February 2016 - California State Retirees > Home

Transcription

Should there be
greater gun restrictions?
Page 2
Jay Jimenez elected
as District G director
Page 3
What do you think of
your dental plan?
Page 3
Seven vie for CSR
statewide positions
Page 4
Learn about
splitting pills
Page 11
CSEA
80
Vol. XXX No. 2
A PUBLICATION OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE RETIREES
FEBRUARY 2016
Pension foes postpone
attack, but court case
still threatens unions
F
labor unions. Such a ruling would
have nationwide implications.
In states like California, where
public employee unions collect “fair
share” fees from employees who receive
the benefits of the union without
becoming members, the unions would
stop receiving compensation from
those members.
During the justices’ oral arguments,
the media reported that liberal justices
said striking down mandatory union
fees would affect far more than the 7.2
million public-sector employees who
belong to unions nationwide. Ruling
against fair-share fees would almost
certainly mean overturning a 1977
precedent that’s been entrenched for
four decades, they said.
Public sector unions’ right to collect
continued on page 9
More than 450 attend
health fair sponsored
by CSR and Chapter 6
F
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
C
CSEA
TA
IA
S
IFORN
TE
AL
1108 O Street, Suite 300
Sacramento, CA 95814
CALIFORNIA STATE RETIREES
PERMIT #495
SACRAMENTO, CA
PAID
NONPROFIT
U.S. POSTAGE
•• DATED MATERIAL – PLEASE DO NOT DELAY ••
ormer San Jose Mayor Chuck
Reed and former San Diego
Councilmember Carl DeMaio –
who have repeatedly failed to qualify
initiatives attacking public pensions
– have once again withdrawn their
2016 ballot measures.
Although their latest pension attacks
have been put on hold, the pair plans
to refile for the 2018 ballot, apparently
placing their hopes on a possible
antiunion decision in Friedrichs vs.
California Teachers Association (CTA),
a case currently being considered by
the U.S. Supreme Court.
If questions asked by the justices
during oral arguments Jan. 11 are any
indication, legal and labor experts
say the ruling bloc of conservative
justices appears ready to render a
decision later this year that would
significantly weaken public sector
or the third consecutive year,
California State Retirees (CSR)
and CSR’s Chapter 6 were the main
sponsors of the Caliente Springs Resort
Health and Resources Fair in Desert
Hot Springs Jan. 23.
More than 450 people gathered
to learn about health, participate in
four seminars and test for such things
as blood pressure and blood glucose
levels. Especially well received were the
veterans’ seminars, where participants
learned of benefits and hidden illnesses,
said Sharon Huddleston, the fair’s
coordinator and Chapter 6 member.
“This event has given California State
Retirees positive exposure throughout
the community and with our elected
officials,” said Huddleston, who is
already planning next year’s fair, which
will honor first responders such as
firefighters and police officers.
Sponsors included CSR, CSR’s
Chapter 6 and Riverside County
Supervisor John J. Benoit. Caliente
Springs Resort hosted the fair. Several
other lawmakers and dignitaries officially
endorse the fair and some attended.
(See more photos on Page 7. All health
fair photos are by Sherry Bradford.)
RETIREES
REACT
What are your thoughts on
restricting gun ownership?
The views expressed are those of the respondents. Some of the statements and statistics may be up for debate. Send your
letters to tlundholm@calforniastateretirees or Trinda Lundholm, 1108 O St., Suite 300, Sacramento CA 95814.
“The Second Amendment gives
the people the right to keep and
bear arms. It is a right that shall not
be infringed upon. Laws have been
implemented to provide guidance
in exercising this right, as well as
consequences for abusing that
right.
“The existing controls on gun
ownership are sufficient. What
is lacking is a uniform system of
enforcement of crimes committed
with firearms.
“Additionally, it has been stated
by the government officials that
they cannot consistently complete
all required background checks
to purchase a firearm in the time
limit required, thus allowing the
purchase to be completed without
a background check. This fault lies
with the government agencies, not
the individuals.
“The government’s position
is they are not infringing on the
Second Amendment. The covert
goal is to limit firearms with
removable magazines, allow only
magazines with limited cartridge
capacity, restrict ammunition
type and register all firearm and
ammunition purchases.
“ W it h t h e g ove r n m e nt ’s
intervention, we will not have the
ability to use them in a manner we
feel is necessary to protect our
family, our property, our freedom
and our treasured way of life.
“Only the law abiding citizens
will comply with any laws
implemented, criminals will not.
It makes one wonder just who the
targeted segment of the population
really is.”
– Jerry Fountain
Chapter 11
Coalinga
PAGE 2 “I do not encourage nor do I
discourage people from purchasing firearms.
“I was a drill sergeant in the
military in the 1970s. Military personnel are not issued firearms
before going through firearm
safety training. I have taught firearm safety classes in both in the
military and in Ventura County 4H
programs.
“I feel that before a citizen can
receive a firearm he or she should
be required to attend a firearm
safety class. Background checks
are already the law. For the number
of firearms owned in this country
I believe the number of deaths
from firearms is relatively small,
but the number of mass assaults
are sensational. Can we ever stop
a nut case from killing others? I
think not.”
– Ed McGuire
Chapter 35
Simi Valley
arguments and the carnage go on
and on, we are at an impasse.
“Instead of trying to change laws
or people’s attitudes, why can’t we
change the guns themselves? Cars
sold in the U.S. are required to have
seat belts and air bags. Why not
require a gun that can’t be fired
by anyone but its legal purchaser?
We could change the ammo too.
And why not offer free exchanges
for legal gun owners so they can
get the new technology at no cost?
“A massive bill from Congress
would be needed to pay for this, but
if the NRA and gun manufacturers
want to help, they will support
legislation to make guns safer for
all of us. Why can’t our Congress
insist upon new guns that can’t be
fired by someone who stole them,
or by children who happen to find
them?
“This would not end all gun
violence; obviously the bad guys
wouldn’t step forward to exchange
their weapons. But over time, we
would see a reduction in the grim
gun-violence statistics.”
– Susan Sears
former CSR president
Chapter 14
Oroville
“Are you a ‘They’ll have to
pry my gun out of my cold dead
fingers’ or a ‘I wouldn't have one
in the house’ person? Both are the
extreme sides of how you look at
gun ownership.
“I am a target shooter and
have belonged to two gun clubs
for many years. Metallic Silhouette
is my game. I shoot classes in
standing rifle, pistol and revolver.
“Although stats show that 99.9
percent of guns are not used in
criminal activity, I am in favor of
universal background checks and
thorough vetting prior to each sale.
There is pending legislation to ban
guns with removable magazines.
If this passes, all rifles in the state
would have to have permanently
affixed magazines. I'm not in favor
of this, although I understand the
rationale behind it.
“California has some of the
strictest gun laws in the nation.
We need to know that the laws
already on the books are being
strictly enforced.”
– Jan Christiansen
Chapter 20
Downey
continued on page 8
Please answer this question for next
month's "Retirees React" column:
Have you ever campaigned
for a candidate or a cause?
“The framers of the Constitution
didn’t envision today’s proliferation
of weapons. We’ve become a gun
culture: guns are everywhere, on TV
shows, in movies, and increasingly
in real life. Meanwhile, as the
Have you been around the block
when it comes to precinct walking and
phone banking? Who was the candidate
or what was the cause you campaigned
for or against?
Do you think such activities make
a difference? Did you enjoy it? Would
you advise other retirees to become
involved in campaigns?
Share your thoughts with your fellow
CALIFORNIA STATE RETIREE retirees by sending a few paragraphs
by Feb. 24 and your response will be
printed in the March 2016 edition of
the California State Retiree newspaper.
Photos (or jpgs) of yourself are also
encouraged, but they’re not required. Send
your response by e-mail to tlundholm@
californiastateretirees.org You may also
mail it to: Trinda Lundholm, 1108 O
St., Suite 300, Sacramento, CA 95814.
FEBRUARY 2016
News
BOARD MEMBERS
Tim Behrens, President, District F
TEL: (559) 920-0371
FAX: (559) 783-1848
E-MAIL: rexall@ocsnet.net
Fritz Walgenbach, Executive Vice President,
District E
TEL: (916) 483-4732
E-MAIL: few1939@gmail.com
Gus C. Lease, Vice President, District C
TEL: (408) 251-6193
E-Mail: gussings@gmail.com
Cynthia Frison, District A
TEL: (424) 227-6489
E-MAIL: clfrison01@gmail.com
Howard Wood, District B
TEL: (805) 238-0924
E-MAIL: woodhhw@aol.com
Susan Sears, District D
TEL: (530) 532-0149
E-MAIL: ssears@calcsea.org
Gene Waggoner, District G
TEL: (760) 868-0968
E-MAIL: sagwaggs@aol.com
Harold Rose, Chief Financial Officer
TEL: (707) 542-5628
E-MAIL: haroldforrose@gmail.com
Headquarters
1108 O Street, Suite 300
Sacramento, CA 95814
TEL: (916) 326-4292
FAX: (916) 326-4201
TOLL-FREE: 1 (888) 808-7197
WEB: www.californiastateretirees.org
CSR STAFF
Executive Director
Bob Hendricks (916) 326-4274
E-MAIL: bhendricks@CaliforniaStateRetirees.org
Sr. Communications Specialist, Editor
Trinda Lundholm (916) 326-4262
E-MAIL: tlundholm@CaliforniaStateRetirees.org
Administrative Assistant
Renee Texeira (916) 326-4212
E-MAIL: rtexeira@CaliforniaStateRetirees.org
Program Specialist
Corinne Wogksch (916) 326-4296
E-MAIL: cwogksch@CaliforniaStateRetirees.org
Administrative Technician
Theresa Michael (916) 326-4292
E-MAIL: tmichael@CaliforniaStateRetirees.org
Graphic Designer
Conrad Borba
E-MAIL: conradborba@gmail.com
CSEA Member Benefits Division
TEL: (800) 952-5283
WEB: www.calcsea.org/benefits
Jimenez wins CSR District G board seat
J
.W. (Jay) Jimenez was named the
winner in the election for the
District G seat on the California State
Retirees Board of Directors Jan. 5.
Jimenez will replace Gene Waggoner,
whose current three-year term expires
at the Board of Directors meeting in
Sacramento Feb. 25, when Jimenez
will be sworn into office.
Waggoner, who has held the District
G director position since 2010, has also
served in many other offices within
CSEA and CSR for more than 40 years.
Jimenez garnered 647 votes, while
his only opponent – Samuel Jurado
– won 261 votes. There were 1,016
ballots received and of those 108 were
the counties of Imperial, Inyo, Mono,
Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino,
San Diego, portions of Los Angeles and
Kern (Eastern side of the Tehachapi
Mountains).
In his candidate statement, Jimenez
said he will fight to advance CSR’s
goals and objectives to protect and
enhance state retirees’ pensions and
health care benefits.
“Working together we can overcome
the continuous attacks on us as retirees
and seniors,” he said.
J.W. (Jay) Jimenez
Jimenez, who currently serves as
invalid. Ballots were mailed on Dec. 1 Chapter 34 treasurer, is also a longtime
to eligible voters in District G, which member of CSR’s Bylaws & Governing
includes Chapters 6, 12, 17 and 34 in Rules Committee.
What do you think of your dental plan?
C
alifornia State Retirees wants to know what you
like and dislike about your dental plan. What
would you change or add to the plan?
Take an anonymous survey on the CSR website at
www.californiastateretirees.org
The survey, which takes about two minutes to complete,
asks questions such as:
✔ Are you happy with your current dental plan?
✔ Do you put off needed procedures because the maximum
annual benefit is too low?
✔ Have you had to seek alternative dental care outside of
the country due to high costs in the United States or
because of the low maximum benefit of your current
✔ What would you like to see added to your dental plan?
plan?
