BY PAUL NETTLER A short course in how things get done in local politics was provided for us at our meeting last December 9th by our speaker, Corey Bearak, an attorney whose expertise is in government and public affairs. He counsels clients who face difficult public policy matters or special needs in dealing with governments. He manages strategies on behalf of trade unions, trade groups, coalitions, businesses, government and community agencies, individuals, public officials and political candidates. Corey is part of a group of professionals who get together once a month at Buffy’s for breakfast and to network. He grew up in this area and watched North Shore Towers grow. At one time he was on our local School Board. As witness to his expertise, he played a role in the fact that we have a traffic light at the entrance to our community. On a larger scale, he was involved in the battle to keep the East River crossings toll-free. The experiences that Corey described in his dealings with local governments at times appear almost Byzantine. Those in power want to look good at solving problems, even if they don’t really care about the problem, per se. Often money is available in budgets for certain projects, which can be re-directed, and nobody is aware of it. The “squeaking wheel” concept comes to mind whether it’s dealing with either paid or elected officials. The party that makes the most noise gets the most attention. So persistence pays off. And social networking is most helpful in this regard. Another interesting point that Corey made is that there is a lot of money available for political consulting, but unfortunately not all of these consultants are completely honest with their clients. At our next meeting on Thursday, January 14th, our speaker will be Saul Silas Fathi, who was born into a prominent Jewish family in Iraq. At the age of 10, he and his brother were smuggled out of Baghdad and eventually reached Israel. He has had a most interesting and successful life, including service in the Israeli Air Force, and service in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He has held executive positions in several Fortune 500 companies and founded three high tech companies. The topic he will speak upon is “Current International Affairs,” a comprehensive discussion of the world’s trouble spots, i.e. North/ South Korea, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Israel/ Palestine, with prospects for a twostate solution and lasting peace. Our Current Events Group meeting on December 14th, chaired by Gary Darche, was a stimulating one as always. There was an active discussion about the Presidential Campaign, the consensus being that both parties will nominate candidates who are ”centrists” who would On December 15th, 2015, Al Fuchs, the Founding Father and President of the North Shore Towers Men’s Club died. It was through his vision, leadership and persistence that the Men’s Club came into existence. He was our guiding spirit and will be much missed by those who knew him. The results of his efforts on behalf of the Men’s Club and North Shore Towers will be in evidence for years to come. “His foresight is our legacy for which we are most grateful.” – Men’s Club appeal to the broad base of voters in the General Election. Also, the group was unanimous in stating the need for systemic change in Albany, whether through full time legislators, term limits or in some other manner. The situation in the Middle East was also touched upon. The Group’s next meeting will be held on January 8th in the Coleridge Lounge at 10:30 am. It will be cochaired by Gary Darche and Ralph Edwards. Ralph will be leading the discussions in February, March and April, as Gary joins the Snow Birds. Ralph’s phone number is 347-235- 0472. Come join us and voice your opinions in a welcoming atmosphere. The Book Group won’t be meeting again until April. However, the books they are reading are “Devil in the White City” by Erik Larson and “Ally” by Michael Oren. If you are interested in participating, call Ralph Edwards. Events that are planned for January include a trip to Mohegan Sun on the 12th, a Poker Tournament on the 19th, and a Bingo Night on the 24th. For more information, call Arnie Rabinowitz at 516-317- 6705. And if you haven’t joined our “Breakfast Club Mornings” in the restaurant at 9:15 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, give it a try. The gabbing and muffins are great. And remember to bring a dollar bill to the next meeting, because there’s always a winner at Chuck-A-Buck. For additional information about our club, go to our website at northshoretowersmensclub.org. Men’s Club 24 North Shore Towers Courier n January 2016 Our speaker, Corey Bearak Photo by Stephen Vrattos Photo by Toby Horowitz
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