Dear Members and Participants,
As the year winds down, we want to take a moment to say thank you. Thank you for your trust, your commitment, and for showing up—day after day—not just for yourselves, but for your colleagues and your community.
This season isn’t just about reflection; it’s about recognition.
As mentioned in the November issue, our mailbag experiment — where we answer actual questions from actual humans — seems to have taken on a life of its own. It’s not exactly a Christmas miracle; more like that mysterious fruitcake that keeps showing up every year.
Alright, here’s the deal with the Plan’s Shortage of Hours rules: make your payment on time, and everything hums along smoothly. Miss the payment, or send it late, and you’ve lost a small but predictable opportunity to maintain uninterrupted coverage under the Health and Benefit Plan.
If there’s one thing the past few decades have proven, it’s that real progress doesn’t come from flashy bets or headlines. It comes from steady hands, careful choices, and a commitment to think long term. Since 2020, your Pension Plan has quietly been compounding strength.
As we head into the season of twinkly lights, ill-advised sweaters, and the annual rediscovery of schnapps, it’s worth noting something rather curious: many people haven’t taken advantage of the Defined Benefit Plan’s Roth feature. And that’s perfectly fine—choice, after all, is a wondrous thing.
Thank you to everyone who was able to join us at the educational seminars on November 4th, 2025. Your presence made the day truly special. Across the two sessions, we were honored to welcome more than 250 participants—a wonderful turnout that reflects the strength and spirit of our retiree community.
The news coming out of Washington, D.C., regarding Medicare isn’t exactly the kind of thing anyone would wrap up with a bow and slide under the tree. In classic government fashion, officials insist they “won’t cut Medicare benefits,” yet somehow the math on the ground is telling a different story.
This month’s off-topic topic is… traffic circle etiquette. Some of you call them “roundabouts.” And yes—before anyone emails the office—Roundabout was indeed a magnificent song by the band YES, and if you haven’t heard it, do yourself a favor and give it a spin.
America. Land of the free, home of the brave, and for over a century, U.S. agriculture has been a quiet colossus — feeding the world while policymakers argued over whose steak was medium-rare.
But this month (It’s October 26th, while I write this), the export engine that powered rural prosperity has seized up.
Every now and then, the Plan needs to make sure our records reflect real life. People move, families grow, coverage changes. That’s why you recently received a short form asking you to confirm or update your insurance status — for you, and for any dependents you cover.