Emp loyee Ac t i v i t i e s Commi t tee News le t te r

The Connector December 2015, Volume 3: I s sue 7

To Bruce Campbell, we send our sincere condolences for the loss of his father. Also, to Katie Campbell (AH), we tender our genuine regret at the passing of her grandfather.

We extend our heartfelt sympathies to Shannon Gendron (GS) for the loss of her grandmother.

What better way to spread warmth and cheer this holiday

season than to assist in providing utilities for Michigan

residents in need! The EAC will be placing donation jars in the

breakrooms of both the AH and GS offices. Every little bit helps,

even if it’s just your spare change.

Fantasy Football Standings

1 Elizabeth Trotter 12-1-0

2 Stephanie Boe 9-4-0

3 Paul Harding 8-5-0

4 Sam Colella 8-5-0

5 Nicholas Gruzwalski 7-6-0

6 Katie Campbell 6-7-0

7 Antonio Lemus 6-7-0

8 Melissa Ramirez-Attinoto 5-8-0

9 Laura Arnold 5-8-0

10 Kristyn Cormier 4-9-0

11 Sandy Gunville 4-9-0

12 Bruce Campbell 4-9-0

December

QuinShunda Blackman Jim Cascio

Sandy DeMars

January

Linda Gilbert

Happy Birthday!

Happy Holidays from

your MISS DIG

family!

Mary Pascoe

Minnie Abbey

Sandy Gunville

David Bowen and Stephanie Boe

Back row, from left to right: Shannon Gendron, Mary Dawson, Jennifer Kurth, Lenita Scholer,

and Sandy Gunville.

Front row, from left to right: Beth Doneau, Jenny Brazeau, Mary Groos, and Minnie Abbey

How to Make a Festive Tomato Cage Tree

Supplies:

1 tomato cage (any size)

Rope or branch garland (You will need approximately 100-300 feet per tree depending on the coverage you’re looking

for and the type of garland you use.)

Twinkle lights (If you plan to use this tree indoors, I suggest selecting battery-operated lights.)

Ribbon or bow (or other fun things to decorate your tree with)

Something decorative to set your tree in (tin, garden pot, box, etc.)

Duct tape

Zip ties

Sand or gravel (for added weight to the base if necessary)

Steps:

1. Duct tape the top of the cage together in order to make a point or cone shape.

2. Secure one end of garland to the ring base with a zip tie.

3. Continue wrapping garland around the cage up to the top and secure with a zip tie. (I continued to secure the garland

at random points along the way to prevent any weather-related issues. )

4. Depending on your preference and garland choice, you may want to add another layer or two of garland around the

cage. For reference, my 3’6” tree has 2 1/2 layers.

5. Follow this up by decorating your tree. I added a strand of lights and a nice bow.

6. If you want to use this tree as an outdoor decoration, you may need to

add a weighted base. I spray painted a large garden pot and filled it with

gravel to keep the tree stable. A friend of mine also used a garden pot,

but filled it with cement instead.

By Kristyn Cormier

Use my tree for reference:

Height: 3’6”

Width of base: 1’

Garland: 140’

Lights: 9’

Cinnamon Jello

Add Jello and candies to boiling water.

Stir to dissolve.

Add remaining ingredients.

Stir well until mixed.

Pour into bowl and refrigerate overnight.

Ingredients:

3 oz. orange or lemon Jello mix

1/2 small jar of applesauce (8 oz./1 cup)

Dash of salt

1/2 tsp. lemon juice

1/4 cup cinnamon candies

1 cup boiling water

Gouda Cheese Wrap Ingredients:

1 eight-pack of crescent rolls

8 oz. piece of smoked gouda cheese

Lay dough flat and pinch sections together to make a square or

rectangle.

Set an 8 oz. piece of gouda in the center and fold the crescent

rolls up around the cheese.

Place cheese wrap on a greased baking sheet.

Bake at 325° for about 30 minutes, until rolls are golden

brown and cheese is melted.

Serve immediately.

