n j narfe federation of chapters newsletter spring 2016 federation/final narfe spring... · n j...
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PROTECTING THE FUTURE OF ACTIVE & RETIRED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES
N J NARFE FEDERATION OF CHAPTERS
NEWSLETTER
SPRING 2016
Narfe Mission: to support legislation beneficial to current and potential federal annuitants and to oppose legislation contrary to our interests. To promote the general welfare of current & potential
federal annuitants by advising them with respect to their rights under retirement laws & regula-tions. To cooperate with other organizations & associations in furtherance of these general objectives.
Louis H. Katz, Federation President
The daffodils are blooming;
the forsythia is getting yel-
lower by the day. The
temperature is warming up
to the point of only a light
jacket or sweater is
needed. Nature is in a pe-
riod of renewal and awak-
ening. As NARFE mem-
bers we should be shedding our cold winter
thoughts of keeping us indoors. Let’s get out, go to
chapter meetings and events. Unfortunately we
were all indoors on March 23, at the New Jersey
Federation Quarterly Meeting, a day when the out-
side temperature was in the 60’s. Let’s keep in mind
that the temperature or lack of daylight are excuses
for keeping us away from NARFE activities.
It has been five months since our last Quarterly
Meeting. A lot has happened. It behooves you to
get to meetings, attend webinars, attend confer-
ences and be aware of what is happening in your
organization. While many chapters are alive, well
and growing, we have closed four chapters over the
winter. Members of these chapters have been or
will be transferred to chapters that are strong.
We all read the NARFE Magazine and should be
aware that NARFE is changing. We may not be
growing but our rate of loss has been cut dramati-
cally. Our financial picture has also improved. Take
some time during the warm Spring and Summer
months to visit other chapters within your driving
range. See what they are doing, get to meet mem-
bers you don’t know. You may meet people you
worked with years ago and have since lost contact.
As you are aware, the Region, under the leadership
of RVP Evelyn Kirby, will be having its second bien-
nial Training Symposium April 4 and 5. The hotel
has informed us that all rooms included in the block
of rooms held by them for our guests have been
sold. Any other person wanting a room must pay
the regular rate which is 50 per cent higher that the
price of the rooms we booked. We are expecting
record numbers. Why? because NARFE is involved
in activities that are showing value. We are meeting
with congressional staff who are accepting our legis-
lative initiatives, co-sponsoring legislation and voting
for it when it is on the floor. We have adopted the
concept of Congressional District Leaders (CDLs)
and have increased our congressional activity dra-
matically. You don’t have to meet congressional
staff cold, your CDL will accompany you and partici-
pate in the meeting. At the same time you are build-
ing confidence and not fear these encounters.
It is now time to plan to attend the NARFE Biennial
Convention in Reno Nevada, August 28 - Septem-
ber 1. Please see your NARFE Magazine for de-
tails. Our Federation is allocated a number of
Chapter delegates based in chapter membership
counts. It is a great opportunity to represent your
chapter at the National Convention. Do not lose the
opportunity to vote on your NARFE future. Chap-
ters can proxy voting rights to other chapters if they
do not have enough members attending the Con-
vention . If you are unaware of voting procedures,
please ask your DVP.
Enjoy the Spring and Summer. Enjoy the outdoors
and I hope to see you at Federation meetings or at
your chapter meeting, it you invite me. It is up to
you.
