Minutes of Chapter Meeting - October 19, 2009

NARFE Chapter 2247

Ormond Beach, FL

Minutes of Chapter Meeting - October 19, 2009

Forty-six officers, members, guests and speaker Kent Ryan were present at this meeting which was called to order at the River Grille at 11:30 a.m.. The meeting opened with a pledge of allegiance and prayer. President Bob Wehrli introduced guests from the NARFE Titusville Chapter, prospective new members (federal retirees) and other guests. He thanked Ron Richardson and Victor Dean for assisting with the audio system at meetings. Minutes and Treasurer’s reports were read. Both reports were accepted and filed. Cece Dougherty updated the information on the check for Social Security recipients; the amount of this stimulus is to be for $250.00. June Griffin, Treasurer, thanked the group for the get well card she recently received.

OLD BUSINESS

A vote was taken on the single dues issue as proposed by the National. Thirty-two members voted with the results as follows: 20 members voted yes; 12 members voted no.

Ten members abstained. Our chapter has three (3) votes at National, so the split was two (2) votes in favor of single dues and one (1) vote against. The official ballot was mailed to NARFE Election Processing.

The plans for the Christmas Party continue to be formalized. Alice Mauzy is our hostess and Marguerite Hiemenz is responsible for entertainment. Cece Dougherty is in charge of ticket reservations.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Legislation: John Lowe gave an update on progress in the stimulus program. Those on Social Security will receive a booster check of $250.00. The benefit will also hopefully be extended to federal and state employees. John also advised that, though insurance premiums are going up, federal government insurance is still “a pretty good deal.” John then talked about set up and manning the booth at the Senior Expo slated for November 4th and 5th.

Membership: Lee Sherman distributed handouts from the Council on Aging on diabetes. She invited those who have not already done so to sign up for dues-withholding. Prizes in this latest contest will be awarded from both National and District headquarters.

Programs: The topic for the November meeting will be health insurance premiums. Blue Cross/ Blue Shield representatives will be our speakers. GEHA and Mailhandlers personnel have been invited to attend.

Kent Ryan, Vice President of the Daytona State College Foundation, addressed the members about the WISE (Wisdom in Senior Education) program available and ongoing at the present time. Each week through December 10, a different topic of exploration is offered to seniors from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.at the Hosseini Center. The semester fee is $15.00 for a single person and $25.00 for a couple. Annually, the cost is $25.00 for a single and $45.00 for a couple. Topics range from preparing holiday treats to photography to estate planning to a vicarious visit to Africa. Registration is necessary because of restricted seating, and sign-up can be made online. Professor Ryan also fielded questions about the range of college degrees and programs offered in our area colleges. President Bob Wehrli thanked Professor Ryan for taking the time to address our group.

NEW BUSINESS

Two motions were made from the chair:

1. At the October and November meetings, monies realized from the 50/50 raffle will be donated to a local food bank. Members who wish may bring a bag of groceries to the November meeting to be given also to a local food bank. Motion seconded by Trish Vevera. Motion carried by those present.

2. Members are invited to bring an unwrapped toy to the November meeting. Toys will be donated to an institution in Ormond Beach. Motion seconded by Cece Dougherty. Motion carried by the membership present.

Bob requested that old NARFE magazines be brought to meetings. Chapter labels will be affixed to the magazines that will now be ready to distribute to doctors’ offices by the members.

Winners of prizes were as follows:

v Kay Seaman won a book donated by our speaker of the day.

v Mary Ann Whitaker won a $10.00 voucher.

v Ann Kifer won the 50/50 raffle.

Bob Wehrli adjourned the meeting at 1:30 p.m. (Rose Lauer/Cece Dougherty).

OMBUDSMAN

Claudia Dinardo, Director of the Ombudsman Program, has nine certified volunteer ombudsman (s) and is always looking for more volunteers. She can be contacted at 226-7846 if you are interested in volunteering or know of a senior that needs an advocate. The purpose of this organization is to advocate for resident’s rights for those in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and adult day care homes.

The Ormond NARFE chapter will ask Ms.Dinardo to speak at one of our meetings.

The Senior Association Coalition

The Senior Association Coalition will hold their next meeting at the Council on Aging at 169 N. Beach Street at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, December 1st. This meeting will be very important as we officially kick off the 2010 Census. County Council Member Joe Alexander has been invited to speak as she is the Chairperson for the County 2010 Census.

