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A Place for all the Old Timers to Get Together |
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The Pioneer's Club |
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The Pioneer’s Club |
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Volume 2, Issue 4 April, 2008 |
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Remember: Pass this Newsletter on, so everyone can see it! And if you’re not on our mailing list, click here to join
Questions or Comments or Articles? Just Email me at Tom@ThePioneersClub.org To remove your name from our mailing list, please click here
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Members Information Wanted |
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In the February Newsletter, I listed a collection of newly retired individuals. So far I have only four email address out of those retirees.
I’d like to get some contact information for the rest of them so they can enjoy the benefits of the Pioneer’s Club. We would like them to continue to be a part of our family and not drop off the radar on us.
So here are the names of those individuals I have no information for. If you have contact with them or with someone who does, Please ask them to supply us with some contact information.
They are: Nancy A. Banker Michael R. Berry Martha Collins Leon J. Corts Barbara A. Donish Charles J. Fahrer Peter Ferraraccio Jean E. Howard, Paul M. Kimball Marcia A. Lane Herbert J. Leary III David J. Marrapese John E. Meng David H. Platt William J. Thomas Orren R. Vetter Patricia A. White
If we don’t know how to contact them, they won’t get their invitation to the Pioneer’s Picnic this year. And everyone should attend at least one picnic.
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Happy Spring! |
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This is spring. Winter is behind us now, and there is no more snow until next winter (We hope! Well it is Rochester you know).
So all you members, that are hiding in a warm climate, can come back now. We’d like to see you again and hear how things went.
If anyone noticed, I forgot to wish all of you a Happy Easter in last month’s newsletter. (And it wasn’t even St Patrick’s Day yet, so I can’t blame it on a hangover or too much corned beef and cabbage).
Anyway, I hope you had lots of candy and a big Easter meal surrounded by friends and family.
Now about those exercise classes…
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Rochester Picnic |
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I sorry, but I jumped the gun on reporting that the Big Band will be playing at this year’s picnic.
Unfortunately we will not be able to have the pleasure of their company this year.
There is a scheduling conflict.
But do not fear there will be entertainment. I figured that I’ll buy Arnie a couple of beers, and then he’ll make a fool of himself for our amusement.
(Somebody sent me an email a few months ago asking why I picked on Arnie so much. So I stopped. But it’s too much fun picking on him, so I’m starting again!) |
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There is not a lot to report on this year’s picnic. It is way to early to set a price or a menu. But I’ll keep everyone updated as Arnie supplies me with the information. |
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Membership Information |
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Last month everyone got an email from me with all their membership information in it. Since it was a mistake, you also got a quick email from me informing you of the mistake.
I again apologize for cluttering up your mailboxes.
A lot of you reviewed the information I have for you and found some corrections were need (Thank you!). Those corrections were all made, so everybody with an email address should be up to date in the Alumnus Directory.
(Actually it kept me busy for a couple of days updating everything)
That covers about 350 of you. Now how do I check the information on the remaining 1100 I have in the Directory without email? I need to update those address before the Rochester Picnic mailing goes out.
Your personal information is secure. If any one wants your information, you will get an email from me informing you of the request, and their email address if you wish to contact them. |
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Retirement Party for Sam Roth |
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I attended a Retirement Party for Sam Roth on Friday, March 7, 2008 to celebrate his 40 years with RG&E.
It was a very nice low key affair. Sam didn't want anything fancy, so there were no speeches, or presentations by management.
There were about 60 people in attendance at the Holiday Inn on Brooks Ave. in Rochester, braving some nasty weather to bid Sam a happy retirement.
There was snack food consisting of: Chicken Wings Chicken fingers Quesada's Potatoes Skins Nachos And French Fries
All of it was very good.
A little history about Sam. He was from the Southern Tier, attending school in Fillmore and graduating in 1967. His brother Paul worked as a dispatcher in the Fillmore Office.
Sam started his career at RG&E in the Subway Department, where he worked for about 20 years. He then moved to the Energy Control Center as an Operator where he spent the next 20 years.
We wish Sam a long and happy retirement as he joins our ranks of "unemployed" and loving it.
A few photos of this gathering can be found on our web site.
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I’m sorry that I was unable to give all of you an advance notice of this gathering, but I did not receive my notification until it was too late to include it in last month’s newsletter.
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Newsletter Articles |
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If you are planning an event and would like to include it’s information in this newsletter, just email me.
I am always looking for stuff to put in here to share with all of you. So don’t be bashful.
I try to send the newsletter out on the first of every month, so I need your submissions a few day earlier. All you need to remember to include is: “who”, “what”, “when”, “where”, and of course “how much”.
If you want it posted on the Web Site, I need about a three or four week head start to add it, because of the work involved.
The newsletter is sent to about 350 email addresses (and growing by word of mouth). Some members even print it out and pass it on to others who don’t have email.
So if you wish to notify the “retired” contingent of the company, this is the place to go. |
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Obituaries |
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It is with great sadness that I must report I have added more names to the obituary page on the web site this month.
I have begun including a link to the actual obituary in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, so that those who wish to read the entire notice may do so.
If you wish to send me a remembrance of our departed member, I will include it with their obituary. |
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Memorial Day Service |
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A Memorial Service, conducted by Ray Dunn, is being held for all our war dead this year.
