Association of Ameritech/SBC Retirees SM
Menu of Archived Items Of Interest


 

FOLLOWING IS A LISTING OF PREVIOUS ITEMS OF INTEREST THAT HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE MAIN PAGE. 
VIEW ANY OF THESE ITEMS BY CLICKING THE DESIRED LINK

• AT&T Retiree Coalition Member HEALTH Survey - POSTED 2/26/08

• 9/24/06 press release regarding AASBCR Board restructure - POSTED 10/5/06  click here

• LEADERSHIP OF FOUR MAJOR RETIREE ASSOCIATIONS MEET WITH ATT - POSTED 6/27/06
  On April 27, in San Antonio, Texas, leaders from the four major retiree associations, representing retirees of the various ATT companies, met and developed a series of questions for AT&T.  They then met with AT&T management where they posed these questions.   In attendance from AT&T Management was HR Benefits VP Sue Colburn with four of her associates (Marty Webb, Debbie Trammell, John Brockman, Jeff Mains) plus Pam Medina of Human Resources Policy.   To read the Questions posed by the Retiree Groups and the AT&T Answers click here.

• Lawmakers need to look at pension reform - POSTED 5/23/06
  An "OPINION" article by Carole Lovell, 1st Vice President of the AASBCR,
  published on 4/13/06 in the PARMA SUN POST, BEREA, OHIO  Click here to read the article.

• ADVISE YOUR REPRESENTATIVES OF YOUR OPINION OF PRES. BUSH'S HEALTH CARE PROPOSALS - POSTED 4/12/06
  On February 15, in Columbus, Ohio, President Bush proposed Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) as one method of combating spiraling health care costs.  While there is merit in his proposal, it will not help retirees in its original format.  AASBCR VP Ray Sternot has created an explanation of many of these shortcomings and crafted letters to Representatives, Senators, and the President suggesting action to be taken to alleviate these shortcomings.  Please examine his work and, if you agree, use the provided letters (with your personal modifications) to let your elected representatives know how you feel.  Click here for Ray's message, and sample letters.   

  To determine who your elected officials are Click here.  On the CAPWIZ page that comes up, locate the enter zip code box at the upper left corner of the page, fill in your ZIP code. and click on the

• FORMER Legislation AFFECTING RETIREES FROM THE 109TH CONGRESS - Updated 4/12/06
  The following material covering pending retiree protection legislation was composed by Ray Sternot, VP-Legislation from material developed by the NRLN, and is a well done summary of legislation that could affect you. Please read this and let your Congressman and US senator know what you think. There are 64 bills listed which would affect retirees. These bills, if not enacted, will be deleted at the end of the Congressional Term (when the next Congress is sworn in, January 4, 2007) and we will start all over from the beginning.   Click here for view of FORMER legislation pending in the 109th Congress – New legislation in the 110th congress is being developed – stay tuned!”

• PRESIDENT BUSH'S 2/15/06 ADDRESS ON HEALTH-CARE CRISIS - POSTED 2/28/06
  On February 15, President Bush gave an address at Wendy's headquarters in Dublin, Ohio. He discussed the health-care crisis in America and proposed Health Savings Accounts in this address. [Read this address by clicking here]
  
  Ray Sternot, AASBCR Vice President of Legislation responded to this address. 
  Click here for Ray's 1st response letter dated 2/18/06.   
  Click here for Ray's 2nd response letter dated 3/2/06
  
  Bruce Beckman, President of the AASBCR, is sending his response.  Click here for Bruce's response letter.
  We are working on a sample letter for the membership.  It will be available shortly.

• sec proposal to make proxy statements available only via internet - 2/14/06
  The SEC is proposing to allow companies to make their proxy statements available only over the Internet; the companies could then mail shareholders only the proxy voting card (showing only management voting recommendations), requiring individuals to go online to see disclosures and retiree shareholder proposals.  CLICK HERE FOR FULL DETAILS

• UNITED HEALTH CARE PLAN 2006 CONCERNS - POSTED 2/1/2006
  The following letter was sent to Karen Jennings, Sr Executive Vice President of ATT, Inc.  (To view the letter please click here.)   In my opinion, it effectively demonstrates the kinds of unintended results of the new Consumer Incentive Health Care Plans. We are in an era of health care empowerment where we will be more responsible for costs. Where the savvier will pay less and the uninformed will pay more.
   

  The Federal Government is telling us to become more involved in the costs of health care, thinking by taking a hands off approach this will contain costs.   ATT is determined to reign in Health care costs and has stepped back from its involvement.   The Plan manager is maximizing its profit margins by simply administering to the paper work. United Health is just saying what is allowable for deductible and therefore attributable to the annual deduction. Any additional charges will be up to us to negotiate. If this is an accurate portrayal, then where is the added value?   

  Please watch your costs with this new high deductible plan. This kind of plan makes it advantageous to discuss charges before work is done. Make sure the fee charged is within the UHC guidelines.

   

  Bruce Beckman 

  President, AASBCR, Inc.

• UNITED HEALTH COVERAGE UPDATE  CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS - 1/11/2006

• United Health vs. Advocate Hospitals Rift  CLICK HERE FOR MORE - 12/1/2005

•  EPR Retiree Class Action Suit update
  For those of you who are EPR retirees, were Service Pension eligible as of July 1, 1999 and took a lump sum, there is a rumor floating about that the Linda Call vs. Ameritech Management Pension Plan law suit holding Class Action Status has been settled and the checks are in the mail. CLICK HERE FOR MORE - 12/1/05

• SHRINKING BENEFITS
  This October 19, 2005 Wall Street Journal article by Ellen Schultz describes the shrinking benefits of management retirees in the United States.  Please note the section on Active vs Retired Management Risk Groups.  This is one of the reasons why our premiums continue to rise.   CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE ARTICLE - Posted 10/19/05

• SBC has responded to three follow-up questions on the new medical plan posed them on July 7, 2005. In addition, I am also adding the Q&A to two subsequent questions. Please note the surviving spousal costs as stated in answer number one: Click here for the detailed questions and the answers provided by Sue Colburn’s staff - Posted July 18, 2005

• Click here for a synopsis of the meeting held June 21, 2005 with Karen Jennings, Sue Colburn, other SBC Human Resources managers, Ralph Kolderup and Bruce Beckman of the Association of Ameritech/SBC Retirees.  As you may know, Karen Jennings is the SBC Senior Executive Vice-President-Human Resources. - Posted July 11, 2005

• Burning Through Money in Retirement: A Tale of Three Withdrawal Strategies - 4/27/05

• SBC chief [Whitacre] will get millions in retirement — is it a proper reward? - 3/25/05

• Retirees Defeat Verizon in Shareholder Proxy Proposal for Third Consecutive Year - Posted 3/24/05

• SBC Dependent Eligibility Certification - Posted 2/28/05

• “Ten Ways Employers Benefit from Benefits Plans”,Wall Street JournaL - 1/24/05

• To Afford Retirement, Cut Your Taxes, Fire Your Broker, And Get a Part-Time Job - WSJ Article 6/2/04 - Posted 6/28/04

• SBC Board of Directors perks - Posted 6/7/04

• Retiree Health Costs Are Far Higher Than Expected - DOW Jones NewWire - Posted 5/16/04

• The 4/30/03 Annual SBC Shareholders Meeting Summary - AASBCR 6/16/04 Annual Members Meeting Agenda - Posted 5/10/04