WESTERN HORIZON COUNCILBAY AREA WEAL LIFE MEMBER CLUB

2008 – 2009

EXECUTIVE OFFICERSPRESIDENT PAT LAPPERT 408-241-5159 patlappert@comcast.netVICE PRESIDENT KAY VIRGILIO 408-227-3168PAST PRESIDENT RALPH FITZSIMONS 510-209-2112 rwfitzsimons@sbcglobal. netSECRETARY ADOLPH STANKIEWICZ 408-736-9136TREASURER TONY VIRGILIO 408-227-3168MEMBER-AT-LARGE HAROLD WONG 408-257-1063 hywwong1@aol.comMEMBER-AT-LARGE GEORGE ANNINGER 408-243-4804 gwa911@sbcglobal.netMEMBER-AT-LARGE JACK MIOTKE 408-253-5708 john63ca@sbcglobal.net

COMMITTEES

PARTICIPATION BOB ROLUFS 408-253-3213 rolufs@aol.comSOCIAL GEORGE ANNINGER 408-243-4804 gwa911@sbcglobal.netFELLOWSHIP KAY VIRGILIO 408-227-3168FUND RAISING JACK DORFMAN 408-268-3462 jcdorfman@sbcglobal.netMEMBERSHIP MEL JOHNSON 408-224-1450 johnson.mel@worldnet.att.netINFORMATION JACK MIOTKE 408-253-5708 john63ca@sbcglobal.net

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BAY AREA WEAL LIFE MEMBER CLUB NEWSLETTER

Issue 3March 2009

LOOKING FOR NEW BOARD MEMBERSWe will be looking for new officers for 2010 for the upcoming election in November. We are always pleased with the submission of the names of those who are interested in continuing the fellowship of the retirees. It’s enjoyable work and if you have an interest ask one of the current board members for more information. The Bay Area Weal Club is always looking for new faces.

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES (George Anninger)The April luncheon, on 4/2, featured a tilapia fish lunch. In what may become a tradition, prizes went to Chuck and Athylin Mathis. He won he bottle of ‘birthday wine’ and she won a free meal for a future lunch. The $10 cash drawing was won by David More.

The Spring Lunch was held on Thursday May 7. The Three Flames did an excellent job in the preparation of fish,

steak and chicken dinners. Among the 38 retirees were Joe Librers, Alisa Johnson, Lolita Rolufs, Norm Shapiro, and Sherry Riddle, President of Western Horizon Council. Those who drove the farthest were George and Sylvia Allen who came from Los BanosA full table of prizes ensured a large number of winners, but three special prizes were worthy of note. The largest prize was a donation by Pampered Chef and included a cooling rack, a pie gate and a pie baking dish. It was won by Joe Librers, a ‘first-timer’ to a lunch. The other two were baskets won by Bobby Nakano and David More. Bobby won a basket of spa items (bath oils, lotions, etc) prepared by Pat Lappert and David won an “Italian Basket” prepared by Lolita Rolufs. David was encouraged by the cheaper bunch to use this as his “Happy Mother’s Day’’ present. The $25 door prize was won by Leroy Miller

The most recent meeting of the retiree club was held June 4 with 14 attendees. The month of July is a quiet month with no lunch but mark your calendar for August 6, the Picnic Luncheon. Years ago a park was rented and bar-b-que chicken, ribs, etc were prepared. Eventually this

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moved indoors where we now have the chicken and/or ribs, the times have changed. As one wife remarked, “We used to camp. Now I think that’s a four letter word.”

FOR THE GOLFERS FOR THE GOLFERS July 20th will see the Annual Golf Tournament at the Wild Creek Golf Course in Sparks Nevada.  This event brings together Telephone employees, retirees and friends.The green fee, cart, range balls and prize money is $80.00.  With your payment include NCGA/SCGA GHIN number if you have one.  Players without a GHIN that have played in the tournament will be given an averaged handicap or Calloway flight. A shotgun start will be at 8:00 AM.A hamburger barbecue will be also held at Wild Creek Golf Course at 1:00pm, July 20th.  The cost is $10.00 for hamburger and $11.00 for chicken (per person).  A raffle will be held during the barbecue to raise money for Pioneer charities. Wild Creek is offering a social/practice round of golf on Sunday the 19th in the afternoon for $27.00 (green fees/cart), to be paid at check-in July 19th.  Sunday tee times will be sent out with tournament assignments.

