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EBAC Retirees Club is open to all retired EB employees, salaried and hourly, that are members of the EBAC when they retire. Dues are $2.00 per year and are collected by the Retirees Club every January and forwarded to the EBAC.

The Retirees Club meets at 10:00 a.m. on the first Friday of each month at THRive 55+ powered by  Groton Senior Center (102 Newtown Road, Groton, CT 06340). Coffee and pastries are provided by the club. The meetings usually last about 30 minutes. The club has a president, secretary and treasurer who are elected annually by the members. In addition to discussing current member activities and issues, the names of recently departed retirees and employees are read and a moment of silence is held in their honor. The club occasionally has a guest speaker come in to discuss member issues.

http://www.ebac.us/retirees/index.html

We would like to recognize Obie for being such a fantastic volunteer and always giving his all to us. He began coming to our center in 2002 to play cards. In 2006, he become a volunteer, he felt that the center was such a nice place to go that he wanted to give back and do his part to keep it up. Obie feels that it is important for folks to show their value and prove that they are an asset to the community by volunteering.

Obie is often seen setting up for events, collecting bottles and turning them in for Club 55, prepping for Club 55 fund raisers. He does anything he can that the staff needs with a smile on his face. Obie stated that “I enjoy doing what I do and it gives me a great feeling!”

A veteran, he retired after twenty –one years of Submarine Service. He has been a member of the Sub Vets since 1964, also volunteering his time with Sub Vets events and fundraisers.

For many years, Obie has been a mentor to children from broken homes. He has gained family members doing this and takes great pride in being able to help shape these children and watch them grow into successful adults.

Obie enjoys hobbies like stamp collecting, postal history, computers and records. When Obie had a youngster at home he also enjoyed helping with youth sports and ran a youth football league. Obie stated that “I like to help lift people up away from bad times so that they can look to a brighter future!”  Thank you Obie for all you do!

Connecticut has lost a great leader. Edith Prague stood head and shoulders above others. She wasn’t a politician. She was an advocate for those in need. She taught by example. She gave freely of her time, energy, and expertise. Passionate, dedicated, a champion of seniors and those in need is only the start of descripting Edith Prague. She worked tirelessly to create a world and the systems needed to help others. Edith stood up when others said it couldn’t be done. She did what was right even when she knew she would pay a high price. She taught me and many, many others the skills we needed and still use today to create a better world.

I worked with Edith to raise the income limits for ConnPACE. She made the time to help me start and build a mail in campaign that was so successful the ConnPACE asset test has carried over to the MSP program many seniors benefit from today. This campaign grew into thousands of prescription bags being mailed to key state officials from all over the state. Seniors in Connecticut continued to mail them until the income limits for ConnPACE had automatic increases that equaled Social Security increases. Parts of that program has carried over to today’s MSP – Medicare Savings Program – that offers assistance to eligible Medicare enrollees.

During her first term as Commissioner of the Dept of Aging she stood her ground and fought for what was best for Connecticut’s seniors. Then when she wouldn’t play ball with Governor Lowell Weicker, he fired her. He went on the eliminate the Department and threw the needs of the seniors into the Department of Social Services. But Edith never quit!

Again, I worked with Edith to successfully recreate the Department on Aging in 2013. It was a long, hard-won fight. But when it was all over, she was rightfully named the Commissioner. Unfortunately failing health caused her to leave in 2014. And without her, the Department was again swallowed up. This time into the Department of Aging and Disability Services.

(As a side note – it’s beyond me on how aging and a disability are similar. What’s the common ground for each group? If a person celebrates a certain birthday – they then are automatically disabled? If a person has a disability that makes them old? I just don’t get it…)

Being a true problem solver, Edith was a driving force behind lower prescription costs, long-term care, senior housing and was an expert on counseling seniors on which health insurance program was best for them.

The legacy Edith Prague leaves the seniors of Connecticut is endless and the impact of her advocacy will be with us for decades more. She worked tirelessly to create the systems and the programs many use and benefit from today!

Thank you, Edith for making the world a better place!!

We would like to recognize Obie for being such a fantastic volunteer and always
giving his all to us. He began coming to our center in 2002 to play cards. In 2006, he
become a volunteer, he felt that the center was such a nice place to go that he wanted
to give back and do his part to keep it up. Obie feels that it is important for folks to
show their value and prove that they are an asset to the community by volunteering.
Obie is often seen setting up for events, collecting bottles and turning them in for
Club 55, prepping for Club 55 fund raisers. He does anything he can that the staff
needs with a smile on his face. Obie stated that “I enjoy doing what I do and it gives
me a great feeling!”
A veteran, he retired after twenty –one years of Submarine Service. He has been a
member of the Sub Vets since 1964, also volunteering his time with Sub Vets events
and fundraisers.
For many years, Obie has been a mentor to children from broken homes. He has gained family members doing
this and takes great pride in being able to help shape these children and watch them grow into successful adults.
Obie enjoys hobbies like stamp collecting, postal history, computers and records. When Obie had a youngster at
home he also enjoyed helping with youth sports and ran a youth football league. Obie stated that “I like to help
lift people up away from bad times so that they can look to a brighter future!” Thank you Obie for all you do!