Volume 26, Issue 1 Summer 2017

BCBSM Retirees Newsletter

Officers President - Kathy Elston Vice-president - Annette Foster Treasurer - Joyce Obenhoff Secretary - Adrienne Starling Immediate Past President - John McCrary

Committee Chairpersons Finance - Richard Dow Fundraising - Beleta Williams Internet - Imogene King-Dugan Membership Liaison - Beleta Williams Operations - Betty Zwolak Planning - John Flint, Ray Newak Social - Annette Foster Senior Advisory Committee - Carolyn Cruse

Concert, play kick off

2017 events

This year's events kicked off February 24 with "A Night at the Academy Awards" presented by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. At the Friday morning Coffee Concert, the DSO played a medley of pieces from award-winning movies, violinist Kimberly Kaloyanides Kennedy performed a moving rendition of music from "Shindler's List," and the Oakland University Chorale performed backup vocals to music from the science fiction spectacular "Avatar." "The concert was a delight," said Ray Newak. "We enjoyed every piece they played."

From left to right, Karen Szumny, Geri Wojczynski, Christine Peeters and Janet Angel-Cardinals at Orchestra Hall.

In March Retiree Association members attended a performance of "You Can't Take It With You" staged by the Village Players of Birmingham. Being a Sunday event several active BCBSM employees had the opportunity to attend as guests and socialize with their retired friends. Following the performance playgoers enjoyed a buffet dinner at Pasquales Restaurant in Royal Oak. A number of Association members commented that the buffet dinner was one of the best they'd had at a retiree event.

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Snowbirds enjoy Florida luncheon

Seated from left to right are Dave and Heather Garner, Maxine Mamuscia, Barb Gay, Cindy Warf, Connie Blachut, Ronda Gross, Gary Radke, Christine Knorr, Debra Ramsey, Dave Gay, Dave Mamuscia and Dave Watroba.

The annual Snowbird Luncheon was held on Wednesday, March 8, at the Redsauce Restaurant at Lake Sumter Landing in The Villages, Florida. "Word is getting out about the annual event and those who attended are reaching out to others to interest them in attending next year," said Annette Foster. Thanks to Cindy (Vanderlinden) Warf for organizing the luncheon and Debra Ramsey for lending a hand.

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More great events to come

August 24 - HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL CENTER TOUR AND LUNCH, Farmington Hills A two-hour tour of the center followed by lunch at the Brass Pointe Restaurant nearby.

September 8 - 2017 BILL BURKE MEMORIAL GOLF OUTING, South Lyon Join your fellow retirees for a day on the links at the Riverbank Golf Club. It's our 26th annual golf outing. Don't have a team? We'll match you up. October 19 - ANNUAL MEETING AND LUNCHEON, Livonia

Our Annual Meeting takes place at the Italian American Banquet Center.

November 2 - ST. SABBAS MONASTERY TOUR AND TEA LUNCHEON, Harper Woods A visit to St. Sabbas Orthodox Monastery of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad. The Royal Eagle Restaurant is located on the grounds of the monastery.

December 5 - HOLIDAY PARTY, Warren We celebrate the season with a luncheon at the Gazebo Banquet Center.

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Luncheon attendees spark ideas for future events and express

interest in craft show MacRay Banquet Center on the waterfront in Harrison Township -- always a popular spot for Retiree Association events -- was the destination for our annual May spring luncheon. In addition to enjoying a great buffet lunch and getting together with friends, Retiree Association members were asked to fill out a questionnaire indicating how often they attend Retiree Association events, which events they've liked best, and what kinds of events they might like to attend in the future. It was also announced that a Craft Show might be in the offing if there is enough interest. If you are a crafter and would be interested in participating in a craft show at a future Retiree Association event, contact us at information@miretireeassoc.com with your name, phone number and the type of handmade items you would like to offer. If you attended the luncheon but didn't turn in a survey or if you weren't able to attend but have ideas you'd like to share about past or possible future events, e-mail us at the address above.

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Welcome new members

Nearly 200 new retirees have joined the Association since our last newsletter. Here is a list of those who joined through April.

Janis C. Abbott Essie Adrian Wanda S. Allen Rebecca J. Altschuler James D. Anderson Gregory W. Anderson Carol J. Appling Jane A. Barnes Susan P. Bayless Constance M. Blachut Joanne Boards Theresa J. Bonahoom Gertrude Boykin-Avery Dennis J. Brown Robin Brown Patricia A. Brown Rose M. Camilleri John R. Carbott Karen R. Carnick Julia L. Carswell Donald G. Carter Bernadette Caruso Patricia A Chaney Beverly J. Church Gloria R. Cleveland-Bell Yvonne Coates Sharon L. Cobb Judith M. Colaluca Esther D. Compian Linda K. Conroy Janis I. Dean Elizabeth A. Demaggio Sharon Demrose Michael A. Deneweth Cynthia L. Dennis Monica Devette Michael M. Dimaria Linda A. Dimarzo Nancy R. Divito Patricia A. Domke David M. Doney Sylvia M. Dunneback Patricia A. Esselman-Clariett Audrey A. Falzon Worline Felton Margaret M. Fifer Connie S. Fleming Kimberly E. Ford