Please mail your choice of events: 1) Practice round of golf on the 19th, 2) Golf Tournament on the 20th, and, 3) Barbecue.  Payment for the Golf Tournament ($80) and Barbecue ($10 for hamburger or $11 for chicken) must be paid by June 30th. For more information contact David Casten on 916 205-5437 or Mike Howes on 916 863 6795 or send an email to: tpgolftournament@aol.com   Please make check payable to: Telephone Pioneers Golf Tournament And mail check with entry information to: David Casten 6026 Timber Lodge Ln. Roseville 95747. The application is on page 8.

Thanks, very grateful thanks, to Lolita Rolufs, Alisa Johnson and Mary Miotke and Pat Lappert who came forward at the Spring Lunch to offer their help in making these bears.

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES (George Anninger)When the door prizes were raffled, the birthday bottle of wine was won by Mary Miotke; the luncheon drawing went to George Anninger and the $15 door prize to Kay Virgilio.

The March 6th luncheon was attended by 24 retirees and spouses. Among the group was the presence of Chuck Whitely. Chuck came in from Northern Idaho to visit family and took the occasion to make the lunch. A pleasant surprise!

The prizes of the day began with a winner of the bottle of wine, by Chuck Whitely, followed by Helen Loyd (free lunch), assorted items by Jack Miotke, Mel Johnson, Clancy Miller and ending with the $15 door prize going to Howie King.

FELLOWSHIP (Kay Virgilio)Anniversaries: This year Skip and Connie Gast celebrated their 46th anniversary, Nick and Wanda Papson saw their 53rd and Bill Tipton told us of number 48 with “My wife Alexandria (Sandy) and I were married on May 12, 1961.”A bit further down the road were Betty and Harmon Scott who reached the 63rd milestone. And the ‘longest award’ goes to Neal and Betty Carroll who celebrated number 64 in May.

OBITUARIESThe note of sorrow this period was the death of two retirees. Robert Browne, former mayor of Milpitas, died peacefully at home with family in vigil on Wednesday April 29, from complications of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He was 83.

Jim Teramoto passed away at home on May 28th after a year long battle with pancreatic cancer.

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Jim joined Western Electric in 1963 and retired in 1994.

Three names were added to the retiree roster this past quarter. They are Annamarie Clark living in Camino, CA (tschurtz@wildblue.net), Joe Librers from Morgan Hill CA, opus28@ix.netcom.com and Fred Pullin now located in Southlake, Texas, trapperfred@charter.net

Ed Brundage also wrote to update his email address. It is ed brundage@Q.com(Underscore between ED & BRUNDAGE)

COMMUNITY SERVICEIn the last issue we wrote about Silicon Valley volunteer opportunities and later received a note from Andy Sichak. His tour is definitely unusual. “I have been volunteering at the blacksmith shop at the state park in Coloma. We provide "Gold Rush" history and demonstrate blacksmithing from the 1849 time period to California 4th grade students. Last year we had 28,461 visitors come through the shop. It has been a pleasant challenge.”The last newsletter also requested assistance with the creation of Hug-A-Bears, hand made bears donated to emergency services to comfort children who have experienced emotional trauma.  Thanks, very grateful thanks, to Lolita Rolufs, Alisa Johnson and Mary Miotke and Pat Lappert who came forward at the Spring Lunch to offer their help in making these bears. For those who would like to join in, it’s very easy. Pattern cutting, sewing seams or stuffing are the talents needed.  To help, call Helen Loyd on 408-251-3234 or write her at h_loyd@sbcglobal.com.

