Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) representatives will meet with workers and retirees covered by the Outboard Marine Corp. (OMC) Employees Retirement Plan at five locations in January and February to explain the federal pension insurance program and answer questions.

PBGC took over the OMC plan on October 3, 2001, and continued uninterrupted payment of benefits to retirees. The plan covers about 10,000 people and is underfunded by about $100 million, according to PBGC estimates. PBGC uses its assets to make up the shortfall.

Meetings for participants in these plans are scheduled as follows:

At the meetings, PBGC will copy and certify any proof documents (birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, etc.) that participants bring to the meeting. Anyone with questions should contact PBGC's Customer Service Center at 1-800-400-7242. For hearing-impaired TTY/TDD users, call the federal relay service toll-free at 1-800-877-8339 and ask to be connected to 800-400-7242.

PBGC is a federal corporation created under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to guarantee payment of basic pension benefits earned by more than 43 million American workers and retirees participating in nearly 38,000 private-sector defined benefit pension plans. The agency receives no funds from general tax revenues. Operations are financed largely by insurance premiums paid by companies that sponsor pension plans and investment returns.