People reaching 57 that would like to see how much of a pension benefit they have coming or would like to start that benefit, this is the process:

You must contact both: A. O. Smith and Tower at New York Life

• A. O. Smith Corporation Employee Benefits
  P. O. Box 245006
  Milwaukee, WI 53224-9506
  Toll free phone number: 800-631-7819 (A.O.Smth Corp)
• New York Life Investment Management
  P. O. 796
  Norwood, MA 02062-0796
  Toll free phone number: 800-294-3575(New York Life)
  www.bcomplete.com

If you need any help with any of this please give me a call either at
414-871-2460 or 414-578-8285.
 
Donald Schrauth

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Attention: Summary Annual Report - Life Insurance Benefits Only.

On Monday - October 10, 2011, Tower mailed out a report to all of the retirees that have life insurance benefits with Tower. This only applies to Life Insurance - you will not be able to get any type of medical insurance from Tower.
 
There is no need to contact anyone from Tower unless a death has occurred - that is the only time.
 
This was for Life Insurance benefits ONLY.
 
If you have any questions regarding this please feel free to call me.
 
414-871-2460
414-578-8285
 
Donald Schrauth

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Attention all former A.O.Smith / Tower Automotive Employees:

Check out the Alumnus of A. O. Smith Club website, or if you are interested in finding out more about the club contact Mr. Tommy Burress at 414-354-5310
 
Also, I am looking for retirees from 1998 thru 2001, if you are 65 and getting the Medicare Supplement would you please give me a call at: 414-871-2460 or at my home 414-578-8285.

Donald Schrauth

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For All Participants in the TAMU Trust - Badger Care Bench Mark Plan

I have resigned from the TAMU Trust board leaving no representation on the TAMU Trust Board by a 19806 member.

The majority of participants in the program still are 19806 previous members.
 
It would be sad not to have a representative from our storied past not on that board. So, anyone interested in being on that TAMU Trust Board should contact:

• Marianne Robbins at:  414-223-0433

I do hope someone will volunteer to become a part of the TAMU Board, I will assist you and get you up to speed if you want.
 
Donald Schrauth

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Tower Pension Payments - Your deposit notificaitions are going "green".
 
New York Life Retirement Plan Services is changing the way you receive your monthly direct deposit notifications.

As of April 2010, your notifications will no longer be mailed to you.
 
You can still view your detailed payment information online by following these steps:

• Log in to your account on www.bcomplete.com
• Click the "View My Benefit" tab.
• Select "Activity History" from the left-hand bar.
• Click the "Distributions" tab to view your payment history

You can also check with your bank to verify that your deposit has been made.
 
If you have any questions or would like to confirm your payment information by phone, please call Benefits Complete at 800-294-3575. The Benefits Complete automated information line is available seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day. Participant Service Center representatives are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern time on New York Stock Exchange business days.
 
In the event you are using Benefits complete for the first time - either online or by phone- you will need to create a Personal Identification Number/ Password (PIN/Password), Your PIN/Password must be between five and 24 characters, in any combination of letters and numbers, and you can change it at any time. You will be asked to provide your Social Security Number and date of birth when establishing your PIN/Password.
 
Any questions call me,
Donald Schrauth

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Badger Care Plus Benchmark Participants
January 29, 2010
 
For those of you that have enrolled, you should have received a packet of information with your choices of HMO. If you have questions about the choices you have available contact the enrollment broker at 1-800-291-2002. If you get voice mail leave a message. If you do not get a call back in two days and you have an urgent issue, contact Sue Bach at (608) 267-9049.
 
Most of the participants should have received notice of their HMO by now. You have ninety (90) days after you are assigned to an HMO to select a different one. You can also make this selection when you first get the packet with HMO choices. If you have been assigned an HMO and you wish to change to another HMO you should contact the enrollment broker.
 
