Fall 2004

2004 OCTOBER 5765

Tribute to Jerry Hodosh

By Art Poulten

F

rom what went on at the Touro meeting September 22 you might think that Jerry Hodosh was retiring as Association treasurer and administrator.

It was like a retirement party, even to the traditional retirement watch. Missing, however, was the recipient's desire to retire.

Jerry Hodosh was actually "roasted" on the occasion of his 40th anniversary as treasurer of the Association and 15th year as our Administrator. Back in 1964, just eight years after joining Touro, the late Charlie Coken, Touro's secretary, was looking for an assistant. Jerry expressed an interest. He was enthusiastic – and naive. He really didn't know what he was getting into.

He took the position and has been there ever since. Despite what many thought, he and Charlie worked very closely and there was a tremendous amount of mutual respect between the two.

When Charlie passed away and his son took over the secretary's job, Jerry took him under his wing and helped him through some pretty tough times.

But when Touro purchased its new headquarters in 1989 our needs changed.

We looked for someone to watch over the building and the Association – and the perfect person for that was Jerry Hodosh.

After all, he had been doing it for 25 years. continued on page 3 - Hodosh

Jerry Hodosh showing off the gift presented by the association in honor of his 40th anniversary on the job.

Directors & Officers 2004-2005 First row: Edward Deluty, president, Friendship Lodge; Lester Nathan, Joel Pressman, Milton Bronstein, Morton Coken, directors; Barry Schiff, vice president, Harmony Lodge; Judah Rosen, Association chaplain.

Second row: Nathan Lury, director; Gerald Tebrow, Association secretary; Irving Wolpert, director; Arthur Poulten, Board chairman emeritus; Robert Miller, Board chairman; Andrew Lamchick, Board vice chairman; Rodney Locke, Robert Hodosh, Michael Smith, directors.

Third row: Peter Hodosh, treasurer, Harmony Lodge; Gerald Hodosh, Association treasurer; Steven Dinerman, Andrew Gilstein, Stevan Labush, directors; Steven White, secretary, Friendship Lodge; Jeffrey Davis, president, Harmony Lodge; Jed Brandes, vice president, Friendship Lodge; Steven Waldman, secretary, Harmony Lodge; Alan Lury, director.

Not Shown: Barry Shaw, Dr. Aaron Sherman, Bruce Weisman, directors; Steven Shaw, treasurer, Friendship Lodge.

Inside This Issue Touro Goes Golfing

From the Chairman ................................ 2 Scholarship Winners ............................... 6 June Steak Fry ......................................... 6 BJs Memberships .................................... 7 Out and About ....................................... 7

page 4

~1~

From the Chairman

By Robert Miller

What is our purpose?

F

raternal benefit societies are membership organizations that trace their origins in the United States to the mid-19th century. The concept of fraternal insurance grew with the expansion of commercial life insurance following the Civil War. Confused by the concept of mortality "reserve" and finding that oftentimes only a portion of their premium was returned in death benefits, significant segments of the public became distrustful of commercial life companies. This was particularly true for members of the working class and the underprivileged who faced economic hardship from job-related injuries or death.

The fraternal benefit system developed as a response to the working environment and socio-economic conditions of the post-Civil War period. The original concept of a fraternal benefit organization is widely attributed to John Jordan Upchurch, a railroad master-mechanic who organized the first lodge of the "Ancient Order of United Workmen" on October 27, 1868. The fraternal benefit society envisioned by Upchurch was an organization that offered lessons in brotherhood and upright living for workingmen while affording them opportunities and privileges not available in the trade unions of the time, most important among these being protection for dependents. Central to the organization concept was the notion of a local lodge which offered opportunities for social interaction and provided a sufficient number of members to help fellow members and their families in times of need.

The attractiveness of the fraternal benefit society as an organization serving multidimensional needs grew in the latter half of the 19th Century. It became a particularly popular organization with the wave of immigration from Europe during the period. In addition to providing protection and social opportunities for workingmen, the fraternal benefit society offered those same benefits to immigrants facing language barriers, cultural assimilation and workplace hardships. Numerous fraternal benefit societies of different ethnic character were established during the late 1800s and early 1900s. A large number of those societies still exist today. Touro for one.

Critical to the character of a fraternal benefit society as a membership organization is the "common bond" among its members. The "common bond" of fraternal benefit societies is defined by three elements:

Fraternal Purpose • Group Identity • Group Activity There must be a purpose of a fraternal benefit society directed toward improvement of lives of members that goes beyond the mere offering of insurance coverage.

There must also be some characteristic or feature that separates members of a fraternal order from the public at large. Finally, there must be demonstrable group activity directed toward the achievement of a valid fraternal purpose that generates interactions among members and promotes social intimacy among them.

Touro is a perfect example of this history I discovered about fraternal benefit societies. It has been here for many years and is in a great position to be here many many years from now. Take part today in securing the future of this great organization.

On behalf of the Millers, the board and the officers, I would like to wish you and your families a happy and healthy new year. Hope to see you at a meeting soon.

Fraternally, Bob Miller-Chairman ~2~

Social Scene

By Jed R. Brandes

A

ugust was devoted to family fun.

