GREATER ATLANTA CHAPTER IBM QUARTER CENTURY CLUB JANUARY 2012

Transcription

1 GREATER ATLANTA CHAPTER IBM QUARTER CENTURY CLUB JANUARY 2012 QCCers were serenaded by the barbershop quartet Up Front during the Holiday Get-together last month at Sidelines. Everyone seemed to enjoy the food, the company and the entertainment. Up Front, a barbershop quartet with the Stone Mountain Barbershop Chorus, entertained QCCers for nearly an hour with Christmas favorites as well as some barbershop standards. From left to right: Baritone Mike Walsh, Bass Scott Patzer, Lead Alan Smart, and Tenor Pete Pifer. QCC President Mike McGuire fills everyone in on the past year and the upcoming year before introducing Up Front, a barbershop quartet, as the entertainment for the evening. Cheryl and Bill Clements, QCC Vice President of Membership. Ready for 2012? See your QCC board president s message on Page 2. If you have ideas for activities or events, contact any board member (see back page for listing).

2 A Message From Your QCC Board By Mike McGuire, QCC President First, let s say thank you to all the members, many of whom supported the activities, new and old (hopefully improved) events. Participation is the oil that keeps the club running. Being a member is the first step and a critical one. Hopefully in 2012 we will see more take that step and more provide the ideas for those improved events. Secondly, please be prepared to hear more requests for assistance in creating, leading and participating in the 2012 calendar of activities. It is from many that we all gain as new ideas are brought forth and previous approaches enhanced. So in advance, thank you for your help. And the final thought as we start the year, the value of membership is the renewed contact with fellow IBMers, the support of the IBM image in our community, the opportunity to learn more about important and timely topics, whether local history and events or personal education, and as always to have some fun doing the above. In Memoriam: John Allnutt John was a real participant in so many different QCC activities; he offered ideas and volunteered to take the lead on projects; he looked for ways to support the community. John is and will be missed by the QCC. 2

3 Take A Hike! QCCers Learn About Piedmont Park s Rich History By Mike McGuire, QCC board president On October 29th, 25 hardy QCC members and others walked from the Ansley Mall parking lot to Piedmont Park. There we were welcomed by two members of the Piedmont Park Conservancy. For about 2 hours we learned the history of the park and how Atlanta grew from a very small town to what Mike McGuire and Bob Axt enjoy the cooooool weather during the Fall Walk at Piedmont Park on Saturday Oct. 28. Parts of the Civil War, civil rights activities and political motivation figured in the transformation Midtown is today. Parts of the Civil War, civil rights activities and political motivation figured in the transformation of a large plot of land into the beautiful recreational park of today. Yes, the golf course is gone, there is now an awardwinning dog park, but there are the magnificent trees, the open spaces and the lake to add to the beauty of the park. Bob and Carolyn Axt were ably joined by Susan and Jim Slemenda in organizing the event. Most of the hikers enjoyed lunch at Panera in the Ansley Mall and all had a chance to thank Jim, Susan, Carolyn and Bob for creating a wonderful event, even if it was a little cooler that we all wanted. The QCC did make a contribution to the Piedmont Park Conservancy in appreciation of its two members who filled us with facts and figures to help us appreciate the Park. Got An Idea For An Event? Call or any QCC board member (listed on page 4 of this newsletter). 3

4 Following are the answers to the questions in the September newsletter:? HISTORY & TRIVIA By Ron Floyd 1. CTR began in the late 1800s as a collection of several small companies making primarily three diverse product lines. Can you name those three product lines? 1) Computing Scales 2) Time Recording 3) Tabulating Machines 2. Herman Hollerith s development of the punch card depended on the holes in the card being read or sensed by what means? Electricity 3. Tom Watson Sr. left NCR as its General Sales Manager in 1914 because of what kind of problem? Serious disagreement with CEO John Patterson 4. The first commercially successful (two words) is placed on the market by IBM in Can you name that product? Electric Typewriter 5. Between 1934 and 1936, IBM introduced three benefits which were likely a first for any company. Can you name those benefits? Group Life Insurance, Paid Vacation, Paid Holidays And now, can you answer these: 1. By 1950, IBM had developed several hundred types of transistors, but they were initially invented by what well-known company? 2. The first government anti-trust suit against IBM was settled in 1956 by what legal arrangement? 3. Also in 1956, IBM s production of the SAGE large-scale computer for air defense, was considered to be the first (two words) data processing computer. What were those two words that defined SAGE and was a first in the industry? 4. The IBM location long known as Plant No. 1 was located where? 5. Before World War II and for a number of years after, Tent City was a common phrase used for what yearly IBM celebration? Come To A QCC Board Meeting WHEN: Second Wednesday of each month, 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. WHERE: Sidelines on Roswell Road east of the Big Chicken. 4

5 Don t Miss These Big Tax Exemptions By Bob Slaney If you are 65 or older and reside in Georgia, you should apply at your county tax assessors office for the age 65 senior citizen exemptions. I applied recently and was approved in five minutes. These exemptions are not well publicized. Take advantage of the information below: Here are the write-ups for the age 65 exemption(s): Individuals 65 Years of Age and Older May Claim an exemption from state tax on their home and 10 acres of land surrounding the home: Individuals 65 years of age or over may claim an exemption from all state ad valorem taxes on their home and up to 10 acres of land surrounding the home. Ad valorem tax for state purposes will be due on the assessed value of land that exceeds the 10-acre limitation. (O.C.G.A ) Individuals 65 Years of Age and Older May Claim a $4,000 Exemption: Individuals 65 years of age or over may claim a $4,000 exemption from all state and county ad valorem taxes if the income of that person and his spouse does not exceed $10,000 for the prior year. Income from retirement sources, pensions and disability income is excluded up to the maximum amount allowed to be paid to an individual and his spouse under the federal Social Security Act. The social security maximum benefits for 2011 is $55,742. The owner must notify the county tax commissioner if for any reason they no longer meet the requirements for this exemption. (O.C.G.A ) You can find the Cobb County application on the cobbtax website or just pick one up at the tax assessors office on Whitlock. There is one form for all exemptions including the age 62 school tax exemption (if you've not applied for this, you are missing a big exemption). IBM Quarter Century Club Advisory Board 2012 President Mike McGuire mikemcguire2@bellsouth.net Vice President Open Treasurer Ron Floyd rfloyd1094@comcast.net Membership Bill Clements wclem@bellsouth.net Special Events Tom Satterlee satterlee@bellsouth.net Web Master & Blasts Bob Slaney bob.slaney@atlqcc.org Board Member At Large Bob Axt robertaxt@earthlink.net Board Member At Large Dave Zilles dzilles@earthlink.net Board Member At Large Vic Mazza vicmazza@bellsouth.net Board Member At Large Shawn Shepard shawn@us.ibm.com Board Member At Large Pat Patterson Patt812@bellsouth.net Newsletter Amy Slaney amyslaney@comcast.net QUARTER CENTURY CLUB Greater Atlanta Chapter P.O. Box 1193 Woodstock, GA