proudly serving our members since 1963 volume 51 – …vanarfe.org/893/893may16.pdf · 2016. 5....
TRANSCRIPT
NATIONAL ACTIVE AND RETIRED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION
CHAPTER 893SPRINGFIELD, VIRGINIA
PROUDLY SERVING OUR MEMBERS SINCE 1963
VOLUME 51 – NUMBER 9 VFC AREA IX MAY 2016
PRESIDENTDeanna Shepherd
TREASURERJim Wagner703-644-5192
CHAPTER DIRECTORSJoe Bush
Virginia CarterAt-Large
703-978-6547Jesse Hill
Elizabeth [email protected]
Dorie Waddick703-751-3143
NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE CHAIR
Joe Bush
PAST PRESIDENTJoseph P. (Pat) Harahan
WEBMASTERSidney A. Sachs
EDITORDeanna Shepherd
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE“Focus on the Future”
At the Virginia Federation of Chapters 62nd Annual Convention, April 17-20, 2016, Springfield Chapter 893 was represented by one Lead Delegate (Chapter President) and five Delegates: Joseph Bush, Gerald Cantor, Beverly Clemsen, Charles E. Collins, and Margaret A. Yowell.
The theme of this year’s Convention was, “NARFE: Facing the Challenge.” The Chapter supported the Convention with a full page ad in the program book, and eight members provided Supporter Contributions. The Convention, held in Richmond, Virginia, was well attended. Planning and execution of each day of events by the Convention Committee was viewed positively by attendees based on excellent speakers, information sharing, and a spacious, comfortable, and accommodating site.
An added bonus was the presence and participation of National President Richard Thissen for the entire Conference. Of particular interest to Chapter 893 members is the reelection of our Area Vice President, Jim Little, with our congratulations. As you know, in preparation for the Convention, our Chapter’s guest speaker at the April 13 monthly meeting was Gaston Gianni, the Virginia Federation of Chapters (VFC) Public Relations Chair, who represents Region X on the Strategic Planning Committee. Gaston provided attendees with in depth information on the work of NARFE’s Strategic Planning Committee and issues that will be presented at the National Convention, August 28 to September 1, 2016, in Reno, Nevada. Gaston is pictured below delivering his presentation. continued on page 2
NARFE Springfield Chapter 893 Page 2 May 2016
President’s Message continued from page 1
As your Lead Delegate at the National Convention, I will be voting by ballot for the Chapter on the following three resolutions:
1) Membership in a local chapter will be non-mandatory (eliminating the requirement for chapter membership);
2) Every NARFE member will have a vote on National decisions (one member-one vote); and
3) NARFE’s National Executive Board (NEB) will be authorized to adjust annual dues intermittently, without having to call for a vote at biennial conventions (projected not to exceed a 10% increase).
In order to understand the impact of these proposed changes, I highly recommend that you view the video created by NARFE Headquarters on the above three resolutions which will be presented by the NEB to the Convention. The video is approximately nine minutes in length and is available on the web at http://www.narfe.org/member/articles.cfm?id=4050.
Chapter 893 members are encouraged to attend and support our Chapter at the National Convention as Delegates. Our Executive Board members have agreed to pay the $99 registration fee for each attendee. Please contact me no later than May 31 at [email protected] or 703-451-4570 (with a recorded message and call back number) if you would like to serve as a Delegate. I am required to report and register our Delegates for the Convention by June 1, 2016.
Deanna ShepherdPresident, Springfield Chapter 893
♦ BREAKING NEWS ♦
On May 16, 2016, it was reported by Jason Miller on federalnewsradio.com that “the contractor hired to help the Office of Personnel Management harden and modernize its computer network went belly up. Imperatis Corp. stopped coming to work on May 9, and OPM terminated the company’s contract that same day. Imperatis had about a month of work left under the deal.” OPM spokesman Sam Schumach said, “On Friday, May 6, 2016, the Homeland Security Department and OPM learned that the company would be ceasing operations immediately. In its communications with the government on May 7, 2016, Imperatis referenced financial distress at the company as the reason for the immediate closure. DHS and OPM are currently assessing the operational effect of the situation and expect there to be very little impact on current OPM operations, given OPM had been
planning for contract performance/activities to end in June 2016. We will provide updates as necessary.”
OPM hired Imperatis in June 2014 under a sole source contract. Little is known about how much the contract was worth or for how long the deal was supposed to last.
An Imperatis spokesman contacted Federal News Radio to offer a few more details about the status of the company and the project. “Imperatis is restricted by a confidentiality agreement which prevents us from fully discussing the matters being reported. There is much more to the story than is currently being reported. The company is confident that as and when the full facts are publicly available, they will completely contradict the mischaracterization of the company’s performance being reported at this time.”
