From: Joseph Gray <ohnlywaytofly@comcast.net>
Date: January 6, 2013, 5:37:54 PM AST
To: death@pilotcommunication.net
Subject: Art Gardner
Date: January 6, 2013, 5:37:54 PM AST
To: death@pilotcommunication.net
Subject: Art Gardner
We have been
seeking info on the whereabouts of Art for some years now to no avail. You
helped also. How did this info get out so quickly if he passed today?
Thanks
Joe Gray
Thanks
Joe Gray
Editor: The info was sent in and Carol
published it very timely. http://pcnflightwest.blogspot.com/2013/01/wa-capt-arthur-f-gardner.html
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Craig, could you share what you did and I will publish for
other safari operators. mark
From: Craig Stienecker
Date: 1/2/2013 6:33:09 PM
Subject: PCN
toolbar
I am an apple user and am interested in removing the PCN toolbar from my Macbook. I get a
continuing message that the new Safari operating system that I recently
installed does not support the "community toolbar". I have found the
install app, but see nothing about removing it. Can you help ? Thanks Craig
Stienecker
From: Craig Stienecker
Date: 01/03/13 17:44:49
Subject: Re: Your
Message has been Received – OK
HOW TO REMOVE: I found the pcn toolbar uninstall program on
my hard drive in a separate location from the install program and simply
uninstalled the toolbar which got rid of the continuing message that the new
Snow Leopard OSX 10.6.3 operating system (that I installed on my MACBook) did
not support the "community toolbar" - I did not resolve the
compatibility issue, and while I read and greatly enjoy your "high life"
posts, I seldom used the toolbar and so am happy with my outcome. Thanks for
all you do. Craig
Editor: As a side
note, that PCN Toolbar was created for those that like some “quick links” at
the top of their browser to familiar sites.
For any that wish to disable or delete it please do what Craig suggests
or click on Tools>Addons>Disable
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Media Campaign proposed:
From: bassetllc@charter.net
Date: 12/31/2012 4:08:30 PM
Subject: Newpaper
Ads
Good Morning Mark: One thing Delta cannot
stand is adverse publicity. May I suggest full page ads in prominent newspapers
ie Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Financial Times, Atlanta Journal -
perhaps international version of the WSJ. I guarantee that Delta's senior
management will respond to this in the event no progress is made through the
letter appeal. Of course Delta is lawsuit happy so care must be taken as to
format and content of ads. I will contribute a substantial amount if this comes
to fruitation. Regards Doug Riffey.
++++
From: Bruce Borland
Date: 12/31/2012 2:42:51 PM
Subject: Petition
Mark:
Thanks for the good job you do on the " High Life".
My wife and I have signed the petition and it is certainly a well
written letter that expresses all our frustrations. May I suggest you inform
the AJC, USA Today, Wall Street Journal or your favorite media publication that
there is a real human interest story behind the petition and the injustice that
was visited only upon the Delta Pilot group. Perhaps, there might be some
future Pulitzer Prize winner that brings worldwide attention to our plight and
the absurdity of the real Delta pilots losing their pensions.
Happy New Year!
Bruce Borland
Retired 6/1/2004
+++++
From: Jmorgan667@aol.com
To: mark@pilotcommunication.net
Sent: 12/31/2012 1:42:48 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subj: Petition
To: mark@pilotcommunication.net
Sent: 12/31/2012 1:42:48 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subj: Petition
Mark, just a few thoughts on the Delta Pilot
Retirement Petition.
I respectfully suggest that when the petition
is presented to Delta management that a full blown media campaign be initiated
at the same time. We should expect the Atlanta Constitution and local media to
be biased against the pilots.
Secondly, the presenter/spokesman must be
articulate and extremely well versed in the settlement paid to the retired
pilots by Delta. No unsophisticated, emotional rhetoric but a lawyerly, factual
and sophisticated presentation. While the Delta pilots view this issue with
emotion Delta management views this without emotion and as an
accounting/bankruptcy issue that has already been settled.
You can bet that Delta management is already
aware of the petition and has a factual response in place based on metrics with
a full blown media campaign ready.They are ready to counter the petition with
charm grace and numbers. For the pilots not to be equally prepared is ill
advised. Hopefully no one believes that the pilots will present the petition
and that the company will simply roll over.
