NARFE Newsletter

HEALTH CARE

2012-01-24T16:40:00.001-05:00

Boomers fear health costs will overwhelm them in retirement..

The cost of health care in retirement is substantial, and many boomers feel they aren't prepared to meet those costs, a report released by the Insured Retirement Institute found. Almost two-thirds of boomers aren't confident they have enough saved to cover the cost of health care after they retire. Younger boomers are especially concerned; 72 percent of those between ages 50 and 54 say they are worried about being able to cover costs.

PAYROLL TAX-CUT

2012-01-24T16:35:00.002-05:00

NARFE is urging members to send a message to their members of Congress opposing a House-passed bill that would cut the pay and benefits of federal employees to finance the yearlong payroll tax holiday. A House-Senate conference committee will consider that bill and one passed by the Senate, which does not contain any cuts for feds.

The House bill "asks fewer than 2 percent of America's middle-class workers to pay for almost two-thirds of the entire payroll tax-cut extension.

YOUR 1099R

2012-01-24T16:25:00.002-05:00

January 24, 2012
NARFE NewsWatch

When will I get my 1099R?

Question: I am retired, and I want to file my taxes soon. When will I receive my 1099R from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)?

Answer: OPM will send your 1099R after January 31. You should expect to receive it in the mail during the first or second week of February.

SEVEN BIGGEST ECONOMIC LIES

2011-10-13T09:32:00.002-04:00

By Robert Reich, Robert Reich's blog

12 October 11

The president's jobs bill doesn't have a chance in Congress - and the occupiers on Wall Street and elsewhere can't become a national movement for a more equitable society - unless more Americans know the truth about the economy.

Here's a short (2 minute 30 second) effort to rebut the seven biggest whoppers now being told by those who want to take America backwards. The major points:

The Seven Biggest Economic Lies

Tax cuts for the rich trickle down to everyone else. Baloney. Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush both sliced taxes on the rich and what happened? Most Americans' wages (measured by the real median wage) began flattening under Reagan and has dropped since George W. Bush. Trickle-down economics is a cruel joke.
Higher taxes on the rich would hurt the economy and slow job growth. False. From the end of World War II until 1981, the richest Americans faced a top marginal tax rate of 70 percent or above. Under Dwight Eisenhower it was 91 percent. Even after all deductions and credits, the top taxes on the very rich were far higher than they've been since. Yet the economy grew faster during those years than it has since. (Don't believe small businesses would be hurt by a higher marginal tax; fewer than 2 percent of small business owners are in the highest tax bracket.)
Shrinking government generates more jobs. Wrong again. It means fewer government workers - everyone from teachers, fire fighters, police officers, and social workers at the state and local levels to safety inspectors and military personnel at the federal. And fewer government contractors, who would employ fewer private-sector workers. According to Moody's economist Mark Zandi (a campaign advisor to John McCain), the $61 billion in spending cuts proposed by the House GOP will cost the economy 700,000 jobs this year and next.
Cutting the budget deficit now is more important than boosting the economy. Untrue. With so many Americans out of work, budget cuts now will shrink the economy. They'll increase unemployment and reduce tax revenues. That will worsen the ratio of the debt to the total economy. The first priority must be getting jobs and growth back by boosting the economy. Only then, when jobs and growth are returning vigorously, should we turn to cutting the deficit.
Medicare and Medicaid are the major drivers of budget deficits. Wrong. Medicare and Medicaid spending is rising quickly, to be sure. But that's because the nation's health-care costs are rising so fast. One of the best ways of slowing these costs is to use Medicare and Medicaid's bargaining power over drug companies and hospitals to reduce costs, and to move from a fee-for-service system to a fee-for-healthy outcomes system. And since Medicare has far lower administrative costs than private health insurers, we should make Medicare available to everyone.
Social Security is a Ponzi scheme. Don't believe it. Social Security is solvent for the next 26 years. It could be solvent for the next century if we raised the ceiling on income subject to the Social Security payroll tax. That ceiling is now $106,800.
It's unfair that lower-income Americans don't pay income tax. Wrong. There's nothing unfair about it. Lower-income Americans pay out a larger share of their paychecks in payroll taxes, sales taxes, user fees, and tolls than everyone else.

Demagogues through history have known that big lies, repeated often enough, start being believed - unless they're rebutted. These seven economic whoppers are just plain wrong. Make sure you know the truth - and spread it on.

Robert Reich is Chancellor's Professor of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley. He has served in three national administrations, most recently as secretary of labor under President Bill Clinton. He has written thirteen books, including "The Work of Nations," "Locked in the Cabinet," "Supercapitalism" and his latest book, "AFTERSHOCK: The Next Economy and America's Future." His 'Marketplace' commentaries can be found on publicradio.com and iTunes.

Chain COLA

2011-10-02T06:40:00.002-04:00

Chain COLA is a new system to measure and set inflation-triggered cost of living adjustments for retirees.

Currently those January COLA adjustments are tied to the consumer price index (CPI). Although retirees have not had a COLA in two years, critics say the CPI system overestimates inflation. They argue that using a different yardstick would take into account spending adjustments people make in hard times (like now) and produce a truer estimate of costs. Bottom line, going to the chained COLA would reduce, by some estimates, future inflation-adjustments by half a percentage point, or more. Net effect would be smaller raises in future for federal, military retirees and people who get Social Security benefits. Reducing Social Security increases even a small amount each year would rack up billions of dollars in future savings. Estimated saving over 20 years is $100 billion.

KOPY KATS MUSICAL REVIEW

2011-08-26T08:34:00.003-04:00

The 2011 KOPY KATS MUSICAL REVIEW is slated for performances November 4th, 5th and 6th. A blockbuster of song and dance from Broadway stage and screen, the show was a big hit last year, and everyone had a terrific time! Insiders tell us this show is going to be terrific, with nationally accredited choreographer and director Jerome DeVito’s professional hand at the helm again.

As a much sought-after judge for National Dance Competitions all over the country, and a consistent producer of award winning shows at South Beach Dance Academy, Mr DeVito has taken Kopy Katters’ performances to exciting new levels that will delight local audiences.

Featured dancers are; Ms Kelly Lynch, ex Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader and USO Tour dancer, and Ms Jeannie Nichols, professional stage dancer, singer, and comedienne.

Seats for this show go quickly, so don’t wait to buy them!

Tickets are $15.

Kopy Kats Musical Revue

Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center

399 N US1

Fri. Nov 4th at 7:30

Sat Nov 5th at 2:30 and 7:30

Sun Nov 6 at 2:30

Box Office 386-676-3375

2012 COLA

2011-08-20T19:50:00.002-04:00

August 19, 2011

by Mike Causey

Although federal workers face at least one more year without a pay raise, government retirees are cautiously looking forward to a cost of living adjustment of around 3.3 percent in their January checks. That COLA, if it holds up, would be the first inflation-catchup federal, military and Social Security retirees have had since they got a 5.8 percent increase in 2009.( SORRY BUT I NEVER RECEIVED A 5.8 COLA)

The actual amount of the 2012 COLA won't be known until mid-September. The raise could be higher if inflation creeps up this month and in September. It would be less if living costs drop between now and the end of September.

By law, retirees are supposed to get COLAs to match the rise in inflation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statics Consumer Price Index. But for the past few years, inflation has been flat and there were actually months when living costs dropped. Result: No retiree COLA in 2010 or 2011. That(No retiree COLA) despite the fact that health insurance premiums for retirees (and workers) have been going up. And up.

In recent months, there has been back-and-forth inflation. The January COLAs for retirees are based on the rise (if any) of the CPI from the third quarter of the previous year to its level for the current year. The third quarter measuring period is July, August and September. So that means there are still two months (August and September) left in the countdown.

Courtesy of Lorraine Rumore, Research Chair.

Rep. Sandy Adams

2011-08-19T18:38:00.002-04:00

Charlie Shannon is urging NARFE Chapter 2247 members to attend Rep. Sandy Adams town hall meeting in Port Orange City Hall (1000City Center Circle, Port Orange, FL 32129) on August 17, 2011 at 6:00 p.m.

No one knows where the new Congressional Districts will be and it is very possible that some or all of us might be in Sandy Adams’ new District. At least a few of you are there already.

I will not be able to attend, but I completely agree and support Charlie’s plan. I did however hear Sandy speak at the Redistricting Meeting with the Young Bloods a few weeks ago.

Try to make this meeting and report back to the Chapter in September.

2011-08-13T11:54:00.003-04:00

Lorraine Rumore has contributed the following:    ----------------------------------------  Politics News Alert: U.S. Postal Service seeks to withdraw employees from  existing federal health and retirement plans  August 11, 2011 4:47:25 PM  ----------------------------------------    The financially troubled U.S. Postal Service is seeking to reduce its workforce  by 20 percent (120,000 employees), through layoffs now prohibited by union contracts, and  to withdraw its employees from existing health and retirement plans, instead  creating its own benefit programs specifically for postal employees. If approved  by Congress, the changes could have major ramifications for federal workers  across the government.

Read more in the Washington Post:    http://link.email.washingtonpost.com/r/E5QODK/V10G1P/PPKSN/E8NU4O/FVZ4E/1G/h

NATIONAL DEBT/ACTION

2011-08-06T15:30:00.003-04:00

Debt Deal Spares Fed Pay, Benefits – for Now: Thanks in part to the efforts of NARFE members, the debt limit compromise (Public Law 112-25) passed by Congress and signed into law by the President does not make any reductions in the retirement, pay or health benefits of federal employees and annuitants.

NARFE members made some 25,000 phone calls and sent over 215,000 e-mail messages to their legislators. These contacts, along with the face-to-face meetings they conducted with lawmakers and letters to the editor they submitted to their local newspapers, were key to this victory.”

I would like to thank all the efforts of the NARFE members of the Ormond Beach Chapter for their letters and their e-mail messages plus the many phone calls. THANK!

But the overall threat has NOT disappeared: Federal civilian retirement and health benefits continue to be vulnerable because the new law creates a bipartisan “Super Committee” of Congress with a mandate to cut spending by an additional $1.5 trillion before the end of this year. The new law requires Congressional Leadership to appoint lawmakers to the Super Committee by August 16, 2011.

NARFE members will continue to be asked to urge their lawmakers to defend the integrity of federal retirement and health benefits, especially those who are constituents of Super Committee members.

FEDERAL LUNCH JULY 2011

2011-07-20T17:25:00.003-04:00

Congratulations to all that made the effort to brave the July heat to be with our fellow Federal Retirees. My gratitude also goes to the Telephone Committee, Linda Gardener, Kay Seemiller, Lee Sherman and Mary Araya; and of course all the spouses. The conversations that I was aware of appeared to be simulating and encouraging. The lunches are an attempt to foster friendships and build lasting relationships among the members of the NARFE ORMOND Beach Chapter 2247.

Now, please enjoy the accompanying video.

REDISTRICTING

2011-07-14T16:32:00.003-04:00

NARFE 2247 NEWS #37 stated that once every decade the States have a chance to change the shape of the Congressional Districts based on voting population. This is the year for Redistricting. A public hearing will be held at the News Journal Center at Daytona State College on Tuesday, July 12, 2011 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Some of our Ormond Beach Chapter members attended that meeting. An article “Voters seek compact districts” appeared the next day on the front page of the News Journal. Mr. Derek Catron did an excellent job of reviewing the Redistricting meeting. I hope you all had a chance to read his article.

There are two types of districts, Congressional and State Districts. Volusia voters have been divided into three Congressional and four State Senate and six State House districts. Thus right within our Ormond Beach Chapter we have two different Representatives representing us in the US Congress and it could be three in the future. More is not better! Less in this case is better. For example John Mica lives in Winter Park (suburb of Orlando and78 miles away from us). We all know his interests are in trains and big business. By the way John didn’t think what Volusia people had to say was important enough to attend the meeting the other night in Daytona.

