Happy Holidays

From your Club Officers, Directors and Staff

 

 

Ike Templeton Virginia Clagett

Charlie Farmer Ed Frick Harry Heller

Russ Henzel Lorri Jordan Shirley Krieger Al Longanecker

Doug White Ted Rees Wally Klovstad

Don Roeber Ed Skutecki

Wally Klovstad Dale Wendt

 

THE ELECTRONIC BRIDGE NOW AVAILABLE AS A STANDARD OPTION

In May of 2004 we started testing the option of electronic distribution for The Bridge; then last January we expanded that evaluation program to include volunteer members. Over 60 members participated. While we had a few problems initially, those were quickly resolved and all has been smooth since March 2005. The feedback we have received during this evaluation has been very positive. For anyone with e-mail, there are many benefits: 1) faster receipt – a week or more before mail copy, 2) full color – pictures, graphics and other features typically in color, 3) portability – receive The Bridge wherever you get e-mail, 4) magnify text – it can be much easier to read smaller print, 5) potentially less paper in the mailbox. We also learned that some members want only the electronic version (an option we have not been able to provide). Plus, we found that some participants provided their e-mail addresses to receive The Electronic Bridge, but did not want this address published in the newsletter. Lastly, we learned we needed to find a way to electronically remind members of their dues status.

We first announced The Electronic Bridge as a standard communication program of the HRC last month. This program remains optional and in no way replaces our past hard copy mailings of The Bridge, however we have resolved the technical issues and can now provide the option of “electronic only” for those who prefer this. We will also not publish e-mail addresses if so requested and we have found a way to provide a dues status reminder with each issue. Since last month's issue, a number of members have requested to be included in this program and many have selected the “electronic only” option.

It you are interested in receiving The Electronic Bridge (or even a trial copy), you can sign up by contacting us via e-mail at: hotline@hrcaz.org . Please send your : 1) name , 2) e-mail address , 3) if you wish your e-mail address not published in The Bridge periodically (see pages 5 & 6), and 4) if you want “ electronic only ” or both electronic & hard copy. You may “opt in” or “opt-out” of this program at any time by simply notifying us via e-mail.

It must be emphasized that the sole purpose of this program is to improve the quality and convenience of our communication to members who prefer this electronic format – we are not trying to avoid mailings. Participation is totally optional, but does have many benefits.

Contributed by : Ted Rees

 

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES

BREWERY TOUR - February 2, 2006 (Thursday)

Where: Four Peaks Brewing Company, Tempe
Time: 4 PM
Cost: $20.00 per person – includes tour, beer and a light meal
Coordinator: Lorri Jordan 480-473-1335 Call for more information

Some more details on the brewery – won the 2005 best local beer award and it has a yearly production capacity of 10,000 barrels of beer (that's 20,000 kegs). They have a 20 bbl. brewhouse with nine 40-barrel fermenters and one 60-barrel fermenter for producing all of their distribution and in-house beers. Their most recent installation is an SMB bottling machine – look for Kilt Lifter and 8th Street in bottles around Arizona.  They have two great locations and a great little restaurant .

HEARD MUSEUM: PRIVATE TOUR - February TBD

Where: Heard Museum – 2301 N. Central Ave., Downtown Phoenix
Time: Tour starts at 1:30pm – arrive early
Cost: $7.00 per person
Coordinator: 6:40 PM Virginia Clagett 602-992-4204 or VMClagett@aol.com

We will be taking a Las Guias tour with a specially trained guide who can focus on areas such as jewelry, pottery, basketry, kachina dolls, textiles and contemporary art depending on the interest of the majority of our participants. Send your money and special areas of interest to: Virginia Clagett, P. O. Box 31937, Phoenix, AZ 85046

 

Pima Air Museum/Missile Silo/Kitt Peak - February TBD, 2006 Overnight

More information will be available next month in The Bridge.

 

Laughlin Overnight Trip - March 14 & 15, 2006

 

Depart:

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

 
 

Return:

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

 

Hotel:

Edgewater

 

Cost:

$38 per person double, $49 per person single

 

Includes:

Bus transportation, one night Edgewater, and one meal per person and fun book

  Reservations: REQUIRED BY MARCH 4, 2006
  Coordinator: Dale Wendt (our usual leader!) Questions: call 480-922-1402

Send your check, payable to Honeywell Retiree Club, to: Dale Wendt , 7540 E. Becker Lane, Scottsdale, AZ 85260. Also, with your check, please enclose a note stating your preference for sleeping accommodations (e.g., one king bed or two queen beds, smoking/non-smoking, etc.) and which pickup location you will be at on Tuesday morning.

