Jim Himes represents Connecticut’s 4th District in the United States House of Representatives where he is serving his eighth term. He serves as Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and on the House Financial Services Committee. Jim plans to have a conversation with us that will cover a number of current topics including (among others): the most feasible path to raising the debt ceiling; continuing efforts to forge a middle ground consensus on sensible legislation that, if enacted, could alter the course of destructive gun violence spreading across our nation; the likelihood that Connecticut will continue to receive its fair share of federal government funding for major infrastructure and military investments; the likelihood that Congress will authorize funding to sustain our country’s support of Ukraine at a level that, in combination with contributions from our allies, will eventually permit Ukraine to achieve some version of victory against Russia; the recent intelligence leaks, the risks posed by Chinese spy balloons, and the ever-growing threat of cyber-warfare; and the fervent desire of many Americans that both parties in Congress move away from ideological extremism to pursue practical and reasonable legislative solutions designed to preserve our democracy and enable all Americans to have the opportunity to live productive, meaningful and satisfying lives.
Jim grew up as the child of a single working mom in a small town. As a member of Congress, Jim works hard to provide all American children the same opportunities he had to succeed: access to a first-rate public school, affordable and effective health care, a decent and safe home, and a supportive community.
Born in Lima, Peru in 1966 to American parents, he spent the early years of his childhood in Peru and Colombia while his father worked for the Ford Foundation and UNICEF. As an American abroad, Jim grew up fluent in both Spanish and English and was raised with an awareness of the unique position of the United States in the world. At the age of ten, Jim moved with his mother and sisters to the United States.
Jim graduated from Hopewell Valley Central High School and then attended Harvard University. After completing his undergraduate work, Jim earned a Rhodes Scholarship, which enabled him to attend Oxford University in England where he continued his studies of Latin America, including research in El Salvador.
Prior to his service in Congress, Jim ran the New York City branch of The Enterprise Community Partners, a nonprofit dedicated to addressing the unique challenges of urban poverty. Jim’s team led the way in financing the construction of thousands of affordable housing units in the greater New York metropolitan region, often using new green technologies to achieve energy efficiency and reduce utility costs.
Jim’s experience at Enterprise spurred his involvement in politics. Putting his expertise in affordable housing to work, Jim served as a Commissioner of the Greenwich Housing Authority, ultimately chairing the board and leading it through a much-needed program of reforms. Jim went on to become an elected member of his town’s finance board, setting tax and budget policy for Greenwich. Jim has also served as Chair of his local Democratic Town Committee, organizing others in the community to become more active in the political process.
Jim began his professional career at Goldman Sachs & Co. where he worked his way up to Vice President over the course of a 12-year career. He worked extensively in Latin America and headed the bank’s telecommunications technology group there. Jim and his wife Mary live in Greenwich (with not frequent enough visits from their daughters Emma and Linley).
Humorist Jerry Zezima, who is a Stamford native, writes a humor column for Tribune News Service and is the author of six books, including his latest entitled One for the Ageless: How to Stay Young and Immature Even if You Are Really Old. The work is a fun and irreverant collection of reflections on aging.
Hamilton “Tony” James will join us in conversation with DMA member John Craft to discuss the Federal Reserve’s policies on interest rates and inflation, the current banking crisis, the outlook for private equity and venture capital investing, the real estate markets, prospects for future investments in China, and the effects of COVID, the war in Ukraine and the emerging Cold War with China on the U.S. economy, international trade, supply chains, and global investments.
Imagine life for a moment without reliable sources of electricity for our every need, no further away than the nearest wall socket. Local historian and frequent DMA speaker Art Gottlieb will enlighten us on the history of what is called “The Power Grid,” a network of power generation and distribution systems made possible by the genius of Nicola Tesla and his practical applications of Alternating Current (AC), enabling electricity to be consumed hundreds of miles away from its point of generation. This talk will also feature a discussion of alternative green energy sources contributing to “The Grid.”
