For over a decade and a-half, Jeanette Argersinger, center, has compiled contact addresses of Citizens Bank of St. Johns retirees and coordinated summertime reunions. During a recent gathering, she posed with latest retiree, Carol Dunsmore, left, and longest retiree Bev French.
Retirees of St. Johns Citizens Bank reunite at the Mint
Twenty-three retirees of Citizens Bank of St. Johns and their spouses and guests met in a familiar venue recently when they joined together to share memories in a place where once they met on a daily basis. The location was the “Mint” restaurant, formerly the site of Clinton National Bank, then Clinton Bank and in recent years, Citizens Bank.
It was the second time the group reunited at the site and both occasions were somewhat like – as Yogi Berra once said – “déjà vu all over again!” The décor is changed, but the basic layout could not be denied. Each retiree had personal recollection of how, where and why they spent working time in the building.
Jeannette Argersinger, former assistant vice-president, human relations, offered a succinct observation in saying, “The place offers a lot of memories for each of us. I’m sure everyone has vivid thoughts of their days here.”
Since the early nineties, Ms Argersinger has maintained personal records of the growing list of retirees from the bank, kept track of postal and email addresses and coordinated periodic gatherings of the group. “We began,” she said, “with annual lunches, but after a few years we went to biennial gatherings. Recently, we’re back to annual.”
Executive vice president Gayle Desprez was the highest ranking officer to attend the session, but Ms Argersinger read a few notes from former employees unable to attend. One was from former President Brandon White, now a resident of Florida.
“It’s always good to hear from everyone, even if they can’t join us. We learn where they are and how things are going,” commented Ms Argersinger.
For the time being, the “Mint” seems to provide an ideal location for the reunions, offering 20-40 former Citizens Bank employees a chance to reconnect and remember.
Twenty-two retirees of Citizens Bank gathered at the Mint for a group photo. From left to right, back row: Mary Cosgrove, Renee Schomisch, Jeannette Argersinger, Phyllis Rhynard, Virginia Shawnee Zeeb, Joan Thelen, Charlotte Shoup,Marlene Fabus and Karen Taylor. Middle row: Shirley Lake, Anne Vlcek, Carol Dunsmore, Tammy Arthur, Helen Studer, Cheri Sisung, Bev French and Judy Hyde. Front row: Paul Duncan, Ron Huard, Gayle Desprez, Ann Parker and Diane Armbrustmacher. Missing from photo is Dawn Schneider.