OPM’S CONTRACTOR TO IMPROVE NETWORK SECURITY GOES “BELLY UP”
NARFE Springfield Chapter 893 Page 3 May 2016
♦ THE OTHER OPEN SEASON THIS YEAR ♦
Tammy Flanagan, Senior Benefits Director, National Institute of Transition Planning, Inc., and a member of NARFE’s Woodbridge Chapter 1270, reported in the Government Executive magazine on May 12, 2016, that a rare event coming up this fall, an open season for the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance program, will allow employees to increase their life insurance without having a qualifying life event or needing to prove insurability.
Tammy advised that OPM offers a pamphlet on life insurance for retiring employees, and has posted a YouTube video for employees about FEBLI. The agency also offers an online FEGLI calculator to help determine the value and premium of your current FEGLI coverage and the cost of continuing it into retirement.
For additional information and to view her complete article, access “Retirement Planning” at GovExec.com.
At our May 11, 2016, Chapter meeting, attendees were informed and enlightened by the presentation of our guest speakers, Shawn Gore, Life Safety Education Specialist, Fairfax Fire Department, and Dean Sherick, Community Outreach Liaison Assistant for the County of Fairfax Office of Emergency Management.
Shawn Gore gave us specific information to prepare for unanticipated fires in the home, including contacting the Fire Department, a “phone app” to record and provide access for first responders regarding prescriptions, health conditions, physician and immediate family contact information, etc. His recommendations for escaping and sheltering in place using ladders and other materials (including samples provided at the meeting) in the event of a fire were clear and easily understood. All of us learned many things that we need to know to protect ourselves and family members, but probably were unaware of. We appreciated the many handouts Shawn provided in the interest of safety and preparation.
Dean Sherick shared the work and responsibilities of our county’s Office of Emergency Management and the help and assistance provided by that Office
♦ SUMMER LUNCHEON ♦
I am pleased to let you know that Chapter 893 has exceeded the requirement of 30 guests to confirm our reservation for the luncheon at the Springfield Golf and Country Club on Wednesday, June 8. Accordingly, we will now be able to accept reservations received by Joe Bush (6110 Roxbury Avenue, Springfield, VA 22152) not later than June 1. The April newsletter included the reservation form insert. You may also access the insert by selecting Chapter 893 on the VFC Website: www.vanarfe.org.
♦ SHARING RESOURCES – FAIRFAX COUNTY OUTREACH ♦
for anticipated and unexpected environmental and other emergency hazards. Among other guidelines, he emphasized the value of stockpiling water, cash, food and other materials in our vehicles and homes in the event of an emergency. Dean provided a template for creating an Emergency Preparedness Kit Document Checklist including medical, family, financial, health, and property information. We were effectively reminded how important advance preparation is to our ability to deal with and survive hazardous events. Dean’s handouts were also much appreciated by our members.
Shawn and Dean are pictured below beside our chapter banner after their presentations.
NARFE Springfield Chapter 893 Page 4 May 2016
Wednesday, June 8 – Summer Luncheon (in lieu of the June monthly Chapter Meeting). The Chapter’s Summer Luncheon will be held from Noon to 2:30 p.m., in Ballroom B, at the Springfield Golf and Country Club. Main Office Telephone: 703-451-8600.
July through August – Monthly Chapter Meetings are on summer break.
Wednesday, August 3 – Chapter Executive Board Meeting at 1:30 p.m., in the Board Room, Springfield Golf and Country Club.
August 28 to September 1 – NARFE National Convention, Reno, Nevada.
♦ CHAPTER CALENDAR - JUNE TO SEPTEMBER 2016 ♦
♦ 46TH ANNUAL SENIOR RECOGNITION CEREMONY ♦FOR SENIOR CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS
On May 13, Chapter 893 joined other Senior Clubs and Organizations, including other NARFE Chapters, for their annual luncheon and recognition ceremony sponsored by Fairfax County and the Senior Citizens Council. Our nominee was Joe Bush, one of our Chapter’s Directors on the Executive Board, who also serves as our National Legislative Chair. Chapter 893 was represented at the event by Joe and his wife, Janet, Deanna Shepherd, Virginia Carter, Elizabeth Lynch, Dorie Waddick, and Jim Wagner, last year’s nominee. Our Chapter’s Senior Citizens Council representatives, Diane and Jesse Hill, were unable to attend as Jesse is recovering from recent surgery.
