Welcome

We are excited to offer our  retiree newsletter to keep you in touch with Sunflower. We plan to publish our newsletter each quarter, or as needed. If you no longer wish to receive these updates, you may unsubscribe any time. We encourage you to subscribe to our public newsletter, The Current to stay informed: http://www.sunflower.net/newsletter-archive/

Employee Announcements

July

• Brian Schiffelbein was promoted to Control Room Operator in Holcomb.
• Adam Leonard was promoted to Shift Supervisor in Holcomb.
• Billie Koehn was promoted to Billing/Meter Data Specialist in Garden City.
• Mike Jeffus was promoted to Billing/Meter Data Administrator in Hays.
• Steve Park was promoted to Manager, Operational Support Systems in Garden City.
• Cody Allen was promoted to Journey Line Technician in Garden City.
• Stephen Christensen was promoted to Auxiliary Equipment Operator Trainee III in Garden City.
• Derek Hahn was promoted to Journey Line Technician in Colby.
• Adam Wolking was promoted to Journey Line Technician in Great Bend.

August 

• Garrett Parker was promoted to Operator Trainee in Holcomb.
• Brett Carroll was promoted to Journey Substation Technician in Colby.
• Jay Vratil was promoted to Journey Relay Technician in Great Bend.
• Lane Loeppke was promoted to Telecommunication Supervisor in Garden City.
• Lloyd Holl was promoted to Lead Line Technician in Great Bend.

September 

• Josh Rees was promoted to Maintenance Planning/Scheduling Supervisor in Holcomb.

Retirements

 John Geil – After 39 years of service to Sunflower, John retired on Friday, August 17, 2018. About 95 of his coworkers, friends and family gathered for lunch in Garden City. John will keep busy in retirement with Chief’s football, hunting, fishing and church.

Gregg Joy  – Gregg Joy, senior EI&C technician at Holcomb Station, retired on Thursday, Aug. 2, after five years of service. Gregg celebrated by having a lunch with his department. ​ Thanks, Gregg, for your dedication to Sunflower. Wishing you all things good in your retirement.

Retiree Benefits

If you are enrolled in Sunflower’s retiree health insurance, you will soon receive the following documents in the mail:

• 2019 Premiums – We are very pleased with our rates for next year. There are no changes in the benefit coverage. Your individual rates are listed in your letter.
• 2018 Creditable Coverage and Notice – Blue Cross and Blue Shield has determined that your prescription drug coverage is “creditable” for the purpose of Medicare Part D. Please keep this document in your records for reference if/when enrolling in Medicare Part D.
• 2017 Summary Annual Report – This report indicates the financial performance of the plan.
• KECHIT Summary Plan Description Addendum – This Summary Plan Description is designed to explain some of the more important terms and provisions of the Plan. This is only a summary of the Plan, and it may omit details that may be of importance to you in a given situation.

If you are enrolled in Sunflower’s retiree life insurance, you will soon receive the following documents in the mail:

• 2019 Rates – We are very pleased with our rates for next year. There are no changes in the benefit coverage. Your individual rate remains at $4.40 per month.
• Beneficiary Form – If you would like to update your beneficiaries, you may complete the included document and return the original to Sunflower. Please keep a copy for your records.
• 2019 Group Life and A D and D Summary of Coverage and Certification – This document contains details of your policy. Please keep it for your records.

Employee Activity Committee Christmas Parties

The Holcomb Employee Activity Committee (EAC) invites all Holcomb retirees to the annual Christmas party on December 6, 2018, at 11:30 am at Holcomb Station. Your RSVP is requested to Anna Van Wy at 620-277-4567 by November 22.

The Hays Employee Activity Committee invites all Hays retirees to the annual Christmas Party on December 7, 2018, at noon at the Rose Garden, 2350 E. 8th St., Hays, Kan.  Your RSVP is requested to Jeannine Bloss at 785-623-3301 by November 20.

The Great Bend Employee Activity Committee invites all Great Bend retirees to the annual Christmas party on December 14, 2018, at 11:30 am at the Stonebridge Country Club in Great Bend.

The Garden City Employee Activity Committee invites all Garden City retirees to the annual Christmas party on December 21, 2018, at 11:30 am at the Garden City Transmission Building. Your RSVP is requested to Alyssa Powers at 620-272-5415 by December 10.

2019 Health Fair

You are invited to attend Sunflower’s annual Health Fair! At the health fair, you will be offered the opportunity to have your bloodwork taken and screened for various tests. These tests will produce results showing your Glucose level, LDL level, HDL level, TSH level, Cholesterol level, and much more. The best part of this screening, besides that fact that it is FREE, is that you will be able to take these results to your doctor to help determine what is going on inside your body – even if you are healthy. Don’t try to understand the results by yourself – set up an appointment with a doctor to discuss your lab results. Sign up with any administrative assistant or HR to reserve your spot today!

If this is your first time, or even if you are a seasoned veteran, this step-by-step guide will help you prepare for your onsite health fair appointment:

1. Please fast (don’t eat) 8 hours prior to the testing; you are encouraged to drink some water to make the blood draw easier. If you typically have trouble finding a vein, you may want to warm your arm with a heating pad before your scheduled time.
2. Upon your arrival, please sign in with the administrative assistant and wear your visitor badge.
3. Please check in with HR; you will be asked to complete the following forms:
   1. Kansas Pathology’s bloodwork form.
   2. If electing the voluntary A1C test, you will be asked to complete the “2019 Employee/Spouse Health Fair Payroll Deduction Form” and write a check for the A1C. This is not required if you are not doing the A1C test.
4. Give the attendees in front of you some privacy as they get their blood drawn. This is a private matter, and most people don’t like an audience watching them.
5. When you are called, you will roll up your sleeve, and the phlebotomist will talk you through the rest of the procedure. In about 1-2 minutes, you will be finished. You may want to consider your outfit choice that morning; easy access to your arm is recommended (short-sleeve or loose-fitting, long- sleeve shirts).

Tests to be performed include the following (Participants will elect the applicable tests):

• Profile I (CMPA, TPAHEM, LIPID, TSH) Note: This test is for women and is paid for by Sunflower.

Or

• Profile II (CMPA, TPAHEM, LIPID, TSH, PSA) Note: This test is for men and is paid for by Sunflower.

Optional Tests that you may add on include the following:

• GLYCO (Glycolated Hemoglobin A1C): $17; Learn about the benefits of this test here.
• Vitamin D 25OH: $35; Learn about the benefits of this test here.
  Note: Participants will be required to reimburse SEPC for the entire cost of these tests via check or cash.