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	Veterans’ Association of the Chicago & North Western Railway

	*Organized* *December 9, 1924*

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Welcome to the Web Site of the Veterans’ Association of the Chicago & North Western Railway. We hope that these pages will provide you with information about the Association and rail-related issues, and also be a means for you to stay in touch with your friends and co-workers.

This web site has been a while in coming and the progress you see due to Rick Todd’s help. Rick is a good friend Dewayne’s and graciously offered to lend a hand. Once something is understood, it’s simple – we all know that. Coming to that point of comprehension is quite another matter. Rick made the difficult seem easy and did so with patience and understanding. Without his help, you would not be looking at this page or anything else on this web site. Thank you, Rick!

Please Direct Your Attention to:

Annual UTU and BRC Unity Family Picnic - 08/28/10

Dear CNW Vets Members:

Once again, Proviso Union Locals UTU 577, UTU 528, UTU597,. and BRC 6176 will be sponsoring the Annual Unity Family Picnic on Saturday, September 4th, 2010, from 11AM to 6PM at Busse Woods, Grove 32, in Elk Grove Village.

The Grove is located off I-290 at the Biesterfield Road exit - exit Eastbound and then go to the first possible RIGHT hand turn at Bisner Road, right at the West Side of Alexian Brothers Hospital. The access to the park is encountered almost immediately as you turn left onto Bisner...and proceed to the LAST Grove...Grove 32.

On the menu will be pulled pork, chicken breasts in a nice lemon-garlic sauce, hot dogs, hamburgers, fresh-sliced watermelon, green salads, potato salad, cole slaw, Ice Creams from the freezer truck from Schwann's...sno-cones...there will be the ever-popular train ride for the kids along with temporary tattoos and bean-bag toss games... in short, a great Saturday-before-Labor Day celebration with your railroad Brothers and Sisters.

ALL CNW VETERAN'S ASSOCIATION MEMBERS ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO BE OUR HONORED GUESTS AT THESE FESTIVITIES AND ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND.

See you at Grove 32 on the 4th of September !

Pat McNamara

President and First Vice-Chairman

United Transportation Union

Local 577

Thanks to Jim Hallgren, we are able to tell the story of the C&NW Championship 16-Inch softball team, which was started back in the 1920’s by Ravenswood office employees and continued into the 1990’s. There is a link under Historical Notes (below) or you can click here.

MetLife Insurance from Over 40 Years Ago

Are you covered?

Back in 1964, 20 of the railroad unions got us some life insurance with MetLife. The amount reduces to $2,000 upon retirement but $2,000.00 is a lot better than nothing. That was over 40 years ago and many have forgotten all about this.

The $2,000 is a national railroad death benefit; however, you have to call and apply for it. MetLife is in Utica, New York and here’s their toll-free number – 800-310-7770. Your survivors should call and get the claims process rolling. MetLife will want your full name and Social Security number and then they can look you up on their computer. It takes around 2 minutes. Their mailing address is: MetLife, P.O. Box 6122, Utica, NY 13504.

This is life insurance via the National Railroad contract signed by the national carriers and 20 RR unions in 1964. The only exception that I am aware of is that certain railroad employees who took buy outs at the C&NW signed off on any and all future benefits ---- and this included this $2,000 insurance, unfortunately.

For years MetLife tried to conceal this information, but a federal court case required MetLife to provide an 800 number. Met Life will send a claim form which will have to be filled out and returned along with a Death Certificate. If you find your name is not in their records and you feel it should be on the list, please contact your union for advice. (Submitted by Truman Koehn.) - 01/03/10

The 2007 Operation Lifesaver train ran between West Chicago, Belvidere, Janesville & Crystal Lake on June 1 through 4, 2007. Mark Llanuza sent us some photographs and they are located here. If you recognize any of the unidentified people, please let us know.

Read about The Rollins W. Coakley Railroad Park located in Venice, Florida by clicking here.

Thanks to Jim Yanke, we have another Engineers’ Class Photo. Look it over and tell us who you recognize. It’s located here, down a ways from the top of the page.

Conductors’ Class Photos

Dave Hawley sent us four conductors’ class photos. One is dated August 3, 1979 and several people are identified. This one is located here. We have neither dates nor identifications for the other three (located here) and need your help. Randy Johnson just sent us a 5^th Conductors Class photo located here at the bottom of that page. Please take a look at all of them and let us know who you recognize by sending us an e-mail.

