“Wurst” Newsletter F=
ourth
Quarter October-December 2009=
NARFE
Chapter 672 New Braunfels, Texas<=
/b>
We&#=
8217;re
on the Web!
www.narfe.org/chapter672
N=
ARFE ...
Improving and defending federal retirement benefits since 1921
TFC
Dues Withholding Incentive
Recent Meetings
=
RSVP,
Stephen Doerr and Betty Niven
Rep.
Lamar Smith’s office, Shannon Cantrell
Where
Do I Go From Here?
Officers & Com=
mittees
Schedule<=
/o:p>
Friday, October 16, 2009 Annual Meeting: Election of Officers for 2010; Vote
NARFE Dues Referendum. Progra=
m:
“How to Contact Your Congressman and Senators” by Bonnie Walcha=
k.
Friday, November 20, 2009 “Your PAC Contributions Do Make a Difference”=
by
David Walchak
Monday, December 7, 2009 5:30 p=
.m.
Christmas Party at Ryan’s Family Steakhouse, New Braunfels.
NARFE Chapter 0672 meets on the third Friday of each month (except in May and Decembe=
r).
9:30 a=
.m.
coffee and snacks social.
10:00 =
a.m.
regular meeting.
We meet at the Comal County Senior Citizens
Center’s Chaparral Room located at 655 Landa Street in New
Braunfels. The Senior
Center’s phone number is (830) 629-4547. Members and friends are always
welcome. Senior meals are ava=
ilable
from 11:30—12:30. Visit=
our web
page for a map and driving directions.
President’s Message — John Creswell
![3D"NARFE2009-0710010John](3D"NL2009Q4_files/image002.jpg")
It’s time for you to vote on the NARFE dues
referendum! NARFE’s National Executive Board decided on March 4, 2009=
to
propose an amendment to the Bylaws to provide for a single dues structure b=
y a referendum
vote of chapters. Chapter 672 gets to cast 4 votes, based on our membership=
. All
votes will be tabulated at our October 16 meeting. If you cannot attend this
meeting, please complete and mail the ballot (following=
this
article) to me so it arrives before October 16 (mail by October 10). The
August NARFE magazine, the Texas Federation of Chapter’s (TFC)=
Federal
Retiree newsletter and NARFE’s Webpage, www.narfe.org have more information on the referendum. WeR=
17;ll
take time on October 16 to discuss this issue before voting.
I’ve attempted to summari=
ze
some of the referendum information from the above 3 sources.
A single NARFE dues structure w=
ould
eliminate the need for separate National and Chapter dues. There would be j=
ust
one dues program. NARFE feels this would help retain members, and would
simplify member recruiting efforts by having just one member dues fee - $40=
.00
per year. There would no longer be a first year membership fee of $33.00
followed in the second year by dues of $29.00 plus whatever the chapter dues
are. It also would reduce the number of dues categories that NARFE presently
offers.
The $40.00 yearly dues would be
distributed as follows: $9.00 to the Chapter, 10% ($4.00) to the TFC and $2=
7.00
to NARFE. Note: The Chapter, in turn, would send $4.00 to the TFC,
leaving the Chapter with $5.00. If a member uses dues withholding the annual
cost would be reduced by 10% or $36.00 ($3.00 per month), $8.00 would go to=
the
Chapter ($4.00 of this would then go to the TFC), $3.60 to the TFC and $24.=
40
to National.
Chapter 672 currently receives =
$7.00
per year ($4.00 of this goes to the TFC). An increase in member dues would
allow us to pay more to help cover delegate expenses to attend state, regio=
nal
and national meetings, fund service projects and our yearly Alzheimer’=
;s
donation, pay for the Chapter’s newsletter, etc. Some chapters presen=
tly
have annual dues of $10.00 or more. They’ll have to raise more money =
for
their chapter through fundraising, silent auctions, etc.
If the referendum is approved, =
active
Federal Employees would continue to renew their NARFE membership at the spe=
cial
incentives rate (1 year, $25.00, 2 years, $45.00, and 3 years, $60.00). Upon
retirement, they would renew at the yearly NARFE dues fee of $40.00.
If the NARFE dues referendum is
approved, the multi-year renewal options for retired Federal Employees will=
go
away.
If the referendum is approved, =
NARFE
will have 4 membership categories:
Regular members: Members who pay NARFE dues.
Life members: Members who pay present and future NARFE dues in a lump
sum. Chapters will be remitted $9.00 yearly.
