A Bi-Monthly Newsletter for Texas Instruments’ Retirees

A Message from Our President

I hope every one had a Merry Christmas and is enjoying the New Year. We finished the year in style with an excellent Christmas Party in the San Antonio Room at the Safari Ranch. Read about it in the letter and enjoy the many pictures of our members having fun.

Our trips last year took from us from Galveston to see the “Music Man” to Giddings to see the Wendish Heritage Museum & Lee County Courthouse. We enjoyed music at the Texas Opry in Magnolia; history at the San Jacinto Monument; escorted tours and sampling at both Mrs. Baird’s Bakery and at Saint Arnold’s Brewery. So far we have two trips set for the 1st quarter, two for the 2nd quarter and more to come for the second half of the year. Our Pot Luck Dinner and White Elephant Bingo again was a success with the

members bringing excellent side dishes to go with the entrée provided by the club. This year we’ve moved the date up one month and we will have it in April. See the flyer in this newsletter. We had our Annual Planning meeting in January. We reviewed last year’s budget

and set the one for 2009. We set the date for the Spring Event (Pot Luck Dinner and White Elephant Bingo) to be April 23 and the TI evening (BBQ) tentatively for September 24th. This year is the Club’s 20th Anniversary and we’re hoping that TI will support us in celebrating this event. The date for the Christmas party was set for December 15th, but this is not yet firm until a place and price is negotiated. We’re hoping to make 2009 an even better year for TIRET members. I hope to see you at our next meeting, trip or event. Ralph Garcia Ph. 281-980-3702 rgarcia28@alltel.net www.tiretirees.org

February/March 2009

Happy valentines day!

Coming Events:

February 12, 2009 Thursday- The South Texas Project – Nuclear Power Plant tour. Lunch at the “Hotel Blessing Coffee Shop.” Bus leaves Bayland Park at 9:00 AM.Note: This bus is completely filled. Lawson Cook is the Tour director. If you haven’t signed yet, it is too late. There is a back-up list in the event of any cancellations. Lawson’s phone # 281-342-9149

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February 18, 2009 Wednesday- Lunch at the Golden Corral 11:00 AM. There will be good food, fellowship, and door prizes. Come join us for a fun time!

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March 18, 2009 Wednesday - Lunch at the Golden Corral 11:00 AM. There will be door prizes.

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March 24, 2009 Tuesday, We will be taking an Escorted Tour to the CoCathedral of the Sacred Heart” Houston’s State-of-the- Art Building of Wonder! Total Cost is only $8.50 pp. We will eat at CICI’s full choice buffet – many kinds of pizza, salad, and beverage for only $8.50. Wow! What a deal!!!. Bob Gruber is in charge of this tour and he can be reached at 713-772-9296. Mail your check to Bob at 6122 Paisley Dr, Houston, Texas. 77096. Review the flyer for full details.

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April 15, 2009 Wednesday, Lunch at the Golden Corral 11;00 AM. Don’t forget to tell the cashier that you are with the T.I. Retiree’s in order to get your discount. See you there!

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April 23, 2009 Thursday- Pot Luck –Bingo- White Elephant!!!! Wow, it’s that time again! Clean out your closets, garage, dresser drawers, attics, any place you have accumulated “stuff” you don’t want or need. Perhaps even Christmas gifts you can’t use!! Everyone is asked to bring a covered dish. The club will provide the meat. There will be more detailed information in our next Vigor. Invite your friends!! Review the enclosed flyer.

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By the way, Lynn Stefan still has two umbrellas that were left at one of our luncheons, several months ago. If no one claims them soon, they will be added to the white elephant gifts. Ha!

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PAST NEWS

December 10, 2008 at our Golden Corral Luncheon 37 people were in attendance. You could feel the Christmas excitement in the air. Birthdays celebrated in December were Bill Young, Lydia Barker, Thomas Johnson, Jeanette Patterson Castle, and Scottie

Munoz (friend of Jimmie Lucas). Anniversaries were celebrated by Glenn and Ligia Haworth (48 yrs), and Lamon and Jeanette Patterson Castle (9 yrs). Golden Corral vouchers door prizes went to Daren Welch, Charlie Sumrall, Tony Amante, and Scottie Munoz. Bill Young won a woven basket with candy, Delores Baugh won a bottle of wine, Lawson Cook won a tool kit. Strawberry preserves were won by Estella Garcia, and Glenn Haworth. Note: the wine and preserves were donated by Jeanette Patterson Castle. Lydia Barker donated the woven basket with the candy, and the tool kit. Special Thanks go to them!!

