Winter 2009

2009 FEBRUARY 5769

INSIDE This Issue

From the Chairman

By Robert Miller, Chairman of the Board

G

The "Go-To-Guy" page 4

Here's the Beef page 4

Nominations - March 4

reetings again, my brothers!! As I write this column, I think back over the 30 years that I have now been involved with Touro.

Many men have come and gone.

Some have chosen to be more involved than others or not at all. Many have been members for over 50 years and some for only a few. Regardless, our organization continues to be a vibrant part of the Rhode Island Jewish community.

As springtime approaches, we’re getting ready for another annual Touro ritual, which takes place the first Wednesday in March of every year. Like clockwork, in accordance with the association’s constitution and bylaws, we hold the nomination of candidates for offices.

There is a procedure which is followed at this meeting where we select those brothers who have an interest in being involved in our organization’s leadership.

There will be positions available as line officers for the lodges and for seats on the board of directors. The available lodge positions are: President, Vice President,

Secretary, Treasurer, Faithful Guide and Inside Guard for each of the two lodges. Each year, our board, made up of 18 members, turns over six seats. Each one is for three years, so we turn over only one third of our board every year, thus maintaining a level of consistency and some institutional knowledge.

As an organization, we have been lucky because we’ve had leaders from all walks of life over the years.

The same holds true of our general membership. It does not matter what you do for a living or how much money you may have…Touro is for all of us…and we work hard at maintaining this level of commitment to our guiding principles of HARMONY, FRIENDSHIP and BENEVOLENCE. Thinking of getting involved and running for office?

Get someone to nominate you for a position. Think you may know someone who might be interested? Nominate them! Either way, nominations are scheduled the first Wednesday in March, the 4th, here at Touro Hall.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Fraternally, Robert D. Miller, Chairman - Board of Directors

You’ve Got Mail! Touro Is Going Green!

By Jed R. Brandes, Communications Committee Chairman

Killer Trivia page 6

Double Duty page 6

Hail to the Chief page 6

F

or years now, the tear-off stubs on our event flyers have asked for your email addresses. Most recently, you may have noticed that upon checking in at our events, if we didn’t have a current email address, we’ve asked you for one. What’s it all about? Touro is going green!!

Soon, we will start a transition toward electronic delivery of all notices. This will include event flyers, the Tourogram, dues statements, reminders and other communications.

There are a number of compelling arguments for this change. By sending our communications via email, we hope to have a means of quicker, more efficient delivery. This will help us keep you up to date, with an increased flow of timely information. A great example of how the system could have worked occurred when the last Chanukah Party was the afternoon following a major snowstorm. We were able to post an announcement on the website that the party would go on as scheduled. But we just as easily, and quickly, could have sent an announcement directly to ~1~

all members via email.

Other significant benefits include a dramatic savings to the association by reducing printing and postage expenses. And of course, many of our members will appreciate the environmentally sensitive reduction in the use of paper products.

This transition will not happen overnight. First, we will make a continued effort to collect email addresses.

Members will receive a letter reminding them of this initiative. Most importantly, ALL MEMBERS WILL BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO OPT OUT OF THE PROGRAM. If you do not have a computer or email service, or simply prefer to continue to receive your communications in the mail, we will comply with your request. After a sufficient period of time to collect responses, and implement the appropriate systems in our offices, the transition will begin.

Keep an eye out for your introductory letter. We look for ward to more efficient, meaningful interaction with you as we bring our great association into the 21st Century!

Social Scene

By Ried Redlich

T

he social scene at Touro combines the friendship of brotherhood with great events and entertainment, appealing to a wide range of ages and interests. The Social Committee strives to provide the best experience possible, whether it is a Lodge meeting at Touro Hall or an evening of food, fun and dancing at one of the great venues we have in our area.

Over the past several months, we have enjoyed several well-attended events. In November, we had a Two-fer at Hillside Country Club. We were entertained by a singer/comedian, had dinner and enjoyed the company of our fellow brothers and their guests. At a November Lodge Meeting, Jeff Horovitz, president of Friendship Lodge, spoke about his experiences as a patient administrative specialist in Iraq. We also had a great time on a Foxwoods gambling trip.

