Volume 31, Number 4 Winter 2017

At BBQ Cook-off

Spreading the News About MARS

MARS folks Terry and Jan Lyman were at the CNP Employee-Retire cook-off BBQ in September at the Anoka Fairgrounds explaining the purpose and values of MARS. Retiree booth visitors were Dianne Bohn and Darlene Harper checking in to hear about MARS’ upcoming activities. More photos on page 7.

MARS Holiday Luncheon is Dec. 1

That long time MARS Holiday Luncheon tradition continues this year, same place, same good menu. The time is noon Dec. 1 at the Bloomington Event Center (Knights of Columbus Hall),1144 American Blvd., Bloomington. Your reservation form is on page 8, and registrations are due by Nov. 20. To help spread the holiday cheer, attendees are reminded to bring a toy for the Toys for Tots program, sponsored by the U. S. Marine Corps. See you there !

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Big Boxes of

Beautiful Blankets MARS readied 85

colorful fleece blankets

recently to be sent to Life

Rebuilders, a Minnea-

polis organization that

helps those in transition

back into society. MARS

folks who were among

the blanket makers are (l

to r) Joan Loveday, Cindy

Zachmeier and Bev Maas.

In back row is Gary

Parker, one of Rebuilders’

leaders.

+ CNP Files for New Rates in MN + CenterPoint Energy has filed an application with the

Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) to

change the company’s natural gas distribution rates.

If approved by the MPUC, the proposed new

rates will result in an overall increase in revenue of

$56.5 million, or about 6.4 percent annually.

CenterPoint Energy’s last request for an

overall increase in its base rate was in 2015. As

currently proposed, the 2017 rate increase will add

about $4.50 to a typical residential customer’s

monthly bill. The effect on individual monthly bills will

vary depending on natural gas use.

The MPUC is generally allowed 10-12 months

to issue a final decision on general rate filings. Interim

(temporary) rates began Oct. 1, followed by MPUC

approval and final rates will be implemented in 2018.

If the final rates are lower than interim rates, CNP will

refund customers the difference with interest. If final

rates are higher than interim rates, customers will

receive no additional charges for natural gas used

while interim rates were in effect.

The company is proposing a change to its

base rates to recover the significant capital

expenditures in its Minnesota service area to maintain

system safety and reliability and to help ensure that

we have a natural gas system that will continue to

meet the needs of customers now and in the future.

The principal reasons CNP is proposing to

change base rates are to:

1) Recover the company’s significant capital

expenditures in its Minnesota service area. In accordance with natural gas pipeline safety and integrity regulations, these capital expenditures are necessary to maintain a safe and reliable system and to respond to significant public improvement requirements on the system;

2) Establish rates for all customer groups

that better reflect the actual costs of providing service to those customers;

3) Continue the currently approved

decoupling program, which removes barriers to energy conservation; and

4) Achieve an overall revenue recovery level

that meets the company’s financial objectives.

MARS Continues to Collect Memorabilia MARS will continue to collect company

memorabilia and will be happy to accept items at the

Holiday Luncheon on Dec. 1.

Consider bringing useable items with a

company logo (CenterPoint Energy, Minnegasco,

Minnesota Gas Co. or Minneapolis Gas Light Co.)

that you no longer use but someone else would

enjoy having. These items will be sold at a future

“garage sale” with the proceeds going to charity.

Items could include: clean, wearable clothing,

i.e. jackets, shirts or caps; Service awards i.e.

watches, pins or tie clips; pen/pencil sets or pens;

coffee mugs; cookbooks and recipe collections: and

other items you think may apply.

Retirees and employees enjoyed reminiscing

over the items collected and displayed at the CNP

BBQ Cook-off Sep. 9.

To make it easier for more persons to donate

items, there will be additional opportunities to bring

items to upcoming MARS’ social events. In addition

to the Holiday luncheon, items may be brought to the

Volunteer Recognition Luncheon in April and the

picnic in June.

Your treasure from the past can become a new

treasure for someone else and benefit a worthy cause.

Current plans are to hold a “garage sale” at the 2018

CNP BBQ Cook-off next September. Watch for specific

dates in future issues of the MARS News.

---Joan Loveday, MARS board member

__________________________________________

Mankato area retirees, 18 in number, were on

hand for a traditional lunch in October, rehashing the stories of summer fishing and catching up with CNP news, including above (l to r) Dick Linnes, Larry Stark, Pat Ogle, Erv Klimek, and Ken Brenke. Photo by Elli Fisher

Celebrating Thanksgiving The first national celebration of

Thanksgiving in America was declared in 1775

by the Continental Congress. This was to

celebrate the win at Saratoga during

the American Revolution. It was later made a

national holiday.