Honorary members: Members who have been granted the right to a National
membership without further payment of National dues. Chapters will be remit=
ted
$9.00 unless this has been waived by the chapter. An honorary member may
request recognition under the Distinguished Member program upon writ=
ten
request to the National Office and by resuming payment of NARFE dues ($40.00
yearly: $4.00 to the TFC, $9.00 to the chapter, and $27 to National).
4.<=
span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Members-at-Large: Current m=
embers
who belong to the National Association but not to a chapter. National Only
members will continue to pay the old National dues of $29.00.
I hope this helps you decide wh=
ether to
vote yes or no for the dues referendum. Please exercise your right as a mem=
ber
of NARFE and VOTE!
|
SPECIAL DUES REFERENDUM MAIL-=
IN BALLOT Attention chapter members: DO NOT SEND TO NARFE HEADQUAR=
TERS. NARFE
Chapter 672 Special Dues Referendum Mail-In Ballot Note: If
you cannot make the October 16th chapter meeting when members vote on the
NARFE Dues Referendum, please vote below. <=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;line-height:102%;font-family:"Arial","sans-seri=
f"'> =
; I
vote YES on the NARFE Dues Referendum =
_________ <=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;line-height:102%;font-family:"Arial","sans-seri=
f"'> =
; I
vote NO on the NARFE Dues Referendum _________ <=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;line-height:102%;font-family:"Arial","sans-seri=
f"'>Cut
out this coupon and mail/take it to your chapter president so it arriv=
es
before the 16th. <=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;line-height:102%;font-family:"Arial","sans-seri=
f"'>John
Creswell; 1771 Oakmont Circle; New Braunfels, TX 78132-3846 <=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;line-height:102%;font-family:"Arial","sans-seri=
f"'> ____________________________________ ______________________________ =
; &n=
bsp; Print
Name &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; Signatur=
e |
Legislative GEMS from NARFE<=
/o:p>
Member=
s are
encouraged to read the lead article in the October NARFE Magazine (pages 8-16) for an excellent
summary of the current status of Health Care legislation . At this time, NARFE has taken no
position on the health care overhaul legislation.
Here is a roundup of recent “Hotline”
topics from the Global Email Messaging System (GEMS).
On Sep=
tember
24, the House passed H.R. 3631, to protect all Medicare beneficiaries from =
an
increase in their Part B premium in 2010 when it is almost certain there wi=
ll
be NO cost of living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security beneficiaries an=
d federal
civilian and military retirees.
NARFE worked tirelessly behind the scenes on this legislation for the
past three months. There are =
four
groups of older Americans who are not protected by the ‘hold
harmless’ provision, including over a million federal, state and local
government retirees who are not eligible to receive Social Security
benefits.
In a p=
ress
statement, NARFE President Margaret L. Baptiste noted, “This bill is
about equity for all Medicare beneficiaries, because without it, federal, s=
tate
and local government retirees who are not Social Security-eligible would ha=
ve
to pay the Part B rate hike in a no-COLA year, while Social Security
beneficiaries would not.”
The Se=
nate
Committee on Finance has spent most of the week of 9/24 marking-up Chairman=
Max
Baucus’, D-MT, health care reform legislation. Included among the 500 plus amendm=
ents
are two which would affect the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program
(FEHBP). First, Ranking Commi=
ttee
member, Charles Grassley, R-IA, proposed that federal workers and Members of
Congress be required to join state-based health exchanges to purchase health
insurance instead of FEHBP. T=
he
amendment approved by the committee was changed to make enrollment in the
exchanges optional – rather than mandatory – for federal
employees and legislators.
Second,
Senator Ron Wyden, D-OR, may offer an amendment (“Wyden C6”) wh=
ich
would open the FEHBP to certain low-income non-federal civilians. While NAR=
FE
supports access to comprehensive health care for all Americans, we insist t=
hat
any proposal to open the FEHBP to the public must include separate risk poo=
ls,
which the Wyden amendment does not contain. For that reason, NARFE opposes the
amendment. Risk pools are use=
d to
calculate health plan premiums based on the cost of providing coverage to
enrollees. Without the opport=
unity
to study non-federal enrollees in a separate FEHBP risk pool, the introduct=
ion
of any new community into the FEHBP could result in unanticipated premium
increases.
On Sep=
tember
16th, the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics
reported the consumer price index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Worke=
rs,
the CPI-W, for August is 211.156, an increase of 0.3 percent from the
July index of 210.526. Howeve=
r,
there is unlikely to be a retiree COLA for 2010. In fact, the July/August
average index (210.841) is 2.2 percent LOWER than the third quarter
average base index in 2008 (215.5).
