The annual TI Retiree Luncheon this year recognized not one, not two, but three anniversaries. The theme was "Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of TXN (listing of the TI stock), the Texans Credit Union and the Texins Association." It was held on Thursday, November 14, at the Mesquite Convention Center with updates on TI's business trends by Kevin March. After everyone enjoyed a delicious barbecue dinner, Greg Turner, Chief Lending Officer at the Texans Credit Union, entertained us with the important benchmarks of our credit union beginning in 1953 when eleven TIers put in $5 each to form the organization. In fact, several of those eleven were at the luncheon, and Greg was honored to meet them. Our entertainment this year was a former TIer, Linda Freeland, who performed Patty Cline songs from the '50s and '60s and had some retirees dancing in the aisles. She has been doing this impersonation for over five years, performing 485 times during that period at various events.
Various displays included photos and artifacts from 1953 related to the listing of TI stock on the New York Stock Exchange lined the walls of the Convention Center. A copy of the first stock certificate, issued to Eric Jonsson, was one of the historic displays. Flu and Pneumonia shots were available at the event as usual.
The TIAA Community Involvement Team had asked attendees to bring an unwrapped toy as a special donation this year for the "Toys for Tots" campaign. We were very pleased to gather 105 unwrapped toys plus $60 in Walmart gift cards during the luncheon for this purpose. The team will join other volunteers to help sort the toys which were collected city-wide.
A drawing was held at the end of the luncheon for four $100 gift cards with names drawn from those who donated to this year's United Way Campaign. Along with drawings for prizes from some of the exhibitors, we also had the traditional drawing for door prizes for those who turned in a survey form at the luncheon. Buses from Sherman, the Spring Creek facility and the Dallas Texins Activity Center in north Dallas brought retirees who preferred not to drive to Mesquite.
Around 35 organizations had booths at the event, including Legend Sponsors from the TIAA Golf Tournament and several non-profits. For example, Gary Stopani was at the Dallas Ramps booth and explained how volunteers will probably build more than 200 wheelchair ramps in 2013 for elderly and disabled people in the Dallas area who cannot afford them.
TIAA President George Consolver closed the meeting at 1:30 pm and the retirees continued visiting and touring the exhibits before the buses left at 2:30.
A slideshow of the event can be seen here.