Please thank the people responsible for this
action and a special thanks to you for your dedicated service to the retired
Delta pilots.
Warmest regards,
John Morgan, Coral Gables, Florida
Editor: Thanks Doug, Bruce & Wayne. I included your emails because they were
short your suggestions have been repeated by a number of others. The “pressure” type advertising I can tell
you at least two things about. One, it
is expensive and two it is being considered.
As far as I know Rob will attempt to get a meeting before any money is
collected or spent. But I do wish to
thank many of you for forwarding suggestions.
Please see the request I have in my remarks above to help formulate the best argument and case to take in when
Rob is invited. And I do believe he will
get on the schedule.
+++++
From: Jmorgan667@aol.com
Date: 1/1/2013 5:38:07 PM
Subject: More on
the Petition
Mark, Some last thoughts. Be prepared for
ALPA to file an objection to any potential give back by Delta management The
retired Delta Pilots do not have any friends in this endeavor. Maybe the DP 3
attorneys could be asked to present the petition. I doubt they would agree and
do not even know if this is a good idea.
Lastly I do not believe that Delta management
will have an epiphany and do anything for the retirees. Not only do they not care but in their
hearts and minds they are comfortable that they paid us a settlement.
But it's worth a try.
My best to you.
Regards,
John Morgan, Coral Gables, Fla.
Editor: I separated John’s reply from his earlier email because he is
making a different point of which I agree.
There are few friends of our group and that is somewhat what the
petition is trying to change. More
attention may turn some folks with a more supportive attitude towards us. But the real thing that John said about
management being quite happy with their settlements paid, I also agree. However, I do not believe that many know how
miniscule those settlements became as they were eventually distributed. In other words, I do not believe that many
view our group as receiving the harm that it has. It is worthy and noble to bring that to the
fore and present it clear and unequivocal to current management.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Mark,
Just found time to read your newsletter. Want to comment on your concern on the numbers of signatures on the petition. I did sign the petition, but had some questions about how it might affect my returns, since I was already 65 at bankruptcy and was not hurt as badly as some of the younger folks. I don't know how changes that Delta may make would affect my current PBGC payments. If Delta were to start paying us again, and later file bankruptcy again, PBGC may start completely over in their calculations and might not agree to the payments they did the first time since they are now further in debt than they were earlier, and might even not agree to accept the debt burden from Delta. I decided to sign it anyway since if it helps a number of other folks who were hurt badly, I would be willing to see my payments reduced as I have been very lucky in life, having only been married once and now for 46 years, and our kids are making their own payments, so we have saved enough money, and our investments have provided for us the ability to take care of our needs probably for as long as we need. Of course with the economic condition of our country, that is hard to calculate.
Everywhere one looks, there is uncertainty, and some may just decide they have learned to deal with what they have, and not trust government to make a change that could conceivably be worse than what they have now. I too doubt if we will get more, but feel it is worth the try as many are having very difficult times. Unfortunately, I flew with many of the guys who tried to live the "pilot dream" with big houses, expensive cars and fooling around, and now are paying for the lack of planning. I spoke with a good many of my co-pilots and engineers, about preparing for lean times, and the general comment was "I want to enjoy it before we lose it" which made no sense to me. We have been in our house for 40 years and our newest car is a 2002 Chrysler Town and Country Limited, which is in great shape, and just took us on a 3500 mile driving vacation, and I love it.
Don't publish this, as the folks who are hurting do not want to hear preaching. I still hurt for them, as their families are suffering too. With Gerry’s permission to publish this and his follow up below.
Thanks for all the work you do on the newsletter for us. May 2013 be good to you and your family.
Gerry Grieser
DFW
Just found time to read your newsletter. Want to comment on your concern on the numbers of signatures on the petition. I did sign the petition, but had some questions about how it might affect my returns, since I was already 65 at bankruptcy and was not hurt as badly as some of the younger folks. I don't know how changes that Delta may make would affect my current PBGC payments. If Delta were to start paying us again, and later file bankruptcy again, PBGC may start completely over in their calculations and might not agree to the payments they did the first time since they are now further in debt than they were earlier, and might even not agree to accept the debt burden from Delta. I decided to sign it anyway since if it helps a number of other folks who were hurt badly, I would be willing to see my payments reduced as I have been very lucky in life, having only been married once and now for 46 years, and our kids are making their own payments, so we have saved enough money, and our investments have provided for us the ability to take care of our needs probably for as long as we need. Of course with the economic condition of our country, that is hard to calculate.
