Summer 2011

2 0 11 JULY 5771

INSIDE This Issue

2011 ELECTION & INSTALLATION

By Art Poulten

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Tourography "Berman" page 3

Touro Fraternal Officers & Board of Directors 2011-2012 First Row: Nathan Lury, Edward Deluty, Michael Smith, Milton Bronstein, Jed Brandes, Steven Waldman, Barry Schiff, directors; Judah Rosen, Association chaplain.

Involvement That Makes Sense page 5

Second Row: Alan Lury, director; Andrew Liss, secretary, Harmony Lodge; Manochehr Norparvar, treasurer, Harmony Lodge; Adam Halpern, director; Robert Miller, chairman, Board of Directors; Andrew Lamchick, vice chairman, Board of Directors; Rodney Locke, director; Norman Dinerman, president, Harmony Lodge, Arthur Poulten, chairman emeritus, Board of Directors.

Third Row: Ried Redlich, president, Friendship Lodge; Barry Shaw, Steven White, Stevan Labush, Jeffrey Davis, Bruce Weisman, directors; Richard Cohen, treasurer, Friendship Lodge; Michael Levin, secretary, Friendship Lodge; Howard Wasser, director.

New Menber Open House with Jim Hummel page 5

Not Shown: Marc Gertsacov, Association secretary; Lester Nathan, vice president, Friendship Lodge; Jeffrey Padwa, vice president, Harmony Lodge.

he men who will lead Touro in its 94th year were elected and officially seated during the Association’s traditional annual three-stage procedure from May 4 to June 15.

The process began with the annual elections at Touro Hall on May 4. Milton Bronstein, Jeffrey Davis, Rodney Locke, Alan Lury and Michael Smith were reelected to the Board and Adam Halpern was named to his first term.

All are for three years. Ed Deluty was elected to the two remaining years of an unexpired term.

Lodge officers were elected unanimously and included: President Norman Dinerman, Vice President Jeffrey Padwa, Secretary Andrew Liss and Treasurer Manochehr Norparvar of Harmony Lodge; President Ried Redlich, Vice President Lester Nathan, Secretary Michael Levin and Treasurer Richard Cohen of Friendship Lodge.

Elections were followed three weeks later by the installation dinner on May 25 where the newly-elected board members and officers took their oaths of office. Robert D. Miller, chairman of Touro’s board, was installing officer and Steven Dinerman, a past lodge president, administered the oaths of office in his capacity as master of ceremonies.

On June 15, the Board of Directors held its annual organizational meeting to elect its officers. Robert Miller, chairman; Andrew Lamchick, vice chairman; Marc Gertsacov, secretary; and Steven Waldman, treasurer, were all re-elected for one-year terms.

Touro Installs Officers for 2011 – 2012

By Howard Wasser

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Gina Raimondo R.I. General Treasurer page 6

he Touro Installation Dinner took place on Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at Touro Hall where 85 members were served a delicious multi-course meal which was highlighted by a generous helping of beef brisket. In fact, every course was generous. Touro has always been and continues to be known for great food.

Continued on page 4 - Officers

Ried Redlich Friendship Lodge President ~1~

Norman Dinerman Harmony Lodge President

From The Chairman

By Robert Miller, Chairman of the Board

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nce again, the Board of Directors has elected me chairman. It is my 11th term as chairman. Over the years I have been able to accomplish many things which give me great pride and also are probably the reasons I continue to stay as active as I am. I started as a line officer in 1978 and have always held an elected position since. I look back at some of the things for which I can directly take responsibility and am very pleased that I have been able to accomplish these things.

Operation Moses, Muscular Dystrophy Telethons and Friday Night Services at the Jewish Home for the Aged are what I call the little things. The more noticeable items are when I was appointed chairman of the New Home Committee in 1989. That same year we were able to purchase our building. I was also involved in the original setup of the Student Loan Fund and when I became chair of that committee we began the grant program as well. A lot of things have happened under my watch as chairman of the board. We lost our long time administrator, Jerry Hodosh. For the first time, we hired an outsider to be our bookkeeper. We are also now involved in trade-marking our name and logo.

There are many things that go on around here that are not noticed by most. There are also many things that will live on in infamy.

Everyone here has their own for sure.

Now, I want to take you into my personal thoughts about the beginning of this new year. One of my major goals for myself at Touro is now complete. That goal was to become chairman, serve 10 consecutive terms and earn a lifetime voting seat on the board.

In addition, I can state that since being elected chair in 2001, I have never missed a board meeting. I hope to keep this going for as long as I can.

