Volume 25, Issue 1 • Winter 2016

BCBSM Retirees NewsletterProduced for and by members of the

BCBSM Retiree Association

Speakers, reports highlight 33rd annual meetingThe 2015 Annual Business Meeting and Luncheon took place October 22 at Laurel Manor in Livonia.

Kathy Elston, president of the Association, welcomed guests and presided over the meeting. She gave the president’s report, thanking the volunteers who make so many great events possible throughout the year. Treasurer Joyce Obenhoff reported on Association finances.

The president and treasurer reports, as well as reports from each committee and our representative on the Senior Advisory Committee, were included in the packet of materials handed out to attendees.

Unless a new candidate is nominated from the floor, Association officers automatically serve for two years. President Kathy Elston; Annette Foster, vice‑president; Joyce Obenhoff, treasurer, and Adrienne Starling, secretary, were elected for a second term.

Following the business portion of the meeting our first guest speaker was book author Calvin Maestro, M.D., a former medical director at the Blues. He gave a brief talk about his recent self‑published book, “Leadership Lessons from History: A Study Guide Written for Physicians & Other Healthcare Leaders.”

The book contains 56 “lessons” drawn from historical events and figures — from Abraham Lincoln to Sun Tzu who wrote the “The Art of War” — as well as Dr. Maestro’s own

observations and experiences. Each brief article (one to three pages) is a quick read and should be of interest to anyone who wants to be a leader.

Dr. Maestro said he wanted to combine his love of history with the leadership lessons discussed in his MBA classes and in the nursing and medical management classes he teaches. “The lessons bring the courses to life,” he said.

Karen Harville spoke after lunch. She is a registered nurse who worked in a variety

Annual meeting continued on page 2

Dr. Calvin Maestro

Richard Dow had questions for Karen Harville after her presentation.

Pamela Rechul and Rod Meyer

Cynthia Keleman (left) and Jacqueline Lance.

Annual meeting continued

Frances Sinclair (left) and Jean Liddell

First‑time attendees at an Association event, seated, Lucile Willingham (left) and Diane Benglian; standing, (left to right), Karen Grainger, Nona Sehoyan, Marcia Persin, Eva Kea and Jan Dubois‑Reynolds.

of settings for 22 years (emergency medicine, home health care, public health and oncology) before joining BCBSM in 2008 as a case manager. She is now a health care analyst working directly with the UAW Retiree Medical Benefit Trust.

Karen reviewed in some detail the various Medicare benefits retirees should be aware of — and take advantage of — such as self‑reported health assessments, annual wellness visits, screenings and preventive services, such as flu and pneumonia vaccines. She also suggested a user‑friendly website, nihseniorhealth.gov, that seniors may find helpful.

The 50/50 raffle was held at the close of the meeting. Winners of the 50/50 were Noel Cartier ($100), Linda Ludtke ($50), and Irene Ettinger ($26).

Susan Lettner won a table centerpiece.

Paperback copies of Dr. Maestro’s book are available from Amazon.com or

AuthorHouse (www.authorhouse.com) for $17. The e‑book edition can be

downloaded for $4.

Officers• President

Kathy Elston

• Vice‑President Annette Foster

• Treasurer Joyce Obenhoff

• Secretary Adrienne Starling

• Immediate Past President John McCrary

Committees• Finance – Richard Dow, chair

• Fundraising, Membership Liaison – Beleta Williams, chair

• Internet Communications – Imogene King‑Dugan, chair; Wanda Black, Debra Pawlak and Adaku Mensah, committee members

• Newsletter Editor – Open

• Operations – Betty Zwolak, chair; Linda Hall and John McCrary, committee members

• Photography – Mary Ann Gehringer, Edith Glaspie and Cheryl Kavanagh

• Planning – John Flint and Ray Newak, co‑chairs; Kathy Elston and Kay Jones, committee members

• Social – Annette Foster, chair; Doral Cherniak, Kathy Dolan and Lee Singleton, committee members; Florida luncheon, Cindy Vanderlinden‑Warf; Golf Outing, Kathy Elston, Brad Gavle and John McCrary

• Representative to BCBSM Senior Advisory Committee – Carolyn Cruse

Who’s Who in the Retiree Association

Back by popular demand, our September 22 outing was lunch and entertainment at Genitti’s Hole‑in‑the‑Wall restaurant theater in Northville. The retirees and their guests who attended the event had a seven‑course Italian meal that everyone seemed to enjoy, followed by a performance of “Haunted Hilarity” in the theater.

