Friday, January 29, 2010

Memory of a Loyal Alumni Member

One of our most loyal Social Security Alumni members passed away over a year ago. Today, I was pleased to find a tribute to him at the Carroll County Community Media Center (Westminster, Maryland). I think it would be appropriate to cite this tribute so that his friends who read this blog might learn about an additional facet of his life.


Stan Keasel Remembered

"On November 5, 2008, the CMC (Carroll Media Center) lost Stanley 'Stan' Keasel, Jr., one of our most dedicated production volunteers. Stan helped with Memorial Day Perades, the Literacy Council's Spelin' Be, Critter Chatter, the CMC's Holiday Open House, and FallFest Parades. He was also an integral part of Terry Powell's The Good, The Bad, and The Huh. he will be sorely missed."

Amen to that!

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Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Upcoming Cruise for the Alumni Association.

At today's Social Security Alumni Association, we agreed on some trips, one of them is a cruise:

October 24th to October 31st.. we will book a cruise out of Baltimroe to Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, Dominican Republic and Labadee. Inside staterooms will cost around $945 per person. A deposit of $250 per person will be due soon.

If you are interested, please call Marsha Long as soon as possible at 410-756-3667.

If you are in the Baltimore, DC, Delaware, Virginia area.. you can drive to the dock and leave your car there in safety. Or, you can have someone drop you off.

I've been on two tours out of Baltimore and it was wonderful.

The ship is the "Enchantment of the Sea" and the crusise line is Royal Caribbean.

Don't miss this one. Join your fellow Social Security people on a fun cruise!

Joe Vaughan

Great news! the Casino trip is free!

Marsha Long has now arranged to have $25 gaming money given to us as well as $5 towards the buffet.. so that means that the $30 fee for the March casino trip is covered and, in effect, the trip is free.

Now... what could be better than that. Hurry and get to Marsha Long at 410-756-3667as soon as possible to sign up. (See earlier posts for details.)

Joe Vaughan

Last Chance for Basilica Tour and Tio Pepe's

A few of the people who said they would be signing up for the Basilica and Tio Pepe trip have not sent their money in yet so there are a few openings left. Please contact Marsha Long as soon as possible so you won't lose out on this great opportunity. For myself, I can't wait. I've heard a lot about the basilica and I've wanted to visit it for over 40 years.. and now I have a chance. Also.. Tio Pepe's is one of Baltimore's best restaurants. I'm looking forward to the trip, and seeing you there. Joe Vaughan

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Attention Gamblers: A Great Deal!

Don't forget the trip to the Hollywood Casino in Grantville, Pennsylvania on March 9th, 2010.

Published price: $30. But you get $20 in free play and $5 towards the buffet. So, the whole trip costs you only $5. Where else can you get a bargain like that?

Contact Marsha Long as soon as possible to make sure that you have a spot on the bus.
Call her at 410-756-3667.


Also.. it's probably not too late to get in on the February tour of the Baltimore Basilica (you don't even have to be Catholic to go) and lunch at the famous Tio Pepe's Restaurant. Call Marsha soon.

Reservation forms are in your Social Times newsletter. If you do not have the current issue, call Marsha.

Thanks. Joe Vaughan

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Social Security Alumni: Baltimore Mtg Report for Jan 12, 2010

The January meeting of the Baltimore Chapter of the Social Security Alumni Association took place today (January 12, 2010) at the Windsor Inn, in Baltimore County. Some of the people who planned to attend could not make it, so we had a very small attendance.

Present were Joe V., Edith K., Bob G., Ruth M., Bonnie C., and Bob C. Although a small group, we were quite vocal. We all had soup and salad and iced tea and paid by using a formula developed by John D. The formula makes it easy to figure how much one needs to pay.. it avoids fist fights and bad feelings. All agree to abide by the formula and everybody is happy.

Today we jumped from subject to subject in our discussions. We didn't get to SSA stuff right away.

We wondered how bathing worked in the old days. Did the father get to use the bath water first or last? We discussed the origin of the phrase: "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water." In that case, the baby was the last to use the bath water, when it was quite cloudy and dark from all the other bathers.

