Annual Reunion Luncheon -- May 17, 2012

The National Social Security Alumni Association held it's Annual Reunion Luncheon on May 17th, 2012, at the Turf Valley Country Club.  This was the first time we had had it outside of Snyder's Willow Grove, and it was a great success.

We met in their restaurant overlooking a pleasant green vista, the day was bright and sunny, and everyone seemed to be in a festive mood.

The food was elegantly served and the taste lived up to its looks.  I had the scallops and was pleasantly surprized to find that they were not loaded down with vinegar, as some restaurants insist on doing. Those who had the crab cakes seemed very happy, as were those who had the salmon or the beef.  Our compliments to the chef!

I had eaten at Turf Valley before, at a HCFA/CMS function and could not believe how good their desserts were.. and how much of it they served.  I was not disappointed this time either. I only ate one piece of cheesecake, and, man, was it good! There were other types of yummy desserts available.

The only complaint I received was from a person who had trouble cutting the chocolate cake.  Next time, we will make sure that the pieces are more sharply sliced.

For those of you who were not able to get to this function, let me go through the program for you.

Cathy Hiebler gave an invocation that was designed to serve for everyone, regardless of their religious beliefs.  Several attendees told me that it was a welcome change from other invocations.

After lunch, I introduced the National Board of Directors, most of whom were in attendance.

Next, I introduced our office staff, most of whom were also there.  Several of them are also members of the Board of Directors.

I mentioned that attendees, Kathy Jeffries (Executive Officer, Human Resourses, SSA) and Hubert Davies (Executive Assistant for the Deputy of Human Resources, SSA) were instrumental in getting us the nice office space that we now enjoy in the SSA headquarters building in Woodlawn.

Carl Nesselroad was publicly thanked for being helpful to the Alumni Association by having an uncanny knack of finding obituaries for members who have passed away.

Former Presidents Betty Quinn and Harry Wade attended, and were introduced.

Each year, since 2006, the Alumni Association has awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award to a former Social Security Administration worker who, in addition to having a meaningful career at SSA, has contributed greatly to the Alumni Association and their community in their retirement years. The awardees have been:

2006 Verna Day Jones
2007 Betty Quinn
2008 Bob Whisenand
2009 Julia Sniadach
2010 Ruth Milligan
2011 Harry Wade

We try hard to keep the name of each awardee hidden until presentation time, and believe that the 2012 recipient had no idea that she was getting recognized.  Delores Douglass, after serving a long and meaningful career at SSA, embarked on a retirement life of service to her community, Woodlawn, Maryland.  In addition to other volunteer activity, Delores and her daughter, Debbie, plublish a free newspaper that has a very large circulation in the western suburbs of Baltimore.  A couple of years ago, she was inducted into the Maryland Senior Citizen Hall of Fame, and is active in getting recognition for those other "seniors" in her community who have also contributed selflessly to the betterment of that community.

As door prizes, we awarded five envelopes containing $10 bills, and 12 flowering potted plants.   A fifty-fifty lottery was also held and I believe someone took home over $70 in cash.

Based on the comments that I received, a good time was had by all and we will probably be visiting Turf Valley for next year's function.

As usual, the Social Security Alumni Association lost a little money on this event, but we are hoping to make it up by receiving dues from new members who hear about our organization from happy luncheon attendees.  Those $10 dues are a great bargain.

Joe Vaughan, President SSAA