Getting into the spirit of Halloween, the mostly unscripted interactive play that followed lunch was about a haunted warehouse where “professionals” have been brought in to take on the ghosts. The ghosts were played by members of the audience who were called up to the stage to participate. Our group did a great job playing the ghosts. They were Ron Kurkowski, Imogene King‑Dugan, Leonard Hicks, Jacqueline Perkins, Richard Dow and Dyanna Carthane.

Haunted house hijinks featured at Genitti’s

Left to right, Janet Crain and Elaine and John Schoder Geri Wojczynski (left) and Barbara Mitchell

Underwater world on view at Sea Life AquariumOn November 11, Association members met at Michigan Sea Life Aquarium for a self‑guided and educational tour of ocean life. The aquarium, located at Great Lakes Crossing in Auburn Hills, boasts 5,000 sea creatures in its exhibits, along with lots of fact‑filled information about the sea animals, their habitats and conservation efforts.

Some of the highlights of the aquarium are the stingray tank, shark tank, giant octopus and interactive touch pool where visitors can handle sea stars, sea urchins and crabs. Guides also give talks and feed the animals at scheduled times throughout the day. During our morning tour, we caught the stingray talk.

Following our visit to the aquarium, those who attended had lunch at the Rainforest Cafe right across from Sea Life or Bar Louie nearby.

Left to right, Norma Taylor, Kathy Dolan and Diane Dibella

Ann Austin (left) and Sandra Carr

Guides were on hand at the interactive touch pool.

(Hint for grandparents: The exhibits and educational format make the aquarium a great destination for kids.)

Sea Life Aquarium continued on page 5

Left to right, Alice Reynolds, Laura Cuppetilli, Marilyn Radlicki and Dawn Cuppetilli

March 15 — SNOWBIRD LUNCHEON, FloridaThis year’s luncheon will be held at a restaurant in The Villages, near Lady Lake in Florida. Watch for more information.

March 23 — MEADOWBROOK TOUR AND PLAY, RochesterA tour and lunch at Meadowbrook Hall followed by a performance of “Calendar Girls” at the Meadowbrook Theater.

April 23 — BOWL‑A‑RAMA, Farmington HillsThe 6th annual charity fundraiser at Country Lanes of Farmington. Pizza, pop and prizes included!

May 17 — SPRING LUNCHEON, TaylorJoin us for our annual spring luncheon at the Lakes of Taylor Golf Club banquet center.

June — LUNCH AND CRUISE, WyandotteEnjoy lunch at Portofino’s followed by a Detroit River cruise departing from the restaurant. Date to be announced.

July — DETROIT TIGERS GAME, DetroitWatch for details about our annual outing at Comerica Park.

August — BILL BURKE MEMORIAL GOLF OUTINGWatch for more information about the golf outing.

SeptemberA day trip is being planned.

October 20 — ANNUAL MEETING & LUNCHEON, PlymouthOur annual business meeting and luncheon will be held at The Inn at St. John’s.

NovemberAn outing is being planned.

December 6 — HOLIDAY PARTY, Sterling HeightsJoin us for our annual holiday festivities to be held at the Century Banquet Center in Sterling Heights.

Mark Your Calendar for These 2016 Events

Left to right, Adrienne Starling, Dolores and Ray Newak and Susan Reetz enjoying lunch at Bar Louie restaurant.

Sea Life Aquarium continued

Holiday gathering is festive and funClub Venetian Banquet Center in Madison Heights was the site of our 33rd annual holiday party on December 3. The festive evening event included a delicious multi‑course, family‑style dinner featuring roast beef and chicken piccata, dancing, a Chinese auction and 50/50 raffle. DJ Rick Love provided the music.

The 50/50 winners were Paula Hunt ($125), Steve Parker ($90) and Lela Thomas ($69). Dolores Gelemey‑Newak, Sue Grzelewski‑Fessler (a two‑time winner), Lee Singleton, Margaret Wyatt, John Mc Crary, Selma Marzec,

Kathie Helms and Yvonne Burke were winners in the Chinese auction. Thanks to the following individuals who donated items for the auction: Kathy Elston, Angela Hankerson, Kay Jones, Bill Skrzypek, Beleta Williams and Bobbette Williams.