CSR will review the survey results for consideration in
✔ Have you had to pay for items out-of-pocket because
future negotiations to improve dental coverage.
they were not covered by your current plan?
UPCOMING EVENTS 2016
Feb. 14 (Sunday), Valentine’s Day
March 27 (Sunday), Easter
Feb. 15 (Monday), Presidents’ Day
March 31 (Thursday), Cesar Chavez’ Birthday
Feb. 16 (Tuesday), CalPERS Pension and Health
Benefits Committee, Lincoln Plaza
North, 400 P St., Sacramento
April 1 (Friday), Deadline to submit applications and
supporting documents for California State
Employees Association (CSEA) Foundation
scholarships. Dependents, grandchildren
and spouses of members within CSEA’s four
affiliates, including California State Retirees,
are eligible to apply. For more information, go
to www.calcsea.org/home/foundation Joan
Kennedy, the foundation’s president, may
be reached at jkennedy.csueu@gmail.com
Feb. 17 (Wednesday), CalPERS Board of Administration
meeting, same location as above
QUESTIONS FOR CALPERS?
✔ CalPERS Customer Contact Center
(888) CalPERS or (888) 225-7377, Monday through
Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Callers are given a
CalPERS Customer
series of options and told which numbers to push in
Contact Center(888) CalPERS
order to get through to the correct department. Or
(888)
225-7377
go
to the
comprehensive CalPERS website at
PERSCare/PERS Choice
www.calpers.ca.gov
Health
Plans(877)
737-7776
✔
CalPERS
Long-Term Care
Program
CalPERS
(800) 982-1775
Member Home
Loan
Program(800)
874-7377
✔
CalPERS
Ambassador Program:
(916) 795-4018
CalPERS Headquarters
FEBRUARY 2016 Feb 23-25 (Tuesday through Thursday), CSR Board of
Directors meeting at Sacramento Hilton Arden West
Feb. 25 (Thursday), 11 a.m., election for CSR’s
statewide officers, same address as above
March 15 (Tuesday), CalPERS Pension and
Health Benefits Committee, Lincoln
Plaza North, 400 P St., Sacramento
April 5-6, 2016 (Tuesday and Wednesday), CSR Lobby
Day training, followed by legislative visits at
the state Capitol. Details will be announced.
March 16 (Wednesday), CalPERS Board of Administration
meeting, same location as above
CALIFORNIA STATE RETIREE PAGE 3
LEGISLATIVE WATCH
with
Ted Toppin
California’s state budget surpluses and
the psychology of lowering expectations
G
overnor Brown deserves a lot of
credit. When he took office in
2011, California was facing a $25 billion
budget deficit. The next year brought
more of the same – a $16 billion deficit.
The governor didn’t complain or spend
much time lamenting his budget woes.
He made tough cuts and made some
astute political moves – most prominently
convincing tax adverse California voters
to approve the state’s first general tax
increase in 25 years.
Thanks to that tax increase and those
earlier cuts, the state is now in its third
straight year of balanced budgets with
reserve revenues in the billions of dollars.
In his current proposed budget, the
Governor stashes away more than $10
billion in rainy day and reserve accounts.
The Legislative Analyst’s Office predicts
that next year there will again be billions
in revenue flowing into budget coffers.
And by all measures, the economy
rem a i n s st ron g. C a l i for n ia’s
unemployment rate is at 5.8 percent,
down by over 100 percent since its height
in 2010. California’s Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) grew by 2.8 percent
in 2014 (the most recent year data is
available), easily outpacing growth in
the rest of the country. Housing and
automobile sales were at or near record
highs last year.
But if you were listening to this
Administration, you might think the
economic sky is falling.
Defending his fiscal restraint during
his Jan. 7 budget launch, Brown said,
“Everybody thinks when they’re up
here, it’s all wonderful. That’s what they
thought before the dot-com, and that’s
what they thought before the mortgage
Seven candidates vie
for statewide CSR seats
F
or the first time in CSR’s
history, an election will be
held for four new statewide CSR
positions at 11 a.m. Feb. 25 at the
CSR Board of Directors meeting at
the Hilton Arden West in Sacramento.
All CSR active members in good
standing are eligible to run for the
statewide positions, and nominations
may be taken from the floor.
Seven members have already
submitted statements for the four
statewide positions – president,
executive vice president, vice president
and chief financial officer/secretary.
At press time, CSR President
Tim Behrens was the only candidate
running for statewide president.
Two candidates have expressed
interest in the statewide executive
vice president’s seat –
Fritz Walgenbach, CSR’s executive
vice president, and Robert H. Rice,
Chapter 6 vice president and chair of
CSR’s Political Action Committee.
Running for statewide vice
PAGE 4 president are Paul Gonzalez-Coke,
a Chapter 2 member, and Stephanie
Hueg, a Chapter 36 member and
chair of CSR’s Health Benefits
Committee.
Two candidates are vying for
statewide chief financial officer/
secretary – Harold A. Rose, CSR’s
chief financial officer/secretary, and
Cessaly D. Hutchinson, a Chapter
165 member.
The new statewide positions
were created after a vote of retiree
delegates at CSR’s Delegate Assembly
in Sacramento Oct. 13. Besides the
four statewide officers, the board
will also include the seven district
directors on the board, who are
elected by members in their districts.
Eligible voters for the statewide
officers are members of the Board
of Directors and CSR’s 26 chapter
presidents. Proxies will not be allowed
to vote for statewide officers.
meltdown. And so here we are again.”
The proposed budget summary notes:
“ … the budget remains precariously
balanced for the long term … The
economy is finishing its seventh year
of expansion, already two years longer
than the average recovery. While the
timing is uncertain, the next recession is
getting closer, and the state must begin
to plan for it.”
In his State of the State address, the
governor warned that “according to
economists at the Department of Finance,
the next recession, even if it were only of
average intensity, would cut our revenues
by $55 billion over three years. He also
reported that “if you add up the deficits
and surpluses between 2000 and 2016,
you find that the total deficits were seven
times as large as the surpluses, resulting
in painful and unplanned-for cuts.”
The media propelled the governor’s
remarks around the state, but the target
audience was really much smaller –
legislators in the Capitol and the many
interest groups in the offices on the
surrounding blocks. And that message
was simply – lower your expectations;
the state will not be dedicating large
Ted Toppin
amounts of new revenue to ongoing
spending obligations. And perhaps: the
governor has no intention of blowing
his legacy of balanced budgets by losing
focus now.
The governor and his Administration,
of course, are not alone in expressing
concerns about the economy. Ratings
agency Standard & Poor’s, which issues
credit ratings for states, warned in a
January report that California’s economy
may have peaked, fiscal conditions remain
precarious and the state should limit
spending.
Of course, the Legislative Analyst’s
Office (LAO) and others have issued
much more positive economic forecasts
for California in recent months. They
see economic growth in the years ahead.
We won’t know who’s right until we
know who’s right. That’s how it goes
with economic forecasting.
Learn about your CalPERS
benefits and programs
CalPERS members at any stage of onsite on the day of the event. More
their career or retirement can find out information is also available by calling
more about the benefits and programs (888)-CalPERS or (888) 225-7377.
available to them at three upcoming
CalPERS Benefits Education Events CBEEs Calendar
(CBEEs).
February 26-27
The CBEEs also offer breakout Embassy Suites Monterey Bay-Seaside
sessions on a variety of subjects, including 1441 Canyon Del Rey Blvd Seaside,
health benefits, Social Security and how CA 93955
to maneuver through the CalPERS
April 15-16
website.
Representatives from CalPERS and Marriott Oakland City Center
its partner organizations, including 1001 Broadway
California State Retirees, will also be Oakland, CA 94607
available at the CBEEs.
Registration is available approximately May 20-21
six weeks before each event on the Red Lion Hotel
CalPERS website – www.calpers. 1830 Hilltop Drive
ca.gov Members may also register Redding, CA 96002
CALIFORNIA STATE RETIREE FEBRUARY 2016
CalPERS clips
CalPERS Board re-elects Feckner as president, Jones as vice president
T
he California Public Employees'
Retirement System (CalPERS)
Board of Administration unanimously
re-elected Rob Feckner as president
and Henry Jones as vice president in
January.
Feckner will be serving his 12th
term as president, while it will be Jones'
second vice presidential term.
"I'm humbled to be once again
elected by my peers to lead the CalPERS
Board," said Feckner. "I look forward
to another term working on behalf of
our members to ensure their pension
fund continues to be sustainable for
generations to come.
“In the past few years we have many
accomplishments to be proud of, and
I'm committed to add many more
for California's hard-working public
employees."
Feckner joined the CalPERS board
as the representative of CalPERS school
members in 1999. He also serves on
the Board Governance Committee and
the Investment and Pension & Health
Benefits committees.
Feckner has worked for the Napa
Valley Unified School District for the
past 39 years. He is the past president
Rob Feckner, CalPERS president
Henry Jones, CalPERS vice president
of the California School Employees
Association and is past executive vice
president of the California Labor
Federation.
The Board president oversees the
board's business, sets meeting schedules
and agendas with input from other board
members and executive staff, makes
appointments to board committees and
represents CalPERS to outside parties.
Jones, who is elected to his retiree
representative seat the board is elected
by retired CalPERS members. He was
first elected to the board in 2008. In
addition to serving as vice president, he
sits on the Board Governance, Finance
& Administration, Pension & Health
Benefits and Investment committees.
"I look forward to working with
my colleagues, CalPERS staff, and our
constituents on the important business
of administering pensions and health
benefits to our members,” said Jones.
Jones retired from the Los Angeles
Unified School District in 1998 as chief
financial officer overseeing the $7 billion
annual budget. He currently serves as
a personnel commissioner for the Los
Angeles Community College District
and as member of the governing board
of the Robert Toigo Foundation, a
nonprofit organization that encourages
minorities and women to pursue careers
in finance.
Jones also serves on the board of the
Pacific Pension Institute, an educational
organization that assists pension funds,
corporations, financial institutions, and
endowments worldwide with carrying
out their fiduciary responsibilities,
especially with respect to Asia and the
Pacific region.
CalPERS is the largest defined-benefit
public pension fund in the United States,
serving more than 1.7 million members
in the CalPERS retirement system. It
also administers health benefits for
nearly 1.4 million members and their
families. CalPERS' total fund market
value currently stands at approximately
$276 billion. For more information,
visit www.calpers.ca.gov
CalPERS chief executive announces retirement
CalPERS Chief Executive Anne
Stausboll, who headed the fund during
the Great Depression in 2008 and a
bribery scandal involving her predecessor,
announced Jan. 21 that she will retire
June 30, ending a long career at CalPERS
and seven years as the chief executive.
"It has been an honor and privilege
to serve CalPERS, our board and staff
and the public employees who serve
California," said Stausboll. "Together
we have made CalPERS a stronger
organization, one that is well positioned
to provide retirement and health security
for future generations. I'm proud of
our progress and ready to explore the
next chapter of my life."
Stausboll became the pension fund’s
CEO in January 2009 and dealt with
the 2008 market crash, during which
CalPERS lost billions of dollars or a
third of its earnings. The fund has
recovered its losses and currently has
FEBRUARY 2016 Anne Stausboll, CalPERS chief executive
officer
$275 billion in earnings.
Within months of becoming CEO,
Stausboll contended with a bribery
scandal involving her predecessor, Fred
Buenrostro.
Buenrostro eventually pleaded guilty
to taking bribes from former CalPERS
board member Alfred Villalobos, who
was a “placement agent” representing
private-equity firms seeking investments
from the pension fund. After many
delays, Buenrostro is scheduled to be
sentenced in May. Villalobos, who
pleaded not guilty to all charges,
committed suicide last year in Reno.
