SRA Retiree Updates

Cell Phones for Soldiers

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:58:02 GMT

AT&T and Cell Phones for Soldiers Surpass First-Year Goal, Raising Over $2 Million to Support U.S. Troops with Free Phone Cards

Recycling Program That Sends Phone Cards to U.S. Troops Has Helped Recycle More Than a Million Wireless Phones, Surpassing Initial $1.4 Million Goal

AT&T's Recycling Support to Continue Via 2,000-Plus Company Stores and Volunteer Efforts

San Antonio, Texas, July 2, 2008

Recycle wireless phones and help connect U.S. military families with free phone cards. AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) and military charity Cell Phones for Soldiers (CPFS) have been connecting those dots since July 2007 — by recycling cell phones in more than 2,000 AT&T stores across 1,100 U.S. cities. And, as Independence Day approaches, the company and the charity are celebrating that CPFS has now raised more than $2 million — including recycling proceeds and financial and in-kind donations — since the two joined forces.

To celebrate the one-year milestone, AT&T is now pledging another year of recycling support for the charity — in all company-owned stores.

CPFS collects and recycles wireless phones and uses the proceeds to buy free phone cards for U.S. military members and their families. The first-year results of the program have surpassed the 2007 goal of raising $1.4 million, enough to provide a free 20-minute phone card for all troops stationed in Iraq at that time.

Phones recycled through AT&T stores, community drives and online tools have added volume to the broader efforts of the CPFS recycling program, which has now collected more than a million total wireless phones since July 2007 — including 90,000 phones collected via AT&T channels in just the past three months.

NRLN Update

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 13:55:40 GMT

Read FOCUS Newsletter On NRLN Website

The National Retiree Legislative Network's FOCUS Newsletter summer issue is available to read at: http://www.nrln.org/Newsletters/NRLN-FOCUS-SUMMER-2008.pdf . If you have a problem accessing the newsletter via this link, please go to the NRLN's website at www.nrln.org and click on the headline about the newsletter in "Latest News" on the NRLN home page.

NRLN President Bill Kadereit explains in his column that the NRLN Board of Directors has reorganized with the objective of providing greater support to members and growing the organization. NRLN Executive Director Marta Bascom covers in her column the work the NRLN is doing to find champions in Congress to overturn an onerous ruling by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The EEOC rule allows employers to drop retirees from their health care benefits plan once those retirees reach Medicare eligibility.

The Retiree Association profiled this issue is the National Association of Prudential Retirees Inc. (NAPRI). Be sure to read the articles by Bob Foresta, NRLN Vice President - Legislative Affairs, and by Bob Martina, NRLN Vice President - Grassroots Networks. Among the other articles are profiles on two NRLN Board Members who are leaders in the Association of US WEST Retirees. They are Kathleen "Kitty" Kennedy, of Tucson, Arizona, President of Telephone Retirees Association of Arizona, Inc. (TRA-AZ) and Mary Ann Neuman, of New Hope, Minnesota, Chairwoman of the 5-state Northwestern Bell group of retirees

at&t News Update

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 21:01:22 GMT

AT&T Corporate Headquarters to Move to Dallas

San Antonio, Texas, June 27, 2008

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T), the world's largest telecom company, announced today that it will move its corporate headquarters from San Antonio to Dallas to gain better access to its customers and operations throughout the world, and to the key technology partners, suppliers, innovation and human resources needed as it continues to grow, domestically and internationally.

The move will begin in the coming weeks and is expected to be complete around yearend. It is expected to involve about 700 of the company's nearly 6,000 San Antonio-based employees.

"We're a growing global company with customers and operations around the world," said Randall Stephenson, AT&T chairman and CEO. "Being headquartered in Dallas will benefit our long-term growth prospects and human resources needs, and our ability to operate more efficiently, better serve customers and expand the business in the future.

"San Antonio is a great city with much to offer and it's been good for AT&T as we've grown from primarily a five-state local phone company to the world's largest telecom company," Stephenson said. "San Antonio will continue to be a major operations and employment center for us."