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Five Minute Interviews

The Grandkids --- Who Else! ---Become a Focus in Retirees’ Lives

Connie Griffin---Loved Her Work in Credit

Q What did you like about your jobs at the company? Working in the Credit Dept. I felt I did a good job with the slum landlords---working with them, not threatening them, and getting them to pay their bills. We were honest with each other. Some even sent me Christmas cards. I also worked in billing, during some 33 years with the company, and was among the first to work with computer contacts in the field.

Q Any memories of the company? I was so glad to come to Minnegasco. I had been working at a

perfume production com- pany and couldn’t stand it after a while. I was hired on in 1979 at the company’s Shakopee office, but work- ed several jobs in different locations.

Q As a youth, what were

your ambitions? I wanted to be a psychologist. I enjoyed helping people. Right now,

while I am not volunteering, I feel I spend a lot of helpful time with my neighborhood friends who may have problems.

Q Did your parents encourage you? My dad thought that women shouldn’t have jobs---“stay at home, raise a family,” was his view.

Q Are you a collector? Not now. I used to acquire crystal glass pieces, and I was a Princess House sales representative for three years, selling mostly crystal. It was fun meeting at different people’s homes.

Q Have you ever met a famous person? Yes, I met movie star Sam Elliott at the Sturgis, S.D. motorcycle rally. I first recognized him by his voice. I had a nice but brief talk with him. (Elliott has a long resume in both movies and television since 1968)

Q What famous person would you like to have lunch

with? Sam Elliott.

Q Did you go to Sturgis often? We went every year for 25 years. My husband was heavy into motorcycle riding. We owned Harleys, of course. Six hundred miles to Sturgis, staying overnight in Mitchell after day one. Since my husband passed on, and I sold my bike, I don’t ride any longer.

Q What takes much of your time now? I spend quite a bit of time with my eight grandchildren, at their sports games. I take advantage of that since that wasn’t the case with my grandparents when I was growing up.

Dave Thompson--‘Get it Right, First Time’

Q Growing up, did you feel your work would be in a

technical field? That seemed to be my interest, though my father wanted me to go into business and enrolled me in a business college for a year. But that wasn’t my desire. At Minnegasco I was hired into Customer Service in 1967 and eventually worked my way up to a master tech position, retiring in 2005.

Q Has the job changed over your years? Greatly. We now repair a vast array of gas appliances, there are

many new gas applications and also we now include electric.

Q What was a priority for you in

your work? Mainly it was “Get it Right the First Time,” avoid a second call to the customer’s home. I enjoyed working with customers. And I also enjoyed mentoring the new repair persons, solving problems together.

Q You have a son at the company. Yes, Jeffrey (Thompson) has 22 years in now. Even before he joined the company, he followed in his car to my jobs and observed the repair work. It got his interest and it was okay with the company.

Q What are your main interests now in retirement? My wife and I spend a lot of time with our five grandchildren, taking videos of their activities and transferring them to CDs, providing something nice to look back on.

Q Do you cook? My wife did all the cooking until I retired. Now I do a lot of it, nothing grand. Maybe my best dish is a pot roast dinner.

Q Do you do any traveling? Not so much. We share a cabin on a lake upstate near Aitkin and go there frequently.

Q Prior to joining the gas company you had some

interesting jobs. Many different and brief ones. As a kid I worked at Kiddy Land rides near the airport. Once I worked in a butcher job and I brewed some suet and onions together—the aroma attracted many customers and sales. I also worked in Dayton’s display department. Briefly I sold American flags on another job and was successful. However, one time a cousin and I were out to sell Encyclopedia Britannica books in a small southern Minnesota town. Unbeknown to us, the town had an ordinance against door-to-door salesmen. We wound up at the local jail and got a talking to.

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Susan Hynes in Mankato ‘She Makes Things Happen’

Playing Roles, Adding Insights, and Helping Keep History Alive

he buff colored limestone Blue Earth Historical Society (BEHS) building on Warren

St. in downtown Mankato lies just a few blocks from Susan Hynes’ residence---and that suits her just fine.

Long before she retired from CNP, Susan had volunteered with the society for several years, including serving on its Board of Directors.

