Social Security Alumni Update .. January 2012

It's been a while since I posted to this blog.  Lots has happened.  Most importantly, we have moved into the space vacated by the Social Security History Room.  That office has moved to a marvelous space in the Operations Building, where one can trace the whole history of the Social Security program through to the current day.  If you can finagle a visit to this historical place, called The Social Security Museum, you will be in for a treat.  Larry DeWitt has realistically recreated the environment when this great Government program was born.

Meanwhile, here are a few pictures of our new space, and some of our beautiful office workers.

Some Social Security folks have been very helpful to us in obtaining and setting up our new office.  Especially helpful has been Kathy Jeffries.  I don't know how we could have made it this far without her expert guidance.

Recent Retirees

Each week, I copy down the names of those people whose retirements are advertised.  In addition, some folks send me such information.  Here are the names that I either received or recorded myself during the last three or four months.

Henry Gonshor
Bob Vaccaro
Debbie Wargo
Mike Gesuele
Bill Tate
Alyanda Joyce Garnett
Bill Smith
Roger Hicks
Lori Jones
Rick Friedman
Charlie Leatherman
Phil Itzkowitz
Terry Ashby
Mary Ellen Walsh
Phil Pickering
Sarah Ellen Akers
Kitty Chilcoat
Tim Kelley
Neil Whaley
Sherry Harris
Elaine Scott
Gloria Hartwell

Deaths

Wife of Jack Dowd
Wife of  Ron Mayer
Grandson of Delores Douglass
Father of Cheryl Levi
Daughter of Katrina Elliott and Granddaughter of Chris Tucker
C. Ellen Engelhardt
Mary Patricia Youskauskas
Jim Marsheck
Sherman Clagg
Brian Murphy
Carl Couchoud

I apologize if I have shown anyone in error in my lists.  I am now an old "dude" and make mistakes a lot easier than when I was a young "whippersnapper."

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Update on Social Security Retirements/Deaths and Alumni Activity

Hi!  I hope that you are all well.  It's time for me to supplement the information given in the very informative Social Security Alumni Association newsletter:  Social Times.


I want to cover five areas today:

1.  SSA Retirements
2.  SSA Deaths
3.  The Social Security Alumni Association move into the old History Room.
4.  Update on Alumni trips.
5.  Alumni website

Note: If you are a retiree from SSA, the only way to get copies of the OASIS magazine mailed to you, is to join the Alumni Association.

1.  SSA Retirements

This list is compiled from E-Mails that I receive from SSA employees.  Although most of these people are recent retiree, some were mentioned in my last blog entry.

Larry Alexander
Al Bimbiras
Rita Biser
John Chlumsky
Cindy Dudley
Kathi Hanim
Bob Knauf
Denny Lessner
Carl Medura
Richard Miles
Sandra Moody
Janice Mosley
Jan Peddicord
Vashti Pullum
Benzener Stallings
Betsey Stevens
Tom Tobin
Trina Wetherald
Patti Zentz
Sheryll Ziporkin

2.  SSA-related Deaths

Lillian R. Bovelsk
Al Celentano
Ellen Engelhardt
David Greenberg
Jacqueline McCloud
Jackie Powell
Margaret Anne (Peggy) Wells

Janet Balcer's mother
Demetia Brannon's step-father
Carrol Donahey's mother
Joanne Dickinson's father
Dhanapal Gopegowda's father
Angela Johnson's husband
Steve Kautsch's mother
Russ Klunk's daughter
Pat Koehn's father
Robin Ott's father-in-law
Suzanne Rawling's husband
Darlene Restivo's father
Gloria Taylor's father
Janet Taylor's mother

3.  The Alumni Office move to the old SSA History Room.

Last Friday, the Social Security Alumni Association office relocated to the old SSA History Room, located in the Altmeyer Building, near the front entrance.  You remember,  that's the area with a glass wall, inviting you to come in and share the SSA experience.  The History Room material has been updated and expanded and transformed into the remarkable SSA Museum, located in the Operations Building (which is now called the Robert Ball Building.)  Larry DeWitt is still in charge of the SSA History material and might be able to arrange a visit to see some extrememly interesting articles, pictures, and videos.

We are very excited about our new location in the Altmeyer Building.  We should now be able to recruit new members from the ranks of the SSA employed... and we need new members!

4.  Alumni Trips

Is it the economy?  We have had to cancel our sixth trip last week.  It was a trip to the Eastern Shore of Maryland for a crab feast, followed by a boat trip in Annapolis.  During the two prior years, our crab feast trips were sold out and had waiting lists.  This year, we had only 18 people sign up for the trip which required a minimum of 40.  Earlier in the year, we had to cancel five of our day trips because of lack of reservations.  Perhaps in the future, we could entice current SSA employees to join us.

Over the 37 years that the Alumni Association has been in existence, we have had Nation-wide participation in  Caribbean cruises and European tours.   Now, we are afraid to even set one up, because of the monetary loss if we are not able to get enough reservations.