With only one month remaining, three beneficiary groups, social
security, military and federal civilians, should plan to receive NO COLA for
2010 only a year after the highest COLA in more than a quarter century. The=
BLS
website is http://www=
.bls.gov/cpi/cpifaq.htm.
On September 8, Sen. Kay Bai=
ley
Hutchison was made a cosponsor of NARFE priority legislation called Premium
Conversion. This legislation,=
S.
491 sponsored by Sen. Jim Webb, would allow civilian and military retirees =
to
pay certain health care premiums on a pre-tax basis. On September 8, Sen. Webb added Se=
n.
Hutchison as the 40th cosponsor.
Each F=
riday
the hotline is made available to telephone callers (703/838-7780 or toll fr=
ee
at 1-877-217-8234), by e-mail, and posted on NARFE’s web site, www.narfe.org. To receive GEMS e-mail, contact member service=
s (see
Officers and Committees). When phoning the Ca=
pitol
switchboard in Washington, D.C, dial 1-866-220-0044, ask first for your
Representative by name then your two Senators. This is a free service from NARFE =
to its
members. H=
ooray,
Let’s Celebrate!!!!!!! NARFE 672 wishes each of the
following a happy birthday and many more: October
Birthdays: Mary
Battenfield Vale=
rie
Boehme Jim =
Fero John=
Kenney Leon=
ard Kramer Andy=
Marbach Kemi=
l Pepin November
Birthdays: Lill=
ian
Smith Rich=
ard
Valdez December
Birthdays: Joan=
M.
Davis Glor=
ia
Lonning Dave=
Walchak If I have missed your birthday,
please be sure to let me know. Also, if you know of a=
nyone
that I should send a “Thinking of You” card to, please let me
know. I wish you sunshine each
today and always. Daisy
Richardson, Sunshine Chairperson, drichldy@satx.rr.com 210-858-4844 Janet
Beverly, 16228 Remuda Trail, Buda, TX 78610-9349 Antonio T Garza, 1443 Brighton, San Antonio, TX
78211-1431 Norma C Krueger, 1299 Krueger Rd, Seguin, TX
78155-1534 Bett=
y Niven,
508 Oak Cascade, New Braunfels, TX 78132-3887 John=
Niven,
508 Oak Cascade, New Braunfels, TX 78132-3887 Zadi=
e V.
Ward, 3728 Scenic Drive, Cibolo, TX 78108-2229 Judy=
Week,
1937 Lance Circle, New Braunfels, TX 78130-8354 Elsie Wray,=
440
Kerlick Lane, New Braunfels, TX 78130-6614 Helen G Hol=
comb,
San Antonio, TX Let NARFE know your e-mail to g=
et the
newsletter faster, save the chapter postage, and the pictures are in
color! See “Officers and Committees” for contact info.=
The Texas Federation of Chapters
(TFC) announced a special incentive program at the TFC Convention in April =
for
retiree members who sign up for Dues Withholding. Members or their spouses must be
receiving a federal retirement annuity, and have a renewal date in the next
twelve months. Those who comp=
lete
the Dues Withholding form and submit it to the TFC Treasurer will receive a=
$20
award from the TFC. The Dues
Withholding forms are available in the May/June 2009 “Texas Federal
Retiree”, at www.narfe.org or at our chapter meetings.
However, to receive the $20 incentive, you need to mail the form
to: Wilbur Doehring, TFC Trea=
surer,
PO Box 1293, Montgomery TX 77356-1293.&nbs=
p;
With dues withholding, you also receive a 10% discount on dues. The October 16th meeting is our
Annual Meeting when we vote on Chapter officers for 2010. Many thanks to Da=
vid
Lindsey (Chair, e-mail: dlindsey@the-i.net), James and Joann Fero for serving on the Nominating
Committee. They reported at the September 18 Chapter meeting that the follo=
wing
individuals have indicated a willingness to serve as officers in 2010: John
Creswell, President Ruby
Deininger, First Vice President Tom
Miller, Second Vice President Richard
Valdez, Secretary Walter
Penk, Treasurer Nominations can be made from the floor before we=
vote
for our 2010 officers. Officers will be installed at our December 7 Christm=
as
meeting. Please collect aluminum pull-ta=
bs
from beverage and other cans, and bring them to our monthly meetings. We’ll be collecting them to =
take
to the 2011 TFC Convention in Galveston.&n=
bsp;
Proceeds benefit the Ronald McDonald House which helps parents of
severely ill children. Have you ever wanted to volunte=
er,
but didn’t know where your skills would be used best, or what kind of
needs exist? RSVP may be your
answer. RSVP provides volunte=
er
opportunities for people 55 years of age or over. Its purpose is to enrich retiremen=
t through
significant community service.