Prior to becoming CEO, Stausboll
was a staff attorney, deputy general
counsel and interim chief investment
officer at CalPERS. Many years before
that, Stausboll also worked as an
attorney at California State Employees
Association, an affiliate of California
State Retirees.
Under her leadership, CalPERS
officials said Stausboll strengthened
ethics, transparency, and internal controls
through governance and operational
improvements, including:
• Sweeping reforms and laws related
CALIFORNIA STATE RETIREE to placement agents
• Implementing a risk mitigation
polic y and an A sset Liabilit y
Management program to ensure longterm sustainability of the pension system
• Integrating environmental, social,
and governance factors within the
CalPERS investment portfolio
• Increasing competition and reducing
costs in health care
• Establishing the first-ever chief
financial officer position to improve
financial oversight
• Implementing Enterprise Risk
Management and Treasury Management
programs with public reporting, and
• Launching my|CalPERS, one
of the largest state IT projects that
consolidated 49 legacy systems into one
consolidated customer service system.
The CalPERS board will conduct
an immediate search for Stausboll’s
replacement, according to a press release.
PAGE 5
News
Scammers fake
Social Security e-mail
The subject line says “Get
Protected,” and the e-mail details
supposed new features from the Social
Security Administration (SSA) that
can help taxpayers monitor their credit
reports and know about unauthorized
use of their Social Security number.
It even cites the IRS and the officialsounding “S.A.F.E Act 2015.” It sounds
real, but it’s all made-up.
It’s a phishing e-mail to get you to
click on a scammer’s link, according
to recent warnings from the Federal
Trade Commission (FTC). If you do
click, a scammer can install malwarelike viruses and spyware — on your
computer. Or, the link might send you
to a spoof site — a lookalike website
set up by a scammer to trick you into
entering your personal information.
Here are a couple of clues that an
e-mail isn’t really from the government:
• Did the e-mail end up in your
spam or junk folder? E-mail providers
use filters to help catch phishing scams
and spam from getting into your inbox.
• When you hover your cursor over
the link, does it really go to a trusted
website? In this fake SSA e-mail, when
Senior volunteers are needed
to help guide Bay Area readers
Did you know that only 31 percent
of 4th graders in this country are able
to read at a proficient level?
Experience Corps Bay Area (ECBA)
is a national non-profit with a strong
local presence in San Francisco,
Oakland, and Berkeley. An awardwinning tutoring and mentoring
program, ECBA is currently seeking
volunteers ages 50 and older to become
literacy tutors and mentors in K-3
classrooms.
The unique experience and talent
of older adults is the foundation of
you hover over the url you’re told to
click on. You will see the link goes
to an unrelated “.com” — instead of
the Social Security Administration's
ssa.gov or another “.gov” site.
• If you get a questionable e-mail,
don’t click on any links, or open any
attachments. Report it to the FTC
by forwarding the email to spam@
uce.gov — and to the organization
impersonated in the e-mail.
If you’re unsure about an e-mail that
looks like it’s from the government,
contact the agency directly. But find
the contact information yourself, the
FTC says.
Tips for stopping robocalls
A
utomated calls are becoming
more frequent, especially as
political races are gearing up.
Because politicians aren’t trying
to sell you anything, their calls are
excluded from the do-not-call rules.
That means they can call your landline
and don’t have to stop even if you ask.
Still it’s advised to request that the
calls stop and the callers may comply
voluntarily.
Accord ing to t he Bet ter
Business Bureau (BBB), the federal
Telemarketing Sales Rule prohibits
recorded sales messages unless you
have given written permission for
the caller to contact you, regardless
of whether or not your number is on
the “Do Not Call” registry – www.
donotcall.gov
But a g row ing nu mber of
consumers report receiving calls that
PAGE 6 Experience Corps, so no prior tutoring
experience is necessary, and on-going
training is provided. Volunteers are
asked to commit for the rest of the
school year for a minimum of four
hours per week, must possess a high
school diploma or GED and be willing
to pass a criminal background check.
If you are interested in this fun
and rewarding volunteer opportunity,
email Alexis Hawkins at ecba.today@
gmail.com or call (415) 759-4223. To
learn more about ECBA, visit www.
experiencecorpsbayarea.org
and services carefully. Buried in those
agreements might be a clause agreeing
offer fraudulent credit card services, to these annoying calls.
If you find out too late that you
questionable auto warranty plans,
agreed
to their spam, you can still
home security systems and grant
stop it by specific request. Call and
procurement programs.
Here are some tips from the BBB keep a record of the date you made
and Money Talks News for stopping the request, and follow up with the
Federal Trade Commission if the
robocalls.
business keeps harassing you.
1. Keep your number
to yourself
3. Hang up right away
Businesses ask for your number
for just about any reason, but if you
don’t have to give it, don’t. It is a
tacit invitation for them to call that
number or sell it to a third party, the
BBB says.
If you get a robocall, immediately
hang up. There is nothing to gain
from attempting to reason with the
people behind the calls, the BBB says.
Contact your service provider to
see if it has free blocking services but
be warned: Your caller ID might show
a phony number when the robocall
comes in because the latest technology
can fool your service.
responding to the call, and you will
likely receive more of them, according
to the BBB.
5. Get on the Do Not
Call Registry
Sign up for the National Do Not
Call Registry – www.donotcall.gov
It’s free, your number is never taken
off the list, and it will at least stop
law-abiding solicitors. It’s for both
cellphones and landlines.
6. File a complaint
If you’ve been on the Do Not Call
Registry for a month or longer and
still get calls, file a complaint with the
FTC – ftccomplaintassistant.gov
Or call (877) FTC-HELP or (877)
382-4357) and sometimes enough
2. Tell companies you
complaints can get policy changed.
use to buzz off
If the call comes from an identifiable
It not illegal for a business to
business, you should also report it to
make marketing calls if you have a 4. Don’t press numbers
the Better Business Bureau – www.
relationship with them. So read the
By pressing a number, you are bbb.org/consumer-complaints or
terms and conditions of your purchases confirming that someone is actually call (703) 276-0100.
Members on the Move
Third annual health fair sponsored
by CSR attracts 450 people
Cynthia Frison, District A director on the CSR Board
of Directors, right, swore in Marie Cora Okumura as
Chapter 20’s new treasurer at the chapter’s meeting
in Van Nuys Jan. 20.
Among the CSR Chapter 6 members who participated in the Health Fair were Lavinna and Robert Humphrey,
Bob Rice, Dee Stoddard, Merilee Colton, Erlinda Ochoa, Sharon Huddleston and Willis Huddleston (seated).
The Susan
G. Komen
For the Cure
Association
told visitors
about breast
cancer
research
and ways to
contribute to
the cause.
The group
was one of
35 exhibitors
at the fair.
Chapter 15 Vice President Joann Stewart presented
a $200 check from the chapter to David Martinez,
executive director of the Placer Food Bank in Roseville,
on Dec. 21.
Stephanie Hueg, chair of CSR’s Health Benefits
Committee, met with Kevin de Leon, state Senate Pro
Tem, at the Public Policy Institute of California Forum
on California’s Future at the Sheraton Palace Hotel
in Sacramento Jan. 28. Among the issues discussed
were water storage needs, deferred maintenance on
transportation projects and California housing costs.
FEBRUARY 2016 Safety
officials
taught
participants
about
hazards
around the
house.
CALIFORNIA STATE RETIREE PAGE 7
Retirees React
continued from page 2
“California has very strict gun
control laws –
enforce them,
we do not
need more.
“California
firearms
certification is
unnecessarily
expensive and
restrictive for
manufacturers
to certify
firearms. This severely limits
citizen's choices of firearms. Most
high quality gun manufacturers
refuse to be forced to certify minor
changes in design in order to sell
in California. One example: The
1912 Colt, which has hundreds of
variations, but the basic design
remains today. Why should it
require an expensive and lengthy
and expensive certification process
for minor changes? Criminals will
not buy their weapons at a gun
store, but law-abiding citizens will
be harassed at point of sale.”
– Ben Harvey
former Chapter 35 president
Porterville
“California has strong gun
controls, and I think they should
be stronger.
“Our citizens do not need assault
weapons that hold large amounts
of bullets. Weapons should not be
allowed if one lives in a city. The
police will protect our citizens. Our
homes are too close to each other
and it is easy to have an accident
and harm a neighbor.”
– Mary McDonnell
Chapter 3 president
San Francisco
PAGE 8 What are your thoughts on restricting gun ownership?
“I believe we have more than
adequate gun control laws in this
country. What we need is more
enforcement of the present gun
control laws already on the books.
Case in point: When one buys a
gun, you must fill out a form, FORM
4473, with the gun dealer. If you
lie on this form, you may get up
to five years in prison. The federal
government has rejected 72,600
of these applications. So far, 44
cases have been prosecuted. Do
you see the problem here?”
– Jim Peterson
Chapter 2
Sacramento
“There are companies – one
example is ‘Intelligun’ – that will
retrofit guns with the fingerprint
detection system. They are also
beginning to sell guns already
equipped with this safety set up.
“More companies are doing
re s e a rc h a n d b e g i n n i n g t o
manufacture weapons that would
be useless to criminals and could
save the life of a child.
“When you purchase your gun,
your fingerprint is detected as the
default operator of the weapon –
just like smartphones. I believe new
technology should be incorporated
whenever it can save lives.
“Americans should be able to
own guns for self-defense. I don't
think that should include militaristic
rapid-fire weapons with lethal
bullets.”
– Joan Zeeb
Chapter 6
Blythe
“Obama undermines the Second
Amendment and wants to make it
harder for a lawful American citizen
to own a firearm.
“If you purchase a firearm, you
have to wait 15 days before you
can take the firearm home after
your background check.
“If you co m mit a crime in
California with a firearm, you will
receive a greater penalty, which
is good. If a person is a felon or
mentally disturbed, he/she cannot
purchase a firearm, which is also
good.
“But if I or you want to purchase
a S&W revolver that fires a 410
shotgun shell, we cannot legally
purchase one in California. But we
can purchase one in Texas legally
if we live there.
“Just remember – people kill
people. Guns don't kill people. If
you want to stop drunk driving, do
you ban all vehicles?
“I am all for stopping gun
violence, but I think we have
enough laws on the books. If you
have a better idea where my rights
wouldn't be violated, please let
me know."
– John Bianchi
Chapter 15
Plumas Lake
“This is too small a space to
intelligently discuss such a complex
subject but it's
obvious that
w e a l re a d y
have tight
c o ntro ls o n
who can buy
and carry
guns.
“Just check
the Attorney
General's
website to see all the gun laws you
and I are subject to in California. [A
small percent] of the guns or gun
owners in this country are involved
in crime. Tighter restrictions on
guns and ammunition will affect
those of us who obey the laws of the
land, not the predatory members
of our society who don't think the
laws are for them.”
– Mark Delle
Chapter 165
Sacramento
“We have enough laws on the
books that restrict gun ownership,
we just need to enforce them! There
are laws that do not allow felons,
people with mental problems and
certain others to have firearms.
“It seems that in this computer
age it should be easy to run a
program to check those people
against listed gun owners. They
then can be given a time frame to
turn the guns in or produce proof
that they no longer own the weapon.
If a person is convicted as a felon,
the judge at sentencing should
have a print out of gun ownership
and have the weapon confiscated.
“If a mental professional deems
a person should not have weapons,
the legal authorities should be
notified of gun ownership and have
a procedure to recover it.”
– C. Glen Adams
Chapter 11
Coalinga
Get your news now!
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www.youtube.com/user/CAStateRetirees/
News
Pension foes postpone attack, but
court case still threatens unions
fees to support union activities related
to collective bargaining, and not for
union political activity, was upheld in
the Supreme Court’s 1977 Abood v.
