Coalition of Oak Ridge Retired Employees
Minutes of Board Meeting on July 18, 2007, 2:00 p.m.
Oak Ridge Senior Center
Present:
Mike Bradshaw, Sandy Dean, Bob Keil, Bob Henderson, Keith Kibbe,
Charlie Kuykendall, Tom Lemons, Pete Lotts, Dave Mason, Ed Mee, Ken
Moore, Pete Peterson, Dave Reiche, Mary Helen Rose, Joe Setaro, Dub
Shults, Troy Trotter, Don Wood, Bob Worrell, Paula Wright
1. Opening Remarks.
President Dave Reichle welcomed new Board member Dave Mason, who was
present for his first meeting. Reichle mentioned receiving an
e-mail from the Department of Labor (DOL) and talked about his
interaction with John Miller of DOL. Miller stated that DOL has
no jurisdiction over DOE.
Reichle attended, in response to an invitation to CORRE, the dedication
of the new Jack Case Center at Y-12. While there, he talked
with Ted Sherry, new Director of the NNSA Site Office at Y-12.
Reichle told Sherry said we have wanted to meet with him when he is
settled in to his new job, and Sherry said he would love to get
together with Reichle. At the dedication, Reichle also spoke with
David Leaverton of Senator Corker’s office, with Gina Broome of
Congressman Wamp’s office, and with Frank Munger.
Reichle referred to the 11-page paper on “DOE Disinformation
Regarding Oak Ridge Contractor Pensions,” copies which had been
distributed to Board members and placed on our website. Dub
Shults had drafted a condensed 3-page version, which he presented to
Reichle for consideration and possible revision.
2. Comments on Strategic Planning Document.
Reichle asked for comments on Minutes of Strategic Planning Meeting,
June 27, 2007, and noted the assignments listed in the document.
3. Treasurer’s Report.
Paula Wright highlighted her report, copies of which had been
distributed. There were 9 new Active Members in June, and balance
on hand at end of June was $38,805.30.
4. Communications.
Sandy Dean stated that she doesn’t know when there will be
another issue of Retirement News, but the two articles she has
submitted are of a nature that will still be timely when they do
appear. It was discussed that she will modify the message in the
next issue of Retirement News to make a prominent request to all
retirees (whether members of CORRE or not) to provide us their e-mail
addresses via our website.
Regarding Annual Meeting planning, Sandy stated that she and Mary Helen
went last week to the Heritage Fellowship church, which is reserved for
the meeting. They talked with an administrator there and looked
over the facility, which appears to be excellent for our meeting.
Some Board members asked questions and offered various suggestions, all
of which will be considered when the full Annual Meeting Planning
Committee meets prior to our next Board meeting.
5. Nominating Committee. Bob Worrell reported that the Committee met again, and has some further recommendations:
- A Resolution was approved earlier which would extend
the terms of several people by one year. Worrell read an addendum
to that Resolution which would now approve extending by one year the
terms of Dave Reichle as President, and Charlie Kuykendall as Past
President. Motion passed to approve.
- The Committee recommends nomination of three more
Board Members for two-year terms (2008-2009): Joyce Conner,
Lou Dunlap, and Larry Pierce. In addition, the Committee
recommends appointing Lou Dunlap and Larry Pierce to the Board,
effective immediately, to fill out terms of Fred Shull and Harriett
Westmoreland, who resigned. Motion passed to approve these
nominations and appointments.
- The Committee recommends approval of Dave
Reichle’s appointment of Judy Kibbe and Harriett Westmoreland to
serve on the Advisory Committee. Motion passed to approve.
6. ORNL Benefits Advisory Committee.
Joe Setaro noted that he has resumed serving on the Committee after
Fred Shull’s resignation from the CORRE Board. He stated
that the Committee meeting was cancelled this month, because so many
members were on vacation. However, since he was out at ORNL for
badging, he found that Mark Wagner was available to meet with him for
awhile. He gave Wagner a copy of the DVD, and they talked more
about the 28% government subsidy for continued drug coverage.
Wagner stated that they have not received any money.
7. Meeting with Bechtel Jacobs Company (BJC).
Pete Peterson reported that he had a very good meeting with HR manager,
Kelli Schifferer, and gave her a DVD (she already had one from another
source). Peterson learned that the BJC Pension Plan is 95%
funded, and that they have changed to the new figures on
lifespan. They have also changed to assuming retirement at age
62, which mostly happens. BJC has contributed roughly $4 million
per year to the fund for the past two years. Peterson asked how
the 2% spousal reduction option would affect the overall plan.
Ms. Schifferer did not know, but said she is going to do an evaluation
of what it would cost to give that benefit to employees and retirees,
and also what it would cost to give the adjustment retirees are
requesting. She stressed that the evaluation is to have the
facts, not to request any changes. They are going to do a
three-year evaluation of benefit packages, which would include the
retirees. They have no plans to make any negative changes to
medical benefits. She said that the BJC Manager is open to
meeting with CORRE.
8. Government Relations Committee.
Pete Lotts reported on discussions with Congressional staff. We
have been waiting for Congressman Wamp’s office to agree to
coordinate a joint meeting with local TN Delegation staff members, and
we hope this will happen in the next week or so. Dave Reichle is
to discuss this and other items with Helen Hardin, a member of
Congressman Wamp’s staff. We have had no more
discussion with offices of Congressmen Davis and Duncan. Keith
Kibbe has made attempts, with no success, to contact Tom Craig of
Senator Alexander’s staff. Lotts will contact Patrick
Jaynes and request him to set up a meeting with Senator
Alexander. He promised sometime ago to set up a meeting with
Senator Alexander. We have had no further discussions with
Senator Corker’s staff. We have had communication with a
staff member from the House Labor Committee as a result of our having
sent a DVD to that Committee. Basically, we told them that DOE
and the contractors have abandoned past practices.
Lotts will work with Mary Helen to issue invitations to members of our
TN Delegation or their staff members to attend our Annual Meeting on
September 26 and speak briefly. He mentioned the need to
utilize e-mail and the need to have a newsletter sent perhaps quarterly
by e-mail. Lotts will send e-mail to congressional staffers
on the DOE disinformation analysis by CORRE.
9. Status of DVD Distribution.
Keith Kibbe said he has distributed about half of the DVDs to different
people and has the balance in his garage. Motion passed to
approve spending $163.85 for two hard drives for storage at two
different sites of the DVD information.
10. Adjournment. The meeting adjourned at 4:00 p.m.
Mary Helen Rose, CORRE Secretary
CORRE Annual Meeting
2:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 26
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