A Place for all the Old Timers to Get Together

 

The Pioneer's Club

The Pioneer’s Club Newsletter

Volume 7, Issue  1

February 2013

OOPS!

 

Obituary Page

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

 

They will be missed by who knew them.

 

Charles E. Platt - December 9, 2012, Webster, NY at age 91. Charlie was a US Navy Veteran of WWII. He was also the first superintendent of Ginna.

 

Mary L. Williams-January 23, 2013, Rochester, NY at age 84. Mary was an administrative assistant in Administration.

February Events

       February  5– Substation’s Monthly Lunchen

       February 10– Chinese New Year

       February 12— Lincoln’s Birthday

                       Mardi Gras

       February 13— Ash Wednesday

       February 14— Valentines Day

       February 15— Flag Day (Canada)

       February 18— President’s Day

       February 22– Washington’s Birthday

       February 23— Purim begins at Sundown

       March 4– Florida Picnic

January and February Birthdays

Our Retiree Benefits

Florida Picnic

The Email continues to pour in from you guys about your experiences with the new benefits process. I’ll list them below.

 

Photos from History

THE END OF AN ERA.......

Sorry about missing last months Newsletter, but I had the flu. Even with a flu shot, I was down for the count.  If any of you out there had it too, well then you know what I mean.

 

1/27

 

Hi Tom,

In case some retiree's do not know, the spending account they have with Aion Hewitt will reimburse the Medicare premium ($104/mo) that is taken out of their social security check. Likewise the premium for a spouse.

Tom,

 

Just wondering if you had a name or contact to whom I could send a complaint to regarding Iberdrola/Hewitt Assoc/RGE Pension Services.

 

Since I turned 65 in Oct of last year I picked up a BC/BS of GA Medicare Supplement policy effective 10/1/2012 as it was less expensive than what was being offered through RG&E at that time.   I called Hewitt Associates back in Sept to advise them that effective with my Oct 2012 pension benefit the deduction for RGE Health Ins should be stopped.   I was advised that I could not cancel it before October and had to call back in October.

 

Since that time I have had 14 telephone conversations with Hewitt trying to get this resolved and trying to get the unnecessary and unauthorized payments deducted from my pension refunded.   It took them until the January Pension payment just to stop the deductions!  They've actually called me and told me that it had been resolved when in fact the problem still persisted!  The last call I received from them was to inform me that it was still under investigation and they would call me back in five business days to keep me apprised of their progress.

 

I'm pissed and have asked repeatedly to whom I could send a log detailing this problem but the only response I get is a promise for them to send me a form to send back to them without any contact name identified!

 

Can you imagine what would have happened if someone at the old RG&E handled a customer complaint in this manner?  

 

If you have any names or contacts I would appreciate it.  

 

Thanks,

 

Mike

 

EDITOR:

I don’t have any contacts to pass on to him, but if you do, his address is:

 

             MICHAEL BLUNDELL" <mikljb1969@msn.com>

             50 Candle Lane

             Dallas, GA  30132

Mark Lynch, RG&E’s President, has put aside funds to help the Pioneers’ Club with expenses. Now before you expect the Picnic’s to go back to “No Charge”, this is not the old RG&E. The funds are only for use in shelter rental and mailing costs. For the Rochester Picnic it amounts to about $600.

Arnie’s refiguring the ticket costs to the 2013 picnic to reflect this windfall. But don’t expect it to drop a lot.

 

I’d like to say thanks to Mark for his kindness

Tom

The above was the good news, now for the bad.

 

Last month was the first time I thought I was not going to get any complaints about Benefits. But alas I spoke to soon.

 

I got this at the end of the month.

Do you need help preparing your tax return? Learn about the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs.

VITA Program: If you make $51,000 or less, IRS-certified volunteers can inform you about tax credits for which you may qualify, and prepare a basic tax return with electronic filing.

TCE Program: If you are 60 years of age or older, you may qualify for free tax help from IRS-certified volunteers who specialize in issues that pertain to seniors. 

There are thousands of locations across the United States where you can get free tax help through the VITA and TCE programs

Your Federal Government!

Got your attention didn’t I?  Well this is not a bad thing.

 

I subscribe to a newsletter from the Feds. This month I got this little tidbit I thought I pass on.

OK, It’s that time again. The Picnic is growing again after a few years of inactivity so its time to attend again.

 

I just got a note from Lee Harris out lining this years fun. Remember this is a “do it yourself” party. If you want to eat or drink you need to bring your own fix’ens. The only thing the crew supplies are some grills if you want to cook something. Here’s an excerpt from their flyer.

 

As in previous years it will be held on the first Monday in March (March 4) at Shelter #5 in Lake Seminole Park.  The park is located on Park Boulevard North in Seminole, FL.  Attendees should plan on arriving by 11 A.M. in order to socialize before lunch.  They should be prepared to eat about noon.  All RG&E retirees and their spouses or domestic partners are welcome.  Those attending are asked to bring their own food, drinks and table service.  One or two charcoal fires will be provided for those interested in cooking hots, hamburgers and the like.

 

Special thanks go out to:

 

Lee Harris        Don Jeerings    & Jack Klein

 

for all the effort they have put into making this a success. They are also looking for volunteers to help with the event.  Anyone interested should contact them.

Last four couples standing in a Chicago dance marathon. ca. 1930.

 

 

Photograph of an African American Union soldier with his family. c1863-65

 

 

 

Russian peasants getting electricity for the first time in 1920

 

 

 

The Roy Rogers Museum in Branson , MO
has closed its doors forever.

 

The contents of the museum were sold at a public auction.

Roy Rogers told his son, if the museum ever operates at a loss, close it And sell the contents.

 

He complied.

 

Roy was one of my hero's when I was a kid. Tom