In the past years we have seen several good activities dedicated to easing the task of the service personnel. In 2007 an organization called “Cards for Heroes” was begun. This past month the Los Gatos Town News featured Pat Lappert on its front page preparing these cards. On card making day Pat and other Elk Club volunteers meet to assemble to create “Miss You’, “Happy Birthday” etc cards that the troops can use to write their families and loved ones. On a four hour session the volunteers can create between 250 to 500 cards. Pat sent this message, “You are all invited to come make cards for heroes.  We have all of the

stuff. Just bring your lunch and do what you can. We will be making cards from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (you do not have to stay the whole time).”We also received a note from those responsible for organizing the activities. They wrote to say, “For those of you who are newbie’s to my invites please check it out on the web at cardsforheroes.org We make cards for the military, They are shipped all over the world. The military pick out the cards, fill them out and send them home, for FREE.  This is a small and encouraging way to help the troops while so far away from home. Etkind “cetkind26@mindspring.com”.

In this world of change, you may soon notice the logo of the Pioneers has also changed. It was a triangle with the name and is now identified with a sunburst emblem supporting the theme, “igniting the Spark of Change”.

For the record (it can become confusing) the chain looks like this: New Outlook Pioneers is our umbrella. Our Chapter is 137. Within that Chapter we are the Western Horizon Council and therein belongs the WEAL Club. You can obtain more information via www.telecompioneers.org will be changing to www.pioneersvolunteer.org.

Most retirees relate to the Pioneers because they have experience with the organization either socially or having worked as a volunteer on previous projects. It is the world’s largest corporate volunteer organization, over 600,000 men and women throughout the United States and Canada.

“REBUILDING TOGETHER”In the last issue we mentioned assistance with Habitat for Humanity. Since then we have been informed that they would appreciate assistance from those with knowledge of the computer. Habitat does have needs in many areas associated with computers. If any Telephone Pioneer members are interested to help, they should email Jennifer Simmons, Executive Director, at: jsimmons@hfhsv.org or Julia Jones, Volunteer Coordinator, at: jjones@hfhsv.org

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WHO IS THE LRO?In response to that question we went to In the last two months the LRO has sent mail relative to it’s activities. The following is a condensation of some of those words: In February, Bill Kadereit (LRO President sent letters to President Obama and the Senate Judiciary committee members to advocate the need for legislation to reform bankruptcy laws to better protect retirees’ pensions and benefits in bankruptcy court proceedings. His letters were followed with an NRLN Action Alert that saw Grassroots Network members email nearly 7,000 letters to Washington.In May a letter was sent “LRO Sheds Light on Alcatel-Lucent Pension Funding Notice.”In May the LRO explained how it joined with other organizations in supporting legislative initiatives to look favorably on issues affecting retirees.(The LRO email address of the summer issue of its newsletter is: http://www.nrln.org/Newsletters/NRLN%20FOCUS%20SUMMER%202009.pdf.

HUG-A-BEARThe last newsletter also requested assistance with the creation of Hug-A-Bears, hand made bears donated to emergency services to comfort children who have experienced emotional trauma. Tens of thousands of Hug-A-Bears have been donated to police, fire, and EMT departments across the United States. For those who would like to join in, it’s very easy. Pattern cutting, sewing seams or stuffing are the talents needed. To help, call Helen Loyd on 408-251-3234 or write her at h_loyd@sbcglobal.com.

MAIL BAGOur big excitement was going to Grand Junction for a few days. We saw the Colorado National Monument, where I purchased my "Golden Age pass for $10. Now we get to see the National Parks for free! We also went to Ouray. If you haven’t heard of it, it's like being in the Swiss

Alps. Absolutely beautiful! It was our first trip without my mother-in-law, who passed away last October. So that was an adjustment, but we did well. Well got to go bud! I'm off to work at Highlands Ranch Hardware! Bill Spahn.

