“Kissinger analyses the lives of six…leaders through the distinctive strategies of statecraft, which he believes they embodied. After the Second World War, Konrad Adenauer brought defeated and morally bankrupt Germany back into the community of nations by what Kissinger calls ‘the strategy of humility.’ Charles de Gaulle set France beside the victorious Allies and renewed its historic grandeur by ‘the strategy of will.’ During the Cold War, Richard Nixon gave geostrategic advantage to the United States by ‘the strategy of equilibrium.’ After twenty-five years of conflict, Anwar Sadat brought a vision of peace to the Middle East by a ‘strategy of transcendence.’ Against the odds, Lee Kuan Yew created a powerhouse city-state, Singapore, by ‘the strategy of excellence.’ And, though Britain was known as ‘the sick man of Europe’ when Margaret Thatcher came to power, she renewed her country’s morale and international position by ‘the strategy of conviction.'” —
Author: Webmaster (Page 32 of 99)
Structural engineer Jon Magnusson will speak with our group about the people, airplanes, and the buildings of the WTC attack. At the time of the attack, Jon was the Chairman and CEO of Skilling Ward Magnusson Barkshire, a Seattle-based structural engineering firm that is a successor to the firm that performed the structural engineering for the WTC in the 1960’s. An expert in high-rise buildings, he served on the American Society of Civil Engineers/Federal Emergency Management Agency Building Performance Assessment Team that studied the event in the months immediately following the attack. Knowledge of the structure of the towers may help people to understand the ultimate events of that day.
While it is not possible to articulate the depth of emotion at the human loss, there may be insights not commonly reported as to exactly what happened from a physical, and physics, standpoint. Why did the towers fall? What are the right questions for society to ask? What are the implications for the future of high-rise buildings?
Jon is Senior Principal at Magnusson Klemencic Associates (the next generation successor to the WTC firm). MKA has completed projects in 48 states and 61 countries out of their Seattle office. Jon has delivered more than 300 invited lectures to groups ranging from highly technical university-level to the general public. He has also participated in more than 120 media interviews covering engineering topics – including ABC Evening News with Peter Jennings, Discovery Channel, BBC, NPR, History Channel, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Good Morning America, NBC News, and CBS News with Dan Rather. He is an Honorary Member of the national American Institute of Architects, a Distinguished Member of American Society of Civil Engineers, and a member of the both the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Construction.
Steve Roach will discuss the evolving relationship between the United States and the Peoples Republic of China. He is a senior fellow at Yale’s Jackson Institute of Global Affairs and has authored the recently published book entitled Accidental Conflict – America, China and the Class of False Narratives.
Steve formerly was chairman of Morgan Stanley Asia and the firm’s chief economist for the bulk of his 30-year career at Morgan Stanley, heading up a highly regarded team of economists around the world and focusing on the impact of Asia on the broader global economy. Steve has also served on the research staff of the Federal Reserve Board and was a research fellow at the Brookings Institution. He holds a Ph.D. in economics from New York University.
Steve is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Investment Committee of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the China Advisory Board of the Environmental Defense Fund and the Economics Advisory Board of the University of Wisconsin.
In his new book, Accidental Conflict, Steve finds the two largest world economies in a clash of dueling and incorrect narratives that each holds about the other. Not so long ago, the U.S. and China needed each other to prop up their own flagging economies—China required external demand to support its “export-led” development strategy, while Americans relied on low-cost goods from China—but in recent years, they have undergone a trade war and a tech war. Now they face a new cold war. Both countries constantly seek economic growth, but they both have a savings problem: the Chinese have excessively high savings and low internal consumption, while Americans have little savings and high debt. In illustrating his theme of codependency, Steve breaks down the reasons behind this disparity, fed by the different “national dreams” of the two countries and the persistent “false narratives” they entertain about each other. Harkening back to the mid-1980s, U.S. officials have, for purposes of “political expediency,” often blamed China for many economic problems in the form of intellectual theft, predatory tech practices, and cyber-hacking.
