Cargill Cares Alumni

Newsletter


  Scroll down and click on the links below to read the full articles.

      ....Or click on Winter 2024 Newsletter to view the full document.

 

President’s Corner - Phil Deeney

Many of our volunteer hours involve food programs

Click to read more from Phil

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Volunteer Spotlight

"Until All Are Fed" - read more on FMSC

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More on CCA's Focus on Food Programs

Click to view the highlights of CCA's Fall activities:

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Other Volunteer Highlights/Opportunities

Click on the links to view 

Upcoming Events:.


Click link for more info on upcoming 2024 Social Events



Click Volunteer Projects for info on CCA activities.



View upcoming education -  Cargill/Vanguard Financial Wellness webinars for

2024-25.



Fall Social Events - click here to view the social events

Teed Off - Golfing in the cold

Sidekick Theater is new theater venue

Tap Connections

Bowling

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Questions About Retirement and Benefits?

From time to time, CCA receives inquiries about health care, benefits, retirement, etc. While we are not able to answer those questions, we certainly want you to get answers. In all cases, we recommend that you contact Cargill directly, so you can get the straight answers from them.

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Trivia - Did you find the FMSC trivia questions?

How well do you know your Cargill trivia? Check your answers .

The CCA newsletter is published quarterly in spring, summer, fall and winter. It is distributed to Cargill retirees and

other alumni, as well as Cargill senior leadership. If you have articles to share, stories of volunteer activities or other items of interest, please send them directly to Barb Kula at b.l.kula@comcast.net.

 

Contact the CCA office at cargillcaresalumni11@gmail.com or leave a message at 952-742-6188.

 President’s Corner - Phil Deeney

Around this time of year, many of us are typically rummaging through the refrigerator looking for some leftovers from Thanksgiving. That is certainly a nice option, but for those less fortunate, it is an option not available to them. Food insecurity is a real problem, and they must rely on programs to feed their family.

 As we reminisce on what we are thankful for, I always include those who work hard to make life easier for those in need. We are so fortunate that there are a host of individuals who step up to make a difference in the lives of others. Within CCA we have “Project Leads” and “Volunteers” that do this work. Many of our CCA volunteer hours involve food programs. To those involved with these volunteer efforts, saying “Thanks” during this time of Thanksgiving just does not seem to be enough. We are so very proud of you! To other members out there looking to help, check out our CCA calendar.

There are numerous opportunities, and we are ready to sign you up.                             

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Volunteer Spotlight                                                         Return to top

 ‘Until All Are Fed’ 

 

By Barb Kula 

 

That is the goal -- “until they are all fed” -- of Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) and of our Spotlight volunteer, Thom Schultz. My husband, Darrell, and I volunteered for the packing event at FMSC on November 5. Seeing the CCA team in action is something to behold. On time, on task, scooping ingredients, weighing, sealing and boxing nutritious meals for children living in abject poverty and starving for a nutritious meal each day. And Thom Schultz runs the show for us. He sets up volunteer opportunities for CCA members five times a year, including one mobile packing event each year. 

 

Thom went to his first FMSC packing as a team building event with Cargill. His takeaway: “How do you look into the eyes of starving children?”  He knew he needed to do something. So, he started volunteering to make a difference in the lives of starving children. In January 2016, Thom joined CCA after a 38-year career with Cargill, improving business processes through information technology. When Larry Knutson retired as project lead for FMSC he recruited Thom to take on the task and lead his first FMSC event in November 2017.


Today, Thom feels like FMSC is his mission. His personal goal is “to help ensure no child goes to bed hungry at night. FMSC is very hands on and allows you to be directly connected in making meals for starving children.” In addition, Thom volunteers through CCA at Second Harvest Heartland and The Food Group. There is a theme here: People should not go hungry. 


Sage advice from Thom: “When folks retire, it can feel like a loss. People need to find something to be passionate about…something you care about. Doing this (volunteering) makes you feel good. You will get a lot back by helping others. Just do it.” 


Pictured left - Dick Fulmer and Thom Schultz

A Word From ‘One of the Chefs’ 

Who should I meet at the packing event on that cold, rainy day in November but Dick Fulmer. I could not pass up the opportunity to have him tell me the story of Feed My Starving Children from the beginning. The last time Dick Fulmer hit the spotlight was in the Spice (former name of CCA) Newsletter, April 8, 1994. The article told the story of how Dick Fulmer, Dick Proudfit and others spent six years perfecting and producing a nutritious “Fortified Rice Soy Casserole” now known as MannaPack™. Dick was working as the director of Research prior to his 1990 retirement from Cargill. He brought his expertise to the project. 

 

 When I asked Dick what he thought of his project now, he had one word: “Amazed.” He shared that the early days were difficult at best. Getting the formula right so it met WHO nutrition specifications, making certain it did not spoil, making sure it tasted and looked good. FMSC had to negotiate with distributors, set up transportation and make sure storage was “burglar proof” -- all at a cost to FMSC.