THE N.J. NARFE FEDERATION DIRECTORY 2016
Executive Committee
PRESIDENT Louis Katz
973-696-1130 [email protected]
1ST VICE PRESIDENT
Rae Novak MEMBERSHIP / INCENTIVES
S732-495-0322 [email protected]
2ND VICE PRESIDENT
John Szpyhulsky LEGISLATION & TIME/PLACE
732-283-3911 [email protected]
RECORDING SECRETARY
Jeanette Cornblatt 732-531-0261
CORRESP. SECRETARY
Judith Feltman 973-546-4927
TREASURER Carl Fascio 732-409-6770
DVP #1
Codell Moore 973-926-3239
DVP #2
John Farrell 973-919-4853
DVP #3
Arnold Endick 732-254-5325
DVP #4
Larry Bonanni 732-264-2459
DVP #5
Stephen Anderson 609-387-2840
Past Presidents
Rae Novak 732-495-0322
James Boyle 973-386-9717
Dr. Mary Jane Celli 732-222-6651
Mike Demski 201-796-4081
Sam Gerson
George Novak 732-495-0322
APPOINTED OFFICERS/CHAIRS
ALZHEIMERS CHAIR Elizabeth DeVincenzo
908-769-5395 [email protected]
AUDITOR Ed Gabel
973-627-7119 [email protected]
SGT-AT-ARMS Lester Cohen 732-536-0842
BUDGET/FINANCE CHAIR
Jerry Maguire 609-812-9348
BYLAWS/RES.CHAIR Mike Demski 732-495-0322
CHAPLAIN
Dr. Mary Jane Celli 732-222-6651
HISTORIAN Doris Katz
973-696-1130 [email protected]
LEGISLATIVE OFFICER Dr Jerome Rubin
973-895-4057 [email protected]
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM Dr. Mary Jane Celli
732-222-6651 [email protected]
WEBMASTER Jim Newcomb 609-646-6482
NARFE NET
Stephen Anderson
609-387-2840 [email protected]
NARFE-PAC
Steve Nagy 732-244-6732
RRPARLIAMENTARIAN Nan Coll
732-202-0671 [email protected]
NEWSLETTER EDITOR Dolores Ellenbogen
973-857-4064 [email protected]
PROOF READER
Bernadette Schoch My Thanks to You
REGION II VICE PRESIDENT Evelyn Kirby
203 Newark Edna Holmes
411 Monmouth County Merv Hanson
424 Wm. J. Ryan Ed Gabel
476 Suburban Essex Norman Steinlauf
585 Cumberland/Salem Charles T. McCall
631 Woodbury Eugene Pappert
637 Harry H. O’Claire Shirley Veiga
718 Esther Cresthall Shirley Seger
858 Bergen Passaic Judith Feltman
988 Bergen County Lawrence Tobias
1000 Raritan Valley John Szpyhulsky
1066 Union County Nicholas Devincenzo
1182 So Ocean County Gerald Maguire
1197 Cape May County Kathryn R. Vink
1490 Bayonne Jean Reid
1533 Middletown Twp. Martha Oehling
1619 Greater Lakehurst William Scarola
1664 South Jersey Shore Rodney Guishard
IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS
NARFE LEGISLATIVE HOTLINE 24 HRS
702-838-7780
TO GET MATERIAL TO RECRUIT MEMBERS
800-627-3394
NARFE RETIREMENT BENEFITS SVC DEPT
1-703-838-7760
FOR ADDRESS CHANGES , CALL MEMBER RECORDS
1-800-456-8410
KEEP YOUR MAILING ADDRESS CURRENT
BY EMAIL TO [email protected]..
OTHER OPM MATTERS
1-202-606-1800 OR 1-724-794-2005
SOCIAL SECURITY 1-800-772-1213
OFFICE OF THE NJ SENATORS
SENATOR CORY BOOKER (D)
GATEWAY ONE
11-43 RAYMOND PLAZA WEST
NEWARK, NJ 07102
973-639-8700
SENATOR ROBERT MENENDEZ (D)
ONE GATEWAY CENTER 11TH FLOOR
NEWARK, NJ 07012
973-645-3030
Menendez.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm
NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR
CHRISTOPHER CHRISTIE (R)
P O BOX 001
TRENTON NEW JERSEY 08625
609-292-6000
www/statenj.us/governor/contact/
CHAPTER PRESIDENTS 2016
UPCOMING EVENTS
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING
10AM, JULY 20, 2016
at the Prestige Diner, Route 33, East Windsor NJ
=====
FEDERATION QUARTERLY MEETING
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3, 2016
At the Grammercy-Lakeside Manor, Hazlet NJ.
Doors will open at 10am; Continental Breakfast until 10:30am. Meeting will begin at 10:30am. Hot/Cold
Buffet Lunch at noon. Mail $20 check to: Corresponding Secretary Judy Feltman
34th NARFE NATIONAL BIENNUAL CONVENTION
AUGUST 28-SEPTEMBER 1, 2016 Grand Sierra Hotel & Casino, Reno, Nevada
See Narfe Magazine for details, including dates, costs, and for reservations
Spring is a season of refreshing. In NARFE it is
time to wipe winter off our boots and consider that
the Strategic Plan before us as an opportunity to re-
fresh, to CONTINUE our path as an Association.
Clearly we are not the same organization we were
when founded 90 plus years ago. We are not in the
same times as we were when so much of our cur-
rent policy and practices were put in place. (Anyone
still dial a phone, or buy everything with cash?)
Also clearly through the decades we came together
as a committed group of members from time to time
and changed this and that about the way we do
business. We refreshed NARFE.
The Plan is simply the current, workable blueprint for
ways we can again agree on strengthening and up-
dating. It is not the abrupt starting of a new NARFE
or stopping of current NARFE as we know it. It is a
spot on the continuum of doing our mission effec-
tively and of attracting the most likely members and
business partners to join us.
