Coalition of Oak Ridge Retired Employees Board of Directors Meeting
August 21, 2024

Attendees: Angelelli, Birk, Burton, Cox, Franco, Gibson, Hightower, Jessen, Lee, McRae, McSpadden, Riggs, Wasilko, Whitehead

Call to Order – Whitehead

July Board Meeting Minutes – Riggs, Approved

July Treasurer Report – Petrie, Approved

Contractor Team Reports

CNS – Meeting of August 6 was attended with CORRE representatives Whitehead, Wasilko, Jessen and Gibson. The annual CORRE Meeting will only be able to be aired online via Webex (no Zoom allowed); Wasilko or Vanessa Chandler will create the meeting on Webex if necessary; Webex instructions are needed for the CORRE retirees/public to be able to view online. Whitehead sent a letter to Grooms (as well as the other three Oak Ridge DOE Contractors) requesting deceased retiree names for our use in trying to correct our email distributions.

Simmons and Golden Security LLC – Burton reported a meeting is planned with Simmons and Golden Security LLC in September; retirees will remain with Golden (new contract was awarded July 2, 2024 with transition to be complete by September 2, 2024).

UCOR – Riggs reported highlights of the July 24 UCOR/CORRE/AGRE meeting: the change from Aetna to Blue Cross/Blue Shield for the Multi/Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangement (MEWA) is a very big deal since Aetna was the only vendor willing to cover employees/pre-65 age retirees in a MEWA since 1998 (26 years); and, UCOR plans to contribute $6.6 million to the pension plan in Plan Year 2024. Riggs will resend the email request for retiree zip codes. Riggs reported on the K-25 Reunion meeting: obtaining quotes for tents/tables/chairs; planning for tents away from food truck generators to reduce noise levels; a new moderator: Gene Patterson; Riggs will ask if other health care organizations will be invited to the K-25 Reunion. A motion was made and approved to contribute $100 to the
K-25 Reunion Committee.

UT-Battelle – Hightower had nothing new to report. Whitehead has asked Carissa Dunaway to obtain UT-Battelle management permission for her to discuss details of their cost estimate to meet CORRE pension and healthcare improvement requests.

Committee and Task Team Reports

Planning – Gibson attended the Vision 2024 Event and joined the CORRE Board Meeting after the Event (and later sent a copy of the Program and link to the Press kit for the event to the CORRE Board members). Gibson discussed Y-12 moving to VIA Benefits Health Care Exchange ( ORNL has VIA as their support contractor).

Nominations - Wasilko stated we have a vice-president and five Board member positions to fill. He contacted 23 people and has had a 20 percent acceptance rate. The new board members and vice-president to be voted on in the November annual meeting include John Steward, Wayne Bollinger, Ross Harding, Greg Livengood, Richard Green; and the VP Position is Paul Wasilko. The vote at the Annual Meeting will include the new slate of officers for the CORRE Board. The CORRE Board voted unanimously to accept the slate of Officers and CORRE Board members (22 nominees) as presented by the CORRE Board Nomination Committee. This slate will be posted on the CORRE Board Website.

Communications – McSpadden reported the Newsletter will highlight the Quality health care organization; he has used Mail Chimp for bulk emails, which allows emails with graphics, an unsubscribe option, and more, and has paid $18 for the first month’s trial membership; he plans to evaluate Mail Chimp over the next couple of months of this trial membership; the Board approved reimbursing McSpadden for the next month’s trial membership as McSpadden is evaluating this tool for a possible annual subscription and authorized him to enter into a contract with Mail Chimp services if he determines they are satisfactory..

Whitehead spoke of three outreach opportunities: the first opportunity he stated was one that Kibbe had previously discussed. A Resource Fair sponsored by Cold War Patriots and Cancer Support Community East Tennessee will be held at the New Hope Center from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on September 11; lunch is offered from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.; we must RSVP by calling 866-655-3299; park in the gravel overflow parking and golf carts will shuttle drop-off/pickup. CORRE is listed as a “vendor” in their flyers. A donation was discussed and approved if we can get the attendance list (subsequently it was learned that they will not share their attendance list). CORRE will be provided with a table and two chairs by CWP and we will bring candy and handouts to recruit new members.

The second outreach event Whitehead spoke of was CNSCares on Saturday, September 28th, from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the Oak Ridge Civic Center; the Board approved a $100 donation for door prize. CORRE will provide a table and handouts to recruit new members. CORRE is listed as a “vendor” in their flyers.

The third outreach event is a Y-12 Health Fair for current CNS employees at the Y-12 Cafeteria in the Hallway at the Jack Case Center on Wednesday, October 16 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.; only 2 people may attend: Cox (already badged) and Franco volunteered to attend for CORRE since it conflicts with our CORRE Board meeting where we will dry run the November Annual Meeting.
By-Laws – nothing new to report; Riggs and Petrie to finalize Guideline for New Membership contributions/receipts.

Other DOE Sites – nothing new to report

Governmental Relations – an updated Congressional package was sent to our legislators; Cox reported Fleischmann is trying.

Annual Meeting – The annual slate of officers is to be posted, and we need the date to do the dry-run of Webex at the New Hope Center. Hightower reported the legislators/VIP invitations are going out on October 8. McRae is sending the invitation to the Prime contractors; and McRae will send an annual meeting preparation revised email to Board members, and he will send an invitation to Vendors to do door prizes (giveaways) with a deadline date to respond. McRae reported he has asked for space in the History Center and Lobby Area. Whitehead will invite dignitaries.

Pension Fund Analysis – nothing new to report

Executive (Pension Increase Initiative) – Whitehead sent updated package to Legislators.

Other Business

Financial Advisor Appointment – Franco will contact John Clayton to do the independent financial review. After the meeting, John Clayton accepted the appointment as CORRE Financial Advisor in a conversation with President Whitehead. Approval by the Board to follow at the September Board meeting.
Authorization of BOD Expenditures/Reimbursements – The Post Office Box annual payment is coming due and has been authorized previously.

Adjournment at 11:45 a.m.