In addition to her efforts with the society, she has volun- teered in many venues where there was a history lesson to be taught---and learned. Susan’s adventures as a skilled enactor “living in the past” have delighted area history buffs and others for many years in a variety of roles.

For Susan, learning more about her country’s history and also local history and then adding insights is a long time passion. “I like historical presentations as they attempt to tell about the way we live,” she notes.

As to her early memories linking up with today, she recalls childhood times when children

dressed up for Halloween parties, and there were treasure hunts,

and for Susan maybe a precursor of things to come. As a youth, she might not have thought much about

Susan as Violet what her future would be, but remembers her father saying: “Susan-- there will always be history.”

Her mother was an English and drama teacher, and some of that flair for the theatrical may have transferred mother-to -daughter. Susan best remembers her niece as sparking her interest in plays as well.

In real life, as a compet- ent seamstress, Susan has created many of her own costumes for her portrayals.

For local programs, she has dressed as many characters including huckster Violet McNeal,

a lady who toured with the medicine shows in the west’s early days, promising all types of cures as a leading pitchman.

Maud Hart Lovelace of Mankato was the author of the popular Betsy-Tacy book series, set at the turn of the 20th century. At the dedication of Hart’s childhood home, Susan played the role of Lovelace. The home is visited by hundreds each year.

“Potions, Powders and Patent Medicine: Women’s Health & Beauty Secrets from the Past” is the title of a presentation Susan first gave a few years ago, ex- plaining how the somewhat primitive medical practices of yesteryear compare to those of today. What did women think would help them be more beau- tiful or help cure their ailments? ; Susan provided the historical review.

Susan has helped in community programs as well. The Boy in Blue project of several years ago was a costly restoration of a statue in the city’s Lincoln Park which honored some 2,500 civil war soldiers from Minnesota who died in the conflict. The statue was installed in 1893, but was taken down in the 1920s for restoration. Susan served on the restoration committee.

BEHS Director Jessica Potter has praise for Susan’s contributions: “The programs she has helped develop have been very important to the society,” says Potter. “I don’t know what we would have done without her. She makes things happen. Her passion for what she does has blossomed over the years. She hasn’t slowed down at all.”

More than a decade ago, Susan wrote a play for the BEHS based upon the death of Holland (continued on page 5)

T

In Susan’s play based on the real life trial in the 1909 Mankato murder

of Howard Ledbetter, she played the role of his wife’s sister, giving

testimony above in Blue Earth County’s court house. Photo courtesy

of the Mankato Free Press

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CNP Establishes Fund for

Employee Help; MARS

Contributes CenterPoint Energy has

donated $300,000 to establish the

CNP employees 1st Fund, in the

wake of Hurricane Harvey which

struck the Houston area in late

August

MARS sent a contribution to the fund, and it will be part of the company’s program of matching contributions up to $200,000.

CNP also donated $1.25 million to support general com- munity wide restoration efforts. Harvey’s damage is estimated to be $190 billion.

“We take pride in lending a helping hand to those in need, which is a core part of our culture,” the company said.

“In addition to helping our employees, we always strive to make a positive differ -ence in the communities that we touch.” ___________________________

MARS Helps Out at Safety Fairs MARS volunteers again staffed the CNP table at the many area community Safety Fairs, primarily held in October. At the tables they passed along mementos and answered inquiries about natural gas safety in the home. Those volunteering included

Susan Hynes----continued

Ledbetter, murdered back in 1909, and the trial is sometimes labeled “Mankato’s Trial of the Century.” She did exhaustive research for the play, and also appeared in the production as Ledbetter’s wife’s sister, Goldie Schwandt (see photo). Center- Point Energy employees Suzanne Hewitt and Julie Jackson were also in the play. “Susan is so very animated and colorful,” says Suzanne. “She told me she was writing this play and wanted me to play the wife, the chief murder suspect. The people liked it. It was an awesome experience.

“Susan is so dedicated, so totally attached to the study of history,” says Suzanne.

At CenterPoint Energy Prior to joining CenterPoint

Energy, Susan had worked with the local South Center Service Cooperative unit, primarily in the organization’s film library. She had earlier attended Mankato

__________________________ Bob Riley, Bill Mord, Terry and Jan Lyman, John and Barb Olinger, Howie and Betty Haeg, Bud and Ethelyn Beiries, Mark Novak, Denis Tadych, John Krause, and Judy McCool (pictured left, below) at the Lakeville Safety Fair on an evening in October that drew a crowd estimated at 500. It was Judy’s third fair.