Following the move, AT&T will have about 1,700 more employees in San Antonio than before it relocated its corporate headquarters to the city from St. Louis in 1992. The company's Telecom Operations group, which serves residential and regional business customers in 22 U.S. states, will remain in San Antonio.

NRLN UPDATE

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:23:39 GMT

Senate Finance Committee Staff Withdraws Proposal

An extraordinary team effort has caused the Senate Finance Committee staff to withdraw consideration of a proposal to modify Section 420 of the IRS Code to allow the transfer of billions of dollars from traditional defined benefit pension plans to fund 401(h) healthcare accounts to pay the healthcare benefits of active employees.

Because the National Retiree Legislative Network's Washington, D.C. staff members Phyllis Borzi, Marta Bascom and Michael Calabrese learned that the Senate Finance Committee was giving serious consideration to the proposal, we were able to insert ourselves early on into the dialogue to provide a voice for retirees. Early this month, Marta, Michael and I prepared a "white paper" opposing the proposal under consideration and offering alternatives. The "white paper" served as a basis for a conference call with two Senate Finance Committee staff members.

Due to our concerns following the call that the staff might propose legislation to the 21 members of the Senate Finance Committee, the NRLN formed a coalition with the AFL-CIO and the Pension Rights Center to oppose the proposal under consideration. Next, the NRLN's Grassroots Advocates who live in the states that have a member on the Senate Finance Committee responded to our request to send emails to their Senators. Those letters from constituents got the attention of several Senators and the Finance Committee staff members.

On Wednesday, June 25, one of the Finance Committee staff members with whom we had communicated earlier this month requested a conference call with the NRLN. On the Thursday conference call with Marta, Michael and me, the staff member informed us that due to the high level of opposition to the proposal it would be withdrawn.

The withdrawn proposal, motivated by the opportunity to gain additional corporate tax revenues, would have had devastating consequences on the future pension security of 44 million present and future retirees. Heading off this potential legislation shows once gain how important it is for retirees to have a strong voice on Capitol Hill.

This is why we must continue to grow the NRLN's Grassroots Network, gain affiliation with additional Retiree Associations, and attract more Individual Members who will make an annual contribution to fund our legislative efforts. Association solicitation on behalf of the NRLN and encouraging family members and friends to sign up in the Grassroots Network at http://capwiz.com/abtr/mlm/signup/ and become an NRLN Individual Member are critical to our continuing success. Details are available at www.nrln.org.

Thanks again to the NRLN's Washington staff members, the AFL-CIO, the Pension Rights Center and NRLN Grassroots Advocates for coming together to say with one strong voice that it would be a mistake for the Senate Finance Committee to support legislation allowing Section 420 transfers from defined benefit pension plans to be used to pay for healthcare benefits for active employees.

Together we can make a difference in the lives of retirees.

Bill Kadereit, President
National Retiree Legislative Network

Joke of the Week

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 20:47:22 GMT

Well Trained Car

I pulled into the crowded parking lot at the Super Wal-Mart Shopping Center and rolled down the car windows to make sure my Labrador Retriever Pup had fresh air.

She was stretched full-out on the back seat and I wanted to impress upon her that she must remain there.

I walked to the curb backward, pointing my finger at the car and saying emphatically, "Now you stay. Do you hear me?"

"Stay! Stay!"

The driver of a nearby car gave me a strange look and said,"Why don't you just put it in park?"

GM Retirees

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:04:24 GMT

17,398 hourly workers take GM buyout

Sharon Terlep / The Detroit News

General Motors Corp. will usher out 17,398 hourly workers through buyout offers and retirement incentives rolled out this spring, according to a final count of departing employees released today by the automaker.

GM last month said about 19,000 workers opted for one of the packages, which included 1,259 who had already retired and were eligible retroactively. Workers had a week to change their minds after taking an offer.

Most workers will be gone by July 1.

Nearly half those leaving -- about 8,500 -- are from Michigan factories. The Flint area alone is set to lose 1,800 workers.

GM extended the offers to all 74,000 United Auto Workers-represented employees in the U.S. as part of a plan to move out highly paid veterans and replace them with lower-wage new hires.