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December 16, 2008 Our Annual Christmas Dinner Party was a huge success!!!There were 72 that signed up but 6 were unable to attend. We were able to keep the $25.00 price the same as last year. The San Antonio Room at the Safari Texas Ranch was very nicely decorated, including the Christmas tree which was used as a background for taking the guest’s pictures. The tables looked so formal with the white table cloths and the crystal dinner ware. The weather was excellent making it a great evening for our yearly event. All the ladies were elegantly dressed and the gentlemen in suits and ties. The guest pictures were taken by Ralph and Estella Garcia and Charles and Sylvia Slanina. The pre-dining mixer included a cash bar and a snack table of hors d’oeuvres. The dinner was excellently prepared and served hot.

The DJ not only entertained us throughout the night with our favorite requests, he led us in dancing La Macarena. He also led the guests in some line dancing.

Instead of the customary door prizes we had “table prizes” for one lucky person at each table. Favors were passed out to all guests. Most of the guests danced to the music and beat of La Macarena either while on the dance floor or from their tables. The party ended at 9:30 p.m.

This party will be hard to beat. We owe a great big THANK YOU to Israel Morales and his darling wife Nora (for her help) in giving us one of our best dinner parties!!!! He put a lot of time and work into planning this event. He is willing to do this again next year. Thank you, Israel!!

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January 16, 2009 Friday- Our annual budget planning meeting was held at Ralph and Estella’s House. We met at 9:30 am and worked until 3:30 pm. Estella prepared a very delicious lunch for all of us. Coffee was served through out the day. She is a good hostess. We also must say that Ralph has been an excellent president the past two years. This is his third year as president. There is a great deal of effort and work that goes into running this T.I. club. It is the dues you pay which is so minimal($10.00) that pays expenses for the year. Our major expense is the postage for the Vigor where we try to keep the cost down by emailing the Vigor to those wanting an electronic color version.

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January 21, 2009 Lunch at the Golden Corral was a Shock to all attending. The board was scheduled to meet for a short meeting at 10:30 AM but the restaurant was

completely closed and no one was inside. A cook was standing outside trying to reach the manager with no response. After waiting outside till after 11:00am, the owner finally arrived to tell us there was no food prepared and he couldn’t serve us. He did let us meet in our usual room. We were served coffee during the meeting. We just heard that the manager had a stroke. We don’t know how he is at this time. Surprisingly enough this meeting turned out to be one of our biggest attendance (47)except for the one in November filling in for the cancelled BBQ. It happened to be a warm day with no rain, so standing outside wasn’t unpleasant. Our scheduled speaker was Elizabeth Colvin, but she wasn’t able to make it, so Kara Boston came and spoke. Kara is the Communications Coordinator for the Neighborhood Tax Centers of Houston. She is an attorney and very knowledgeable about income taxes. She spoke about how the tax program affords people in lower tax brackets (normally $40,000 or less.) to have their taxes prepared free. The taxes are prepared by volunteers who have been trained under the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program and are IRS-Certified Tax Preparers. Kara gave a very interesting and informative talk. Lydia Barker donated two door prizes along with a batch of peanut butter fudge she made. We were able to let everyone sample that delicious fudge. The Golden Corral gave two door prizes. The winners were Patsy Seay, Dorothy Wanza, Charles Slanina, and Thomas Johnson. Nora and Israel Morales celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in January. Those celebrating birthdays were Lonnie Buckner, Sylvia Slanina, Ligia Haworth, and Judith Bachelor

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We have some new helpers for our committees. Mary Lee Cameron is co-chair with Beverley Cayton on the Calling committee. Lonnie Buckner is in charge of arrangingspeakers for the luncheons. Charles and Sylvia Slanina will be in charge of the tours. We welcome our new helpers.