The Congressional districts are in a mess, but the State districts are even worse, if that is possible. Deltona is divided up into two US Congressional districts, two State Senate, and four State House districts.

The most glaring problem at the Tuesday meeting was that the politicians were not prepared. They had nothing but excuses. The people came hoping to see at least suggestions, if not plans.

We went away disappointed.

CAFE 101 JUNE 29, 2011

2011-07-14T12:25:00.001-04:00

2011-07-10T07:52:00.000-04:00

NARFE 2247 NEWS #38

The location for the July Lunch has changed. We will meet at Giovanni’s Italian Restaurant on Monday, July 18, 2011, at 11:30 a.m. Giovanni’s is where the Red Lobster Restaurant had formally been and where the Chapter met for over ten years.

The address for new members is 2735 N Atlantic Ave, Daytona Beach.

Please, inform me of your intent to attend by clicking REPLY and then SEND.

REDISTRICTING: Congressional Districts

2011-07-10T07:46:00.001-04:00

NARFE 2247 NEWS #37

Once every decade the States have a chance to changes in the shape of the

Congressional Districts based on voting population. This is the year for Redistricting.

This summer, Florida legislators are holding public hearings statewide to gather

public input on “redistricting”. In the past the politicians chose their voters

rather than the public choosing the makeup of the Congressional District the way

the Constitution intended.

This summer, we have the chance to change that or at least provide public

pressure on the politicians to change their ways.

Please plan to attend a public hearing at the News Journal Center at Daytona

State College on Tuesday, July 12, 2011 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Even if you don’t

reserve a place on the agenda attend the hearing anyway and be informed. Your

presents alone will make a necessary impression.

Please plan to attend a public hearing July 12th. and urge legislators to

provide draft redistricting plans for response from the public.

To RSVP click on the following link:

http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Redistricting/RSVP/07-12-2011-Daytona%20Beach

Copy and paste the above link into your web browser's "address" window.

If you make a reservation to attend, please inform me of your intention.

~ An Ode to America ~

2011-07-09T10:23:00.003-04:00

The following was sent to me by a Chapter 2247 member. My only comment is that I hope an outsider made this Observation. Whether it came from the outside or not doesn’t really matter. The words stand by themselves.

We rarely get a chance to see another country's editorial about the USA.

Read this excerpt from a Romanian Newspaper. The article was written by Mr. Cornel Nistorescu and published under the title 'C'ntarea Americii, meaning 'Ode To America ') in the Romanian newspaper Evenimentulzilei 'The Daily Event' or 'News of the Day'.

~ An Ode to America ~

Why are Americans so united? They would not resemble one another even if you painted them all one color! They speak all the languages of the world and form an astonishing mixture of civilizations and religious beliefs.

On 9/11, the American tragedy turned three hundred million people into a hand put on the heart. Nobody rushed to accuse the White House, the Army, or the Secret Service that they are only a bunch of losers. Nobody rushed to empty their bank accounts. Nobody rushed out onto the streets nearby to gape about.

Instead the Americans volunteered to donate blood and to give a helping hand.

After the first moments of panic , they raised their flag over the smoking ruins, putting on T-shirts, caps and ties in the colors of the national flag. They placed flags on buildings and cars as if in every place and on every car a government official or the president was passing. On every occasion, they started singing: 'God Bless America !'

I watched the live broadcast and rerun after rerun for hours listening to the story of the guy who went down one hundred floors with a woman in a wheelchair without knowing who she was, or of the Californian hockey player, who gave his life fighting with the terrorists and prevented the plane from hitting a target that could have killed other hundreds or thousands of people.

How on earth were they able to respond united as one human being? Imperceptibly, with every word and musical note, the memory of some turned into a modern myth of tragic heroes. And with every phone call, millions and millions of dollars were put into collection aimed at rewarding not a man or a family, but a spirit, which no money can buy. What on earth unites the Americans in such way? Their land? Their history? Their economic Power? Money? I tried for hours to find an answer, humming songs and murmuring phrases. With the risk of sounding commonplace, I thought things over, I reached but only one conclusion... Only freedom can work such miracles.

Cornel Nistorescu

It took a person on the outside - looking in - to see what we take for granted!

GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!

CECE'S 93rd. BIRTHDAY

2011-07-03T12:31:00.000-04:00

Alzheimer Research.

2011-06-29T09:12:00.003-04:00

In May, our Ormond Beach Chapter 2247 sent in a donation of $447.75 for Alzheimer’s Research. NARFE thanks all who have donated to this cause. Well done!

NARFE 2247 NEWS #35

2011-06-21T16:52:00.003-04:00

Café 101 will be Wednesday, June 29, 2011 at 11:30. The location is Daytona State College. 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd.

Daytona Beach, Florida 32114 - (386) 506-5859

I have reserved tables to accommodate 33 members.

This is an opportunity to talk informally with both your officers and other NARFE members. You may also provide your own opinions. These summer events are social in nature.

We always have room for more at the table, but please call me at 441-9240

NARFE 2247 NEWS #34

2011-06-15T16:12:00.000-04:00

Lorraine (Rainey) Savage (NARFE member of 2247) sent the following message out to people in her address book.

Rainey took the extra step because not only Federal Employees and Retirees are the target of these cuts ,but the general public will suffer in the end as well and need to be alerted to these in justices.

This is the actual message sent by Lorraine Savage;

FYI - We (Rainey) signed and sent out to the President and all Representatives considering further drastic cuts aimed at all Federal Retirement Pay, Active Duty Pay and Health Benefits - if we don't speak up, we won't be heard. Only 7,163 national federal employees have responded.

Are you kidding me? These cuts affects all current active duty and retired federal employee members and surviving spousal and dependent children pay and health benefits. Don't be afraid to stand up and be counted. This is not limited to Florida, this is NATIONAL.

If you are not a member of your local NARFE (National Active and Retired Employee), don't be afraid to sign it anyway, you are or have been an active member of the Federal Work Force. You are or will be affected by Federal budget balancing cuts. You may have children who work for or have worked for the Federal Government. Let them know, send it out to your friends and family who you know are members of the Federal Work Force and/or have an interest in this.

Join the Fight...Rainey

JOIN THE FIGHT: Ctrl+Click (to follow the link) http://www.narfe.org/heartbeat/

to send the updated letter to your elected officials NOW.

Federal worker retirement system under attack!

Federal employees ensure our food is safe and our air is healthy. Some spend their days fighting the spread of infectious disease, while others raise the alarm whenever a storm is coming.

We depend on federal workers in all 50 states to keep America strong. And they've already sacrificed pay and benefits to help solve our nation's budget woes, even though they didn't cause our economic crisis.

Yet according to recent reports, the federal worker retirement system “has emerged as a key target” in negotiations about our national debt. It's not right – and we need to speak out now.

Tell Washington: Federal workers Protect America's Heartbeat. Reject additional cuts to their pay and benefits.

JOIN THE FIGHT: Ctrl+Click (to follow the link) http://www.narfe.org/heartbeat/

to send the updated letter to your elected officials NOW.

Meeting of the Board – June 13, 2011

2011-06-15T09:15:00.001-04:00

NARFE Chapter 2247 Ormond Beach, FL

The Executive Board met at the Volusia Library at 10:00 a.m. Present were President Bob Wehrli, Past President Geri Wehrli, Linda Gardner, John Lowe, June Griffin, Joan Griffin, Kay Seemiller, Barbara Richardson, Donna Zajd and Mary Araya.

Preliminary remarks by the President included a brief evaluation of the two postal conventions in which our chapter participated. Four new members were added to NARFE rosters. A final tally of expenses will be submitted. Thanks to John Lowe, to Trish Vevera and to all who contributed to the success of this recruiting effort.

Summer programs are slated as follows: June: Café 101 ; July: River Grille; August: Giovanni’s. Regular monthly meetings will begin in September at the River Grille.

The main theme of this board meeting was to outline the goals and objectives of the telephone committee. The original intent of the committee was to encourage attendance at monthly meetings. Some members have no computers and/or little computer expertise. These members’ names were given to a telephone committee to contact. However, a social element became part of the phone calls: members, some housebound, grew to know their callers and shared bits of their lives with them. Cece Dougherty chaired this telephone committee to date, and will now receive assistance from Kay Seemiller who has volunteered to oversee the project. Others who join Kay are Joan Griffin, Donna Sajd, Barbara Richardson, Marguerite Heimenz, June Griffin and Judy Boring.

Several related actions were proposed to further the work of the telephone committee:

Linda Gardner and Bob will forward the M-114 Membership List, the Telephone List and the Postal List to Kay.

All members of the committee were requested to give a copy of their phone lists to Kay.

President Bob Wehrli will obtain the copy of Cece’s original list.

Bob shared that his personal wish/goal was that a Buddy System develop through this personal contact from member to member to unify our chapter in a meaningful way.

Donna Sajd proposed that Judy Boring, our Sunshine Chairperson, be routinely contacted by the committee to send cards and greetings to members who are recuperating from illness. Donna also offered to donate computer paper and to provide a program that will enable us to modify PDF messages.

Bob suggested writing a welcoming letter to all new members.

With no further business, the meeting adjourned with Bob’s thanks for the work accomplished.

Café 101

2011-06-01T15:04:00.004-04:00

Café 101 will be Wednesday, June 29, 2011 at 11:30. This is not a meeting, but an opportunity to talk informally with both your officers and other members.

We have seven tables (4 people on a table) reserved for a total of 28 members. Twenty five members signed up by e-mail, and we should have a few more reservations from those members without e- mail.

The college assured me that parking should not be a problem. First there are fewer student at that time, and you may park in the large lot across from Café 101 ( this was not possible at the last gathering).

America’s federal employees perform important jobs that demand skill and dedication.

Please send your letter to Congress and the White House by going to:

www.ProtectAmericasHeartbeat.org

DON'T SINGLE ME OUT!

2011-05-25T06:51:00.001-04:00

You should be concerned about the following possible actions in the near future.

1. Your civil service retirement fund and your Thrift Savings Plan might be in trouble because we, as a government, have borrowed so much money from China.

2. What about that so-called Diet COLA plan to reduce future cost of living adjustments for CSRS retirees to one percentage point less than inflation?

3. Have you heard about the cost-cutter proposal to change the way the government measures inflation that would dramatically increase each year the percentage of health premiums paid by active and retired workers?

What can you do?

click on:

http://www.narfe.org/heartbeat/

and either send the prepared message provided for you by NARFE , or write your own message!

Another solution is to call or Representative and Senators.

CONTACTING CONGRESS

Reaching policymakers in Washington is easy and only takes a few minutes. Even if you’ve never called Congress before, now is the time. Use the toll free numbers and follow the simple instructions below:

Step 1: Dial 1-866-220-0044 for the Capitol. Ask the operator to connect you to your Senator’s office or Representatives office or supply your ZIP Code.

Step 2: Tell the staff person who answers the telephone next where you live so they know you are a constituent, then say:

 I am a retired federal employee who [tell the staff person a little about your work].

 I am calling because I want to voice my opposition to any attempt to shift the cost of the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program onto employees and retirees.

 An increase in FEHBP contribution would squeeze millions of middle-class federal retirees like me – most of whom are on a fixed income – forcing seniors to choose between healthcare premiums and groceries and gas.

 I also oppose any mandatory increase in the amount that federal employees must contribute to their retirement fund, which is nothing more than a 5% tax on 2.2 million middle-class families.

 Current federal workers continue to be paid less than their private sector counter-parts.

