us financially stable. More information will be included with the donation envelope provided.
Doors Open at 11:30am. Meeting begins at 12 noon.
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
LUNCHEON PROGRAM – Dr. David Miln Smith
“Dr. David Miln Smith has traveled to more places than most of us even know exist. He is one of those natural explorers who not only spin yarns of exotic foreign places but also connects them with internal truths. For those who hear him speak or read his books, he can stretch their mind in new directions.” Doris Lee McCoy, Ph.D. From America’s New Vision
David Miln Smith is an athlete and author. His career as an adventurer spans three decades, including being the first person to swim from Africa to Europe, trekking the High Atlas Mountains and the Sahara solo, and running a solo marathon over the Khyber Pass between Afghanistan and Pakistan in 117-degree heat. For 27 years, he led schizophrenic patients on 54 rigorous adventures on the Appalachian Trail, created the events for NBC SportsWorld’s Survival of the Fittest, and designed and directed Le Tour de sanFRANCEcisco Bicycle Event. He has been on the cover of a dozen magazines, including Sports Illustrated in 1970 and The Heart of Hollywood in 2024. On the faculty of Stanford’s Executive Leadership Program, he graduated summa cum laude from the University of West Florida and holds a PhD in Health and Human Services. He is the author of The East/West Exercise Book, HEALING JOURNEY: The Odyssey of an Uncommon Athlete, and HUG THE MONSTER: How to Embrace Your Fears and Live Your Dreams. Born and raised in San Francisco, he has lived in Santa Cruz for 35 years and has two children, three grandchildren, and one cat.
LUNCH ARRANGEMENTS – Entrees are $35 (Option #1) and Salads will be $29 (Option 2 & 3)
Option 1: Lasagna: Beef Lasagna topped with marina sauce with and Fresh Sauteed Seasonal Vegetables for $35 which includes 1 door prize ticket. Additional door prize 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, and cold water is also included.
JANUARY BIRTHDAY BOYS:
SIR Ted Caulfield, SIR Michael Hartter, SIR Jeff Hawkins, SIR Will O’Sullivan, SIR Donald Whiteside,
Remember, you must be present at the drawing to win the free lunch.
BRANCH 104 MEMBERSHIP: SIR Rick Hornbeck.
Branch 104 started 2025 with the passing of three of our longtime members. Bruce Dunn and Dave Leone passed away in January, and then, in February, we heard that John Dickinson passed away while recovering from a stroke. Their presence and contribution to our Branch will be richly remembered.
However, Branch 104 continues to thrive.
We were delighted to welcome 14 new members into our Branch this year. Welcome!
Friends inviting friends into SIR continues to be the best way to grow our Branch.
Branch 104 continues to have over 100 members.
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WE CARE – 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 Rich Branson 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 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.
BOOK CLUB — SIR Rick Hornbeck Email: rhornbeck@sbcglobal.net PH (831) 226-4350)
The Book Club will be meeting on Thursday, January 22nd 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
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
INVESTMENT CLUB
This month we will be meeting on January 13th 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 AND BOARD GAMES
Come to the Aptos Grange to join other SIRs in card, poker, cribbage, and any other games of your choice. This is a recent activity that we are pulling together that will meet from 1:00 – 4:00 on the second Wednesday of every month at the Aptos Grange on 2555 Mar Vista Dr.
Please come by to join us with the poker club and other SIRs to have some fun competitive games and good conversation. So, bring your deck of cards, dominoes, cribbage boards or whatever game you would like to start a group to play every second Wednesday. Also please feel free to bring drinks (non-alcoholic) and food for yourself. 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 February 17, 2026
- Our speaker for February’s meeting will be Kim DeSerpa our District 2 Supervisor. This will be a great opportunity to provide Kim feedback and get answers to questions you may have on key issues in our county.
- Tuesday March 17, 2026
- Tuesday April 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.
More detailed information to follow at the upcoming meeting and in future Fenceposts
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