Category: Speaker Announcements (Page 1 of 45)

A Voyage Around America: Joern Repenning’s Great Loop Adventure

In his presentations to the DMA, Joern Repenning delivered a detailed, firsthand narrative of completing the Great Loop, an almost 6,000-nautical-mile circumnavigation by water of the Eastern United States and Canada. Rather than offering a high-level overview, Repenning focused on the real-world logistics, tactical decision-making, and personal observations from the helm.

A veteran of over 40 years in ocean cargo shipping, Repenning took on the Loop with his wife, Regina, aboard their 43-foot trawler, the Sea Cups. Preparation was rigorous. The couple joined the Great Loop Association, attended conventions, and hired a professional captain to train them on managing the vessel’s mechanical complexity, which included twin 540-horsepower diesels and dual chart plotters. Repenning emphasized that a successful voyage hinges on vessel selection and bridge clearance limits (air draft), particularly through restrictive sections like the Western Erie Canal. Boaters must carefully manage fuel, water, and power consumption while balancing time at remote anchorages against full-service marinas.

Setting off from Longboat Key, Florida, in March 2018, the couple tackled the trip in phases across two summers. A significant portion of the journey involved the physical mechanics of navigating North America’s inland infrastructure. They transited dozens of commercial locks—including one that lifted the boat nearly 100 feet and a mechanical lift that carried the vessel in slings across a road. Repenning shared insights on coordinating with lockmasters over VHF radio, managing turbulence, dodging commercial barge traffic on the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, and monitoring depth sounders in constantly shifting shoals.

The journey was equal parts adventure and misadventure. Early on, their engine died in five-to-seven-foot seas off the Florida coast, causing a tense 30-minute roll before restarting. Later, a rough Atlantic crossing near Atlantic City sent cabinets flying, prompting Regina to briefly “jump ship” and head home. On the Mississippi, Regina accidentally mixed fresh water into the fuel tank, causing a contamination that took three days to fix. The couple also endured 100-plus-degree heat for 40 straight days and underwent a friendly Coast Guard safety inspection.

Despite the hardships, the highlights were vast, including visiting alligator farms, enjoying potlucks with fellow “Loopers,” and taking side trips to Annapolis. Repenning highlighted the seasonal rhythm necessary for the trip: moving north in the spring to stay ahead of summer heat and heading south ahead of early winter freezes.

The couple completed the Loop in September 2019, crossing their own wake to earn the official “Golden Looper” pennant. Afterward, they sold the Sea Cups to fund a home renovation Regina had negotiated in advance. Repenning closed by answering audience questions, noting that the shared camaraderie among fellow boaters and the kindness of strangers make the long voyage deeply rewarding.

Video Presentation 

Joern was born in Germany and came to the United States as a young man, settling in Fairfield County, For 40+ years, he specialized in the business of Ocean Transportation Dry cargo movement, including 30 years with his own Company Alpha Chartering Inc in Greenwich CT, which he closed in 2008. The business provided initial brokerage mediating between Ship Owner and Commodity interest as well as Ship Management Ship Investment.

Joern’s hobby also took him on the water, sailing in the Caribbean with family as well as in the Baltic in Europe. He also has enjoyed long distance sailing such as Newport RI to Bermuda, Long Island to St Maarten and small motor boating on the Long Island Sound.

Men’s Health After 65: What to Do and What to Skip

Core Philosophy

Dr. Morel, an internist with 30 years of practice, emphasizes that while living a long-life matters, the primary goal of medicine should be maintaining an individual’s overall quality of life. He highlights that medical choices are rarely black-and-white. Instead, modern healthcare requires carefully balancing the unique risks and benefits of any given treatment rather than searching for definitive, one-size-fits-all answers.

The Stoplight Framework

To help patients navigate complex health choices, Dr. Morel utilizes a clear, color-coded stoplight system to categorize various medical interventions:

• 🟢 Green: Options that are strongly recommended and deserve definite consideration.
• 🟡 Yellow: Decisions that must be personalized based on an individual’s specific circumstances.
• 🔴 Red: Dangerous, unproven, or unnecessary treatments that patients should completely avoid.