Once enrolled in an HMO, if you have problems obtaining services from that HMO, you may contact the HMO ombudsman. Contact information for the ombudsman is contained in the HMO enrollment packet you received.
 
If you have any questions please feel free to call me and I will either try to answer or to get you to someone that can answer your questions.
 
Donald Schrauth

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Tower Automotive Milwaukee Union Retiree Benefits Trust and Benestar have announced:
 
December 16, 2009
 
To All Current Dental Participants:
 
As you know, the Medical coverage under the TAMU Plan is terminating 12/31/2009.  However, if you currently have Dental coverage through the Tower Automotive Milwaukee Union Retiree Plan, your Dental coverage will continue with no change in cost or benefits effective January 1, 2010. The monthly cost will remain at $27.50 per single retiree and $55.00 per retiree with dependents.  If you do not wish to continue your dental coverage please notify a customer service representative at 1-800-236-4782 as soon as possible. Thank you Group Administration.
 
If you have any questions call that number or you can call me and I will try to get an answer for you.
Donald Schrauth

RE: Tower Automotive - Group Life Insurance
 
Effective October 1, 2009, Aetna Life Insurance company ("Aetna") will be the new life insurance carrier for Tower Automotive's life insurance coverages.
 
There is no action required on your part. Your current coverage amount and beneficiary (ies) will stay the same.
 
If you have any questions regarding your life insurance coverage you can contact the Aetna Life Insurance Services Center at 1-800-523-5065, toll free Monday through Friday between 8:00 am and 7:00 pm EST or log onto our website at: www.aetna.com
 
If you have any questions regarding your beneficiary designation or want to change beneficiaries, you can request a form from Linda Fryc at Tower's number 616-802-1543.
 
Call if you have any questions.
Donald Schrauth
414-871-2460

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October 16, 2009
 
TO: Tower Automotive Milwaukee Union Retirees Under Age 65 who were eligible for retiree health insurance under the Tower Automotive benefit plan and the union's collective bargaining agreement.
 
In the Tower Automotive bankruptcy proceedings, Tower ceased providing health benefits to retirees under age 65. Tower provided limited funding to establish a Voluntary Benefit Association (VEBA), known at the Tower Automotive Milwaukee Union Retiree Benefits Trust (TAMU Trust) which has provided health benefits to participating retirees under age 65 since July of 2006.
 
Unfortunately, the TAMU Trust's funds are too low to maintain the TAMU program of benefits in 2010. The TAMU benefit program will not pay benefits for health care provided after December 31, 2009. The TAMU Trust will pay benefits for participants incurred before January 1, 2010, provided medical bills are submitted on or before March 31, 2010.
 
The Wisconsin state legislature has made available the Badger Care Plus Benchmark program to former Tower Automotive Milwaukee Union employees who were eligible for pre-65 retiree health benefits. This is not a free program. Participants must pay the applicable premiums for the Badger Care Plus Benchmark program. Current participants in the TAMU Trust program will receive packets of information concerning enrollment in the Badger Care Plus Benchmark plan.
 
If you were eligible for the Tower pre-65 retiree health benefits, but are not a current participant in the TAMU Trust health benefit plan and you lose your current health benefit coverage, you also may be eligible to participate in the Badger Care Plus Benchmark plan. If you lose your current health benefits and you were eligible for the Tower Automotive pre-65 retiree benefit you may contact the Wisconsin State Department of Health Services at (608) 266-6740 to determine your eligibility and if eligible to receive a packet of information.
 
More information will be coming shortly.
 
Donald Schrauth.
414-871-2460

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September 18, 2009
 
I have been informed that NY Life mailed out the distribution forms this week to all the remaining participants in the old Tower Automotive Union 401(k) Plan.
 
Participants have until November 30 th to complete the forms and return them to NY Life.  The NY Life mailing address is on the form. All plan assets will be distributed by December 31st. Participants who do not respond will have their balance placed in an IRA at NY Life.
 
