CHAPTER 2065 NEWSLETTER - Virginia Federation of Chapters

NATIONAL ACTIVE AND RETIRED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES
CHAPTER 2065 NEWSLETTER
POST OFFICE BOX 1811
LOUISA, VIRGINIA 23093-1811
Contact: NARFE2065news@vanarfe.org
VOLUME XXVIII, NUMBER 12 – DECEMBER 2014
ELECTED OFFICERS
PRESIDENT
1ST V.P. /PROGRAM
2ND V.P./MEMBERSHIP
SECRETARY
TREASURER
PAST PRESIDENT
Kate Killham
Dick Shrum
Rachel Hollins
Marilyn Root
Rolfe Saben
Ray Siewert
540-907-2353
540-872-5409
540-872-2870
540-872-7004
540-894-9448
540-967-1544
champaign_kate@yahoo.com
dickshrum@hughes.net
rhollins@hughes.net
rootger34@gmail.vom
rp@saben.org
siewert@aol.com
CALENDAR
December 18, Holiday Party at Prospect Hill – including a “silent auction”, collection of canned
foods, and the “magical accordion” of Judy O’Keefe.
January 15, Chapter meeting -- 11:30a.m., Roma’s Restaurant – Program: speaker Patrick
Siewert on cybersecurity threats and risks, and what to do about them.
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
research and non-perishable food for the food bank.
Happy Holidays to each of you. Good health in the
New Year.
‘Tis the end of the year. Where did it go? With
Thanksgiving over, it’s time to decorate for
Christmas, attend all the end-of-year parties, bake
holiday goodies, and try to resist eating them. It’s
also time for the Federal Employee Health Benefits
(FEHB) Open Season.
You have until December 8 to take advantage of
Open Season, including changes to your flexible
spending account. Premium increases were, on
average, modest at 3.8% for health premiums, 1.7%
for dental, and 1.5% for vision. However, these
increases did exceed the 1.7% raise slated for
annuitants in January.
Because individual circumstances differ, Walton
Francis, chief author of Checkbook’s annual “Guide
to Health Plans for Federal Employees &
Annuitants,” says, “There is no best plan for
everyone...There are lots of good plans.”
Checkbook estimates about half the people in
FEHB could save about $2,000 a year in lower
premiums and out-of-pocket costs. However, many
are satisfied with their current plan, so don’t even
think about reviewing alternate plans that might result
in lower premiums.
“Almost everybody is going to benefit this year,
almost no matter what plan they’re in, from continued
improvements by OPM in the catastrophic benefits of
these plans,” he said. Other improvements include
prescription drug coverage, out-of-pocket spending
limits, preventive care and Medicare coordination.
While there are understandable complaints about
FEHB premiums increasing faster than federal
employee pay, Francis said federal employee health
insurance coverage is “outperforming the Fortune 500
companies in keeping premiums down, and it’s not
doing so with benefit cutbacks. I’ve seen very few
benefit reductions or substantial cost-sharing
increases in these plans this year.”
Be sure to join us at Prospect Hill for the Holiday
Party. We had a delicious meal last year with
excellent Holiday entertainment, and the tradition
continues this year. Don’t forget your contributions
for the Silent Auction to raise funds for Alzheimer’s
KATE KILLHAM, PRESIDENT
SECRETARY’S REPORT
Louisa Chapter 2065 met at Roma's on Nov. 20,
2014 at 11:30 a.m. with 21 members present
including Kate Killham presiding. Bob Juza led in the
Lord's Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance. Minutes and
the treasurer's report were accepted as printed in the
newsletter.
Gerald Root won the 50/50 drawing and returned
his share to Alzheimers. Rachel Hollins gave a
contribution in memory of her sister-in-law.
Ray Siewert said since Republicans won control of
both houses of Congress during the November
election, the chained CPI may be passed to reduce
costs. The government pays 70% of the cost of our
health insurance; this may be taxed. Members were
encouraged to use the legislative hotline at
NARFE.org. Ray would like to be replaced as
legislative chairman. Kate had a trifold pamphlet on
state legislation.
Jerry Robarge presented the slate of officers as
Kate Killham president, Laurel Patterson secretary,
and Mary Fisher vice president. There were no
nominations from the floor. Bill Martin seconded the
motion to accept the slate. He also introduced Lee
Miller as the new newsletter editor. Officers will be
installed at the December 18 meeting. Kate thanked
Jerry and Ralph Mason for serving as the nominating
committee.
Members were reminded to bring nonperishable
food for the Food Bank and items for the silent
auction to the December meeting at 11:30 a.m. at
Prospect Hill.
The VFC Convention will be held in
Fredericksburg in April. Bill has information on
selling ads for the program booklet which can earn
money for the chapter.
Ray introduced Richard Mialki from the
Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. He spoke on
energy conservation, answered many questions, and
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distributed helpful pamphlets.
The meeting adjourned at 1:35 p.m.
criminal purposes. Hope to see you there! Programs
for February and beyond are still being coordinated.
MARILYN ROOT, SECRETARY.
DICK SHRUM, PROGRAM CHAIR
PROGRAM
MEMBERSHIP
Our November program was very informative and
appeared to be timely for many of the attendees,
including me. Our speaker, Richard Mialki Jr. of
Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, (REC), covered
many of our home energy matters with a focus on
how to conserve energy and reduce home expenses.
If I can try to capture his message in a very short
phrase, it would be “plug the leaks!!” in your home.
He also offered comments on alternative forms of
energy and answered many questions during and at
the end of his presentation. In addition, he passed out
an information package consisting of 9 brochures,
discount coupons for energy-saving light bulbs, and a
pack of gaskets to plug leaks in household electrical
boxes. I will have a supply of these packages
available for the taking at Prospect Hill later this
month, in case you forgot to pick one up or were not
able to attend. Also, Bill Martin circulated an email
to chapter members on November 23 with an attached
paper “Energy Efficiency at home – Where do I
start?” containing further information and Internet
links on the subject.