Chuck Whitely, who has never been known to sit still, writes. “In May I traveled to Norfolk Va. for a reunion of the ship that I served aboard during the Korean War. The ship was an Amphibious Landing Ship and was in WWll, Korea, Viet Nam, and the A Bomb Test I was aboard during the LAST battle that Three Battleships were a part of- It was called THE WONSAN FEINT-designed to look like a major invasion, but, we did not have even one Marine aboard. Instead the feint lured the entire enemy in to defend Wonsan and to repel an invasion. I was 17 years old when I joined the Navy and observed my 21st birthday off the coast of Korea In August, I will be in Denver as the Host and Founder of an all class high school reunion- called THE IMPROMPTU. In that same week I will attend my 1949's 60th Class Reunion. Then I plan to head for the Grand Canyon and ride a mule down the North Face. I always do something different in August to celebrate my birthday. Last year I went to Felts Field, near Spokane, and flew a two seat WWII military trainer called a WARBIRD T6 - put it through rolls and loops In previous years I have done parachute and bungee jumps. Just to let you know, I'm closing in on 78 years, but last week I was riding my snowmobile through some Idaho Mountains near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. My sleds will do 90 mph on the trails.

Two replies particular to the question about going to Mexico during the swine flu season were received. The first, “Funny you should ask about Mexico. My two sons and I just returned on April 25th from a 6 day fishing trip. We each caught a Marlin. I caught 5 Dorado and my sons caught 4 each. We had a great time in Los Barriles on the East coast of Baja, Joe Librers”. And,” We lucked out. We just took the kids and grandkids to one of the last cruises to Mexico for spring break on the Sapphire Princess. We are also planning a land tour of Denali followed by another cruise on the Sapphire Princess in Alaska this August. So other than that not much other than a few days in Yosemite in May and a week in Sedona this fall. Frank Heinisch”.

On his last trip Ed Ball traveled around the southern tip of South America anticipating the

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rough seas so many talk about. As it was, all he saw was fog and calm-as-glass seas. Come September he’ll join his friends in the Elks Club for a 15 day motor tour of England Scotland and Wales.

Ken Sykes write to say. “I just got back from 2 months over there (England) where we had a week in Cyprus and a week down in Cornwall” He also says he is planning another visit in August. Perhaps he’ll see Ed Ball in one of the pubs.

From Bill Nachazel, “We are heading to Canada in May for 10 days to visit nieces. And to celebrate my 75 Birthday we are flying to Seattle and picking up a car and driving to Vancouver. Places to see have yet to be decided”.

Charlie Browne wrote to say. “My wife Lynne and I are planning to take our only 6-year old grandson to Disneyland with all the surrounding trimmings the first part of June.”Followed soon by a note from his wife, “Charley will be celebrating his "65th" birthday in June!” (Hmm Who wants to go to Disneyland?)

Hawaii continues to be a popular vacation choice with two trips. Helen Loyd says “Sherry Lynn and I are going to Hawaii again this July.  To enjoy the sun, beach, Fireworks on the beach, parasailing, and catamaran sailing for two days. Having fun and relaxing”.

As did Bill Dulin “Next week (May) we head to Maui for three weeks and if all goes well, an RV trip to Montana and South Dakota later this year. If the economy and my IRA don’t get better soon, I feel like I will have to find a job in order to eat. And since there are no jobs to be had, I will probably stand on the corner and sell pencils in a tin cup. Do you remember Hal Crockford?  I ran into him a while back.  It turns out that he is part of a bowling group that our club has a match with each year.  He lives in Ft. Jones, about 80 miles north of Redding.  Bill Dulin”.

Jack and Mary Miotke returned from a 3 week visit to Holland with their neighbors. The wife was born in Holland and used the visit as an opportunity for a family reunion. The highlight of the trip was a 9 day Viking River Cruise ending with a visit to the Keukenhoff Tulip Fields during the full bloom time of the year.

A PIONEER NOTEA word of caution from Helen Loyd……Please do not turn on A/C immediately as soon as you enter the car. Open the windows after you enter your car and turn ON the air-conditioning after a couple of minutes.According to a research done, the car dashboard, sofa, air freshener emits Benzene, a Cancer causing toxin (carcinogen - take note of the heated plastic Smell in your car). In addition to causing cancer, it poisons your bones, causes anemia, and reduces white blood cells. Prolonged exposure will cause Leukemia, increasing the risk of cancer. Acceptable Benzene level indoors is 50 mg per sq. ft. A car parked indoors with the windows closed will contain 400-800 mg of Benzene. If parked outdoors under the sun at a temperature above 60 degrees F, the Benzene level goes up to 2000-4000 mg, 40 times the acceptable level & the people inside the car will inevitably inhale an excess amount of the toxins. It is recommended that you open the windows and door to give time for the interior to air out before you enter. Benzene is a toxin that affects your kidney and liver, and is very difficult for your body to expel this toxic stuff.  