We will park in the South area of the Honeywell parking lot (Union Hills and I-17) and board the bus at 6:30 AM on that Tuesday. We will also pick up at the Sun City Senior Center at 99th Avenue and Bell Road at 7:00 AM that day. We will return by 9:00 PM Wednesday night.


Past Events

Medicare Perscription Plan Seminar

 

A very successful Prescription Drug Seminar was held on November 4 at the Defense and Space Facility.  Approximately 135 attendees heard an informative presentation delivered by Ann Marie Grande, Program Director from Area Agency on Aging. For those that did not attend and have a current prescription drug plan, you should ensure that your current plan is "Creditable". This is a very key word and to be considered creditable by Medicare, certain criteria must be met.  On Jan 1, 2006 Medicare will offer insurance coverage for prescription drugs through Medicare prescription drug plans.  Insurance companies and other private companies will work with Medicare negotiating discounts on drug prices.  The premiums will average $28.00 per month the first year and can be deducted from one's social security check, or paid by invoice.  Some plans may offer additional coverage with lower or no premiums, but one needs to check out the plan that best covers their prescription needs.  Not all plans cover all drugs – you need to check the “formulary” of each.  One can enroll in a plan from November 15, 2005 through May 15, 2006.

The slides used by Ann Marie during her presentation are available on the this web site. Click on Medicare Slides. Then just follow the instructions there to either view the slides with PowerPoint or if your computer doesn't have powerPoint, download a free PowerPoint Viewer. These slides may be useful to you even if you didn't attend the seminar .

If you are confused by the many plans offered, the Area Agency on Aging will help you best select a plan suited for your needs.  They will send you a survey and once they receive your answers, they will input your information into their computers and send you the best three plans for your needs as indicated by your survey.  You must then choose a plan.  Once a plan is chosen, you must keep it for one year before you can again change plans. You can contact the Center by calling the Benefits Assistance Program: (602) 264-2255. Trained staff and Volunteers are ready to assist you.

Contributed by Shirley Krieger

FALL GOLF OUTING

Sixty eight players participated in the HRC fall golf outing at Arrowhead Country Club. The weather was beautiful, the course challenging, and everyone had a wonderful time. The following were winners:

 

Closest on # 3
Closest on # 7
Closest on #11
Closest on #15
Longest putt #9
Longest putt # 18
Straightest Drive #4
Low Net Calloway

Doak
Manning
Berger
Calderon
Snider
Bernier
Pruneau
Wills [72]

Low Net AGA
3rd Team High Net [329]
2nd Team High Net [329]
1st Team High Net [345]
4th Team Low Net [307]
3rd Team Low Net [307]
2nd Team Low Net [305]
1st Team Low Net [286]

Smith [72]
Snider, Bretzlaff, Crawford, Greene
Kluegel, Halley, Hagen, Myers
Briske, Pappas, Gomez, Berti
Meeker, Morphew, Booker, Abbitt
Longanecker, Langford, Parent, Gangi
Kelly, Laskoski, Wills, McConnell
Wendt, Smith, McNeil, Hogan
 
 

For the next tournament [Spring], we will again use established handicaps [AGA] and Calloway only for those that do not have handicaps. This should equalize play and give us more ways to be fair in scoring. By the way, we gave out 37 awards which enabled us to have 54% participation in award monies. If you have any questions or suggestions, please call Dale @ 480-922-1402.

Contributed by Dale Wendt
 

 

HOLIDAY DINNER DANCE

 

It certainly was "Deck the Halls" at the HRC second annual Holiday Dinner Dance on Friday, December 2nd at the Elks Club. The Club was all aglow in holiday splendor with red, gold and green plaid, candles and greenery, too. Plus hundreds of twinkling lights everywhere. We had 96 attendees making merry, all festively dressed for the season, winning bottles of champagne and special door prizes. The social hour brought lots of smiles and greetings from old and new friends. We danced the evening away to the sounds of the Joe Vaccaro band and dined on a really fine meal. The chef's dessert table was wonderful and many of us toured it more than once! We all had such a good time and hope that you and your guest will join us next year on Friday December 8, 2006 – so mark you calendars.