In December, members went to see Grease at the Providence Performing Arts Center and later that month, at a Harmony Lodge meeting, we had Warwick Police Chief Stephen M. McCartney as the speaker. December also featured the annual Chanukah party, where the brothers’ children enjoyed hot dogs, pizza and latkes and were entertained by the stories of Len Cabral. To finish the year, on December 25th, members enjoyed the annual Chinese dinner and a movie.

In January, we had a lodge meeting where Barry Schiff provided his annual Trivia Night contest.

In February, Touro went back to the Providence Performing Arts to enjoy the Jewish family classic, Fiddler on the Roof.

And now, here’s what you can look forward to in the coming months: On February 18, the Harmony Lodge Meeting will be held at the Lemon Grass Restaurant in Warwick. Charlie Hall will present a new skit titled ‘RI 101: A News Slide Show’ as the evening’s entertainment.

February 21 features Game Night. This event will be a couple’s night, open only to brothers and their “significant others.”

Various card games, board games and “Scene it,” along with food and prizes, will make this evening interesting and fun.

Nominations for new Touro officers will be held on March 4. The evening starts at 7 PM with nominations and then continues with ‘make your own ice cream sundae’ for dessert. Please join us and participate in the process to determine the future leadership of our organization.

Open House will be on March 25. We’d like you to consider asking another Jewish man who isn’t yet a member to come and see what Touro has to offer. Think how much fun it would be to have your sons, uncles, cousins and friends as Touro members, enjoying all we have to offer. The evening’s speaker will be Frank Caprio, Jr., Rhode Island’s General Treasurer, as well as KFC (Kosher Fried Chicken) for dinner.

On April 4, the Spring Two-fer moves back to the West Valley Inn in West Warwick. Our Two-fers are always popular because they provide the chance to socialize with your brothers and their “significant others” along with good food and entertainment.

Friendship Lodge hosts the April 22 meeting, with speaker Bill Reynolds, a sports columnist for the Providence Journal. Dinner will be turkey and all the fixings.

O t h e r e ve n t s i n t h e wo r k s i n c l u d e t h e I n s t a l l a tion Dinner on May 20, the Venus De Milo Dinner Dance on June 13 and the annual Steak Fry on June 24.

The Social Committee spends a great deal of time putting these events together and making Touro a place to which you want to come.

Please consider helping us improve the social calendar by offering your suggestions for speakers, new events and venues. The Social Committee meets the first Wednesday of every month at 7:30 in Touro Hall.

Corrections to previous edition On page 4 of the Oct. 2008 edition of the Tourogram, we mistakenly placed the wrong photo for the second place member/guest team.

The photo on the left is the correct picture of the second place member/guest team: David Brandt, Leonard Buckler, Harvey Green and Ernie Grilli.

Calling All Golfers!!!

The Golf Committee is trying to put together a golf league for the upcoming season.

It will probably be on a Tuesday night somewhere in the Cranston, North Kingstown area.

On page 5 of the October 2008 issue of the Tourogram, the New Member Initiation caption for September 24, we mispelled a new member's name. The correct spelling is Paul Knasin.

The season will run between May and September. You will have to pay your own greens fee and cart. Rounds will be 9 holes.

Please e-mail Barry Shaw at bshaw22@cox.net if you are interested.

The Tourogram editorial staff apologizes for these print errors.

~ Barry Shaw, Golf Committee Chairman

Mazels, Mitvahs & Milestones ~2~

To … Brother Judah and Dorothy Rosen on their 63rd Anniversary.

Tourography: Howie Wasser

By Jed R. Brandes

E

very organization has one. Everybody knows one. The technician. The go-to-guy. The problem solver. Now Touro has a new one. Last year, with some unexpected vacancies on the Board of Directors and few brothers looking to throw their hat in the ring, Howie Wasser stepped into the breach. It must have been second nature for Howie, since he’s spent much of his life in that role.

After earning his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Boston University, Howie started his career with short stints at CVS and Robert Hall. Looking for something more rewarding, he began an eighteen-year career at Prudential Life. Besides the opportunity for gainful employment, it would be particularly rewarding helping families with complex financial issues and their uncertain futures. Looking for a new challenge, he went to work for Putnam Investments. He has now been there for 14 years and functions in their one-man Annuity Department, solving problems. He personally attends to such dilemmas as improper beneficiaries and incorrect dates of birth. He also listens to phone messages from investors and calls them back to correct misinformation provided by the company’s service representatives.