Detroit Board of Education decision.
The court ruled that an individual’s
right to belong or not belong to an
organization had to be weighed against
the threat to labor peace if “free riders”
got the benefits of a contract without
contributing.
A second issue in the case – which
the defendants added should the court
choose not to overrule Abood – is
whether it is unconstitutional to require
non-union public employees to pay fees
to support union collective bargaining
activities unless they expressly opt out.
The lawyers for the teachers argue that
such employees should be charged fees
only if they opt in.
Worker and retiree organizations
have come together in several coalitions,
saying they will continue to fight for
their right to protect their benefits
and pensions – despite the outcome of
the Friedrichs case and the attempts
to dismantle the system that gives
them a voice to improve their work
conditions, support their families’
futures and protect the pensions they
have earned.
In the current case before the Supreme
Court justices, Rebecca Friedrichs, a
dissident teacher in Southern California,
says that she should be able to accept
the higher wages and benefits the union
negotiates, but not help pay for the costs.
Several labor officials warn that a
ruling against public unions could have
reverberating effects on the entire labor
movement. Americans should remember,
they say, that the labor movement
is the same movement that brought
Americans the 40-hour workweek,
paid vacations, paid holidays, sick
leave, retirement benefits, and safety
standards.
Do you have LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE
but do not know how to ACCESS benefits?
If you have paid money into LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE
but cannot ACCESS benefits then CONTACT US:
Access My Benefits LLC
Long-Term Care Insurance Consulting
info@accessmybenefits.net
1-844-ACCESS7
(1-844-222-3777)
“We will get you all the benefits you deserve.”
FEBRUARY 2016 Tax season approaches
– Check out this checklist
A
s tax season approaches, CalPERS
recently issued this checklist for
those who may have had a change in
their benefits.
Tax Withholding: The Internal
Revenue Service and the state Franchise
Tax Board revise their tax tables annually,
which could affect the amount of tax
withheld from your benefit check. Your
tax advisor can help you decide if you
should adjust your withholding amounts
for 2016. If you receive a benefit, you can
change your tax withholdings by logging
into your my|CalPERS member account
at my www.calpers.ca.gov
1099-R Tax Form: The 1099-R is a
federal tax form that CalPERS mails to
retired members each Jan. 31 to report
retirement income for the previous tax
year. Members need the information
on this form to complete federal and
state income tax returns. You can also
view, download, and print your 1099-R
form after Feb. 1 using the my|CalPERS
member website.
Health Premium: CalPERS 2016
health plan premium rate changes went
into effect Jan. 1. Visit the Health Plan
Changes & Contributions area of the
CalPERS website – www.calpers.ca.gov
– to view your health plan options and
coverage.
Medicare Reimbursement Amount:
State retirees who are in a Medicarecoordinated health plan may receive a
Medicare Part B reimbursement if the
premium cost is less than the state’s share.
The Medicare Part B reimbursement
may have increased or decreased due to
changes in 2015 health plan premiums
and the Medicare Part B premium amount
established by the federal Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services.
For more information, go to the
CalPERS website at www.calpers.ca.gov
or call (888)-CalPERS or (888) 225-7377.
Favorite Recipes
CSR Chief Financial Officer
Harold Rose is no stranger to the
kitchen. In fact, he has compiled
his own family cookbook of quick
and easy recipes that other retirees
might also enjoy.
Pasta and prawns
1 package of Knorr creamy garlic
shells (4.4 ounces)
25 prawns
3 tablespoons of Challenge garlic
butter
¼ pound of diced prosciutto
Heat the prosciutto and garlic butter
in a frying pan.
Follow directions for the Knorr
pasta (15 minutes in the microwave)
Once the prosciutto starts to cook,
add the prawns. They should be done
when the pasta is done.
Put the pasta in a serving dish and
mix in the prawns and prosciutto.
Serve with a green salad and warm
garlic French bread.
Send your favorite recipes to
tlundholm@californiastateretirees.
org or mail them to: Trinda Lundholm,
1108 O St., Suite 300, Sacramento,
CA 95814
Did you know?
Retirees can meet with CalPERS staff
CalPERS retirees can schedule
a 30-minute appointment at one of
CalPERS’ eight regional offices located
throughout California where staff can
assist you in conducting your CalPERS
business.
Retirees often have questions about
topics such as:
• Beneficiary changes
• Changes due to moving
• A claim for death benefits
CALIFORNIA STATE RETIREE • Health changes
• Power of attorney
• Questions about a form you’re
submitting
CalPERS Regional Offices are open
Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.
to 5 p.m. and are closed on state and
federal holidays.
For more information, visit www.
calpers.ca.gov or call (888)-CalPERS
or (888) 225-7377.
PAGE 9
Puzzles
ANSWERS
ON PAGE 15
ACROSS
1. They did Cleopatra in
5. Fashionable
9. San Antonio tourist stop
14.Sharon Gless co-star Tyne
15.Word with mark or slinger
16.Character assassination
17. ___ Bator
18.Spicy Spanish Stew
19.Unsavory character
20.New Years' Resolution #1
23.Quirky comedian Green
24.Discovery at Sutter's Mill
25.Slip up
26.Shallow Farrelly Bros.
title character
28.Entanglement
30.Buffy's weapon of choice
32. Of a previous time
33.Bad roll in ancient Rome
35.Barbarian
36.Emulating a sleepyhead
A Little Levity
37. New Years' Resolution #2
42.What a siren does
43.It's for the course?
44.Keen longing
45.Canton of William Tell
46.Wearing less
48.Type of fire
52.Clansman's topper
53.Mountain climber's challenge
54.Mentally quick
56.Wasting food, according to moms
57. New Years' Resolution #3
61. Utensil full of holes
62.Bear of a constellation
63.Part of a futhark
64.Obstacle clearer
65.Liquid measure
66.Italian volcano
67. Spreadsheet jotting
68.Come across as
69.Beyond recharging
DOWN
As I get older
I realize:
1. They had a lot of growing to do
2. Honky-tonk
3. Blood constituent
4. Word in a New Year's Eve song
5. 55-Down singers
6. Bisects
7. Man in the Irish Sea?
8. Evian toppers
9. Attraction
10.Symbol of courage
11. One of the United Arab Emirates
12.Communiqués
13.Toreador's acclaim
21.Sheet of print
22.Island group off Scotland
27. Mining locale
29.Stand
31. Consoling word
34.Use a 30-Across
1.I talk to myself because sometimes I need
expert advice.
2.Sometimes I roll my eyes out loud.
3.My people skills are just fine. It’s my
tolerance of idiots that needs work.
4.The biggest lie I tell myself is “I don’t need
to write that down. I’ll remember it.”
5.When I was a child I thought nap time was
punishment. Now it’s like a mini-vacation.
6.Wouldn’t it be great if we could put ourselves
in the dryer for 10 minutes: come out
wrinkle-free and three sizes smaller?
36.Adolescent's bane
37.Overstock
38.Pertaining to both
sides of the Urals
39.Most toned
40.Parental purchase for
a rock concert?
41. Right-hand page
46.Torte vendor
47. Grapple, to Li'l Abner
49.Like Sherlock Holmes
50.Reddish-brown pigment
51. Group of nine
55.One of a biblical 150
58.End of a walkie-talkie
transmission
59.Great Lakes name
60.Ginger's partner
61.Didn't I tell you?
7.“Getting lucky” means walking into a
room and remembering why I’m there.
CSR’s Chapter 11 President Christy ChristensenFountain found these musings on Facebook.
Please share a little levity with others by
sending it to tlundholm@calcsea.org
PAGE 10 CALIFORNIA STATE RETIREE Feb. 15
FEBRUARY 2016
$avvy Senior
By Jim Miller
What to consider when splitting your pills in half
Dear Savvy Senior,
Is pill splitting safe? I have several
friends who cut – their pills in half in
order to save money, but I have some
concerns. What can you tell me?
– Cautious Kim
Dear Kim,
Pill splitting – literally cutting them in
half – has become a popular way to save
on pharmaceutical costs, but you need to
talk to your doctor and pharmacist first
because not all pills can be split.
The reason pill splitting is such a
money saver is because of a quirk in the
way drugs are manufactured and priced.
A pill that's twice as strong as another
may not be twice the price. In fact, it's
usually about the same price. So, buying
a double-strength dose and cutting it in
half may allow you to get two months’
worth of medicine for the price of one.
But is it safe? As long as your doctor agrees
that splitting your pills is OK for you,
you learn how to do it properly and you
split only pills that can be split, there's
really no danger.
ASK YOUR DOCTOR
If you're interested in splitting your
pills, talk to your doctor or pharmacist to
find out if any of the medicines you use
can be safely split. It's also important to
Send your senior questions to:
Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443,
Norman, OK 73070,
or visit SavvySenior.org
also important to know that pills should
only be split in half – never into smaller
portions such as into thirds or quarters.
find out whether splitting them will save
you enough money to justify the hassle.
The pills that are easiest to split are those
with a score down the middle. However,
not every pill that's scored is meant to be
split. Pills that are most commonly split
include:
• Cholesterol lowering drugs, like Crestor,
Lipitor, Mevacor, Pravachol and Zocor.
• Antidepressants, like Lexapro, Celexa,
Serzone, Paxil and Zoloft.
• High blood pressure medicines such
as, Accupril, Zestril, Diovan, Avapro,
Norvasc, Tenormin, Toprol and Cardura.
• Erectile dysfunction pills, like Viagra,
Cialis and Levitra.
USE A SPLITTER
Having the right equipment is very
important too. Don't use a knife or scissors
to cut your pills in half. It can cause you
to split them unevenly resulting in two
pieces with very different dosages, which
can be dangerous. Purchase a proper pill
cutter that has a cover and a V-shaped pill
grip that holds the pill securely in place.
You can find them at most pharmacies
for $3 to $10.
For convenience, you might be tempted
to split the whole bottle of pills at once.
But it's best to do the splitting on the
day you take the first half, and then
take the other half on the second day
or whenever you are scheduled to take
your next dose. That will help keep the
drugs from deteriorating due to exposure
to heat, moisture or air. It will also help
ensure that any deviation in the size of
one dose is compensated in the next. It's
DON’T SPLIT THESE
Some pills should never be split. Drugs
that are time-released or long-lasting and
tablets that contain a combination of
drugs probably shouldn't be split because
it's difficult to ensure a proper amount of
active ingredient in each half. Pills with
a coating to protect your stomach, and
pills that crumble easily or irritate your
mouth shouldn't be split either, along
with chemotherapy drugs, anti-seizure
medicines, birth control pills and capsules
containing powders or gels.
Again, your doctor or pharmacist will
know which drugs can and cannot be
split. If you're taking a medicine that can
be split, you'll need to get a prescription
from your doctor for twice the dosage
you need. Then you can start splitting
safely, and saving.
Finding discounts for people with disabilities
Dear Savvy Senior,
Are there any worthwhile discounts
available to people with disabilities, and
if so, how can I find them? My wife who's 48 - has Multiple Sclerosis that now
requires her to use a wheelchair.
– Need to Save
Dear Need,
There are a wide variety of discounts
and services available to people with
disabilities and those living with a
chronic illness that can literally save
you hundreds and even thousands of
dollars each year. Here are some tips
to help you find them.
ALWAYS ASK
The first thing to know is that most
businesses that offer discounts to people
with disabilities or their escorts don't
publicize them, so it's important to
always ask.
FEBRUARY 2016 A lso note that most nonprof it
organizations and government agencies
that provide disabled services or benefits
will require proof of disability through
a letter from your doctor or some other
form of verification before they will
accommodate you.
your disease or disability followed by
“organizations.”
For example, "Arthritis Organizations"
or "Hearing Loss Organizations."