State University for one year, but chose not to continue. At CNP she served in Mankato’s phone center, first in customer billing and later directly with Home Service Plus scheduling.

“I liked working with customers and so much enjoyed my co-workers,” she says, noting new technology had meant many changes. She retired in 2014 following 17 years of service.

Susan’s CNP retiree friends are also aware of her deep interest in history. ”Susan has a lot of enthusiasm in volunteering with the society. I saw her as an enactor being the Temperance Lady and she was good,” says CNP retiree Elli Fisher.

Tim Pulis, another Mankato area CNP retiree, also volunteers at the society and sometimes crosses paths with Susan. ”She is really into this stuff, “he says. “I have enjoyed her presentations.” What advice has she for someone with a budding interest in local history? “Start with the place where you are at,” she counsels about the basics. “History is about the way we live. Like what people ate back then, where and why they walked. . . . just think of what it meant to come west as the early settlers did, what was it like? such a huge task. “The study of history is gratifying for sure, and it can give you

energy,” Susan has found, “especially when you can interest young persons.”

Susan Hynes She hasn’t slowed down.

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Weeks after Hurricane Irma

Checking in with Retirees in Florida

MARS News checked in with some of the company’s approximately 25 retirees from Minnesota Operations living in Florida or who had winter homes there, inquiring as to how they weathered the powerful hurricane Irma in September that flashed across western Florida.

Bob Compton, Leesberg, FL, and a state resident since he retired in 1985, reports some damage to the trim on his mobile home, and much tree damage in his neighborhood. He spent part of the

time during the hurricane in the local hospital where he was visiting his wife who was recuperating from a broken hip

Don Amundson and his wife live in North Port. 50 miles north of Ft. Myers. After first bringing in extra supplies to ride

out the storm, they later elected to leave town and took a plane to Chicago, convinced the hurricane would cause damage to their home. “It was our first hurricane,” Don said, as the couple were in their residence for just a year. “We returned home five days later to learn, except for some very minor wind damage and area trees down, our home was spared.”

Penny Zaphel, (spouse of deceased retiree Norm Johnson) of Dunellon, said she drove to Georgia to avoid the storm. When she returned she learned of serious damage a few miles away, but her home avoided any destruction.

Tom Meyer and wife Karen have lived in a 9th floor condo in St. Petersburg since 2003, and “get to see some beautiful sunsets.” “We drew the storm shutters down as in other hurricane warnings and rode it out,” says Tom. There was some minor damage to the building’s carports. “I had a reserve of drinking water and food which we wound-up not needing. You need to sign (a waiver) saying you will remain in your home (as your choice).”

Teri Heinecke, also a wintertime resident in St Petersburg, reported her home survived the storm without damage.

Sue and Steve Wilder have a winter home in Grand Island Florida, about 60 miles north of Orlando and report their home escaped damages though others in the community did suffer.

The same for Ron Kubes, also wintering in Fort Myers, and in Crystal, MN, in the summer. He contacted his neighbors and learned his mobile home weathered hurricane with no damage. Barb Blattner and husband Rick winter in Florida, but spend their summers in North Carolina. They

Give Grants Awarded to Five Retirees Five Give Grants were awarded in the third quarter to agencies where Minnesota CNP retirees volunteer. All five retirees who earned the grants are previous recipients, although some grants were for different organizations. The new total is now 12 for 2017, with a quarter yet to be reported. Retirees volunteering for 40 hours or more with a single qualified organization are eligible to apply for the $200 grant to be given by CNP to the organization. So far, CNP has paid about $40,000 in GIVE grants earned by Minnesota retirees since the program began in 2006. Those retirees and the organizations they volunteered with and received grants in the year’s third quarter are: Mark Novak and Elli Fisher, Vine Faith in Action; Dean Senne, Habitat for Humanity, South Central MN; Mike White, CEAP; and Dale Gerdin, Bibles for Mexico Thrift Centers. Retirees are reminded they may enter their volunteer hours through the recently installed web site CenterPointEnergy.com/retirees. In accruing and tabulating their volunteer hours, retirees become eligible to receive various incentive rewards. The schedule to enter hours is below.