Whipped Sweet Potato Bake Ingredients:

3 cans (15 oz. each) sweet potatoes, drained

1/4 cup butter, melted

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 tsp. ground ginger

1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

Mini marshmallows

Heat oven to 360°.

Beat potatoes, butter, and spices with mixer until well blended.

Spoon into lightly greased casserole dish.

Top with marshmallows. For a sweeter dish, you can also mix

some marshmallows into the bake.

Bake 15-20 minutes, or until potato mixture is heated through

and marshmallows on top are lightly browned.

Makes approximately 10 servings (1/2 cup each).

Dana Strong Diane Gobert

Elizabeth Trotter

Jennifer Kurth

Lenita Scholer

Jenny Brazeau

Mary Dawson

Beth Doneau

Shannon Gendron

The holidays are here! Looking back over the years, do you have a favorite gift that you’ve either received or given?

Antonio Lemus: A pack of basketball cards that contained an on-card autograph of Dikembe Mutombo’s rookie card.

Elizabeth Trotter: A gift certificate for a mani/pedi. It makes me feel pretty and pampered.

Do you host on Christmas Day or do you travel to spend time with family? If you travel, where to?

Antonio Lemus: Definitely host. I’ve personally never driven a car on Christmas.

Elizabeth Trotter: I do not host. I always go to my dad’s; he lives two blocks away.

Turkey is traditionally the meal of choice on Thanksgiving Day. Do you have a favorite meal or dish that is a staple in your home

on the

holidays?

Antonio Lemus: Ham, turkey, mashed potatoes, and arroz con pollo.

Elizabeth Trotter: We are random people; sometimes we have ham or turkey, but we like homemade enchiladas so usually my sis-

ter, the kids, and I make those. We like thinking of non-traditional foods.

Do you put up a Christmas tree in your home? If so, is it real or artificial?

Antonio Lemus: My mother has gone through real and artificial trees—no favorite.

Elizabeth Trotter: Usually fake trees because I’m lazy and don’t take the tree down until, like, May. Sometimes a real one, but it real-

ly is a fire hazard.

Which would you say is more likely to be found in your home over the holidays: fruitcake or egg nog?

Antonio Lemus: Fruitcake.

Elizabeth Trotter: Ahh...how about no and no! We are not that adventurous here. Regular alcohol and cheesecake, please.

Do you and yours open presents on Christmas morning or do you put a unique spin on things?

Antonio Lemus: Presents are opened once the whole family is together.

Elizabeth Trotter: My kids like to open one present on Christmas Eve and then the rest on Christmas Day. We usually know some of

our presents

because we have a hard time keeping them a secret.

What is your favorite holiday carol or song?

Antonio Lemus: “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.” There are many versions, but I like the Johnny Mercer version.

Elizabeth Trotter: The first song in A Charlie Brown Christmas when they are ice skating.

What is the one holiday movie or TV show that is required viewing for your family over the holidays?

Antonio Lemus: A Christmas Story.

Elizabeth Trotter: A Charlie Brown Christmas. Actually, all Charlie Brown holiday specials. I have all the DVD’s. Love them. Then the

girls and I get together and I like to watch Love Actually.

When purchasing gifts, do you have a budget that you follow strictly or do you tend to get carried away in the holiday merri-

ment?

Antonio Lemus: I tend to get carried away—only with my nieces though.

Elizabeth Trotter: I’m always broke, but I tend to get whatever people want that I can afford. Sometimes I just bake or make some-

thing, like cards or cups with candy in them.

If today was the deadline to make New Year’s Resolutions for 2016, what would be on your

short list of personal changes? Or, are you

OCTOBER EOM SNAP SHOT

National Boss’ Day is observed on October 16th (or the nearest working day to that date). This year the Web Ticket Support Department put their

heads together and ordered flowers for their supervisor, Gwen Knowles. Since the department is split in half between Auburn Hills and

Gladstone, funds had to be sent discreetly from one branch to the other. The whole plan to surprise Gwen (initiated by Shannon Gendron) was handled

without a glitch, until the florist showed up on Friday, October 16th after 5pm and was unable to

deliver the flowers. The good news is that the flowers were delivered the following Monday and Gwen was

thrilled to receive them!