Touro had outings to Buttonwoods for the 2nd Annual Family Picnic and McCoy Stadium to cheer on the PawSox. A steady rain at the picnic and a loss by the Sox could not dim the spirits of those in attendance. Harmony Lodge hosted "A Salute to Jerry Hodosh" on September 22nd and laughs abounded September 28th at PPAC as Touro attended Mel Brooks' "The Producers".

All members snapped to attention on October 20th as Friendship Lodge hosted Brigadier General Rick Baccus.

Members will continue to be in good humor with the fall's action-packed lineup!

The frivolity returns in November with our Two-Fer at the Quonset "O" Club on the 13th and a Harmony Lodge meeting featuring Mike Montecalvo on the 17th.

Touro rounds out 2004 with the Chanukah Party on December 12th, a Friendship Lodge meeting with M. Charles Bakst on December 19th and Chinese Dinner and a Movie on December 25th!

Turn to our website for up to date details:

www.tourofraternal.org

Mazels, Mitzvahs & Milestones...

To...Brother Ira and Seema Davis on their 52nd Anniversary, September 14, 2004.

To...Brother Michael and Marilyn Smith on their 36th Anniversary, September 1, 2004.

To...Brother Jerry and Joan Tebrow on their 36th Anniversary, September 1, 2004.

To...Brother Norton and Selma Rappoport on their 60th Anniversary, September 16, 2004.

Hodosh - continued from page 1 He's still doing it and isn't about to retire.

I asked Jerry what events stand out most in his mind. The first thing he mentioned was his initiation. "As I entered the crowded hall on Mathewson Street," he said, "all the officers were in tuxedoes and Cantor Sam Berditch was wearing his cantorial robes. It was very impressive."

Jerry's thoughts on why Touro is different today than in years past: "Many more people are active today than in the past. More young people and they are terrific."

Has he enjoyed his tenure as Administrator? "Very much! I enjoy the work and the people and helping out wherever I can. There's no real pressure.

I'm my own boss. I do this job and still run my own business and have plenty of time for my wife and family."

A number of people had a "slice" of Jerry, including Vice Chairman Andy Lamchick, Lodge President Jeff Davis, Jerry's brother Bob and his son Peter, Nate Lury and this writer. Chairman Bob Miller threw in a few good shots and presented the watch. And Jerry finally received his pay for being treasurer - one dollar a year for 40 years plus compounded interest. It amounted to $62.69.

It was a great evening for a great contributor to the success of Touro, Jerry Hodosh!

40 ~3~

years

Touro's Golf Outing More than "Par" for the Course

B

y the time you read this, it will seem like a long time ago, but on July 26 Touro held it's annual golf tournament at the North Kingstown Quonset Golf Course.

Our golf chairman Andy Gilstein special-ordered the weather and it could not have been better. More than 80 people took the opportunity to enjoy the efforts of a very hard working committee. As usual they did a great job.

The format for the tournament was a scramble, which for many of us duffers, is the perfect way to play golf.

If you are lucky, your team will have at least one good golfer to carry all of the rest of you. (Thank you Norman).

Following the tournament, we retired to the clubhouse for a steak fry, and an opportunity to brag about the one or two good shots we had during the morning game. The food was good and very welcome by the time we finished.

After eating, awards were presented in a few categories followed by a raffle.

Top Touro Team with a score of 66: Abe Strashnick, Howard Shaw, Dave Resnick and Steven Shaw

By Edward Deluty

Top Touro Team

Second Place Touro Team

Second place Touro Team with a score of 70: Alan Rappoport, Barry Rappoport, Harvey Rappoport and David Rappoport.

Top Non Touro Team with a score of 62 was the team of Gorodetsky, Paliano, Colaluca and DeFillippo. They beat out the second place team of Wang, Meosly, Miller and Paulhus who also had a score of 62 with a tiebreaker.

First Place Non-Touro Team

Closest to pin: Touro Paul Botvin Closest to pin: Non Touro Kurt Louth Longest Drive: Touro Fred Lury Longest Drive: Non Touro Sheila Land Congratulations to all who won.

Second Place Non-Touro Team ~4~

~5~

2004 Scholarship Winners Announced

By Art Poulten

J

amie Resnick and Andrew Lehrer have a lot in common. They both are 18-year-old Cranston residents and recent high school graduates, she from Cranston High School West and he from Cranston High School East. They both were excellent students in high school. They were very active in athletics. They held part time jobs and still kept up their marks. They volunteered for public service programs. Their dads are members of Touro.

And now both have been named recipients of 2004 Touro Fraternal Association $2,500 Scholarship grants.

In addition to the grant, eight children of Touro members were awarded $2,000 interest-free student loans.

Members of the Association and their children are eligible for the grants and up to 10 student loans given each year by Touro. The Association's Student Financial Aid Committee selects the recipients.

Jamie plans to study medicine and entered Washington University in St. Louis as a freshman. While at Cranston West she played in the band and orchestra, was a member of the Ocean State Youth Symphony, captain of the women's tennis team, served on the class council, volunteered at Kent County Hospital and at a local food bank, held down a part time job – all while maintaining her studies and ending up first in her class.