Howie places a premium on his family involvements. Of all the events held by Touro, he particularly enjoys the lodge meetings. It’s no wonder.

They provide a simple way for him to hang out with Touro brothers Ray Wasser (his father), his uncle, Eddie Wasser, three cousins (Marvin, and

Bruce Wasser and Marty Uffer) and brother-in-law, Larry Berman. And that makes no mention of the many friends who he also counts as brothers. He also enjoys many of the couples’ events with his wife, Harriet.

Howie says that he had wanted to get more involved with the association, and leapt at the chance, when the Board position was offered. He dove in head-first and currently participates on four committees. He particularly enjoys his role on the Investigation Committee, as it offers him the opportunity to schmooze with ßprospective new members. And he’s a natural on the Membership Committee, having brought in a number of new brothers. He also serves on the Community Involvement Committee.

He tries to stay active in the community. One of Howie’s other passions is bowling. Over the years, he has participated in the Bud Trinkle League (Rhode Island Jewish Bowling Congress) and is still active with the Temple Beth El League (though he and Harriet are members of Temple Sinai!).

Touro has many brothers who are ready, willing and able to help.

But in Howie Wasser, we are fortunate to have a brother who has quickly demonstrated an aptitude and eagerness for “sticking his thumb in the dike.”

Kibitzing With the President

Continuing the Tradition ...

By Jeffrey Horovitz,

By Alan D. Lury, Chairman, Student Financial Aid Committee

President of Friendship Lodge My Brothers, As we look ahead to another event packed year, I want to thank the officers of Friendship Lodge for all the hard work they put forth. To our treasurer, Steven Waldman, always there to lend a hand and make sure no food gets left behind. To our secretary, Louis Beckenstein, who superbly pronounces the names of future candidates of Touro.

I especially wish to acknowledge Ried Redlich, my vice president, for his due diligence. His commitment to Touro, the Social Committee and his attention to detail, help the events which we all enjoy run ever so smoothly. Of course, he does this in conjunction with Harmony Lodge Vice President Adam Halpern, who also is doing a fantastic job as he completes his second term in the position.

One of my functions is making sure events run smoothly and assisting in putting out any fires, if needed. With Reid doing such a fine job, it makes my position that much easier and smoother. Thank you Ried.

Another job as the lodge president is being there to answer questions or assisting Touro members whenever possible. To this end, please do not hesitate to see me with any suggestions, questions or concerns. If you miss me at a meeting, you can always reach me on my cell phone at 401-864-1213. I am here to serve you.

Sincerely, Jeff Horovitz

W

e are pleased to announce the commencement of the Touro Student Financial Aid Program for 2009.

Again this year, $39,000 is available for qualified students in the form of three outright grants of $3,000 and another $30,000 in interest-free loans of up to $3,000 each.

For educational grants, regular Touro members, their spouses and children, and children of deceased regular Touro members are eligible. As in previous years, interest-free student loans are available for regular Touro members, their children and children of deceased regular Touro members.

Applications for both the loans and the grants will be available in March. Complete details will follow in a mailing in early March announcing the program’s kickoff.

Student Financial Aid – another benefit of your Touro Fraternal Association membership!

