CERC

P.O. Box 58

Warren, M I 48090

CERC SITE: CECRETIREE.COM

Send to:

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OCTOBER ELECTION RESULTS

THERE WERE NO NOMINATIONS OR VOLUNTEERS FOR POSITIONS

AS CERC OFFICERS OR COMMITTEE HEADS—NO CHANGES

LUNCHEON SCHEDULE FOR 2012

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2012

TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2012

TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 2012

TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012

(CANDIDATES FOR OFFICES)

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 09, 2012

(ELECTION OF OFFICERS)

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2012

(CHRISTMAS PARTY)

LUNCHEON GUESTS ARE WELCOME

NORMAL $12 COST, PER PERSON

2012 DUES OF $15 ARE PAYABLE

NOW, UNTIL FEBRUARY 28, 2012

GOLF SHIRT WINNERS:

THERE WAS NO GOLF

SHIRT DRAWING

50-50 RAFFLE WINNERS

1ST - RON LOCH

2ND - VINCE LAURO

3RD - DARRELL PAWLOWSKI

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CERC BOARD MEETING MINUTES

October 11, 2011

This was the 108th luncheon at the Gazebo and the board meeting was called to order by President Gil Opaleski at 1:21 pm. In attendance were Gil Opaleski, Ed Verduin, Dick Verduyn, Ray Culbertson, Joe Orlando, Mal Han-son, Darrell Pawlowski, Tom Zebehazy, Marion Teske, Nancy Bernhardt and Alan Thebert. The minutes for August 9, 2011 were accepted as published in the October Companion. Old Business: The subject of increasing member-ship was discussed and Gil presented data from our GM Retiree rep, Marsha Hall-Jenkins, that showed our club as being one of the largest. After a short discussion, it was agreed that we would try to locate CEC people that have not joined or don’t know about our club. A suggestion was made about con-tacting the retired executives. Marion Teske said she would talk with Elaine Starczyk who has e-mail addresses for many retirees. It was also suggested that a note be put in the Companion asking our members to contact CEC retirees they know that are not members. New Business: Nancy Bernhardt and Marion Teske presented details for the Christmas Party. The cost will remain at $25.00 per person and an increase of $.50 for salmon will be absorbed by the club. Nancy made up a flyer for the party that will be published in the Companion and on the website. Arrange-ments are pretty much the same as last year. The room is limited to the first 140 people that send in their reservation. Other New Business: A donation of $200.00 to the “Comfort Items for the Vets” was approved to provide items the Vets have a hard time getting (toothpaste, shampoo, shaving cream, etc.). Vice President: Ed Verduin presented a letter for approval that outlines the history and purpose of the Chevrolet Engineering Retirees Club. The letter will be put on CERC letterhead and sent to Marsha Hall-Jenkins over Ed’s signature. Ed also presented the luncheon schedule for next year. The dates are Feb-ruary 14, April 10, June 12, August 14, October 9 and December 11 for the Christmas Party.

Secretary: Pat Carollo was absent due to an opera-tion to have his gall bladder removed. Treasurer: Dick Verduyn reported a beginning bal-ance of $9,262.83, disbursements of $2,901.80, and deposits of $3,177.00 for an ending balance of $9,538.03. This was part of an 8-page report. Companion Editor: Darrell Pawlowski has now ful-ly assumed the editors job. He will be publishing the December Companion and has it already underway. He requested information from anyone for inclusion in the newsletter. He also asked whether he should publish address changes in the Companion and the

answer was ‘yes.’

