Month: April 2025

Hike Saugatuck Trail, April 10, 2025

April 11, 2025 /

Thursday, April10th, we will traverse the northern end of the Saugatuck Trail in Weston, Connecticut, which borders the Saugatuck Reservoir. Our route is a bit rocky and a little steep in parts; so good foot gear is a must. Though our round-trip trek is only 2.4 miles, you will likely feel this one in your gluteus maximus! So, fortifying nutrition will come in handy. 

Parking on Glen Road (Route 53) at the north end of the reservoir is minimal, so car-pooling for this one is highly advisable. Per usual, we will meet at the DCA at 9:30am and sort ourselves. When parking in this lot, we have been asked by the DCA to use the rear section to minimize potential conflict with their other proceedings. 

Travel time is about thirty-five minutes. Post hike, we will retire to our familiar haunt, Orem’s Diner, in Wilton for a communal repast. 

Current Affairs May 15th at 2pm Ed Barksdale: The Rise and Fall of Nations – Where is America Now?

April 8, 2025 /

The background material, provided in advance, focuses on “the science of history,” relying on the work of the mathematical historian Peter Turchin.

Throughout recorded history, great nations have experienced repeated cycles of harmony, which coincided with a rise to greatness, and disharmony, which coincided with decline—and ultimately their demise.

Turchin’s thesis is that two primary factors drive these cycles:

1. the degree of income disparity between the upper and lower classes of each society and

2. the production—or overproduction—of “elites,” i.e., those seeking wealth and social power.

The United States is in its third period of extreme disharmony—the first was the decade before the Civil War, the second was in 1920, and the third is today.

The discussion will attempt to avoid a political debate and instead focus on the underlying factors behind our nation’s contentious and divided state.

The 1850s preceded the Civil War, and the 1920s preceded the Great Depression, so what is next for America?

Articles of interest:

Darien Discussion Group Letter

The deep historical forces that explain Trump’s win

PeterTurchin–Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/nov/30/the-deep-historical-forces-that-explain-trumps-win

History as Science-Why do we need mathematical history? 

Klein, Dana

April 7, 2025 /

Dana Klein was born at Offut Air Force Base near Omaha, Nebraska and grew up in Westport, CT.  He received his BS from Boston University School of Management and his MBA from Cornell University.  He and his wife Sonya moved to Darien in 1997 raising two daughters who both now live and work in New York City.  Dana spent his career in the banking industry, working in Nassau, Bahamas and Zurich, Switzerland before settling in New York City focusing on corporate loan financing spending the last 27 years of his career at DLJ/Credit Suisse/UBS in the loan capital markets group and managing a corporate loan original group until retiring mid-2024.  His interests include (but are not limited to) cycling, skiing, boating (including sailing), hiking, music of all genres, reading non-fiction and active travel.

Schnider, Geoff

April 7, 2025 /

Geoffrey is an OBGYN, recently retired and relocated from Houston in January. He was a Clinical Associate Professor at Baylor College of Medicine with a special interest in Minimally Invasive and Robotic Gynecological surgery. Geoffrey moved to Darien with his wife Joan, to be close to his son, daughter and 4 grandchildren who live in Weston.

Ritchey, Brooks

April 7, 2025 /

Mr. Ritchey is 65 years old and recently retired as Chairman of K2 Advisors (an $11 billion hedge fund division within Franklin Templeton Investments). His 42 year career focused on the following investment areas:

a) Analyzing market and macroeconomic conditions,
b) Determining responsible asset allocation tilts,
c) Managing institutional and high net worth portfolios.

Mr. Ritchey began his investment career in 1982 as a proprietary trader for the NYSE Specialist Firm of Conklin, Cahill & Co. Since 1987, Mr. Ritchey has successfully managed multi-asset institutional and registered mutual fund hedged portfolios while located in New York, Paris, Connecticut, and Fort Lauderdale during his employment with organizations including K2 Advisors (a Franklin Templeton Investments company), Steinhardt Partners, Citibank, Finch Asset Management, Paribas, AIG, and ING/Barings.

He is married to Sarah Griffin Ritchey and has two wonderful daughters; Campbell and Lauren. He enjoys competitive sailing, investments, tennis, and completing/removing items from his ‘Honey-Do” list. His sponsor is Doug Bora.

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