Bronxville 25-Year Regular Poker Game Among Friends Has Raised More Than $100,000 For Charities

Pictured: The poker group. The author of this article, Art Nagle, is in the back row middle in the red jacket 
 
By Art Nagle
 
Nov. 13, 2024: The genesis for our poker game occurred on a golf trip to Scotland. To combat boredom on our eight-passenger van between golf courses, six of us - - Barry Brokaw, Wright Elliott, David McBride, Bob Nau, Dennis Scioli, and I - - started a poker game.
 
We had such a good time that upon return, I circulated a letter to this group - dba the "Siwanoy Studs" - in an attempt to set up a regular game. Well, 25 years and 295 monthly games later (we missed three during COVID and two August games due to summer vacation schedules) we’re still going strong.
Pictured above: The letter regarding Poker that was circulated to the group
 
We gather on a weeknight at 6pm (usually at Siwanoy - hence the name), play for ninety minutes or so, order dinner, move to the dining room when told apps are on the table, order dessert, discuss the issues of the day, head back, and play a final hand at 10pm. Note that as part of the aging process, this finish time is roughly an hour earlier than in 1999.
The poker group at the table
 
At the first gathering, we decided to skim each pot roughly five to ten percent and set it aside to donate to local charities at year-end. As of this writing, we have been able to distribute more than $100,000 to various local charities, including Jansen Hospice, Gramatan Village, Katie Welling Fund at the BSF (Tom Welling was a long-time member of our group), and Destination College.
 
Other members over the years include Dick Bower, Jerry Crisci, Al DeCrane, Pierre de Saint Phalle, Richard Dresdale, Peter Hicks, John Hill, Jack Kennedy, Guy Minetti, Alan Re, Rich Rogers, Bill Staudt and Tom Welling.
 
As far as participants from the distaff side are concerned, we’ve not had any suggested nor any approach us but speaking for myself I’d welcome same if only to bring some much-needed improved behavior at the table
 
I would be remiss if I failed to mention our “Commissioner”, my long time assistant Anna McGoldrick who herds the cats so that we always have a quorum, deals with last minute cancellations and ensures we have a place to play all from her home in Boise, Idaho!
 
At any rate we’ve had an enormous amount of fun over the years and are proud to have been able to support and hopefully make a small difference for these and other worthy local charities.
 
 

Community Service Organizations Directory

Community Service Organizations

HOME & GARDEN

Bronxville Beautification Council

Organized in 1982, the Bronxville Beautification Council (BBC) is a not-for-profit organization administered by a volunteer Board of Directors. The mission of the BBC is to enhance and maintain the natural and man-made beauty of the village of Bronxville, with an emphasis on the downtown business district.

Click here to learn more 

Boulder Ledge Garden Club

Founded in 1966, the Boulder Ledge Garden Club is rooted in a mission to inspire a deeper appreciation and love for gardening and flower arranging. The club is dedicated to fostering and promoting interest and knowledge in gardening. 

The Club maintains Bronxville’s Bicentennial Park and other civic gardens. In 2019–2020 the club raised $18,000 to replace trees in the village, reflecting its active role in community beautification. It also holds garden therapy projects and educational garden trips for members. 

Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.m or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Bronxville Giving Garden

The Bronxville Giving Garden is a community-centered garden that donates organic produce to Eastchester Community Action Partnership in Tuckahoe and Community Service Associates in Mount Vernon. The garden is also a gathering place where school children and volunteers can discover the joy of tending plants and growing food.

Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Bronxville Green Committee

The Bronxville Green Committee is a volunteer organization that is part of the Village of Bronxville. It proposes and implements environmentally sustainable programs in our community. 

You can contact them HERE.

SCOUTING

Bronxville Boy Scouts

The village of Bronxville has a long tradition of scouting. “The troops and packs of Bronxville have maintained the finest scouting organizations and have taught the boys of the Bronxville area to be leaders and outstanding members of the local, national and global communities.”

Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information 

Bronxville Girls Scouts

The Girls Scouts is “the world’s preeminent organization dedicated solely to girls where, in an accepting and nurturing environment, girls build character and skills for success in the real world.” In Girl Scouts, “girls discover the fun, friendship and power of girls together. Through the many enriching experiences provided by Girl Scouts, they can grow courageous and strong.”

