To all GMLSRC Members and GM Salaried Retirees everywhere.

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Club social activities during the winter were very successful – the Detroit Auto Show Bus Trip and the Snow Bird Social.  Many thanks to John Fox and Al Stock, who capably headed up those two functions.  John is an old hand at buses, but this was the first year at the helm for Al, so he deserves an extra pat on the back.

At the April meeting of the GMLSRC board, with John Powers’ wife Ann, son John III, and good friend Merle Barnhart on hand, we presented a plaque and a check for $1,000 to the R. E. Olds Transportation Museum (REOTM) as a memorial to John, who faithfully supported the club for so many years.  Check out the pictures.

Many thanks to the guys that run the main summer club events: Larry Parker and his team of helpers for the two golf socials.  Come along and be a part of both.  I’ll be there.  Look for the reservation slips in this newsletter for details.  The other big event is the Detroit Tigers bus trip.  Once again John Fox heads that up.  See the mail-in form for details.  John was unable to schedule the Tigers in 2009, but I sure enjoyed the trips in the two previous years.  Fans have great hopes for the Tigers again this season, so come cheer them on May 18.  The $31 cost is a real bargain when you consider the convenience of someone else doing the hectic driving, and dropping you off at the gate.

Vice President Marv Thomson and board member Bob Benezette have headed up an effort to poll members at the Snow Bird Social and Auto Show Bus Trip about activities that members would most like to see the club involved in.  The top three vote getters follow:
 

The first two are scheduled and appear in this Newsletter.  Board member Larry Lennon, who has excellent rapport with the museum, has started preliminary work on the last one.

On March 25, I was able to attend a Florida Grassroots Forum, presented by the National Retiree Legislative Network (NRLN), in Sarasota.  NRLN president Bill Kadereit had the floor for over two hours, with some additional comments from other NRLN leaders.  They covered history and scope of the organization, a review of the NRLN 2010 legislative agenda, accomplishments, steps to configure and reprioritize the legislative agenda for 2011, an appeal for additional retirees to become active in the "grassroots" effort, and gave the audience an opportunity to express views on what concerns we have.

I came away very well impressed by Bill Kadereit and the other leaders in attendance.  He gave the presentation in a low-keyed manner, but with very detailed analysis of what efforts need to be pursued to protect retiree interests.  Bill is super knowledgeable, and never missed a beat on all the terms used in social security, pensions, healthcare, and the bureaus and congressional committees responsible to oversee them.  Another facet that impressed me was the low pressure effort to get donations.  Kadereit explained that the NRLN is much more interested in member numbers than in dollars.  And the people they want are those politically active enough to become grassroots members, of which the work can range from light to heavy:

The GM Retirees Association (GMRA), representing only GM interests, is a member of the NRLN.  GMRA President John Christie represents us as a member of the NRLN Board of Directors.

So what does this mean to the GMLSRC?   I came away very impressed with the sincerity of the NRLN's efforts to protect retiree rights in general, and the GMRA’s specificity to GM people.  The GMLSRC board urges GMLSRC members to consider becoming individual members of both organizations, contributing financially, if so inclined and able.  If interested, see links to both the GMRA and NRLN on our club website, and click “Membership”.

A final note – anyone interested in becoming a board member, running for office, or taking on a favorite project, please let me know.  We want and need you to be active in our club.

Enjoy the beautiful Michigan spring in great good health.