DFWIBMers.org » Events

Vickery Home Tour-October 16-Lower Greenville

Susan Johnson — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 15:13:52 +0000

The October 16 event features 5 beautifully renovated Craftsman and Prairie style homes plus a new home inspired in the style of Frank Lloyd Wright. There is also a VIP Kick Off event Saturday Oct. 15 from 6pm to 9pm at a Craftsman Bungalow that has just completed a major 2 year renovation project.

Advance tickets maybe purchased online at http://hometour.vickeryplace.com/ for $12. The price for the tour plus VIP event is $25.

Home tour proceeds benefit Animal rescue of Texas (ART), Bonham Elementary School and Vickery Place, the latter for much needed street/sidewalk improvements.

IBM 2011 DFW Tuesday Golf League

Bicycle Ride at Ohio University to End Cancer Joined by Jackie Urbanczyk’s Niece

Susan Johnson — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 16:43:58 +0000

It was a great weekend at Ohio University. Jill, Jackie Urbanczyk’s (current IBMer) niece, and her team completed the 180 mile ride in two days. Phil Krause (former IBMer no longer with us) helped start Jill’s business. The event was very well organized, great fun and very inspiring. Everyone associated with the Pelotonia ride was friendly, helpful and dedicated to the One Goal of eliminating cancer. Many of the riders had pictures of the people they were riding for, some had the names written on their arms and legs, Jill had Phil Krause along for the ride, and some of the riders were cancer survivors. Jackie and her family are very proud of Jill. The bike ride raised almost 9 million dollars for cancer research.

9/11 Remembrance and Reconciliation: The Arts District Chorale and Orchestra

Susan Johnson — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 19:15:32 +0000

Arts District Chorale and Orchestra
H. Michie Akin, Conductor Soloists
Jodi Wright, Soprano and David Grogan, Baritone

Narrators
The Reverend Dr. Robert Dannals, Rector of Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church
Imam Dr. Yusuf Kavakci, Spiritual Leader of the Islamic Association of North Texas
Rabbi Debra Robbins, Associate Rabbi of Temple Emanu-El
Voluntary donations benefit the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement

Sunday, September 11, 2011, 7:00-8:30 PM
St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church
8011 Douglas Avenue at Colgate, Dallas
Reception to Follow

Free and Open to the Public with Ticket

For free ticket pickup locations and more information, go to: www.artsdistrictchorale.org

IBM Events for Greater IBMers (From LinkedIn)

Susan Johnson — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 22:42:04 +0000

• Act Fast: Special Discount for IBM Alumni and Retirees for the Smarter Commerce Global Summit
• THINK Exhibit Opens in New York City

Act Fast: Special Discount for IBM Alumni and Retirees for the Smarter Commerce Global Summit

The Smarter Commerce Global Summit 2011 ( http://bit.ly/nCCmDM ) is being held from September 19-21 at the San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina, and we have 100 discounted passes exclusively for IBM alumni who register (Note: Current IBM employees are not eligible.)

The discounted fee is $695.00, which is $600.00 off the standard price of $1295.00. That’s a whopping 46% discount! Click for details and to access the special promotional code:

https://www.ibmconnection.com/network/news/1829/

————————————————————————-

THINK Exhibit Opens in New York City

Plan to be in New York City anytime soon? Don’t miss the new THINK Exhibit opening at Lincoln Center next month. As part of IBM’s yearlong Centennial celebration, the exhibit – an exploration into how the world works and how we can make it work better – will be open to the public September 23 – October 23.

This groundbreaking exhibit offers visitors three innovative experiences: the data wall, a striking, real-time visualization of New York’s systems projected continuously across the exhibit’s exterior; an immersive film that reveals patterns involved in making the world work better; and a self-guided interactive tour.

Located in Lincoln Center at the corner of Broadway and 65th Street, the exhibit is open to the public. Admission is free.

IBM Alumni and Retirees can register for a special reserved viewing of the exhibit beginning September 10. Although there is no admission fee, you must reserve your time slot. This special exhibit is sure to be popular – details and registration: https://www.ibmconnection.com/network/news/1821/

IMPORTANT: Once you have submitted your registration, you will receive a confirmation email. You must print this confirmation and bring it to the exhibit for admittance. For additional information about the exhibit: http://www.ibm.com/ibm100/us/en/thinkexhibit/visit/

John Burgoyne – Wildfire Fighter in Texas!

