Back to the main ECSCV webpage
October 2001 Newsletter
Managing Investment Risk: The Art of Asset Allocation
Research has found that asset allocation may contribute more to a portfolio’s performance than security selection and market timing combined. Yet asset allocation is an art that many investors have not mastered.
You’ll discover how asset allocation may be able to give your portfolio greater resiliency through market fluctuations, and help you reach your investment goals.
Joseph Cassisi, P.E.
Joe Cassisi, Consulting Engineer Extraordinare, passed away September 29. He was a major contributor to engineering and engineering societies. Joe contributed much of his talents and knowledge to the Silicon Valley Engineering Council. For the SVEC Open House in 1999, Joe bought all the food and drink for more than 100 attendees. He gave unselfishly of his time for the youth in our valley. He also was a judge for the regional Robotics First competition.
Mr. Cassisi was President and owner of JAC Engineering Associates as well as an outstanding contributor in his community. He served proudly in the U.S. Army and was past President of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and was a member of the San Jose Rotary Club, President of the Engineers Club of Santa Clara Valley, a member of the California Conservation Corp, past President and Co-founder of the Figili Di Calabria, a member of the Italian American Hertiage Foundation and a Golden Eagle Member of the NRA. He was a large contributor of Cysa on both the district and state level.
Mr. Cassisi, a native of Cupertino, son of the Late George and Rose Cassisi, and beloved husband of Carolyn Cassisi of 39 years. Loving father of Joseph Cassisi II, Maria Totushek and husband Kevin, John Cassisi and wife Jeanette, Jennifer Osorio and husband Noel. Devoted grandfather of Christopher Cassisi, Madison, Makena and Mikayla Totushek, Nikolas and Justin Osorio. Loving son-in-law of Ida Green and husband Floyd, Harold and Dorothy Raymond. Brother-in-law of Nancy Santos, Lynda Bartels, and husband Don, Harold Raymond II and wife Carrie, Loving nephew of Florence Pedoni. Uncle of David, Mark and Tony Allard, Kathy Hill, Annie Krause, William and Michael Santos and Nicholas Raymond along with other extended family members.
Memorial Service will be on October 28, 2001 at Lima Family Morturary, 466 N. Winchester Blvd. Santa Clara at 2:00 p.m. followed by a Reception at the Italian American Heritage Foundation 425 North 4th Street in San Jose.
Anyone wishing to make a donation in his memory to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Cassisi Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 611345, San Jose, CA 95161 or the San Jose Rotary Endowment, Career Awareness/Development, 1960 Senter Road, San Jose, CA 95112.
Board Member Takes A Look At Engineers Club Future
Here’s another submittal from one of the board members about Engineers Club:
Once again Engineers Club is at a crossroads. Having tragically lost our President and enthusiastic champion for the Club, Joe Cassisi, the Board asks for input from members on “Where do we go from here?”
Two years ago when we were struggling, I was convinced that we still had a viable organization and with the right leadership could keep things going. This was a correct assumption. Joe’s enthusiasm was contagious and we had some well attended meetings. Unfortunately, the Hofbrau management change worked against us, but we survived nonetheless.
Our vice president should be “next in line,” to step into the presidential vacancy. As you know, however, Bill LoConte has moved too far away to serve an active role. And we hadn’t organized a new election, so we’re caught without a paddle, so to speak.
At this point in time, to use an overworked phrase, unless a couple of new enthusiastic volunteers step forward, I believe the club will have to go in one of two directions. (1) Disband, or (2) “devolve” into an informal monthly get-together of those remaining members who enjoy each other’s company (or, as some have suggested, a “Retired Engineers Club,” though I hate to use that terminology as too restrictive - after all not all retired).
The writer enlarged on his views, but the foregoing essentially outlines his views. He included the thought that it would be a shame to discard relationships that have been around for a long time.
Sense of Humor
Beats Penicillin
Nothing is more helpful in dealing with people than a sense of humor. Now, a sense of humor doesn’t mean a knack for telling jokes. Rather it means ability to take some setbacks and still see that the world has not come to an end.
