VIP Club Flyer
Author: Lowell A. Benson, retired engineer/manager

Club Origination
The VIP Club concept began in 1979 when our founder, Millie Gignac, was conducting pre-retirement interviews with Sperry employees. She saw that most employees were reluctant to rapidly break their ties with the company and in particular friends with whom they had many shared memories. So putting action to words she persuaded management not only to set aside 1,465 square feet of the Shepard Road Plant manufacturing area but to also refurbish and furnish the area to the tune of about $35,000.
The first general meeting was held on September 3rd, 1980 with about 75 people in attendance. Officers were elected, plans were made for monthly meetings, and a constitution and by-laws were drawn up. Al Mueller, retired Antenna Coupler engineering manager, was elected the first President. Club members were advised that they would have to abide by Company regulations, but other than that, it was their club room. Company maintenance people and all employees weren’t allowed in the room. Clubroom was closed after Burroughs bought Sperry to form Unisys.

IT Legacy Project
Goal: Engineering Research Associates (ERA) began a remarkable story of technological innovation and contributions to the computer industry in 1946. We aim to relate this 75-year+ story as many of us have lived parts of it—most history book entries have limited defense industry information among the commercial computer system development stories.
Objectives: First, is to capture whatever remaining material and information available; Second is to catalog and archive all the material collected; and Third is to publish/publicize our history and heritage in ways that interest industry and our fellow Minnesotans via the web and local institutions.

P.O. Box 21903 Eagan, MN 55121 http://vipclubmn.org

2022 BOARD Contact Information
President — Harvey Taipale, hjtaipale@comcast.net
[IT Legacy, Lawshe Memorial Museum Liaison]
Vice President — Steve Koltes skoltes@comcast.net, [Annual UNIVAC Old Timers Reunion]
Treasurer – Paul Hove, paul@paulhove.com [Annual UNIVAC Old Timers Reunion]
Secretary — Bonnie Westberg, volunteerboni@gmail.com, [Winter Luncheon, Sympathy cards]
Director — Gish Devlaminck, membership@vipclubmn.org [Member Database]
Director — Jim Andrews, webmaster@vipclubmn.org [website, Winter Luncheon]
Director —Dick Lundgren, rflundgr@aol.com [CBI Liaison, Programs]
Director — Arnie Schmidt, aschmidt@usfamily.net
[Picnic].
Immediate Past President — Keith Behnke, keithbhnk@comcast.net [Program Plans, Golf League Liaison]
Board Associates: Mary Beth Ruhland [Editor]
clubnewsltr@vipclubmn.org, Paul Dickson [RGOD] paul.dickson@comcast.net, John Westergren [Picnic, IT Legacy] jwestergren@gmail.com, Lowell Benson, la.gj.benson@comcast.net [IT Legacy, Unihogs/Uniturkeys],
Members Emeriti: Dale Phelps, drphelps416@gmail.com and Joe Schwarz, jschwarzsr@centurylink.net.

Lawshe Memorial Museum Volunteerism Leads: Bob Pagac, rpagac@hotmail.com; Jon Simon, jcsimon1st @frontiernet.net; and Keith Myhre, kmyhre@lightblast.net.
Tuesday AM help is welcome!

©April 29, 2022 - VIP Club Flyer, design by LABenson

The VIP CLUB is a non-profit, social and services organization of retired and former employees from Unisys, Lockheed Martin, and their heritage companies illustrated below.

We are proud of our Information Technology (IT) Legacy being documented and preserved for future generations at the Charles Babbage Institute - U of MN in Minneapolis, MN, at the Lawshe Memorial Museum in S. St. Paul, and at www.vipclubmn.org/Legacy.html!

MAIL THIS FORM WITH YOUR CHECK TO:
VIP Club P.O. Box 21903
Eagan, MN 55121

VIP Club Member Eligibility: Retirees and spouses from Unisys, Lockheed Martin and their MN heritage companies. Active employees who are 55 years of age and vested [and spouses] are also eligible.
Associate Member Eligibility: Former employees of Lockheed Martin, Unisys, and their heritage companies under age 55.
Life Members (seniors) Former employees 90 and above are free! Friends Non-member legacy supporters.

APPLICATION/Renewal FORM: Dues: $7, 1 year ___ $ 18, 3 years ___.Free if >90.
Member (>55) __, or Associate (<55) __: Address Change __, New __, Renewal __
_________________ _____________ ____ _________________
Name First M.I. Spouse’s Name
_____________________ __________________ ____ ________
Street Address or P.O. Box City State Zip Code
(_____) _______-____________ ________________________@_________________ . ______
Primary Telephone Number E-mail address
Newsletter delivery preference is: Electronic ____ or U.S. Mail ___.
Employer is/was: UNISYS ___, Lockheed Martin ___, and/or predecessor company. ___________________
Include my data in the Club’s Directory? Yes __ No __. DIRECTORY is only available to Members and Associates!

Membership Benefits
Annual events participation; Volunteer Recognition Luncheon, Annual June Picnic, and January Holiday party & dinner.
Contacts with former co-workers via the Club Directory and planned social activities.
Contact/site information for monthly periodic group breakfasts, lunches, and a dinner.
Links to recreational activities; i.e. golf leagues, MN senior centers, etc.
Opportunities to nurture friendships via Club committees and other volunteer activities.
Periodic newsletters with event reports, new member recognition, obits, forms, program announcements, Legacy articles, etc..

Club History Tidbits
We have ~650 memberships; 82% in Minnesota, 3% WI, 3% FL, 2% AZ, plus 9% in 35 other states plus 3 international members.
Since 2006, over 300 former employees and systems users have contributed stories to our Information Technology Legacy Anthology, http://www.vipclubmn.org/OurStories.html.
In 2008 more than 75 volunteer members participated in one or more Minnesota Sesquicentennial activities, chronicled in the Minnesota 2058 bi-centennial time capsule.
In 2012 we transferred Legacy artifacts to the Lawshe Memorial Museum and to the Charles Babbage Institute at the U of MN.

Club Planned Social Activities
Winter Party; Dinner and Holiday Gathering at the Lost Spur Country Club.
April Volunteers’ Recognition Luncheon; ~24,000 member hours reported per year!
Spring ‘Roseville Good Old Days’ gathering at the Mermaid in the northern suburbs.
Syttende Mai luncheon at Casper’s in Eagan.
June picnic in Eagan; beer, brats, burgers, and great friendship stories.
Tbd special activity ‘tween Aug. & Oct.
November Unihogs & Technologists reunion luncheon at Casper's.
December Annual UNIVAC Old Timers’ Reunion at the Lost Spur in Eagan.

Encouraged Social Activities
Numerous group meetings at breakfasts, lunch, and dinner venues around the Twin Cities; see web site Activities page.
Recreation League combinations of retirees and current Unisys & LMCO employees—i.e. Golf, PC & Electronics Club, Bowling, etc.