The author stresses that many of these issues are overblown, and he suggests three areas of focus for conflict resolution: climate change, global health, and cybersecurity. He also suggests “re-opening foreign consulates in both countries…loosening visa restrictions for students and journalists, and restarting educational exchanges like the U.S. Fulbright Program.”
Finally, Steve delivers a thoughtful framework for moving from codependency to interdependency, involving a bilateral investment treaty and the establishment of a U.S. – China Secretariat. He concludes that “there is ample opportunity to exercise good faith.”
Mark Albertson, who is well known to DMA members as an entertaining and informative speaker and historian, will talk about the current Russo-Ukrainian War, a conflict that goes beyond the parochial confines of Putin seeking a greater Russia. It is round 3,855 in a progression that started in 1763 and is often called “The Great Game.” Today, the Great Game features the United States, Europe, Russia, China, India, and Japan.
The chessboard is the Eurasian landmass, the Middle East, Africa, and Central and South America. For these areas are where critical resources are to be found and mined: oil, gas, gold, silver, tungsten, uranium, iron ore, manganese, titanium, lithium, etc. It is this ongoing quest for resources, financial domination, and political primacy that continues to fuel conflict in the region.
World War I not only caused death and destruction to those fighting; the War’s effect on culture and thinking were catastrophic. The War marked an end to an era and, to many, the end of one of the great periods of European civilization. Psychology, culture, philosophy – all of these took dramatic turns as a result of the War. Professor Hamish’s talk will discuss the War and its ending at the Versailles Peace Conference, as well as its after-effects in the cultural, economic, and political spheres, which would ultimately result in the outbreak of global war only 20 years after the close of the “War to End All Wars.”
Hamish is an Associate Professor of History and Political Science at Capital Community College in Hartford. He has worked in some of America’s premier natural and historical sites, leading various hiking and historical programs. He has also lectured extensively in the United States, Europe, and Canada, presenting programs on wide-ranging historical topics, including Native American history, the Civil War, scientific history, social and cultural history, World War I, World War II and the American West.
Frederick Host Given was born in Minneapolis, MN in May of 1955 and was raised in Simsbury, CT. At Simsbury High, Fred was active in football, softball, wrestling and ran track. He graduated from the University of Connecticut at Storrs in May of 1977. At UCONN he achieved degrees in Mathematics and Statistics with a minor in Finance. Fred continued his education at Rensselaer Polytechnic University and obtained an MS in Computer Science. Fred met and married his sweetheart from UCONN, Lorry. Lorry has been a well-loved middle school teacher at Roton Middle school in Norwalk for 42 years and retired in 2020.
Fred started his engineering career at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft (UTC) in East Hartford. P&WA recognized Fred’s ambition and offered Fred an early software position during his Junior year at UCONN. In July of 1977 Fred started in depth training of jet engines and soon realized that he wanted to design and develop sub-systems involving hardware and software for leading edge projects using new technologies. In 1980, he transferred to Norden Systems in Norwalk which was involved with government programs and proposals. At Norden, Fred worked primarily on air to ground radars. Most notably Fred developed the Built in Test Subsystem for the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) for the United States Air Force and used first in the Iraq/Kuwait war 1991 and is still used today near Ukraine. Fred is a problem solver and as such he led teams to resolve various technical development challenges. Fred left the company in 2012 when Northrop Grumman bought Norden Systems from UTC and moved product development to Baltimore. Sikorsky then offered Fred a position to work on the Presidential Helicopter. Fred retired in 2018.
Fred loves the outdoors, and in retirement he has taken every opportunity to enjoy it. He is an avid gardener of vegetables and specimen foliage and enjoys working in the yard. He is a fisherman and birder whenever possible. He gets exercise staying fit, especially in the gym and enjoys ocean sports, hiking, walking and skiing. In his spare time he enjoys solving puzzles including sudoku and crosswords.