Do not let time pass before reading the entire Plan--
easily found at narfe.org. HQ also mailed hard cop-
ies: one to each Chapter President and Chapter
Secretary. Share these amongst those who wish
not to read the Plan on a computer, or to print it from
there.
There is also an easy to find and run 40-minute
video on narfe.org for those who wish to learn about
the Plan that way. There is much to absorb stem-
ming from valid research and candid debate. In fair-
ness to the hard work and earnest consideration of
all input to this point, please do not rush to conclu-
sions by skimming or picking sections to ponder.
The many parts of NARFE are interconnected.
Refreshing one area leads to benefits for others.
Kicking the can of change down the road will surely
work against us. Frankly, doing nothing is a far
worse option than taking some risk on required
change. It would be like knowing the car has engine
trouble and needs work, but just letting it stall its way
until it cannot go any more. What a high price to
pay when timely repairs and tuning, or refreshing,
will do what’s needed.
Speaking of seasons,
many have passed
since we saw the ab-
sence of a proposal on
FECA in the President’s
budget.
Give kudos to our Legislative Department leaders
Jessie Klement and John Hatton for securing this
important win. And, I trust you did the right thing by
giving generously to NARFE-PAC recently. Your
contributions can help elect members of Congress
who understand and support the federal community.
They can help build strong relationships with Con-
gress. NARFE-PAC pools individual donations to
maximize their impact nationwide. It helps our
strongest supporters become congressional leaders
with the power to work for us on a fed-friendly
agenda.
Join me in becoming a Sustainer by giving at least
$10 per month. If you don’t wish to do that, please
give what you can, when you can. Every dollar is a
good one for the cause. Contributions are NOT tax
deductible, but they offer a way for our money to tell
our story.
THE SUMMARY OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN CAN
BE FOUND AT THE END OF THIS NEWSLETTER.
REGION II UPDATE
BY EVELYN KIRBY
NARFE FEDERATION 1st VICE PRESIDENT REPORT
RAE NOVAK
MEMBERSHIP Happy Spring All Here are the latest figures from National concerning membership: National Membership – 223,940 a de-crease of 743 since January 2016. New Members – 638: Year to Date - 1,566. Reinstatements – 1,696: Year to Date – 2,760. Cancellations – 47: Year to Date – 72. Dropped for Non-Renewal – 2,479: Year to Date – 4,494. Reported Deaths 720: Year to Date – 1,149. New Jersey Federation: Voting Mem-bers: 4,678 TOTAL FEDERATION MEMBER-SHIP: 4,996. Down 137 since December 2015 As you can see the Dropped for Non-Renewal is high, for this reason I am initiating a new procedure for handling NJ Federation dropped members. Each month I will be sending out a letter to all our NJ members who have been dropped, I will be enclos-ing an application for Dues Withholding and an ad-dressed return envelope. In the letter there will be information on how Dues Withholding works and how it will benefit them. I will also include informa-tion on how NARFE is working to protect their bene-fits day in and day out. As the New Jersey Federa-tion Membership Chair I feel I need to take every opportunity to encourage dropped members to re-new their membership and sign up for Dues With-holding. The Dues Withholding program is key to keeping members on the rolls. If anyone out there has any other ideas on how to increase the mem-bership please do not hesitate to contact me. IMPORTANT: Effective immediately we are rein-stating the Recruitment Program. We will be using the same parameters from last year’s recruitment program, for each new member recruited retired or currently working, the recruiter will get $10.00. At our April 2017 Convention/Extended Federation
meeting President Katz will be recognizing the top recruiter and second place recruiter with a monetary prize from the Federation. SO LETS GET OUT THERE AND RECRUIT – IT’S A WIN FOR THE FEDERATION AND A WIN FOR
YOU!
March 24, 2016
NEW JERSEY MEMBERSHIP INCENTIVE PRGRAMS
RECRUITER PROGRAM – ANY MEM-BER THAT RECRUITS A NEW MEM-
BER WILL RECEIVE A $10.00 REBATE FOR EACH NEW MEMBER THEY RE-
CRUIT. NEW MEMBERS – ANY RETIRED OR CURRENT EMPLOYEE THAT SIGNS UP TO JOIN NARFE
WILL RECEIVED A ONE-TIME $10.00 REBATE OFF THEIR FIRST YEARS DUES.
CURRENT MEMBERS – ANY CURRENT RE-TIRED MEMBER THAT SIGNS UP FOR THE DUES
WITHHOLDING PROGRAM WILL RECEIVE A ONE-TIME $10.00 REBATE.