NRLN Update

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:41:38 GMT

Senate Struggling With Medicare Fees For Physicians If you regularly access the NRLN website to keep abreast of news articles on retirement issues, you are aware that Congress has been struggling with the dilemma of whether to pass legislation to prevent a 10% cut in Medicare fees to physicians. Without Congressional action, the cut in fees will begin on July 1, 2008. Last week Democratic Senators attempted to bring up the Baucus -Snowe bill that would prevent the payment reductions to physicians. The effort failed by a vote of 54-39 because it needed the backing from 60 Senators for the cloture motion. News articles reported that the vote came up short because of Republican support for a competing bill offered by Finance Committee ranking member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and by key absences from the Democratic caucus. Physician groups say the cut would cripple their business and threaten Medicare beneficiaries' access to medical services. The legislation, sponsored by Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, proposed to provide $20 billion over five-years to prevent the cut in payments to physicians. While the legislation is stymied, the NRLN is examining whether it might have an opportunity to bring forth its proposal to include catastrophic coverage in Medicare. As more and more companies eliminate retirees' health care plans that included catastrophic coverage, there is an increasing need for Medicare to embrace coverage for catastrophic health conditions. The NRLN is also seeking to make Medicare available to retirees under 65 by supporting a Medicare buy-in plan such as that proposed by Representative Stark form California. The NRLN believes those under age 65 are in a "no man's land" where they are not old enough (age 65) to qualify for Medicare coverage despite the fact they may have earned more than enough credits to qualify for all Medicare services. The NRLN's proposal would allow those under age 65 to buy in on a cost-adjusted basis so as not to raise the overall cost of Medicare. If you need clarification or more information on this subject, please send an email to the NRLN Legislative Committee at nrlnmessage@msn.com. Please share this email with your fellow retirees and friends. Encourage them to sign up in the Grassroots Network at http://capwiz.com/abtr/mlm/signup/ and become an NRLN Individual Member by making a personal annual contribution. Details are available at www.nrln.org. Thank you for your support. Bill Kadereit, NRLN President

Could Your Next Car Be Electric?

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 23:49:15 GMT

The Electric Pyramid

An Illinois man has built a proto type electric car that will go 240 miles on one charge. It will go 45 mile per hour but the production model will reach 100 mile per hour and go much further before needed a recharge from a 110V outlet.

Production to start in 2009 with one hundred units first year and doubling each year. Price about ten thousand dollars at this time.

Would you buy one? You might be the first retiree in town that never needs to stop at a gas station.

Link to the Dreamcar web site http://www.dreamcar123.com/

Pension Blues!

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:51:25 GMT

Number of pensioners in poverty rises to 2.5 million

Kathryn Hopkins
guardian.co.uk,

The number of pensioners living below the poverty line in the UK has risen by 300,000, taking the figure to 2.5 million, official figures out today showed.

The Department for Work and Pensions, which released the statistics, said that this was the first time pensioner poverty had increased since 1998.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies had expected an increase of 100,000. "The actual increase is both statistically significant and unexpectedly large, especially as the pension credit guarantee is increased in line with average earnings," said an IFS spokesperson.

See http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/jun/10/welfare.economy1

AT&T plan violated federal pension laws

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:44:49 GMT

US High Court Rejects AT&T Appeal On $31.2 Million Benefits Judgment

WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- The U.S. Supreme Court Monday rejected an appeal by an AT&T Corp. (T) pension plan facing a $31.2 million judgment in a class-action lawsuit over lump-sum retirement benefits paid to some retirees.

The lawsuit, filed in October 2001, alleged the mortality tables the pension plan used to calculate retirement benefits wrongly reduced payments to some workers. Linda Call, the employee who filed the initial lawsuit, said her $219, 312 in benefits were cut by about $36,000 due to a 1999 amendment to the company's plan.

A U.S. District Court in 2004 said the AT&T plan violated federal pension laws and awarded a class of approximately 2,000 retirees the $31.2 million judgment, which included $6.4 million in interest. The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago affirmed that ruling.