The holidays are here! Looking back over the years, do you have a favorite gift that you’ve either received or

given?

Julian Bryant: I do not celebrate holidays.

Nancy Livermore: A 48-inch Toshiba Smart TV from my rich sister.

Do you host on Christmas Day or do you travel to spend time with family? If you travel, where to?

Julian Bryant: I spend time with my family, so local travel.

Nancy Livermore: I usually spend it with my mom and her husband at their home. They prefer to keep it quiet.

Turkey is traditionally the meal of choice on Thanksgiving Day. Do you have a favorite meal or dish that is a staple in your home

on the

holidays?

Julian Bryant: Nothing spectacular; majority rules on what we eat.

Nancy Livermore: I love fruit salad.

Do you put up a Christmas tree in your home? If so, is it real or artificial?

Julian Bryant: No.

Nancy Livermore: I prefer to have a Nativity set up and my apartment is small, so I don’t have a tree.

Which would you say is more likely to be found in your home over the holidays: fruitcake or egg nog?

Julian Bryant: Egg nog. I’ve actually never seen a real fruitcake.

Nancy Livermore: Neither are found at my house. Yuck.

Do you and yours open presents on Christmas morning or do you put a unique spin on things?

Julian Bryant: I don’t do presents.

Nancy Livermore: I haven’t found my “yours” yet (lol).

What is your favorite holiday carol or song?

Julian Bryant: Only know of Frank Sinatra’s “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”

Nancy Livermore: There is an older song called “Christmas Carol.”

What is the one holiday movie or TV show that is required viewing for your family over the holidays?

Julian Bryant: My family doesn’t—corrupt Monopoly and cards only.

Nancy Livermore: The Polar Express—the little kid in me loves it.

When purchasing gifts, do you have a budget that you follow strictly or do you tend to get carried away in the holiday merri-

ment?

Julian Bryant: Wouldn’t know anything about this, fortunately.

Nancy Livermore: I definitely don’t think before I buy. I only have one sister to buy for and we go crazy.

NOVEMBER EOM SNAP SHOT

Five Ways to Improve Your Saving Habits

Like so many things in life, saving money can be challenging. Many of us like to see things in the present moment and not as something far

off in the future to be enjoyed. We like to reap the results of our money now. A change of attitude is necessary if one is to start and keep on

the path of setting money aside for future enjoyment or retirement. Saving money should be a habit and a way of life, not a burden, so you

can ensure peace of mind about your future.

1. Set Achievable Savings Goals

One has to be diligent in securing quality of life with funds to replace employment wages upon retirement. Go beyond the idea that you need

to save for specific purpose. Think about paying rent, buying groceries, supporting your daily living, taking a leisurely cruise, etc.

2. Reward Yourself for Reaching Small Milestones

Keep track of how well you are doing. Calculate how much you need to put aside every three to six months and when you achieve that goal,

give yourself a treat. (But don’t use your savings.)

3. Automate Your Savings

One of the easiest ways to get into the habit of saving is to set up an automatic method of transferring a portion of your paycheck into the

Company’s 401(k) plan and/or your personal savings account. Since you do not see the money, this helps you to adjust your lifestyle to what

you actually end up with as take-home pay. Soon, you will not miss this money and it will grow for you in your savings fund(s).

4. Take Advantage of Your Employer Contribution

We are fortunate here at MISS DIG that our employer regularly contributes from 3% to our pension plan regardless of whether or not we

contribute. However, we should all take advantage of the interest factor that occurs with our pension fund. This fund can reap the benefit of

both employer and employee contribution. It is amazing what earning interest upon interest can do as it adds value to your pension account.

5.Don’t Sweat the Market Swings

A significant factor of investing in our company’s 401(k) is that it takes advantage of your regular payroll contribution when invested in mu-

tual funds. It is the factor that you purchase more units of stock when stock prices go down. Don’t sweat it, for your fund value will increase

more when the stock value increases. You can be easily mesmerized with the growth of your saving fund.

So let us get on board and secure our retirement years by saving now!

By Dan McCarthy