Besides the benefit of feeling useful, needed and appreciated, there=
are
other benefits. These include
personal liability, accident and excess auto liability insurance; recogniti=
on;
a newsletter and group travel=
opportunities
both in the U.S and internationally. Steven Doerr, Director of RSVP =
of
South Central Texas noted that there are over 103 non-profit agencies in the
four counties served; Comal,
Guadalupe, Wilson and Hayes. =
He
handed out a list of over 90 volunteer needs at 30 locations here in Comal
County. It is part of a natio=
nal
program, so there is probably a group where you are. Volunteers contribute an average o=
f three
hours a week at their chosen sites. Betty Niven coordinates America
Reads, one of the RSVP programs. In
this program, each volunteer mentors students with reading, learning the
alphabet and numbers. RSVP pr=
ovides
training and resources for this important program. For more information, visit www.rsvptlu.org c=
all
830-379-0300, or e-mail sdoerr@axs4u.net. Shannon Cantrell, District Dire=
ctor
for Congressman Lamar Smith’s office outlined Representative
Smith’s position on a number of legislative issues important to NARFE
members. Representative Smith=
is
not a supporter of HR82 relating to Government Pension Offset (GPO) because=
of
the perceived cost. He does a=
gree
with NARFE on the Windfall Elimination Provision, and is co-sponsor of HR27=
72
to eliminate the current implementation.&n=
bsp;
He is also a co-sponsor of HR1110 on Premium Conversion. Ms. Cantrell commented that all=
of
the above legislation is currently in committee, and not likely to move in =
the
near future because Congressional energies are focused on Health Care Refor=
m. She also outlined some of the i=
ssues
related to the current discussion on Health Care Reform and encouraged memb=
ers
to attend one of several public meetings scheduled during the summer recess=
. Contact information for Congres=
sman
Smith may be found under Legislative Contacts.=
At t=
he September
2009 Chapter meeting, Ms. Christen Leal, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, s=
poke
on the topic, “Where Do I Go from Here, Options for Long-Term Assista=
nce
and Housing.” Home Heal=
th
Agencies provide a full range of in-home nursing and therapy services, while
Home Care Agencies provide companionship and help with daily living
activities. Individuals who a=
re
able to care for themselves might prefer Independent Living at senior
communities. Senior communiti=
es
offer a safe, carefree lifestyle where seniors can socialize with their pee=
rs. Assi=
sted
Living provides the services of a senior community as well as help with dai=
ly
living activities. Nursing Ho=
mes
provide skilled long-term medical care for individuals who are unable to ca=
re
for themselves. Short-term ca=
re is
also available for those who are recovering from surgery or injury. Bulverde Senior Center (830-438-3111), Alamo Area
Agency (866-231-4922), and Department of Aging and Disability Services
(888-902-9990) are but a few of the resources that offer professional advic=
e to
help you decide where to spend your senior years. If you have access to a computer, check out www.medicare.gov/nb/compare/, www.helpguide.org/elder/, and www.alamoaging.org/<=
/span>. One
of our chapter service projects is to contribute items to the Senior
Center’s Thrift Store every three months. Now is the time to look through yo=
ur
closets and storage for used but still useful items to donate. President=
..................... John
Creswell···&mid=
dot;· 830-620-0344 =
creswelj@sbcglobal.net 1st VP.......................... Dolores
Little···&middo=
t;· 830-620-0222 =
dklpk@gvtc.com 2nd VP......................... Carl
Englerth···&mid=
dot;·· 830-629-1620 =
cfenglerth@wireweb.net Secretary=
...................... Richard
Valdez···&middo=
t; 830-625-3359 =
rsvald@netzero.net Treasurer=