 We have served our country proudly and shouldn’t be unfairly singled out to bear the burden of fixing a budget problem we didn’t create.

Step 3: Call 1-866-220-0044 again to reach the Capitol to deliver the same message to your other senator and your representative.

Step 4: The toll free number for the White House is 1-888-225-8418 Call from 9am to 5pm EDT. You can make four effective phone calls (one representative, two senators and the President) in only about 10 minutes!

Every new proposal to tax or slash the federal workforce is a threat to every active and retired federal worker. Washington is making it clear that they think our annuities are too generous – and that they think we can be easily singled out.

NARFE CHAPTER 2247

2011-05-07T15:40:00.002-04:00

ORMOND BEACH, FL.,

NARFE CHAPTER 2247

NEXT CHAPTER MEETING

MAY 23, 2011, 11:30 A.M.

RIVER GRILLE Restaurant

920 N. US 1, Ormond Beach

OFFICERS :

President, Bob Wehrli 441-9250

1^st Vice President, Cece Dougherty 672-5827

2^nd Vice President, Nicholas Calvano 676-4615

Secy., Mary Araya 386-437-1085

2^nd Secy., Eleanor Sherman 673-0871

Treasurer, Linda Gardner 677-0303

Service/Membership, Eleanor Sherman 673-0871

Sergeant-at-Arms, Donald Gaby 239-7639

Sunshine Person, Judy Boring 677-1060.

PROGRAM: Marguerite Hiemenz, Program Chair

Ms. Rebecca Becker, attorney at law, will be our speaker on May 16. She will discuss Elder Law which includes such things as Wills, Trusts, Health Care Planning, Probate, Guardianship and related subjects.

There should be something there of interest to everyone.

SERVICE AWARD

In an attempt to recognize the dedication, accomplishments, heroism, and sacrifice of our Government Employees at all levels of service to our citizens, I am beginning a new contest at the Chapter level. Submit your story of service or dedication in writing, e-mail, or phone before the September meeting and I will award you with a ten dollar ($10.00) meal coupon for the River Grille restaurant. The story may appear in one of our Newsletters, or be used at a NARFE meeting.

Let us get the word out that a Federal Employee whether he or she be in the military, Postal Service, IRS, a foreign service, health department, teacher

forest or parks department, customs, or any other Government service is mainly there to protect and serve. We do not make the laws. We merely see that the will of the people is carried out according to standards set by congress.

NARFE represents five million retired federal workers, retirees, spouses and their survivors.

LEGISLATION: by your editor

The good news is that the GOP plan to replace Medicare with vouchers has failed for the moment, because seniors made their wishes known in the town meetings. “Don’t touch what works.”

The bad news is that the, GOP House Speaker, Boehner said,” The GOP Medicare Remake remains on the table.” He continued to say, “Let me make this clear, when it comes to increasing the debt limit and the need to have reductions in spending nothing is off the table except raising taxes”.

That statement sounds like a threat to me. Plus, what happened to the promise,” we must all share in reducing the debt and pay our way?”

It would seem the many are expected to pay a larger proportion of their income so that a few wealthy and large corporations get a free ride. When it comes to taxes, the advocate of no tax increase always hides behind the small business person; but show me a small business person that has an adjusted gross income of more than $250,000. Now, you are in the class of a corporation not a small business.

The point is we no longer can expect a frontal attack. From this point on the attacks will be small bites and hidden language in unrelated bills. We must be even more alert and also depend on the Legislative staff members of all our groups like AARP and NARFE. Hopefully they will have the time and knowledge to recognize these attacks and alert us to action. As individuals we must write letters send e-mails and do what is necessary to make our wishes known. Our health care and economic existence is at stack here.

In the depression of the 1930’s and WW11 everyone was expected to pull their weight, not the few. We were a great Nation then and we could be a greater Nation now.

Old Business: Nominating Committee

Mary Ann Whitaker thanked the nominating committee, June Griffin, Marguerite Heimenz, Rose Lauer, Judy Boring, and Lee Sherman who assisted her in contacting and interviewing possible officers.

The following slate will be presented to the members for election on May 23^rd.

· President ….Bob Wehrli

· 1^st Vice President ….Cece Dougherty

· 2^nd Vice President….Patricia (Trish) Vevera

· Recording Secretary….Mary Araya

· 2^nd Secretary….Lee Sherman

· Treasurer….Linda Gardner

Pres. John Miseyko will install the Officers.

Presidents Message:

Few things validate the worth of the Ormond Beach chapter 2247 as much as our consistent growth from 31 members in 1992 to our present membership of 136 active members (with only three zip codes). The third zip code is the Ormond Beach Post Office. Mind you we are grateful for the Post Office, since on occasion we have the opportunity to entertain an out of town tourist and spread our message. Sometimes these guests even join our organization. Seriously, we have gained almost six members every year in spite of natural losses. Your attendance at meetings has been outstanding. Again it is a tribute to you as members. Attendance as high as 30 to 50% proves that our programs not only meet your expectations, but also meets our mission to safeguard and enhance all federal employees, who have earned their retirement benefits and health insurance by financially contributing into both as well as providing dedicated service. The summer program has been successfully due to your participation.

Communication between all chapter members has contributed to our success. Hopefully the involvement will even improve more in the future. We have several effective programs going for the chapter now, and with more volunteers we can expand to include those members who do not have computers.

We are closing a great term in June and I expect an even greater one for 2011/2012.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Reserve December 8^th for the 2011 Christmas Partyat the Oceanside Country Club. The menu will be a choice of salmon, chicken Marsala, or vegetarian entrée with apple crisp and la mode for dessert. Kopy Kats will entertain.

^2.Loraine Rumore will be closely following both the Washington Post and the Federal Time to garner news updates on federal benefits, the federal health care program, government deficit reduction plans and other issues affecting federal employees and retirees.

3. At the next meeting, a vote will be taken on participation in a bus trip to Yalaha, FL on July 18. Cost $59.00 includes lunch, a candy factory, and a winery visit. Plus a good time by all.

Address Change

If you have a change in your street or e-mail address, please inform either Linda Gardner 677-0303 or Bob Wehrli 441-9250.

CECE 5/2/11….R.W.

Visited Cece Monday, 5/2/11, with the permission of the family. Visits are still restricted and one must be fully gowned to enter the room.

When I arrived she was sitting up eating whole food and talking. Her mind is sharp and her memory is great. She has to have an amplifier to hear, but again this might improve. She needs therapy to walk. All and all I was very pleased to see so much improvement in a relatively short time.

What you can do now is send cards and notes to prove to her that we want her back as soon as possible. The notes are very important. She has no problem reading for short periods of time.

She asked about the convention and news about all of you. She was especially interested in the upcoming Postal conventions and wanted to be sure that we had everything we needed. As I said, her mind is sharp.

PRES. Joseph A. Beaudoin, NARFE National HQ

Saturday, May7,2011

The Senate is about to vote on a disastrous budget proposal that would slash federal pay and retirement by $375 billion over 10 years. We need to speak out now.

A few weeks ago, the House of Representatives passed a budget proposal that would cut 10 percent of the federal work force, reduce pay, and jeopardize benefits for those who have already retired. It’s an unfair attack that singles out the federal workers who protect our nation every day.

I just sent a letter to all senators telling them to vote “No” on the House budget proposal. Will you add your name to mine and send a letter today?

Rep. John Mica

770 W Granada Boulevard, Suite 315
Ormond Beach, FL 32174-5180
Phone: 386-676-7750 His DC address is below:

Rep. Mica's DC address below:

2187 Rayburn House Office Bldg. Washington, D.C. 20515-0907 The local address is better because it is quicker.

mica.house.gov/contactform.htm

202-225-4035

Sen. Marco Rubio

B40A Dirksen Senate Office Bldg. Washington, D.C. 20510

rubio.senate.gov/contact.form.cfm

202-224-3041

Sen. Bill Nelson

716 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20510

billnelson.senate.gov/contact.index.cfm

202-224-5274

These are your earned benefits under attack!

NARFE 2247 NEWS #32

2011-05-07T07:18:00.002-04:00

PRES. Joseph A. Beaudoin, NARFE National HQ

Saturday, May7,2011

The Senate is about to vote on a disastrous budget proposal that would slash federal pay and retirement by $375 billion over 10 years. We need to speak out now.

I just sent a letter to all senators telling them to vote “No” on the House budget proposal. Will you add your name to mine and send a letter today?

Visit our newly updated www.ProtectAmericasHeartbeat.org website and send your letter now.

America’s federal employees perform important jobs that demand skill and dedication – and they’ve been doing more with less. Twenty years ago, in 1989, there was one federal employee for every 110 residents in the United States. Today, there’s one for every 147 residents.

Please send your letter now by going to:

www.ProtectAmericasHeartbeat.org

Cece Dougherty

2011-05-01T12:58:00.001-04:00

Finally some very good news; Cece is able to speak now and is staying awake most of the day. She is still being treated for a MRSA infection and a cough, but her lungs are clear and her future is much brighter.
The family wants to thank everyone for their concern, cards and prayers.
Visitor are still not allowed, but that may change in the near future.

Cece Dougherty

2011-05-01T12:58:00.000-04:00

Cece Dougherty

2011-04-27T15:15:00.002-04:00

Cece has been moved to Florida Hospital, Oceanside (on AIA) where she will receive basic therapy. She is making progress, and the family is very positive about her recovery. There is still a no visitation rule in place, but hopefully that will be removed in the future.

Cards are not necessary. Prayers and positive thoughts are appreciated.

LEGISLATION:

2011-04-07T18:19:00.001-04:00

My sincere hope was that we would have a National Budget and no Government Shutdown by the time I wrote this newsletter. However, there is no budget!

My hope was also that the budget would reflect a situation where everyone was paying their fair share to reduce the National Debt. That doesn’t seem to be the case either.

Some simple observations: first, the Congress seems to be arguing more about programs and their value than about monies. I thought these programs were passed in good faith in the past, and now it is the responsibility of congress to support these programs. If some Congress persons want to reevaluate a particular program, that should be done at another time. What seems to be happening is just plain mean spirited. The focus should be on money not programs that have been decided on in the past.

Second, the position of House Leader seems to have sunk to an all time low. I actually pity House Speaker John Bohner, R-Ohio. The tea party has divided the conservatives and prevented the Speaker from representing a consensus. Every point requires the tea parties’ approval and then post approval when the next position is taken. They can never seem to come to one uniform conservative position, because they are not true conservatives. The tea party has no feeling for compromise. It is their way or no way.

TRUE LEADERSHIP:

2011-04-07T18:08:00.002-04:00

Cece Dougherty had a fall and is presently recovering in the local hospital, but that isn’t the news. The news is the vital part that Cece has played in every single chapter member’s life. I find it difficult to even name all the things she has been involved in, and her very presence gives us inspiration. No job is too small or too large for Cece. She has fought to provide you with interesting and at the same time economical activities both through the year and during the summer. She has worked with food mangers to provide you with the best to be had and in pleasant surroundings. She has managed to obtain extras and coupons on several occasions. We had no event that did not owe its success to the efforts of Cece Dougherty.

In addition to her personal skills, Cece also is accomplished with the computer. She searches out programs and legislative items that needed to be brought to the attention of our members. She could also make her computer work for the chapter by printing the newsletter, letterheads, cards, place settings, and many other items. She designed and produced awards and other items that would add to an event.

Cece is capable of being your President, but that was never one of her ambitions. What she likes to do is plan and carry out activities behind the senses. Cece is a true leader in every sense of the expression.

PROGRAM:

2011-04-07T18:02:00.001-04:00

Our speaker for the April meeting will be the new Executive Director of United Way for Volusia and Flagler counties. This will be our first opportunity to meet the new Director, and he will provide us valuable information about some services we might not be aware of in detail.