I contemplated stepping down after this past year but there is some unfinished business, and I will not do that until everything which I have started is complete. I also ask myself, am I holding the Association back? Seriously, would someone else take us to the next level… which then brings up the question…what is the next level…

I am not ready to leave just yet!

Thank you all for the vote of confidence and the opportunity to belong somewhere.

I close with the words sacred to our fraternity: HARMONY, FRIENDSHIP and BENEVOLENCE

Mazels, Mitvahs & Milestones To…brother Stevan and Rhonda Labush on their 25th anniversary.

To…brother Bruce and Linda Weisman on their 28th anniversary, and on the graduation of their daughter Stacey who earned her Masters of Art in Teaching degree at Rhode Island College.

To…brother Ed and Karen Deluty on the graduation of their daughter Alana from Cranston West High School.

To…brother Ron and Jane Berman on the birth of their grandson, Andrew Martin Hanson in February. ~2~

Social Scene

By Lester Nathan, Vice President, Friendship Lodge

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es indeed, the last year went by very quickly. Norm Dinerman and I learned a lot about running the Social Committee, had fun doing it and were pleased with the results. With Norm’s ascendancy to the Harmony Lodge presidency, I welcome Jeff Padwa as my new co-chairman of the Social Committee. Along with Norm and Ried, I believe we can top last year’s performance.

Recent events have included: the Spring Two-fer at Nino’s on Lake Tiogue with stand-up comic Linda Belt and our annual Open House with investigative reporter Jim Hummel, both in April. We organized a family day at the circus on May 1, an evening at the PPAC to see The Aluminum Show on the 22nd and the Installation Dinner on the 25th.

In June, we held the annual dinner dance on the 11th at the Venus de Milo Restaurant and the annual Steak Fry with Attorney General Peter Kilmartin as guest speaker on the 29th. On Monday, July 25, the annual Golf Tournament was held at Cranston Country Club.

Here’s what’s scheduled for the next few months: • We return to the Newport Playhouse on Saturday, August 20. This includes a play, Lend Me a Tenor, a meal and musical cabaret. It’s open to Touro couples and their guests.

• Friendship Lodge is hosting the September 21 lodge meeting featuring a cookout and guest speaker A.T. Wall, Director of the R.I. Department of Corrections.

• If you would like to spend a day in “The Big Apple,” we’ve scheduled a bus trip to New York for Sunday, October 2. Details on this trip will be available later in the summer.

• The October 26 lodge meeting, hosted by Harmony Lodge features a Deli Dinner with a guest speaker to be announced.

For further information about these events, watch your mail for flyers or check Touro’s website.

As I mentioned during May, our events are now displayed on the wall of Touro Fraternal’s Facebook page. (Please contact me or the Chairman if you wish to be added to the group.) If you can attend our monthly Social Committee meetings (first Wednesday at 7:30 PM), we’d love to get your input for new events. Every member, both regular and social, is welcome.

Tourography: Larry Berman–Master of Persistency and Schmoozing

By Howard Wasser

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few years back, I had the pleasure of attending a Woonsocket Chamber of Commerce “Man of the Year” dinner.

The honoree was Larry Berman, The Woonsocket Call’s city editor. The dinner was more of a roast because Larry was an easy target. After a few people had made fun of Larry, there was a commotion in the room. Making his entrance was Governor Bruce Sundlun with his entourage. The Governor was very familiar with Larry. In fact, Mr. Sundlun grudgingly admired him even though Larry could be a thorn in his side. The call from BERMAN was anticipated but dreaded.

Since then, Larry is identified with just one name in RI–BERMAN. The Larry Berman story started on August 29, 1955 in Woonsocket. His father was the City Editor with The Woonsocket Call and his mother a school librarian. Larry followed in his father’s footsteps and went to work with his father to see what happened at the paper. At Woonsocket High School, he worked on the school newspaper and also the yearbook committee. He continued this course at URI where he was the sports editor on the school newspaper, A Good 5 Cent Cigar. He met his future wife, Beth, there as well.

After graduating in 1977 with a degree in journalism, he began his career at The Call. At first, he had what most of us think would be the perfect job, sports editor. After a few years, he was promoted to city editor. In that position, he developed his persistency trait and an ability to schmooze.

In 1994, politics came calling. First, he was Ron Machtley’s press secretary in a run for governor. When Ron wasn’t elected, he was quickly snatched up by Patrick Kennedy and served as his press secretary for eight years. Next, RI Speaker of the House William Murphy offered Larry a job. Larry worked for Bill until he

stepped down and was succeeded by Gordon Fox. Larry did not lose a step; he maintained the same job with the new speaker.

