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Welcome
New Retirees |
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Welcome
New Retirees |
LLNL Retirees' Luncheon
Next Meeting
Date: Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Speaker: George Caporaso, LLNL Scientist
Topic: Compact Proton Therapy System
Proton therapy is considered the most advanced form of radiation therapy available, but size and cost have limited the technology's use to only six cancer centers nationwide. George will talk about his work as LLNL's lead scientist on the first compact proton therapy system - one that would fit in any major cancer center and cost a fifth as much as a full-scale machine. (...more.)
LLNL Retirees' Travel Group
Next Meeting
Date: Tuesday, March 23
Speakers: Barbara and Dick Mallon
Topic: Guatemala
Click here for a preview of the presentation.
The Retirees' Travel Group meets monthly, January to June, on the fourth Tuesday at 2:00 PM in the
Livermore Library Community Room
1188 Livermore Avenue.
Livermore.
Click here for the complete 2010 schedule.
Barbara and David Edwards are the Travel Program Co-chairs. You may send them an email at Barbara@LLNLretirees.org or David@LLNLretirees.org.
Kaiser and Extend Health Presentations
LLNL Retirees Organization and LLNS Sponsored Health Care Presentations
Representatives from Extend Health gave a presentation to LLNL retirees on their health care plans for 2010 at a special meeting held at the Robert Livermore Community Center on December 4, 2009.
Click on Extend Health Presentation to view the Extend Health presentation.
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Kaiser Presentation to October Retirees' Luncheon
Representatives from Kaiser Permanente gave a presentation on their 2010 health plans at the October retirees' luncheon.
Click on Video and Presentation Slides from Kaiser Presentation to link to view and listen to their presentation.
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Extend Health Presentation to November Retirees' Luncheon
A representative from Extend Health gave a presentation on their 2010 health plans at the November retirees' luncheon.
Click on Video and audio from Extend Health Presentation to link to view a video or listen to the audio of their presentation.
Annual Membership Renewal
Time to Renew!
The LLNL Retirees Organization keeps members updated about LLNL activities and the Lawrence Livermore Employee Services Association (llesa). Our goal is to provide a connection that mutually benefits retirees and the Laboratory. With this connection, we can provide retirees with the latest developments of interest at the Laboratory as well as opportunities for retirees to contribute to maintaining the health of the Laboratory into the future. Members with email addresses now receive our monthly LLNL Retirees Newsletter that announces our luncheon speakers and keeps you posted on "Lab News Perhaps You Can Use." Plus members have the opportunity to socialize and share retirement experiences with other retirees, old friends, and new acquaintances at our monthly luncheons and annual picnic. We suggest that you join the LLNL Retirees’ Association, learn about and sign up for our activities, keep up with the latest news and have fun. You also become a member of LLESA that entitles you to benefits such as discount tickets to various theme parks and activities. We request that you join the LLNL Retirees Organization by returning the signed waiver form which is required to attend our functions and include a $10 check per family. Click here for a membership application.
Our activities include:
Chuck Meier, 2009 Chair, LLNL Retirees
Gib Marguth, 2010 Chair, LLNL Retirees
LLESA Discounts
LLESA discounts are avaialable for LLNL Employees and LLESA members.
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Fall Council of University of California Retirees Associations Meeting at UCSF
Three members of the Lab’s Retirees Association attended the October 29, 2009, meeting of the Council of University of California Retirees Associations (CUCRA) at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). The three were chair Chuck Meier and two former chairs, John Pitts and Jeff Garberson (the current CUCRA representative.)
CUCRA, with representatives from the campuses, labs and President's office, meets twice a year and acts as a voice for retirees within and sometimes outside the University. The morning session, which held the most interest for Livermore retirees, was conducted jointly with the Council of University of California Emeriti Associations. The two Councils share many goals and interests, such as staying on top of changes in University health programs, retirement policy and financial health. The principal speaker was Randy Scott, executive director of Strategic Planning and Workforce Development in UC’s Office of the President. Scott assured the meeting that no dramatic changes are in the offing for retirees. The University will continue paying pensions, as required by law, and will not be asking retirees for contributions to the retirement program. (Active employees will begin making contributions in April 2010.)
UC-administered health programs are not available to Livermore retirees, but it is worth noting that UC will reduce its contributions to health plan premiums somewhat in 2010. In 2009, UC is paying about 92 percent of premiums for retirees and active employees. In 2010, this proportion will decline to 89 percent for retirees and 88 percent for active employees. Again, these changes do not apply to Livermore retirees because our health plans are administered for LLNS by Hewitt and Extend Health.