If you have any suggestions on how we can get back to well-attended trips, please let us know.  (You can always contact me at jvaughan9@msn.com  or 410-848-1838.)

5. Alumni Website

Don't forget to visit our website  http://www.ssaanational.org/

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Pleast forward this information to anyone you know who work for SSA now, or worked for SSA at any time in the past.  

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Latest News about Social Security People

I haven't been keeping this blog up to date lately, so let me catch up a bit.  First.. deaths.  Next.. retirements.. and finally two recent enjoyable events that may or may not interest you.  If coaxed, I may even throw in a joke that I love to tell.

Deaths

Al Celentano
Gloria Taylor's father
Carol Donahey's mother
Diane Restivo's father
Carole Hood's father
Joan Mohorn
Donald Anthony Kresechi
Winifred Lemkau Baechtel
Marguerite C. Doyle
Adrien M. Pryor
Lillian R. Bovelsh
Mararet Anne "Peggy" Wells
Robert Ott's father in law
David Greenberg
C. Ellen Engelhardt
Janet Balcer's mother
Pat Koehn's father

Retirements 

Henry Drumheller
John Chlumsky
Bob Knauff
Kathi Harrison
Benzener Stallings
Carl Medura
Tom Tobin
Larry Alexander
Gwendolyn Hairston
Stacia Mobley

Retirement Celebration for Henry Drumheller

Recently, I attended the retirement celebration for Henry Drumheller.  Henry worked at SSA for 49 years!   Henry worked in my Title-II Branch for many years and was the Section Chief responsible for one of the most important Systems computer programs for SSA...  RETAP.  The celebration was held in the Headquarters Building and I spent a pleasant couple of hours recalling both fun times and stressful times with Henry, Dick Eckert, John Taylor and other "techies."

Howard County, Maryland Luncheon for SSA Retirees

I spent an enjoyable couple of hours today at a luncheon for SSA retirees, held at the China Legend retaurant in Howard County.. near the old Enchanted Forest location, for those who remember it.

A real nice guy named Don Stucky coordinates this luncheon on a periodic basis for retirees who reside mainly in Howard County, Maryland.   I had talked to Don on a couple of occasions, but I had him mixed up with a Systems guy with the same name.  This Don worked in Policy, and several of the attendees worked there as well.

Don gave me some time to introduce myself, tell a joke, give an update on the present state of the Woodlawn complex, and invite everyone to the SSA Alumni annual luncheon on May 19th at Snyders Willow Grove.  I also invited everyone to accompany us on our annual crab feast in August on Kent Island.  After filling our bellies with delicious crabs, we will go on a boat tour of the Annapolis harbor, where we can watch Plebes trying to raise sails on their little boats and become sailors.

The food at the restaurant was cheap, plentiful and delicious.  Don provided everyone with a worksheet so that they could calculate what they owed.  I had a little extra food so that I could bring something to Elaine.. and I calculated a price of $25.  Somebody else, more mathematically astute than I, figured that I had miscalculated, and I was given a refund of $10.   Hard to believe that so much food only cost $15.. and in upscale Howard County too!

Besides the food from the restaurant, Don Stucky provided an unbelievable assortment of cakes, cupcakes, fruit salads, and other goodies.... all at his own expense.  Don certainly is a nice guy!

I had a great time.  I knew a couple of the people there and I recognized people I had seen around the Woodlawn building for years.. and I made a lot of new friends... all in all, a very enjoyable day for me.

OK OK  You talked me into it.. I will tell the joke that I mentioned:

Years ago, Mrs Astor (fabled society lady) wore around her neck, a Chinese circular piece of metal she had paid a fortune for at a jewelry shop.  It was a beautiful thing, with a hole in the middle, and lots of Chinese characters engraved around the edges.  She was very proud of this treasure.

For years, she had been curious about what the Chinese characters meant.  She was sure it was something like: "The bearer of this amulet is a member of the aristocracy.".. or some such.

One day, at one of her famous soirees, the wife of the Chinese ambassador was in attendance.  She met Mrs Astor and was staring at her necklace.  Lady Astor asked her if she would tell her what the characters stood for.   The ambassador's wife said that she would rather not say, but Mrs Astor insisted.

Madame ambassador reluctantly told her the meaning of the Chinese characters:

"ADMIT ONE TO THE HONG KONG BROTHEL"

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Social Security News

The Social Security Alumni Association will have a new SSA Office in February 2011. I'm not going to tell you where it will be yet. You will be surprized.

New Deputy Commissioner:

Commissioner Astrue reports that the Senate has confirmed Carolyn Colvin as Deputy Commissioner for Social Security. She will serve as Commissioner Astrue's principal deputy and as the Secretary to the Social Security Board of Trustees.

Membership:

We will now be advertising for new members at Headquarters. We have 4x6 cards and brochures to be given out.