DROPPED FOR NON-RENEWAL MEMBERS – ANY FORMER MEMBER THAT HAS BEEN DROPPED FOR NON-RENEWAL WILL RECEIVE
A one- time $10.00 REBATE, but ONLY IF THEY SIGN UP FOR THE DUES WITHHOLDING PROGRAM
Rae Novak 1st Vice-President/Membership Chair/Incentive Program New Jersey Federation – NARFE [email protected] 732-495-0322 732-687-7439
NARFE FEDERATION 2ND VICE PRESIDENT REPORT JOHN SZPYHULSKY LEGISLATION & TIME AND SPACE
Spring has sprung, flowers are starting to bloom and the trees are
getting new leaves. So is NJ NARFE Federation. We are blooming
with new ideas and ways to energize our chapters on the legislative
and recruitment side.
On Legislative, Tom DeFiore from Chapter 1664 is working on a
resolution for the National Convention for Headquarters to see if
health plans premiums can be reduced for the retirees that partici-
pate in Medicare Part B. On the State Legislative front, Jerry Rubin, Legislative Chair is working
hard with other legislative reps and CDL’s to the estate tax repealed over a number of years. He
is also a driving force to eliminate the cap on retirement income. Both legislations have a possi-
ble chance of passing in some form.
On membership Rae Novak, 1st VP of the Federation is initiating a drive to contact those mem-
bers who have not renewed their membership.
A committee has been put together to review and update the Federation’s Policy and Procedure
Handbook and Constitution and By-Laws if necessary.
I have visited a number of chapters and will continue to do so until I have attended every NJ
chapter’s meeting.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Region II Symposium in York Pa. April 2016
National Convention in Reno NV – August 2016
The Strategic Plan will be voted on.
Hope to see all at these events and sign up a new member today.
NJ FEDERATION CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT LEADERS (CDLs) CONTACTS
LIST
JOHN SZPYHULSKY January 2016
Associated
District Rep Lead Person(s) E-mail Chapters
1. Norcross-D Steve Anderson [email protected] 718
2. LoBiondo-R Tom DeFiore [email protected] 585, 1197, 1664
3. MacArthur-R 1182
4. Smith-R Carl Fascio [email protected] 1533, 637,
Tom Rule [email protected] 1619
5. Garrett-R John Farrell [email protected] 988
6. Pallone-D Dr. Mary Jane Celli [email protected] 411
John Szpyhulsky [email protected]
7. Lance-R Nick DeVincenzo [email protected] 1066
8. Sires-D Jean Reid [email protected] 1490
9. Pascrell Mike Demski [email protected] 858, 476
10. Payne-D Edna Holmes [email protected] 203
Tom Simmons [email protected]
11. Frelinghuysen-R Dr. Jerry Rubin [email protected] 424
Ed Gabel [email protected]
12. Coleman-D Arnie Endick [email protected] 1000
Bernie Passer [email protected]
NJ FEDERATION SENATORIAL LEADERS (SLs) CONTACT LIST
Robert “Bob” Menendez –D Cory Booker – D
Dr. Jerry Rubin [email protected]
Lou Katz Federation President [email protected]
FEDERATION NEWSLETTER LEGISLATIVE REPORT:
SPRING 2016
JERRY RUBIN
FEDERATION LEGISLATIVE CHAIRMAN
Spring has sprung and the grass has risen and the warm weather is here
and, for a change, this winter wasn’t so bad. And things are beginning to
look up for us seniors and retirees at the state level as well.
A number of bills have been introduced in the New Jersey Legislature that are going in the right direction
concerning the Estate Tax and the Pension Exclusion amount. Senators Sarlo-36, Oroho-24 and Van
Drew-1 sponsored bill S.1728 that will increase the amount of estate tax exclusion from $675K to $1M the
first year and increasing that amount each year until its repeal in the fifth year. This bill passed the Senate
Budget Committee by a vote of 9-0! And will now go to the floor for discussion and, hopefully, a vote real
soon. When it gets passed, it will truly be a victory for all seniors who want to make NJ a permanent home.
And, it will not be so good for all those states that have been enticing our seniors away because they do
not have an estate tax. Hooray for New Jersey. The treasury will get richer since all these seniors will now
stay and spend their bucks here as opposed to there. As of this writing, there is no exact comparable bill in
the Assembly, but there is one calling for its repeal in five years, essentially accomplishing the same thing,
submitted by Assm. Bucco-25. Maybe this bill will be acceptable to both the Assembly and Senate crowd.
If not, someone will submit a bill with the same wording in the Assembly.
The second bill of importance is Senate bill S.998. This one, sponsored by Senators Sarlo-36, Oroho-24
and Sweeney-3, will increase the amount of retirement income exclusion 5-fold over a three-year period.