Bob G. grew up on a farm that had a stream running through it, so his folks were able to bathe in it.. at least in the Spring and Summer.

Joe V. had the Atlantic Ocean in which to bathe.. even sometimes in the Winter.

Speaking of cold water, we all remembered the old-time washing machines with rollers through which you squeezed out the cold washing water before you hung the wash out on the line. In the Winter, the clothes froze on the line and some of us kids would pretend these clothes were enemy soldiers and would bat at them with big sticks.

We finally got to SSA stuff. Some of us talked about the historic SSA Candler Building and what it looks like today.

We also discussed the number of cases that a Disability Examiner or a Claims Authorizer had to do when Bob G. and Joe V. did those jobs. (Some of us never made the production figure because we were hung up on doing a 100% accurate job, and that took time. Those that didn't make production, were transfered to other jobs.. but usually the other job allowed them to attain a higher grade than they could have on the old job. Somehow, that didn't make sense.)

We talked about the direct deposit of Social Security checks and how that was a big issue for many years. We wondered if every beneficiary has their check direct deposited now.

Another big issue years ago, was the idea of staggering payment dates.. this was the time when everybody got their check on the third of the month. Now, payments are staggered.

In the salad line, we were surprised to bump into some co-workers from prior days who are still working at SSA.

One of our attendees is in his nineties and retired in 1980 (30 years ago!)

The Alumni Association is a social group, and we really socialised today. The hour and a quarter flew by.

Even if you don't live in the Baltimore area, come and join us for next month's meeting on February 9th, 2010, at noontime. When you enter the restaurant, you can ask to be seated with the Social Security group.. but be warned, almost everybody eating lunch there on a Tuesday is from Social Security. Don't worry, you'll find us and we will have a lot of fun.

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Report on the January Carrol County MD Social Security Alumni Chapter

The Carroll County Maryland chapter of the Social Security Alumni Association met at noon on January 11th, 2010, at Bullocks Rte 32 restaurant.

Attendance was light, but the following people showed up: Joe V., Harry J., DeAnn J., Mildred L., Jim F., Phil Y., Don C., Valerie W., Ralph W., and Phyllis C. A small but potent group. (If the names interest you, join our group and find out who they are.)

As usual, we did not lack for things to talk about.. some subjects:

Fixing personal computer problems and Hewlet Packard.

The Homestead Tax Credit (no longer automatic in Carroll County).

Relationship to NARFE (most of the members also belong to the Carroll County NARFE Chapter)

(NARFE thanked Senator Mikulski for making sure Federal retirees will be able to keep their current Health Insurance plans under the Health Reform legislation. I'm pretty sure that Barbara worked at Social Security one time.)

What to do with Government bonds; how to learn the value of your bonds.

Members' pictures in the local papers.

Books (Valerie brought new books for the members),

Chocolate candy (also from Valerie),

Diets (hard to follow when chocolate is around and also all those delicious breads that Bullocks bakes.

Country music.

Insurance (call OPM and make sure you have enough insurance to cover your funeral)

Quirks in the Social Security law.

The cold weather.

Vacations.

This blog.

The Alumni newsletter.

The Basilica and Tio Pepe's Tour in February. (Don't miss it!)

The Casino tour in March. (Don't miss it!)

Upcoming tours and trips that are planned.

Alumni dues that are due. (Still only $10 a year.)

Retiring Social Security workers.

Fellow retirees.

United Seniors of Maryland rally in January.

Macular degeneration.

Alumni luncheons that are planned.

Corvettes.

Chiropractic.

These were just a few of the subjects we covered in an hour and a quarter. Even if you don't live in Carroll County Maryland, join us at Bullocks next February 8th around noontime. We would be glad to see you. (and the food is delicious and cheap!.. and if you order a hamburger, you probably could go to the backyard of the restaurant and see it "on the hoof"..)

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Monday, January 11, 2010

Alumni Sites

At our Carroll County, Maryland Alumni Association meeting today, I passed out the following information for communicating with the organization:

Internet connections related to the Social Security Alumni Association:

Facebook: www.facebook.com

Look for the Social Security Alumni Group (right now: 40 members)0

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Blog: www.ssaanews.blogspot.com

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Carroll County Maryland: www.carrollhistory.org

Look for the Carroll County Social Security Alumni group.

