A Place for all the Old Timers to Get Together

 

The Pioneer's Club

The Pioneer’s Club Newsletter

Volume 6, Issue  2

February 2012

Editor’s Comments

Obituary Page

We lost  four individuals that I am aware of since the last newsletter.

 

They will be missed by who knew them.

 

 

 

 

John R. Seaman - January 17, 2012, Chili, NY at the age of 85. John served in the Pacific Theater in WWII,

 

Francis "Dave" Morris - January 18, 2012, Churchville, NY. Dave retired from the Electric side of the company.

 

Richard F. Dries - January 25, 2012, Greece NY. Dick was a retiree of RG&E. (Telephone Center)/

1.  

Churchill W. "Chuck" Green - January 25, 2012, Nunda, NY. Chuck was a retiree from the Fillmore / Pavilion District.

February Events

Here are the important dates for February

 

February 2nd—Groundhog Day

February 4th—Jefferso Rd Office Group will start meeting for lunch

                             At The Brewery on Winton Rd S near Jefferson Rd.

February 6th—Waitangi Day (New Zealand—if you care)

February 7th—Subway Lunch at Keenan’s

February 11th—National Foundation Day                                (Japan)

February 12th—Abrahm Lincoln’s Birthday

February 14th—Valentine’s Day

February 15th—Flag Day (Canada)

February 20th—Presidents Day

February 21st—Mardi Gras Day

February 22nd _George Washington’s                                       Birthday

                               Ash Wednesday

 

Any you thought February was a boring month.

 

February Birthdays

Happy Birthday to our February babies.

Florida Picnic

Troubles at RG&E

Wow this has been a very bad month for RG&E! They seem to be experiencing the results of hiring cheap contractors to “do the work” and finding out that is not the case.

 

I’ll detail some of the problems I am aware of later in this news letter.

 

I have been having problems with the web site since Google decided to add some statistic counters to their tool offerings. Since then, any Google based web browser says our site is “nasty” and not to go there. Checking into their warning I found that they don’t like the stat counter I have been using for years. Makes you stop and think doesn’t it?

 

Anyway I am working on removing all the code to the counter I’m using from the site. That is a lot of work since there are thousands of pages.

Hi Tom,

 

Perhaps you could run the following paragraph in the February newsletter.

 We're hoping it will be an encouraging message for more of our retirees.

 

 

Preparations for the Florida RG&E Emeritus Picnic are proceeding smoothly.  As was the case last year, it will be held at Shelter #5 in Lake Seminole Park, Seminole, Florida.  We expect the setup will be similar, too.  In other words, those attending should bring there own food, drink and table service.  Folding lawn chairs might also be advisable.  Charcoal will be provided for those that might want to use one of the two grills near the shelter.  Don will be seeking audience participation in a reminiscing session after lunch and there may even be a door prize available for some of those attending.  Last year there were

55 people attending and I believe they all have good memories of the event.  We're hope to see even more of our friends this year.

 

Lee Harris

Our Florida Picnic is only one month away! So put the date on your calendar right now. And start making your plans to attend. Remember there’s food to buy, car to gas,  and such.

 

 

Lake Seminole Park

10015 Park Blvd. (74th Ave. N.)
Seminole FL 33777
park diagram/amenities/restroom info map

 

 

This is the only picture I have that might be considered a “group” shot. It’s some of the attendees registering at the Welcome Table.

 

If I remember there were about 55 attendees last year. This year there will be a lot more.

Here are a collection of emails I received since last month just about benefits.

 

Jan 31

 

Hi Tom, hope all is well with you. I have not been able to access the pioneer club web site for a little while now.  I went there because Bev Wagner is having MAJOR issues with (RG&E, Iberdola, watever) with getting her health care swapped to Medicare ( yes, she turns 65 in Feb ) and has phoned MVP, RG&E, and everyone she can think of to resolve. I think you had some info posted that might help.

