UNUM RETIRED LADIES LUNCHEONS By Linda Robichaud

Women retirees (a group of about 40) meet for lunch and conversation six or seven times a year, in addition to the three UNUM Retiree Luncheons.  
Generally, we assemble at a local restaurant in the months of March, April, May, October, November and December.

The workings of the group have evolved over time – The ‘calling tree’ method of communication has been replaced with email, although there 
are still a few who haven’t gotten quite that far.

The group originated as a spin-off of the Union Mutual Fun Chat Club.  (The Fun Chat Club ultimately became the 2211 Association when 
we moved to Outer Congress Street.)  Fun Chat Club gave the female employees a vehicle for getting together socially, outside the confines 
of the office.  There were fashion shows, Christmas parties, lunches and other outings, as well as a bowling league.

From the Fun Chat group, and as women retired, several of them began these luncheons as a way to stay in touch with each other and an 
opportunity to socialize.   As more women retire, the group grows; of course, due to moves, illnesses and deaths, the group contracts as well.

The December luncheon is historically devoted to collecting funds/goods for a charity.  This also originated from the Fun Chat activities of old.  
Betty Cushman, Marge Haugaard and Bertha Cadigan (all still active participants, I might add!) headed this project for a number of years. 
Some of the organizations that benefited from these activities were various Food Pantries, Ronald MacDonald House, The Bayside Project 
and, for many years, the residents of the Barron Center.   The torch was then handed to Pat Thomes.  For two years, The Maine Youth Center
residents were the recipients; the next three years we supported The Teen Shelter through Preble Street.

In 2012, Linda Robichaud volunteered to organize this activity, again donating goods and funds to The Teen Shelter; those items collected 
were distributed as gifts at their Holiday Party on December 12.  Through the generosity of our ladies, we donated in excess of 132 pounds 
(over fifty bags/boxes) of toiletries, backpacks, hoodies, socks, hats, gloves and personal care items for distribution to these at-risk teens.  
The Preble Street folks were very grateful for our continued support and pretty much blown away by the sheer volume.

Our March luncheon is scheduled for the 20^th, but that is prior to your receiving this newsletter.  However, if you fit the description of a
UNUM retired woman and would like to join us for some or all of our luncheons, please give me a call or send me an email, and I’ll see
that you get added to the contact list.  That’s Linda Robichaud – (207) 838-0380 – lrobich1@maine.rr.com

I’ve attached a few pictures from our December luncheon at the South Portland IHOP.

Sue Parsons, Joann Gerrity, Pat Thomes	Bette Robicheaw, Dorsey Redshaw, Judy White
Bertha Cadigan, Betty Cushman & Julie Martin	Matt Brown, our contact at Preble Street, resting before we begin unloading my car.

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