U.S. Census process supplied by John Lowe

** If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, they will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau> canvas bag, and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their questions. However, you should NEVER invite anyone you do not know into your home.
** Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to verify address information. The number and ages of people living at your address.Do not give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S. Census. While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary range, the Census Bureau will not ask for Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers nor will employees solicit donations.

The Check is in the Mail!

NARFE Applauds President for Including Federal Retirees in Proposal to Offer $250 to Older Americans in No COLA Year; Association’s Behind-the Scenes Work Pays Off

Margaret L. Baptiste, president of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE), today praised President Obama for proposing that all federal retirees and survivors -- including Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) annuitants who are not eligible to receive Social Security – should be offered a one-time $250 payment, just like other older Americans. NARFE has worked with key congressional committees since July to ensure that such federal government retirees and survivors would receive equivalent compensation.

The proposal was made in advance of the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ October 15 announcement confirming that negative inflation during the past 12 months would result in no cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security and federal civilian and military retirees in 2010.

“This payment would come as a welcome relief to federal retirees and survivors at a time when most will shoulder a 12 to 15 percent health insurance premium increase in a year they will receive no cost-of-living adjustment,” said NARFE President Baptiste. “We commend the president for supporting a payment to older Americans that will help them make ends meet and for including government retirees who are not eligible to receive Social Security. With the boost from the president, NARFE will continue to lead the effort in Congress to pass this needed legislation.”

Over a million federal, state and local government employees who are not eligible to receive Social Security are sometimes not part of such relief proposals. For example, until NARFE and other public employee organizations intervened, government retirees not entitled to Social Security were left out of a similar payment in the Stimulus bill approved by Congress in February 2009.

Federal retirees who were hired by the government before December 31, 1983, did not pay Social Security payroll taxes and are not covered by Social Security unless they worked 40 or more quarters in other Social Security-covered employment.[1] Congress chose not to include government workers in Social Security when the program was first created in 1935 because most public employees already had employer sponsored retirement benefits. Indeed, a CSRS annuity was intended to equal a private-sector pension plus Social Security benefits.

In addition to the president, Baptiste applauded Sen. Harry Reid, D-NV; Max Baucus, D-MT; Bernie Sanders, D-VT; and Blanche Lincoln, D-AK; and Reps. Nancy Pelosi, D-CA; Charles Rangel, D-NY; Carolyn McCarthy, D-NY; and Peter DeFazio, D-OR for their support of this needed relief. She urged Congress to approve the proposal as soon as possible.

October 16, 2009 Dan Adcock

NARFE, one of America’s oldest and largest associations, was founded in 1921 with the mission of protecting the earned rights and benefits of America’s active and retired federal workers. The largest federal employee/ retiree organization, NARFE represents the retirement interests of nearly 5 million current and future federal annuitants, spouses, and survivors.

CALL TO ACTION

A few in Congress would like to take away our benefits that we earned by our service whether over seas, under actual fire, in remote places or by a life time of dedication. We all gave up something and asked little in return. Now, the ultimate test faces us with Senator Grassley(R-IA) and Wyden(D-OR) trying to amend the Health Care to eliminate FEHBP by putting all Active and Retired Federal Employees in an Insurance Exchange System rather than FEHBP. This attack on our FEHBP was amended to OPTIONAL, and in its latter form it got out of Committee. If approved by the full Senate and House which is a real possibility, then the enemy is within our walls. Kiss our benefits good bye.

It will be only a matter of time for them to eat away at what is left.

Let Congress know that you are aware of what is behind Senator Grassley’s amendment. That he is attacking all Active and Retired Federal Employees and that he is merely hiding behind the issue of Health Care.

SECURITY HOME STYLE

PUT YOUR CAR KEYS BESIDE YOUR BED AT NIGHT

Tell your spouse, your children, your neighbors, your parents, and everyone you run across.

Put your car keys beside your bed at night. If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies

This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator. Next time you come home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this:

It's a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation. Test it. It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain. It works if you park in your driveway or garage. If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break into your house, odds are the burglar rapist won't stick around. After a few seconds all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won't want that. And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there. This is something that should really be shared with everyone. Maybe it could save a life or a sexual abuse crime.

Submitted by a member.