The U.S. Solicitor General's office, in a court brief, said the high court should turn away the appeal. The case is AT&T Pension Benefit Plan v. Call, 06- 1398.

-By Mark H. Anderson, Dow Jones Newswires; 202-862-9254; mark.anderson@ dowjones.com

See article at http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200806091041DOWJONESDJONLINE000322_FORTUNE5.htm

Got Any Old Photos?

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 17:18:25 GMT

We are looking for more Photos to add to our Photos on the right side of this web page. Pictures of your old days at SNET before it was SBC or today's at&t. If you want to have one or two possibly placed on our Photos please Scan them onto your computer and email to us for consideration.

Connecticut Credit Unions

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 01:38:32 GMT

Law Allows Connecticut Credit Unions to Open Offices in Emergencies

Connecticut Gov. Jodi Rell recently signed into law an act that would allow credit unions to open temporary offices in the state in an emergency, according to the Credit Union League of Connecticut (CULCT).

The act will be effective Oct. 1.

An emergency is defined as: conditions that arise from enemy action or threat of enemy action, from riot or threat of riot, or from extreme weather conditions, said Kelly Ramsey Fuhlbrigge, League Vice President, Government Relations.

"This is an important act because it will allow our state commissioner to act quickly in the event of a disaster, so that credit union members can have seamless access to their credit union services in emergency situations," said Tony Emerson, CULCT President/CEO.

Do You Agree or Does This Article Upset You?

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:40:16 GMT

Fat pensions spell doom for many cities

By Janice Revell, Money Magazine senior writer

Vallejo, Calif., took the extreme step of filing for bankruptcy to get out of generous obligations to public employees. Other cities and states are watching.

NEW YORK (Money Magazine) -- The jig is up. For years, politicians have been playing what amounts to a multi-trillion-dollar shell game with state and local pensions. They've doled out lush retiree benefits to their heavily unionized workforces, knowing that they could shove the cost for those benefits onto future generations of taxpayers.

But a recent financial bombshell dropped by a San Francisco suburb shows why that shell game is now starting to unravel in a nasty way. And it's a cautionary tale that you can't afford to ignore.

Here's the skinny: In late May, Vallejo, Calif., became the largest city in California history to declare bankruptcy. Its financial demise was brought about partly by the real estate crash, which decimated home prices in the area and put a major dent in the city's tax revenues.

But the real nail in Vallejo's coffin was the city's labor costs. Under the current labor agreement, the average police officer walking the beat in Vallejo will be paid $122,000 this year before overtime, according to city documents. An average sergeant will make $151,000; a captain, $231,000. The average firefighter, meanwhile, will bring in $130,000 before overtime.

That's just the salaries, though. The final budget-crusher was the city's pension plan. Thanks to retroactive benefit enhancements approved by the city council in 2000, police officers and firefighters can now retire at age 50 and receive an annual pension equal to 90% of their final pay (assuming 30 years on the job), an amount that gets increased every year to help keep pace with inflation. The old plan had given the workers a pension equal to 60% of their final pay at age 50.

So a Vallejo police sergeant making $150,000 a year can now retire at age 50 and receive an annual pension of $135,000, increased each year for inflation. To put that amount in context, you would need to amass a retirement nest egg equal to about $3.5 million to produce a similar retirement income on your own.

It wasn't just police and firefighters who benefited from the city's largess. The annual pensions for rank-and-file city employees were jacked up from 60% of final pay at age 55 (after a 30-year career) to a whopping 80% of pay, increased each year for inflation.

Other towns in trouble

Here's the scary part: What's going on Vallejo isn't unique.

Back at the turn of this century, when the stock market was still booming, public pension plans across the country were suddenly overflowing with surplus money. Politicians responded by handing out heavily sweetened pensions.

Then, even though the stock market collapsed, politicians couldn't stop the trend. In 2001 alone, pension benefits were increased in at least 17 state plans, as well as some major cities.

Read complete article at http://money.cnn.com/2008/06/02/pf/retirement/vallejo.moneymag/index.htm?postversion=2008060305

NRLN UPDATE

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 17:21:30 GMT

NRLN Submits Proposals to Democratic & Republican Platform Committees

The NRLN has submitted proposals to the Democratic and Republican Parties on retirement issues to be considered for inclusion in their National Platforms this 2008 Election Year.