SEARCH ONLINE
SEARCH LOCALLY
The disabled discounts available
to your wife will vary depending on
where you live, so a good place to
start is to contact the local chapter
of the nonprofit organization that
specializes in your particular disease
or disability - in your wife's case that
would be the National Multiple Sclerosis
Society – nationalmssociety.org or
(800) 344-4867.
Local chapters often know where to
find discounts on the medical supplies,
mobility equipment and support services.
Some organizations have even negotiated
special discounted rates with suppliers,
and a few even provide subsidized
equipment directly.
To search for other disability or
disease specific organizations, use any
internet search engine and type in
CALIFORNIA STATE RETIREE DisabledDiscounts.com is one of
the best resources for finding disabled
discounts online. This is a free website
that lists thousands of discounts in all
50 states. You search by state and county
in 30 different categories ranging from
assistive technology to federal and
state tax discounts, entertainment to
education and so much more.
A l s o v i sit B e ne f it s .g ov a nd
BenefitsCheckUp.org, two great sites
that will help you look for financial
assistance programs your wife and you
continued on page 15
PAGE 11
Welcome aboard new members!
N
ow that you have become a member of
the largest and most experienced state
retiree organization in California, we want to
properly welcome you aboard.
California State Retirees (CSR) has 26 different
chapters statewide and there is one just right for know if the chapter you have been assigned is
you. Members who don’t specify which chapter where you want to stay.
they want to be in are automatically placed in
A phone call to your chapter president or a
the chapter within their zip code. Just let us visit to your chapter’s next meeting are the best
ways to become acquainted with everything
California State Retirees has to offer. Check
out Pages 14 and 15 for the phone and e-mail
information for your chapter president. Each
chapter encourages new members to attend
their meetings, where state retiree issues are
discussed; a variety of speakers appear and
lunch is served. At some chapters, new members
receive complimentary lunches.
Chapter 1
Louise Aki
Irving Ashkenasy
Annette Berry
Lucelyn Calderon
Eileen Carabine
Betsy Carleton
Wayne Carlson
Ofelia Casados
Janice Cole
Julia Cordell
Benjamin Cortez
Cecilia De Leon
Josue Dominguez
Debra Gilliss
Elizabeth Greene
Lawrence High
Joseph Keane
Brenda Lee
Ferdinand Mendoza
Karen Miller
Zeira Munoz
Vanle Nguyen
Steven Orman
Gustave Peterson
Douglas Phason
Cathy Phoenix
Salvacion Reece
Jamie Rizzo
Luisa Rodriguez
Hal Standley
John Tait
Marlyn Taleno
Sandra Tankson
Zenaida
Tapawan-Conway
Diane Tarver
Conchita Trinidad
Loretta Weaver
Michael Wendell
Sonia Yap
Harold English
Henrietta Gaviola
Gwendolyn Hatten
Rosanna Hughes
Garry Jacobs
Mary Leon
Changlong Lin
Brenda Logan
Paulette Mcintosh
Cynthia Mediavilla
Raymundo Medina
Lois Millsap
Vivian Moore-King
Lin Nan
Emmanuel Obiora
Festus Odeh
Michelle Quan
Tony Ramirez
David Sosa
Barbara Tomongin
Mary Tureaud
Antoinette
Williams-House
Ozell Wilson
Chapter 2
Celeste Albanez
Celia Albaracin
Robert Alexander
Arthurine Ali
Lynn Anderson
Fe Arconado-Hignight
Maria Armenta
Charlotte Bayone
Penney Beamer
Gladys Beaty
Karol Bechtel
Kathy Bennett
Thomas Bittle
PAGE 12 Carolyn Brandi
Terri Bridges
Amanda Brizuela
Hattie Brown-Levingston
Antoinette Cabral
Sandra Capetillo
Marcus Castorena
Raul Cazares
Lori Christensen
David Cismowski
Veronica Cochran
Franklin Cole
Mary Cook
Wayne Cook
James Cripe
Kimberly Crouch
William Cummings
James Cunningham
Robin Dartis
Gretchen Davis
Walter Diggs
Cleofe Domingo
Cynthia Douglas
Marina Douke
Deila Dunn
Ekow Eburay
Cherie Enos
Debra Enriquez-Ellis
Sandra Eszlinger
Anqunette Flemmings
Gumercindo Flores
Tracey Flower-Schultz
Darlene Fong
Fernando Fonseca
Geneanne Gaines
Ana Galsote
Rita Garcia
Martha Garcia-Corralejo
Madhu Ghuman
Toni Gillaspie
Iris Glasper
Vivian Gomez-Latino
Barbara Gregson
Arnold Hamilton
Mary Hanifin
Shirley Harmer
Richard Harner
Brenda Harris
Yvonne Hernandez
Brenda Holder
Stanton Hunter
Terence Imai
Tony Ireland
Angela Johnson
Raymundo Justo
Denise Keeler
Mari Kral
Diane Larson
Karen Lee
Leona Leroy-Walker
Loretta Lewis
Jean Louie
Harry Mah
Kirk Mann
Katrina Martin
Ray Martinez
Ila Mcgee
Karen Mease
Barbara Mendenhall
Jay Meyers
Sheila Middleton
Lucy Mochizuki
Natalie Morris
Oralia Moya
Elizabeth Muise
Andrea Murphy
Sandra Nakamura
Hiran Nakashima
Norene Nakashima
Sy Nguyen
Jeanie Ogawa
Irene Ogbonna
Huy On
Annamaria Onofri
Maricela Pancake
Willie Patton
Mary Payne
Isabel Paz
Glenda Peck
Christine Pentoney
Irene Perez
Diane Peters
Kimberly Plaza
Katherine Pope
Brenda Pruitt
Lydia Ramirez
Wayne Rascon
Miguel Reyes
Vera Rivas
Claudia Rivera
Lily Roberts
Debbie Rogers
Jerry Said
Lilia Sanchez
Maria Sanford
W Schield
Marianne Schreeder
Donna Scott
Leona Shields
Jagdish Singh
Mandy Skinner
Pamela Slater
Vickie Stinger
Laura Stuebe
Eleanor Swenson
Bonnie Tancreto
Kenneth Teel
Marguerite Thomas
Tina Thomas
Richard Valdez
Susan Wagner
Vallery Walker
Tamara Walters
Maunee West
Yosimina Whitaker
Richard Whitmire
Susan Wilhelm
Gary Williams
Lisa Wong
Weedon Wong
Pieter Wright
Sharon Wurst
Myra Young
Safar Zalekian
Ethel Zerrudo
Chapter 3
Edward Baumgarten
Gilda Bautista
Juan Bautista
Oliver Boyer Iii
Meli Brown
Flordeliz Buenafe-Oliva
Janice Butterworth
Erin Caughman
Wei-Hsin Chen
Juliet De Mesa
Arlene Essex
Robert Lehman
Josie Manalang
Nenita Mendoza
Josefina Mercado
Emmanuel Ortiz
Richard Palazzolo
Teresita Pasion
Soledad Sinfuego
Rita Steinberger
Evelyn Tharp
Alan Torres
Phung Vy
Chapter 4
Larry Brozee
Cathy Buerhaus
Stephanie Coleman-Smith
Delores Cousar
Carol Covelli
Norma Echevarria
CALIFORNIA STATE RETIREE Chapter 5
Wayne Barkhousen
Patricia Bilskey
David Bracy
Gladys Brisco-Roche
Evangeline Dacuycuy
Barbara Dimberg
Brian Duggan
Dan Gruych
Russell Harris
Barbara Hudgins
Elsie Lujan
Margaret Mendoza
Diane Moss
Judy Paradis
Danny Rahn
Joseph Rouse
Victoria Staal
Chapter 6
Rosalina Aquino
Lennox Belle
Sylvia Cardenas
Erlinda De Guzman
Marjorie Durkee
Carol Ellsworth
Elizabeth Elston
Mina Figueroa
Maxine Granada
Robert Grimes
Brenda Grinston
Catalina Guerrero
Deirdre Hasley-Rufus
Charles Hickman
Christine Johnson
Maria Keller
Derek Lee
Marie Lepe
John Mcgee
Althea Mitchell
Thanh Nguyen
Margarita Patino
Imelda Pebenito
Michael Perea
Martha Perez
David Prado
Karen Prill
Robert Riddle
Randy Roach
Kathryn Rogel
Georgia Schiele
Suzanne Shaffer
Judith Smith
Evelyn Thomas
Robin Tomasso
Maria Wagner
Larry Wall
Barbara Walraff
Lynn Williams
Lucy Wiltz
Virgal Woolfolk
Chapter 8
Susan Buckley
Jeannie Cabello-Penn
Mary Hartman
Danny Pambianco
Cheryl Satter
Linda Sherwood
Chapter 9
Magdalena Aban
Leticia Aguilar
Brenda Arnold
Rhonda Bailey
Abigail Barco
Maria Bauer
Gwen Blanchard
Deborah Bravo
Lolita Brillante
Armando Bustamante
Eusebia Carlos
Jose Contreras
Alicia Diaz
Bonnie Dillingham
Cherie Dougan
Onita Dulin
FEBRUARY 2016
Welcome aboard new members!