This means the present $20K goes to $100K and the $15K becomes $75K. This is super, but there is one
issue. This bill does not remove the $100K income cap. Which means, once again, many families will not
be able to take this deduction. This bill also competes with bills already in the Senate, S.1092, and in the
Assembly, A.390, that does remove the cap. Sen. Bucco’s office was called to ask him if he would amend
S.998 and was told only the sponsor could do that. We have calls in to both Sarlo and Oroho to discuss
this. An email was sent to Sarlo, asking for a meeting to discuss this. We want him to amend his bill to re-
move the cap so this benefit is available to all retirees.
A companion bill to the Senate bill is A.3339 and has been introduced in the Assembly by Benson-14,
Moriarty-4 and Webber-26. This is a good sign as both chambers have the same bill up for discussion. We
eagerly await the outcome of these bills from the Legislature and the governor’s agreement to sign the final
bill into law.
At the Federation Executive Board meeting on 9 March 2016, the decision was made to submit a Resolu-
tion at the NARFE Biennial Convention in August in Reno, NV, concerning health care costs for those on
Medicare Parts A and B. The basic issue is why should retires who have Medicare Parts A and B pay the
same premium for health care as those who don’t have Medicare Parts A and B when the government
pays the principal amount as it is the primary payer and the carrier is the secondary payer and only has to
pay the residual, what’s left over. Hopefully, this will raise the issue to NARFE who will then begin a dia-
logue with the OPM to resolve this unfair cost imbalance.
Perhaps when the next Newsletter comes out there will be some good news on all these issues that we
can pass along. In the meantime, enjoy the spring weather, get outside, take a walk, hit some golf balls
and have a merry ole time.
NARFE NEW JERSEY
FEDERATION
ALZHEIMER”S NEWS
For those of you who have been away for
the cold winter month and have recently re-
turned home, I want to report that our New Jer-
sey Alzheimer’s Chairman and Region II Alz-
heimer’s Coordinator , James Boyle notified
NARFE and the Alzheimer’s Association that
his fifteen years of leadership was coming to
an end. He was packing it in. President Rich-
ard Thissen appointed me to replace James as
the Region II Alzheimer’s Coordinator and left it
up to me to name a N.J. Federation Chair. have
appointed Ms. Elizabeth (Bette) De Vincenzo
from the Union County Chapter (1066) as the
Federation Alzheimer’s Chair. Join me in wish-
ing Elizabeth good luck with the appointment
to the New Jersey Federation Executive Board.
As you are aware, all of the donations NARFE
contributes to the Alzheimer’s Association are
used to fund research projects to cure Alz-
heimer’s disease, or to develop better treat-
ment programs. The twelve NARFE members
who make up the National Alzheimer’s Commit-
tee meet once a year to consider research
applications for funding.
NARFE fundraising total, as of February 29,
2016, is $11, 713.113,70. Our goal for the fiscal
year ending September 30, 2016 is $12 million.
From July 1, 2015 through February 29, 2016,
Region II donated $26, 830.12. Maryland do-
nated half of that money. New Jersey donated
$3,229.00. We, as a Federation, should be do-
ing better. Turn in NARFE
Alzheimer’s donations to
your chapter Alzheimer’s
Chair at every meeting.
Louis H. Katz, Region II
Alzheimer’s Coordinator
NARFE N.J. SCHOLARSHIP PRO-
GRAM
DR. MARY JANE CELLI,
CHAIRMAN
The 2016 NARFE Scholarship Program for this year began in February, The NARFE amplification is on the NARFE website at www.NARFE.org. and the program ends on April 25, 2016.
DON’T MISS THE DEADLINE!!
Encourage your children and/or grandchildren to apply.
There are six (6) $1,000.00 scholarships given out in our Region II. Last year, New Jersey had two winners. You never know until
you try.
For more information, obtain the Guide To NARFE ’S Annual Scholarship Awards
Program (F-105).
Elizabeth DeVincenzo
N.J. FEDERATION
DISTRICT VICE PRESIDENTS
REPORTS
V.P. DISTRICT 1
CODELL MOORE
*CHAPTER 203, Newark – President Edna Waters-Holmes announced in her
March newsletter that a new meeting place had been secured at the Bethany Bap-
tist Church at 275 West Market Street Newark NJ. Chapter 203 ended the year on
a very positive note; Attendance increased, and chapter activities expanded to in-
clude a new theme,” Progress, Protect, and Preserve”, which is eloquently men-
tioned in their March Newsletter.