Key Medical Recommendations

• Cardiovascular Health: Heart attacks and strokes remain leading causes of death, with age and being male serving as the two highest risk factors. A patient’s genetic code and zip code also heavily dictate heart health. Blood pressure should generally target 130/80 mmHg or lower. Statin therapy is highly praised as a top intervention to drastically lower heart attack and stroke risks. Dr. Morel notes that multiple studies prove statins do not cause dementia. Conversely, taking daily aspirin for primary heart disease prevention is now heavily discouraged due to major bleeding risks.
• Exercise: Marked as the single most critical intervention, older adults should follow a comprehensive four-phase routine. This strategy must include aerobic activity, resistance training, range of motion exercises, and balance training.
• Screenings and Vaccines: Routine colonoscopies and low-dose lung CT scans for former smokers are strongly recommended screenings. Regular checks for diabetes, sleep apnea, abdominal aortic aneurysms, and bone density are also vital. For older adults, flu, pneumonia, and shingles vaccines are strongly encouraged, with preliminary data showing the shingles vaccine may even prevent cognitive decline. However, the COVID vaccine is deemed a personal choice due to milder current variants.

Brain Health and Emerging Trends

Protecting the heart directly shields the brain, as cardiovascular risk factors heavily influence cognitive function. While new blood tests like Lumipulse can help confirm existing cognitive issues, they are not designed for early screening. Furthermore, clinical trials for amyloid and tau protein treatments carry serious side effects, such as cerebral hemorrhages. Dr. Morel also highlights peer socialization and basic depression screenings as life-saving tools for supporting mental well-being in older demographics.

Finally, the presentation warns against unproven, trendy treatments. Whole-body MRIs, biopeptides, and standard testosterone replacement therapy should be strictly avoided due to high false-positive rates, blood clots, or general health risks. Meanwhile, GLP-1 weight-loss medications are highly effective for specific candidates but require immense caution to prevent muscle loss.

Video Presentation 

Dr. Richard P. Morel

Dr. Richard P. Morel is an experienced internist with over two decades of experience in adult primary care. He earned his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and completed his residency in internal medicine at New York Presbyterian Hospital’s Columbia campus. Dr. Morel is board- certified in internal medicine and serves as the President and CEO of Stamford Health Medical Group.

Dr. Morel is renowned for his patient-centered approach, emphasizing attentive listening, comprehensive assessments, and collaborative treatment planning. Patients consistently commend his professionalism, thoroughness, and ability to explain medical information clearly, fostering confidence and trust. His commitment to personalized care and extensive experience makes him a trusted choice for those seeking dedicated internal medicine services.

Ed Hynes’s presentation examines the largely overlooked naval and irregular warfare conducted on Long Island Sound during the American Revolution. Drawing on local records and Kimberly Goodling’s 2021 doctoral dissertation, Hynes argues that privateers played a far more important role in the American victory than traditional histories acknowledge.

The geography of the Sound shaped the conflict. British forces occupied Long Island, while Patriot-controlled Connecticut lay less than ten miles away in places. Connecticut’s numerous shallow harbors protected small, maneuverable whaleboats from larger British warships. Crews—often experienced sailors, traders, and shipbuilders—used these boats to cross the Sound at night, raid farms and ships, capture prisoners, smuggle goods, and gather intelligence.

Privateers were essentially government-licensed pirates. After posting a bond and receiving authorization from Connecticut or the Continental Congress, they could seize British ships and property. Courts were supposed to determine whether captures were lawful and divide the proceeds between the government and privateer crews. The prospect of profit attracted sailors who might otherwise have joined the poorly paid Continental Navy. Privateering also had strategic value: captured supplies and weapons supported the Continental Army while depriving British forces in New York. According to evidence cited by Hynes, Patriots captured seven British supply vessels for every ship Britain seized, causing marine-insurance rates at Lloyd’s of London to soar.

The struggle was also a bitter civil war. Connecticut expelled many Loyalists in 1775, while Patriots fled British-occupied Long Island after 1776. Families and communities divided, and former neighbors repeatedly attacked one another. Notable episodes included the British destruction of Danbury’s supply depot; Return Jonathan Meigs’s successful raid on Sag Harbor; the kidnappings and eventual exchange of Patriot General Gold Selleck Silliman and Loyalist Judge Thomas Jones; and the 1781 destruction of New London and Groton under Benedict Arnold.

