Tis’ the Season?

Consider these headlines from Thanksgiving weekend:

Crazed Shoppers Stampede at Target
Marine Stabbed at Best Buy
Mall Food Court Placed on Lockdown
Shopper Arrested After Cutting In Line
Woman Busted After Gun Threat At Toy Store

This year Black Friday started at 10pm the night before at Toys “R” Us. The “official” start was later at Wal-Mart (midnight), followed by virtually every other store in the country. Parking lots were so full they were a stylistic blend of commuter parking, yard sale shopping, and used car sales.

Thankfully, all of this doesn’t actually symbolize the reason for the season.

We have an opportunity to be more reflective, to consider the relationships that sustain us, the things that bring joy into our lives, and the opportunities to be thankful for. As we look beyond the images of roasted turkeys and foil-wrapped presents, it is obvious we have more important concerns.

Amid the hustle and bustle of the season, take time to reflect not just what’s on sale, but on what we have and hold dear. Only then can we really appreciate the real reason for the season.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Robert Ferguson, President

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Mark your calendars for Tuesday, September 7th!

Mark your calendars! Our next luncheon is on Tuesday, September 7th (the day after Labor Day). The place is Ryan's in Marion, and the time is noon. The only cost is your own lunch, unless you can talk a friend into picking up the tab.

You have one additional assignment before you come. Tell other retirees about our luncheon! We have 116 addresses on file so far, having added (and corrected) 20+ since our meeting in May. Even so, it's very possible we haven't been able to locate some of the friends you worked with. Bring them so we can put their address on our list.

See you on September 7th!

Robert Ferguson, President

Summertime!

Hello Summer!

OK, we've used that line before, but it is still valid. The weather is hot and steamy, we're between those special holidays of Memorial Day and Labor Day, and we're enjoying every fair and festival in the area.

We had a great attendance at our May luncheon, renewing friendships and retelling favorite stories. There are a few more photos for the slide show, so be sure to give them a look. Many of us also took Warden Beightler up on her invitation to MCI's Service Awards Ceremony on May 5th. We were warmly greeted for the ceremony in the Chapel. Our group was recognized for our on-going commitment to the institution, as well as our years of service. It was quite an event, and the invitation was extended for next years ceremony. Did I mention there was a free lunch too?

Speaking of future ceremonies, our next luncheon is scheduled for Tuesday, September 7th. We will again meet at Ryan's in Marion, @ noon. We continue to experience difficulty with both email and snail-mail addresses, and have limited resources to research them. So, if you know of a fellow retiree make sure to invite them. Or let us know how to contact them.

We have been working to improve our web site since its inception. Slide shows and links to sites of interest have been the most requested items. Thankfully they were also the easiest to accomplish. To these we've added two.

The first is a listing of former MCI employees who have passed away. We add all such listings made known to us, but are hampered by a lack of information sources. If you know of a listing which should be added, please inform us.

The second is a list of the Wardens of Marion Correctional. Through the efforts and resources of PNN we've obtained photos of all six of MCI's Wardens. The link to this page is located on the left, entitled "MCI Wardens". At this time there is the barest of captions for the six photos. We hope to enlarge on the information provided, but need your help to do so. If you know their dates of service, notable achievements, and the path each took to arrive at MCI, we'd like to hear from you.

That's all we have for now. It's time to enjoy enjoy a cool beverage under a shade tree.

See you in September!

Robert Ferguson, President

Hello, spring!

As we turn the corner from darkness (winter) to light (summer), we've arrived at the halfway point. Those arriving at the spring equinox celebrate the longer days, warmer temperatures, and the promise of renewed life. Who among us hasn't noticed the signs of spring? Flowers poke their tender shoots into the sun. Birds sing their songs of joy and praise. And farmers do their best to raise dust in the fields. Each is a sign we've cast off the pallor of winter, eager to resume our chosen activities.

Spring also brings our group new opportunities to gather. The first is our twice-annual gathering at Ryans in Marion. We have again reserved the back room on Tuesday, May 4, 2010. Our "official" start time is noon, although many arrive early.

Our second opportunity is the following day, Wednesday, May 5th. Warden Margaret Beightler has extended an invitation to our members to participate in MCI's Correctional Employee Recognition Banquet. The ceremony starts in the Chapel at 10:30am, where staff members receive their service awards. Following the ceremony, we continue into the ODR for a free lunch, and extended opportunities to renew acquaintances.

Warden Beightler is very excited to offer this invitation to the retirees, and hopes each of us takes advantage of the opportunity. To secure your spot, you only need to be on the gate pass. To accomplish that task, call Kathy Hamilton at (740) 382-5781, extension 2210.

See you in May!

Robert Ferguson, President