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More sites are being readied.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

More on the Basilica Tour

OK.. you are right. The form didn't show up the way we wanted it to.. so, if you would like to go, call Marsha Long at 410-756-3667 and she will sign you up and send you the parking information when she receives the trip payment. We have info on other trips that we need to post to this blog. We'll have to figure out how to do it better. Thanks for your patience. Joe Vaughan

Baltimore Basilica Tour In February 2010









The Social Security Alumni Association is sponsoring a tour of the Baltimore Basilica on February 15th, 2010. This is not to be missed. A chartered bus will take us to the Basilica in downtown Baltimore, where we will have a guided tour of this famous cathedral.

Afterwards, we will have a nice lunch at Tio Pepe's Restaurant, one of Baltimore's famous eating places. You need to get your reservation in soon, so you won't be left out.

Attached is a copy of the reservation form. Enlarge it, print it, and fill it out as soon as possible. Send it in with the price of $46. and get ready to have a memorable trip.

Also attached is a map of the parking area at the Social Security Building in Woodlawn, where the bus pickup will occur.

Any questions? Please call Marsha Long at 410-756-3667. This trip is open to everyone, not just Alumni members.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

The New Central Office

For those of you who have been retired for a while and haven't seen the Central Office buildings for a few years, you might be very surprised by the changes that have been made. (I don't think I will be violating any security rules by mentioning a few of these changes.)

If you entered into the front door on the Security Boulevard side, everything would probably look similar to the Altmyer Building of the 1960's, once you got past the high security stations. The lobby and the multi-purpose/auditorium look much the same, but the "SSA Historical Museum" has been moved to the operations building and a small Social Security district office is now located nearby.

As you enter the cafeteria you will immediately notice a big change. It is now set up like a shopping mall food court. It is crowded with very efficient fast food stations and you can place your order by computer. Very impressive. When the weather is warm, some of the food stations move outside to the big grassy courtyard, and often hobbyists drive their big cars into the courtyard and on display.

The area of connection between the Altmeyer and Operations buildings, has been expanded so that the Credit Union, AFGE Union offices, a so-called Blind Man's Stand, lottery station, and Post Office are near each other and easily accessible. (In the original plans, the corridor was supposed to also contain the office of the Social Security Alumni Association, but apparently, folks with higher priority bumped us out of contention. There is still a bit of empty space there and maybe someday we will be able to take advantage of it.)

The Operations Building is where you would see the biggest changes. It now looks like an Italian Galleria, with lots of open space, lots of glass, and massive futuristic winding stairs. (It's kind of fun to walk around the area and up and down those stairs. In fact, lots of employees spend a lot of their lunch periods walking around the area when the weather is too cold or wet to go outside.) The SSA history museum has been located near the stairs and is easily accessible to employees.

I'm sorry that I was not able to enjoy this new working environment. There are lots of large comfortable meeting rooms, and pleasant cubicles (at least they look pleasant to me.) And what might be a problem to some.. the insides of a number of cubicles are visible to the walkers in the galleria area. These folks will not now be able to take naps after lunch without their bosses seeing them.

The Social Security Alumni Association is now located on the 2nd floor of the West Building just above what used to be the "fish bowl." It's a very nice office for us, thanks to the efforts of President Pat Sasse.

Unfortunately, because of security concerns, there no longer are tours of the Woodlawn complex, so you will probably never be able to see the inside again, unless you want to volunteer to help us out in the Alumni office. (Yes, you will be carefully checked out before you will be able to gain entry.)


You might also be surprised to learn that the SSA headquarters is now a very polyglot office. Walking through the complex, one can hear many languages spoken.. the ones I recognize are Chinese, Hindi, Russian, and Spanish. As always, everybody seems to get along very well and all seem to enjoy the new working environment.

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Monday, January 4, 2010

Social Security Alumni.. Holiday Luncheon

The Baltimore Chapter of the Social Security Alumni Association has sponsored a Holiday luncheon for years. It has been held at an American Legion Post close to the Baltimore Beltway.