Marguerite Hiemenz, Program Chair

RESPONSE to S.644

2011-03-23T05:41:00.001-04:00

Joseph A. Beaudoin, president of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE), released the following statement:

“This bill is another unfair and unwise attack on federal employees at a time when the country desperately needs a high quality and vigilant work force. Some politicians claim that these pensions are unsustainable, but, in actuality, the federal pension program is fully funded, actuarially sound and paid for largely by federal employees themselves.

“Changes to policies that affect federal employees threaten the future of the vital services they perform. Without employment packages that are competitive in the professional marketplace, our government will struggle to attract the best workers to protect us.

“Considering the importance of the federal meat inspectors in Kansas who ensure our food is safe or the U.S. nuclear regulators who now are working in Japan to avert a nuclear catastrophe, we can ill-afford to shy away from support for our nation’s federal workers.”

Postal Workers:

2011-03-23T05:07:00.000-04:00

Clerks and other workers represented by the American Postal Workers Union will be getting a 3.5 percent raise, spread over the life of their new, no-layoffs contract with the US Postal Service. Roughly 200,000 workers will get a 1 percent increase in November 2012, a 1.5 percent raise in November 2013, and another 1 percent in November 2014. Workers will continue to get separate cost of living raises starting in March 2013.

Postal Service: The Federal Times on March 9 reported that the USPS will eliminate 7,500 supervisors, managers and postmasters, and plans to eliminate 30,000 positions this year.

Elimination of Federal pensions by 2013

2011-03-22T15:42:00.002-04:00

Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., on Thursday introduced a bill (S. 644) that would eliminate the pension portion of the Federal Employees Retirement System for all new government hires beginning in 2013. The legislation would not affect Thrift Savings Plan benefits and agency-matching contributions. Nor would it affect FERS pensions for current federal employees and retirees. It would, however, apply to members of Congress.

"Right now, federal government workers receive far more generous retirement benefits than private sector employees," Burr said. "The cost to taxpayers of these benefits is unsustainable, and we simply cannot afford it. We cannot ask taxpayers to continue to foot the bill for public employee benefits that are far more generous than their own."

Federal employees are eligible for pensions, retirement savings plans with up to 5 percent in matching contribution and retiree health care benefits above and beyond those available to private sector workers, according to Burr. He also asserted that FERS is underfunded by almost $1 billion and the Civil Service Retirement System by $673 billion.

According to Tom Trabucco, director of external affairs for the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, the agency match for FERS participants is dollar for dollar on the first 3 percent of pay contributed to the TSP, and 50 cents on the fourth and fifth percentage points contributed. Agencies also automatically put in 1 percent of basic pay for all new FERS enrollees regardless of the employee contribution. He noted, however, that the arrangement is not equal to a 5 percent total match.

The assertion that federal pension programs are underfunded is rejected by John Gage, national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, who called the bill "cruel and useless."

"Sen. Burr is wrong on the facts and wrong on morals," Gage said. "Eliminating pensions for future employees would do absolutely nothing for the fictional unfunded liabilities that the fact-challenged senator imagines he is resolving. Worse, Sen. Burr's bill is a mean-spirited attempt to deprive future employees of any hope of a dignified retirement after they have spent a lifetime in public service."

By Emily Long elong@govexec.com March 18, 2011

NARFE Scholarship Program

2011-03-19T18:21:00.001-04:00

NARFE OPENS 2011 SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION

The NARFE Scholarship Program is administered by the Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund (FEEA) and is made possible by your tax-deductible contributions to the NARFE/FEEA Scholarship Fund.

The competition is open to all children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and stepchildren of all current NARFE members. A total of 60 scholarships of $1,000 each will be awarded, six in each of NARFE’s 10 Regions.

With the publication of the application form in the February issue of the NARFE magazine, the 2011 NARFE Scholarship Competition opened. The scholarship form appears on pp. 47 and 48 in the February issue and on pp. 45 and 46 in the March issue. It also will run in the April issue. In addition, the form is also available on the NARFE Web site, www.narfe.org.

The completed application is to be mailed to:

NARFE Scholarship Award,

3333 S. Wadsworth Blvd., Suite 300,

Lakewood, CO 80227

and

must be postmarked no later than April 30, 2011.

If you have any questions contact the Region III FEEA Coordinator , Sandy McKinney, 770-396-3598, skm1126@bellsouth.net.

The FEEA was orginally set up only as a college scholarship fund and then expanded to also include a $500 emergency fund for federal employees and retirees devistrated by hurricanes, earthquakes, tornados and floods.

CALL TO ACTION

2011-03-12T16:11:00.004-05:00

To Congressman John L. Mica:

I am concerns about how my earned federal civilian retirement and health benefits could be affected by the budget-cutting attempts.

1.) Federal civilian retirement does not face the same solvency challenges as trust funds that support Social Security and Medicare. Indeed, the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund (CSRDF) is fully funded and actuarially sound. In summary, by definition, under the financing arrangements set out in current law, the system is not now and never will be ‘insolvent’ or without adequate budget authority for payment of benefits.
2.) Federal retirement will not be directly affected by the boom in the senior population because the federal retirement population is a function of the size of the federal work force, not the general population.
3.) Disturbing is the plan to require our public servants to pay an increasingly higher share of Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) premiums.
4.) Disturbing also is the suggestion to use the Chained -Consumer Price- Index (C-CPI-U) to set cost-of-living adjustments. The proposals would serve to further erode the benefits public servants have earned doing the nation’s work.

Can I count on you to preserve COLA equity between all federal retirement programs and defend the integrity of a system that provides deferred compensation and benefits to individuals who have dedicated their careers to public service? Please, reply to this letter.

You’re Constituent,

ANNUITY PAYMENTS:

2011-02-27T10:45:00.002-05:00

March 4^th is the deadline for Congress and the President to agree on funding for the government. There has been much talk about a shutdown.

I don’t believe a shutdown will happen, but should a shutdown occur, I believe your Annuity payments would continue. Essential services will continue even with a shutdown.

FIGHT BACK!

2011-02-27T10:40:00.003-05:00

Retirees: Now Is the Time to Fight Back!

On Tuesday, March 8, some 300 NARFE officers and activists are scheduled to descend on Capitol Hill.

Add your voice to theirs. Call your lawmakers on March 8.

******************************************************************************************

Just follow these steps:

Call 866-220-0044 (toll-free) to reach the U.S. Capitol switchboard and ask for your representative and senators by name or supply your ZIP code.

(See Names and direct phone numbers below. You may contact your representatives both by the switchboard or their direct phone numbers.)

Once connected to your lawmaker’s office, NARFE members should say:

• Federal workers and retirees have already sacrificed pay and benefits.

• Don’t single us out by making more cuts to the retirement and health benefits we earned through years of serving the public.

*****************************************************************************************

Whether you leave a recorded message or speak to a staff person, request that your lawmaker respond in writing to your phone call. For that reason, be sure to leave your mailing address.

Only contact your own representative and two senators. Lawmakers will disregard your message if you are not a voting constituent.

Federal workers and retirees have already sacrificed so much. Don’t let Congress slash the retirement and health benefits you have earned! Pick up your phone on March 8.

Rep. John Mica

202-225-4035

Sen. Marco Rubio

rubio.senate.gov/contact.form.cfm

202-224-3041

Sen. Bill Nelson

billnelson.senate.gov/contact.index.cfm

202-224-5274

NARFE 2247 NEWS #25

2011-02-27T10:19:00.002-05:00

All the officers of the NARFE Ormond Chapter 2247 wish to thank the MEMBERS for their support, and in particular those members who attended the February 21 Chapter meeting. The attendance was the highest we have had to date.

I was pleased when we reach 50 members for an attendance. Unofficially I was told we had 62 people sign in with Mary Araya. Plus, two aging members who arrived late and seeing no empty chairs turned and headed for the door. Mary chased them as far as the parking lot, but they were too fast for her. They got away clean.

Great deal for you.

2011-02-27T10:05:00.002-05:00

I have a great deal for you, $89 FOR THREE YEAR’S NARFE dues. Here it comes, if you pay your dues by check or credit card, then continue reading. Also your dues should be up some time this year (2011). You can call 800-456-8410 (Member Records), and pay the $89 by supplying your credit information. Be sure to identify yourself as member of Chapter 2247. Easy right?

If you prefer the postal service, an alternate choice and a very good one, then write on your check “$89 for three years dues”. Mail your check with a note including your Chapter 2247 to:

NARFE National,

606 North Washington St.

Alexandria Virginia 22314-1914

If your expiration date is beyond December 2011, then I might still be able to give you a deal. Call Bob at 441-9250

OPM TAX CHANGE

2011-02-27T09:58:00.001-05:00

At least six inquires have come to me within the last two days, some almost

in tears and others in anger. The one thing in common was the question, “why

have my Taxes for 2011 increased?”

The reason is simple. You are lending money to the federal government each

month. The IRS has changed the withholding tables for 2011. This gives the

IRS the Legal right to deduct more money from your monthly annuity payment

each month. You are paying for the tax breaks that have been given to

others.

The solution is contact OPM by calling OPM at 1-888-767-6738, or e-mail

www.opm.gov/retire and request a change in your federal tax being withheld

each month.

However, if you use the net you might want to use the OPM on-line tax

withholding calculator to prevent under paying your tax.

The long explanation for why you have less money in these hard times is as

follows:

By: Dave Snell, Retirement Benefits Service Department

While all of the attention recently was on Congress extending the Bush era

tax cuts – which happened – a lesser known federal tax credit for employees

and retirees that was part of the 2009 Stimulus law was allowed to expire.

The “Making Work Pay” credit expired December 31, 2010, which could mean

higher federal tax withholding amounts in monthly annuities/pensions for

public and private sector retirees, including federal annuitants. The

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued a notice in December saying

withholding tables for 2011 would no longer be adjusted for the Making Work

Pay tax credit and there is no longer an optional additional withholding

adjustment for pensions.

The Making Work Pay credit was created with the passage of the American

Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Public Law 111-5, signed into law February

17, 2009 (also known as the Stimulus law). The credit equaled 6.2% of a

taxpayer’s earned income up to a total credit of $400 for individuals and

$800 for joint filers. Last year the IRS asked employers to use the new

withholding tables to adjust workers’ take-home pay to account for the new

credit as soon as possible emphasizing that employees did not have to fill

out a new W-4 withholding form, and that the adjustments would

automatically be made based on the 2010 withholding tables. Those

withholding tables also affected federal retirement payments. With the

expiration of the temporary credit, IRS tax withholding tables have changed

for 2011, and many retirees may see an increase in the amount of federal tax

being withheld from their monthly annuity payments as a result.

It is important to keep in mind that, like all employers, OPM uses tax

withholding tables that are provided by the IRS, and questions about changes

to those tables must be referred to the IRS, not OPM.

As a reminder, federal annuitants receiving payments from OPM can change

their tax withholding amounts for both federal and state taxes by contacting

OPM. Retirees can call OPM at 1-888-767-6738, or make changes using Service

Online at www.opm.gov/retire. We would also suggest retirees use the OPM

on-line tax withholding calculator at the same site before making a change

to their monthly tax withholding to make sure they do not under withhold

which could result in paying out of pocket additional federal tax that may

be due at the end of the year.

NARFE members who are unhappy about the expiration of the Make Work Pay tax

credit should direct their complaints to their own representative and

senators. NARFE is consulting with our coalition partners in the Leadership

Council of Aging Organizations regarding congressional action on this issue.