Holiday party continued on page 7

Diane Heath

Janette and Robert Pittman

Left to right, Tom and Sue Foster, Kathy Jacka and Margaret Wyatt

Left to right, Paula Hunt, Rosemary Nixon, and Juanita Woods

Elizabeth Tarver (left) with Kay Jones, who is dressed appropriately for the occasion.

Holiday party continued

First‑time attendees at an Association event, from left to right, Debra Canty, Sharon Williams, Karen Tittjung, Gloria Cain, Joanne Manatine, Sue Defrancis and Paula Boehm

Left to right, Nick and Gretchen Grabowski with Joyce Obenhoff Lela Thomas (left) and Sherrin White

Judie Purdy (left) and Gigi Black

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The BCBSM Retirees Newsletter is published three times a year for members of the BCBSM Retiree Association. We’d like to hear from you. If you have a comment on the newsletter or

an idea for an article, please contact us at information@miretireeassoc.com or write to us at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Retirement Administration, Mail Code 0123, 600 East Lafayette Blvd., Detroit, MI 48226.

Also be sure to check out our website at miretireeassoc.com for information about upcoming events and photos of past events. We’re on Facebook, too. You will find the link on our Web site.

E‑mail Directory updates: The directory is updated periodically and sent via e‑mail to members who wish to share their e‑mail address with fellow retirees. To add your e‑mail address, make a correction or remove

your name from the list, send your request to information@miretireeassoc.com.

The BCBSM Retiree Association is an organization of former employees of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan that is not otherwise affiliated with the company.

News & NotesCharity updateDonations raised through your participation in the 50/50 raffles, Chinese auctions and Bowl‑a‑Rama have once again allowed the Association to donate to several charities. Because their needs haven’t changed, the Board has contributed to the same organizations that we’ve targeted over the past few years: Salvation Army, Forgotten Harvest, Gleaners, Capuchin Soup Kitchen, St. Vincent DePaul, Detroit Rescue Mission, Alzheimer’s Association and Project Compassion. Because of your generous donations, each charity is receiving $300. Thank you!

Lauren Allen

Denise Ammons

Ralette Beckham

Kathryn Bohnhoff

Brenda Bracey

Deborah Carlesimo

Frank Castronova

Carol Castronova

Jill Chapin

Martha Christian

Kimberly Cooper

Cassandra Daniel

Cheryl Daniel

Carol DeJules

Faye Edwards

Darlene Flowers

Anita Forystek

Ann Fuller

Stephen Gibson

Clayta Godziebiewski

Charlene Gocher

Cathy Gordon

Arilette Green

Betty Groff

Karen Gunn

Karen Hamilton

Carmen Harper

Donald Hayes

Jennifer Hight

Brian Holloway

Keith Hudson

Adrian Jackson

Betty Jackson

Michel Jackson

David Ketelhut

Jeanne Kinsvater

David Konarski

Linda Kosmatin

Elana Kozik

Udo Kroppa

Susan Lombardi

Cherry Lucar

Helen MacDonnell

Elaine Martin

Juliette Marvin

Diane Morin

Janet Mullican

Kathryn Oska

Deborah Parker

Kathleen Pierce

Jacqueline Pridemore

John Pruess

Carol Purdy

Sabrina Pye

Mary Rogala

Denise Rogers

Gail Ross

James Rosta

Anthony Russo

David Saunders

Linda Seward

Michael Sharlow

Cynthia Shea

Cathleen Smiley

Shannon Steele

Anthony Thomas

Robin Thomas

Stella Tolbert

Mary Van Tiem

Greg Vartanoff

Sharon Walczak

Congratulations and Welcome to Our New Retirees

The Retiree Association Board notes with sadness the death of Association member Kath Arndt. Kath joined the Board as webmaster in 2009 and jumped right in with ideas for improving our electronic communications. As chair of Internet Communications she introduced an E‑mail Directory for those who wished to share their e‑mail addresses, set up a Facebook page and developed an e‑mail list to distribute newsletters and flyers more cost‑effectively. Most of those attending events will also remember Kath as the person with the camera, recording Association activities and organizing our online photo gallery.

...May they rest in peace

Dominic Lucca October 21, 2015

Joseph Dobrich November 2, 2105

Thomas Schultz December 5, 2015

Kath Arndt December 6, 2015