Luncheon: Ray Culbertson presented his report for the October luncheon. The luncheon had 120 prepaid and 12 Complimentary lunches with 10 more paying at the door and 6 ‘paid but no nametag’ for an ex-pected attendance of 132. There were 14 no-shows; 136 dinners were served. Membership: Joe Orlando reported that from August 9 till October 11, the membership stayed the same at 537 members. Store: Mal Hanson presented his inventory report and indicated that the twenty hats he ordered have not yet come in. When he receives them, they will sell for $8.00 each. Christmas Party: Nancy Bernhardt and Marion Tes-ke gave their report under new business. Golf Outing: Jack Braden wasn’t present but the last outing was held on October 14. When the 2012 schedule is available, it will be published in the Com-panion and on the website. Webmaster: Tom Zebehazy reported that between August 8 and October 11 there were 414 visits to our website. The online membership directory is up to date with Joe Orlando’s directory. Tom sent out 80 e-mails with electronic copies of the Companion. An e-mail list of those not receiving an electronic copy will be created to see if we can increase our electron-ic distribution. The meeting was adjourned at 3:04 pm. Submitted by

Tom Zebehazy for Pat Carollo, Secretary

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DATES TO REMEMBER

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8 —ELECTION DAY — EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11 —VETERANS DAY — PLEASE HONOR OUR VETERANS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7 — PEARL HARBOR DAY

From the Editor

The “COMPANION” welcomes and en-courages input from the CERC mem-bers. So feel free to make suggestions about the content of the “COMPANION” or submit and request that we publish items you feel are important and relevant to our members.

Editor’s notes on photos:

• Photo credits go to Don Hoffman, and Dick

Verduyn.

• Many available photos, by the two photogra-

phers, were near duplicates, so may appear

showing the same CERC members.

• For the same reason, many of the attendees

were not photoed or not depicted in this is-

sue.

• Photo choice for selection here is in part

based on visibility of name tag, preferably

worn near shoulder, and unobstructed.

ADDRESS CHANGES: LILLIAN ANDERSON 2250 N. CANTON CENTER RD., APT.322 CANTON, MI 48187 PHONE: 734-392-7626 DONALD & BARBARA COURTLEY 12209 PRESTON LANDING WAY KNOXVILLE, TN 37922 dbc203@charter.net GARY & KATHY JOHNSON 21844 S 215th PLACE QUEEN CREEK, AZ 85142 PHONE 480-284-7660 RICHARD E. MARSHALL 12820 WATERFORD CIRCLE, APT. 123 FORT MYERS, FL 33919 CELL 239-560-3941 ROBERT & EDITH NELSON 1729 VINEWOOD DRIVE BOWLING GREEN, KY 42103 PHONE 270-202-3226 ALAN & LIZ THEBERT 1588 MILLECOQUINS CT. ROCHESTER , MI 48307-6032 PHONE 248-841-1515 CELL 586-823-8908 althebert@comcast.net

MEMBER CONTACT CHANGES

E-MAIL ADDRESS CORRECTIONS/CHANGES:

DON & ANNA GILL donaldgill240@comcast.net MARY ANN & ARNOLD KENNEDY mkakpnev@cmaaccess.com JOE ORLANDO jporlando73@gmail.com

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AL & LIZ THEBERT

DAVE DOLBY, CARLOTTA AURELIA, ED VERDUIN

GERRI LEASH, DIANE SUHY PAT SUHY

GIL OPALESKI, ED RZEPECKI, MIKE LEASH TOM SIMPSON

ON BEHALF OF ALL OF THE

MEMBERS OF THE CERC, THE

ELECTED BOARD THANKS ALAN

THEBERT (AND OF COURSE LIZ)

FOR HIS 4 YEARS OF

DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE CLUB

AS EDITOR OF THE “COMPANION”

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CHUCK COMBS RALPH EIKAMP ED RZEPECKI

CARL VOGEL ALEX NICHOLS

WARREN GALBRAITH MIKE NELSON BILL VRATANIMA

LINN PETERSON VERN BROWN DON BORUS ED PAULY

LARRY LANG & JACK AURELIA DWIGHT BLISS NORM SHOLLER CAROL HOOD

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SOME HUMOR FROM THE EDITOR:

Hollywood Squares – Long ago:

These great questions and answers are from the days when ' Hollywood Squares',

game show responses were spontaneous and not scripted. Peter Marshall was the

host asking the questions, of course.