Harvard Memorial

Dave Hawley sent us a picture of the memorial to Wisconsin Division Engineers Frank Nolan, Sr., Frank Nolan, Jr. and Dick Brady, & to Katy McCauley. It’s located in Harvard. Click here to have a look.

The C&NW in Cumming GA

R.J. DeBerg sent us some pictures of his exceptional “backyard” railroad, patterned after the Chicago & North Western, naturally! Click here to have a look at it. R.J. says he did all this in 3-1/2 years!

Great job!! - 12/19/09

The Wyeville Mystery Man

At long last, the “Wyeville Mystery Man has been identified. He is Laverne Nelson, now residing in Hixton, WI. Loren Mulvaney suggested it might be Laverne when he and Louis Wilson were discussing things. We sent the picture to Laverne who confirmed it’s him.

Laverne’s picture can be seen here at the bottom of the page.

West Chicago – 1950’s

Thanks to Charlie McLaughlin, we have some great photos from West Chicago. Click here to have a look. Several men are unidentified so be sure to e-mail us if you recognize any of them. - 02/04/10

NARVRE (National Association of Retired & Veteran Railway Employees, Inc.)

WHAT CAN NARVRE BRING TO THE TABLE FOR NEW MEMBERS?

Click here and find out!

Please support NARVRE. They are looking out for your interests. - 08/25/10

National Association of Retired & Veteran Railway Employees, Inc.

Established September 6, 1937

http://www.narvre.org

Mystery Photograph Identified

The “Mystery Photograph” has been in the Photographs section for about two years now, ever since Ray Weart sent it in. A “mystery” no more, thanks to Jerry Drager, who gets a year’s free dues for this fine contribution!

Click here for the Jerry’s solution. We regret that Jerry passed away on May 4, 2007. Additional details are on the Member’s News page. Click here for a photo of Jerry engaged in one of his most favorite activities.

Thanks are also in order for several people who’ve made contributions to our web site. Without their help, this would be a pretty dismal production and this help is really appreciated. To: Bob Alba, Gary, Baloun, Betty Knuth Baumann, Chris Burger, Dusty Burman, Harold Cardo, Les (Zoom-Zoom) Childers, G. Cira P.J. Cleary, Scott Coleman, Ron Corrigan, Laurie Cosentino, Gerald Cramer, R.J. DeBerg, Tim Deneen, Jerry Drager, Jon Emery, Brian Emmer, Mary Estrada, Kay Ewert, Stan Eyres, Bob Fisher, Cliff Gilmore, Walter Gorlewski, Jim Hallgren, Jim Hansen, R.B. Harrison, Dave Hawley, Ed Henry, Randy Johnson, Roger King, Truman Koehn, Tom Kraemer, Charlie Kuehn, Kevin Leahy, John Leahy, Captain Wally Lindemann, Mark Llanuza, Ted Lontkowski, Keith Luebke, Charlie McLaughlin, Pat McNamara, Rick Mills, Loren Mulvaney, Don & Joan Mundth, Laverne Nelson, Mark & Mike Nelson, Karl Pachmayer, Stan Peczkowski, Jeff Phillips, Michael Powell, Merrill Price, Joe Richart, Gale Roberts, Rich Sandowski, J.P. Schillace, Mickey Senase, the late Wally Smith, Dewayne Stiefvater, Dennis Stowe, Dan & Yvonne Sylvester, Tom Thornton, Joe Vettese, Lance Wales, Ray Weart, Dave Wells, Marvin Williams, Louis Wilson, Bill Wismeth, Jim Yanke and Mike Yuhas, we convey our sincere thanks and appreciation.

Anyone having pictures or other information you’d like to share, please send it to the webmaster. Clicking on the “Contact Us” link will open up an e-mail in which you can send your news and to which you can attach photos.

Your comments, suggestions and ideas for additions to this site are most welcome. Also, don’t hesitate to tell us what you don’t like. Just use the same “Contact Us” link below. If you find a broken link, please let us know.

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Association Officers

Chapters

Chapter Dinners & Events - 08/15/10

Association History

Life Members

Membership Application

Recent Events

Florida Chapter Luncheon

Adams Chapter Luncheon

Kenosha-Waukegan Picnic

Madison Chapter Luncheon - 08/30/10