December 21, 2005
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| CORRE Minutes December 21, 2005 |
Coalition
of Oak Ridge Retired Employees
Minutes of Board Meeting on December 21, 2005 2:00 p.m. Oak Ridge Senior Center Present: Mike Bradshaw, Joe Dykstra, Ben Gaylor, Bob Keil, Charlie Kuykendall, Chuck Landguth, Tom Lemons, Pete Lotts, Ed Mee, Dave Reichle, Mary Helen Rose, Joe Setaro, Teresa Riggs, Fred Shull, Troy Trotter, Don Wood, Bob Worrell 1. Opening Remarks. President Dave Reichle reported that he is continuing to pursue a meeting with Senator Frist’s staff in Washington through Carolyn Jenson. He and Joe Setaro met with Gina Broome, who is taking over Linda Ponce’s responsibility at Congr. Wamps’s local office. They talked about inaccuracies in the letter Congr. Wamp sends to retirees, and Reichle gave Broome suggested changes. Reichle reported that Setaro had a conversation with Mark Wagner, Benefits Manager at ORNL, who stated that he had been informed that CORRE was opposed to a split in the Pension Plan. Setaro had informed Wagner that CORRE had no position on a potential split. At Setaro’s suggestion, Reichle called Wagner and confirmed this. Wagner was interested in CORRE’s stand on this issue, since he had been informed to the contrary. During the discussion with Wagner, Reichle brought up the Medicare Drug subsidy (28%) and mentioned the possibility that contractors might share with retirees to maintain the 50-50 split of the premiums. Wagner indicated that ORNL would not be opposed to this. 2. Secretary/Treasurer’s Report. Mary Helen Rose highlighted her Treasurer’s report for November, copies of which had been distributed to board members. Balance as of November 30 was $44,321.01, with a total of about 2,586 Active Members. 3. Communications – Status of Second Ad. In Sandy Dean’s absence (out of town), Mary Helen reported on the status of a second ad. She distributed copies of the proposed ad, which Pete Lotts and others had earlier approved, but it was decided to delay the ad to mid-January rather than run it before the holidays. She estimated that cost of the second ad would be about $3,000, as it is shorter than the first ad which cost over $4,000. Lotts asked Chuck Landguth to take a look at possibly restructuring the ad. 4. ORNL Benefits Advisory Committee. Joe Setaro reported that the committee did not meet in December, but met in November after our board meeting. Discussions centered on the split of ORNL and Y-12 benefits, which is aimed for April 1. Looks like a split of pension benefits will not occur. Results of the poll were good, so contractors are going ahead with bids for a dental plan for retirees, and they are now looking at April 1. Bob Worrell stated that there is going to be a combined dental and vision plan, with all of the cost to be paid by retirees. 5. Meeting with Congressman Wamp. Charlie Kuykendall reported on a meeting with Congr. Wamp and his Chief of Staff, Helen Hardin. Present were Pete Lotts, Dave Reichle, Kuykendall, and Pete Peterson. He said Wamp indicated he is going to put pressure on “big time” for the contractors to respond to CORRE’s proposed changes. 6. Meeting with Jim Martin, NNSA. Bob Worrell reported that he, Kuykendall, and Reichle met on December 9 with Jim Martin, Chief BWXT Y-12 Financial Officer. They discussed with him the letter recently received from NNSA, and pointed out that the information we were requesting was on the whole plan, not just Y-12. The pension plan split will not occur in the foreseeable future, but the benefit plans are going to be split. Worrell pointed out to Martin that there is a $590 million surplus in the Pension Trust Fund as of December 14, and that we are seeking political support for CORRE’s requests. Worrell also met with Susan Alexander, BWXT Benefits Manager; and with Maureen Williams, Official Plan Administrator. Reichle will prepare a response to NNSA’s (Brumley’s) letter. 7. Legislative Committee. Pete Lotts mentioned the meeting with Congr. Wamp, and said Wamp is willing to meet with us quarterly. Jonathan Griswold has replaced Dean Rice in Congr. Duncan’s office. Griswold has said he would be willing to set up any meetings in Washington. Lotts has asked Patrick Janes of Sen. Alexander’s office for a meeting. For information of board members, we are asking the senators and representatives that they each: (1) request DOE and contractors to put in a proposal to make the requested ad hoc adjustment, and approve the 2% spouse-option reduction for retirees; and (2) submit or sponsor legislation that DOE will review biannually to see whether adjustments to retiree pensions are needed. The question arose as to when a CORRE rally might be planned. Reichle said we will put the subject on the agenda for discussion at our January board meeting 8. Adjournment. The meeting adjourned at 3:50 p.m., with Holiday refreshments and visiting to follow. Mary Helen Rose, CORRE Secretary
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Working for Fair, Equitable, and Competitive Benefitsfor13,000 Former K-25, Y-12, and ORNL EmployeesCoalition of Oak Ridge Retired Employees P.O. Box 4266, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-4366
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| Date Modified: 13 March 2007 |