*Chapter 1066, Union County - President Nicholas DeVincenzo held his
final business meeting on November 20th. Despite a myriad of health and scheduling
issues resulting in low attendance, the meeting was productive. President DeVin-
cenzo was able to disseminate some very helpful health information, which came as
no surprise to the Chapter members. He was employed many years as a govern-
ment health care provider. Upcoming Alzheimer events and past events successes
were shared by our Alzheimer coordinator who has been named NARFE Alzheimer’s
Chair for the state of New Jersey. The annual Christmas luncheon was held Decem-
ber10th at Costas Restaurant in Roselle.
*Chapter 1490, Bayonne - Chapter 2015s regular business meeting was temporarily
relocated from the usual meeting place due to the remodeling of the Bayonne senior
center. The temporary meeting place was the Bayonne Library. Despite this interrup-
tion attendance was not affected. There were thirteen in attendance. The President
participated in an in-depth discussion on what she perceived to be issues from the
Federation Meeting. They included, but were not limited to, the York PA training semi-
nar, the Federation Recruitment efforts, and information relevant to our upcoming
2016 National Convention in Reno, Nevada. Preparations were finalized for the De-
cember Christmas Party.
V.P. DISTRICT 2:
JOHN FARRELL
The following topics were discussed at the chapter meetings I attended:
Region II Training Conference, NARFE National Convention, NJ Federa-
tion Field Plan, and membership recruitment. Chapters 424, 476, and 858
submitted signed petitions for the state Assembly and Senate regarding
bills which would increase the amount of tax free income seniors can have
in retirement. At chapter meetings, I discussed an initiative to increase the
number of member contacts with congressmen and senators by encourag-
ing the use of the NARFE website Legislative Action Center. It allows members to send e-mails to their
representative with very little time and effort, and is the easiest way to make a significant impact on the
welfare of federal employees and retirees. I have requested that chapter members e-mail me a copy of
the receipt which NARFE sends to the member acknowledging the use of the Action Center with a record
of each contact made.
CHAPTER 424 WILLIAM J. RYAN: held their holiday meeting December 17. The Feb-ruary 18 regular meeting was canceled.
CHAPTER 476 SUBURBAN ESSEX: held their holiday meeting December 11. Their regular meetings were held November 13, January 8, and February 12. The Feb-ruary 12 meeting successfully featured pizza in order to attract more attendees.
CHAPTER 858 BERGEN PASSAIC held elections and discussed further work on their constitution and bylaws at their regular/holiday meeting November 21.
CHAPTER 988 BERGEN COUNTY held a regular meeting March 1. National politics were discussed since it was "Super Tuesday". I gave a report on the February 29 meeting with Scott Garrett's office. President Larry Tobias discussed the upcoming meeting with state senator Loretta Weinberg which he and I will attend with Jerry Rubin. Mr. Tobias brought his laptop to the meeting to demonstrate, for the members, how to ac-cess the NARFE website and, in particular, the NARFE Legislative Action Center.
At chapter meetings, I also discussed an initiative to increase the number of member contacts with con-gressman and senators, by encouraging the use of the NARFE website Legislative Action Center. The Ac-tion Center allows members to send emails to their representative with very little time and effort. This "no muss-no fuss" tool is the easiest way for members to make a significant impact on the welfare of federal employees and retirees. I have requested that chapter members email me a copy of the receipt which NARFE sends to the member acknowledging the use of the Action Center with a record of each contact made. Since the last quarterly, I have received records of 1 Senator contact and 4 congressmen contacts from chapter 476; and 34 senator contacts and 22 congressmen contacts from chapter 858.
V.P. DISTRICT 3: ARNIE ENDICK
Chapter 1000: Although there have been no meetings and updates for
Chapter 1000 since our last Chapter meeting on October 28, 2015, I am proud
to report that John Szpyhulsky and I had the pleasure of meeting personally with
Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman on February 16 at her congressional
office in Ewing NJ. This meeting was the practical application of our Federal
Legislative Field Plan. She was accompanied by her Chief of Staff Mr. Gee
and her local Office Manager.
Chained CPI
Cost of Living Adjustments to federal Civilian and Military Retirement Annuities and
Social Security benefits are determined by annual changes in the Consumer Price In-
dex for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) Serious attention has been
given to a proposal to use the Chained consumer price index for Urban Consumers
(Chained CPI) instead. Using the Chained CPI would lower the COLAs.
Critical Talking Points:
Chained CPI is not a better Measure of Inflation (we urge consideration of the CPI-E)
The Chained CPI Cuts Earned Promised Benefits
The Chained CPI Hurts the Most Vulnerable
Postal Reform
Postal reform legislation relieves the USPS of its’ burdensome prefunding require-
ment for future retiree health care costs, and maintains standards such as 6 day
delivery, and to the door delivery without undermining important employee benefits,
such as workers compensation and retiree health benefits and annuities.