Janet I. Foster Cynthia M. Garofali Rebecca A. Gauthier Arletta V. Gibson Diana M. Glaab Michele N. Gladany Joann M. Glinka Debra Gratton Valerie Sue Graves Nadine Greene Sandra L. Greer Valeria K. Gross William J. Haps Victoria L. Harden Patricia Harris Terrence D. Harville Mark K. Hayes Walter L. Haywood Barbara J. Haywood Patrice A. Helwig David J. Hill Joseph H. Hohner Mary Ellen E. Holiday Brenda K. Holmes Charles M. Honkala Steven J. Howe Bettina Howie Robbie Hudson Tammie S. Hurt Kathleen M. Isenhart Creighton S. Ishii Minnie S. James Louise M. Jones-Finley Barbara A. Kaiser Cheryl A. Kasparek Timothy J. Kavanagh Joseph D. Kearney Lorrie A. Keilman Deborah K. Kissau Rebecca L. Knight Robert J. Konieczki Debra A. Konowalski Cherylynn B. Kuhtic Paul P. Lamberti Susan E. Lenon Joseph G. Lieblang Sherri L. Long Donna M. Ludwig

Laurie K. Macinnis Patricia A. Madden Gerald R. Mallon Gwendolyn P. Martin David L. Marzec Douglas R. Matthews Nancy A. Mc Murray Patricia J. McDonald Mary C. McFarlane Marjorie A. McGrew Mina M. McKenzie Gwendolyn Mills Nancy L. Mitcham Theodore K. Mitchell Sharon L. Moore Naomi R. Morgan Paulette M. Morningstar Mary L. Mulawa Robin G. Mynhier Margaret A. Myszkowski David R. Nelson Debra Ann Novicka Michael G. Ossy Colleen S. Ostrander Vana M. Paparelli Deborah M. Parsons Sheri B. Patton Mark C. Paul Marchelle Phelps Armie J. Pritchett Susan J. Redington Kimberly A. Reed Christina M. Reyna Sandra Rice-Fulse Donald G. Riggs Brenda Rivers Adriene D. Romanczyk Victoria Y. Rose Pamela S. Rouse Sharon G. Ruff-Fuggett Rose Russo Leonard R. Samuels Janey M. Sanders Douglas Sargent Margaret A. Scalici Cathy D. Schechter Sandra L. Scott Mary Kathleen Seibert

Douglas W. Shultz Heidi E. Simpson Rebecca S. Skinner Susan Slottke Roger D. Slusher Carol L. Smith Robin R. Smith Alice M. Solak Wanda P. Stennis Leslie M. Stubbs-Hanks Johnny R. Sulfridge Lucrecia S. Sumanting James M. Susalla Cheryl A. Svacha Lynda K. Sweers Lori L. Switalski Donna Szpond Julinda K. Tarver Deborah J. J Taylor Susan D. Tereshinski Juanita M. Tetteh Robin D. Thomas Eric Tindle Vera J. Toples Susan C. Tousignant Kathleen M. Townsend Mary Beth Tygielski Kirk W. Vogelei Joyce N. Voyles Halina Warminski George J. Wazeck Kim Wenzel Judy A. Westwood Cheryl L. Wheatley Rosie White Tanya D. Whitlow Lavette J. Williams-Smith Karen L. Wisner Wayne J. Withers Jeffrey M. Witzburg Bobbie J. Woodall Sharon I. Wooley Lisa Wray Patricia A. Yonkoski Carol A. Zimmerman

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Thanks for donations to charity

Throughout the year Retiree Association members donate to charity through participation in 50/50 raffles, Chinese auctions and Bowl-a-Rama. With your generosity we donated $250 to each of the following charities with money raised in 2016: Society of St. Vincent DePaul, Capuchin Soup Kitchen, The Salvation Army, Forgotten Harvest, Gleaners Food Bank, Alzheimer's Association, Detroit Rescue Mission and Project Compassion Ministries. This year's charity event, "Bowl-a-Rama 2017," was held April 29 at the Country Lanes of Farmington. The event netted $360 for charity. There were lots of prizes, including a 50/50 raffle won by Kathy Elston ($50) and Annette Foster ($22). The high scorers were Marjorie Robinson and Annette Foster tied with a score of 210 in the first game, Audrey James with a score of 245 in game two, and Roberts Isaac with a score of 255 in game three.

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May they rest in peace

TItus Lassiter Richard (Dick) Bilkie June 18, 2016 August 5, 2016

Sally Costa Spencer Brown July 10, 2016 December 9, 2016

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Stories wanted

Do you have a travel story or a favorite volunteer activity or hobby you'd like to share with your fellow retirees? Do you know someone you'd like to nominate for a story? If so, we'd like to hear from you. Also let us know if you have a comment on the newsletter or an idea for an article. Just send a note to information@miretireeassoc.com.

This newsletter is published by and for members of the BCBSM Retiree Association.

Be sure to check our website at miretireeassoc.com for information about upcoming events and photos of past events. We also publish an E-mail Directory, which is a voluntary listing of members who wish to share their e-mail address with fellow retirees. To add your e-mail address to the Directory, make a correction or remove your name from the list send your request to information@miretireeassoc.com.

The BCBSM Retiree Association is an organization of former employees of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan that is not otherwise affiliated with the company.