Q. Do female frogs croak?

A. Paul Lynde: If you hold their little heads under water long enough.

Q. If you're going to make a parachute jump, at least how high should you be

A. Charley Weaver: Three days of steady drinking should do it.

Q. True or False, a pea can last as long as 5,000 years?

A. George Gobel: Boy, it sure seems that way sometimes.

Q. You've been having trouble going to sleep. Are you probably a man or a woman?

A. Don Knotts: That's what's been keeping me awake.

Q. According to Cosmopolitan, if you meet a stranger at a party and you think that he is attractive,

is it okay to come out and ask him if he's married?

A. Rose Marie: No wait until morning.

Q. Which of your five senses tends to diminish as you get older?

A. Charley Weaver: My sense of decency.

Q. In Hawaiian, does it take more than three words to say 'I Love You'?

A. Vincent Price: No, you can say it with a pineapple and a twenty.

Q. What are 'Do It,' 'I Can Help,' and 'I Can't Get Enough'?

A. George Gobel: I don't know, but it's coming from the next apartment.

Q. As you grow older, do you tend to gesture more or less with your hands while talking?

A. Rose Marie: You ask me one more growing old question Peter, and I'll give you a gesture you'll nev-

er forget.

Q. Paul, why do Hell's Angels wear leather?

A. Paul Lynde: Because chiffon wrinkles too easily.

Q. Charley, you've just decided to grow strawberries. Are you going to get any during the first year?

A. Charley Weaver: Of course not, I'm too busy growing strawberries.

Q. In bowling, what's a perfect score?

A. Rose Marie: Ralph, the pin boy.

Q. It is considered in bad taste to discuss two subjects at nudist camps.. One is politics, what is the other?

A. Paul Lynde: Tape measures..

Q. During a tornado, are you safer in the bedroom or in the closet?

A. Rose Marie: Unfortunately Peter, I'm always safe in the bedroom.

Q. Can boys join the Camp Fire Girls?

A. Marty Allen: Only after lights out.

�� ����� �� �� ����� ���� � �� ���� ����

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FROM THE CERC BOARD

WE CURRENTLY HAVE 83 CERC MEMBERS SIGNED UP FOR ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTION OF THE “COMPANION” OUT

OF A MEMBERSHIP OF 537 CONSIDER REQUESTING YOUR COPY OF THE “COMPANION”

ELECTRONICALLY ADVANTAGES ARE THAT YOU CAN DOWN LOAD IT IN COLOR,

IT SAVES THE CLUB MAILING COSTS AND SAVES IN THE LABOR TO FOLD, ADDRESS AND STAMP INDIVIDUAL COPIES

DIANA CROMIE NANCY BERNHARDT JOAN KACZOROWSKI

LOUIS GERVAIS, BOB GERVAIS DAVE MARTENS

JOHN JURIGA GINO DiPACE CARL VOGEL AL BUSACCA RICH DeCOOK JOE NAZIONE

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The following is from Roy Midgley—A tribute to the life of Jack Golding

AN ENGINEER WITH A BROAD VIEW OF LIFE May 10, 1926 - October 3, 2011 Jack Golding went well beyond his 38 year engineering career at Chevrolet Engineering and found success and

friends thru a balanced and comfortable devotion to whatever he did – home and family, military service, automo-

tive engineer, musician, sport participant, and small business owner. He did each of these with an overriding enjoy-

ment of people, sense of humor and forthright honesty. Born in Kokomo, Indiana, Jack came to Michigan at twelve years of age and completed his education at Cass Tech

High School in Detroit and engineering studies at Lawrence Tech with an Associate Degree in engineering from ICS

College. According to his wife Cherryl, they were married (over the objections of her mother) in 1945 and promptly

left for the US Navy at Quonset Point, Rhode Island where she worked as a civilian and Jack achieved the rank of

Aviation Machinists Mate. In 1947 they returned to Michigan and Chevy and grew a family of three children

(Becky, Steven, and Nancy) and settled in two different Livonia homes until moving to Rochester in 1961. Jack was a true believer in: “what ever needed to be done in home or in business, there was someone at Chevrolet

Engineering who knew how to do it”. True to that axiom and his own career as a design engineer, he designed and

maintained his last two homes himself – the first in Rochester, MI and the other in Fountain Hills, Arizona (1987).