Puzzles:

The late Chuck Adkins was a puzzler of extraordinary ability. He was a member with me in the National Puzzlers League and was a contributor of Cryptics to Games Magazine. He also was the developer of special picture puzzles that we will hopefully be publishing in the Social Security Alumni Association newsletter, Social Times. Look for them. They are a lot of fun.

Scholarship?

We are considering setting up a scholarship fund. Contestants will write essays about the benefits of Social Security benefits.

Gift Memberships?

We are also considering giving a number of gift memberships each year to persons who are helpful to the Alumni Association and its goals.

Technician of the Year:

We will be setting up an award to be given to the SSA "Technician of the Year", as nominated by SSA personnel. This will be a cash award.

Retirements:

Central Office:
Pat Dempsy
Ben Gugliotti
Gwendolyn Hairston
Jim Kotowski
Betsy Miller
Guy Moody
Debbie Morrison
Sandy Petty
Angie Taylor
Mary Wisz

Deceased:

Birmingham Chapter:
Ann Bowron
Christine LaVecchia
Margaret Cutcliffe

San Francisco Chapter:
Hy Sholin
Kayo Tong
Helen Bargero

Los Angeles Chapter:
John Robinson

Kansas City Chapter:
Nelson Gipson
Lumun Parrot
Harry Strohm
Sylvia Tehrani
Mary Belle Flowers
Don Brooks
George Tomlinson
Sherma Faye Johnston
Terry Kenepaske

Baltimore Chapter:
Elliott Bourne, Jr
Bob Wesloh
Bob Whisenand
Thelma Whisenand

At Large:
Bob Bynum


Problems:

AP reports that:

"Seniors prepared to cut back on everything from food to charitable donations to whisky as the news spread ... that they will have to wait until 2012 to see their Social Security checks increased."
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December 2010 Newsletter Contents

The Social Security Alumni Association newsletter for December 2010 has now been delivered.

Included in this issue is the following content:

Reservation form for the Reunion Luncheon which will take place on May 19, 2011.

Calendar of activity, including a schedule of monthly Baltimore Chapter luncheons at the Windsor Inn.

Some "Words of Wisdom."

A list of members who have passed away recently.

Articles on the following subjects:

How to avoid dangerous falls.
High blood pressure's relationship to dementia.
Reducing the risk of GERD.
A surgical option for GERD.
An osteoporosive drug as a cancer preventer.
Recovering from Identity Theft.
Home inspections.

Reports from:

The Magic City SSAA Chapter in Birmingham, Alabama.
The San Francisco Bay Area Chapter.
The Southern California Chapter.
The Kansas City Chapter.
The Baltimore Chapter.

The newsletter is available to all members of the Social Security Alumni Association.

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More folks who are retiring now, and one passing.

Posters in the Social Security Headquarters Building show that some of our friends and co-workers are retiring soon and will be having events planned for them.

Darlene MacDonald .. party: Dec 2, 2010

Millie Sassafras .. party: Dec 9, 2010

Gary Sievers .. party: Jan 14, 2010

Donna Terwilliger and Innes Riley .. combined party: Dec 8, 2010

Marsha McCorr .. party: Dec 8, 2010

Bob Hoopert .. party: Dec 14, 2010

Paul Swanenburg .. party: Dec 16, 2010@ SSA

Josie Anderson .. party: Dec 14, 2010

Diane Scribner .. party: Jan 16, 2010

Joan Savage .. party: Dec 14, 2010

Sharyn Diepold .. party: Dec 15, 2010

Sarah Tally .. party: Dec 2, 2010

Guy Moody .. party: Dec 9, 2010

I'm also sorry to report the passing of Dexter Rasmussen this month in York, PA.

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Social Security People Events up to 11/29/10

Stan Blusiewicz (OEEAS) retired a couple of months ago. At the time, Stan was a Branch Chief and in his spare time was/and is an amazing magician.. in fact, his title is "The Amazing Stanley".

My family was lucky to have Stan perform for us at a special event a short while ago. Stan certainly lives up to his title.. I sat near him as he did his thing.. and I could not figure out how he did any of his spectacular "tricks". Give him a call; he loves to perform.. and he is AMAZING!

George Schmittle will be retiring soon.

Bob Hoopert will be retiring soon.

Paul Swanenburg will be retiring in December and there will be an in-house party for him.

Diane Scribner, Office of Learning, is retiring soon.

I'm sorry to also report the following:

The father of India Banks (DMPT2S) passed away in November.

The mother of Joyce Grove passed away in October.

The husband of Jane Hess (retired) passed away in November. My late wife, Elaine Langlois Vaughan, was a good friend of Jane and we were priviledged to know her talented husband, Richard.

(Some of this information was supplied by Lauren Watkins at the Social Security Administration. )

I will not provide contact information in a blog entry, so, if you are a friend or former co-worker and need to know more information about any of these people, place a comment on this entry, or send me an email at jvaughan9@msn.com or Facebook entry, and I will send your request to the party involved.

Please don't forget to visit our revised Social Security Alumni website:

http://www.ssaanational.org/

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