~3~

Johnny Rockets: Hot Off the Grill

By Ried Redlich

Y

ou have the hunger, what to eat? How do you satisfy that as Johnny Appleseed, Delta 88, Rock and Roll, Sexy 50s’ and others. burning desire for something delicious and yet simple, They crossed a few together to create the name ‘Johnny Rockets’. comfort food but inexpensive, fast but with an interesting So now they had their concept and a name. The first store, located and happy atmosphere? Might I suggest Johnny Rockets, where in Los Angeles on Melrose Avenue, opened on June 6, 1986. A second you can get a great hamburger and milkshake location opened in San Francisco and today, there just as you remember from the 50s and 60s. are 240 throughout the world. Later, Lloyd would Lloyd Sugarman, one of the originators of sell his interest in the company but continue on the Johnny Rockets concept came to our October the Franchise Committee Board. He currently 29 Harmony Lodge Meeting and gave us the story owns 14 franchises; seven are in Rhode Island. of his journey, from inspiration to the dream Johnny Rockets was the first restaurant to fulfillment. A native of Rhode Island, he was allow its servers to sing and dance and one of raised in Cranston and attended Chester Barrows the first to ban smoking. They were also the first and Cranston West High School. As a teenager, hamburger franchise allowed on a cruise ship. his first business was manufacturing clothing, As for the stores in Rhode Island, there is another followed by the opening of Miracle Car Wash story. The TV drama Providence, about a successful on Reservoir Avenue. Seeking additional business doctor who returns to her roots in Rhode Island, opportunities, he left Rhode Island and headed inspired Lloyd to consider doing something with for Arizona in 1984 to open a movie theater.

Johnny Rockets in his home state. He heard Always with an interest in the fast food business, about a mall being built in Providence and his Lloyd Sugarman he watched how the food service industry was son, Jason, was attending Bryant University, thus growing and wanted to participate. giving him the opportunity to visit Rhode Island. Impressed with Lloyd’s friend, Ron Tittlebaum owned a restaurant and lived in what he saw, he opened his first RI store in the Providence Place Mall.

Los Angeles. He visited him and was impressed by the restaurant, Much of the night was spent reminiscing with Touro brothers about thinking he could go into business with him and improve the concept. his family in Rhode Island. It turned out that Lloyd has an additional Lloyd and his family moved to live in Los Angeles and expanded on Touro connection through his father, Harold, and his grandfather, Ruby, Ron’s concept. Together, they remembered both of whom were Touro brothers. their past food experiences and explored the possibilities. Two restaurant concepts, which became the basis for Johnny Rockets were the White Tower in Oneyville and the Cozy House in Cranston. Lloyd and Ron wanted a restaurant which was like hamburger joints prior to McDonalds and Burger King and which gave an authentic 1950s experience. Jukeboxes were also used to enhance “a solid feeling of place and authenticity.” After spending some time developing a name for this new concept, Jason Sugarman they wrote down several possibilities such

Memberfits

By Art Poulten We count among our more than 600 members, who represent all ver the past couple of years, we’ve highlighted the primary tangible benefits to which all regular members of Touro are aspects of the Jewish community – doctors, clerks, students, lawyers, entitled. Some of these, like Long Term Care Insurance and accountants, professors, judges, policemen, business owners, retirees, special discounts, are available to Social members, as well. We had politicians. The list goes on and on. And we all sit together as brothers. intended to review them in this edition of the Tourogram, until we Included are second and third generations of the same family. Most live realized we actually have missed the most important benefit Touro has in the area and most of those who move away retain their memberships and periodically return to enjoy the camaraderie of their brothers. to offer all of its members!

It’s there for the taking at absolutely no extra charge at every meeting The benefit we haven’t discussed can’t be counted as one of those tangible things. It’s not something that can be measured in dollars and and social function. All you have to do is make up your mind to take cents savings, or special privileges or any other measured “yardstick” advantage of it.

Camaraderie! A benefit which cannot be measured or even that I can think of. adequately described. Yet it’s one that always increases in value over Yet we all take advantage of it and gain from exposure to it.

If it has to have a title, let’s call it Camaraderie. If it has to be time.

Camaraderie! Another way your membership in Touro Fraternal defined, let’s use just three words with which we’re all familiar: Harmony, Association pays dividends!

Friendship & Benevolence.

O

~4~

Barry’s Trivia Night Back with a Vengeance

Touro Welcomes 4 New Brothers

By Lester Nathan

On Wednesday January 21, 2009 Touro initiated 4 new brothers. They are (l to r): Jeffrey Greenberg, Alan Hopfenburg, Curtis Abbott, and Bruce Nasberg

Community Involvement Now More than Ever

By Andy Lamchick

Y

ou cannot turn on a TV, radio or a computer, or pick up a newspaper without hearing about people and organizations in financial need. This was the theme of the Community Involvement Committee’s year-end meeting in November.

As we reviewed our annual allocation, we sought to determine how we could use this money to do the most good in our community during these trying times.