Besides his job, Larry has made himself into a very good tennis player. He always loved the game and plays more than once a week. As recently as 2007 he was ranked 51st in a national senior doubles competition.

Larry and wife Beth have two beautiful daughters, one of them married. Three subjects that Larry will discuss with anyone are: sports, politics and family. More recently, those subjects have taken a back seat to a new granddaughter, with another on the way.

Larry joined Touro as a continuing effort to keep his two sisters close in each other’s lives. Sisters Beth Berman and Harriet Wasser had always been close but by joining Touro, they would have other reasons to see each other. They had not joined anything together since we bowled in The Under Thirties Couples League. As you can tell, that was a while ago.

Though that was a prime reason for Larry to join, he has come to enjoy the organization. As a press secretary, Larry has as many connections as anyone in R.I. I’ve noticed that he is on a first name basis with most of Touro’s guest speakers. Larry also enjoys Touro for its Jewish connections and the great kosher food. With his knowledge and experience he might also be a candidate for a position at Touro.

Larry recently won a Touro trivia contest with Barry Rotenberg.

The two took advantage of Larry’s sports knowledge and Barry’s familiarity of history and music.

I guess all of that persistency and schmoozing has paid off. Even now, years after the Bruce Sundlun episode, Larry is still known as BERMAN.

Following in Big Brother’s Footsteps

By Norman Dinerman, President, Harmony Lodge

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ello Brothers. For those who don’t know me, my name is Norman Dinerman and I am the new president of Harmony Lodge.

Over the last few years, I’ve decided to get more involved in Touro and follow in the same steps as my older brother, past president of Friendship Lodge, Steven Dinerman.

The Dinerman Dynasty, as some of the members like to call us, continues with my son Max joining the Touro family. When I first joined Touro, I started coming to the meetings to connect with members as a part of our Jewish culture. But, I soon found that Touro was so much more than that. With programs, food, friendships and harmony, it drew me even further into the realm.

One of the best things to do as a Touro member is to get involved with one of the numerous committees. I became involved with the Social Committee two years ago and found it to be very ~3~

gratifying. I strongly urge you to participate in any of the committees so that your voice and ideas will be incorporated into Touro’s future. If you feel like you have no time, we always need volunteers to assist us at our lodge meetings.

Our new vice president, Jeffery Padwa, and Secretary Andy Liss are real assets to Harmony Lodge’s line of officers. They have jumped in and begun their journey. Manochehr Norparvar, the treasurer, is working the numbers to keep us on budget for those meals we take such pleasure in. Speaking about food, we have a few events planned that will bring out the smell of food this summer and fall. We are going back to the Newport Playhouse Theater where the plays and the buffet are outstanding. We are also planning a trip to New York City for some sightseeing and the great delicatessen food. Then, before you know it, the fall Two-fer will be right around the corner.

To conclude, as I imprint my steps onto Touro, I hope that I can inspire you to follow.

Touro Installs Officers for 2011 – 2012

(l-r) Harmony Lodge Officers: Andrew Liss, Secretary; Jeffrey Padwa, Vice President; and Manocher Norparvar, Treasurer

Edward Deluty is elected to the Board of Directors

MC Steven Dinerman completes the ceremony – once, twice, thrice

Officers - continued from page 1

(l-r) Friendship Lodge Officers: Michael Levin, Secretary; Lester Nathan, Vice President; and Richard Cohen, Treasurer

The installation of officers followed. Chairman Robert Miller was installing officer and Steven Dinerman, as master of ceremonies, administered the oaths of office. The first three members to be installed were board directors.

Milton Bronstein who became a Touro brother on 3/14/1951. He is the level-headed member of Touro and is looking forward to Touro’s centennial anniversary. Jeffrey Davis (2/28/96) is the staff photographer. Adam Halpern (10/25/2000), the immediate past president of Harmony Lodge, upon election was probably the happiest person in the room. The next three members to be installed as board members were: Rodney Locke (11/7/1999), the purveyor of stock; Alan Lury (12/28/1994), the new “money man”; and Michael Smith (2/29/1994), known to everyone at Touro. Elected to serve the last two years of a three-year term was Ed Deluty (10/25/2000), famous for providing bricks and charcoal.