It will be held on May 23, 2008 at 12:00PM at the flag pole located in front of the Scottsville Road facility, 1300 Scottsville Road, Chili, NY 14624. (Just look for the Airport Control Tower. We’re across the street)
There were nine individuals who were RG&E employees, that did not return from battle. It is these individuals we say “thank you” to and honor their memory.
We hope you will find the time in your busy schedules to join us. For it is because of the sacrifice paid by these individuals and others like them, that we enjoy the freedoms we have today.
I excerpted these remarks from the May/June 1956 Issue of the RG&E News:
On May 28, 1956, the “RG&E World War Veterans Club” formally dedicated the flag, flag pole, and plaque located in front of the Employee Center to the company. At this ceremony were the RG&E Male chorus, the RG&E Band, a contingent of National Guardsmen, RG&E’s top management, and a host of company employees.
That took place over 60 years ago with heart felt speeches being said in honor of our fallen comrades. And here we are again honoring them.
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Our late Company President Robert Ginna expressed it best when he said, in part, at the dedication:
“Remember, it is People and their Relationship that counts, and if we keep this truth in mind at all times, I have no fear that we shall preserve the fundamentals of human liberty and protect the basic freedoms you and I are working to save” |
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These are the individuals that we wish remember
These individuals from World War II
Rayfield C. Ames Killed in Action September 21, 1944 Bennie J. Berade Killed in Action June 6, 1944 William J. Davis Killed in Action October 6, 1944 Robert E. Grek Killed in Action September 12, 1944 Richard Law Killed in Action March 23, 1943 Paul A. Nachtway Killed in Action December 29, 1944 Theodore Swoszowski Lost at Sea December 1, 1943 Charles F. Tobin Killed in Action October 3, 1944
This individual from the Vietnam War
Peter Matarazzo Killed in Action September 19, 1968
We pray that no other names will ever be added to this list. |
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Web Page |
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This has been a busy month for our web site. We added Sam Roth’s Retirement Party Photos, information on the Memorial Service, and a special place honoring our war dead.
Barry Nenno, a retired member from Pricing (Rate and Economic Research to us oldies) is into digital photo restoration. He volunteered (Honest! I didn’t twist his arm or anything) to go through all the photos I have on the web site and use his expertise on them. Our goal is to keep the quality of the photos, but to make them load faster in your web browsers.
So over the next two or three months I will be changing all the photos on the web site over to this new format.. I’ll let you know what areas are finished.
Since I am changing the “Photo Gallery” around, this is a good time to reorganize it. If you have any suggestions for it, please let me know by clicking here
Since I have Barry locked in a basement room, now is also a good time to send us those photos you have packed away. |
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Customer Service |
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Barry Nenno’s mother worked in Customer Service on East Ave for many, many years. During this time she took many pictures of the department and at department parties.
Since her passing in 1995, Barry came into the possession of these photos.
Barry has offered to share them with us, so I will be adding another section to the photo gallery as the pictures are ready.
Below is a sample of one of these pictures.
It was taken in Customer Service located at 89 East Ave. In the picture are: (standing l to r) Bill Richardson, Joe Sudore, Stuart Meech, and seated is Alan Smith.
To those of you “young” guys, this picture was taken when Customer service was located in the right rear corner on the main floor. Note the marble columns and the beautiful wood paneling. This was all removed when Appliance Sales closed and the Cashiers and Customer Service Departments moved to the front of the building.
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I noticed this article in the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle about Beebee Station. I guess this is the beginning of the end for that grand old building. While this article refers to only a part of the plant, I guess we can all see the handwriting on the wall. “Rochester Gas and Electric Corp. plans to spend more than $20 million to demolish a portion of its decades-old Beebee Station in High Falls and build a new substation to power downtown. The city's Environmental Commission will review the company's plan today during a 5:30 p.m. meeting at City Hall, 30 Church St. "This is a necessary first step to the future development of that site," said RG&E spokesman Clyde Forbes. "It is still an active site. ... The actual structure, the plant itself, that will remain in place, which eventually, I think, is something that has to be dealt with. But that is not part of this project." A substation takes power from the main transmission system and reduces it to levels that can be distributed for public use. The substation in High Falls was built in the 1920s. The new substation, expected to go online in mid-2009, will sit above the river at Mill and Falls streets. RG&E wrote to the city on March 4, submitting a letter of intent and other materials on the project.” There must be boxes of pictures from that plant that need to be preserved. If you have any pictures of the history of that plant. Please share them with us. I will add them to our web site and then return them to you. This would also be a good time to share with us some of your memories before the plant is gone forever. |
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Beebee Station |
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Iberdrola, Energy East merger talks fail |
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This article was in the Thursday, March 13, 2008 issue of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. |
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I just received an email on March 31st informing me that John Sullivan, who I knew as safety coordinator, has left RG&E after 30+ years to take a position with Lewis Tree Service.
A going away party for him is being held in Perinton Park on April 6, 2008. There was no other information included, so I can’t tell you the time or price.
If you’d like to attend, contact Sharon_Kerxhalli@rge.com for further information. |
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This is just a last minute note |
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Spanish utility company Iberdrola and Energy East Corp, parent company of Rochester Gas and Electric, failed Wednesday to reach a merger settlement agreement.
Energy East released a statement saying: “Negotiated resolution has not been successful,” but neither side would comment further. |