My family and many others celebrated nearly annual events at their backyard pool and around the living room pi-

ano in Rochester. And in Arizona we continued the gatherings in the Golding designed breakfast nook turned card

playing room, and at the living room bar on the “Jack-made” bar stools with the Jim Yevtich’s . When winter sent

CERC members, tennis players and other snow birds to the south and west, the Golding, Benzinger, Mertz and Yev-

tich families were the welcoming hosts and hostesses. We have had a hot time with great memories of Arizona. Engines and chassis were Jacks specialty, starting with the “Blue Flame” L-6 and the “small block” V-8 in the early

50s. He was among the engineers who 40 years later received a Special Achievement awarded from the Performance

Racing Industry for their work on that venerable V-8 design. In the late 50s and early 60s, in an “auditorium con-

verted to design room”, he was a design leader on the all-aluminum/air cooled Corvair (horizontally opposed 6 cyl.)

engine and that too received national notoriety and remains a unique “collector favorite” from the Chevrolet past.

He subsequently moved to the Corvette vehicle group as an engine and cooling engineer under Zora-Arkus-Duntov,

then to other chassis and vehicle assignments until retirement in 1982 with contract work at Truck and Bus for an-

other five years. While sport and extra-curricular activities seem unrelated to Chevrolets technical success it certainly qualifies as

part of the glue that bound together the many departments and people of a very large organization. The annual

Christmas and Halloween parties, the golf league, the bowling league and an early love of soft-ball, helped Jack

“seem to know everybody” and to work with them on a daily basis. On a completely different “note” his contacts

and accomplishments were also expanded thru a love of music. He played piano, clarinet, and even some banjo and

accordion, but his real mastery was singing with Barber Shop quartets and chorus’ like Michigan State regional

champions, “Pitch Blenders” and “The Staff Sargents”. Even tennis, which he never played until his 45th year,

turned out to be a life long passion when he and three others from the Rochester community built an indoor tennis

club in Rochester Hills, MI in 1972. It is difficult, maybe impossible, to capture the essence of any life in a few paragraphs, but it seems important to at

least record the broad, significant and sometimes unknown influence that each of us has in living a vital life. For me,

Jack Golding was an outstanding example. Roy Midgley October 13, 2011

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PHOTO OF TOM DANIELS, AT THE

REQUEST OF GIL OPALESKI, SHOWING

OFF THE CERC GOLF SHIRT HE WON

AT THE JUNE LUNCHEON

(THE CERC BOARD REQUESTS THAT OUT

OF TOWN WINNERS SUBMIT A PHOTO -

A GOOD WAY TO KEEP IN TOUCH)

FROM AL THEBERT:

At the August luncheon, Darrell Pawlowski volunteered to take over from me as Editor of the CERC Companion Newsletter. A day or so later, I received an e-mail from Diane Roberts, also offering to edit the Companion. Diane explained to me that she is the daughter of CERC member BOB GERVAIS, had worked at CEC for Al Bederka (electrical design) in the ‘80’s, and has edited automotive operation manuals. She has often read her dad’s copy of the Companion to stay in touch with CEC retirees. As parish secretary of two Traverse City area Catholic churches, she composes, edits and publishes weekly bulletins and other documents, using Microsoft’s Office Publisher software.

I called Diane to express my appreciation of her generous offer and to advise her that a current retiree mem-ber, Darrell, had just accepted Companion editorship. Her gracious offer, however, deserves recognition and thanks, which I hereby extend to her.