FAMILIES SERVING THE MILITARYI just wanted to send a huge THANK YOU for a care package I just received. I am currently stationed on the Hospital Ship USNS COMFORT and we are deployed on a Humanitarian Mission to South and Central America. We are providing free health care to needy areas of these countries.

I have only been ashore for 2 days out of the past 2 1/2 months, so you can guess how nice it was to receive a package with things that I am unable to get myself.  My husband sent me a package almost a month ago and I still have not received it (mail is hit or miss sometimes).

I just wanted to make sure you know that the packages ARE reaching people who really do appreciate receiving it.

Thank you so much!

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Very Respectfully,YN1 (SW) Angela L. Robbins

CLUB NEWSLETTERFYI: you also can find the Weal Club Newsletter on the New Outlook TelecomPioneers Website, which is www.newoutlookpioneers.org. When you are in the website you will click on the arrow for Chapters, and then click on the arrow for Chapter 137, and next click on the Bay Area Weal Club Newsletter.  Select the Issue you want to see and you will be taken to the Newsletter document.

CLOSING THOUGHTSThanks to Bill Nachazel for this closing…. She was in the bathroom, putting on her makeup, under the watchful eyes of her young granddaughter, as she'd done many times before. After she applied her lipstick and started to leave, the little one said, "But Gramma, you forgot to kiss the toilet paper good-bye!"

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30th Annual Telephone Pioneers Golf TournamentWild Creek Golf Course – Sparks, Nevada

Monday July 20, 2009

This event brings together Telephone employees, retirees and friends.  Come join us for a good time.

July 20th golf tournament’s green fee, cart, range balls and prize money is $80.00.  With your payment include NCGA/SCGA GHIN number if you have one.  Players without a GHIN that have played in the tournament will be given an averaged handicap or Calloway flight. A shotgun start will be at 8:00 AM.

A hamburger barbecue will be held at Wild Creek Golf Course at 1:00pm, July 20th.  The cost is $10.00/$11.00 per person.  A raffle will be held during the barbecue to raise money for Pioneer charities.  Donations for the raffle or sponsors for the tournament (i.e. long drive) would be greatly appreciated.

Wild Creek is offering a social/practice round of golf on Sunday the 19th in the afternoon for $27.00 (green fees/cart), to be paid at check-in July 19th.  Sunday tee times will be sent out with tournament assignments.

Please mail your choice of events:  1) Practice round of golf on the 19th,   2) Golf Tournament on the 20th, and, 3) Barbecue.  Payment for the Golf Tournament ($80) and Barbecue ($10 for hamburger or $11 for chicken) must be paid by June 30th.

For more information contact David Casten on 916 205-5437 or Mike Howes on 916 863 6795 or send an email to:  tpgolftournament@aol.com

Please make check payable to:           Telephone Pioneers Golf Tournament

Mail check with entry info. below to:           David Casten6026 Timber Lodge Ln.

Roseville 95747------select (Insert) key-------enter all info-------print--------cut along this line ---------mail with check------

Name _____________________ Address _____________________________________email _____________________ GHIN #________________ (if no GHIN put none)

Phone #____________________ Number of Barbecues ___ Practice round; yes___no___

Name _____________________ Address _____________________________________email _____________________ GHIN #________________ (if no GHIN put none)

Phone #____________________ Number of Barbecues ___ Practice round; yes___no___

Name _____________________ Address _____________________________________email _____________________ GHIN #________________ (if no GHIN put none)

Phone #____________________ Number of Barbecues ___ Practice round; yes___no___

Name _____________________ Address _____________________________________email _____________________ GHIN #________________ (if no GHIN put none)

Phone #____________________ Number of Barbecues ___ Practice round; yes___no___

Tournament entries ___ x $80 = $ ____.  BBQ ___ x $10 or $11 = $ ____.  Total $_____.

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