 
   
     

NOMINATING COMMITTEE NAMED

The Nominating Committee for next year's officers and directors will include Lorri Jordan, Ed Skutecki and Ike Templeton. Election of the Officers and Directors shall be held at the Annual Meeting in April 2006. The ballot will be sent out in The Bridge at the appropriate time next year. We need to fill two Director positions, plus we need a Secretary. The Nominating Committee will submit their report to the Board of Directors prior to the February Board meeting.

Nominations may be made by any active member by submitting, either verbally or in writing, the candidate's name to the Board of Directors (or the Nominating Committee) by January 31 . Nominees must be verified and agree to serve before being placed on the ballot. You may send your nominations to the HRC e-mail address or our regular mailing address, both of with can be found on the last page of this newsletter.


FIX IT GUYS

This group will help those who need repairs that they cannot do themselves, including minor electrical, carpentry and plumbing problems. You will have the security of having someone you can trust in your house. The cost of material is not covered. The Fix It Guys are Bob, Matt, Dick, John, Mike, Perry, Sam, Paul , Ed, Clint and Gene. Call 602-870-0813.



Thought for the month: “Human relationships are primary in all of living. When the gusty winds blow and shake our lives, if we know that people care about us, we may bend with the wind….but we won't break.”
Fred Rogers (Mister Rogers)


HEALTH CORNER

News from Nurse Nance

 

New shingles vaccine reduces the risk of developing the disease by 51%. Each year more than one million Americans develop this painful nerve and skin infection triggered by reactivation of the same virus that causes chicken pox in children. The vaccine is suitable for healthy adults age 60 or older who have had the chicken pox. The FDA is expected to make a decision regarding approval of the vaccine next year. Michael N. Oxman, MD, professor of medicine and pathology, University of California and Veterans Affairs Medical Center, both in San Diego.

Coffee is the primary source of antioxidants in the US diet. Antioxidants, such as A, C and E (found most abundantly in fruits and vegetables), help prevent cell damage. However, most American gets the majority of their antioxidants from drinking caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee. Joe Vinson, PhD, professor of chemistry, University of Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Better surgery. Listening to music during surgery reduces the need for anesthesia. Theory : Music activates areas in the brain that release pain killing chemicals known as endorphins. If you are scheduled for surgery and will be awake during the procedure: Ask your doctor if you can bring head phones to play your favorite music. Zeev N. Kain, MD, professor and vice chairman of clinical affairs. Department of anesthesiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.

Better breath. Garlic, onions and coffee aren't the only causes of bad breath. Sugary foods, such as donuts and cookies, can trigger the growth of bacteria that cause bad breath. Not drinking enough water also can result in bad breath. Helpful : In addition to brushing and flossing daily, consume foods with antibacterial properties, such as green tea and cranberries. Drink six to eight glasses of water per day. If these measures do not solve bad breath see your doctor or dentist. Dave Grotto, RD, director of nutrition, Block Center for Integrative Cancer Care, Evanston, Illinois.

All articles from Bottom Line Health, December, 2005.


Membership Information

Honeywell Retiree Club (HRC) active membership is open to Honeywell retirees with a membership fee of $3 per fiscal year (May 1st to April 30th). This entitles you to receive our newsletter, The Bridge, participate in Club activities and functions and to be a voting member. Check above your name on page 12 of The Bridge to determine your dues status if you are a current active member.

In an effort to keep in touch with our members' families, a class of membership called associate members was created within HRC.  Associate members are the spouses of deceased Honeywell retirees who were active HRC members.   Associate members pay no membership fee  and are non-voting members, but receive  The Bridge and  are eligible to  participate in Club activities and functions.    

As you may know, there are various Honeywell retiree clubs, i.e., Honeywell Retiree Club, Sperry Retiree Club, Allied Retiree Club and GE Retiree Club. While some of these clubs may limit membership, the HRC accepts members from all who have had ties to either the old or new Honeywell.  You may want to join more than one group to maintain contact with your Honeywell friends from your working years.