Michael Liu was born in 1966 in Beijing, China. He attended his early primary schooling in Hong Kong before immigrating to the United States with his family at the age of 10. Michael graduated from Central High School in Philadelphia in 1985 and subsequently received a BS in Economics from the Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania in 1989. After working a few years on Wall Street, he obtained an MBA in finance from Columbia University in 1996.
Michael began his early career as vice president on the foreign exchange sales and trading desk at JP Morgan. Michael and his wife, Lin Shaw, moved to Darien from their 900 square foot apartment in Brooklyn after their twins, Nicholas and Sydney, were born in 2003. Michael started that same year at Discovery Capital Management, a global macro hedge fund, located in South Norwalk. He traded the Asian and European markets in the early years and subsequently retired as Head Trader from Discovery after working there for almost 20 years.
Michael enjoys traveling and spending quality time with his family. He also enjoys reading, hiking, biking, and kayaking.
“HIKING” GREENWICH POINT PARK
MONDAY DECEMBER 12, 2022
10:30
We will be walking around Greenwich Point starting at 10:30 am.
NOTE THAT THIS START TIME IS ONE HALF HOUR LATER THAN OTHER HIKES. We will be walking about 3 miles over flat, mostly paved or packed gravel paths, which should take us about an hour and a half.
Greenwich Point is a 147 acre property owned by the Town of Greenwich which bought the property in 1945. The peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water, was the private estate of J. Kennedy Tod who purchased the property in the 1880s. Greenwich Point offers spectacular views of Manhattan and the Greenwich shoreline. It is a beautiful place to walk and only available to non-Greenwich residents (without a substantial fee) during the months of December-April.
We will assemble in the first parking lot on the right after you pass the gatehouse. Greenwich Point can be windy and cold so layer up! Dogs on a leash are permitted and, as always, bring guests.
We will have an optional lunch at a restaurant TBD.
DIRECTIONS: Google Greenwich Point Park for guidance
Contacts:
Dave McCollum
Bob Plunkett
Hiking: November 14 at 10:00 a.m. Pomerance-Montgomery Pinetum Park COS Cob, Connecticut
Dave McCollum and Bob Plunkett will lead our hike at this 100-acre property which is now owned by Greenwich but was originally the estate of Earnest Seaton and later the home of financier Maurice Wertheim. The estate house was demolished by the town after falling into disrepair, but the stone walls remain. Mr. Seaton is credited with starting a boys group called “The League of Woodcraft Indians” which evolved into the Boy Scouts. Mr. Wertheim’s daughter, Barbara Tuchman, lived on the property and wrote the Pulitzer Prize winning book “The Guns of August” there.
This hike is more of a walk in the woods as the trails are wide, relatively flat, and well maintained. It is a very scenic property with mature trees, rock outcroppings and moving water in addition to its historical features. We will hike for about two hours and then enjoy an optional lunch at Louie’s Restaurant nearby in Cos Cob. Please bring cash for lunch.
Dogs and guests are welcome.
DIRECTIONS
Google Montgomery Pinetum Park
130 Bible Street, Cos Cob, CT
CONTACTS
Dave McCollum
Bob Plunkett
Report:
A hearty group of 15 DMAers and two spouses spent a little less than two hours traversing the 100 acre property originally owned by Ernest Seton and later by Maurice Wertheim. The Town of Greenwich purchased the property in 2002 and turned it into a nature center and park. The mansion was demolished by Greenwich after it fell into disrepair and was vandalized. The original stone walls remain. We visited the home site which sits high above Cos Cob Pond hiked a combination of paved roads and rough woodland paths. It is a remarkable piece of rural land right in the heart of Cos Cob.
This was one of the largest groups of hikers we have had outside of the beach venues we visit. Thanks to all who participated!