Kathryn du Pree, a life-long expert in addressing the special needs of people on the autism spectrum, will engage in a wide-ranging conversation with Tom Igoe to explore the nature of autism and recent studies that show it becoming increasingly prevalent in the population. They will discuss, among other topics: the educational, behavioral, and job training and transition services available across Connecticut for those on the autism spectrum; the critical role of schools, academies and nonprofit organizations and the dedicated people that serve this population and their families; the difficult staffing challenges that arose during the Covid pandemic and persist today; and the various lifestyle options available for people on the spectrum, including independent living, group homes and employment opportunities, all with a view to enabling these unique individuals to live rewarding and purposeful lives.
DMA member Bert von Stuelpnagel will speak about the Marshall Plan and its effect on West Germany. This important initiative of the Truman administration, led by Secretary of State George C. Marshall, made America a “European Power,” and its impact can still be felt today, especially in Germany. In 1953, Marshall was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in recognition of the economic rehabilitation of Europe after the war.
Marshall Mayer, in conversation with Ken Bernard, will discuss the heroic humanitarian relief efforts young volunteers are bringing to war-torn Ukraine and his unforgettable first-hand experiences. A Westport native, Marshall is a New York City-based finance professional who has been active in Ukraine since the firshttps://dariendma.org/wp-content/uploads/IMG_5413.movt weeks of the war to coordinate refugee assistance, supply, and transport on both sides of the border. He and his brother Brian launched the non-profit Ukraine Aid International, and together they have facilitated the shipment and delivery of more than a million pounds of food, medicine, medical supplies, and humanitarian aid into Ukraine, mostly to the war-torn regions of Kharkiv, Kherson and Donetsk.
Ken Bernhard is a senior partner at the Connecticut law firm of Cohen and Wolf. He graduated from Yale (1966) and NYU Law School (1970) and then served in the U.S. Army as a member of the Judge Advocates Corps, first as trial counsel and then as an associate professor of law at the Military Academy at Westport, where he taught criminal and constitutional law. Ken served eight years as a State Representative representing his hometown of Westport in the Connecticut Legislature. Ken is also a Senior Attorney with the Center for International Legal Studies located in Salzburg, Austria and under its auspices taught in multiple law schools from Latvia to Mongolia, including Ukraine, which is what motivated him to get involved in what is happening there and teaming up with Marshall and Brian.
In this upbeat and entertaining presentation, DMA members will be treated to a discussion of how baseball has changed since our youth – whenever that youth may have been. Kelley Franco Throop will discuss how the game has evolved, and cover topics such as playoff expansion, the designated hitter, and the impact of analytics on how teams are built and the game is played. Both casual and serious baseball fans will enjoy this engaging presentation.
Maureen Neuberger, Director of the Catholic Charities Senior Nutrition Program serving towns throughout lower Fairfield County, including Darien, will discuss the launch of a new initiative called the Senior Dine Program – a restaurant-based meal program where seniors, 60 years and older, can come together in a traditional restaurant setting for a nutritious meal at a subsidized price. There are no income requirements. Partnering with local restaurants, Senior Dine has a flexible schedule and choice of meal. Catholic Charities works to develop menus that are balanced and nutritious. This program, together with the organization’s Senior Cafés located at area senior centers, promotes socialization and independence.
The U.S. Navy’s first submarine, commissioned in 1900, had a displacement of 75 tons and was powered by a gasoline engine having about the same power as a 1965 Volkswagen Bug. The latest submarines have displacements of up to 21,000 tons and are powered by nuclear plants large enough to supply the needs of a small city.
Chris Jones, Executive Director with At Home In Darien, will speak with us about the unique services provided by this local non-profit organization, and its ongoing mission to help Darien’s seniors live independently, comfortably and with dignity in their own homes and the community for as long as possible. COVID-19 has affected everyone – perhaps nobody more than seniors who are especially susceptible to longer-term health issues resulting from isolation and loneliness. At Home In Darien, which often flies below the radar for many town residents, offers a variety of services designed to support seniors and foster an intergenerational community.
Darien’s first selectman Monica McNally will speak with us on “The State of the Town.” Monica was elected to her position in November 2021. Previously, for eight years, she was an elected member of the RTM, and for the last three years chaired the RTM public works committee, which led to a ban on single-use plastic bags. She most recently served on the Town’s board of selectmen.