2017 Volunteer Rewards Schedule

Quarter Deadline to enter hours

Points deposited into accounts

1st Quarter Mar 31, 2017 Apr 24, 2017

2nd Quarter June 30, 2017 July 24, 2017

3rd Quarter Sep 30, 2017 Oct 24, 2017

4th Quarter Jan 5, 2018 Jan 31, 2018

2017 GIVE Grant Schedule Quarter Application

deadline

Grant

awarded by

1st Quarter Mar 31, 2017 Apr 30, 2017

2nd Quarter June 30, 2017 July 31, 2017

3rd Quarter Sep 30, 2017 Oct 31, 2017

4th Quarter Jan 5, 2018 Jan 31, 2018

______________________________________ also reported no damage to their home located in Naples, along Florida’s west coast.

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At the Employee-Retiree BBQ Cook-off Vice President Minnesota Operations Brad

Tuntunjian (center, left photo) stopped by to view the company memorabilia contributed by attendees and shown by MARS’ Joan Loveday and Bob Riley. Right photo, retiree Ron Olson, knife in hand, is thinking about a pulled pork sandwich from this roasted pig. He got the sandwich and more at the free luncheon in an adjacent building. About 620 people attended the Cook-off held at the Anoka County fairgrounds.

‘I’m An Okie from Muskogee’ That’s the

tune Ron Kubes sang and played on his banjo, part of the entertainment he provided a group of CNP retirees and friends at his annual garage

party in Crystal. Retirees John Kaczmarczyk, Jr. and Pat Lyden (middle) contemplate the upcoming pizza lunch.

About 20 MARS Folks enjoyed a sunny

fall afternoon paddleboat ride down the beautiful St. Croix River in September, among other sites the boat went beneath the new MN Hwy 36 bridge spanning the river. Retirees Paul Carnahan, left, and Paul Bakke were among those to enjoy the short trip and a buffet lunch aboard the boat. Photo by Lowell Benson

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MARS CALENDAR

OF EVENTS + MARS BOARD MEETING

-- 9:30 a.m., Nov 20 & Jan 18,

Linden Bldg. + +

Volunteer Opportunities

with other retirees + Feed My Starving Children-

9:30 a.m. First Wednesday, at Coon Rapids site; Third Wednesday at Eagan site

+ Bridging, Inc. Third Monday

afternoon at Bloomington site;

& Fourth Tuesday afternoon at

Roseville site.

+ Robbinsdale School District

Volunteers in Partnership —

See Cindy Zachmeier for

projects. + +

Social Events

+ Dec 1— noon Holiday Luncheon Bloomington Event Center/ KC Hall, 1144 American Blvd., Bloomington. Social hour at 11 a.m.

Window Kits Packaged About 15 MARS volunt-

eers packaged some 1,200 window energy conservation kits for local agencies to distribute to those families seeking ways to reduce their energy bills. CNP had purchased the kits.

Phone Directory Changes + Ken Johnson—3750 Lawndale

Lane, N, #201, Plymouth, MN 55446

+ Ross Kvittem—29621 Hawkins Ct.,Cannon Falls, MN 55009

Calling All Nordeasters As is custom, former CNP employees who worked at the company’s former north- east warehouse or knew someone who worked there or would like to know someone who worked there, will hold their annual holiday luncheon —this year at the Teppanyaki Grill at I-694 and University Ave., Fridley, starting at 11:30 a.m. THURSDAY NOV. 16. For more details you may contact Lowell Benson 763-545-3668.

July---Sally Gleason, 38 yrs;

Sheldon Johnson, 41 yrs;

Dianne Kay, 33 yrs; and

Thomas White, 45 yrs.

Oct-Thomas Henning, 40 yrs.

In Memoriam

(Listed below are

retirees or their surviving

spouses whose deaths have

been made known since the last

MARS News.)

Aug-Thomas Eidem; Clayton

Singer; and David Zaworski.

Sep- Arthur Kittleson; and Fred

Atkinson

Oct- Richard Steele

________________________________________________________________________________________________

MARS/Retiree Holiday Luncheon Dec 1, 2017

Count on me, I’ll be there Name_______________________________________ Guest (s) ________________________________________ Telephone ______________________________________ My entree’ choice(s)---

+ Chicken w/ wine source $14.00 x # of meals = _____ + Tilapia/w baked potato $14.75 x # of meals = _____ + Prime Rib/w baked potato $17.50 x # of meals = _____ Total----------------------------------------------- $ ______

Make checks payable to MARS and mail to:

Bev Maas 6308 Douglas Drive Brooklyn Park, MN 55429

Reservation deadline is Nov 20 Sorry, no refunds after Nov 20 Questions? Call Bev Maas: 763-504-9331

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