Fe Ehlers
Becky Eisemann
Teresita Enriquez
Kathleen Gillum
William Hansel
Jon Hardy
Theodore Harrington
Gayle Hill
Kathleen Hollwig
Pacita Irmiter
Ligaya Letran
Lourdes Lightle
Raymond Mortaloni
Sylvia O'neil
Donald Proctor
Linda Prosser
Patrick Raef
Susan Ransom
Donna Rhinehart
Joseph Sahli
Jerlene Todd
Nelia Tomista
Tony Torres
Antonio Ty
Peter Vanden Bosch
Esther Vasquez
Emily Ward
Chapter 10
Sandra Andersen
Edward Bischof
Kathryn Kasper
Deborah Kenney
Leticia Lachance
Ann Malak
Dara Manker
Jeri Mendoza
Robert Pavlik
Juan Rios
Doug Scheel
Denise Thomson-Griffith
Philip Wagner
Arthur Westerfield
Chapter 11
Mildred Acapulco
Jennifer Erickson
F Escalante
Genevia Frede
Linda Huerta
Karen Lowe
Sandra Poole
Josephine Renteria
Brenda Simpson
Linda Takeshita
Joseph Weis
Chapter 12
Eunice Adefioye
L'tanya Anderson
Carmen Gonzalez
Veronica Gonzalez
Coleen Goodner
Charles Rutherford
Nancy Smith
Chapter 13
Redgy Boyer
FEBRUARY 2016 Beverly Bridges
Michele Cox
Anna Hubbard
Catherine Pierce
Mary Reece
Ray Smith
Chapter 14
William Allen
Dana Benninghoven
Veronica Blankenship
Beth Brogden
Connie Dunks
Jody Prusia
Deborah Simmons
Teddy Teague
Margo Vanek
Chapter 15
Flora Allen
Antonio Alvarado
Rebecca Blote
Marilyn Boehnke
James Bowman
Maryanne Brown
Jerry Clark
James Drago
Denise Fischer
Jerry Grenier
Linda Grover
Hortencia Gutierrez
Michael Hoffman
Richard Ish
Juli Jackson
Eric Jarvinen
Horfa Jeppesen
William Johnson
Billie Kessel
Michael Lewis
Kelly Lynch
Corinna Maskovich
Melody Mcclure Delparte
Dianne Mckoy
Kevin Odekirk
Bonnie Pronovost
Lawrence Raupp
Patti Schneider
Elizabeth Stone
Joyce Struble
Larry Vittitow
Kim Wipf
Chapter 16
Aine Bracken
Maria Davila-Garcia
Patricia Holguin
Mercedes Mayeda
Geralyn Millard
Rebecca Obrien-Witt
Deborah Quiestas
Maria Rodriguez
Marsha Rougeau
Douglas Thompson
Sharon Ward
Chapter 17
Melissa Aguilar
Grace Alcorin
Claire Allegretti
Irene Avila
John Baxter
Patty Buchach
Jim De Ocampo
Bayani Decastro
Mary Decottignies
Rufina Erpelo
Lynn Fort
Armando Gabriel
Alicia Garcia
Lilian Geronimo
Aubrey Greenhouse
Xiao-Ming Guo
Jesusa Guzman
Arlene Hernandez
Kendrea Hilend
Thomas Melvin
Janetlynn Mosemak
Martha Munoz
Imelda Navarra
Jesusa Pascua
Rogelio Rabanal
Janet Reedy
Christina Robinson
Daniel Romero
Theresa Ruffolo
Beverly Sanders
Anthony Slimp
Ratnasamy Somanathan
Emma Thomas-Williams
Frances Tubiola
Robert Wallace
Michael Williams
Maria Wilwayco
Chapter 20
Jeanne Bonfilio
Patricia Burleson
Barbara Cogan
Barbara Collins
Carol Cruz
Edward Fujimoto
Roy Gallegos
Florenda Gray
Neil Hashiba
Hsin Hsu
Edward Humenik
Ernest Ikner
Cheryl Jones
Soon Jung
Paula Lester
Katherine Numoto
Linda Sarenas
Marlene Simon
Chapter 21
Barbara Abrahamson
Edgardo Anonical
Leeanne Bowes
Clyde Calvo
Salvacion Casabar
Angela Cook
Kenneth Deloatch
Luz Drennan
Michael Drennan
Florence Fay
Pasquale Franzese
Zenaida Garcia
Kerry Grayson
William Hillvilagi
Dawn Lewis
Linda Lucey
Malcolm Maclean
Anita Mijares
Pamela Mitchell
Ernesto Moises
Diane Mond
Adela Morales
Thomas Morgan
Salvadora Payan
Barbara Podsiadly
Maria Ramos
Sharon Riddell
Julie Severino
Prabh Singh
Allyson Tabor
Linda Tasso-Overn
Laura Taylor
Cynthia Thomas
Mary Thomas
Dorothy Thompson
Martin Torres
Mary Vitug
Patty Wang
Chapter 23
Arabella Arnaldo
Kathy Athey
Diana Baker
Jan Cefalu
Rosemary Collins
Gloria Dominguez
Jesus Estrada
Dolores Gutierrez
N Huynh
Herschel Juinio
Gloria Milano
Than Nguyen
Thuy Nguyen
Nancy Nuzzolillo
Kathleen Parker
Jessie Pickett
Tracy Tran
Andy Wirjadi
Leila Zandifar
Chapter 26
Ralph Barnes
Reed Barnes
Lorie Berger
Patricia Berthold
Melody Creel
Vickie Dominguez
Maggie Eskew
Marivel Gandarilla
Anita Harris
Maria Herrera
Olivia Hillman
Rotana Lim
Elizabeth Lopez
Robert Mitchell
Jerry Polkinghorne
Lynn Quiring
Pamela Riley
Norma Silva
CALIFORNIA STATE RETIREE Lisa Smith
Michael Smith
Curtis Wada
Chapter 31
Beverlee Bacchilega
Velmaflor Capina
Leonila Solis
Chapter 34
Xuan Abbott
Ricardo Aquino
Virginia Cardoso
Ruben Caspellan
Edward Ederaine
Cynthia Engracia
Frances Espinoza
Amelia Flores
Ralph Hawkins
Jane Iacovetti
Dawn Kenny
Norma Lamont
Nelia Lara
Jose Lim
Martha Macias
Ernest Martinez
Raquel Richardson
Laura Rockwell
Barbara Roshanaee
Mary Rudnick
Imelda Samano
Marilyn Slagle
Linda Smith
Tersit Tefferi
Federico Tumanan
Rhonda Valverde
Sylvia Vega
Edith Wilkins
Chapter 35
Randy Braithwaite
Susan Colvin
Delia Gamez
Rebecca Hernandez
Theresa Holbrook
Martha Levario
Brenda Lofton
Sherri Luna
Salvador Martinez
Tina May
Kenneth Osborn
Elva Pereschica
James Qualls
Norma Rogers
Mylene Stirling
Bertha Summers
Diane Tyler
Chapter 36
Kimberly Agerbeek
Nancy Ashley
Venson Dulaney
Mccoy Kichar
Mary Moore
Elisa Neto
Julie Watson
Chapter 165
Cynthia Berry
Craig Blakely
Kimberly Bober
Cheri Boyer
Leslie Bryant
Odella Cannon
Adelynn Case
Leo Chapinski
Odia Chiles
Chez Colson
Jack Connor
Nora Cooper
Edmond Davila
Shardool Doongursee
Dara Dubois
Donald Falloon
Victoria Felton
Cecilia Flores
Gary Frick
Ida Gilmore
Linda Gingrich
Marie Gomez
Susan Gray
Lynda Harris
Susan Horton
Debbie Hvidsten
David Jansson
Elizabeth Kinser
Sharon Larkin
George Lembi
Cyndie Mayo
Donna Mcelreath
Taunia Miller
Gail Mouille
Colleen Pemberton
Lori Pinson
Deborah Poole
Benjamin Preston
Celida Ridgeway
Ruth Scarborough
Carolyn Sciara
Cynthia Searcy
Charles Sims
Susan Sims
Barbara Stoner
Virginia Sy
Rex Taylor
Kathleen Val
Rich Valdivia
Esther Vicente
Esther Wagoner
Donna Webster
Jon Wroten
Don’t fret if you
recently joined CSR,
but don’t see your
name here. Processing
at CalPERS, the State
Controller’s Office and
CSR can take a few
months. Check again
for your name during
the next two months.
PAGE 13
CHAPTER MEETING NOTICES
CHAPTER 1
OAKLAND, EAST BAY AREA
President: Carol Bowen, (510)
527-5131; Vice President: Stella Torrez;
Treasurer: Elsie Brown.
Meets on the third Thursday of
March, June, September and
December
Meeting: Thursday, March 17, 11:30
a.m. Where: Francesco’s Restaurant,
8520 Pardee Drive, at the corner
of Hegenberger Road and Pardee
Drive, Oakland. Program: Speaker
to be announced. Menu: Corned
beef or grilled salmon. Cost: Chapter
1 members are free; Guests cost $15
and members from all other chapters
are $5. RESERVATIONS ARE
REQUIRED: Members and guests
must make reservations no later than 5
p.m. Thursday, March 10. Contact Carol
Bowen with your menu choices at (510)
527-5131 or by e-mail at chapter01csr@
yahoo.com
CHAPTER 2
SACRAMENTO/YOLO AREA
President: Louis Espinoza, (916)
397-2526; Vice President: Phyllis
Johnson, (209) 471-2192; Treasurer:
Kathleen Elwell, (916) 395-3717;
Secretary: Dianne Welsh, (916)
682-7810; Membership: Nadie Savage,
(916) 968-5984.
Meets on the first Monday of
every month, unless otherwise
announced
Meeting: Monday, March 7, 11 a.m.;
the official meeting starts at noon.
Where: Sierra 2 Center (Curtis Hall),
2791 24th St., Sacramento. Program:
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Gwen Jackson,
RN with Kaiser Permanente will speak
on diabetes. Menu: Corned Beef on
wheat bread, celery/carrot sticks and a
green cupcake. The vegetarian entrée is
Eggplant, tomato, mozzarella, and fresh
pesto on ciabatta bread. Cost: Members
are free; guests $3. Reservations are
necessary: By 5 p.m. Thursday, March
3 or you will not receive a lunch.
Contact Nadie Savage, attendance
coordinator, at texasgirl0124@gmail.
com or call (916) 968-5984 if you plan
on attending or if you need to cancel
your reservation. Note: If cancelling,
please advise Nadie if it’s for a regular
lunch or special order. No shows will be
responsible to the chapter for the cost
of their meals. For more information,
please contact Phyllis Johnson at (209)
471-2192 or at johnsonphyllis010@
yahoo.com
Meeting: Monday, April 4, 11 a.m.; the
official meeting starts at noon. Where:
Same location as above. Program: Happy
Easter! Please submit your program
suggestions to Susan Shambaugh for
future programming. Menu: Ham
sandwich on sourdough, potato salad
and brownie. The vegetarian entrée is
California cheddar, avocado, tomato
and lettuce on a roll. Cost: Members
are free; guests are $3. Reservations are
necessary: By 5 p.m. Thursday, March 31
or you will not receive a lunch. Contact
Nadie Savage, attendance coordinator, at
texasgirl0124@gmail.com or call (916)
968-5984 if you plan on attending.
Note: Cancellations are also required
by March 31. Please advise Nadie if
meal was a regular lunch or special
order. No shows will be responsible to
the chapter for the full cost of their meals.
For more information, please contact
Phyllis Johnson at (209) 471-2192 or at
johnsonphyllis010@yahoo.com
CHAPTER 3
WEST BAY AREA
President: Mary McDonnell,
(415) 509-1914; Vice President:
Skip Charbonneau, (415) 648-4946;
Secretary/Treasurer: Al Darby, (925)
788-6068.
Meets on the second Friday of
March, June, September and
December
Meeting: Friday, March 11, 11:30 a.m.
Where: United Irish Cultural Center,
2700 45th Ave., San Francisco. Menu:
Corned beef and cabbage or parmesan
encrusted fillet of sole. Cost: $10 for
members; $12 for guests. New members
are free. Reservations are required:
Please call Erlinda Villa at (415) 407-7905.
You may also send an e-mail to
aida.b.villa@gmail.com
CHAPTER 4
GREATER LOS ANGELES
President: Marta Zaragoza, (310)
204-0484; Secretary: Liwanag Dizon,
(213) 200-6015; Treasurer: Virginia
Griffin. Note: Meryl David has offered
to provide transportation to members
who do not have any transportation to
attend meetings. Please call Meryl at
(323) 939-0620 at least three days prior
to a meeting.
even months, unless otherwise
announced
Meeting: Thursday, Feb. 18, 11:30 a.m.
Where: TBA.
Chapter 4 Subchapter
Meeting: TBA.
CHAPTER 5
CENTRAL VALLEY FOOTHILLS
President: Barbara Powers, (209) 2232009; Vice President: Al Lara, (209)
825-5285; Secretary: Denise Simpson,
(209) 206-3817; Treasurer: Rosemary
Jones, (209) 676-2790; Past President:
Anita McCabe, (209) 602-7775.
Jackson Subchapter
Meets after each CSR Board
meeting, unless otherwise
announced
Meeting: Tuesday, March 15, 11:30
a.m. Where: Jackson Senior Center,
229 New York Ranch Road, Jackson.
Program: Report of the Board of
Directors. Menu & Cost: TBA.
Merced Subchapter
announced
PAGE 14 Meeting: Wednesday March 9, 11:30
a.m. Where: Paul’s Place, 2991 G Street,
Merced. Program: Report of the Board
of Directors. Menu and Cost: Order off
the menu at member’s expense.
Modesto
announced
Meeting: Thursday, March 10, 11:30
a.m. Where: Denny’s, 110 McHenry
Ave., Modesto. Program: Report of the
Board of Directors. Menu and Cost:
Order off menu at member’s expense.
Sonora Subchapter
announced
Meeting: Tuesday, March 8, 11:30 a.m.
Where: Tuolumne County Senior
Center, 540 Greenley Road, Sonora.
Program: Report of the Board of
Directors. Menu: TBA.