Everywhere one looks, there is uncertainty, and some may just decide they have learned to deal with what they have, and not trust government to make a change that could conceivably be worse than what they have now. I too doubt if we will get more, but feel it is worth the try as many are having very difficult times. Unfortunately, I flew with many of the guys who tried to live the "pilot dream" with big houses, expensive cars and fooling around, and now are paying for the lack of planning. I spoke with a good many of my co-pilots and engineers, about preparing for lean times, and the general comment was "I want to enjoy it before we lose it" which made no sense to me. We have been in our house for 40 years and our newest car is a 2002 Chrysler Town and Country Limited, which is in great shape, and just took us on a 3500 mile driving vacation, and I love it.
Don't publish this, as the folks who are hurting do not want to hear preaching. I still hurt for them, as their families are suffering too. With Gerry’s permission to publish this and his follow up below.
Thanks for all the work you do on the newsletter for us. May 2013 be good to you and your family.
Gerry Grieser
DFW
++++
From: Gerald Grieser
Date: 1/4/2013 10:29:44 AM
To: Mark's Gmail
Subject:
Re: THANKS
Mark,
Thanks for your very thoughtful email. If you really feel
that anything I said in my email to you will benefit the others, you can
publish it, since I do hope that others can recover at least some of what was
stolen from them. I have always considered myself lucky, as I retired early at
age 55 1/2 in Nov. 1996, just before the new contract took effect, which was
good for me until they filed for bankruptcy. No, I did not get the special deal
for early retirement, as that seemed to go the the senior guys who were ready
for retirement anyway, but I just retired with my normal calculated retirement
at my age then. I have always felt it makes no sense to look behind to grieve
what could have been, but instead to look forward to what we have left in life,
and make the best of it. There are so many in this world that have less than
even the hardest hit in this bankruptcy fiasco, so we need to be grateful for
what we have. Never the less, the guys do deserve what they were promised, and
so you have my permission to publish my email to you, and also this one if
desired, along with any comments you may want to make. I just get tired of
reading some of the other emails that ramble on about such mundane topics that
make no sense, and didn't want to join the crowd.
We all appreciate all you do for us, in keeping us up to
date on happenings, plus encouraging us to support worthwhile projects that can
benefit mankind. I have to admit that I don't do a lot of that on my own
without your encouragement, since I am busier than I ever was when I was
flying. We keep busy volunteering at our church, plus now we volunteer with our
local police department driving the Citizen's on Patrol car, manning the
Skytower at the mall, and other things to help our city, which has filled up
our extra time. We even enjoy driving the police cars to get car washes, oil
changes etc, imaging that we are someone important. My 103 year old aunt used
to say "I would rather wear out that rust out", and I am trying to
follow her advice, and am loving it. I still have a lot to do before my COD.
(my crap out date)
Have a great 2013 and thanks again,
Gerry
Editor: With Gerry’s permission I wanted to publish his emails because he
brought up a few good questions. There
are a lot of PCN subscribers that are of similar age and in a similar situation
as Gerry. I can safely speak for those
of us who are more recent as retirees that we are glad that many of our pilot
retirees didn’t get hurt too bad. And
none of us would like to see anyone lose any benefits. We also appreciate older pilot retirees
support and understanding. I know it may
be hard to imagine but if one’s monthly annuity were to be cut by 80% or so
that would have a significant impact on how one enjoys retirement. Well, that exact thing HAS happened to many
and we certainly want people to know about it and the company to actually
address the disproportionate burden. As
to the PBGC changing payouts for older retirees, the petition and any follow up
hearing with an appeal will likely not even address the lost defined benefit
pension. Delta going bankrupt again is
not on anyone’s current horizon. Some
people live with anxiety while others are living with reality.
I would ask all to be compassionate and supportive to those who took a
serious disproportionate level of the re-organization pain.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Full post disclaimer in left column. PCN Home Page is located at: http://pcn.homestead.com/home01.html
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