At first, the service and ambiance was marvelous and everyone enjoyed themselves. However, over the years, little by little, conditions have deteriorated until this year when almost every attendee complained to me. Here are some of their complaints:

The servers seemed surly and rude.

The food was not very well prepared.

Coffee was not readily available. Attendees had to ask the servers for access to the coffee location.

The bar service was extremely slow and the drinks were not well made.

Tableware was cheap.

The dessert was small and unappetizing.

In the past, we always had a few complaints, but on the whole, people were happy. However, this year, people called me over to their tables to complain and say that they would not return to this location in the future. One person even canceled his membership.

So... now you all have a great opportunity! You can help us find a new location for the next Holiday luncheon in November 2010.

What we need is a location that can provide us with:

Hors d'euvres (did I spell that right?)

A nice meal, with two or three choices and appetizing desserts.

Good bar service with a knowledgable bartender.

Ample parking.

Microphones for emcee facility.

Electric outlets for music players.

Close proximity to the Baltimore Beltway, which can be reached easily by persons anywhere in the Baltimore area.

And.. most important.. a reasonable price!

Please help us out on this. You can respond to this blog or call our office at
410-965-7434 or 410-965-7433.

Thank you. JoeVaughan

Friday, January 1, 2010

Social Security Alumni

This blog is directed mainly to those former or current workers of the Social Security Administration (SSA) who may not be members of the Social Security Alumni Association (SSAA). It is not intended to be a substitute for the Social Times newsletter that is published by SSAA. It is an unashamed attempt to get you so interested in the activities of the Association that you will want to join us.

TRIPS

New SSAA Board member, Marsha Long, has volunteered to handle trips for the Association. (She has a lot of experience planning and running trips and tours.) While most of the trips listed will take place in the general mid-Atlantic region, they are available to anyone in the United States who wants to join us. Some trips, such as cruises, might be more convenient for those who are not located near Baltimore, Maryland.

Our trips will be advertised to current SSA workers, SSAA members, and former SSA workers who are not members. Relatives are welcome and others with no SSA work connection are eligible to participate as space allows.

January 2010: We had planned a trip to Toby's Dinner Theater to see Annie; however, the timeframe proved to be too short and we had to cancel. We will be scheduling other dinner theater trips in the near future.

February 15, 2010: Tour of the famous Baltimore Basilica followed by lunch at Tio Pepe's restaurant.

March 9, 2010: Trip to the Hollywood Casino in Grantville, Pennsylvania.

The future: Cruises, day trips and overnight trips. Stay tuned.

CHAPTERS

SSAA has 13 chapters around the United States. Here are the activities of some of the more active chapters.

Baltimore Chapter:

Luncheons are normally held on the second Tuesday of every month at 11:30 am at the Windsor Inn, 7207 Windsor Mill Road, Baltimore. Everyone is welcome. Our next meetings will be:

January 12, 2010
February 9, 2010
March (no meeting..trip)
April 13, 2010

Carroll County, Maryland Chapter:

Luncheons are normally held on the second Monday of every month at noon at Bullock's Restaurant, on Route 32 near Route 97. Everyone is welcome. Our next meetings will be:

January 11, 2010
February 8, 2010
March 8, 2010
April 12, 2010


Magic City Chapter (Birmingham, Alambama)

This chapter has meetings during the first week of each month. Often they have speakers on topics of interest to the group.

San Francisco, California, Bay Area Chapter


This chapter has periodic luncheons. I'm not sure of the current schedule.

Northwest Washington Chapter (Kirkland, WA)

This chapter also has periodic luncheons. I'm not sure of their current schedule.

Washington, DC Metro Chapter (Fairfax, Virginia)

This chapter has quarterly luncheons.

Southern California Chapter, Los Angeles, California

This chapter has monthly meetings.

Florida Suncoast Chapter (Tampa, Florida)

This chapter has monthly meetings.

Note: if you would like to hear about what goes on in these Chapter meetings, you can find Chapter reports in the SSAA Social Times newsletter.

Questions/comments? You can comment directly on this blog or phone us at the SSAA office on 410-965-7434 or 410-965-7433.