Annual Past Presidents' Cookout

For the past three years, John Ruzich, the past President of SKAL New York and SKAL International Auditor, has hosted a great group of Skalleagues at his home in Cresskill, NJ for a Past Presidents’ party. It started as a New York event but there have been as many as seven clubs represented. This year past presidents from New York, New Jersey, Albany, Long Island, Philadelphia and Toronto attended. In all there were over twenty past presidents there. It must be the “place to be”.

The gods must love SKAL because the weather has been perfect all three years. John and his wife, Betty, go all out to provide great food, drink and ambience. It was one of the first joint SKAL events after the pandemic and was just what everyone needed. It has grown in three years and members come from all over. Last year our SKAL USA president, Richard Scinta, flew up from Orlando. Former New York president, Carolyn Feimster, has come from Indiana all three years. And this year our own Carla Plaster-Camp flew in from Washington state.

In my last “gem” I spoke of NASC and the spirit of camaraderie that envelopes everyone. Well! John’s party has that same feel. Seeing old friends and meeting new ones! Sharing old stories and telling tales of our recent travels! This year featured a silent raffle for several amazing prizes e.g. Delta tickets, resort stays, spa vacations and more. All of the prizes were donated. Yours truly won three days at Club Med for a fraction of the cost!

One of the contributors, Dean Fenton, the area manager for Antigua and Barbuda, not only donated a prize but was also a major sponsor for the event. He also gave all of the past presidents a copy of his latest book of poetry, his fourth!

One of the most important parts of the event was the twinning of SKAL New Jersey and New York. This was significant since 15 SKAL New York members split off in 1977 to form SKAL Northern New Jersey. The twinning was long in coming since our members regularly attend each others meetings. I was privileged to talk about the twinning and mentioned that when we formalized our twinning with Mexico City on May 5 at NASC the host club treated me as part of their family. That’s what twinning is to me. Enlarging your family. SKAL New Jersey was represented by Past Presidents Robert Lowell, Bonnie Kessler, Tim O’Neill and Jim Dwyer.

For those who can’t go to a World Congress or NASC I highly recommend John Ruzich’s past presidents’ party. The date is flexible. Last year it was in May and this year in June. Regardless it should not be missed. I guarantee I’ll be there!!!