While retirees’ and survivors’ anger about the expiring tax provisions is

justified, NARFE members need to stay focused on the more critical and

immediate threat of the unprecedented spending cuts Congress is considering,

particularly proposals to reduce the earned retirement, pay and health

benefits of federal employees and annuitants.

HEALTH EXPO

2010-09-22T15:41:00.002-04:00

On Thursday, October 7,2010, 9:30 a.m.to 2:30 p.m. the Ormond NARFE Chapter 2247 will participate in the Fifth Annual Community Health Expo sponsored by the Ormond Beach Presbyterian Church,105 Amsden Road, Ormond Beach, Fl. The focus of the Expo will be on Health and Wellness with Exhibits and Presentations. Flu shots will be available free with Medicare. Our Chapter will stress quality of life after civil service and also will recruit and counsel members and prospective members.

FEHBP

2010-09-22T15:37:00.000-04:00

INSURANCE CO-PAYMENTS:

We have to expects that co-payments in many FEHBP plans will jump sharply this year as insurance companies determine what the U&C (usual and customary) cost is, or should be, and then base co-payments according. Imagine you have a physical that costs $500, and the insurance company says the U&C is actually $400. Your normal co-payment would be $20. But now the company sets the U&C level at $400, for a service that costs $500, and the company requires that you pay 20 percent of the U&C(.20x$400=$80), which means your co-payment will be $80 on a $500 service. Your co-payment jumped from $20 to $80. They might even require you to pay a percentage of the$500, which might mean you would even pay more co-payment. The point is you have to look very close at co-payments and extra costs this year. That is especially true when it comes to medications.

OPEN SEASON:

The Office of Personnel Management has set the 2010 Federal Benefits Open Season to begin Monday, November 8^th and run through Monday, December 13^th. During Open Season, federal employees and retirees can enroll in or change their health, vision and dental plans.

Diane Thompson from BlueCross BlueShield of Florida will be our speaker for our November 15^th meeting.

REDISTRICTING:

2010-09-22T15:31:00.004-04:00

AARP members in Florida overwhelmingly support Amendments 5 and 6 to reform state’s voting districts. Three out of four AARP members polled support Amendments 5 and 6, according to a poll of 700 AARP members who said they were likely to vote in November. By approving Amendment 5, voters would require state lawmakers to draw state legislative districts that rely, whenever possible, on existing geographic boundaries and that keep communities in the same districts. Amendment 6 would set similar standards for Congressional districts. If approved, the amendments would take effect in time for Florida’s 2012 redistricting.

FLU SHOTS:

2010-09-22T15:14:00.004-04:00

You may receive flu shots in Volusia County Health Department, the Port Orange Fire Department, the Ormond Beach Fire Department, and the S. Daytona Beach Fire Department. Several commercial sources are also available.

SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER

2010-09-22T06:26:00.000-04:00

National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association

ORMOND BEACH, FL., CHAPTER 2247

NEXT CHAPTER MEETING

SEPT.20, 2010 at 11:30 A.M.

RIVER GRILLE Restaurant

920 N. US 1 Ormond Beach

OFFICERS :

President, Bob Wehrli 441-9250

1^st Vice President, Cece Dougherty 672-5827

2^nd Vice President, Nicholas Calvano 676-4615

Secy., Mary Araya 386-437-1085

2^nd Secy., Eleanor Sherman 673-0871

Treasurer, Linda Gardner 677-0303

Service/Membership, Eleanor Sherman 673-0871

Sergeant-at-Arms, Donald Gaby 239-7639

Sunshine Person, Judy Boring 677-1060.

PROGRAM: Marguerite Hiemenz, Program Chair

Barbara Herrin, Deputy Treasurer of Florida Hometown Democracy, will give a brief Presentation on Amendment 4 at our September 20^th meeting. Gwen Azama-Edwards of the same citizen group will also be available to answer questions about controlling growth in the State as well as the Ormond area. These issues are concerns that we should all be aware of in order to vote wisely in November.

SUMMARY of AMENDMENT 4:

Amendment 4 establishes that before a local government may adopt a new comprehensive land use plan, or amend a comprehensive land use plan, the proposed plan or amendment shall be subject to vote of the electors of the local government by referendum, following preparation by the local planning agency, consideration by the governing body and public notice.

ACTION ALERT by Robert Wehrli

All federal retirees, both CSRS and FERS, should be concerned about the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform Chaired by Bowles and Simpson. A majority of the members are not necessarily advocates for Federal Employees. In fact, they are just the opposite, plus they are not enlightened on our earned federal civilian retirement or on the details of our health plans. They look at our earned entitlements as the same as Social Security with the exception that we are a much smaller group and thus will be an easier target for cuts. Sadly for us , the Congressional Leadership has agreed to put the Commission’s recommendations on “FAST TRACK”. That means there will be no modifications, eliminations or changes to their recommendations’. We must reach members on the commission before their final report is due at the first of the year.

One important argument in our favor is that our Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund (CSRDF) is fully funded and actuarially sound. This is not true for Social Security. The CSRDF is solvent and will actually grow with time as opposed to Social Security. Further the size of the fund is not dependent on the general population. The size factor of the work force has been accounted for in the system, thus enabling CSRDF to be solvent in the future as well. The Commission must be made aware of these facts.

I urge all NARFE members with access to e-mail to send a MESSAGE to your Representative and two Senators by using the Legislative Action Center link: http://capwiz.com/narfe/issues/alert/?alertid=14982226

You may use the prepared message or write your own, but send a MESSAGE. We are asking for no more than what we earned by dedication and hard work.

RESULTS of the NATIONAL CONVENTION

The following are some of the results the NARFE NATIONAL Convention. Our new National Officers are:

President: Joe Beaudoin

VP: Paul Carew

Secretary: Elaine Hughes

Treasurer: Charlie Saylor

Region III VP: Don Stewart

We also have a new Dues structure for our National Organization:

$40 for one year;

$72 for two years;

$102 for three years;

Dues Withholding will be $34.00 per year.

These sums do not include Chapter dues.

For our Chapter that means our Chapter dues remain the same at $5.00, but National Dues are increased by $11.00 to $40.00. The Total for one year is $45.00 including your Chapter dues. Dues withholding will be $39.69 per year or $3.31 per month.

The Chapter wishes to thank Shirley Honey, President of NARFE Chapter 1137, for representing our Chapter at the National Convention. Shirley did a great work.

Address Change

If you have a changing address for any reason, please inform either John Lowe 672 -8517 or Bob Wehrli 441-9250. This will ensure continuous communication between you and the Chapter.

CHAPTER SERVICE DATABASE

By Nicholas Calvano

Whenever I need a dentist, plumber, urologist, roofer or anything else, for that matter, I hate to pick one from the yellow pages. I prefer to call a friend and ask for recommendations because most people are happy to recommend someone who has done a good job at a reasonable price. Similarly, they are anxious to steer friends away from merchants whose work was shoddy or too expensive. Recommendations have worked well for me. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to find someone who has had direct experience with a merchant in the area of your need.

That is why I want to set up a database of merchants for members of our NARFE chapter. To begin, I will need input from members. It will be simple enough: just send me the category name (dentist, electrician, etc.), of the merchant and your rating between 0 and 5 with 0 being “terrible, avoid at all cost” and 5 being “outstanding work at a good price.” You can also add brief comments such as, “Very good work but expensive” or anything else you care to include.

To make this work we will need a lot of input so don’t hold back. Once this is set up, you will not only help other members but also be able to use the database to guide you in selecting a merchant.

Examples:

Roof repair - Triangle Roofing - 5/5: Responded quickly and told me they could fix the roof for $1100 or I could make a temporary fix by caulking myself in a few minutes.

Urologist - Dr. Dineen - 3/5; Technically good but always keeps patients waiting 40 minutes or more, even for the first appointment of the day.

Heater/Air condition repair - Ash-Lee-Air - 5/5: Quick response and made repair at a very reasonable cost. Estimate charge of $35 was applied toward repair which was less than $150.

Send your ratings and comments to me at fotonick@yahoo.com or phone me at 386-676-4615.

Here’s your chance to reward the good guys.

CHRISTMAS PARTY

Michael Shiles, a vocalist and comedian, will provide

us with entertainment at our Christmas Party.

Mark your calendar now for December 8^th.

BOOSTER CLUB

People have two kinds of generosity. There are those that give their time and service and then there are those who donate money or material goods. Luckily we have an abundance of both kinds among our members. The sound system is one example of a member seeing a need and stepping up to solve the problem. We have numerous other examples of solutions that have been provided such as flags and items for the Senior Expo. We have examples of people providing services and in some cases transportation. We also have members who have donated money to a cause like the expense of storage or entertainment. In many cases the Chapter has existed on the donations and contributions made by individual members. We owe a great deal of thanks to those members who donate their time, money or both to the existence of the Chapter. The Board has referred to these members as BOOSTERS or the Booster Club.

The Treasurer keeps a record of actual funds contributed, but it is difficult to estimate the value of gifts, time and services. At the present the Booster account has $217.35.

At the next meeting the Board would like to entertain a motion that would “Establish the Booster Fund as a permanent account to be used for specific goals, but also to support the Chapter account if necessary.”

The Chapter account is losing about $130 very year. This means we should raise the Chapter dues. However, by allowing the Board to transfer funds between the Booster account and the Chapter account we may be able to postpone increasing the dues.

ATTACK ON CIVIL SERVICE

2010-05-31T07:28:00.002-04:00

Whatever Congress does to Active Federal Employees Congress can easily do to the Retirees. At present the Active Federal Employees are under attack, but it could be us as well. These attacks were mentioned in my last Fed News and now this is an update. I am asking that you contact John Mica and express your views. A sample message has been included for your convenience. Contact Representative John Mica at: http://mica.house.gov/Contact/ContactForm.htm This is a sample message you might send to John Mica: #1.Please, support President Obama’s proposal in his budget for fiscal year 2011 that would provide federal civilian workers and military personnel a 1.4-percent pay raise next year. #2.Please, do not take a punitive action against the thousands of federal employees who are working alongside their uniformed colleagues in Iraq and Afghanistan by requiring them to forgo a salary increase to partially pay for the wars they are helping to win? #3.Please, do not attempt to support or attach an amendment to H.R. 5136 that would in effect put a pay freeze on Federal Employees. This would be considered an outright attack on the Civil Service System. Federal Employees are not the problem; they are part of the solution to the problem. (Ctrl + click) http://mica.house.gov/Contact/ContactForm.htm and follow the instructions. Or you may also call Mica’s Office at202-225-4035 or the Ormond Office at 676-7750. We must act or more degradation will follow.

APPLIANCE REBATE PROGRAM

2010-04-17T10:48:00.001-04:00

The Curse of the Hanging Chads and other Republican misadventures continues on in Florida in the administration of the Appliance Rebate program. It has the paw prints of their political philosophy writ large on its operating procedures. First there is the requirement, not overly advertised, that in order to participate in the program you have to be Computer Literate and have access to the On-Line function of a computer. This, in order to obtain a printout of the appropriate rebate application form as well as a priority number which marks your place in the electronic maze for a share of the available funding. The ordinary working stiff who may not be so fortunate and his people are left out. Several days prior to the start date of April 16 my wife and I went out to reconnoiter the possibilities of purchase of an energy efficient appliance under the terms of the program. At one of the appliance stores I questioned the sales person as what provision was made for those who do not have online access. She heaved a sigh and suggested that they might be able to try applying on the computers available in the Public Library. How thoughtful. Prior to setting out to buy on the start date of April 16 I brought up the appropriate Rebate program web site and noted that the program system would be down from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM to prepare for the onslaught of purchasers making application. Fair enough, but following the cited 11:00 AM start tune it took almost two hours more before the system cleared to operational status and it became possible to obtain printouts of the above cited forms. Then there is the, again unadvertised, mode of payment of 20% of the purchase price, as well as the $75.00 reward for giving up the replaced appliance for recycling. This will not come in the form of a check or a direct deposit to an applicant's checking account. It will come in a Gift Card issued by American Express with the rebate and recycling fee amounts imprinted therein. When credit cards or Gift Cards are used to purchase items the full purchase price returned to the vendor is always several percentage points short. This constitutes a service fee to the issuing entity. When you consider that thousands of Floridians will take advantage of the Appliance Rebate program this amounts to more than a tidy windfall for American Express. This last can be charged off to standard Republican concern for the well-being of large corporations. Cautionary note-Gift Card Issuers service fees are sometimes higher than standard credit cards. As a result some vendors are reluctant to accept them. Finally, the Rebate Application Form, when filled out is to be mailed to a Post Office in El Paso, Texas. I'm glad it is going to a Post Office Box-I wouldn't want it to get lost in those Texas Bushes.

