The VIP CLUB was created in 1980 as the Sperry Retirees Club, a non-profit, social and service organization [IRS cat 501C(7).] By 2010 we had grown to over 1,500 members, a 2,000% increase from the initial 75 members. Members are retirees, former employees, spouses, and retirement eligible employees of Unisys, Lockheed Martin (LMCO), and their Twin Cities 'predecessor’ companies illustrated in our Legacy icon at the right. The VIP Club provides a forum for retirees to remain connected with work colleagues and the 'computer' community. A synopsis flyer is available for printing.
The Executive Board meets periodically to conduct business of the club including program planning, newsletter production, and website maintenance. UNISYS is our host company, although their Roseville operations moved to Eagan in 2017 - they continue to print our newsletters and allow us occasional use of their conference rooms. Every April, the Club honors our members who are an asset to their communities through individual volunteer activities - this volunteer luncheon continues the tradition of recognition that Sperry started in the late 80s.
In addition to this web site's Legacy Anthology; volunteers are preserving
our Legacy at the University of Minnesota's
Charles Babbage Institute in Minneapolis,
MN and with an artifact exhibit and posters at the Dakota
County Historical Society's Lawshe
Memorial Museum located in South St. Paul, MN.
This Legacy is coupled with a corporate sister division;
see notes from Unisys Blue Bell and
EMCC history in Pennsylvania. The Unisys Blue
Bell Retirees' Group web site was http://www.ubbrg.org
until April of 2017. Our Newsletters page has links to their last few NEWSBITS issues.
A Constitution governs the VIP CLUB; defining the Board as President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, four Directors, and the Immediate Past President. The Constitution directs the Board to enact operational Bylaws with four goals:
We are all volunteers, welcome help with any aspect of services and social activities. We conduct Club business at Board meetings on the first Wednesday morning of even numbered months. Board Associates who coordinator various activites participate in these meetings as needed or as they wish. Club members are always welcome to attend Board meetings, please notify the President by the Friday before any meeting if you have an issue for the agenda.
Position | Name | Phone | 651-483-3709 | Committees | ||||
President | Jim Andrews | 651-357-6033 | james.r.andrews@comcast.net | All, Webmaster | ||||
Vice President | Les Flugum | 952-431-6352 | flugum2020@gmail.com | Programs |
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Treasurer | Paul Hove | 651-738-4908 | paul@paulhove.com | Membership | ||||
Secretary | Boni Westberg | 651-429-2534 | volunteerboni@gmail.com | Programs Planning | ||||
Director | Dick Lundgren | 952 288-5141 | Rflundgren@aol.com | Various | ||||
Director | Gish Devlaminck | 651-470-8905 | membership@vipclubmn.org | Membership | ||||
Director | Eric Spring | 651 454-1154 | ericpspring@gmail.com | Programs | ||||
Director | Open | |||||||
Past President | Harvey Taipale | 651-280-7332 | hjtaipale@comcast.net | All | ||||
*Ex-Officio | Dale Phelps | and | Joe Schwarz | Various | ||||
Associate | Mary Beth Ruhland | 651-470-9519 | clubnewsltr@vipclubmn.org | Newsletter | ||||
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Lowell Benson | 612-850-2299 | webmaster@vipclubmn.org | Asst. Webmaster, Legacy Committee |
*Members Emeriti; former board members who continued to support board activities long after their board tenure.
We coordinate 'Social Events' at various facilities. These events generally are the second Wednesday of various months as announced in the newsletter and Social Activities tab. If you'd like to hear about a specific topic or from a local speaker, call or send a note to the programs activity coordinator. These Coordinators could always use help, please call them directly for an assignment.
What | Who | What | Who | |||
Annual Holiday Party | Jim Andrews & Boni Westberg | Newsletter Staff | Richard Lundgren, 952 922-9587
Don Naaktgeboren, 952 927-8051 Joe Schwarz, 651 698-9698 |
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Annual Reunion Picnic | John Westergren, Keith Behnke, and Eric Spring | Photo Identification @ Lawshe Museum | Jon Simon, 651 463-7367 Bob Pagac, 952 431-3981 |
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Annual UNIVAC Old Timers Reunion | Paul Hove, 651-738-4908 Boni Westberg, 651-429-2534 |
Programs Committee | Keith Behnke, 651 894-2182 Dick Lundgren, 952 288-5141 |
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Legacy Committee Chair | John Westergren, 651-456-3380 | Recreation Activity Communications | Keith Behnke, 651 894-2182 | |||
Exhibit concept coordination | Keith Myhre, 655 344-2828 | Roseville Good Old Days | Dave Kleba | |||
Liaison, Charles Babbage Institute | Dick Lundgren, 952 288-5141 | Sunshine - bereavement cards to families of deceased members. |
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Liaison, Lawshe Memorial Museum | Harvey Taipale, 651 748-5083 | Volunteer Breakfast Coordination | Harvey Taipale, 651 748-5083 Jim Andrews, 5651-357-6033 |
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Membership Committee | Gish Devlaminck, 651-470-8905 Paul Hove, 651-738-4908 |
Web Site Updates | Jim Andrews, 651 451-7502 , 651-357-6033 | |||
Newsletter Editor, Chief | Mary Beth Ruhland, 651-470-9519 |
The annual Board election process begins in August of each year when the President appoints a three person nominating committee chaired by the Immediate Past President. The candidate slate for the following year is provided to the Club members in the Newsletter preceding the election and/or at the Club general meeting/program preceding the election. All club members are eligible to volunteer to be a candidate for election to any of the Director or Officer positions [except for the Immediate Past President which is not an elected position.] Floor nominations at the election meeting are in order - the person being nominated for the position must be willing and able to serve in the position. If a Board member resigns during his/her year of service, the Board appoints someone to serve in that position until the next election.
We track major changes to our site for the convenience of readers. Note that the revision date of each page and chapter is at the bottom of the left navigation section.
*As of November 2009, changes to the Announcements section of the home page are not listed.