Critical talking Points:
USPS is making money but still reducing service Standards.
USPS should be relieved of the unnecessary and burdensome prefunding requirement.
Postal retirees should not be forced to enroll in Medicare or lose their earned health benefits.
Federal Employee Health Benefits Program:
There are proposals that would force employees and retirees to pay an increase in share of
health insurance premiums which we oppose as an organization. The National Active and Re-
tired Federal Employee Association opposes proposals requiring Medicare enrollment as a con-
dition of continuing FEHBP enrollment for current retirees. We do support the efforts to reduce
the cost of prescription drug coverage including FEHBP participation in the Medicare Part D
Employer Group Waiver Plan Program.
Critical Talking Points:
Benefits In-Line With Private Sector
Manage Costs Ensures Quality Care through Competition
Provides Enrollees Choice Among Plans
V.P. DISTRICT 5 :
STEVE ANDERSON:
10 September 2015 - Visited Cape May Chapter 1197 in Villas NJ.
15 members were present. I explained the membership Incentives pro-
gram and the implantation of the Federation Field Plan. Copies of the
Federation Field Plan were given to President Vink.
The Federation and National Dues Incentive plan
was explained to the membership. The Guest
speaker for the meeting was a representative from
Atlantic Electric who spoke on emergency programs
concerning Atlantic County customers.
16 September 2015 - Visited Chapter 1664 in Somers Point NJ. 15 members were present. Legisla-
tive Chair Tom DeFiore commented on the proposed voucher system and the effect
of Federal employees. He also spoke on the implantation of the Federation Field
Plan. I spoke on the Membership incentive program.
6 October 2015 - I attended the Federation Budget meeting to consider the proposed
budget for 2016 for submission to the Executive Board.
8 October 2015 - I attended the Federation Legislative Committee meeting. Under discussion were
the duties of the District Vice President, with reference to the Federation Field Plan. The Federation
assignment to the Congressional Representatives was changed by replacing Larry Tobias with John
Farrell for District 2. Also the Petition form was to be revised to add the printed name, signature and
address.
28 October 2015 -I attended the meeting of Cherry Hill Chapter 718. 50 members were pre-
sent. Included in the membership were members from Chapter 127, 631 and 1268.
I explained the Federation Field plan and answered questions pertaining to the plan.
Two copies of the field plan were given to the Chapter president. The Legislative
Voice an Information Resource pamphlet was also given to the Chapter president.
The guest speaker for the day was Gail Kirby from Blue Cross/Blue Shield, who
spoke on the changes for 2016. A Q & A period followed. Comments from the
membership were made concerning Medicare Parts A & B and the no COLA issue for 2016. There
will be a Christmas Luncheon with Installation of Officers on 9 December 2015.
9 December 2015 Installed the Officers of Chapter 718.
13 January 2016 Attended Legislative Committee meeting.
28 January 2016 Attended Cumberland-Salem Chapter 585.
24 February 2016 Attended the Legislative Committee meeting.
Items discussed were the assignment of CDL’s.
2 March 2016 Helped on the semi-annual Audit of the Federation’s Treasurers Books.
1. Executive Summary December 6, 2015
To be an effective, responsive champion and the trusted voice of the civilian federal community, NARFE must intentionally become a more fiscally healthy, more effective, and growing organiza-tion.
NARFE members face a difficult financial environment. Despite a stable economy with low infla-tion, employees and retirees experience little to no income increases and are subject to damaging cost increases. Tough economic times for members have meant that there is less ability for NARFE to raise revenues. Based on historical experience, dues increases would reduce mem-bership.
NARFE’s membership is heavily weighted to older age cohorts, and it suffers from an ac-celerating attrition problem as older members are dying and are not being replaced at the
same rate by new members. In the last five years, NARFE membership has
declined from 313,000 to 224,000.
Chapters are closing as the number of people interested in doing the work to maintain
chapters is declining.
While NARFE develops and promotes other non-dues revenue lines, the organization contin-
ues to be dependent on dues revenue. Increased membership continues to be the key
driver that will grow revenue. Traditional methods of reaching potential members to deliver the message of the value NARFE offers are disappearing as the federal workplace changes. Potential members are harder to reach in the workplace as agencies no longer allow NARFE recruiters into many federal work locations.
Continuing business as usual entails the net reduction of 16,700 members per year, which would
reduce net revenue by $526,000 each year after distribution of 10% Federation funds. With no in-
creases in revenue from other sources and the current expense budget in place, the loss of mem-
bers will cause a $1,302,783 operating loss in 2017 that will have to be covered by reducing re-
serves. In 2018 with a cumulative loss of $3,303,031, we will be dipping into the contingency re-
serves. In 2019, our reserves will have been depleted due the cumulative annual losses. If that
happens, NARFE will be technically insolvent and likely forced to shut down sometime in 2020.