Locally, Loyalist Captain Frost’s raid on the Middlesex meetinghouse—present-day Darien—demonstrated careful planning around darkness and tides. His force captured 49 men and 40 horses, transported them through the Fish Islands, and later returned to seize livestock.

Hynes concludes that violence on the Sound continued even after Yorktown because the conflict had become intensely personal. Privateering materially weakened British supply lines, but it also produced fear, retaliation, displacement, and lasting divisions along both shores.

Video Presentation

Ed Hynes, CFA was born and raised in Wilton, CT. He attended Wilton High School where he played both football and lacrosse. In 1977 Ed graduated from The George Washington University in Washington D.C. with a B.A. in Political Science. He subsequently spent most of his career in financial services. As an equity analyst, institutional salesperson and trader he worked with some of the premier investment banking firms in many of the world’s leading financial centers including New York, Tokyo, London, Chicago and San Francisco. In 2001 Ed became a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter holder, and is currently a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch in Westport, CT. He lives in Norwalk.

Ed first became interested in the Revolutionary War as a child when he learned his neighbor’s house was partially burned by the British during the Danbury Raid in 1777. Fascinated by history, he and his late wife visited many important battlefields both here and abroad. Ed has spoken to the DMA  before –  2013 on the Battle of Ridgefield, 2019, about the War on Long Island Sound and again in  2020 on the Origins of the Star Spangled Banner.

Theodore Roosevelt was a uniquely gifted figure. While he employed his abilities to rise from an unknown New York legislator to become the youngest man ever to assume the presidency in 1901, that rapid success would not have occurred without the assistance of the powerful New Englander, Senator Henry Cabot Lodge. Lodge helped Teddy get every job he ever had, including that of being president.

Eight years older than Roosevelt, from a prominent Massachusetts family, Lodge was one of the most calculating, combative politicians of his age. From 1884–1919, Lodge and Roosevelt encouraged one another to mine the greatness that lay within each of them. As both men climbed the ladders of power, Lodge focused on dominating the political landscape of Massachusetts while serving as the future president’s confidant and mentor. That included advising Roosevelt on political strategy while helping him obtain positions in government that would eventually lead to the White House.

Henry Cabot Lodge earned four degrees from Harvard, was a widely published historian and a powerful U.S. senator who served from 1893–1924. His close friendship with Roosevelt began in 1884 and lasted their entire lifetimes, even surviving Roosevelt’s bolt from the Republican Party in 1912.

Despite the love and respect that existed between the two men, their relationship eventually came under strain. Following Roosevelt’s ascension to what would become a muscular presidency, his desire to expand the social safety net clashed with his friend’s more conservative, partisan point of view. Those tensions finally culminated in 1912, when Lodge’s refusal to support the former president’s independent bid for a third term led to a political breakup that was repaired only by each man’s distaste for the policies of Woodrow Wilson and his Treaty of Versailles. Despite their political disagreements, Theodore Roosevelt and Henry Cabot Lodge remained devoted friends until the Rough Rider took his final breath in 1919.

Laurence Jurdem, Ph.D., is a Visiting Assistant Professor of History at Fairfield University. He is the author of Paving the Way for Reagan: The Influence of Conservative Media on U.S. Foreign Policy and The Rough Rider and The Professor: Theodore Roosevelt, Henry Cabot Lodge and the Friendship that Changed American History. His newest book, 41: George H.W. Bush and the End of the American Establishment, is scheduled for release in 2026. A frequent writer on American politics, Laurence’s articles have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the San Francisco Chronicle. He lives in Darien.

Video Presentation

Summary

Historian and Fairfield University professor Laurence Jurdem, Ph.D. discussed the extraordinary friendship between Theodore Roosevelt and Henry Cabot Lodge, a relationship he believes helped shape modern American history. Drawing from his book The Rough Rider and the Professor, Jurdem described how Lodge served as Roosevelt’s mentor, confidant and political sponsor for more than three decades. According to Jurdem, Lodge played a critical role in helping Roosevelt secure nearly every major position he held before becoming president.

The two men shared remarkably similar backgrounds. Both grew up in affluent families, were deeply influenced by strong fathers who died when they were young, and embraced a lifelong commitment to public service, intellectual inquiry and vigorous physical activity. They admired history, loved the outdoors and believed in what Roosevelt later called “the strenuous life” — a philosophy of action, engagement and personal challenge. These shared values created a bond that was both personal and political.