The changing global economy, the NRLN noted in its proposals, has put added pressures on employers to become more competitive and they have been using the U.S. Courts, Federal Agencies and ambiguities in legislation to reduce or eliminate those earned retirement benefits they previously promised to employees and retirees.

Following the format of the 2004 Democratic and Republican National Platforms, the NRLN made a number of important recommendations, including:

· The use of "surplus" funds in pension plans must be for the original intended purpose of those plans to benefit retirees, not for corporate restructuring expenses.

· Older workers must be protected from unfair treatment when their Defined Benefit pension plans are converted to Cash Balance Plans.

· Assist American businesses to continue to provide health care programs by proper incentives and also to make available quality, affordable health care coverage for all Americans.

· Supports the five principles of health care reform as described by the National Coalition on Health Care (NCHC); 1) Health care coverage for all; 2) Improved cost management to eliminate waste; 3) Improvement of Health Care Quality and Safety; 4) Equitable Financing; and 5) Simplified Administration that established electronic record keeping networks and minimizes redundancies.

· Support a retiree health care Maintenance-of-Cost Payment (MCP) equal to the cost of an individual's earned health care benefits at the time of retirement or at a subsequent time, whichever is highest, when reduction or cancellation of coverage may occur.

· Provide tax credits to businesses that continue to provide health care benefits to retirees so they may maintain quality, reliable health care during their retirement years.

· Offer retirees under age 65 who do not have employer-provided health care coverage either tax credits or a Medicare buy-in program at the then current Medicare cost levels.

· In 1993, Congress, as part of a balanced budget initiative, implemented taxation on Social Security benefits aimed at upper income groups. The level of taxable benefits was not indexed to inflationary changes, resulting in injustices done to larger numbers of retirees than the intended legislation targeted. Support legislation that amends the tax codes to eliminate or reduce this unintended consequence and harm to lower income retirees.

In addition platform proposals, the NRLN has inquired of both Parties whether there would be an opportunity for an NRLN Washington, D.C. staff member to testify before any hearings held by the respective National Platform Committee.

To read the entire platform proposal to the Democratic Platform Committee on the NRLN website go to www.nrln.org/2008-Dem-platform.htm . To read the entire platform proposal to the Republican Platform Committee on the NRLN website got to www.nrln.org/2008-Rep-platform.htm . You may also want to look again at the 17 questions that have been asked of the presidential candidates and will be asked of all candidates for Senate and House seats. We posted the questions on April 12 and you can see them at http://www.nrln.org/BKLETTERS/NRLN%20Presidency%20Questions.htm .

Bob Foresta, NRLN Vice President - Legislative Affairs

Joke of the Week

Sat, 31 May 2008 19:05:15 GMT

The Wrong Anniversary Gift

Ed was in trouble. He forgot his wedding anniversary and his wife was really angry.

She told him, 'Tomorrow morning I expect to find a gift in the driveway that goes from 0 to 200 in less then 6 Seconds AND IT BETTER BE THERE!!'

The next morning Ed got up early and left for work. When his wife woke up she looked out the window and sure enough there was a box gift-wrapped in the middle of the driveway.

Confused, the wife put on her robe and ran out to the driveway, and brought the box back in the house. She opened it and found a brand new Bathroom Scale.

Ed has been missing since Friday. Please pray for him.

AIN'T THIS THE TRUTH?

Thu, 29 May 2008 17:38:00 GMT

Joe Smith started the day having set his alarm clock for 6 am. (MADE IN JAPAN)

While his coffeepot (MADE IN CHINA)

was perking, he shaved with his electric razor (MADE IN HONG KONG).

He put on a dress shirt (MADE IN SRI LANKA),

designer jeans (MADE IN SINGAPORE)

and tennis shoes (MADE IN KOREA)

After cooking his breakfast in his new electric skillet (MADE IN INDIA),

he sat down with his calculator (MADE IN MEXICO)

to see how much he could spend today.