Baby boomers, now aged 51 to 69, represent the “sweet spot” for NARFE recruitment, the primary demographic group from which NARFE will draw its new members.
The two main categories of NARFE revenue, Membership Dues and Non-Dues revenues, have not grown significantly for the last ten years. Although resources have been deployed to increase non-dues revenue in 2015, the organization has been primarily dependent on dues as its main source of revenue.The ultimate financial measure of an association’s health is the maintenance or growth of its net assets. Operating surpluses over expenses are added to net assets, and
shortfalls delete net assets. Despite its difficulty in raising revenue, NARFE has managed to come close to matching expenses to revenues over the last ten years, but has had operating shortfalls in six of the last ten years.
The combined long-term effect of operating shortfalls and periodically disappointing investment re-turns has been a decline in net assets. Although there has been improvement over the last three years, the current level is still well below the peak of $9,253,199 achieved in 2006.
Continuation of the status quo at NARFE will not return the organization to healthier financial footing, especially if there are no membership increases or a greater percentage of revenue from non-dues sources. Looking ahead, the trends that have brought NARFE to its current situation will lead to more financial distress. Without some sustainable improvement in financial performance, the organi-zation will continue its decline, leading to the eventual erosion of its ability to protect and serve mem-bers, a lack of operating viability, the depletion of its reserves, and eventual dissolution.
It is neither prudent nor feasible at this point to expect that a dramatic change in dues revenue de-pendency can be made in the short term. However, revenue improvement is possible and NARFE needs to mobilize to effect such an increase.
The recruitment crisis can only be overcome by further efforts to increase NARFE’s relevance among baby boomer prospective members. In a greatly changed world and with a desperate need to attract the baby boom generation of federal employees and retirees, mandatory chapter membership has become a recruiting obstacle that needs to be addressed.
Increasing membership, with dues remaining at the current price, as well as continued and enhanced efforts to build awareness via advertising will directly improve revenue. It is important to present NARFE as being relevant to a new generation of potential NARFE members through advertising me-dia that efficiently buys millions of exposures to the target audience.
There is a direct relationship between membership and other revenue sources. Fundraising pro-grams are more successful with a larger membership to participate in them. Advertisers and spon-sors will pay higher rates to reach a larger member audience through publications and at events. National conventions and conferences will attract more non-dues revenue. Eventually, if the current operating trends are reversed and capital is added to reserves, even interest income can again be-come a dependable source of revenue.
The strategic planning committee and the strategic planning team recommend a restructuring of the regions and achieving resultant cost savings. The NEB disagreed because in their view the role of the RVP’s has been cited by numerous federations and chapter leaders as critically important in supporting their work in the field among the membership. Knowing that some staff reorganization has taken place to make the NARFE staff leaner, more productive, and nimbler, we can make some simple assumptions about the future.
1. NARFE must maintain staff by making reasonable compensation available.
2. As the building ages, maintenance expenses will increase.
3. Expenses in general will only increase.
4. Outsourcing of cost centers, as was done with HR functions, will be examined.
5. Holding costs within an acceptable growth profile is a key financial goal.
Following are the NARFE strategic plan objectives and corresponding
strategies, which were created to guide the governance and management of
NARFE through the next two challenging years. These were developed by the strate-gic planning team and refined by the NEB. They are based principally on the recom-mendations made by the strategic planning committee.
A. Transform governance to be more efficient, effective, agile,
consistent, and accountable
Strategy 1. Executive Director
Establish the position of Executive Director to serve as the CEO and an officer
of the association appointed by the NEB
Strategy 2. One Member One Vote
Change national voting so that each member has one equal, direct vote.
B. Bolster NARFE’s brand to increase awareness, eliminate con-
fusion, and convey the value of NARFE
Strategy 1. Convert Knowledge Gained Through Market
Research into Action
Market research has recently been conducted with current and potential
NARFE members to provide insight into the perceptions, preferences, and un- filled needs of the next generation of potential NARFE members. The informa- tion collected should guide changes in marketing the organization at large and meeting the needs of the membership.
C. Stabilize and grow membership to support effective
advocacy and to deliver financial stability
Strategy 1. Optional Chapter Membership
Current and new NARFE members will be members of the national organization and will have the option to join a chapter of their choice at any time.
Strategy 2. Expand outreach to prospective members
Strengthen the existing program to further communicate the value of NARFE to
prospective members.
Strategy 3. Engage members
Emphasize importance of advocacy and support of NARFE mission.