A defining moment in their friendship came after the contentious Republican Convention of 1884. Both men suffered political setbacks and public criticism, yet they refused to retreat from public life. Their resilience strengthened their friendship, and Lodge worked tirelessly to bring Roosevelt back into national politics, helping launch the career that ultimately led to the White House.

Jurdem also emphasized that great friendships can endure significant disagreements. As president, Roosevelt increasingly embraced progressive reforms and a more activist federal government, while Lodge remained a traditional conservative Republican. Their political differences widened dramatically during the 1912 presidential election, when Roosevelt bolted the Republican Party and ran as the Progressive (“Bull Moose”) candidate. The resulting conflict strained their friendship and placed them on opposite sides of one of the most consequential elections in American history.

Despite these disagreements, their personal loyalty ultimately survived. Family ties, mutual respect and years of shared experiences proved stronger than political differences. Jurdem concluded that the Roosevelt-Lodge relationship illustrates the enduring power of friendship, resilience and civil engagement — qualities that remain relevant today.

May 20 is an important day because it is World Bee Day, an international day to acknowledge the role of bees as pollinators in our ecosystem. Bees are critical to the global food supply. About one-third of all the food we eat would suffer dire consequences if honeybees vanished. If you really want to understand bees and their hives, you need to realize that the queen bee isn’t just a figurehead but is the genetic engine of a colony that’s key to a hive’s entire survival. A queen mates only once in her life — but that single event is anything but simple; she is more important in the bee world than any queen could ever be in our human world.

A bee colony is a superorganism. Inside a hive, tens of thousands of bees function as one living system. At the center is the queen, whose sole job is to lay eggs — up to 2,000 a day in peak season. Prominent beekeeper Bill Hesbach will discuss the mystery and beauty of bee flight, the queen’s mating flight and the process of fertilization. She mates with multiple drones (males) in midair — typically 10 to 20 — in rapid succession. Each drone dies immediately after mating, a biological sacrifice to pass on his genetics. (Humans would be arrested for trying this!)

Bill will also discuss how bees run their society with a surprising democratic structure, and the fact that the biggest challenge to bees isn’t honey production — it’s survival. Bees face pressure from parasites like the varroa mite, pesticides and habitat loss.

He is a Connecticut beekeeper with a background in engineering. He is a Certified Master Beekeeper at the Eastern Apicultural Society and a graduate of the University of Montana’s Master Beekeeping Program. He is also the president of the Connecticut Beekeepers Association, a group of beekeepers located throughout the state, and is on the board of directors of the Eastern Apicultural Society. The Connecticut Beekeepers Association is the largest organization in the state dedicated to supporting beekeepers, educating the public and promoting healthy honeybee populations across the state.

Bill teaches bee biology and various beekeeping methods at meetings and workshops hosted by regional clubs and organizations. He is an active member of the Eastern Apicultural Society and part of its Master Beekeeper certification program. He is also a regular speaker at national beekeeping seminars and the recipient of the 2019 Eastern Apiculture Society’s “Distinguished Speaker Award.”

He operates Wing Dance Apiary in Cheshire, Conn., where he manages a sideline beekeeping operation that provides raw honey and other hive products to the local community. He is a published author with articles appearing in Bee Culture — The Magazine of American Beekeeping, Bee Craft, which is Britain’s best-selling beekeeping magazine, and The American Bee Journal, the oldest English-speaking bee publication in the world.

Video Presentation

Summary

With May 20, 2026, being “World Bee Day,” members of the Darien Men’s Association were reminded that bees are far more than honey producers — they are among the most essential creatures sustaining life on Earth. The presentation by prominent Connecticut beekeeper Bill Hesbach explored the interesting biology, behavior and societal importance of honeybees with a blend of science, humor and storytelling.

Bill explained that roughly one-third of the global food supply depends on pollinators such as bees. Fruits, vegetables, nuts, coffee, cocoa and even dairy production (through pollinated grazing crops) would suffer dramatically if honeybees disappeared. The presentation described a bee colony as a “superorganism” in which tens of thousands of bees function collectively as a single living system centered around the queen bee, whose primary purpose is reproduction.

