Greetings fellow Sirs, Branch 169 January, 2021
If the year 2020 had a lesson to teach us, it might be that it is important to set goals,
consider options, and look ahead. A quote from General Dwight D. Eisenhower to
provide perspective: “I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is
indispensable.” General Eisenhower’s generation is identified as “The Greatest
Generation” or those born 1901-1927. We have just endured a year of uncertainties
related to the Corona Virus. By contrast, the members of “The Greatest Generation”
endured: The Spanish Flu (1920); The stock market crash/Great Depression (1929);
World War II (1939-1945); Smallpox (1949), The Korean War (1950-1953), and Polio (1950-
1953).
Presently SIR Branch 169 is complying with the California state mandates. We are
waiting for permission to reinstate our monthly activities. We have been and are
presently in contact with Pardini’s Catering and they are eager to host us for monthly
luncheons. The most recent information from our State SIR Board of Directors includes
the following: (1) Reinstate golfing as an activity as soon as possible. (2) Reinstate 1953).
Many of us in SIR Branch 169 are members of “The Silent Generation” or those born
1928-1945. We have the distinction of being the richest, most free-spending retirees in
history. In addition, we are known to be disciplined, self-sacrificing, and cautious. So,
permit me to emphasize that with caution and personal optimism let’s begin the year
2021 with the hope that our present circumstances will become memories to discuss and
at some point, we will return to a “normal” schedule.

At our SIR Branch 169 January, 2021 Board Meeting our agenda included the following:
1. Membership and ways to keep our members engaged and informed.
2. Treasurer’s position: Duane Evans has asked that we find someone to assume his
responsibilities as treasurer. Any of you who may be interested can contact
Duane or other members of the Branch 169 board.
3. Presently there are golfing activities called “Friends of Golf” which are organized by
Ed Dorn. This is not a SIR sponsored activity.
4. A member of a SIR Chapter in northern California contacted us to see if we had any
interest in establishing a Book Club via Zoom.
5. Branch 169 Newsletter: We had discussion as to ways we might better communicate
with our branch membership. We concluded that we would try a different format
for a few months and get feedback from our membership regarding its
effectiveness.
6. Jim Forden, our Branch Secretary, and Jim Hiney our membership chairman, reported
that with the recent flock of new members we now have 98 members on our
roster. With this said, would you please email to Jim Forden your picture if you
are a new member, so he can update the current information.
7. Lee Nichols and Ted Fox provided information regarding the Creek Fire fund raiser
and we send a collective “Thank You” to our membership for your generosity in
making this a huge success.