CHAPTER 6
SAN BERNARDINO/
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
President: J. Dee Stoddard, (909)
862-1870; Vice President: Robert Rice,
(909) 867-3136; Treasurer/Secretary:
Willis Huddleston, (805) 573-5345.
Meetings are held quarterly
CHAPTER 8
NORTH COAST AREA
President: Jim Evert, (707) 951-4166 or
jimevert@hotmail.com; Vice President:
William Irwin, (707) 465-8919 or
birwin001@hotmail.com; Treasurer:
Patti Falk, (707) 445-1196 or pmfalk@
earthlink.net
Meetings are held quarterly,
unless otherwise announced
Humboldt Chapter
a.m. Where: Eureka Elks Lodge, 455
Herrick Ave., Eureka. Reservations are
required: By Thursday, Feb. 25, please
contact one of the officers above.
Del Norte Subchapter
Meeting: Wednesday, March 2,
11:45 a.m. Where: The Lucky Seven
Casino, 350 N. Indian Road, Smith
River. Reservations are required: By
Friday, Feb. 26, please contact one of
the officers above.
CHAPTER 9
LOS ANGELES AREA
President: Raelene Allard, (323)
221-6010 or raeleneallard@ymail.
com; Vice President and Membership
Coordinator: Luanna Allard, (323)
227-4287 or estebanos@sbcglobal.
net; Treasurer: Judy Castaneda, (626)
576 -1332, ojudyc@gmail.com;
Secretary/Webmaster/Past President:
Vivianne Fitzgerald, (562) 866-6264 or
4fitzi@gmail.com
Meets on the second Wednesday
of each month, unless otherwise
announced
Meeting: Wednesday, Feb. 10, 11 a.m.
Where: Sizzler Restaurant, 15252 East
Rosecrans Blvd., La Mirada. Menu:
Your choice. Program: Yvette Lozano
from Peace Over Violence will speak on
elder abuse. Cost: Chapter 9 will pay $10
towards each member’s lunch. Guests
pay for themselves. Note: Chapter 9 is
CALIFORNIA STATE RETIREE looking for candidates who would be
interested in CSR delegate positions.
Please contact Raelene Allard for
additional information. We look forward
to seeing you at our next meeting.
Meeting: Wednesday, March 9, 11 a.m.
Where: Sizzler Restaurant, 15252 East
Rosecrans Blvd., La Mirada. Menu: Your
choice. Program: TBA. Cost: Chapter
9 will pay $10 toward each member’s
lunch. Guests pay for themselves. Note:
Chapter 9 is looking for candidates who
would be interested in CSR delegate
positions. Please contact Raelene
Allard for additional information. We
look forward to seeing you at our next
meeting.
CHAPTER 10
SAN LUIS OBISPO
President: Mike Smith, (661)
695-4435; Vice President: Vic Martinez,
(805) 239-3397; Secretary: Pearl Cole,
(805)489-5194; Treasurer: Marc Laxer,
(805) 546-8470.
Meets on the fourth Thursday of
January, April, July and October
Meeting: Thursday, April. 28, 10:30
a.m. Where: Elks Lodge, 222 Elks Lane,
San Luis Obispo. For more information:
Call any chapter officer at the numbers
above.
CHAPTER 11
MID VALLEY
President: Christy ChristensenFountain, (559) 707-7067 or chrschrs90@
aol.com; Vice President: Joyce Jarrett,
(559) 348-7845; Treasurer: Gigi
Subilosky, (559) 269-5380; Secretary:
Claudine Edwards-McDougall, (559)
696-2628.
Meets on the first Wednesday
of March, June, September and
December, unless otherwise
announced
Meeting: Wednesday, March 2, 11:30
a.m. Where: Pardini’s, 2257 West
Shaw Ave., Fresno. Special Guests:
Tim Behrens, CSR president, Bob Rice,
Chair of CSR PAC, and Jill McCarthy,
Community Outreach Liaison, Hinds
Hospice. We will be collecting socks
for children and teens. Bring a package
to receive an extra door prize ticket.
CHAPTER 12
EASTERN MOUNTAIN AND
HIGH DESERT AREAS
President: Caryl Cole, (760) 247-8962,
carylole@verizon.net; Vice President:
Bob Liley, (661) 867-6004, andrell@
hughes.net; Secretary: Diane Deutsch,
(661) 823-7307, dianedeutsch07@gmail.
com; Treasurer: Stephanie PryzbeskiGilbert, (661) 943-3759, stefva22@
hotmail.com
Meets on the third Wednesday
of even months, unless otherwise
announced
Where: Los Domingos Restaurant,
17790 Wika Road, Apple Valley. (in
the shopping center on the Northeast
corner of Highway 18 and Apple Valley
Road, turn North on Apple Valley and
then left just past the gas station and
go straight in.) Program: TBA. Cost:
Chapter 12 pays for orders from the
senior menu.
Meeting: Wednesday, April 20, 11
a.m. Where: Big Papa’s, 1001 West
Tehachapi Blvd., Tehachapi. Program:
Representatives from Kaiser and United
Healthcare will speak on their services
and answer questions. Cost: Chapter 12
pays for orders from the senior menu.
CHAPTER 13
NO. CALIFORNIA/REDDING
President: Robert Black, (530) 772-0511
or bob_linda@charter.net; Vice
President: Warren Schlatter, (530)
347-3106 or kandws@wildblue.net;
Secretary: Audrey Sandeen, (530)
221-3500 or theswede8243@gmail.com;
Treasurer: Georgene Gibson, (530)
529-0277 or rbjeepman10@hotmail.com.
Meets on the third Monday of
every month, unless otherwise
announced
Meeting: Monday, Feb. 15, noon. Arrive
at 11:30 a.m. if you are ordering a meal.
Where: Country Waffle, 2300 Athens
Ave., Redding. Menu: Order from the
menu. Cost: Complimentary to CSR
members and associates. Reservations:
Not required.
CHAPTER 14
NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA/CHICO
President: S.E. Riazi, (530) 519-2174
or seriazi@gmail.com; Vice President:
Vincent Herrera, (916) 804-6613 or
berreta@yahoo.com; Secretary: Kenneth
Mayer, (530) 894-3479 or toddmayer@
comcast.net
Meets on the third Wednesday
of every month, unless otherwise
announced
Meeting: Wednesday, Feb. 17, 11
a.m. Where: Creative Catering,
2565 Zanella Way, Chico. (From
the Skyway, turn on Zanella Way,
go two blocks to Morrow Lane
and Creative Catering is on the
Northeast (left) corner.) Program:
Bob Grayson, executive director
of GRID Alternatives, will speak.
GRID Alternatives is a non-profit
solar installer that administers the
Single Family Affordable Solar Homes
Program for the State of California
under the auspices of the California
Public Utilities Commission. Cost:
CSR members are free. Guests pay
$15 each. Reservations are required:
Please call S.E. Riazi at (530) 519-2174
or e-mail him at seriazi@gmail.com
Lassen/Plumas Subchapter
Meets on the first Tuesday in
April, June, August and October,
and other dates as announced
Meeting: Tuesday, April 5, 11:30 a.m.
Where: Diamond Mountain Casino,
900 Skyline Drive, Susanville. For more
information, please contact one of the
following volunteers: Darlene Hunter
at (530) 251-2053 or darlenehunter@
frontier.com or Carol Van Amburg
at (530) 254-6891 or carolvango@
frontier.com
CHAPTER 15
SIERRA FOOTHILLS
Pr esid e nt: Keith Umemoto,
kumemoto@att.net; Vice President:
Joann Stewart, jstewartgin@hotmail.
com; Treasurer: Marshall Conner,
mconner139@gmail.com; Secretary:
Frank Weinstein, ch15secretary@
hotmail.com
FEBRUARY 2016
CHAPTER MEETING NOTICES
Meets on the third Tuesday of
every month
Meeting: Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2 p.m.
Where: CalTrans, 703 B St., (7th and B
St.), Marysville. For more information:
Contact Keith Umemoto at kumemoto@
att.net or call (916) 715-1880.
CHAPTER 16
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY
President: R. Connie Lira, (209)
601-5754; Vice President: Evelyn (Evi)
McKenna, (209) 608-2149; Secretary:
Sheila Ward-Shaw, (209) 915-1020;
Treasurer: Vacant.
Meets quarterly
Meeting: Friday, March 11, 12:30 p.m.
Where: The Old Spaghetti Factory,
2702 W. March Lane, Stockton. Cost:
Members can order off the special senior
menu for free; guests are $10. Program:
TBA. Reservations are required: Please
contact any of the chapter officers at the
above listed numbers.
CHAPTER 17
GREATER SAN DIEGO
President: Diane Whorton, (619)
467-7861 or dlw.union@gmail.
com; Vice President: Steve Haley,
(619) 441-8769 or raceready@usa.
net; Secretary: Gloria Koch, (619)
455-1917 or KochGloria303@gmail.com;
Treasurer: Elaine Edwards Yahraus,
(619) 435-4044, eyahraus@gmail.com;
Membership Co-Chairs: David Juarez
at(619) 379-4269 or maxjuarez555@
gmail.com or Theresa Juarez at(408)
390-8006, terez-juarez@gmail.com
Meets on the first Thursday of
even months
Meeting: Thursday, Feb. 4, 11 a.m.
to 2 p.m. (Doors open at 10:30 a.m.)
Where: Mission Valley Resort, 875
Hotel Circle South, San Diego (Hotel
Circle Drive from I-8, at the junction of
163 and I-8 by Fashion Valley.) Program:
TBA. Cost: No cost to members.
CHAPTER 19
NORTH COAST AREA
President: Skip Hulet, (707) 279-4643;
Vice President: Natalie Daugherty, (707)
485-8857; Treasurer: Dorothea M.
Parsons, (707) 462-1209; Secretary:
Marilyn Saegert, (707) 485-7823.
Meets on the second Tuesday
of February, April, August
and October. The chapter and
subchapter hold combined
meetings in June and December.
Meeting: Tuesday, Feb. 9, noon. Where:
Ukiah Garden Café, 1090 S. State,
Ukiah. Program: TBA. For more
information: Call Marilyn Saegert,
(707) 485-7823; Ines Freeman, (707)
485-7203; Natalie Daugherty, (707)
485-8857; or Lois Barth, (707) 459-5334.
Lake County Subchapter
Meets on the second Monday
of February, April, August
and October. The chapter and
subchapter hold combined
meetings in June and December.
Meeting: Monday, Feb. 8, noon.
Where: Running Creek Casino, 635
Highway 20 East, Upper Lake. For more
information, call Suzanne Schutz at
707-279-9076 or Joan Hume at (707)
279-4811.
FEBRUARY 2016
CHAPTER 20
SAN FERNANDO VALLEY
AND LOS ANGELES AREA
President: Sharon Stoltzman (424)
228-2820 or chapter20bears@gmail.
com; Vice President: Steve Cohen,
(818) 788-1450 or easekidz@aol.com;
Secretary: Vacant; Treasurer: Marie
Cora Okumura, (818) 359-7625 or
mcokumura@yahoo.com; Chapter
Membership Chair: Geraldine Salvani
Meets on the third Wednesday of
each month, except in July and
August
Meeting: Wednesday, Feb. 17, 9 a.m.;
meeting starts at 9:30 a.m. Where:
Sizzler, 7131 Van Nuys Blvd., Van Nuys.
Program: TBA. Cost: Members $4
per person. For additional information,
please contact any chapter officer at the
above numbers.
CHAPTER 21
SONOMA, MARIN, NAPA
AND SOLANO COUNTIES
President: Donald Lehnhoff, (707)
795-9405; Vice President: Ron Franklin,
(707) 992-0664
Meets quarterly on the third
Tuesday of the month
Meeting: Tuesday, April 19, 11:30
a.m. Where: Quail Inn at Oakmont
Golf Course, 7025 Oakmont Drive,
Santa Rosa. Program: CHP Public
Information Officer Jon Sloat will
speak. Menu: Baked snapper, lemon
and rosemary chicken or vegetable
Wellington with tomato aioli. Cost:
$5 for member and $10 for one guest.
Reservations are required: By April
9, send checks payable to CSR Chapter
21, P.O. Box 725, Cotati, CA 94931.
Please be aware the deadline is firm. For
more information call Don Lehnhoff
at (707) 795-9405.
CHAPTER 23
SAN JOSE AREA
President: Barbara (Bobbi) Estrada,
(408) 373-4220 or bobbiestrada898@
yahoo.com; Vice President: Maria
Aguilar at (408) 706-0366 or
md12aguilar@yahoo.com; Secretary:
Denise Johnson, (408) 460-1748 or
dpadres7919@gmail.com; Treasurer:
Essie Sukkar, (510) 566-3999 or
esukkar@hotmail.com
Meets in April, June, September
and December, unless otherwise
announced
Meeting: TBA.
CHAPTER 26
KERN COUNTY
President: Al Fillon, (661) 619-6181;
Vice President: Henry Mendoza, (661)
725-8604; Secretary: Sue Kimbrel,
(661) 589-2026; Treasurer: Regina
Vaughn, (661) 832-6348; Chapter
Health Benefits Chairperson: Rachel
Mendoza, (661) 319-5943.
each month
Meeting: Thursday, Feb. 18, 11
a.m. Where: Senõr Pepe’s Mexican
Restaurant & Cantina, 8450 Granite
Falls Drive, Bakersfield. Program:
TBA. Cost: $10 for members. New
and first-time guests are free. For more
information: Call any of the officers
listed above.
CHAPTER 31
VENTURA/SANTA BARBARA
President: V. Raylene Laverentz,
(805) 986-1854 or (805) 551-2278; Vice
President and Program Coordinator:
Barbara Driscoll, (805) 487-4619;
Secretary: Irene Fisher-Clifton, (805)
984-1579.
Meets in March, June, September
and December, unless otherwise
announced
a.m. Where: Marie Callender’s 1295 S
Victoria Ave, Ventura. Program: TBA.
CHAPTER 34
ORANGE COUNTY–
SANTA ANA
President: Jenny Hayden, (714)
743-8423; Vice President: Lloyd S.
Duronslet, (714) 812-1126; Secretary:
Joe Whaling, (714) 349-5393; Treasurer:
Jay Jimenez, (714) 926-6409; Legislative
Representative: Anne J. Spiegel, (714)
846-5150; Membership Chair: Jack
Vander Bruggen, (949) 857-0955.
noted
Where: Santa Ana Elks Lodge, 212
Elks Lane, Santa Ana (across from the
Santa Ana Zoo – Exit I-5 at Fourth and
First streets, continuing south across First
Street.) Menu: Lunch will be provided.
Program: TBA. Cost: Members are
free. For more information: Call any
chapter officer listed above.
CHAPTER 35
SO. CENTRAL VALLEY
PORTERVILLE AREA
President: Lou Flores, (559) 362-0689;
Vice President: Mary McCaig, (559)
359-6069; Secretary: Carol Wood-
Gilham, (559) 562-3808; Treasurer:
Larry Long, (559) 781-8761.
Meets on the second Thursday
announced
Meeting: Thursday, Feb. 11, 11 a.m.
Where: Santa Fe Depot/Senior Center,
280 N. Fourth St., Porterville. Program:
TBA.
Meeting: Thursday, March 10, 11
a.m. Where: Santa Fe Depot/Senior
Center, 280 N. Fourth St., Porterville.
Program: TBA.
Meeting: Thursday, April 14, Where:
El Nuevo Restaurant, 640 N. Prospect,
Porterville.
CHAPTER 36
MONTEREY BAY AREA
President: Susanne Paradis, (916)
919-4091; Vice President: Vacant;
Secretary/Treasurer: Vacant.
of January, May, September
and November, unless otherwise
announced
Meeting: Thursday, Feb. 11, 11:30
a.m. Where: The Hindquarter, 303
Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. Cost: Free
to members. Program: Representative
from Teen Challenge Monterey Bay
will speak.
1000 Howe Ave., (Corner of Howe &
Enterprise), Sacramento. Program:
TBA. Cost: $4 for members; $10 for
non-members.
Washington State Contact Person:
Dan Reibson, (360) 887-3123.
Medford, Oregon Subchapter
even months
Meeting: Thursday, Feb. 18, noon.
W here: Elmer’s Restaura nt,
2000 Biddle Road, Medford, OR.
Reservations: Please contact Bruce
Eliason, membership chair, at (541)
779-2912 or Geanie Hixon, subchapter
vice president, at (541) 646-0925.
Meeting: Thursday, April 21,
noon. Where: Elmer’s Restaurant,
2000 Biddle Road, Medford, OR.
Reservations: Please contact Bruce
Eliason, membership chair, at (541)
779-2912 or Geanie Hixon, subchapter
vice president, at (541) 646-0925.
ANSWERS from page 10
CHAPTER 165
SACRAMENTO
President: Beverley Greening,
(916)383-3361; Vice President: David
Phillips, (775) 790-5636; Secretary: Gail
Fasciola, (916) 386-1553; Treasurer:
Eleanor Poole, (916) 753-4821.
Meets on the first Wednesday
of even months, with some
exceptions
Meeting: Wednesday, April 6, 11:30
a.m. Where: Canton Chinese Buffet,
Chapter Meeting Notices are
compiled by Theresa Michael,
CSR’s administrative technician.
She can be reached at tmichael@
californiastateretirees.org
Finding discounts for people with disabilities
may be eligible for, and will tell you how to apply.
And see Disability.gov, a site that connects
people with disabilities to helpful programs and
services in your area.
TYPES OF DISCOUNTS
Here are a few examples of the different types of
disabled discounts and services that are out there.
Recreation: Most movie theaters, museums,
zoos, theme parks and aquariums provide reduced
admission to people with disabilities or their escort.
The National Park Service offers the "America The
Beautiful Access Pass" (see nps.gov/findapark/
passes.htm) to disabled residents, which provides
a lifetime of free access into all national parks and
federal recreational lands.
Taxes: There are numerous federal tax deductions
and credits available to people with disabilities,
and a number of states and counties also offer
property tax deductions to disabled homeowners.
Utilities: Many utility companies, including
CALIFORNIA STATE RETIREE electric, gas, phone, water and trash services offer
discounts to customers who are disabled, elderly
or low income.
Communication devices: Forty-seven states
have equipment distribution programs (tedpa.org)
that offer free amplified telephones to residents
with hearing impairments.
Home modifications: There are a number of
federal, state, local and nonprofit organizations
that help pay for home accessibility improvements
like wheelchair ramps, handrails and grab bars for
elderly and disabled people in need.
Travel: Amtrak offers a 15 percent rail fare
discount to adult passengers with a disability and
up to one traveling companion.
Reading services: For those with vision or
physical impairments that make it difficult for
them to read, the Library of Congress (loc.gov/nls)
offers a "Talking Books" program that provides
free audiobooks, magazines and audio equipment.
And the National Federation of the Blind offers
a free newspaper and magazine reading service at
nfbnewslineonline.org
PAGE 15
News
Five ways heart attacks differ in women and men
A
woman’s heart attack is different from a
man’s in just about every possible way: risk
factors, symptoms, causes, treatment, outcome, rate
of complications and use of cardiac rehabilitation.
Those are the conclusions of the American
Heart Association’s first scientific statement on
gender differences in heart attack patients, recently
published in its journal Circulation.
While the number of deaths from heart disease
among women has dropped, more women still
die from heart disease each year than men. Heart
disease, not cancer, remains the leading cause of
death among American women. Researchers in the
study speculated that might be because both doctors
and women themselves don’t recognize that signs of
heart attack can be different in women than men,
leading to misdiagnosis and improper treatment.
The situation is even worse among black and
Hispanic women, who are more at risk for heart
attacks and have poorer outcomes when they do
have one, the heart association said.
Women overall also tend to have longer hospital
stays and more complications than the average man.
Part of the problem may be because women
are under-represented in clinical trials for heart
disease, generally making up only 20 percent of
enrolled patients, researchers noted. Even when
men. Depressed women have a 50 percent higher
risk of heart attack. For younger women, diabetes
raises their risk for heart disease four to five times
higher than for men.
Causes: The blockages in the arteries that
cause heart attacks form differently in women
than in men. In women, the blockage can cause
more damage to the artery, even though it may
not be large enough to require a stent. If doctors
don’t correctly diagnose the underlying cause of
a woman’s heart attack, they may not prescribe
the right type of treatments after the heart attack.
Treatment: Women wait longer to get treated
women are included in the trials, there’s often no — the median delay is about 54 hours in women
analysis of data based on gender to give health and 16 hours in men — and are consistently
care providers a better understanding of how the under-treated when compared to men, leading to
worse outcomes. Some physicians do not follow
disease affects women compared to men.
According to the heart association’s findings, medical guidelines to prescribe medications like
the biggest differences between a man’s and a statins; they also prescribe cardiac rehabilitation
woman’s heart attack are:
less frequently.
Symptoms: During a heart attack, women
Complications: Women who survive a heart
and men often feel chest pain, but women may attack are more likely than men to have complications
experience uncommon symptoms such as back, in the hospital such as shock, bleeding or heart
arm, neck or jaw pain, or have nausea, vomiting, failure. Women heart attack patients also tend
to be older, making them frailer, and have other
weakness and a sense of dread.
Risk factors: Women with high blood pressure risk factors, including diabetes and high blood
are at higher risk for a heart attack compared to pressure, that complicate treatment.
Ask your friends if they are members yet – Use this application to sign them up!
Membership Application • California State Retirees
Chapter #
(please print) Last Name,
First Name
Number and Street
City
Retirement Date
Home Phone
M.I.
Social Security #
State
Zip Code
E-mail
Recruiter’s Name
State Agency you Retired From
DUES TABLE FOR RETIRED MEMBERS
Type of membership (check one)
RETIRED MEMBERSHIP.....................• Available to state retirees only. See Dues Table.
BENEFICIARY MEMBERSHIP ............• Available only to beneficiaries of deceased CSE A employed or retired members.
Dues are $1.00 per month.
Decedent Social Security No. __________________________________
ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP ................• Available only to persons not eligible for Retired or Beneficiar y membership.
Dues are $12.00 per year (payable annually).
I hereby apply for membership in California State Retirees, an affiliate of the California State Employees Association, and I authorize CSR to withhold dues from my
monthly PERS allowance. I understand my membership rights are set forth in the CSR and CSEA bylaws, policies and procedures. As a member of CSR, I agree to
abide by the CSR bylaws, policies and procedures.
Signature
RET form 001
(Rev. 01/15)
PAGE 16 Date
Monthly Basic PERS Monthly
a llowance ( check one) Dues
$
0 - $ 399 ............$1.00
$ 400 - $ 799 ........... $2.25
$ 8 0 0 - $1,19 9 .......... $3.25
$1,2 0 0 - $1,59 9 ......... $5.00
$1,6 0 0 - $1,89 9.......... $6.50
$1,9 0 0 - $2,2 9 9 ......... $8.00
$2,3 0 0 - $2,6 9 9 ......... $8.50
$2,70 0 - $3,0 9 9.......... $9.00
$3,10 0 - $3,49 9 ......... $9.50
$3,50 0 - $3,999 ....... $10.00
$4,00 0 + ................... $12.00
Send your completed application to: California State Retirees, 1108 O Street, Suite 300, Sacramento, CA 95814 • (888) 808-7197

February 2016 - California State Retirees > Home

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