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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.

Announcement

Effective today, August 31, 2011, General Secretary/Treasurer Dewayne Stiefvater has resigned. Our new GST is Dianne Koppelman who takes over tomorrow, September 1, 2011. Please direct all inquiries about dues, membership and similar questions to Dianne, whose address is: Dianne Koppelman, 2866 S. 98th St., West Allis, WI 53227-3361, telephone 414-763-6746, e-mail dckoppelman@yahoo.com. Any e-mail to Dianne should include “C&NW Vets.” in the subject line. This will identify the e-mail and assist in getting you a quick reply.

We thank Dewayne for his many years of service in this position.

08/31/11

Please Direct Your Attention to:

The Center for Railroad Photography & Art is looking for help with identifying C&NW workers photographed in 1942-43 by Jack Delano. Some of the photos will appear in an exhibition of Delano’s Chicago area photos at the Chicago History Museum in 2013. What makes this exhibition unique is its emphasis on people - like the C&NW workers. The Library of Congress owns the pictures, but several names are misspelled and others are missing. Some of the photos are posted at http://tinyurl.com/6do8f2d and more are expected to added. Be sure to click the “more information” link on the picture page and check back later for more additions. If you know workers appearing in these photos or their families, please contact John Gruber at the Center at info@railphoto-art.org

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.

Review your beneficiary designations. Situations change over the years and sometimes revisions are necessary. Remember, whatever is on file with the insurance company will prevail, even if it isn’t what you might want Here’s a link to a Beneficiary Designation form, which can be used if needed.

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.)

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.

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!!

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.

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.

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, Gary Cira P.J. Cleary, Scott Coleman, Ron Corrigan, Laurie Cosentino, Donald Cox, Sam Cushing, Gerald Cramer, R.J. DeBerg, Tim Deneen, Jerry Drager, Mike Eischen, Dan Eldridge, Gary Elliott, Jon Emery, Brian Emmer, Mary Estrada, Kay Ewert, Stan Eyres, Bob Fisher, Cliff Gilmore, Walter Gorlewski, Jim Hallgren, Jim Hansen, R.B. Harrison, Teresa Hawkins, Dave Hawley, Ed Henry, Chuck Hintz, Randy Johnson, Roger King, Truman Koehn, Dianne Koppelman, Tom Kraemer, Dave Kroeger, Charlie Kuehn, Kevin Leahy, John Leahy, Captain Wally Lindemann, Bill Linsey, 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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Chapter Dinners & Events - 02/05/12