Much of the lecture focused on the extraordinary mechanics of bee flight. For decades, scientists incorrectly believed bees should not be able to fly under traditional aerodynamic theories. Modern research revealed that tiny vortices generated along rapidly moving wings create the lift that enables bees to fly, hover and even carry loads heavier than their own body weight. Honeybees can beat their wings more than 200 times per second and may log millions of wing beats during their short working lives.

Bill also described the remarkable mating behavior of queen bees, whose single mating period with numerous drones determines the genetic future of an entire colony. He explained how bees navigate using temporary mental maps, communicate food locations through the famous “waggle dance,” and organize themselves into highly specialized roles ranging from nurses and guards to undertakers.

Beyond the science, the presentation underscored growing threats to bee survival, including pesticides, parasites, habitat loss and industrial-scale pollination practices. Bill argued that responsible beekeeping is a form of animal husbandry requiring stewardship and respect for one of nature’s most vital creatures.

Stamford Health is the area’s largest independent health system, focused on providing expert, compassionate care to patients in Stamford, Darien and Lower Fairfield County. Founded in 1896, the system is anchored by the 305-bed acute care Stamford Hospital, rated #1 in Fairfield County by U.S. News & World Report, and has a growing ambulatory network including four multispecialty centers, a medical group with more than 200 physicians and advanced practice providers in 40 offices throughout Fairfield County. With approximately 4,000 employees, Stamford Health is the largest employer in the City of Stamford, has an operating budget of close to $1 billion, and contributes more than $1 billion a year to the local economy.

Kathleen Silard will discuss the business rationale of why an independent hospital serves its communities better than a large roll-up conglomerate chain. Stamford Health has two especially important characteristics: (1) it provides innovative and strategic partnerships to better serve its communities along with world-class organizations such as Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), Dana-Farber/Brigham Cancer Center and Columbia University Irving Medical Center; and (2) it is one of the few profitable hospitals in the region.

Kathy began her career as a nurse in the pediatrics and the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Albert Einstein Hospital in New York before entering the field of healthcare administration. After serving as executive vice President and chief operating officer since 2003, she was promoted to president & CEO of Stamford Health in 2018. In these leadership roles, Kathleen provided the vision and leadership which resulted in the creation of the Stamford Health system and the on-time, under-budget development of the $450 million Stamford Hospital in 2016. She currently serves on the board of directors for various healthcare organizations, including the Connecticut Governor’s Workforce Council, AdvanceCT and Greater New York Hospital Association. She is also on the executive committee of the Connecticut Hospital Association and is the recipient of several awards recognizing her dedication to local service in the community.

Video Presentation

Summary

Kathleen Silard, President & CEO of Stamford Health System, provided a wide-ranging discussion on the challenges and opportunities facing modern healthcare and the importance of maintaining an independent regional hospital system. She described Stamford Health as a mission-driven nonprofit organization deeply rooted in the communities of Stamford, Darien and lower Fairfield County.

Founded in 1896, Stamford Health has evolved from a small local hospital into a major healthcare network that includes a 305-bed flagship hospital, more than 1,000 physicians, over 40 ambulatory locations and approximately 4,100 employees. Kathy emphasized that the organization’s independence allows local leaders — not distant corporate offices or shareholders — to make decisions based on community needs. During the COVID-19 crisis, for example, Stamford Health was able to act quickly and independently to serve the needs of the region.

Throughout the presentation, Kathy stressed the importance of quality, trust, and community engagement. She linked her emphasis on quality of care and empathy for patients to the fact that she began her career as a neonatal intensive care nurse before moving into healthcare administration.

Stamford Health has earned numerous distinctions, including recognition as Fairfield County’s top hospital by U.S. News & World Report, a “Magnet” nursing designation, Leapfrog “A” safety ratings, and a five-star CMS quality ranking. She asserted that maintaining exceptional care standards is the key to competing successfully against much larger healthcare systems in the Connecticut market.

Kathy also outlined the organization’s strategic partnerships with leading institutions such as Hospital for Special Surgery, Columbia University and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, which allow Stamford Health to bring world-class specialty care close to local patients in Darien and surrounding communities. Looking ahead, she described plans for a new 70,000 square foot cancer center, expanded behavioral health services, upgraded rehabilitation facilities, and continued investment in advanced medical technology and outpatient care throughout the region.