The only wildlife sighting was a bird which we could not identify. Slim wildlife pickings as usual!
Following the hike we enjoyed a delicious Italian lunch at Louie’s in Cos Cob.
NEXT HIKE—December 12 at Greenwich Point
Bob Plunkett
Dave McCollum
Rich Santer was born and grew up in St. Albans, England. He worked at Deloitte in London and Ernst & Young in Bermuda before moving to Stamford, CT in 1996. Rich continued in Financial Services with General Reinsurance Corp in Stamford before retiring in 2016.Rich has been married to his wife Jamie since 1989 and has 2 daughters living in Manhattan. His interests include soccer, tennis, biking, pickle ball, golf, hiking and playing cards.
Bob was born and raised in Darien on Blueberry Lane and has spent most of his life living here.After attending Ox Ridge, Middlesex and DHS (class of ’77) and spent his summers at Woodway Country Club. He went on to graduate from University of Richmond with a BS in Marketing followed by an MBA from Fordham.
He followed his father into the advertising business on Madison Avenue and worked at several large advertising agencies as a media planner and buyer for large consumer goods advertisers. He then joined The New York Times in advertising sales for a long career in sales management where he met his wife Karen, who he married and had one son who lives in Charleston, S.C where they visit frequently.
After he left the Times, Bob worked for several online companies in Business Development and later worked at several well known B2B media companies including Crain Communications, Thompson Media. For the past 10 years, he has worked for smaller media properties in the Private Equity field. He still continues to work from home on a full-time basis but without the commute!
He moved back to Darien after several years of living in NYC and settled down on Lynn Court for the next 30 years until recently moving to Middlesex Commons on Hale Lane. He lives an active lifestyle and enjoys tennis, paddle, golf, hiking, paddleboarding and travelling. As a music lover and drummer, he’s hoping to find other musicians to jam with in the DMA.
I grew up in Scottsdale Arizona, a small western town at the time. Boy Scouts and tennis were my favorite activities. I attended Arizona State University, but after my sophomore year, on a lark, I traveled to Venezuela to teach tennis. What I expected would be a 6-month adventure turned into a 3 ½ year life changing event; At the age of 21 I was the head tennis pro of the Caracas Country Club.
I left Venezuela to complete my undergraduate studies at Columbia College in New York. Upon graduating with a degree in Philosophy, my most marketable quality was being a gringo who spoke Spanish, with a demonstrated record of assimilation in the Latino world. That became my entre into the Latin American group of Manufacturers Hanover Trust where I spent 9 years, including postings in Peru and Venezuela.
In 1991 I left the bank and joined the New York office of Petroleos de Venezuela, as their financial representative. With the election of Hugo Chavez in 1999 my career at PDVSA came to an end. As that chapter was ending, the Brazilian oil company Petrobras was looking for someone of my background. I spent the next 18 years with Petrobras in their NY office, including eight years as the global head of investor relations. I left Petrobras in 2017 and ended my professional career in 2020 as the Executive Director of the Brazilian American Chamber of Commerce in New York.
In short, I spent 40 years associated with finance in Latin America, largely national oil companies, all because of an impulsive decision in 1975 to teach tennis in Venezuela. Since retiring I have dedicated most of my time to enjoying a life with few commitments and no commute. I golf frequently in the summer, and ski in the winter. I spend considerable time maintaining a family house in Thetford Vermont, where my Russian great grandparents settled after fleeing the Bolsheviks across Siberia in 1919.
I have been a Darien resident since 1991. Next to supporting my wife Susan in her many community activities, I consider my most meaningful contribution to be the first scoutmaster of Darien Boy Scout Troop 35, succeeded by my good friend and fellow DMA member, Pat Gentile. I have three children, the two oldest live in Denver and enjoy the outdoor life of the Rockies. Little chance of them returning to the tame Northeast. I have a 21-year-old daughter who will be graduating from Barnard College in December and will begin career in finance in New York in January.