If you can keep from taking a situation or yourself too seriously, you’ll get much better results. If you don’t take yourself too seriously, there are always things in any situation that are amusing that you can smile about. And a smiling, cheerful leader invariably earns more cooperation than a grim or gloomy one.
If all you do in a crisis is add to the heat and confusion, people will lose respect for your abilities under pressure. But if you can maintain your sense of proportions and humor when the world seems to be failing apart, people who rely on you will show their appreciation in better work and greater loyalty.
Yes, some problems are serious - but there’s nothing to be gained by exaggerating their importance. Get in the habit of taking yourself and your problems less seriously. Learn to smile at yourself and the world as well. You’ll get better results and actually have more good things to smile about - after you do.
- From “Leadership”
The true test of a first-rate mind is the ability to hold two contradictory ideas at the same time. - F. Scott Fitzgerald
...The two hardest things in life to handle are failure and success... You’re never as old as you’re going to get.
Thoughts of Love From Here and There...
Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired. - Robert Frost
If I could reinvent the alphabet, I would put U and I together.
Love is an unusual game. There are either two winners or none.
Love doesn’t make the world go ‘round. It makes the ride worthwhile.
Love is what makes two people sit in the middle of a bench when there’s plenty of room on both sides.
The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.
Watch Out For The Goblins
Hallowe’en
We’re always intrigued by “Happy Hallowe’en” or “Happy Whatever.” But, that’s the vernacular so why make a big deal out of it.
Dick Blackburn came up with an excellent idea! If the club decides to call it a day, all members will be sent a Free Lunch ticket for the November 29 meeting, where Ed Stahl will present another of his outstanding talks.
Then, as a finale, a Christmas luncheon can be arranged with Free Lunch tickets again mailed to all current members.
The club will pay for lunches and it is one way of disbursing money that members have paid for dues.
Otherwise, the club would have to rind a suitable charity to which all club funds would go. We like charity, but this is one case where the phrase “charity begins at home” is appropriate.
The Board will need to discuss the idea at its next meeting
We can arrange the Christmas Luncheon at a good restaurant, fitting for the occasion.
Our speaker on Thursday is Craig Cymrot of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter. Craig received a Bachelor of Science degree at University of Arizona, Tucson, in 1985.
He has served in a number of capacities with Morgan Stanley. He currently is a Senior Member of a Corporate Services Unit focusing on ESOP, ESPP and 401(k) programs.
Come with your questions and get the answers you need.
October 2001
At the recent BOARD OF DIRECTORS meeting, after the death of President Joe Cassisi, status of engineers Club was the main topic of discussion. Board members were asked to submit their views. Here’s one:
Cogitation yields some valuable reflection. The question is whether Engineers Club of Santa Clara Valley shall continue existence. This question has several ancillary ones.
First, does the club have a purpose that can be articulated and implemented? I fear not. At its birth 73 years ago, it filled a need and benefited many engineers in their work. The club was popular and provided much through its many and varied activities. Its membership was enthusiastic and loyal.
Second, considering those who work to maintain the club in some form, what is their reward? Are they on a mission to provide what they think will be valuable to as yet unknown members? Or do they cling to hope that the club will have some miraculous rebirth?
Particularly important is that their work may be pursuit of a mirage. Do they devote their time and effort to fields that are barren? Do they face frustration that they somehow have not reached a point that they are ready to acknowledge that the club, without a purpose, is not in demand. Even with a defined purpose, circumstances today are so changed from 1928 when the club was founded that people who were enthusiastic to attend meetings in those early years have no time to attend meetings today.
It is patently inappropriate for those few laboring to preserve and enlarge the club to exceed the bounds of optimism with no return in sight. This leads to only one conclusion. As painful as it may be, the only sensible action is to terminate Engineers Club and let it, like so many other things, fade away into history.
Back to the main ECSCV webpage