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12:30 Club holds first meeting with new president at Greenhouse Cafe

October 17, 2024 Wayne Daren Schneiderman
From left: Retired NYPD Captain John Walsh and 12:30 Club members Patrick Gilbride and Walter Ochoa. Photos by Wayne Daren Schneiderman
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BAY RIDGE — The 12:30 Club, one of the oldest organizations in Bay Ridge, founded nearly a century ago, held its October meeting earlier this month at the Greenhouse Café, the first with newly-minted President Brian Chin, and the Brooklyn Eagle had a front-row seat to the two-hour-plus shindig. 

The exclusive club’s charter is dedicated to the promotion of the general welfare of its members, as well as the promotion of economic welfare of Bay Ridge. These objectives are encouraged by means of discussions, instruction, entertainment and social gatherings, allowing local businesses and professionals to exchange information and ideas.

12:30 Club members. Photos by Wayne Daren Schneiderman
12:30 Club members. Photos by Wayne Daren Schneiderman

Informal yet informative

The Oct. 1 meeting was casual, informal, educational and relatively intimate as there were 25 people in attendance. It also featured two very interesting, albeit uniquely different guest speakers. 

12:30 Club member John Abi-Habib spoke to the group about Artificial Intelligence and cyber security, while retired NYPD Captain John Walsh had a discussion about a very unexpected and unorthodox topic: serial killers.

“Serial killers are about two things: power and control,” Walsh explained. 

12:30 Club member George Hounsell. Photos by Wayne Daren Schneiderman
12:30 Club member George Hounsell. Photos by Wayne Daren Schneiderman

He also spoke about his personal interaction with female serial killer Aileen Wuornos, who he called “interesting, but an absolute mess as a human being, and totally crazed.”

After the meeting, Chin pointed out that as president, he is hoping to focus on the club’s digital marketing efforts and boost its membership.

“My favorite thing about this club, though, would have to be the people,” he noted. “We have good quality people here, and I love the fact that we get the opportunity to exchange ideas, but we also live, laugh, play and dine as well.” 

12:30 Club member John Abi-Habib addressing the crowd on the topics of Artificial Intelligence and cyber security. Photos by Wayne Daren Schneiderman
12:30 Club member John Abi-Habib addressing the crowd on the topics of Artificial Intelligence and cyber security. Photos by Wayne Daren Schneiderman

Making a difference in the community

Walter Ochoa, the 12:30 Club’s vice president, said, “We are pro-social as well as pro-business. We want to mix things up. It’s also very important to create a network of highly respected individuals that can make a difference in the community.”  

The club also hosted some first-timers at the monthly meeting, including Amed Alfaraji, who called it “an honor” to be at a 12:30 gathering. 

From left: Esmeralda Xheleshi, founder and owner of The Website Wizard, alongside Brian Chin, 12:30 Club president. Photos by Wayne Daren Schneiderman
From left: Esmeralda Xheleshi, founder and owner of The Website Wizard, alongside Brian Chin, 12:30 Club president. Photos by Wayne Daren Schneiderman

“I’m really looking forward to supporting our community in Bay Ridge,” he said.  

Esmeralda Xheleshi, founder and owner of The Website Wizard, a Staten Island-based marketing consultant, was also a 12:30 newbie.

 

Retired NYPD Captain John Walsh speaking to club members about the history and his experiences with serial killers. Photos by Wayne Daren Schneiderman
Retired NYPD Captain John Walsh speaking to club members about the history and his experiences with serial killers. Photos by Wayne Daren Schneiderman

“This is great because my roots actually started here in Brooklyn,” she said. “There are a lot of interesting businesses here and different niches that I can support with their digital endeavors.” 

Incidentally, the 12:30 Club is named for its traditional meeting time of 12:30 p.m. and holds its luncheons primarily at the Greenhouse Café, in addition to various other neighborhood restaurants.

Amed Alfaraji (right) in conversation with a fellow club member. Photos by Wayne Daren Schneiderman
Amed Alfaraji (right) in conversation with a fellow club member. Photos by Wayne Daren Schneiderman




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