December AGRE Meeting

Items of interest from the December monthly AGRE meeting on 12/4/08:

Post-65 Retiree Drug Subsidy - BJC sent out letters to post-65 retirees about their December 2008 medical premiums being reduced by $60.36 for single coverage and by $121.68 for dual coverage as a reconcilliation payment related to the 2006 Retiree Drug Subsidy. The subsidy applies to retirees eligible for, but not enrolled in, a Medicare Part D plan. This reimbursement to the post-65 retirees from BJC is appreciated.

AGRE Letter to BJC - BJC has not yet responded to our letter dated 8/27/08, which was sent to Paul Divjak, BJC President/GM, and included a list of our concerns and issues. A follow-up letter will be sent to BJC in the near future.

AGRE Letter to DOE - DOE's Gerald Boyd replied to the AGRE letter dated 9/4/08. His letter, dated 9/26/08, was read at the October and November monthly meetings. AGRE has prepared a response to Mr. Boyd's letter, which is undergoing some minor changes before being mailed.

AGRE Letters to Representatives - Just prior to the economic crisis, AGRE mailed letters to Senator Lamar Alexander, Senator Bob Corker, Congressman Zack Wamp, Congressman John Duncan, and Congressman Lincoln Davis. Attached to these letters were 48 pages of petitions with 659 signatures. AGRE has not received a response to these letters which were mailed on 9/4/08 and has followed up with a second letter to each official requesting a written response. (The follow-up letters were mailed December 27. )

New Subcommittees - The AGRE Actions Committee meets bi-monthly at 5 p.m. on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month. In order to provide back-up coverage and better focus on the growing list of issues and concerns, subcommittees are being formed. These will be better defined in the near future as additional members and responsibilities are identified:

AGRE Co-Chairs for 2009 - Teresa Riggs and John Steward
Health and Welfare Subcommittee - Teresa Riggs, Diane Watson, Alan McAmis
Financial Analysis Subcommittee - Alan McAmis, Bill Woods
Political Subcommittee - Bobby Collier
Communications and Records Subcommittee - Sandy Keen, Dwight Morrow, Loretta Walker
AGRE/CORRE Liaison - Pete Peterson
AGRE/USW Liaison - John Steward
Paducah Liaisons - John Asbell and TBD
Portsmouth Liaisons - Joyce Hopper and TBD