QUITE A DAY!

I was extremely pleased to see and hear from so many of our retirees, when on May 17 th more than 175 retirees attended the DEAR Annual Meeting. In contrast, I think back to the roots of DEAR, to that small dedicated group of retirees who with their vision and financial support started DEAR and aimed it at preserving retirement security. I was still an active employee when they held their demonstration in front of the downtown headquarters on what I remember as a cold wet day. KUDOS to all of them for their vision and initiative: we have come in from the cold!

DEAR support from retirees continues to grow as evidenced by the attendance mentioned above. That support is important to the DEAR Board in that it indicates we are pursuing issues that are important to DTE retirees. The future remains clouded when trying to figure out the best avenue to protect the benefits that each retiree worked those many years to earn, but DEAR pledges to continue to pursue ways of effectively working with DTE, legislators and the MPSC to protect our benefits.

I want all DTE retirees to know DEAR is here to represent your best interests no matter in which part of the DTE family you spent all or most of your working days. DEAR represents both Detroit Edison and Michcon retirees and pledges to pursue their issues with equal vigor.

I invite any retiree with an interest in joining the DEAR board to let me know. While we are not actively seeking new board members at this time, we do keep a list of potential replacements and or new prospects: New skill sets are always welcome.

On behalf of the DEAR board, I thank you for your support of DEAR.

Jim