In years gone by, the Community Involvement Committee has provided assistance to Jewish families in need during Hanukkah. After checking with Jewish Family Services, we found that many donors have stepped up to help local families have a happier Hanukkah, but many others had financial problems with basic necessities like electricity and heat. It was a quick and easy decision to commit $1500 to the Jewish Family Services Emergency Fund. We were assured that this would greatly assist the need which exists in our community.

We were also informed that the rising prices of RIPTA fares have caused problems for elderly passengers commuting to the kosher meal site in Cranston. We donated another $1000 to help underwrite this shortfall.

Last year we heard about serious shortfalls for the Meals on Wheels program through cuts in state funding. We then stepped in to assist hungry Rhode Islanders. Learning that this year’s situation was even worse, we gladly donated $1000 to help out.

Finally, we wanted to help Jewish youth in our area. Once again, we donated $600 to sponsor two Shabbat dinners at the URI Hillel.

Neither Touro nor the Community Involvement Committee will be able to solve the financial issues our community is facing, but in a quiet way, we can help ease the burden, and we will continue to do so.

Trivia Master Barry Schiff with the winning/surviving Trivia team of Larry Berman and Barry Rotenberg

A

fter last year’s Trivia Night, we openly hoped that Quizmaster Barry Schiff would show some mercy to his Touro brothers this year by asking some easier questions. Based on the results, it did not turn out that way. Trivia Night 2009, on January 21, was a brutal form of the trivial.

A smaller than usual audience enjoyed a meatloaf dinner following the monthly business meeting and an initiation, run by Friendship Lodge.

Tables were then cleared, brothers paired up into teams and the “fun” began.

Barry’s 40 questions came from four areas: James Bond movies, airlines, TV series and sports. Those without exposure to Bond films were in a bind; for example, can you name the character played by Jimmy Dean in Diamonds Are Forever? Airline questions were a bit easier, but the following ones on TV series required dedicated viewing; for example, do you remember the name the moderator of Meet the Press prior to Tim Russert? The sports questions varied over different sports and were very challenging. In any case, Barry did a nice job using his PowerPoint slides with our media system.

The winners/survivors were: First place (18 correct answers): Larry Berman & Barry Rotenberg; Second Place (tied at 17 correct): Jed Brandes & Steve Labush and Stephen Goldman & Andy Lamchick.

To Barry’s right is Jed Brandes and Stevan Labush and to his left is Andy Lamchick and Steve Goldman. Both teams tied for second place. ~5~

Hail to the Chief

By Adam G. Smith arwick’s police chief, Col. Stephen M. McCartney, spoke to McCartney began a dialogue with Northeastern University, which did Touro at the American Chop Suey Dinner held on December the study. He believed the study was biased. For example, he said, older cops worked in mornings and they stopped fewer cars while in the 17th.

Chief since June of 1999, he was appointed by former Mayor evening, the younger officers were giving more tickets. The study did not account for the driving demographics Lincoln Chaffee. Prior to that, he served vs. the times of day. in Providence for 25 years. As director McCartney stated that after of the city’s first mounted unit, he 9/11, the racial profiling problem shifted commanded the detective division and to illegal immigration issues. Police were oversaw the investigation of Operation interested in illegal immigrants regarding Checkmate (Latin Kings cleanup). He criminal cases, not economic cases. He is a retired U.S. Marine Corps colonel, delineated the difference between illegal having served 30 years, and currently is and undocumented people. He discussed president of the RI Association of Chiefs the difference between criminal and civil of Police. detainees if someone is caught for an Among other things, Chief offense, and talked probable cause for McCartney discussed immigration, racial pulling a person over. McCartney said profiling, violent crime, information he’s battled the ACLU and believes it sharing and 9/11. tries to make the police look bad because Prior to 9/11, racial profiling those who complain don’t tell the police during the late 1980s and early 1990s focused on the war against drugs. Chief (l-r) Col. Stephen M. McCartney with Brother Harvey Michaels. about the complaint, before going to state legislature.