Susan Johnson — Tue, 03 May 2011 20:47:54 +0000

by CASEY NORTON and JIM DOUGLAS
WFAA
Posted on April 18, 2011 at 11:20 PM
Updated Tuesday, Apr 19 at 8:52 AM

PALO PINTO COUNTY — The dangerous situation continued near Possum Kingdom Lake late Monday night as the massive wildfire west of Fort Worth burned out of control.

Around 4 p.m. — the hottest part of the afternoon — winds picked up and the fire took a turn for homes.

Four large fires linked, burning an estimated 63,000 acres.

From the air, a fire line could be seen about a mile long toward the southern part of the lake. The Texas Forest Service says 32 homes and one church have been destroyed since the fires began last week.

Firefighters called in reinforcements Monday night after the fire consumed several homes around the lake.

Monday evening, the horizon glowed orange from the fires that continued to burn through thousands of acres near Possum Kingdom Lake.

Units from Keller, Watauga, Euless and Colleyville joined the battle to control the huge blaze that was formed by at least four separate and smaller fires. They are using urban firefighting equipment to try and stop the fast-moving rural wildfire.

As flames crept over a ridge near the Sportsman’s World subdivision, homes were swallowed by smoke and fire.

WFAA witnessed one home that was devoured by flames in less than five minutes.

Firefighters and police patrolled nearby roads asking homeowners to leave. They also cut livestock loose from their burning pastures.

On Hell’s Gate Drive, Fort Worth-area firefighters moved in to save one house. They felled surrounding cedar trees to create a perimeter, and they sprayed Hodge Ranch with fire-retardant foam to shield it from any stray embers.

With hoses at the ready and winds settling down for the night, Hodge Ranch appeared to be safe. But firefighters still said they are losing the battle against the flames that continue to climb hillsides while racing toward more homes in Palo Pinto and neighboring Stephens counties.

The owner of Hodge Ranch told News 8 she was safe with her daughter in Fort Worth on Monday night, praying for the safety of her home, her neighbors’ homes, and all of the firefighters who are working to protect their property from further damage.

Some of the volunteer firefighters have been working since last Friday. Now their battle is against both the flames and fatigue.

As night fell, you could see devastation in the hills and desperation in the faces.

“You’ve just got to be here, is all I’ve got to say,” said a volunteer from the Lone Camp VFD near Mineral Wells.

James Coker, another volunteer, was asked where he’s sleeping at night. “On the truck, on the ground… wherever it’s safe,” he said.

The Lone Camp unit was patrolling an upscale development called Sportsman’s World. Most of that subdivision was on fire.

“We’re doing everything we can to save all we can,” said volunteer Cody Carter.

Earlier, we watched volunteers light backfires in an effort to keep flames from jumping across Highway 337.

“These are our neighbors,” said 69-year-old volunteer firefighter John Burgoyne from Parker County. “If this happened in Parker County, all the Palo Pinto guys and Jack County guys… all those guys would be helping us. That’s the way it works.”

But out here, with these wildfires hopping from place to place, almost nothing is working.

See video at the following url: http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Wildfires-advance-as-firefighters-battle-fatigue-120181379.html

E-mail cnorton@wfaa.com and jdouglas@wfaa.com

IBM 2011 DFW Tuesday Golf League

Susan Johnson — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 00:11:20 +0000

Event title: Tuesday Golf League 2011 – Dallas/Fort Worth

Date: Tue 19 Apr 2011 through August (18 weeks)

Time: 5:00 p.m.

Event short description: Tuesday Night Golf League (9 holes) – Grapevine GC, Grapevine, Texas

Event description: 9 hole league comprised of 2-person teams competing weekly for 18 week season – mid-April through August. Open to all (IBMers and non-IBMers) golfers (no beginners please). Tee times start at 5:00 PM each Tuesday evening.

Event cost description: Prepaid season fee of $385 per player includes weekly green fees and prizes.

Sign-up eligibility: IBM Employees, Retirees, Spouses/partners, Families, Guests

Sign-up status: Open

Sign-up comments: For more information and/or to sign up contact John Aulbach (jraulbach@gmail.com).