Participants will be able to elect one of the following options:

1. Lump sum distribution
2. Rollover to an IRA or another employer's plan

Donald Schrauth

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August 5, 2009

Old Tower 401 (k) Plan

Tower has gotten permission from the IRS to terminate the old 401 (k) plan. A communication will be mailed by NY Life to the remaining participants the second week of August. According to NY Life, there are 675 participants in the old union plan.

The communication will include distribution forms and explain the following:

1. Participants will have the option of
   A. Receiving a lump sum distribution / or
   B. Rolling over their account to an IRA or another employer's plan
2. All funds must be distributed by November 30, 2009.
3. Participants who do not respond or cannot be located will have their account moved to an IRA at NY Life.

ERISA Settlement:

The ERISA settlement has been distributed to participants who held shares in the Tower stock fund between August 3, 2001 and January 31, 2005. On July 21st, the settlement was deposited in to their accounts in the old 401(k) plan. Because the old plan has been terminated it will be necessary for participants to receive a distribution (lump sum or rollover). On Friday NY Life mailed a communication about the settlement to participants. These participants will also receive the communication I mentioned about concerning the plan termination. Participants with questions about the settlement should be directed to The Garden City Group at 1-800-951-2103 through September 30, 2009.

A class action suit was filed against Tower Automotive, Inc. NYSE:TWR, and a certain number of its officers and directors, by stockholders who held the company's common stock between August 3, 2001 and January 31, 2005. If you are a member of the Settlement Class because you held shares of the Tower Automotive Stock Fund under the Tower Automotive Retirement Plan or the Tower Automotive Union 401 (k) Plan ("prior Tower Plans"). The Tower Automotive Products Savings Investment Plan and the Tower Automotive Products Employee 401 (k) Savings Plan were also part of this action, but were merged into the Tower Automotive Union 401 (k) Plan on December 20, 2006.

The allocation of the settlement was recently approved by the Court. During July your portion of the settlement if you had one, was deposited into the account you held in prior Tower Plans, and invested in the Stable Value Option. You can redirect the investment of your account at any time via Benefits Complete.

Benefits Complete can be reached at this number: 1-800-294-3575 to request a distribution package in advance.

Please contact the New York Life Participant Service Center at 1-800-294-3575 if you have any questions regarding your distribution options.

Please contact me if you have any questions I may be able to help you with.
 
Donald Schrauth
414-871-2460
414-578-8285

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Attention Anyone that was in the VEBA - TAMU Trust - Benestar program.

In the budget that was signed this past week, there was an amendment— "Senator Spencer Coggs Budget Amendment #1 Tower Automotive" included in the 2009 Wisconsin Act 28 the Budget Bill.  It was successful through the efforts of many people who we are very grateful for and appreciate their efforts very much.

This legislation will allow those who have been covered by the Tower Automotive Milwaukee Union (TAMU) VEBA and are not yet age 65 to purchase coverage from the Badger Care Plus Benchmark Plan. This is not a free program. Anyone who decides to participate will pay the premium of the coverage, but we anticipate it will be a reasonable price. This has been arranged because VEBA will not be able to provide benefits next year in 2010.

We do not yet have the details of how much the coverage will cost, how to enroll, or the details of who will be eligible. We will be working with the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services to get this information out.

Here is the language:

49.471 (4) (d) An individual is eligible to purchase coverage of the benefits described in sub.(11) for himself or herself and for his or her spouse and dependent children, at the full per member per month cost of coverage, if all of the following apply:

1. The individual lost his or her employer - sponsored health care coverage as a result of his or her employer's or former employer's bankruptcy.
2. After losing his or her employer - sponsored healthcare coverage, the individual received health care coverage through a voluntary employment benefit association that was established before August 2006.
3. The individual is not other wise eligible for coverage under this section.
   The individual is under 65 years of age.

We will be getting the information out as soon as we get it.

If you have any question please call.
414-871-2460
Donald Schrauth

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