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The Membership committee is launching a Membership Drive to attract new members for the T.I. Club. Tom Johnson, Membership chairman, said at our luncheon, “As a club member, if you bring an eligible person (as defined in TIRET bylaws) to a Luncheon at the Golden Corral and that person joins the club, you will receive a free lunch.”

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Howard and Mary Lee Cameron made their annual trip to Branson, Missouri on November 11, 2008. They saw the Pressleys, Mickey Gilley, Joey Riley, Bold Knobbers, and the famous Irish singer, Daniel O’Donald, from Ireland. The Christmas decorations were everywhere through out the town and the shows. They had a wonderful time.

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Lydia Barker had an experience concerning a scam and is warning us. She received a letter saying she won $295,000 and was sent a ‘check’ for $4,985, but was told not to cash it till she called a phone number they gave her. She was to send them $2,985 and then take $4,000 to Walmart’s money-gram to cash. Lydia notified the Rosenberg

police, who sent her to the Richmond police and they in turn sent her to the Sheriff’s department. At this point she was mad, and called the newspaper office and let them handle it. Way to go, Lydia!!!

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Daren & Jewel Welch, Bill & Mary Young, Jim &Anita Lewis and friends recently completed a 26 day South American Cruise. They began their cruise on 11/9 from Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. and ended on 12/7 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. They went through the Panama Canal and stopped in 14 ports of call. Ports were in Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay. The highlights were viewing the snow capped mountains, glaciers, whales, sea lions, penguins, and many species of birds, cruising the Strait of Magellan and rounding Cape Horn. The weather was perfect. Trip was great.

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Carlene Chaney had surgery on December 4, 2008, and within several hours her twin brother Donnie Thacker passed away. Would you believe Charlene attended his funeral?!! We are so sorry for your loss Carlene, and hope you are recovering from surgery.

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Several of our members signed up for the Christmas Dinner, but had misfortunes come up. Betty Parker had congestive heart failure and was hospitalized November 21, 2008, and was still ill December. Dorothy Wanza’s mother passed away December 15, 2008 at the remarkable age of “100 Yrs.” Annie Johnson’s 74 yr. old brother passed away December 25, 2008. Israel Morales’ eldest brother passed away January 15, 2009, in Corpus Christi, Tx. We send our condolences to the above families.

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Betty Parker had a mild heart attack and on January 9, 2009 she had surgery to put a stent in her main artery. She is doing fine now. Beverley Cayton had a detached retina repaired January 20, 2009. She, too, is doing just fine. Golly, so much is happening!!

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The Stefan’s were in a auto mishap Saturday, January 17, 2009. We were riding in a neighbor’s car going to the Black Eyed Pea on Westheimer & Wilcrest. As we were pulling into a parking space on the side of the building, the driver accidentally gunned the gas peddle instead of the brakes. We hit the building damaging it and Don and I ended up in the ER by ambulance. Don’s chest was badly hurt due to the seat belt. (He was sitting in the front seat next to the driver.) Lynn had a slight concussion. We were meeting another couple who happened to be sitting inside the restaurant against the wall that was hit. We are thankful no one was walking or standing there at that spot. We are okay!

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Tony and Susan Leigh had another trip to England for a week to take Susan’s 94-year-old Dad home. This was his 38th time to visit the US since 1977, but has reconciled himself that this is his last trip. His birthday was January 20, 2009. Tony and Susan returned home January 14th in time to prepare for our TIRET board meeting.

DUES for “2009”are Due!

Remember, dues pay for the operating costs of the TIRET club. Make your check out to HTA and send your $10 dues to: Tony Leigh (treasurer) at 1418 Tilman Dr.Richmond, TX 77406. As a reminder – this will be your last VIGOR if your dues are not received by March 31, 2009. Save yourself $2 in late fees by mailing them in now!

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Don’t forget to check our website: www.tiretirees.org.

Please contact the Sunshine Committee if you hear of any of our retirees with serious illnesses, surgeries, or deaths so we can let families know we care by sending cards from the Retirees. Call Lynn Stefan 713-777-2805

Vigor Staff

Editor and Reporter ------- Lynn Stefan Graphics -------------------- Donald E. Stefan Distribution ---------------- B. J. Townsend, Lynn and Don Stefan Technical Assistance-------Daryl Moss

Gems of the Day

Funny Signs

In a Shoeshine Parlor: We Shine One Shoe Free!