DFW IBMers Gather at Cavanaugh Flight Museum

Susan Johnson — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:41:28 +0000

On Saturday, October 10, 115 DFW IBMers gathered at Cavanaugh Flight Museum in Addison, Texas, a suburb of Dallas,Â for a great evening of food, drink and reminiscing.Â

Cavanaugh Flight Museum (CFM) (cavanaughflightmuseum.com) is home to one of the world’s finest collections of rare, historic aircraft from WWI,Â WWII, Korea, and Vietnam era aviation. In contrast to many of the ‘silent’ artifacts found in many other aviation museums, CFM has over 50 aircraft and approximately 80% of them are in flyable condition.Â For our Reunion on October 10th, CFMÂ opened upÂ their hangars and ramp areas for close-up touring and picture-taking. Jeff Wallach,Â a retired IBMer and active, flying member of the Museum, and other volunteersÂ provided personalized tours of these fascinating aircraft and answered questions on their history.Â

Special thanks also go to the following for their assistance in making the evening a great success: B.J. Kempf, Etaugh Francis, Tom Dillon, Paul Workman and Jack Atkinson.Â Wendy Stoneman, Cavanaugh Development & Marketing Director, provided excellentÂ guidance in arranging for and hosting the group, andÂ a great time was had by all!

Kudos to Texas Instruments

Susan Johnson — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 01:18:59 +0000

All: This note came from the cousin of a friend of mine and I though it might warm your hearts to know about a great Texas organization helping employees affected by the recent hurricane. I’m sure there are many other wonderful stories and I would love to hear about and publish them. Susan

I just wanted to share with you how great TI has been this week.

On Monday they had a truckload of ice and another truck full of bottled water on-site to give to the employees who work here. On Thursday gasoline was scarce, so they brought in a tanker truck and gave everyone who needed it 10 gallons of gas for free each day. All three of these things are still being offered. Also, for those who still donâ€™t have power, we have a laundry service that will do 1 bag of laundry a day and return it within two days, and a battery giveaway for flashlights. All of these things are free for those who need them.

Our supervisors ask each employee every day what their needs are and tries to make sure those needs are met. They have created a network, where people bring in unneeded supplies to other employees who are out of supplies. There is also a loaner program for people to bring in generators and chainsaws, if you no longer need them, to loan to other employees who do need them. I brought our generator in today to make it available for loaning out.

The company is also giving each Stafford site employee $500 to help with incidentals. We, like many large companies, have contract employees that do not work directly for Texas Instruments. All of the above benefits have been extended to contract employees as well as TI employees. This includes the $500 cash allotment.

Our management is helping us directly. I am so proud to work for such a generous company. They really do care about their employees.

The Red Cross Needs Your Help (www.redcross.org)!

Susan Johnson — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 01:57:19 +0000

Red Cross Help Just Beginning for Hurricane Victims

Monday, September 15, 2008â€”The American Red Cross has thousands of staff on the ground in Texas and Louisiana, offering shelter, food, and comfort to the millions of people affected by Hurricane Ike.

In Texas, more than 2,000 Red Cross disaster workers saw more than 17,000 people seek refuge in 144 shelters. Throughout the Lone Star State, Red Cross has served more than 130,000 meals and snacks to people displaced by the storm.

In Louisiana, almost 2,000 people were provided a safe haven in 19 shelters. About 1,900 Red Cross disaster workers have served more than one million meals and snacks to those feeling the affects of not only Hurricane Ike, but those still trying to recover from Hurricane Gustav.

â€œWe will be opening more shelters for people who canâ€™t return to their homes,â€ said Joe Becker, Senior Vice President of Disaster Services for the Red Cross, â€œWhen local authorities give the okay, our vehicles will bring food, water, and cleaning supplies into communities where people are returning to their homes.â€

The Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund is depleted. In the interim, the Red Cross is borrowing money to cover the costs of the hurricanes of 2008, yet they have not cut any of their service delivery to disaster victims and do not expect to do so.

About the American Red Cross:

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like the Hurricanes of 2008, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disaster. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation. Call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.

Former IBM Exec Moffat Gets 6 Months in Jail