Scott painted an extremely challenging picture of UC’s financial health. The UC Retirement Program is about 95 percent funded today, down from 125 percent a decade ago. It is projected to decline to 61 percent funded in 2013, even after active employees begin making contributions next year. The basic problem is that it has high and increasing levels of pay-outs without equivalent sources of revenue. This year, it is spending about $225 million in health care premiums (a cost expected to increase by $37 million next year) and $1.5 billion in pensions and lump-sum cash-outs. In the face of such costs, to keep the UCRP fund from declining, the University would have to make a return of about 7.5 percent on its investments while getting about 17 percent in contributions from employees and the university itself. No University employees have made contributions since the early 1990s, and the market has been down more than up in the past few years, so UCRP funding has declined even as costs have risen.
The State of California takes responsibility for its retirement program, CalPERS, paying up to 22 percent in employer contributions. But it has not stepped up to take similar responsibility for the UC Retirement Program. The difficult financial picture can affect UC’s credit rating and borrowing costs, Scott said.
For those who want to learn more on-line, UCOP has informational websites at http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/ucrpfuture/welcome.html and http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/ucrpfuture/emp_task.html.
For further information or comments send an E-mail message to Jeff Garberson at CUCRArep@LLNLretirees.org.
Newsline Retirees' Corner
The Retirees' Corner has been discontinued because of the lack of submissions by retirees. Past issues are still available for reading. Click here for past issues of the Retirees' Corner.
Cruise News
Chuck and Chris Woods, both retirees from the Lab, send us a "trip report" each month. They used to live aboard a trawler in Alaska and sent us fantastic pictures of the area from glaciers to sunsets, and more. From October through December, 2008, they took a break from Alaska and went on a road trip through the western United States, calling those reports "Land Cruise News." They went back in Alaska for a short time and now are headed back to the lower forty-eight to live.
Click here to see their "trip reports."
2009 Retirees' Picnic Photos
Click here for photos from the 2009 Retirees' picnic, courtesy of Frank Rainer.
LLNL Newsline
Newsline is posted every Friday on the Laboratory's external Website. Click here to view the latest issue of Newsline. You may receive a notice by email each week when Newsline is issued by clicking on the SUBSCRIBE tab at the top of the latest issue.
To submit a classified ad: click here.
Tours of LLNL and Site 300
Two free tours are available for LLNL Retirees and also for the general public. Both tours last about 2 hours and 30 minutes. All attendees must be at least 18 years old. US Citizens must sign up at least two weeks in advance, non-US citizens must sign up at least one month in advance. To make a reservation, contact the LLNL Public Affairs Office at (925) 422-4599.
Tour 1: Community Tour of LLNL on Tuesdays starting at 9:00 AM.
Guides will describe buildings and equipment during a bus tour of the entire site with time to view of the surrounding terrain from the West observation post (the highest location at Site 300).
On October 1, 2007, Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC (LLNS) took over as contract manager of LLNL from the University of California,which managed the Laboratory for 55 years. The LLNS web site is www.llnsllc.com.
LLNS has announced its selection of Hewitt Associates, a global human resources services company, to assume health and welfare benefits administration services from the University of California Office of the President for LLNL retirees. The Hewitt website www.ybr.com/benefits/llns is the main source of information on health and benefits plans. Their Customer Service Representatives can also be reached at 1-866-994-LLNS (5567).
You may also contact Johnetta Jones, LLNS Benefits, at LLNL, 925-422-8726, with any questions regarding retiree's health plan benefits.
Badge Policy For Retirees
LLNS has announced that the self-requested one-day retiree access badge is no longer available. Retirees who wish to go on-site must be invited by an organization using the standard badge request form, LL6376.
Questions about the policy on badges should be directed to Edwin Tippens, (925) 423-7177, or tippens1@LLNL.gov.
Photos from Retirees
2005 Retirees Picnic courtesy of Alan Mode.
Marian and Hank McDonald's Fiftieth Anniversary Cruise
Dick Ryon made an eleven-day kayak expedition out the Columbia River and down the Oregon coast for 180 miles to Florence early in August. Click here to read the article submitted by Dick.
Ron Gunn sent us some pictures he took during Fleet Week on October 7, 2007, aboard the Hornblower party boat in San Francisco Bay. Click here to see the photos.
Teaching Opportunities for Partners in Science
Retiree Art Krakowsky gave a very interesting presentation at the January 2005 luncheon on TOPScience, a long-standing and worthwhile science educational outreach program in San Joaquin County and the Tri-Valley.
A reporter from the Contra Costa Times attended Art's talk and wrote an article on the TOPScience program. Click here to read the article that appeared in the February 14 issue of the Contra Costa Times and the Valley Times.
Click here for more information on TOPScience.
Global and US Energy Presentation
Dr. John Ziagos gave a very interesting presentation at the Retirees' luncheon in April. Dr. Ziagos is waiting for approval from LLNL management to send us a copy of the slides at his presentation. In the meantime, he sent us a link to a similar presentation: Click here.
Steps to Consolidate Nuclear Weapons Complex
Submitted by Jeff Garberson
A draft final report of the Nuclear Weapons Complex Infrastructure Task Force was released in July. Click here to see a summary of that report. The summary contains a link to the complete report.
