President's Wire By John Basech

A year ago at this time, RABO had just concluded an important commitment in terms of time and talent to making sure our fellow retirees knew, understood and complied with CSX’s rules and procedures that were involved in migrating to a new health care provider, Extend Health. Because all eligible retirees or their survivors were required to respond to the solicitation, RABO worked closely with CSX’s Benefit Department, particularly Michelle Mullen, to make sure all of our members, particularly the widows, were located, contacted and responded.

We spent some quality time with Mike Ward. He kindly agreed to talk to the Jacksonville Division at their Christmas luncheon in both 2010 and 2011. In Baltimore, seventeen of us attended a luncheon at the Baltimore Museum of Industry in June when Mike Ward was presented with the William Donald Schaefer Industrialist of the Year Award for 2011

Continuing a tradition started in 2010, RABO Baltimore Division met at the B&O Railroad Museum in July.  For the second year, this meeting was the most attended RABO event. Seventy-three people came and enjoyed a tour of the museum, train rides and a picnic lunch prepared with care and kindness by the RABO ladies. Their voluntary efforts have made it possible for RABO to help to defray the costs of the regular activities such as the crab cake luncheon, the reunion and to contribute a small subsidy for the monthly luncheons.

Nationwide, RABO now stands at 457 members. In 2011, we elected 36 new members. We awarded six retirees a Gold Watch Certificate for attaining 90 years of age.  Fifteen RABO members have died in 2011.

RABO Baltimore maintained a very active social calendar in addition to the special luncheons.  There were informal monthly dinners at a Cockeysville restaurant, visits to Friendly Farm and a pleasant trip to Cumberland to ride the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad from Cumberland to Frostburg.

RABO Jacksonville goes from strength to strength.  When they first started holding meetings in 2006, they had 35 members or approximately 10% of RABO.  Now there are 122 members in northern Florida, which is 27.5 % of RABO.  Attendance at RABO quarterly meetings averages about 45 people.  There were 89 members and guests in attendance at the Christmas Party, including members of the Tom Rice Group, another retiree group in the CSX family.

The nominations committee returned the same slate of officers to serve in 2012 and our various committee chairs have generously agreed to continue.  The Executive Committee works hard to make the meetings and the activities the good times that they are.  They deserve our heartfelt thanks for the work they do.

The RABO News & Notes keeps getting better and better.  Ray Lichty and his able assistants, Frank Dewey, Norm Murphy and Harry Rodman, do a wonderful job in turning out a very professional product.  There are a number of good articles in this issue which deserve your attention.

To all of you and your families, best wishes for good health, peace and friendship in 2012.  Thank you for supporting RABO.