President’s Letter
'IT TAKES A VILLAGE.' My Association team has made many significant accomplishments
This is my final Encore "President's Letter." It has been an honor and privilege to serve as the Association's President and to lead the team who represent all members of the Chevron Retirees Association.
We have enjoyed many significant accomplishments during the last two years. Our dues-paying membership has increased over 20 percent. We have our own Dental Plan. Countless numbers of retirees have been helped in resolving varied individual pension and health-care insurance problems. Communications to our retirees have improved dramatically. And Chevron has recognized the value of utilizing its loyal retirees as ambassadors in its Advocacy Programs.
A key achievement, driven by our membership increase, is that more retirees are enjoying continued fellowship with the people they spent so many years working with - due to making new friends at Chapter luncheons and social events.
Naturally, while I am pleased such accomplishments have occurred during my presidency, I did not do it alone. Although I must profess to being a Conservative Republican, I felt it appropriate to borrow the idea from Hillary Clinton that "It takes a village."
First, I thank the unsung heroes of CRA leadership: our Secretary, Mary Lou Baugher, and Treasurer Merle Hufford. Their commitments and contributions have been invaluable to me personally and to the entire Association.
Al Horan, the Benefits Committee Chair, led the charge to design and implement the Dental Plan. His contributions to that effort were extraordinary.
Maree "MJ" Stone, the Communications Committee Chair, continued her service with a long list of accomplishments, a result of her tireless efforts and a commitment to excellence. This was done while serving as her local Chapter President and the Registrar for our recent Annual Business Meeting.
Then there are Budget and Finance Committee Chair Tom Boaz and Demographics Committee Chair Glenn Dutton, both of whom did outstanding jobs in providing us with the necessary tools to run CRA operations.
Ken Smith, the Planning & Research Committee Chair, together with committee members Dorothy Black and Clyde Crittenden, deserve special mention for recommending solutions and programs to resolve new problems facing our CRA.
Skip Rhodes, who did a terrific job as Public Affairs Committee Chair, has been the catalyst in organizing our membership as advocates to support Chevron in the community - both state and nationally.
Nominating Chair and Immediate Past President Bill Leney has excelled in developing candidates for the Association's many appointed committees and officer jobs as well as candidates for CRA President. I thank him, too, for his general counsel and support during the transition from his presidency to mine.
Thanks also go to Past Presidents, Area Vice Presidents and Bill Mather, Area Vice President of the Unaffiliated Area (those retirees not living close to an existing Chapter) for helping me in every facet of leading the Association. Finally, I am indebted to every Chapter President for their hard work. Our chapters is what the CRA is all about.
I have invested countless hours for two years addressing the multiple challenges of leading the CRA and have had an incredible return on my investment. I have made many dear friends and believe we have helped many, many retirees. But we will continue to face ongoing demands in the areas of health care and their personal finances. Although the CRA won't be able to solve everyone's needs - we sure are going to make a major dent in them.
Now I look forward to supporting our new Association President, Ernie Breaux, and his team. I have great confidence in their ability and dedication in continuing to move the CRA forward to meet the common goals of our Chapters and retirees.
Warmest regards, as always,
Charlie Rhoads
2113 Briarglen Drive,
Houston, TX 77027
(713) 871-0224
crhoads@therhoadsgroup.net07/09