..................... Walter
Penk····=
···· 830-620-0222 =
we=
penk@gvtc.com Alzheimers =
&nb=
sp; Walter
Penk &nb=
sp; 830-620-0222 =
wepenk@gvtc.com Chaplain &n=
bsp; =
; Carl
Englerth =
; 830-629-1620 =
cfenglerth@wireweb.net Congressional Liaison Bonnie
Walchak 830-608-1202 =
dnbwalchak@satx.rr.com Greeter &nb=
sp; =
Rueben
Stone =
830-885-5355 Historian &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Richard
Valdez 830-6=
25-3359 =
rsvald@netzero.net Hospitality =
; &n=
bsp; Rona
Burris &=
nbsp; 830-625-3345 Membership =
; &n=
bsp; Hal
Johnson =
830-643-1505 =
hjohnson003@satx.rr.comNARFE Toll-free =
to
Legislators
Sunshine Report by Daisy
Richardson
Welcome New Members and Transfers
Recent Deaths
Newsletter by E-=
Mail
TFC Dues Withholding Incentive
Nominating Committee
Pull-Tab Project
Recent Meetings
RSVP by Steven Doer=
r,
Director; July 17, 2009
![3D"NARFE2009-0710003](3D"NL2009Q4_files/image004.jpg")
![3D"NARFE2009-0710005](3D"NL2009Q4_files/image006.jpg")
Shannon Can=
trell,
District Director for Congressman Lamar Smith; August 21, 2009
![3D"IMG_3608Shannon](3D"NL2009Q4_files/image008.jpg")
“Where do =
I Go
From Here? Options for Long-t=
erm
Assistance and Housing” by
Christen Leal, September 18th, 2009
![3D"IMG_3576Chris](3D"NL2009Q4_files/image010.jpg")
Thrift Shop Donations
January, April, July, October
Officers and Committees
Newsletter =
&nb=
sp; Dorothy
Creswell 830-620-0344 =
cresweld@sbcglobal.net
NARFE PAC =
David
Walchak 830-608-12=
02 =
dnbwalchak@aol.com
Public Relations=
Jo
Ann Brown 830-625=
-7673 =
Wbrown39@satx.rr.com
Service Officer =
Roland
Boenig 830-6=
24-1058 =
rolandboenig@msn.com
Sunshine &n=
bsp; =
; Daisy
Richardson 210-858-4844 =
drichldy@satx.rr.com
Telephone &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Dolores
Little 830-620-0222 =
dklpk@gvtc.com
Web Page &n=
bsp; =
; Dorothy
Creswell 830-620-0344 =
cresweld@sbcglobal.net
District 12 Rep&=
nbsp; Patricia
Padilla 210-=
682-4968 =
rwb777@q.com
Member Services =
toll
free &nb=
sp; 1-800-456-8410
Legislative Contacts
White House: President B=
arack
H. Obama, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC, 20500; Phone (202)
456-1414; www.whitehouse.gov.<=
span
style=3D'font-size:10.5pt;line-height:125%;font-style:normal'>
Senator John =
Cornyn: ( R ) 517 H=
art Senate
Office Bldg., Washington, D.C. 20510-4302; Phone (202) 224-2934; FAX (202)
228-2856; District Office: 600 Navarro, #210, San Antonio, TX 78205; Phone:
(210) 224-7485; FAX (210) 224-8569; District Office: 221 West Sixth St., Ste
1530, Austin, TX 78701, phone 512-469-6034, FAX 512-469-6020 http://cornyn.senate.=
gov/
Senator Kay B=
ailey
Hutchison: ( R ) 284 Russell Senate Office Bldg., Washington, D.C.
20510 4304: Phone: (202) 224-5922; FAX (202) 224-0776; District Office: 145
Duncan Drive, #120, San Antonio, TX 78226; Phone: (210) 340-2885; FAX (210)
349-6753 ht=
tp://hutchison.senate.gov/
District 21, =
Rep.
Lamar Smith: ( R ) 2184 Rayburn HOB, Washington, D.C. 20515-4321; Pho=
ne;
(202) 225-4236; FAX (202) 225-8628; District Office: 1100 NE Loop 410, #640,
San Antonio, TX 78209; Phone (210) 821-5024; FAX (210) 821-5947; http://lamarsmith.hou=
se.gov/
District 25, =
Rep.
Lloyd Doggett: ( D ) 201 Cannon HOB, Washington, DC 20515-0001; FAX:
(202) 225-4865; District Office: 300 East 8th St., Ste 763, Austin, TX 7870=
1;
Phone (512) 916-5921 or (866)916-5921;&nbs=
p;
www.house.gov/doggett
District 28, Rep. Henry Cuellar: ( D ) 1404 Longworth HOB,
Washington, D.C. 20515; Phone (202) 225-1640; FAX (202) 225-1641; District
Office: 1149 E. Commerce St., Suite 210 or (877)780-0028, San Antonio, TX
78205; Phone (210) 271-2851; FAX (210) 277-6671, www.house.gov/cuellar
New address, phone or e-mail? Corrections?
Call Member Services at 1-800-456-8410 or visit www.narfe.org
Newsletter Editor=
NARFE Chapter 672=
1771 Oakmont Circ=
le
New Braunfels TX
78132-3846