McCartney stated that “minorities were McCartney responded to numerous questions from the Touro targeted” and “lawsuits happened.” He spoke of research studies from the late 1990s, which showed Rhode Island was targeting minorities. The brothers and discussed police training with ICE and victims and domestic fatal shooting of Providence Police Sgt. Cornell in 2001 was brought violence. He briefly touched on border issues, teenage drinking and up. Research done on traffic studies between 2001-2003 found police identity theft. were stopping and searching minorities in disproportionate numbers.

W

Double Duty for Brother Horovitz

By Barry Schiff

W

(l-r) Adrian Horovitz with son Jeff.

ednesday night, November 19th, was a special night at Touro Hall. Friendship Lodge President Jeff Horovitz not only presided over our lodge meeting, he also served as the evening’s speaker.

After serving our country in the Marines earlier in his career, Jeff felt the call of duty after 9/11 and enlisted in the Army. From October 2005 to October 2006, Jeff was the Patient Administrative Specialist at an Army base in Bilad, Iraq, 50 miles north of Baghdad. Among his duties were Combat Stress Control, Fitness Prevention and Mental Health Assessment of troops returning from battle.

Jeff ’s PowerPoint presentation to Touro included photographs he took of the many assorted types of military equipment being used in Iraq, the friends he made, as well as the living quarters he endured.

Highlights of his presentation were photos of one of Saddam Hussein’s palaces he visited. Jeff showed strength of character by avoiding the shell shock, which could result from answering his brothers, many questions.

(l-r) Jeff gets the "point" from Steve Shapiro.

~6~

New Brothers Brothers Who Joined in 2008 Eric M. Shore David Bielory Mark S. Binder Stephen E. Broman Scott Fertik Samuel Glicksman Burton Goldstein Jeffrey Harpel Benjamin Kaplan

Brothers and Sisters who passed away in 2008

Paul M. Knasin Robert Lubin Barry Mechanic Benjamin Moskoff Raphie Schochet Peter Shore Stephen Sirota Jeremy Steinberg Edward M. Steiner Edward Wilner

Dr Donald Bernstein Robert J. Clark Jerome Deluty Mitchell E. Geller Michael Goldstein Harry L. Holland Beatrice Horenstein Louis Katznelson Jack Kirsh Irving Kushner

Corinne Lamchick Maxwell Morgan Harold Rosenberg Lewis F. Salk Charles Salmanson Morris Shatkin Bernard Spigel Saul Spitz Calvin Sugarman H. Leonard Waldman Herbert Wagner

Snapshots from the Fall Two-fer at Hillside Country Club and the family Chanukah Party at Touro Hall ~7~

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

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

UPCOMING TOURO EVENTS Membership Open House featuring FRANK CAPRIO, JR R.I. State General Treasurer March 25

Friendship Lodge hosts BILL REYNOLDS Providence Journal Sports Columnist April 22

Visit Touro's Website at www.tourofraternal.org

2009 Bruce Weisman, Editor Columnists: Jed Brandes Howard Custis Edward Deluty Andrew Lamchick Lester Nathan Arthur Poulten Reid Redlich Barry Schiff Adam Smith 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 Steven White, President Adam Halpern, Vice President Adam Smith, Secretary Manochehr Norparvah, Treasurer Barry Schiff, Inside Guard

FEBRUARY

5769

TOURO BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2008-2009 Robert Miller, Chairman Andrew Lamchick, Vice Chairman Steven Waldman, Treasurer Marc Gertsacov, Secretary Judah Rosen, Chaplain Barry Shaw, Inside Guard Arthur Poulten, Chairman Emeritus Jed Brandes Milton Bronstein Morton Coken Jeffrey Davis Edward Deluty Stevan Labush Rodney Locke Alan Lury

Can you sing? Dance?

Play an instrument?

Do impressions? Tricks?

Compete for the undying admiration of your brothers!

Wednesday

Nathan Lury Barry Rotenberg Barry Schiff Barry Shaw Stuart Solup Michael Smith Howard Wasser Bruce Weisman

FRIENDSHIP LODGE Jeff Horovitz, President Ried Redlich, Vice President Louis Beckenstein, Secretary Steven Waldman, Treasurer Howard Blustein, Inside Guard

June 24 6:30 pm at Touro Hall

Watch your mail, check our website or call for details 785-0066

HARMONY • FRIENDSHIP • BENEVOLENCE ~8~