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2. Club Milestones:

      In December 2009, the board granted a 'Member Emeritus' award to Warren and Dorothy Becker in recognition of their decade of coordinating the annual Christmas party as well as serving on the board of directors.

     In June 2009, the board granted a 'Member Emeritus' award to Charles and Midge Homan for their long term service to the board and Club.

    In January 2009, Dick Lundgren and Lowell Benson with their grandsons attended a Minnesota Sesquicentennial final event, the sealing of a time capsule for the 2058 Minnesota bi-Centennial.  We put several items into this time capsule including a report about our Sesquicentennial activities.  The first of those activities was a May display of our history on the Capitol Mall - illustrated by this snapshots from our booth.

    In December 2008, the board granted a 'Member Emeritus' award to Millie Gignac, John Dufour, and Bernie Jansen for their long term service to the board and Club.

    In April 2008, the board authorized the webmaster to archive a copy of the web site on a CBI internal host for future use by researchers.  Board members at that time were Lowell Benson, Brian Berggren, Quint Heckert, Bernie Jansen, Lynn Farris Lindholm, Dale Phelps, Joe Schwarz, Marion Scott, and Tom Turba. This board also authorized storage of a newsletter set at CBI.  

     In November 2007, the Club in conjunction with the Legacy Committee formed a Sesquicentennial Team to promote our Legacy during Minnesota's 2008 150th celebrations.

     In October 2007, the board authorized combining the Club and Legacy project's web sites onto a Microsoft hosted 'free' site, the URL, vipclubmn.org was available.  Also, the IRS accepted the Board's resolution to change the Club name from Sperry Retirees Club to VIP CLUB.  
     In 2006, the VIP Club Board updated the operational Bylaws to reflect current modes of operation.

     In 2005, the VIP Club celebrated its 25th year at the annual June picnic - The Legacy Committee was formed in October.

     In 2002, Joe Schwarz started a web site on Yahoo for the Club.

     In 2000, the Twin Cities Lockheed Martin MS2 organization petitioned the board to become a sponsor.  The Constitution change incorporating this sponsorship was approved by a plurality of ballots returned by the members in June of 2000. 

     In 1984, we registered with the Internal Revenue Service as 'Sperry Retirees' Club', a 501(c)(7) - non-profit social and services club.

     In 1980 the club was formed as described in section 4 below. 

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3. Previous VIP Club Officers

 Data in this table came from Dale Phelps, Curt Nelson, Bill Galle, and Joe Schwarz.  There are a few blanks in this table, reader inputs are welcome to complete our history.

# Member Emeritus

*The treasurer transition from Jack to Lowell occurred in September ‘06

**The editor transition from Curt to Bill occurred in mid 1993

4. THE BIRTH OF THE VIP CLUB By Millie Gignac
     After working at Sperry Univac Headquarters in Blue Bell, Pa., for five years, I was transferred back to St. Paul Defense Systems where I conducted pre-retirement classes for Defense and Roseville employees.  As I worked closely with employees getting ready to retire, I observed that many were reluctant to break the "Sperry-tie".
     So, in the fall of 1979, I started to plan a clubroom for our retirees.  Our Plant Engineering Department was asked to draw up floor plans with cost estimates.  I was allotted approximately 1465 square feet in our Shepard Road plant.  This plant was centrally located sort of "in the middle" of all our Twin City plant locations and was accessible by public transportation.  Not only were top management supportive, but also our manufacturing management who gave up prime space in a manufacturing facility.
     Action on these plans started in early spring 1980.  The section of the plant to be used had to be completely renovated removing old walls, paneling, ceiling and replacing those with new.  In addition, new wiring and plumbing had to be installed, and a fully equipped kitchenette designed and installed.  Carpeting was laid, and furniture was selected and ordered.  We had decided that we needed, in addition to the kitchen, a lounge area with a television, comfortable chairs and sofas, plus an area with tables for card playing, games, and writing letters.  Our basic purpose was to provide a permanent base from which the employee club could operate, but leave it to the group's own initiative to plan activities, take trips and engage in projects.  We had further envisioned that the Company's support would be limited to aid in the initial forming of the organization, providing the space and facilities without charge, a very modest budgetary contribution annually and continuing guidance and support from the Personnel Office as required.
     While all this was going on, we had made no contact with the retirees.  I simply assumed they would welcome the idea with open arms!  In April 1980, I compiled a list of retirees--people who were enthusiastic about life and were receptive to new ideas, I selected a mixture of male, female, salaried and bargaining unit retirees, and invited them to lunch to discuss starting a Sperry Retiree Club.  Needless to say, the group was ready to go!  We continued to meet, and they compiled a letter which was sent to over 450 Twin City area retirees.
     By June 1st we had received responses from 150 retirees who expressed an interest in forming a club.  We sent a follow-up letter advising them that due to summer vacations, the first meeting would be held in September.
     Meanwhile, the construction and furnishing of the club room was completed (at a cost of $35,000).  We planned a ribbon cutting ceremony for July 24, 1980 and I invited Bob McDonald, who had just retired as President & Chief Operating Officer of Sperry Corporation, to take part in the ceremony and cut the ribbon.  He was delighted to be included. (He also came back some time later to speak at one of the Club's monthly meetings.)  {Editor's note: This photo shows our first Club President, Al Mueller, with Mr. McDonald, and Millie.}  
      The first general meeting was held on September 3rd with about 75 in attendance.  Officers were elected; plans were made for future monthly meetings and a set of rules were drawn up.  Club members were advised they would have to abide by Company regulations, but other than that they were on their own -- it was their club -- even as far as clean-up was concerned.  Our maintenance people (in fact, all employees) were not allowed in the room.  It was not intended to be an employee lounge area.  A well-written constitution and by-laws were drawn up which protected the Club and the Company.  The Club Room was open 24 hours a day.
     In 1982, we were successful in getting the Club, as a group, involved in community volunteer work.  They took on many projects, which resulted in the retirees being a good-will extension of the Company and an asset to our community.

VIP Page 4 updated 22 May, 2010