The Association President, Ralph Kolderup, and VP, Bruce Beckman,
traveled to Columbus, Ohio for the Annual SBC Shareholders Meeting. It
was held on Friday, April 30 at the Hyatt Capital.
We had three basic objectives for the sojourn: 1) Better understand
the SBC Annual Meeting process and begin to understand shareholders
rights. 2) Make our Presence known to SBC Senior Management and 3) meet
with member of the AASBCR who live in Ohio. All three objectives were
achieved.
A part of the Annual Meeting allows for public input and Ralph used
this opportunity to address the Board of Directors about our mission to
support SBC initiatives when appropriate and to maintain our earned
benefits. He focused upon the recent Medicare Prescription plan and it’s
potential impact on SBC retirees. Ralph also focused in on the recent
EEOC ruling and SBC’s plans in this area. While it was apparent that Mr.
Whitaker was not prepared to address this issue, it opened the door for
future discussions and inquiries. The Q and A session completed the
90-minute meeting with a wide array of questions covering many subjects.
Prior to the shareholders meeting, Ralph had an opportunity to hold a
brief One-on-One session with SBC President Bill Daley. The discussion
focused upon benefit issues and the White Sox (?)). It concluded with an
agreement that an additional longer meeting would be mutually
beneficial.
After the annual meeting concluded, Bruce Beckman had a meeting with
Karen Jennings, Sr. VP-HR, focused upon SBC’s track record of sending
out confusing messages to it’s retirees and that while we understand the
ever increasing prescription costs are escalating, we need to get a
clearer message from SBC about it’s intentions. The meeting ended with a
commitment to provide her with specific issues and planning ideas. In
addition, the regional VP was told by Karen to gain a better
understanding of retiree needs. We’ll see where this goes.
In addition, reporters from AP, Copley Newspapers and the Columbus
Dispatch interviewed Ralph and Bruce. The purpose of the Association and
our purpose were covered.
Finally, we’d like to thank fellow members Ray Sternot and Margo
Bertin for joining us at the meeting.
These meetings have proved fruitful for the association. We all have
skin in this. The more we all contribute to the association, the less
the load for the individual and the more effective we will be.
In anticipation of our annual Association of
Ameritech/SBC Retirees meeting scheduled for June 16 in Arlington
Heights, Ill, we are asking that you complete and return a short
Questionnaire. The purpose of this very brief questionnaire is to see if
we are focusing on the correct issues and whether there are other areas
that our membership has interests or concerns.
The results from this questionnaire will be shared
at the meeting and via the Association Newsletter.
You may return your completed questionnaire, by
May 19, 2004, to this e-mail address
aasbcrsurvey@aol.com or mail to the
Association PO Box
Association of Ameritech/SBC Retirees
P.O. Box 3366
Barrington, IL. 60011-3366