The next step toward Andrew's goal of owning his own business was taken this fall when he entered Bentley College as a fresh-

(l-r) Scholarship Award winners Andrew Lehrer and Jamie Resnick with (l-r) Chairman of the Board, Bob Miller and Student Financial Aid Chairman, Alan Lury

man. He was captain of both the soccer and tennis teams at Cranston East, helped run basketball clinics and track and field competitions at the Special Olympics Rhode Island, was on the school's math and computer teams, is a member of both the National and Rhode Island Honor Societies, taught Sunday school at Temple Sinai in Warwick and volunteered at the MS Bike-a-thon.

"These two students have excellent credentials," Alan Lury, chair of Touro's Student Financial Aid Committee, said, "and so did the rest of the applicants. The committee had a difficult task making the final selections. We wish we could give grants to them all."

Lury reminded all Touro members to watch future issues of the Tourogram and the website (www.tourofraternal.org) for information on next year's Touro Student Financial Aid program.

June Steak Fry

By Jerry Tebrow

T

he June Steak Fry meeting was a triple success. Another full house enjoyed the grilling skills of Chairman Robert Miller and his many helpers. As usual, the 145 members gathered for the meeting dined on the large kosher steaks, corn and side dishes provided by the Touro staff.

Touro's chefs extraordinaire Then, the Touro officers initiated nine new brothers. This well rehearsed ceremony is always a night to remember for new brothers.

As a finale, Marty Fine, the new head football coach at Bryant University, was the guest speaker.

Coach Fine talked dynamically about his coaching phi-

losophy, his handling of players and his Jewish upbringing. It was interesting to hear coach Fine talk about how he deals with his observance of the rituals of his faith and the playing of football on Saturdays.

As impressed as the Touro members were with coach Fine's presentation, the coach was also impressed with the large gathering of Jewish men who come together for good company, good food and good conversation. He was so moved that he asked for an application. The coach finished his presentation by answering questions about area football teams.

Marty Fine, Bryant University Football Coach ~6~

Touro’s Annual Picnic

BJ's Memberships Available

By Barry Jay Schiff

O

S

unday, August 1st was gloomy and raining, but that didn’t stop the Touro faithful from attending our annual picnic at the Masonic Shriner’s Park at Buttonwoods.

Brother Rich Levenson served as grill master, cooking up hot dogs and homemade hamburgers, lovingly prepared by Brothers Brandes, Schiff and Smith, and all the fixings.

People swam, played catch or just sat around and kibitzed. A great way to spend a summer afternoon.

ne of the "perks" of Touro membership is a special group membership rate at BJs Wholesale Clubs throughout the country. The current regular annual fee is $40. If you're a Touro member you can join for half that: $20 a year.

If you're interested, please contact the Touro office by phone (401-785-0066), email (tourofratl@aol.com) or mail (45 Rolfe Square, Cranston, RI 02910) and the proper forms will be sent to you. Then, bring the completed form to the service desk at your local BJs. The membership expires September of each year so you'll be charged just a portion of that $20, depending on when you apply.

After that, renew for a full year each September at the register of the nearest BJs. It's that simple.

Paw Sox

Dinner Dance at the Venus ~7~

TOURO FRATERNAL ASSOCIATION P.O. BOX 3562 CRANSTON, RI 02910

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Providence, RI Permit #719

Visit Touro's Website at www.tourofraternal.org

Mark your calendars as Touro presents

HARMONY • FRIENDSHIP • BENEVOLENCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS • 2004-2005

October 2004 Editor: Columnists:

Bruce Weisman Jed Brandes Edward Deluty Andrew Lamchick Richard Levenson Lester Nathan Arthur Poulten Barry Schiff Gerald Tebrow

Touro Fraternal Association 45 Rolfe Square, P.O. Box 3562, Cranston, RI 02910 Phone: 401-785-0066 Fax: 401-941-8781 E-Mail: tourofratl@aol.com Website: www.tourofraternal.org HARMONY LODGE Jeffrey Davis, President Barry Schiff, Vice President Steven Waldman, Secretary Peter Hodosh, Treasurer

Robert Miller, Chairman Andrew Lamchick, Vice Chairman Gerald D. Hodosh, Treasurer Gerald Tebrow, Secretary Judah Rosen, Chaplain Arthur Poulten, Chairman Emeritus Milton Bronstein Morton Coken Steven Dinerman Andrew Gilstein Robert Hodosh Stevan Labush Rodney Locke Alan Lury Nathan Lury Lester Nathan Joel Pressman Barry Shaw Dr. Aaron Sherman Michael Smith Bruce Weisman Irving Wolpert

Hanukkah "Animal Planet" Style Sunday December 12, 2004 1:00 pm Join us for Latkes, Pizza Strips, Hot Dogs, Dessert and

Melissa and Rick Ricci's Animal Extravaganza Open to members, their wives, children and grandchildren

FRIENDSHIP LODGE Edward Deluty, President Jed Brandes, Vice President Steven White, Secretary Steven Shaw, Treasurer

Gifts for children 12 years of age and under

Watch for details on Touro's website and by mail. ~8~