Thank you Diane,

Alan Thebert

FROM THE CERC BOARD

THE BOARD HAS HAD DISCUSSION REGARDING INCREASING THE MEMBER-

SHIP OF THE CLUB (PLEASE SEE MEETING MINUTES ON PAGE 3). WE FEEL THAT THERE ARE MANY ELIGIBLE RETIRED EX-CHEVROLET ENGINEERING EMPLOYES THAT ARE NOT EVEN AWARE OF OUR EXISTANCE. WE ARE EN-

COURAGING OUR MEMBERS TO CONTACT ANYONE THEY KNOW THAT MAY BE INTERESTED IN JOINING THE CERC

11

The following is from Ralph Tredway, regarding former Executive Secretary Barb Shirey’s husband, forwarded by Elaine Starzek at GM: “Barb Shirey’s husband , Jim, died suddenly on Thursday, September 22. The cause of death was not known but Barb thought it might be related to his diabetes. He had golfed on that Sunday and Bowled on Monday but became ill on Wednesday and was taken to the hospital where he died.” “Perhaps you can share this info with friends who worked with Barb.” Mrs. Shirey’s address is: Barbara Shirey 17636 SE 88th Covington Circle The Villages, FL 32162-0868

The following is from Milt Freivogel, forwarded by Pat Carollo: “WAS GREAT TO SEE THAT GENE WON IN THE 50-50 RAFFLE (Gene Gramzy- 3rd place in the June Raffle), HOPE ALL IS WELL WITH THE REST OF THE POOL CREW. MY WIFE HAD A BAD START TO 2011 AND PASSED AWAY ON APRIL 22, GOOD FRIDAY. I AM DOING OK IN OUR INDEPENDENT LIVING APARTMENT AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE ACTIVITIES OFFERED. TELL ALL HELLO!” MILT FREIVOGEL

For those that are not aware, Fred Schaafsma has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. The following was provided by Mike Sheehan: UPDATE ON 9/13/2011 “Fred Schaafsma was diagnosed with a brain tumor on Friday, September 9, at Munson Hospital in Trav-erse City. The family has had to make some quick decisions, and it is our understanding that he has been transferred to the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor for further treatment.” “Fred’s daughter has set up a “CaringBridge website for him, to provide the current status daily and to pass on a message to Fred if so desired. To connect to the site, type services@caringbridge.org and follow with “Fred Shaafsma”. You will be asked to also submit your E-mail address and a password to enter.”

Tom Zebahazy has added this information and the link to the “CaringBridge” site to the CERC Web site

LOUIS LOWRAN AS WE WERE GOING TO PRESS, WE WERE ADVISED THAT LOUIS LOWRAN PASSED AWAY ON MAY 11. ARRANGEMENTS WERE HANDLED BY THE DESMOND FUNERAL HOME. WE HAVE NO FURTHER INFORMATION.

12

TOM BRENDER DALE PASCOE DALE PASCOE BILLY CLARK BILL WEIDE

RON MARENTETTE JIM LeBEAU BOB ROTH CARL DOBRZYNSKI

JERRY BOZANN RAY CULBERTSON

ELLEN & DICK VERDUYN ED VERDUIN

13

JOE ORLANDO DAVE WEBSTER JOHN BRETZ LARRY MARSHICK

(STANDING) CHET MARLIN DAVE & CARMEL WIEGAN (SEATED) LENNIE MARLIN IDA LUCIDO

WAYNE MILLER JOE BURKE SAM LUCIDO TOM HILL

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MARION TESKE ROY CULBERTSON NANCY BERNHARDT

ED VERDUIN WAYNE MILLER EL PRESIDENTE

LYDIA COMBS MARION TESKE CAROL HOOD

GENE BABCOCK BOB NELSON PAUL HUZZARD

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RICK ZALAR GIB HUFSTADER DON BURRY

MARIE & MAL HANSON ALAN & LIZ THEBERT

KEN HEWITT GENE GRAMZY BOB ROTH CARL DOBRZYNSKI BILL PETERS

ED SOBCZAK ERNIE KRACHT CARL DIEGEL ED VERDUIN ED KACZOROWSKI

GIB HUFSTADER, WERNER BAUMGARTNER

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(STANDING—LEFT TO RIGHT) JOE KONWINSKI, ED RZEPECKI, RAY KRUPA, CARL VOGEL

(SEATED) JOE MANIERSKI, TOM SIMPSON, TERRY DOWHAN

BETHANY BRADEN JACK BRADEN JOHN JURIGA LEO DEMERS

A GOOD LOOKING CROWD!