After setting his watch (MADE IN TAIWAN)

to the radio (MADE IN INDIA)

he got in his car (MADE IN GERMANY )

filled it with GAS (FROM SAUDI ARABIA)

and continued his search for a good paying AMERICAN JOB.

At the end of yet another discouraging and fruitless day checking his

computer (MADE IN MALAYSIA),

Joe decided to relax for a while.

He put on his sandals (MADE IN BRAZIL)

poured himself a glass of wine (MADE IN FRANCE)

and turned on his TV (MADE IN INDONESIA),

and then wondered why he can't find a good paying job in AMERICA .

Telephone Lineman

Wed, 28 May 2008 13:35:51 GMT

If anytime during your career with the telephone company you climbed as either a Lineman, Cableman, or Installer / Repairman you will find this web site interesting. Check out the Cell Tower workers newsletter at http://www.wirelessestimator.com/t_content.cfm?pagename=Breaking%20News

"Phishing"

Tue, 27 May 2008 14:13:57 GMT

Phony e-mails target child support cash

- Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Eppi Card users are warned about a scam believed to have originated in Romania that is targeting residents in 15 states, including Pennsylvania.

» Full Story on Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Joke of the Week

Tue, 27 May 2008 01:55:04 GMT

"Doc!" the patient says insistently. "Doc, you must check my leg. Something's wrong. Just put your ear up to my thigh, you'll hear it!" The doctor cautiously places his ear to the man's thigh only to hear, ‘Give me $10! I'm desperate! I need $10!’

"I've never seen or heard anything like this before! How long has this been going on?" the doctor asked aghast.

"That's nothing, Doc.” The patient continues. “Put your ear to my knee." The doctor put his ear to the man's knee and heard it say, ‘Please! I really need $5! Just $5! Please! I'm desperate!’

"Sir, I really don't know what to tell you. I've never seen anything like this." The doctor exclaims truly dumbfounded.

"Wait, Doc,” the patient says glumly. “That's not all of it. There's more. Just put your ear down on my ankle," Again, the doctor did as the man said and was amazed to hear his ankle plead, ‘Please, I just need $20! Please lend me $20, please! I am really desperate!’

"I have no idea what to tell you, there's nothing about it in any of my books," the Doctor said as he frantically searched all his medical reference books. He then paused. "However,” the Doctor said deliberately, “I can make a well-educated guess.”

“What is it, Doctor?” the patient begged.

“Well,” the Doctor continued. “Based on life and all my previous experiences, I believe that your leg seems to be "broke in three places."

"Smishing"

Fri, 23 May 2008 16:15:34 GMT

'Smishing' Scams Proliferate Among Credit Unions

FCU credit unions are warning their members about a new scam using text messages for phishing personal account information. The new scam, known as "smishing" for phishing, using SMS messaging, sends a text message to the person's cellphone urging them to go to a website-usually a spoofed version of the credit union's website-where they are asked to provide personal account information, like PINs or passwords.

Numerous other credit unions have reported being hit by smishing attacks in recent days:

Land of Lincoln CU, in Decatur, IL, said members and nonmembers have received e-mails, text messages and direct phone calls since late May 13, all asking for information on credit union accounts, credit cards or debit cards.
Kansas City-area consumers are receiving phone calls, text messages and e-mails that appear to be from Mazuma CU, but are not.
Arizona Central CU was hit with a phishing attack via text message to its members in March.
Oregon Community CU said some its members fell for a similar text message scam last month and apparently shared their account information with the scamsters. The messages were sent out before 6:30 a.m. on a Saturday to both members and nonmembers saying their credit union accounts had been closed due to unusual activity and listing a Florida phone number to call. When they called, an automated message told victims that they would need to give three pieces of information, starting with their debit card number. At least 2,000 people called the credit union to report the scam.

Credit Union Journal

Photo Album: The Old Day's

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 18:14:01 GMT

The Old Day's

New Haven Phone Book

SNET TRUCK

SNET Logo

Telephone Installer / Repair Truck

Color Phones from the 1960's

Outdoor Pay Phones from the 60's & 70's