Oak Ridge Senior Center

Present: Ken Cowser, Sandy Dean, Tom Douglass, Joe Dykstra, Ben Gaylor, Ben Johnson, Bob Keil, Charlie Kuykendall, Tom Lemons, Pete Lotts, Dave Reichle, Mary Helen Rose, Troy Trotter, Don Wood, Bob Worrell

Opening Remarks. President Dave Reichle noted that Joe Setaro was told by people at Savannah River that there is a committee that has been formed at DOE-HQ to look into inequities of pension benefits across DOE contractors. The president of Westinghouse gave retirees strong assurances that Westinghouse will not be making any changes to their drug benefit policy as a result of Medicare changes. Reichle mentioned that insurance costs have been shifted to employees in subtle ways everywhere. Charlie Kuykendall stated that we should have Ben Johnson see if the split in sharing costs is still 50/50 in his next audit of benefit plans. Reichle stated that retirees still do not have a letter on minimum pensions. (Note: Letters were received the next day).

Secretary & Treasurer’s Report. Mary Helen Rose highlighted her Treasurer’s report, copies of which had been distributed to board members. Balance on hand February 29, 2004, was $45,055.96, with a total of about 2,154 Active Members. Rose reported that we have about 5,500 signatures on the petition (several more sheets were received from Bob Keil at meeting). Motion passed to receive the Treasurer’s report.

Audit Report. Ben Johnson distributed copies of a report of his audit of the Treasurer’s records at the end of December 2003. Cash on hand December 31, 2003, was $42,875.37. He stated that his audit determined that the consolidated financial records represent fairly the financial position of CORRE, and he found the expenditures to be acceptable for our non-profit status.

Communications. Sandy Dean reported that she has talked to Melissa Leinhart of the Retiree News office, and was told that the items we submitted will appear in the newsletter which will be distributed next week. Dean said we need to make another submission by April 15, and asked for suggestions. Kuykendall said there is widespread confusion among retirees about our health benefits and pensions. He suggested that we need an article explaining how they are really not connected.

Website. John Roy Gray was absent but had reported to Reichle that the Website is up to date. He again asked board members to let him know if they found anything out of date or missing.

Member Date Base. Tom Lemons reported that he has purchased Microsoft Access at a cost of $189.99, as approved at our February board meeting. He ended up having to order himself a new computer to accommodate the software. He mentioned that Mary Helen Rose gave to him disks containing names and addresses of all Active Members. He felt strongly that we need to send a communication to Active Members at least annually at a cost of about $900. Some board members felt that the Retiree Newsletter, our news releases, etc., were adequate for now. Lotts stated that he thinks we need to communicate directly to members only when we have specific requests for their assistance. Further consideration of possible communications will be given when the database is in place and a specific need arises.

Approval of 2004 CORRE Position Paper. John Jones could not be present due to a conflict with his present job. Reichle noted that copies of John’s final draft were distributed to all board members earlier in the week. Rose made a motion, seconded by Dean that the paper be approved. A few suggestions were received and agreed upon for minor changes to the paper, after which the motion to approve passed unanimously. Rose will make the changes and forward the approved version to all board members. The consensus was that John Jones did an excellent job of writing the paper.

Organizational Contacts. Reichle reported that he and Setaro met with Jeff Smith and Daryl Boykins at ORNL, and thanked them for their plans to create a benefits advisory committee and to include a retiree representative. Reichle suggested that Joe Setaro be CORRE’s representative to the committee when it is in place, and the consensus was that Setaro would be the best person for that assignment. They talked about the fact that health benefit issues are becoming a more important part of everyone’s agenda. Smith asked about CORRE’s goals for this year, and requested that our position paper be sent to him as soon as it is approved.

Legislative Committee (Pete Lotts, Chairman; Ken Cowser, Kaye Johnson, John Jones, and Bob Keil; Dave Reichle and Joe Setaro, ex officio). Lotts reported that the Committee met prior to the CORRE Board Meeting. He said their plan is to deliver to legislative offices the petition and the 2004 Position Paper, and at the same time to give an upgraded presentation similar to what we presented last year. Kaye Johnson will get together the presentation by April 1. We are going to consider suggesting to congressional staff things they might do to help. The order for doing things is that Dave Reichle and others will meet with heads of contractors, then DOE-ORO. We will go with publicity after that. Committee members will in the meantime be contacting congressional staff to ask for contacts in Washington. CORRE representatives will go to Washington, make the rounds, and discuss the issues with whomever they can reach.

Ken Cowser will try to pull together a plan to get information to local officials and representatives. He will be contacting board members and advisors, who can help by meeting with officials with whom they are more personally acquainted.

Strategy Discussion – Action Plan. Reichle distributed copies of his action plan and reviewed the various items, making some needed corrections in dates.

Adjournment. The meeting was adjourned at 4:15 p.m.

Mary Helen Rose, Board Secretary