John L. Lowe

ewollnhoj@AOL.COM

ATTENTION WOMEN

2010-03-19T10:32:00.000-04:00

9 -- that is the number of states and the District of Columbia where there is still no specific law that makes it illegal for insurers to reject applicants who are survivors of domestic violence by citing the history of domestic violence as a pre-existing condition.

Unfortunately, the gender inequalities across our broken heath care system don't end there. In many states, insurance companies can still discriminate on the basis of gender -- charging women higher premiums than men simply because of their gender or denying coverage because of so-called "pre-existing conditions" like being pregnant, experiencing a prior pregnancy complication, or having undergone a C-section. And health plans in the individual market often do not cover basic maternity care.

President Obama's proposal for health insurance reform would end the days of discrimination based on gender. Insurance companies would be banned from denying coverage because of a pre-existing condition and would have to cover preventative care like mammograms.

For America's women and families, the time is now for health insurance reform.

We just can't wait any longer for health insurance reform. Help spread the word by sharing this message with your family, friends and online networks.

Let's get it done.

Nancy-Ann DeParle
Director, White House Office of Health Reform

GPO/WEP Summit

2010-03-13T10:45:00.001-05:00

On March 9^th and 10^th, NARFE staff participated in and led a session of a legislative “summit” on the unfair and arbitrary Social Security Government Pension Offset (GPO) and so called Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). Many of the participants representing state teacher retirement organizations traveled to Washington for the summit. On March 10^th NARFE Legislative Department staff, led the session to update state-based participants on NARFE’s efforts and those of the Coalition to Assure Retirement Equity (CARE). Founded by NARFE in 1991, CARE is comprised of 40 national, state and local organizations solely for the purpose of addressing the Social Security offsets. The House sponsor of complete repeal legislation (H.R. 235), Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA), and a cosponsor, Rep. Aaron Schock (R-IL) addressed the summit. NARFE magazine (May issue) will include full coverage

809 Area Code Scam

2010-03-02T09:16:00.001-05:00

Be cautious when responding to e-mails or phone calls from the 809, 284 or 876 area codes.

Long distance phone scam causes consumers to inadvertently incur high charges on their phone bills. Consumers usually receive a message telling them to call a phone number with an 809, 284 or 876 area code in order to collect a prize, find out information about a sick relative, etc. The caller assumes the number is a typical three-digit U.S. area code; however, the caller is actually connected to a phone number outside the United States, often in Canada or the Caribbean, and charged international call rates. Unfortunately, consumers don't find out that they have been charged higher international call rates until they receive their bill.

AT&T offers the following information and tips:

· Return calls to familiar numbers only. As a general rule, return calls from numbers that contain familiar or recognizable area codes. You may call your directory assistance or long distance operator to check the area code location.

· Carefully read your telephone bill. Make sure that you only receive charges from your provider of choice. Ensure you thoroughly understand charges listed on your phone bill, have chosen to do business with all of the listed providers billing for those charges and have authorized additional fees invoiced. If your local service provider has changed, you will receive a final bill from the former provider and a notice of service disconnection.

If you believe that you have been scammed:

· Contact the carrier with whom the charge originated, whose name and toll-free telephone number should be printed on the same bill page as the charge in question. Often, the problem can be resolved with a single phone call.

· If the carrier with whom the charge originated does not agree to resolve the problem, contact AT&T. AT&T will work with you and the carrier to help remove fraudulent charges from the phone bill.

You may file a complaint online with the Federal Communications Commission about this and/or related phone scams.

Bipartisan Budget Commission

2010-02-27T09:58:00.002-05:00

The National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform created by a February 18^th Executive Order will be co-chaired by former Clinton White House Chief of Staff, Erskine Bowles, and former Senate Whip, Alan Simpson (R-WY). NARFE will monitor the naming of Commissioners and the work of the Commission, whose report is due December 1^st. NARFE plans to point out to commissioners that federal civil service retirement benefits are fully funded and actuarially sound and should not be swept up in the effort to achieve political as well as deficit reduction goals. To see the full text of the Executive Order go to the White House web site by copying and pasting in to your e-mail:http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/executive-order-national-commission-fiscal-responsibility-and-reform

HEALTH CARE SUMMIT

2010-02-24T15:13:00.002-05:00

The House and the Senate have passed similar Health Care Bills. What remains is that the two Bills have to become one. The Republicans who have not put a comprehensive Bill before either Congress or the people now want to start all over. That isn’t prudent or logical, but it is effective, if you don’t want any Health Care Bill. So far the opposition tactic has been to complain that they have not been included or they concoct imaginary flaws in the present Bills. Neither approach helps solve our problems. In the mean time, the working families are losing their insurance coverage or are having their insurance rate go beyond their budget. Their children and our future are in jeopardy right now. We don’t have to wait for the future generations. The problems are real and immediate.

Will the Health Care Summit solve our problems? I seriously doubt that it will. My hope is that both the Democrats and Republicans will have to submit honest proposals that contain real substance; substance that can be examined and evaluated in respect to our problems. This is a call to action. The public wants Congress to act on behalf of the people. The average citizen is getting fed up.

Health Information Technology

2010-02-21T09:20:00.001-05:00

Social Security is more than retirement. We use about 15 percent of the Social Security taxes collected from workers to provide disability insurance. This makes the Social Security Administration one of the largest disability insurers in the world.

Health Information Technology (Health IT)—the use of electronic health records to promote efficiency and improve care—holds great promise for improving the speed and effectiveness of our disability decision making process.

So, we’re expanding our Medical Evidence Gathering and Analysis through Health Information Technology (MEGAHIT) program to provide the benefits of Health IT to more of our claimants and more of our health care provider partners.

HEALTH CARE REFORM

2010-02-20T16:05:00.000-05:00

Why do you think health insurance companies are pouring money into congress and running misleading ads to stop Health Care Reform? They don’t want it, because it is good for the country and not necessarily good for their profit margin. Their actions clearly state where they are coming from and those same actions should emphasize why we need Health Care Reform. Let us look at what is happening around the country right now.

In California, Anthem Blue Cross announcing their rates would go up as high as 39 percent. Elsewhere, large insurers have requested premium increases of 56 percent in Michigan, 24 percent in Connecticut, 23 percent in Maine and 20 percent in Oregon. Do you think this won’t continue in the future without Health Care Reform?

Now, the insurance companies have the vote as well as the lobbyists. We lost one person one vote a long time ago, and now the Supreme Court has legalized the theft. All we can do is empty out our pockets and say thank you at the same time. We have been had.

SHUTTLE LAUNCH

2010-02-20T15:23:00.002-05:00

Space Shuttle Launch as seen from the Palm Valley Bridge
Thought you would all enjoy!

Robin Sullivan

It was taken in Palm Valley, Florida(where I grew up) from the top of the 210 bridge crossing the Intracoastal Waterwaylooking south towards St. Augustine and Cape Canaveral
.
The photographer got up very early and took this picture of the last nighttime space shuttle launch and was kind enough to share with anyone who would appreciate the beauty of the space launch. He took the picture using a tripod and the elapsed time for the picture was several minutes in order to get the full fire-trail (this is why the stars are little lines instead of dots).

Monday, February 8, 2010 @ 4:14 am

Top of the Intracoastal Waterway Bridge in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

115 Miles from the launch

34 Degrees outside!

DISTRICT 3 & 4 MEETING

2010-02-19T18:10:00.004-05:00

Six Chapter members attended the District 3 & 4 meeting in Altamont Springs on February 18^th. In the picture the members from left to right are Linda Gardner, Cece Dougherty, Bob Wehrli, Mary Araya, Susan O’Brien, and Trish Vevera. Cece was elected to the Resolutions Committee and Mary was elected to the Constitution and Bylaw Committee. Both will convene at the annual Federation Convention in May. In addition, Mary has been appointed to be on the Federation Convention Registration Committee. The later is a true accomplishment, since the last time the Chapter had such a responsibility was in the year 2000. We congratulate all the participating Chapter members for the great job they did at representing the Ormond Beach Chapter. They were active in the discussion groups and in the election process.

NEWS RELEASE

2010-02-17T11:41:00.002-05:00

Christmas 2010

#1. The Christmas Party for 2010 will be held at the Oceanside Country Club on December 8, 2010. Mark your calendars and reserve that DATE. The menu, cost, and entertainment will be announced at a later date.

#2. We will use the October and November chapter funds from the 50/50 to contribute to the “Share” program. This is a simple yet effective way of giving to the needy at Christmas time.

#3. Mel Vevera has volunteered to offer the FEEA Fund Raiser and the NARFE Florida Convention raffle tickets to members attending Chapter meetings in the months prior to the May convention.

2247 NEWS RELEASE

2010-02-12T10:00:00.003-05:00

1. Just a reminder of the Chapter meeting next Monday, February 15th,at 11:30 a.m.at the River Grille Restaurant. We are fortunate to have two tax experts attend our meeting and be willing to answer questions. Audrey Beck who was with us last year will be joined by Peg Williams.

2. Cece has requested the management of the River Grille to provide seating for 55 persons and to allow more room between people if possible. There has been some concern about those members who suffer from Chemical Allergies. Some perfumes can add to this problem. I only request that everyone be aware and sensitive to the problem.

3. Thirty one members have signed up for café 101 on March 22 at 11:30. That response is fantastic! We can still accommodate more people, and this might be a good chance to invite that neighbor who should belong to NARFE.

4. Lee and Linda Gardner are still signing members up for due withholding. This is a great way to save money and at the same time eliminate thinking about paying your dues on time.

5. Don’t forget to read and COMMENT on the Chapter Blog.

http://narfenewsletter.blogspot.com/

Senior Association Coalition Meeting

2010-02-08T16:57:00.001-05:00

Randell Brown, Regional Director of the Florida Dept. of Financial Services, mentioned that there were some concerns with annuity abuse and anyone with concerns should contact him at 323-0914.

There also was some discussion about transportation needs of seniors and the challenges of starting volunteer transportation programs; mainly insurance coverage. It was noted that Council on Aging and Votran are again visiting this topic and looking at some options for the future.

Lois Bollenback, Senior Transportation Planner with the Volusia County Metropolitan Planning Council (MPO) was introduced. She reported that the MPO was in the process of coordinating a long range plan for transportation in Volusia County and they were seeking public participation in this effort. It was noted that the three major challenges for our county in the future will be energy, water and transportation.

Those present were then separated into two groups to provide suggestions for transportation in the future for our county. Lois Bollenback asked that the minutes reflect a request to the group and anyone else they may know who would be interested, to please visit the MPO website to fill out a survey to be heard. That site is www.volusiacountympo.com; page down to link “Take the Long Range Planning Survey” to bring up the survey online.

