Redefine Retirement

SIR BR54 has a focus on retirement enrichment. We have activities that expand your experiences while you make new friends. We travel, play games, hike and enjoy interesting speakers while we enjoy lunch.

Monthly BR54 Member Lunch

If you cannot join in person, most meetings are on Zoom . You can view the presentations by clicking the links or images associated with the speakers on the Speaker Page.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/92953111620?pwd=JhN1IKT5nHBxmLslO5qWfw59jmtMpX.1

Meeting ID: 929 5311 1620
Passcode: 298421

Trust In Education

I will share the challenges we’ve faced  in providing aid to Afghan children and families since the Taliban gained control of the country in August 2021 and contrast that with the period before they were in charge.

The Afghans have recently been judged to be the poorest and unhappiest people in the world, which is understandable.  We have  been able to change the trajectory of well over a thousand lives, with the assistance of two program directors in Kabul who fear being arrested by the Taliban’s “morality police” for our efforts in educating Afghan girls.

Basically, I will cover what we have been able to do, what we are doing now and our plans for the future. What I’ve learned by providing aid in Afghanistan since 2005 is that the greatest rewards in life come from the impact we have on the lives of others.  

We celebrated Saint Patrick with a delicious Corned Beef lunch and a fantastic presentation by Bud MacKenzie of his trials and successes providing education and life enhancing opportunities in Afghanistan.

Big SIR Hersh Brown welcomed the happy group and then provided updates on branch activities and events including an introduction of Steve Lundgaard a new applicant and the loss of two members Rob Miller and Robert Vazquez. We will miss them both! Finally, Ed Lynn was the lucky winner of the Attendance Award.

TRAVEL

 We have several travel opportunities in 2024 ranging from Alaska, through the Panama canal, Mexico and several trips to Europe..

To view travel opportunity details… Go to our Travel Page

Investment Club

Silicon Valley Retirees Investment Club (SVRIG) –Meeting Notice – We meet at 1 pm on the LAST Thursday of the month except November & December when it is combined on the FIRST Thursday of December.

  Go to our Investment Page for meeting information the schedule.

Chess

Chess meets every Tuesday 12:30 – 3:30PM except holidays in the Community Center at 2175 Lincoln Ave, San Jose.

Go to our Chess page for more information.

Hiller Aviation Day Trip, March 20th

Our next Day Trip is to the Hiller Aviation Museum at the San Carlos Airport.  Their address is 601 Skyway Rd, San Carlos.  We plan to meet at Hiller at 11am,  but a few of us will ride share meeting at the 3Flames Restaurant parking lot at 10am and departing at 10:15am sharp to the Hiller Aviation Museum.  We will return to the 3 Flames at approximately 3pm in hopes to miss the both morning and afternoon traffic.

This museum has 35-40 Aircraft on display ranging in years from 1869-2017.  The cost is $14.00 per ticket for seniors.  Please note, they do not have food on site but there are restaurants nearby where we can get a quick bite of food.

Dear Sirs,

As you already know, every other hike is a little strenuous.  March 28 hike starts at the Los Gatos Creek trail where it meets Miles Ave, but goes on towards the hills rather than going down to Vasona Park.  It is a challenging hike but you will be rewarded with a beautiful view of Lexington Reservoir.  And the return part of the hike is all downhill.  

One small issue, there is a 40% chance of rain that day and the trail can become muddy.  I will send an email to either confirm the hike or state a more appropriate one depending on the weather. Call me if you have any question.

Marcel Tomassian (408)206-0532

P.S.  I have attached a hiking schedule for 2025.  Be aware that we can be flexible due to weather reports, requests from you, or conflicts with other events.

Hello mild hikers and neighborhood walkers.  Monday mornings we walk. The walk typically covers 2-3 miles of mild up and down streets.

During the summer we start at 8 AM at SIR Charles (Heck) Hecker’s place on Crisp Ave. just two and a half blocks east of Fruitvale Ave. near West Valley College.

If you’re interested let me know and plan on arriving between 7:45 and 7:55.  We try to leave promptly at 8. 

Larry Snapp 

Folks,

We have a Petanque Spring Special! 

Come to play with us today.

If you play two games or more it’s free.

Please come early and make your entry if you are coming.

Bring you water to stay hydrated.

All the best 😃,

Archie 

Look at professional Petanque games (see youtube link). It’s beautiful!

https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?fr=yhs-infospace-003&ei=UTF-8&hsimp=yhs-003&hspart=infospace&param1=samlxcxqpnrrx78gt1xni106&p=youtube+petanque+2024&type=ud-c-us–s-p-sj23mhp6–exp-none–subid-none#id=9&vid=189b8c6b98acf8ad1669e38cd20dc527&action=click

Cheers 😉,

Archie

For directions and more information go to the Petanque page.

On Wednesday and Saturday you can join Archie at Azule Park for lively competition and lots of fun. For rules, park directions and prior event photos click Petanque.

Competition Golf 

2025 March Area 11 Tournament

Santa Teresa Golf Club Tournament

260 Bernal Road, San Jose

408-225-2650

When: March 17th

Start: 10:00 AM

Format: Scramble (make your own team)

Cost: $77.00

Cancelled due to rain

Golf is fun on Monday and Wednesday

To see the golf schedule, competition results and photo’s just click Golf.

Some of our members also regularly play golf at Bay View, Moffett Field and Spring Valley. Sometimes we play Dublin Ranch, Santa Teresa, Poppy Ridge, Canyon Lakes, Wente Vineyards and Cinnabar.

There is a challenge for all of us. But most of all we just have fun. Come and join us.