On A Display of Pine Boards in a Lumber Store: Knotty But Nice!

On a Plumbers Truck: We Repair What Your Husband Fixed!

Anything That is Good and Useful is Made of Chocolate!

TIRET CHRISTMAS PARTYDECEMBER 16, 2008

Ralph & Estella Garcia Bob & Marian Gruber Tony & Susan Leigh Israel & Nora Morales

Charles & Sylvia Slanina Don & Lynn Stefan Tom & Jeannette Johnson Lonnie Buckner & Davye Mable

Daryl & Brenda Moss Howard & Mary Lee Cameron Lawson & Kay Cook Daren & Jewel Welch

Roger & Sandy Coughran Bih-Lien & Yen-Shan Chuang Sue & her father Ben Sowerby,daughter Vicki & Tony Leigh

Bill & Scottie Munoz Clarence & Betty Crockett Bob & Gail Wolters Bill & Mary Young

Charles Sumrall & Ferol Beer Robert & Mae Washington Hank & Francis Kuczynski Eugene & Bonnie Calkins

Rocky & Denise Parsons Nick & Barbara Vamvakias Israel & Nora Gonzalez Ralph & Jimmie Lucas

Pat & Shirley Callahan Rachael Freiler & Rudy Ying & Sako Huang Santa Clause

This ain’t the Macarena! But they did that one also. It sure looks like they’re having fun! Even Israel

AND THEY DANCED THE NIGHT AWAY

DO THEY LOOK TIRED TO YOU? NO WAY!

TIRET : ECONOMICAL SOCIALIZING & FUN IN ’09

Houston-Galveston Archdiocese’s newCOCATHEDRAL

OF THE SACRED HEART

Great chance to see this Houston State-of-the-Art Building of Wonder!

“ARCHITECTURE + ARTISTIC = AWESOME” * DOME IS 117 FT TALL * SEATS OVER 2000 PEOPLE * 8000 CU YDS CONCRETE * 30000 SQ FT MARBLE * 250 TONS STEEL * 8600 SQ FT PLASTER * 256000 FT OF WIRING * 73000 SQ FT LIMESTONE

** UNIQUE WORLD-WIDE WORKS OF ART **ESCORTED TOUR + LUNCH

Return to Bayland Park after Lunch

SIGN UP HERE or CALL to INSURE YOUR SPOT(S): BOB GRUBER

713/772-9296. Mail Check to 6122 Paisley Dr, Hstn 77096

We Leave Bayland Park at 9:15 A.M. (Please be there by 9:00)

TTOOTTAALL CCOOSSTT IISS OONNLLYY $$88..5500 PPPPIINNCCLLUUDDEESS AALLLL AADDMMIITTSS,, TTAAXX,, TTRRAANNSSPPOORRTTAATTIIOONN,, EEAATT @@ CCIICCII’’SS

FFUULLLL CCHHOOIICCEE BBUUFFFFEETT –– MMAANNYY KKIINNDDSS OOFF PPIIZZZZAA,, SSAALLAADD,, AANNDD BBEEVVEERRAAGGEE

O-71

TI RETIREE CLUB ECONOMICAL SOCIALIZING & FUN IN ‘09

FOOD, BINGO – then SUPER BINGO!

Volunteer to bring your favorite (six servings) dish…but first call Lynn at 713-777-2805 to coordinate/apportion the side dishes

[TELL LYNN HOW MANY INTEND TO COME !!]

Salads, vegetables & yummie desserts!Note: a complementary entrée will be served on site, plus coffee & tea

ALSO, BRING ONE OR MORE CASUALLY WRAPPED, ‘WHITE ELEPHANT’ GIFTS AS BINGO PRIZES (guests too)!!

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SIGN UP/CALL TODAY! JOIN THE FUN! HELP ENJOY THE “PRIZES”!

For added info, call RALPH GARCIA 281-980-3702

TI CAFETERIA/AUDITORIUM -- FESTIVITIES START AT 6:30 P.M.

CLUB MEMBER, SPOUSE OR ALTERNATENo charge!

ALL OTHER GUEST, $2 PER PERSON

DONATE $$ TO PLAY

Regular bingo! Everybody plays and wins ONE or more ‘white elephant’ prizes!