Carol Thomas with the Council on Aging announced that the next meeting would be held Tuesday, April 6, 2010 at 10 a.m. at the Council on Aging office in Daytona Beach. The topic would be Legislative Issues. It was also discussed that we address energy and transportation issues at a future meeting.

2247 NEWS RELEASE

2010-02-02T15:11:00.001-05:00

#1. H.R. 3631

H.R. 3631 protects all Medicare Part B beneficiaries from a premium increase in 2010, including federal retirees who are not eligible to receive Social Security benefits.

Urge our Senators to quickly pass H.R. 3631 to allow the Medicare agency to prepare for 2010.

The NARFE Legislative Action Center features an Action Alert which allows you to send NARFE’s message to both your Senators. (The direct path to this Urgent Action Alert is http://capwiz.com/narfe/issues/alert/?alertid=14260196)

H.R. 3631, the Medicare Premium Fairness Act, is a bill that would protect all beneficiaries, including federal annuitants, from an increase in their 2010 Medicare Part B premium increase. The bill was already approved by the House of Representatives on September 24 in an overwhelming vote of 406-18 (Roll no. 737). Since September 24, I have written four times on this subject in the chapter Blog. Go to the search engine on right hand side of the Blog just below the list of Officers and type in 3631plus Go. You will see all four articles.

H.R. 3631 deserves our support because it brings equity among Medicare Part B beneficiaries that the current law's "hold harmless" provisions does not. With no Social Security cost-of-living adjustment in 2010, the hold harmless in current law will only ensure that most beneficiaries will not pay an increase in their Part B premium increased.

#2. US BUDGET

On preliminary examination, the fiscal year 2011 budget, submitted by President Obama to Congress, contains no major changes, or scored savings, in programs impacting the income or health care security of federal retirees. NARFE staff will continue to review the large compilation of budget documents. (Available on the Government Printing Office web site: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/usbudget/fy11/index.html )

#3. Budget Cutting Commission and Fast Track Procedure:

Despite the short term increase in the debt limit, signed into law (P.L. 111-123) by President Obama on December 29, allowing the government to pay its bills until February, another increase in the debt limit will be needed. Separate legislation (H.R. 1557 and S. 2834) to create a commission which could force changes to entitlement and other program spending and tax policy through the use of a Congressional fast-track procedure could be added to the debt limit legislation. NARFE is concerned that such a commission could single out the earned federal civil service retirement and health benefits for reductions. To urge your two U.S.Senators to oppose the fast-track commission proposal use the Legislative Action Center on the NARFE web site: http://capwiz.com/narfe/issues/alert/?alertid=14498696 .

#4. Café 101

CAFÉ 101, A GREAT BUFFET

2010-01-27T16:06:00.002-05:00

The Chapter has an opportunity to have a group lunch (buffet) at Café 101, Daytona State College at 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd, on March22, 2010. The cost of the Buffet is $11.00. Those members who would enjoy an excellent lunch in a very nice atmosphere in the company of other Federal retirees are encouraged to reply to this message or call Cece at 672-5827. We hope to make the reservation for twenty people if we can confirm that number by the end of the February meeting.

Make your reservation now.

State of the Union

2010-01-26T17:29:00.001-05:00

When President Obama took office a year ago, we faced an array of historic challenges: an economy in freefall, job losses averaging almost 700,000 a month, a middle class under assault, two wars and badly frayed global alliances.

Faced with these unparalleled challenges, the President and his Cabinet got to work. The Administration took bold steps to rescue the country from a potential second Great Depression; to rebuild the economy for the long-term, so businesses can thrive, the middle class can grow and all our families can be more secure; and to restore America’s leadership in the world as we wrestle with the global challenges of the 21st Century.

Check out the Cabinet’s reports and learn more about what we’ve done this past year and how we plan to keep our Nation moving forward in the next.

Thank you,

Valerie Jarrett
Senior Advisor to the President

P.S. Tomorrow at 9 p.m. EST, remember to watch the President’s State of the Union address live at

SERVICE AWARD for JUNE GRIFFIN

2010-01-24T13:21:00.007-05:00

MRS. JUNE GRIFFIN

January 15, 2010

June Griffin has demonstrated her wiliness and skill in assisting her fellow human beings in a number of ways her entire life. We in the Ormond Chapter first met June Griffin in 1992 when she served as a counselor for the elderly at the Council On Aging (COA). June was part of one of the first NARFE Service Centers in our state. She assisted both NARFE members and the elderly in matters of insurance, Medicare, and living assistance.

While June was volunteering at the COA she was also a caregiver at home for two of her grown children. June had two children who needed physical and medical assistance. In addition to her volunteer work and care giving, June was a widow. These tasks did not stop June from becoming involved in our new NARFE Ormond Beach Chapter. First she was a caller, and later she became Treasurer for the Chapter. June has served as Treasurer for the past nine years. During this time her son‘s health improved; but her daughter still needed help, and June also became Guardian of her grandson. June has been a caregiver for over eighteen years and still found time to serve NARFE and her fellow retirees.

June Griffin’s list of accomplishment as Caregiver, Chapter Officer ,Caller, assistant on projects like the Senior Expo and COA all indicate that she is an outstand human being and deserves our recognition.

I am pleased to give June Griffin the Chapter Distinguished Service Award for the year 2009.

Robert Wehrli,

President of NARFE Ormond Beach Chapter 2247

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

2010-01-22T11:30:00.002-05:00

1. Alice Mauzy has volunteered to organize a visit to The Windsor of Palm Coast this Sunday, January 31 between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00p.m. If you are interested in attending the open house, then contact Alice at 441-6675.

2. Trish Vevera will be participating in IMAGES: A Festival of the Arts in New Smyrna Beach January 30&31, Saturday and Sunday, from 10 to 5p.m. Trish’s art will be located at booth 128.

Go to http://www.imagesartfestival.org/ for additional information and a map.

IMAGES: A Festival of the Arts in New Smyrna Beach is ranked one of the “100 Best Small Town Art Shows in America. The show is spread along Riverside Drive, partway up Canal Street, and throughout picturesque Riverside Park in New Smyrna Beach, and is open from 9 AM to 5 PM Saturday and 10 AM to 5 PM Sunday.

Parking is available on Canal Street, Sams Avenue, Magnolia Street, Andrews Street, North Riverside Drive, and in the Chamber of Commerce parking lot at 115 Canal Street. Parking attendants are available to assist you. HANDICAPPED PARKING is available under the South Causeway overpass accessible at Lytle and Magnolia Streets.

RETIRED VA workers

2010-01-21T17:52:00.001-05:00

As discussed in the January issue of NARFE magazine (page 12), the court decided that the VA violated federal pay statutes by failing to pay weekend premium pay of 25% or night premium pay of 10% to certain groups of health care workers when they used annual or sick leave instead of working their regularly scheduled weekend or evening shifts. Over 2 dozen job classifications of retired VA workers in skilled health occupations, including registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and pharmacists, are eligible to receive back pay. The case affects retired health care employees who worked at the VA at night or on weekends between September 1995 and the present. Approximately 150,000 current and former employees are eligible for the settlement.

To become eligible for payments, retired employees must file a claim form by visiting www.VAbackpay.com no later than February 9, 2010. The website also provides all of the necessary explanations and instructions. Please do not contact the Court or NARFE.

Transportation Needs

2010-01-21T11:17:00.001-05:00

The next meeting of the Senior Association Coalition has been scheduled for Tuesday, February 2, 2010, at 10 a.m. at the Council on Aging office, 160 N. Beach Street, Daytona Beach; parking and entrance on Palmetto side of the building. This meeting will provide important information regarding transportation in our county and may last longer than usual; therefore we have made arrangements to provide lunch at the Council on Aging office at 12 o’clock noon.

Meeting Topic Transportation Needs in our Communities Presenter Lois Bollenback

Senior Transportation PlannerVolusia County Metropolitan Planning Organization

HAITI EARTHQUAKE

2010-01-15T09:47:00.001-05:00

FLORIDA STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TEAM

RESPONDS TO HAITI EARTHQUAKE

TALLAHASSEE- -In response to Tuesday’s earthquake in Haiti, the Florida State Emergency Management Team has deployed personnel from around the state to assist in recovery efforts. The State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) is currently operating at a Level 2 or partial activation.

“We are continuing in our planning and coordination efforts with the federal government to be able to provide any needed assistance and resources to our neighbors in Haiti at this time,” said Governor Charlie Crist. “We know from experience that disasters have no borders and our state team is ready, willing and able to answer the call.”

Response efforts by the state of Florida to date include:

· Two 72-member urban search and rescue teams, South Florida Task Force Team 1 and South Florida Task Force Team 2 and 12 canines deployed to Haiti to provide search and rescue assistance. South Florida Urban Search and Rescue teams respond to a variety of disasters, including earthquakes, hurricanes, typhoons, storms and tornadoes, floods, dam failures, technological accidents, terrorist activities and hazardous materials releases where victims may be trapped, lost or injured.

· The FloridaOne Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) out of Pensacola joined DMAT teams from throughout the United States at a staging area in Atlanta, GA. FloridaOne DMAT is comprised of people with expertise in the fields of medicine, mental health, communications, administration and logistics.

· On Wednesday Governor Charlie Crist pledged to provide assistance to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Floridians who have friends and loved ones in Haiti.

State emergency management officials continue planning efforts with state, federal and international disaster officials to assist with response and recovery efforts for the island nation. Operations, logistics, plans and human services teams are prepared to assist with any mission requests.

Floridians and neighbors across the country can contribute to “Neighbors to the Rescue” by going to www.FLADisasterRecoveryFund.org – or by calling 1-800-825-3786.

About the Florida Disaster Recovery Fund

The Florida Disaster Recovery Fund, formerly the Florida Hurricane Relief Fund, was initiated during the 2004 hurricane season to assist with the unmet and long-term recovery needs of survivors. The fund is managed by the nonprofit Volunteer Florida Foundation and fueled entirely by private sector donations, with grants made to long-term recovery organizations. For more information about the Volunteer Florida Foundation please visit www.volunteerfloridafoundation.org.

For more information on the Florida Division of Emergency Management and to GET A PLAN!, please visit: www.FloridaDisaster.org. All students, teachers and parents can find educational information and free downloadable materials at: www.KidsGetAPlan.com. And for the latest situation and flash reports go to: www.YouTube.com/FloridaSERT.

WISDOM

2010-01-12T17:16:00.003-05:00

Thomas Jefferson said in 1802,
'I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered..'

WEALTH

2010-01-10T13:31:00.003-05:00

Silver in the Hair

Gold in the Teeth.

Stones in the Kidneys

Sugar in the Blood.

Lead in the Feet.

Iron in the Arteries.

And an inexhaustible supply of Natural Gas.

Who ever thought we'd accumulate such wealth.

Contributed by Loraine Lavage

OUTREACH PROGRAM

2010-01-08T09:27:00.003-05:00

When the Chapter applied for a grant from the Federation to conduct a combined membership drive and public relations project we had only the Senior Epo in mind. Before the grant was approved we had the opportunity to expand our plan to include at least one health fair at the Volusia Mall. About the same time we began thinking of including active Federal employees in our activities. A natural choice was the Postal Employees, since we had several retired postal worker as members already. So the final plan included Senior Epo’s, Health fairs, and an unnamed active which would be the choice of the Postal Workers.

The first two activities went off as planned. Including the Postal Employees was another story. Numerous attempts were made to negotiate with the leadership of the locale Post Officers with no success. The latest attempt was to invite the Post Master of the Williamson office to our next Chapter meeting. The last word was that the Post Master was on sick leave and his substitute wasn’t available at the hour of our meeting.