Lodge officers followed the directors. Harmony Lodge’s officers are: President Norman Dinerman (4/30/2000), Vice President Jeffrey Padwa (1/20/2010), Secretary Andrew Liss (1/20/2010) and Treasurer Manochehr Norparvar (2/24/1999). Friendship Lodge officers are: President Ried Redlich (2/25/1998), Vice President Lester Nathan (9/22/1993), Secretary Michael Levin (6/24/2009) and Treasurer Richard Cohen (6/24/2009).

The lodge officers feature an influx of new blood into the organization’s hierarchy. This bodes well for the future of Touro.

Elected to the Board of Directors were (l-r): Adam Halpern, Milton Bronstein and Jeffrey Davis

Elected to the Board of Directors were (l-r): Alan Lury, Michael Smith and Rodney Locke

(l-r) Outgoing president Adam Halpern receives the Past President's sweater from Chairman Bob Miller ~4~

New Member Open House a Success!!!

By Andy Lamchick - Chairman, Membership Committee

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hat do you get when you After enjoying a classic Touro meal of put together a great prosumptuous baked chicken and all the fixin's, gram, super guest speaker, we introduced our guest speaker, Jim Humand incredible food at a Touro meetmel, of “The Hummel Report.” He entering? New members!! That’s what haptained the audience with stories of his days at pened on Wednesday, April 27 at our the The Providence Journal, Channel 6 and his annual New Member Open House. current investigative project, “The Hummel Our goal this year was to bring in ten Report.” new “regular” members before June, and When all was said and done, our the hard work done by the committee members left the hall with full bellies, a easily got it done. The evening started smile on their faces and our office was filled out with a modified business meeting dewith new member applications. I spell that signed to give an overview of the workings S-U-C-C-E-S-S. of Touro to prospective members. Each On another note, our Communications committee chairman gave the members (l-r) Andy Lamchick with guest speaker Committee has redesigned and produced a Jim Hummel and guests a report describing the workings brand new membership brochure for Touro. and mission of his committee. That was folIf you would like to have one or to give one to lowed by a PowerPoint presentation showing photos of various a prospective member, simply contact the office. Please help us Touro activities and projects. continue the amazing Touro legacy into our second century.

Getting Involved with Dollars and Service

By Steven White, Chairman, Community Involvement

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he Touro Community Involvement Committee has been actively going over ideas presented by its members. So far this year, we have given much needed money to The Jewish Alliance, Jewish Family Service and the URI Hillel.

At our last meeting, we voted to donate money to the Meeting Street School and a relatively new service organization founded by 13-year-old Nicholas Lowinger, son of Touro brother Danny Lowinger.

Nicholas was working on a Bar Mitzvah project, and came up with the idea of giving gently used shoes to kids in shelters. The project has taken off and now is a full 503C organization. The name of the foundation is the Gotta Have Sole Foundation.

Another project discussed and to be implemented is volunteer service to the Ronald McDonald House. On August 7th, 10 of our Touro members will be putting their culinary skills to use by cooking a meal for families who are staying there. They should not have to worry about where their next meal is coming from since they have too many other matters on their minds. If you would like to volunteer, please email me at white1110928@yahoo.com, or call 401-487-2135.

If you have any ideas where Touro can be of service to the community, please let me know. ~5~

Mortuary Benefits Amendment Voted on at Special Association Meeting

By Howard Wasser

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n Wednesday, May 25, a special Association meeting was held to vote on an amendment to the Constitution.

Article IV, Section 11 previously read: In the event the designated beneficiary or his or her heirs cannot be determined within five (5) years of the member’s death, the mortuary benefit shall revert to and become part of the Touro Welfare Fund.

The amendment added the following: In addition, those beneficiaries who reject the mortuary benefit shall be notified, in writing, four (4) years after the member’s death that the mortuary benefit will become part of the Touro Welfare Fund five (5) years after the member’s death.

The amendment was unanimously passed.

Gina Raimondo Protects Our State’s Money

By Barry Jay Schiff

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n Wednesday evening, February 23, Harmony Lodge hosted our monthly lodge meeting at Chelo’s Hometown Bar and Grill in Warwick. Following our business meeting and a delicious buffet dinner, Brother Jeffrey Padwa introduced his friend, Gina Raimondo, Rhode Island’s new General Treasurer.