Fitnotes
Identity Theft
Rose Chaco from UNCLE Credit Union was kind enough to give us a copy of her presentation at the February 2005 Retirees' Luncheon. Click here to view them.
Change of Address for Mailings from the Lab
Have you moved since leaving the Lab? Send an email to Don Johnston at johnston19@LLNL.gov if you want to keep receiving mailings from the Lab. Include your old address along with your new address. You need to file a separate change of address with your retirement plan and benefits.
Domestic Partners of Retirees
The University of California Retirement Plan was amended, effective January 1, 2005, to permit an eligible same-sex of opposite-sex domestic partner of a member who retired prior to July 1, 2002 to receive the post retirement survivor continuance.
Retirement Administration is in the process of notifying those who may be eligible for this benefit. Following is some basic information about the mailing and the benefits. Two letters and a reply card to ask for further information were mailed around December 10. The first letter ( click here to view) was mailed to three groups totaling about 8700 members. Those groups were as follows.
Members who retired prior to July 1, 2002, elected Basic Retirement Income, and do not have a spouse.
Members who retired prior to July 1, 2002, does not have a spouse, and named a Contingent Annuitant who is not a spouse and was over 18 years old at the time the member retired.
Members who retired prior to July 1, 2002 who have a spouse who was not eligible for the post retirement survivor continuance because they were married less than a year at retirement.
The second letter ( click here to view) was mailed to non-spouse Contingent Annuitants of deceased members who retired prior to July 1, 2002 and spousal Contingent Annuitants of deceased members who retired prior to July 1, 2002 but were not eligible for the post retirement survivor continuance because they were married less than a year at the member's retirement. This group numbers around 50.
In all cases, the recipients must be able to document that they were in a domestic partnership at least one year prior to the retirement date and continuously to the present (or to the marriage date in the case of spouses married less than one year at retirement).
Retirees who can document that they were in an eligible Domestic Partnership should mail in the reply card ( click here to view) to get additional information.
Click here to view a summary of available benefits.
Inquiries regarding this benefit should be directed to UC Customer Service at 1(800)888-8267.
Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program (EEOICP)
The following is of possible interest to retirees who may have suffered medical problems as a result of their employment at a DOE site.
Provides benefits authorized by the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA), including compensation of up to $150,000 and payment of medical expenses to eligible employees (or their survivors) of the Department of Energy (DOE), its contractors, and its subcontractors who have cancer, beryllium disease, or silicosis.
There is a new Part E of the program that can compensate workers as well as eligible survivors for illnesses that can be as result of exposure to toxic substances as well as any wage loss.
For more information, please contact:
California Resource Center
2600 Kitty Hawk Road,
Suite 101
Livermore, CA 94551
Phone: 925-606-6302
Toll-free 866-606-6302
Or visit http://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/compliance/owcp/eeoicp/main.htm
Volunteer Opportunities
The LLNL Retirees is sometimes contacted by the LLNL, private people and groups looking for special assistance, information, or with volunteer opportunities. These non-commercial contacts may be of interest to retirees and will be listed here for your information and consideration.
Hope Hospice Needs Volunteers
Hope Hospice, a non-profit agency, has offered compassionate, quality end-of-life care and grief support to patients and their families in the Tri-Valley area for over 22 years. Hospice care is unique because it cares for the body and the spirit. A comprehensive program of medical services and emotional support that includes a personalized plan of care for pain and symptom management is provided in the familiar surroundings of the patient's home. Hospice is a compassionate choice for dying, one that focuses on preserving a person's dignity and comfort.
Volunteer opportunities for Hope Hospice include:
Hope Hospice Shoppe Volunteers: To support our programs we run a quality resale shop at 400 Main St., Pleasanton. Volunteers are needed to sort, tag and display donated merchandise and provide friendly helpful customer service. Open Tues.-Sat. 9am-5pm. Call 925-426-8988.
Hope Hospice Office Volunteers: Clerical support is needed to answer phones, file, prepare mailings, copy and enter computer data. 3-4 hours/day; 3 days /week.
Home Care Volunteers: Provide personal visits and companionship to patients and to provide respite for the primary care giver a few hours per week.
Bereavement Volunteers: Keep contact with the bereaved by making home visits, phone calls and mailings. Keep accurate charts on bereavement clients.
Special Events Volunteers: Help coordinate and promote various events including: Lights of the Valley, Cioppino Dinner, Bowl-For-Hope, High Hopes Golf Tournament. Help educate the community about Hope Hospice services.
For more information, please see their Web site: www.HopeHospice.com.
For more information send an email message to info@LLNLretirees.org
LLNL: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
LLESA: Livermore Laboratory Employee Services Association, Inc.
LLNS: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
LLNL Retirees is a networking group under LLESA
Any comments or problems with the web site, send an email message to webmanager@LLNLretirees.org.