As the saying goes a miss is as good as a mile. We need a new plan. We will continue to try to reach the postal workers, but it is obvious that it can’t be done from the top down. Our efforts will have to be from the bottom up. If every member tries to approach his own mailperson by giving that person a NARFE magazine and a Chapter Newsletter that will be a beginning to a more lasting relationship.

ANNOUNCING A CHAPTER WEB-SITE

2010-01-06T10:56:00.001-05:00

Until recently most of my efforts have gone into developing the Chapter Blog known as NARFE NEWSLETTER or http://narfenewsletter.blogspot.com/. In my opinion, we needed a have a communication system that included a two way directional journalism element within the Chapter other than the telephone which is limited to the number of persons involved. The Blog seemed to fit that bill; so in June of 2009 I initiated the Blog, which has served us since then. The Blog now has 109 Postings covering numerous issues for example 38 involving the Chapter, 19 on Community, 24 on Health Care, 18 involving Legislation, and 15 regarding Service to mention only a few of the issues that are included in the Blog. The Blog also has a link to the new Chapter web-site http://sites.google.com/site/narfeormond/ .

The web-site is still being developed; but you can few it, and I will take suggestions on improving the site as well. At the present time, it is important to get the bones identified and established like a calendar that will need far more work. At present it contains the By-Laws which for the most part tell who we are and how we operate. It contains the Monthly Minutes which records the action of the Chapter, and it contains the hard copy Newsletters that are sent to all its members monthly. The photos convey some of the spirit and involvement of the members also necessary for a complete description of who we are and what we stand for in the community. Both the Blog news and web-site were developed to increase communications and the public awareness of NARFE. For both to be affective they must be used.

TRUTH IN NEWS ( REPORTS)

2010-01-03T15:12:00.003-05:00

It is a new year, but many of our concerns are still with us and must be faced in the coming months. For example, the actual Health Care Bill has not been negotiated between the House Bill and the Senate Bill. We have made out so far, but must keep up with the changes that are possible. The Chapter Blog contains updates from NARFE National and links to comment to our Representative in Congress on our likes and dislikes. We might not be able to contribute directly to the solutions to many of the problems facing the country, but we can stay informed, objective, and open to the facts. The following comment by Ron Richardson addresses this very point.

Hi Bob,

After reading the comments, I have come to the conclusion that confusion and partisanship abounds. I follow politifact.com among other non-partisan sites to make some sense of what the pundits are espousing. I would recommend this site to anyone who is unaware of it.

This is the statistics that they reported: “Among the items we've checked on health care, here's how the ratings broke down:

True 14.7 percent
Mostly True 10.3 percent
Half True 19.2 percent
Barely True 16 percent
False 30.1 percent
Pants on Fire 9.6 percent
*
(Total does not equal 100 percent due to rounding.)”

Obviously this does not include every statement made, but does include the most common. I suggest that people visit the site and make their own decision.

Ron Richardson

(Truth-O-Meter ratings here at PolitiFact are about journalism, and not meant for social science. We select facts to check based on our news judgment. Still, it's interesting to look at how the ratings have broken down this year when it comes to health care. We fact-checked more than 160 statements about health care in 2009, and a lot of them were wrong.)

You can read about these news items and check their truth at this web-site. There are other sites that do the same kind of fact checking.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2009/dec/29/health-care-debate-2009/

HEALTH CARE DEBATE

2009-12-30T14:43:00.002-05:00

The Health Care Bills should still be a concern to our members regardless of their political preferences. Shortly after the passage of the Senate bill I asked for comments in regard to the bill. I received the first four comments listed below. Comments five thru eleven arrived at a dates after December 22.

Two observations are apparent concerning both set of comments. As members, we have varying views and in some cases opposing views. (This fact by itself is not bad.) The latter comments in several cases are not only comments on the Senate bill, but responses to other comments. The whole activity pleased me very much; because of the member’s versatility and involvement in both the comments and the exchanges. Members felt free to express themselves which indicates the strength of our Chapter.

All eleven comments are listed below for your review.

COMMENTS ON HEALTH CARE

Thanks Bob,

I oppose any bill that adds to the national debt. This one is supposed to reduce the debt, but I remain skeptical and the devil is in the details. Not a detail and evidently un addressed is the need to reduce the proportion of our health care dollars (I've read 90%) spent on keeping old people like me alive when it is time to go. There should also be a cap on the amount spent on any individual because medical advances and technology are making some treatments horribly expensive. We are on the road to fiscal disaster unless we control health care spending.

A major achievement for Obama and the Democrats. I am still hoping that a public option will be included in the final bill to keep insurance companies under control.

I hope you are right. I still don't understand all the secrecy behind

closed doors when promised open door with CSPAN. Also, I can't

understand their math even though it won't kick in for 4 years or the

mad rush.

How about passing on all the facts and not just this pack of lies.

Dec.23

Bob, I didn't comment because I am not familiar enough with the bill. And, of course, it is still to be consolidated before it becomes effective. Selfishly, I hope we do not lose benefits, but I am not sure how that can be avoided unless people are willing to pay more taxes as they do in countries with good public health care systems. I really don't think it is a "pack of lies". Trying to get people who are thinking only of the next election to agree on anything or think of the common good is impossible.

I am hoping for the reinsertion of the public option into the bill. I say pass the bill and then work on improving it.

For those who want the facts, they are on the Internet and have been available for anyone who wants to read them. Don't believe the Republican rhetoric. Healthcare in this country is a disgrace and should have been corrected decades ago. Unfortunately, the Republicans are more interested in opposing the Democrats than in doing what is good for the country.

Obama's mistake was in wasting time reaching out to the Republicans for a bipartisan plan. He should have recognized a long time ago that their only goal was to make him fail. All one has to know is that the insurance companies are spending millions of dollars to fight the public option. Why would they do that? Because they think we are better off without it? Fat chance. Regarding cost, the non partisan Congressional Budget Office's report was favorable. Furthermore, we've squandered hundreds of billions of dollars fighting a useless war in Iraq, why complain now about advancing money to correct our horrendous healthcare system.

Thanks for the up-date, but I would have preferred that this new health care plan be handled by a totally different department of the federal government, and NOT the OPM department.

I still see this as a window in the future of OPM combining the programs and we would be stuck with the results.

Someone once said, don’t look at what they are doing today, look at what they are planning for the future.

#10

I was watching MSNBC (strong democrat station) this morning and was so disgusted in the Dems & Reps. I could scream. The bottom line was we would have to get an honest billionaire (that had enough money to not be bought) to be president to clean up the corruption in Washington. How about the Nebraska representative voting with them after he was promised his state would never have to pay taxes for the Medicare but the others will? I think that 1st change might do us in.

• Premiums of FEHBP and the proposed OPM-administered multi-state plans would be calculated in separate risk pools.

#11

So, here is my reply, after the fact, to your replies..... Why are some people so focused on the National Debt when we pay every year for all the uninsured Americans that run into the ER every night to get medical attention. Don't they realize that cost comes out of local, state and federal taxes or do they think it's a free service? This was a great accomplishment for not only the administration, but for all Americans, young and old, sick or healthy, rich or poor. Sure, it needs work, but the Civil Rights Bill took years to perfect, and JFK was criticized for passing that, as well. Shame on the person who responded that there should be a lifetime medical spending cap on individuals. Not everyone is old when they get a terrible disease. Maybe it's a young person who could be cured and grow up only to find a cure for cancer or initiate world peace.

Board Meeting - December 14, 2009

2009-12-30T11:17:00.002-05:00

NARFE Chapter 2247

Ormond Beach, FL

Board Meeting - December 14, 2009

Attendance: B. Wehrli, C. Dougherty, J. Lowe, Lee Sherman, June Griffin, M. Araya

NARFE Magazines: Cece will handle affixing NARFE labels on magazine brought in at monthly meetings.

Review of Christmas Party: Cost of dinners commensurate with number of tickets sold. It will be our policy to not reimburse tickets sold if buyers do not show up for the dinner since the restaurant will charge us for the number of meals pre-ordered.

It was agreed that the Christmas Party locale was beautiful and the service was excellent. We will request through Alice Mauzy, our hostess, to book the Oceanside Country Club for next year’s celebration. The third Monday of December, December 20th, is requested if possible. Alice will be asked to submit meal choices and prices and to confirm the date for 2010. Our thanks to Alice for a great job.

Programs: Charlie Shannon will be our speaker for the January meeting. Audrey Beck, CPA, Director of Education for Taxes, will speak at our February meeting. Programs and attendance of the past year were reviewed, both deemed excellent by the board.

The F-7 form was reviewed. Sue O’Brien, recuperating from medical issues, will remain Chaplain. The prayer at meetings is offered by Bob or Geri Wehrli. Lee Sherman will head up a bereavement committee of at least two officers and some members to attend wakes and funerals of members or close family of members. It was agreed to hold a brief memorial service at our May meeting. The F-7 form will reflect these changes.

Revised By-Laws are available for the file and for distribution as required.

A thank you note from the Ormond Beach Athletic League was received thanking the chapter for our donation of toys. It was agreed that there was a need to organize the receipt of food donations more efficiently. A committee of volunteers will be gathered for this next year.

The NARFE District Meeting will be held in Altamonte Springs on Thursday, February 18th. The $20.00 registration fee will be paid by the Chapter. Bob will chair the communications session. Those attending the meeting include the following: Bob Wehrli, Cece Dougherty, Lee Sherman and Mary Araya. Also to be contacted for possible attendance are Linda Gardner, Trish Vevera, Ron Richardson, Victor Dean and Jim and Joan Youngblood.

Use of business cards tabled

John will take charge of storage of recruiting materials and FEHA materials

The meeting adjourned at 11:20 a.m.

SENATE HEALTH CARE BILL

2009-12-23T05:40:00.004-05:00

This is to inform NARFE members about a victory on health care reform legislation.

This protective language was added by the Senate leadership in response to concerns raised by NARFE and federal-postal organization allies regarding a proposal that would have the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) play a significant role in national health care reform -- partially administering a health care delivery system consisting of at least two national, private nonprofit insurance plans.

The following FEHBP protections will be added to the bill through the “manager’s amendment” which includes the OPM-administered “multi-state” health plans .

• Premiums of FEHBP and the proposed OPM-administered multi-state plans would be calculated in separate risk pools.

• The OPM Director would be required to ensure that the multi-state plans are administered separately from the FEHBP.

• FEHBP insurance carriers would not be required to offer coverage through the multi-state program.

• The OPM Director may establish separate units or offices within the agency to ensure that the administration of the multi-state plans do not interfere with the effective administration of FEHBP.

• The OPM Director may not allocate fewer financial or personnel resources to the agency’s administration of FEHBP.

• The OPM Director may appoint additional personnel to carry out the administration of multi-state plans.

Senators voted 60-39 to accept the manager's amendment around 8 AM Tuesday, December 22, clearing the way for one remaining procedural vote on Wednesday, December 23 and a final vote on the legislation Thursday, December 24.

COMMENTS ON HEALTH CARE

2009-12-22T16:33:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I sent you a message announcing the Senate passing Health Care legislation and asked for your comments. The following comments are not identified by their author's name. I felt it was not necessary to identify the members.

I can't promise that I will be able to answer the questions raised in the comments. I merely report the news on this event. It is worth getting the opinions of the members. That is also news.

COMMENTS ON HEALTH CARE as of December 22, 2010

Thanks Bob,

A major achievement for Obama and the Democrats. I am still hoping that a public option will be included in the final bill to keep insurance companies under control.

I hope you are right. I still don't understand all the secrecy behind

closed doors when promised open door with CSPAN. Also, I can't

understand their math even though it won't kick in for 4 years or the

mad rush.

How about passing on all the facts and not just this pack of lies.