Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from a Press Club of Southwest Florida Newsletter from March 1996 written by David Pfaff. For us to move forward we must remember where we have been. On This Date is a fun way for NPC members to find out about the Press Club of Southwest Florida’s past.
The Press Club leadership is said to be wrestling with ways to make our activities for the next couple of months more calming and peaceful, less demanding. They say they owe it to the daily media members who now must recover from their heroic exertions to search for issues in the recent election and airport master plan report.
Know why Ken Hurst was asked to moderate last month’s NPC political round table? His accent helped sharpen the auditory acuity of the audience in the opening minutes so that they could decipher what the candidates said later. Also, being British it was presumed he knew the Marquis of Queensbury Rules and could referee.
In fact, the candidates were very gentlemanly and lady-like. One assessment of the election outcome has been that Ron Pennington lost his run for mayor because he took the gloves off and criticized his opponent. That is such a violation of Naples practice that even the political reporters knew how to cover it.
You should understand that the practice is to be noncritical in public forums. However, what is said about you on the Naples’ cocktail circuit can be slanderous, libelous, scandalous, and defaming yet not raise an eyebrow.
Hollis Alpert must have the stamina of a hyperkinetic two-year-old. In addition to his own writing, teaching others how to write and conducting a classic film series, he has volunteered to serve on the NPC Board of Governors, a move that probably doesn’t say much for his judgment either.
Michelle Vachon – the club’s token Quebeqois – on the other hand, knows how to handle herself. She acts coy and must be pursued to join the board. Hollis, please note. ‘Course, she’s prettier than you, which, I’m sure, also helps.’
Speaking of ethnic matters, roast pig is a favorite Cuban delicacy. What’s “roast mayor?” And roast Muscovy?
Isn’t it the truth that timing in life is everything? Not this club nor anyone else would have publicly said critical or nasty things about Paul Muenzer two months ago. Now, we’re having to turn away applicants to curl his hair with previously unverifiable revelations, and people are pushing money at us to be witnesses.
If you have any excerpt from an old newsletter that you would like to see included in On This Date contact Penny Fisher at pfisher@naplesnews.com or 239-435-3417.