Here is more information about girl scouts.

HISTORY

Bronxville Historical Conservancy

Inspired by the highly successful Bronxville Centennial Celebration in 1998, the Bronxville Historical Conservancy was founded to record and preserve Bronxville's history and life in the village today.

Website

BRONXVILLE SCHOOL

Bronxville School Foundation

The Bronxville School Foundation, founded in 1991, is a non-profit organization independent from the school with the sole purpose of supporting the school. 

The mission of the Bronxville School Foundation is to enhance the quality of public education in our community by engaging the support and energies of educators, citizens, parents, students and alumni.

The Foundation awards grants for projects

CLICK HERE to learn more.

LECTURES, EXHIBITS, CONCERTS

Bronxville Women's Club

The Bronxville Women’s Club offers lectures, exhibits and concerts. It also has a beautiful clubhouse which is available for rental for events.

135 Midland Avenue
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-3252

website

Concordia Conservatory

Concordia Conservatory, a preeminent center for music education in Westchester and Fairfield Counties, is a welcoming community where children and adults find lifelong inspiration and joy through learning, performing, listening to, and participating with others in music.

The Conservatory’s mission is to inspire, instruct, and enrich lives through music offering excellence in education and performance.

CLICK HERE for more information.

COUNSELING

Counseling Center

Founded in 1971, the mission of the Counseling Center “is to provide a wide range of psychotherapeutic and counseling services to individuals, couples and families by a staff of highly trained, experience and dedicated psychotherapists. 

The Counseling Center
180 Pondfield Road
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-793-3388
www.counselingcenter.org

SERVICE & VOLUNTEERISM

Community Fund of Bronxville, Eastchester & Tuckahoe

The mission of the Community Fund is “to support broad social services in Bronxville 10708, Eastchester and Tuckahoe through grants and technical support to local agencies and community projects. All money raised here in our community stays here in our community.” 

15 Park Place
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-8808
www.thecommunityfund.org

Junior League of Bronxville

The Junior League of Bronxville is “an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and to improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.”

www.jlbronxville.org

Rotary Club of Bronxville

The Rotary Club of Bronxville is part of a national network of 1.25 million problem-solvers. They see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves. 

For more than 115 years, Rotary's "people of action" have used their passion, energy, and intelligence to execute sustainable projects. From literacy and peace to water and health, we are always working to better our world, and we stay committed to the end.
 
CLICK HERE to learn more.

READING & LEARNING

Friends of the Bronxville Library

The Friends of the Bronxville Library is a not-for-profit membership association whose mission is to focus attention on the “Library’s services, facilities and needs” as well as sponsor projects and provide materials that are beyond the reach of the Library's regular budget and perform other services.  

website

SENIORS

Gramatan Village

Gramatan Village

Gramatan Village is a unique community model offering programs, services and social connections that help members continue to live independently in their homes as they age. In addition, GV offers one-on-one consultations and counseling with our experienced staff to guide members through life’s transitions.

website

Senior Citizens of Bronxville

Senior Citizens of Bronxville is a not-for-profit organization that provides services and programs to seniors within the 10708 zip code area. “Programs cover a wide range of activities from educational seminars and cultural enrichment to community services, bridge classes and exercise.”

https://www.bronxvilleseniors.org/

Community Service Organizations Recent Articles

Newsletter

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

MyhometownBroxnville reserves the right to monitor and remove all comments. For more information on Posting Rules, please review our Rules and Terms of Use, both of which govern the use and access of this site. Thank you.

The information presented here is for informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to present accurate information, myhometownBronxville, LLC, does not in any way accept responsibility for the accuracy of or consequences from the use of this information herein. We urge all users to independently confirm any information provided herein and consult with an appropriate professional concerning any material issue of fact or law. The views and opinions expressed by the writers, event organizers and advertisers do not necessarily represent those of myhometownBronxville, LLC, its officers, staff or contributors. The use of this website is governed by the Terms of Use . No portion of this publication may be reproduced or redistributed, either in whole or part, without the express written consent of the publisher.

Copyright © 2009 myhometownbronxville.com, All rights reserved.