ASSOCIATION NEWS CONTACT 4 good… but visiting is much better Global economic crisis or credit crunch, call it what you will but these are uncertain times in which older people often need the sort of personal contact the Reckitt Benckiser Pensioners’ Association, continuing a long tradition, was set up to provide. The very title of this newsletter, That gives us a lot of interesting, chosen by members, crystallises often fascinating, information but in the objective but the most effective many cases it is clear the opportunity method remains the original one, to reminisce is being thoroughly also summed up in a single word enjoyed at the other end. Even so, – visiting. Ideally in person, but it’s still better face to face. sometimes just via the telephone or If you would like to consider taking even, in this digital age, through an up this worthwhile and satisfying exchange of e-mails. service contact your appropriate Last year we made contact with regional visitor co-ordinator: nearly 1,000 of our older members, Alistair Stewart on 01553 671462 (eastern) some by telephone but the great Phil Mayor on 01482 862563 (northern) majority by visiting. We would like Tony Swell on 01189 691390 (southern) to do more but we are constrained by the number of our visitors, which or email: contact@nilspin.com has fallen over the years. The Pension Fund annual update magazine (pictured) was sent out with the last issue of Contact (No.42) and if, for any reason, you did not receive a copy please ask Pensions Department to send you one as it is a useful source of information and reference. In addition to the Fund value and membership details it explains the difference between the Defined Contribution Section, which most current employees have joined, and the Defined Benefit Section (also known as a Final Salary Scheme) which most of our 4,000 readers were in. Retirees joining the RB Pensioners’ Association now can come from both sections, but numbers from the Defined Contribution Section will obviously increase in the years ahead. Spirit of community In the spirit of community which difficult times always re-awaken in this country the committee is appealing for more volunteers to visit former colleagues. In the eastern and northern regions we badly need more around Norwich and Hull. In the southern region we could do with more in the Milton Keynes, Uxbridge and Middlesex areas as well as Kent and south east London. It can be very rewarding in human relations terms. Most of the calls we get at Contact are linked to what we have published. Committee election In the election held through the last issue of Contact, 72 members voted, including 12 by email. The votes were cast as follows: Brian Bradley 38; Freddie George 54; Kevin O’Berg 61; and Dougie Rowe 27. Brian, Freddie and Kevin were therefore elected to serve for three years from January 1, 2009, so the committee is now at full strength, consisting of those three and the visitor co-ordinators listed above plus Ken Cole (Chairman), David Saltmarsh (Secretary) and Audrey Beaulieu (eastern). Pension Fund trustees The Pension Council representing the current employees nominates two of the seven Pension Fund trustees and our Association nominates one. Ivor Jones, who headed up the Group Pensions Department in Hull before he retired, continues as our trustee. Ivor helped found the Pensioners’ Association in 1994. To report changes of address, deaths of members and for general enquiries write to The Reckitt Benckiser Pension Fund , c/o Pensions Department, Reckitt Benckiser plc, Dansom Lane, Hull HU8 7DS. The department is headed by UK Pensions Manager Tim Wood assisted by Senior Pensions Administrators Debra Wardill and Carol Irvin and Pensions Administrator Teresa Gould. Telephone 01482 326151. E-mail: hull.pensions@reckittbenckiser. com. Make your own visit - to a get-together There’s fresh news and memories and always plenty to talk about at our gettogethers, so make a note of the forthcoming dates: Northern Region will meet at The Goodfellowship in Cottingham Road at 11 am on: Tuesday March 31, 2009 Contact: Phil Mayor Tel: 01482 862563 Derby also has an 11am start at The Orangery, Markeaton Park on: Tuesday April 21, 2009 Tuesday September 29, 2009 Contact: Brian Bradley Tel: 01526 321575 Eastern Region meetings at the White Horse, Trowse at 10.30am on: Tuesday April 14, 2009 Tuesday July 14, 2009 Tuesday October 13, 2009 Contact: Ken Herbert Tel: 01379 852854 Page 2 iCONTACT February 2009 previous page next page