In recognizing Joe’s outstanding service for our Chapter, the following statement was read at the ceremony:
“Joseph (Joe) Bush became a member of NARFE Springfield Chapter 893 in 2012. He was elected by the membership of the Chapter’s Executive Board as a Director, and also serves as our National Legislative Chair. As a Director, Joe has demonstrated executive-level leadership internally and with external NARFE and community-based partners. He continues to successfully chair and participate in numerous initiatives, encouraging teamwork by example and contributing selfless service. In the important role of National Legislative Chair, Joe has developed collegial and vital relationships with Springfield’s Delegate to the Virginia Assembly, our District Supervisor, and members of Congress for the three Congressional Districts where members reside. As a result, he facilitates our representatives’ attendance at Chapter
meetings and provides timely legislative information to members in the Chapter’s newsletter and via his attendance at public forums and events. Joe exemplifies the highest level of volunteerism in support of and commitment to our Chapter and the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE).”
Joe is pictured above displaying his recognition certificate at the ceremony.
NARFE Springfield Chapter 893 Page 5 May 2016
Another month another check to the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP). In this I am not alone. As of April 2015 there were over 273,000 other active and retired federal employees who pay for federal long-term care insurance per the FLTCIP website. There are also other carriers who offer long term care insurance and many feds have enrolled in those policies as well. In this article though I will focus on the FLTCIP.
One big reason to consider long term care insurance now is that we are being advised by OPM, NARFE, and others that policy rates will increase no earlier than fall 2016. This rate increase occurs after OPM has negotiated a new seven-year contract with John Hancock Life and Health Insurance Co. to underwrite and administer the program. This is the same John Hancock that has the current federal long term insurance contract. In any event John Hancock will send each enrollee a letter prior to the effective date of the increases explaining benefit options including those that could help mitigate the higher rates.
Why are the rates going up? Usual suspects according to OPM – longer life expectancies, higher payouts, lower rate of return on investments of the program’s cash reserve, and inflationary increases.
Some will recall the significant controversy that occurred back in 2009 when rates on certain purchase options increased between 5 and 25% at the last FLTCIP contract renewal. My old boss like many others stated that he had been led to believe that the rate he was paying for FLTCP insurance would never increase when he had purchased the insurance some years before. Well, we know how that turned out. Yes, the rates went up.
But before we throw up our hands in despair let’s consider some facts. First, what is long-term care? Long term care is the care we will need if we can no longer perform the activities of daily living due to a chronic illness, injury, disability, the aging process, or we develop a severe cognitive impairment, such as Alzheimer’s disease. Medicare and health insurance will not pay those costs except for certain skilled nursing or therapy if improvement is medically projected as possible. Retirement pay and savings could cover some of these costs but the bet is not all for the average retiree. These costs can become quite pricey.
So that is where Long-Term Care Insurance comes into play. Depending on the particular plan you choose, most of the above expenses can be paid for by the insurance after a specified waiting period. How much and how long the insurance will pay out depends on the type and length of coverage you choose. For example, certain policies, including FLTCIP, cover services such as formal and informal care at home, adult day care, assisted living care, hospice care and nursing home care. The length of coverage could be 3 years, 5 years, or some other time period again depending on the policy. So what is the best approach going forward. Stay tuned to NARFE and watch for updates on this topic. Re-familiarize yourself with your current plan options. When you get your letter from John Hancock Insurance, examine the options carefully. Compare these options to what your needs are today and what you reasonably project them to be moving into the future. OPM has stated that they have worked with John Hancock to provide such options as: remaining with your current benefit structure, keeping premiums substantially the same by making changes to the benefit structure, or switching to a new benefit structure. Another possibility is to compare the costs and benefits offered by other insurance carriers.
All in all it sounds like a busy fall. Not only do we get to choose a new president, we also have a chance to make changes to our long-term care insurance program. In both cases let us all choose wisely.
Information in this article was sourced from NARFE press releases, the OPM and FLTCIP websites, and an article by Jason Miller of FederalNewsradio.com.
Joe BushExecutive Board Director andNational Legislative Chair
♦ LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE RATES ♦
♦ STAY INFORMED ♦Visit the NARFE Website: www.narfe.org;
Visit the VFC Website: www.vanarfe.org;
Visit the Chapter 893 Website: www.vanarfe.org/893.
Non-Profi t Org.U.S. Postage
PAIDMerrifi eld, VA
Permit No. 2750
NARFE Springfi eld Chapter 893P. O. Box 523118West Springfi eld, VA 22152-3118
Springfield Chapter 893’s
June 8, 2016 Summer Luncheon
12:00 Noon to 2:30 p.m.,
Ballroom B
Springfield Golf and Country Club
8301 Old Keene Mill Road
Springfield, Virginia 22152
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED