What time is it?

Time it was, oh what a time it was. It was a time of innocence;

a time of confidences. Long ago it must be- I have the photographs.

Preserve your memories. They're all that's left you.

Those are words that Simon and Garfunkel sang and they came to mind as I was going through a collection of past history of the Omaha Works. The Westerner and other periodicals had lots of photos of those who have passed on and also showed what fun could be had working together. Indeed, for some this was the only way to tolerate some of the shenanigans that went on in our manufacturing life with Western Electric; AT&T; Lucent Technologies: Avaya; CSMI.

Pioneers helped pull many of us through. Painting a playground map together or planting trees- cleaning up a park- we could stand and admire our work at the end, knowing that we have made our community a better place. Several years ago we celebrated the 25^th anniversary of our charter as the Cornhusker Chapter and then the Heartland Council of the Telephone Pioneers, or is it the TelecomPioneers- or maybe Pioneers.

How much longer will this last? When we close will it be a wake where all of the faces are somber or perhaps as in New Orleans- dancing and playing joyful music because the cycle has come to a joyous end. The way I figure it we have enough money to run another 4 years or so, unless something changes- better or worse. We have virtually no income stream. We are not recruiting new dues-paying members, and the worst news is that some of our groups have gotten smaller for different reasons.

In the meantime "ol' Man River" just keeps on rollin' along. Every month we need the reassurance of our committee chairmen as our reports tell us in different words, "What have we accomplished in the last month?". The Holiday Season is our chance to reignite interest in the many activities we have continued over so many years to make life happier for those less fortunate than we are. There are many- and they are normally thankful. There comes a time when one looks around for someone to step up and lead an activity, and there is no one there. The result is one less accomplishment.

Please understand that I am not criticizing, only pointing out the realities that don't become obvious during our regular luncheons. Can you help with an activity or contribute some money? In a recent visit with some people from other benevolent organizations I learned that many charge dues of $100-200 per year. When I spoke to the Millard Rotary about the fact that our Life Members don't pay dues a collective gasp went up from my audience. "How can we survive?", someone asked. My answer was, "We are slowly succumbing."

Our current President, Deb Grady, has stepped up as an active employee at CSMI to continue our parade of focused leadership. I'm sure if you ask her if she needs help with anything the answer would be, "Yes". I see a couple more candidates to lead us farther into the future and then we face the reckoning with the fact that our leaders must be "recycled" - a sign of a dying organization.

Are there any ideas out there or will you talk quietly amongst yourselves about what we should be doing OR what we are currently doing the wrong way? How about telling me? My phone number is still 402-390-9834 and my e-mail address is now heartlandpioneer@cox.net; Maybe at the next luncheon you'll pick up some of our old monthly newsletters and remember how it was to contribute to our Omaha and have fun doing it. We are a well-respected organization that should be proud of our contributions to the community. Perhaps soon all we'll have is the photographs, just as  Ak-Sa- Ben has from their shows at the coliseum and the balloon ascensions while we were eating pancakes. What has taken their place? There are now stores and residences and a hotel.

We still have our memories - what a time it was!

Jerry Golmanavich - Past President

NEXT BLOOD DRIVE will be at the CSMI plant Friday the 7th of August-2009 from  7:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon. All retires that can donate, please contact Connie Carlson   at work 691-4954  or  ccarlson@csmfg.com;  for an appointment or just walk-in at the  East  ETOP door and call the guards to contact Connie to bring you in.

At the last blood drive on Friday the 29th of May we had a goal of 45 pints. 44 plus  1 partial were collected from 3 retires, 21 CSMI  with 2 double red cells, 12 Netshop  with 4 double red cells, 1 Commscope, 1 Millard Lumber, and 1 Red Cross employee.

My next volunteer projects are Adopt-A-Family Radiothon at the Salvation Army on Thursday the 4th of December 2009, from 6:00 a.m. till 8:00 a.m. plus we’ll also have  

Bell Ringing at Sam's Club on Saturday's the 5, 12, & 19 of December 2009, with five  2-hour shifts between 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Everyone in the past that has helped on  these projects will be contacted. If new people would like to participate in any of these  projects, please contact me,

Dick Maxwell at:  572-8474      ramcem@cox.net;

Of course check out our WEB SITE for the latest news items Etc. at    

http://www.heartlandpioneers.com

For example:

Watch and Click Scrolling NEWS like: The Next Blood Drive Aug 7,’09.

Read our Council Activities like:  Summer LML August 18, 2009,

Note: Your LML Reservations to be in by Aug 11,  2009 PLEASE.