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CERC CHRISTMAS PARTY

Tuesday, December 13th, 2011 At the Gazebo, 13 Mile & Mound Road

Doors open at 11:00 AM (to 4:00 PM)

Open Bar – 11:30 to 2:30 Music by Wally Duda: Dining and Dancing

Buffet Dinner Service at 12 Noon

$25.00 per person

MENU

Swedish Meatballs w/Egg Noodles Roasted Salmon w/Sundried Tomato Cream Topping

Chicken Supreme – Boneless Filet w/Parmesan Green Beans Almandine Roasted Anna Potatoes

Salad

Huge Christmas Raffle

RESERVATIONS DUE: November 25, 2011 NO REFUND AFTER: November 26, 2011

Return of Deposit or Cancellation must be made By November 26, 2011

Checks Payable to: CERC

P.O. BOX 58 WARREN MI 48090

There will be no advance table reservations

Overflow parking use PNC Bank lot, 1st. drive N. of Gazebo

THE CERC PARTY IS LIMITED TO 140 PERSONS RESERVATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE LIMIT WILL BE PLACED ON STAND-BY

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2011 CERC OFFICERS

President Vice President Gil Opaleski Rev. Ed Verduin 4789Lorwood Dr. 28076 Palomino Ave. Smiths Creek, MI 48074 Warren, MI 48093 810 989-2564 586 558-4519 opaleski401@comcast.net reveddievee@wowway.com Treasurer Secretary Dick Verduyn Pat Carollo 41841 Pond View Dr. 14243 Lakeshore Sterling Hts., MI 48314 Sterling Hts., MI 48313 586 739-4488 586 247-4477 verduyn@aol.com patcarollo@wowway.com

2011 COMMITTEES

Companion Editor Webmaster Darrell Pawlowski Tom Zebehazy 54018 Surfside Dr. 3364 W. York Ct. Shelby Twp., MI 48315 Rochester, MI 48306-1470 248 652-1902 248 370-0797 ddpawlowski@sbcglobal.net tomzeb2@aol.com Luncheon Store Sales Ray Culbertson Mal Hanson 44117 Dylan 30151 Barbary Ct. Sterling Hts., MI 48314 Warren, MI 48093 586 323-1292 586 751-0865 rayandrosetta@comcast.net hansonm9@comcast.net Golf Outing Membership Jack Braden Joe Orlando 876 Edgemont Park 2057 Shady Dr. GrosPte. Park, MI 48230 Warren, MI 48092 586 786-0572 586 751-8592 jporlando@att.net Menu & 50/50 Raffle 50/50 Raffle Carlotta Aurelia Dave Dolby 258 Beechview Dr. S 1835 Spring Grove Dr. Rochester, MI 48306 Blmfld Hills, MI 48304 248 651-7709 248 853-5963 jaurelia@sbcglobal.net davidadolby@aol.com Christmas Party GM Retiree Relations Nancy Bernhardt Marcia Hall-Jenkins 2407 Sweet Dr GM Comm. 300 Ren. Cen. Troy, MI 48085-6712 MC: 482-C29-824 248 879-0814 Detroit, MI300 gnbernhardt@wowway.com 313 665-2137

NEXT CERC LUNCHEON:

THE ANNUAL CERC

CHRISTMAS PARTY

DECEMBER

PLEASE SEE PARTY

FLYER IN THIS ISSUE

FOR DETAILS

CERC MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

Name:_______________________________ Spouse:____________________________________ Street:_____________________________________ City:______________________________________ State:________Zip Code:_____________________ Phone:____________________________________ Email:____________________________________ NOTE If you change your mailing address seasonal-ly, YOU must so advise your own local U.S. Post Of-fice to forward mail. Also advise CERC via Joe Or-lando of any other contact info updates, to CERC, P.O. Box 58, Warren, MI 48090 CEC / GM WORK INFO (briefly, CEC Dept, etc.) _________________________________________ __________________________Yr. Retired______ DUES: $15 To be paid annually, by 28FE, by check to CERC Dues, Box 58, Warren, MI 48090.