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Present: Mike Bradshaw, Ken Cowser, Sandy Dean, Joe Dykstra, Dean Eyman, Ben Gaylor, John Roy Gray, Ben Johnson, Marigrace Kirstowsky, Charlie Kuykendall, Pete Lotts, Dave Reichle, Teresa Riggs, Gary Riser, Mary Helen Rose, Joe Setaro, Troy Trotter, Don Wood, Bob Worrell

Opening Remarks. President Dave Reichle reminded that specific Board members have been designated as contacts for the contractor organizations, and that other Board members should not be making contacts and requests. He has learned that this has happened, and he will talk with the individuals about it.

Reichle called attention to copies of a Membership Form that Mary Helen Rose prepared. She took copies of the form to the PACE and ATLC union halls, along with multiple copies of our recent newsletter. Reichle said that Ken Cowser and Charlie Kuykendall are looking at ways to increase our membership. Cowser is drafting a brochure. Mary Helen will draft an ad appealing for new members for approval by Reichle and Sandy Dean.

Reichle mentioned the recent DOE announcement of their contribution to the local economy. The announcement appeared in newspapers and on the evening TV news show. He said that in preparing the planned ads, we are being particularly sensitive to be sure that the words apply to Bechtel-Jacobs and Wackenhut. We will try to construct a similar table of their assets and actuarial liabilities when we can get the information, and would like to separate out liabilities for their retirees and current employees.

Reichle reported that he has sent an e-mail request to Gerald Boyd to get an appointment with him in early August, as Boyd earlier requested "to meet again in three months." He stated that Senator Frist will be in East Tennessee on August 15, and will be speaking in the evening to the Kingston Rotary Club, of which Reichle is a member. He said the Kingston Club will invite all Rotary Clubs in the region. Reichle will attempted to be recognized and pose a question. He urged other Board members who are Rotarians to attend.

Reichle mentioned that John Roy Gray has chosen not to continue on the board after this year, and that various options are being considered to replace him as the webmaster. He asked Board members to give suggestions to himself or Mary Helen Rose.

Secretary/Treasurer’s Report. Mary Helen Rose highlighted her Treasurer’s report for June, copies of which had been distributed to board members. Balance on hand June 30, 2005, was $47,789.83, with a total of about 2,451 Active Members.

Communications. Sandy Dean stated that she has sent to BWXT Y-12 our CORRE Corner writeup for the August newsletter. They now have two of our submissions that have not as yet been included in Retiree News. She reported that she has received a call from Frank Monger regarding the names we submitted of possible retirees whom he might interview. He wants to interview people who "are in dire straights," and who will give him specifics about their pension and allow him to use their names. There was considerable discussion about just what he wants and whether we can provide it. Sandy Dean and Charlie Kuykendall will talk further about how to handle Munger’s request.

Ad Campaign. Dean Eyman referred to copies of two ads which have been prepared, noting that five ads in all have been drafted (the Board approved at June meeting spending up to $7,000 for ads). Kuykendall asked to hear again about the purpose of the ads. Reichle stated that we are at the point where the contractors and DOE are not paying us any attention, and the legislators are behaving about the same way. He thought the ads might be a way to raise the heat level. Discussion of the two ads was diverted by input from the Legislative Committee and by possible legal aspects, and a motion later passed to delay action on the ads for the present.

Website. John Roy Gray said the site is up to date as far as he knows.

Legislative Committee. Pete Lotts reported that the Committee met prior to the board meeting. He is still pursuing a meeting with Sen. Alexander either in Washington or at his local office. Staffer Patrick Jaynes has now referred Lotts to Jeff Muhs, a person on loan to Alexander’s Washington office from ORNL. Lotts is determined to get a meeting with Sen. Alexander. Dean Eyman has the assignment to try to get in touch with Sen. Frist.

Meeting with BWXT Y-12. A report by Dave Reichle and Bob Worrell is attached.

ORNL Benefits Advisory Committee. Joe Setaro reported that the meeting scheduled this past Monday was postponed for one week, as two managers were out of town. At last month’s meeting, which was held after our Board meeting, Setaro said they were told that medical premiums were going to be increased. He said they are very serious about a split with BWXT Y-12 as to pension and benefit plans. He said this very important to the Laboratory, because of medical benefits. Only one insurance company (Sigma) will bid, since they are now dealing with multiple employers (UT-Battelle and BWXT). There was discussion about a change in benefit plans for active employees (defined contribution), but this would apply only to new employees, not present ones. On a possible dental plan, BWXT was to handle, but apparently got sidetracked on that for various reasons. UT-Battelle intends to apply for the federal subsidy for the prescription drug benefit. Setaro will ask at the next meeting whether they intend to split that with retirees.

Nominating Committee. Bob Worrell reported that the Committee met prior to the Board meeting, but the process is not yet finished. He stated that Ed Mee, Teresa Riggs, and Fred Shull have accepted nomination to the Board, and the Committee is pursuing one or two more candidates. Suggested advisors are Marty Goolsby and possibly Clyde Hopkins. The Board approved inviting all of these people to our next and succeeding Board meetings.

Legal Inquiry. Don Woods reported on some conversations he has had with members of legal firms in Nashville. He talked about the conversations in connection with the ad campaign that CORRE has been planning. It was decided that he should check back with his contacts in Nashville to see if they have ideas as to how we should proceed, and that the ad campaign will be delayed until he reports back at our next meeting.

Adjournment. The meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m.

Mary Helen Rose, CORRE Secretary

By

Dave Reichle and Bob Worrell

Attending the meeting were Dave Reichle and Bob Worrell for CORRE, and Susan Alexander and Steve Smith for BWXT.

This was one of the most open and friendly meetings we have had with BWXT.

The meeting began with Reichle’s request that Susan Alexander continue as the contact point for benefits information as Norm Sparks had done in the past, and Smith agreed to that. Reichle also thanked BWXT for the advance notice from the Benefits Office (Pam Williamson) of the forthcoming announcement of the increase in premiums for Medicare supplemental medical insurance. Worrell asked for a copy of the Pension Plan Document, including all restatements and amendments; an updated copy of the Consolidated Account report showing current assets; and any new liability valuations. We were told we would be provided that information.

Other information that CORRE learned:

DOE Secretary Bodman’s goal is to reduce benefit costs for both active employees and retirees in keeping with the general trend across the country.

The federal subsidy that will be available to employers which continue drug programs under the new Medicare regulations effective January 2006 may or may not be shared with employees or retirees. Smith indicated that no final decision has been made.

BWXT may assume administrative responsibility for the Bechtel-Jacobs Pension Plan when the Bechtel contract ends in 2008.

The DOE budget outlook for FY 2006 is "terrible," and will create even more concern about operating costs and overhead.

The plans for a possible retiree Dental Plan got sidetracked for various reasons. Susan Alexander will dust off the survey and get the project back on track.