 

 

TOM I DO NOT IF ALL EMPLOYEES KNOW ABOUT THEIR DEATH BENEFIT INSURANCE THAT OUR COMPANY HAS SWITCHED TO ANOTHER GROUP TO HANDLE THIS MYSELF AND OTHERS HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THE DID NOT HAVE OUR WIFE OR WHO EVER ON THE POLICY HERE IS A TEL NUMBER TO CORRECT THIS 1 855 577 4237 

 

1/19

 

yep, those are the Florida folk I called today, they still want another $140 a month for life ins. plus mvp gold, that is $140 more each month than the $64 I paid per mo. last year.  Thanks

 

1/06

 

I too am having problems with the benefit stuff.  I received a letter saying I owed $480 as I was in arrears for a few months.  My monthly payment for health insurance ( $64 is only for my wife) never showed anything in arrears.  Since I have on-line payment with Summit, they supplied me with all the information regarding the withdrawals made to the account.  With that info I had to submit a letter to the 7th floor and I had to show that I paid the $480.  It was indicated that I would lose my coverage if I did not pay that amount.  It will take the 7th floor 3 months to review my information and another 3 months to "make a decision".  So now they have my $480 for all that time.  In the meantime I have received a statement from the new benefit "handler" for an increase of $100 and the $24 for life insurance.  Trying to get anyone to give any information is futile......................I am at their mercy as are other retirees..............

 

1/5

Just a heads up on what happened to me.

My wife retired from Kodak with  no pay MVP,almost the way ours is. I called our benefits dept (1 855-577-4237 ) and asked if she could be put on my coverage. Fortunately,she could, at a cost. When we were through talking, she asked me to update my beneficiary. I said it did not change, it was my wife. She said there was no name listed. She was not sure why, maybe because it’s a new administrator. I’m not sure if I was the only one, but I would check to make sure yours is up to date.

 

1/4

 

I received this email from a friend that works for Xerox. She used to work for RG&E so she gets our newsletter.

 

Hi Tom,

Although I am not covered by any RG&E plan, rest assured things are just as messed up elsewhere. I had not received my new health care ID card, so I did a "chat" online with the Xerox benefits health line. How's this? Peggy at the Credit card company apparently also works for Xerox:

 

It has been determine you were impacted by the data file that was not sent over to the carrier. This delayed the mailing of your ID Cards. We are aware of the issue and is currently working on resolving it as soon as possible.

 

 

 We are switching carriers, and they **do not know when** this will be fixed. In light of upcoming doctor appointments, I asked the person it, what do we do? The response? I hope nothing happens, but if you have to go, you will be treated, make sure you go to a physician/hospital participating in the system. Not a thing about being covered!

Ugh. Hope you get a chuckle out of this, as it has my blood boiling. But of course I can't see a doctor, because they can't get the right data to the carrier in 2 and a half months............. But they were certainly able to take the money for the payments!

 

How wonderful!

 

So now the RG&E healthcare payment system is spun into assorted overpayments from retirees who simply paid what the January  invoice says, forgetting that the rates had been set last May - until next May. Also, the noted optional life insurance paymnts may be screwed up, according to that other report. I doubt that they have human clerks enough to sort out all of the individual variations.

 

Tom, Like everybody else,my bill was way over what it was,In my case

$123.00 over.So I paid it(out of fear of being dropped) and called the number given,and was told(this was before the 1st of the year) they had no records to go by and were charging on the basis of what they were told (?) Anyhow,I got a call last night from Florida,assuring me that everything was under review,and they would be getting back to me.Good heavens,I'm being charged for extra life insurance that I never signed up for when I retired four years ago.

Enough of my bellyaching,I'm sure you've heard plenty with more to come.We should have joined the union years ago. Respectfully,

 

Well this is only the benefits problems, so far.

 

 

 

Troubles at RG&E—cont.

I’m not sure how many of you heard, but RG&E and NYSEG released about 2,000,000 customers data . This data contained Social Security Numbers, Dates of Birth, and if available Financial Institution Account Numbers.

 

It seems that a “contractor” made this mistake.

 

All customers received a letter of apology and an offer of three years of free credit monitoring. The letter covers mostly the credit monitoring and not how the error happened. No mention if any of our retiree information was exposed.

 

Speaking of contractors. I got this email about a transformer fire.

 

When ever we would have a "Catastrophic Failure",
someone would always say "Who tested it last" ?

Turns out this one was tested by a CONTRACTOR.
Guess this Transformer severed its own cables - - -

Dave