Ms. Raimondo started her presentation with a short overview of her family and educational background. She then described the challenges she has faced in her first six weeks on the job including meeting with the SEC about a possible investigation and the massive mess that the state’s pension funds continues to be. She hopes to have a close working relationship with Governor Chaffee and to continue to reform the workings of her office. She fielded some questions from our brothers and most everyone came away with the impression that someday, Ms. Raimondo might be our first female governor. (l-r) Adam Halpert and Jeffrey Padwa with guest speaker General Treasurer Gina Raimondo

Trivia Night Redux at March’s Meeting

By Lester Nathan

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ometimes outside reality has a peculiar way of interfering with our everyday life. The Social Committee had planned to have Lt. Commander Adam Goldberg from the Naval War College as guest speaker at the March 23 lodge meeting. A week beforehand, he informed us that he could not attend; he would be participating in naval war exercises in the Atlantic Ocean instead.

Fortunately, the committee had a Plan B. Brother Jed Brandes came to our rescue and created another trivia contest, filled with 75 challenging questions. For this event, he grouped the questions into six categories: quotes, history, ad taglines, sports, song lyrics and television. Brothers formed into teams of two to four and tried their best.

As done in January, cash prizes went to the top three teams:

First place team: Andy Lamchick and Steve Goldman receiving their prize from Bob Miller (2nd from left) and trivia master Jed Brandes (far right)

Two teams tie for second place. (l-r) Bill Troberman & Howard Custis and Manochehr Norparvar & Harry Finkelstein with Bob Miller (3rd from left) and Jed Brandes (far right)

First place: Steve Goldman and Andy Lamchick Second place: A tie between the teams of Howard Custis & Bill Troberman and Harry Finkelstein & Manochehr Norparvar Third place: Jeff Padwa and Barry Rotenberg I think I’m not alone in hoping that Jed will have to try to sing the song lyrics the next time he uses that category.

~6~

Third place team: Barry Rotenberg and Jeffrey Padwa with Bob and Jed

An important reminder from Touro's administrator

Touro Welcomes Six New Brothers

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very Touro regular member is entitled to a mortuary benefit.

When you joined our Association you signed a form designating someone important to you as your beneficiary. However, over the years the circumstances may have occurred that make necessary a change in that beneficiary designation. We cannot change our records unless you tell us to!

Please review your current status. If you need more information or a form to change your beneficiary, please contact the Touro office at 401-785-0066 or, via e-mail at info@tourofraternal.org.

You can avoid unnecessary delays–even possible litigation–if you look into this now.

Fraternally, Peter Hodosh

Touro welcomes six new brothers at the March 23 meeting.

They are (l-r): Samuel Nash, Neil Lambert, David Isenberg, Drew Hochman, Craig Hochman and Michael Abrams.

Spring Two-fer at Nino's and Touro Goes to the Circus

~7~

Touro Fraternal Association

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Providence, RI Permit #719

P.O. BOX 3562 CRANSTON, RI 02910

Return Service Requested

UPCOMING TOURO EVENT:

TRIP TO THE "BIG APPLE" SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2011

Visit Touro's Website at www.tourofraternal.org

2 0 1 1 JULY 5 7 7 1 Bruce Weisman, Editor Columnists: Jed Brandes Howard Custis Norman Dinerman Andrew Lamchick Lester Nathan Arthur Poulten Barry Jay Schiff Howard Wasser Staff Photographers: Jeffrey Davis Edward Deluty Touro Fraternal Association 45 Rolfe Square, P.O. Box 3562, Cranston, RI 02910 Phone: 401-785-0066 Fax: 401-941-8781 E-Mail: info@tourofraternal.org

TOURO BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2011-2012 Robert Miller, Chairman Andrew Lamchick, Vice Chairman Steven Waldman, Treasurer Marc Gertsacov, Secretary Judah Rosen, Chaplain Barry Shaw, Inside Guard Arthur Poulten, Chairman Emeritus Jed Brandes Milton Bronstein Jeffrey Davis Edward Deluty Adam Halpern Stevan Labush Rodney Locke Alan Lury

Nathan Lury Barry Schiff Barry Shaw Michael Smith Howard Wasser Bruce Weisman Steven Waldman Steven White

FRIENDSHIP LODGE HARMONY LODGE Ried Redlich, President Norman Dinerman, President Lester Nathan, Vice President Jeffrey Padwa, Vice President Michael Levin, Secretary Andrew Liss, Secretary Richard Cohen, Treasurer Manocher Norparvar, Treasurer Barry Schiff, Inside Guard Edward Deluty, Faithful Guide

HARMONY • FRIENDSHIP • BENEVOLENCE ~8~

Lend Me A Tenor Newport Playhouse Newport, RI Saturday August

20, 2011

$50 per Touro couple $80 per Non-Touro couple Ticket price includes buffet dinner, play and caberet after the show.

Watch for the flyer in the mail or go online to: www.tourofraternal org