Membership as of December is 100 voting and nonvoting members. This is bad news as the loss of one more
member this year will adversely affect our voting power at
the Virginia Federation of Chapters convention.
Please remember that if you switch to Dues
Withholding, our Chapter will refund $10 that first year.
The recruiting incentive deadline has been extended
through December 31, 2014. Recruiters will receive $10
for each new member recruited. Ensure the individual
enters your Membership Number as Recruiter. In addition,
for each member recruiter your name will be entered into a
drawing for a Kindle Fire. You can get more information
at NARFE.org with a link on their home page. NOTE: If
we want our Chapter to grow, we must all consider
ourselves Recruiters.
.
RACHEL HOLLINS, MEMBERSHIP CHAIR
NATIONAL LEGISLATION REPORT
The Lame Duck session is expected to end in midDecember, and with it, the 113th Congress (2013 –
2014). The new 114th Congress will begin on January 6,
2015. As we wrap-up 2014, this is what the NARFE
Legislative Department is watching:
Lame Duck
• One of the top priorities for Congress is to pass an
appropriations package. The current continuing resolution
expires on December 11 and Congress has to pass
legislation to avoid a government shutdown. At this point,
it appears that Congress will pass an omnibus package that
will include spending through the end of the fiscal year,
but negotiations continue.
• Congress must also pass the National Defense
Authorization Act (NDAA). The House passed its version
in May, which included a 5-year extension of the ReEmployed Annuitants provision.
o The legislation allows agencies to hire retirees on a
limited, part-time basis without a reduction in their salary.
o Final passage of the Re-Employed Annuitants
extension will be a major victory for NARFE.
As you all know, and are looking forward to, the
December meeting will be the holiday party at
Prospect Hill on the 18th. Details are available in past
and current newsletters, so be sure to get your
reservation in immediately if you haven’t done so yet.
The January 15 meeting will be back at Roma’s, with
a program focus on cybersecurity. Our speaker,
Patrick Siewert, will cover the broad range of threats
and risks to both home computers and our highly
sophisticated “smart phones”. For example, have you
heard the growing concern about those free “apps” we
download to have a bright flashlight in our phone?
The warning is that most of these come from other
countries, and some of them are malicious and target
our banking, credit card and other personal data for
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o The Senate version is likely to include an extension
as well, but the bill has not been scheduled for a vote yet.
• It appears less likely that postal reform will be
debated in the Senate during the Lame Duck. However,
Senator Carper is still working towards a compromise on
his legislation, S. 1486.
o NARFE opposes the bill for a variety of reasons, all
of which on their own is enough to oppose the larger
bill. The action letter in the Legislative Action Center has
been updated . Go to NARFE.org and the Legislative
Action Center to send our Senators the action letter.
Committee Leadership
• With the new Congress, there will be new leadership
of NARFE’s committees of jurisdiction.
o House Oversight and Government Reform
Committee will now be chaired by Rep. Jason Chaffetz (RUT). The ranking member will continue to be Rep. Elijah
Cummings (D-MD)
o The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs Committee is expected to be chaired by Senator
Ron Johnson (R-WI). Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) is
expected to become the ranking member. However, Senate
committee leaders will be picked later in December.
o House committee membership is likely to be
finalized in December, while the Senate will be decided in
January.
Current Pending Legislation
• With the end of the 113th Congress, all legislation
that has not passed both Houses of Congress and been
signed by the President will expire. That means all of the
legislation will have to be re-introduced and go through
the legislative process in the next Congress.
Legislative Accomplishments in the 113th Congress
NARFE membership continues to decline. One reason
for this is that members perceive that NARFE is not
accomplishing anything. Here is a partial list of NARFE
accomplishments for the 113th Congress:
• Prevented any damaging alterations to current
retirees’ annuities, including opposing the proposed switch
to the Chained CPI.
• Successfully opposed provisions in the Senate postal
reform bill, including proposed changes to FEHBP,
requirements that USPS retirees enroll in Medicare and
changes to the FECA program.
• The House of Representatives voted unanimously to
provide back pay to federal employees furloughed during
the October 2013 government shut-down.
• NARFE worked to ensure that Capitol Hill staff
maintained benefits in the Health Insurance Marketplace,
including preserving their employer contribution, when a
provision in the Affordable Care Act required that they
leave FEHBP.
• Additional NARFE Legislative Accomplishments
are available online at NARFE.org. This document is
being update to reflect the entire 113th Congress (20132014).
RAY SIEW ERT, ACTING LEGISLATIVE OFFICER
ALZHEIMER’S REPORT
Alzheimer’s – A continuous battle
It is estimated that the number of older Americans
getting this disease will rise from 5.2 million in 2014
to 16 million in 2050. The costs resulting from this
disease will rise from $150 Billion in 2014 up to $800
billion in 2050. (AARP Bulletin, Nov 2014)
The November Alzheimer’s 50/50 raised $92. Jerry
Root won the drawing and donated the winnings to
our collection.
George and Rachel Hollins donated $100 to our
Alzheimer’s fund in memory of George’s sister,
Virginia Hollins Fleshman.
BILL PATTERSON, ALZHEIMER’S CHAIR
TREASURER'S REPORT
November 2014
Balance on hand – October 31
Total Receipts Total Disbursements Balance on hand – Nov 30, 2014
$1,508.01
776.96
151.36
$2,133.61
Receipts:
November NARFE 50/50
Alzheimer Raffle
$ 113.08
Christmas Luncheon
504.00
Membership Dues
59.88
Total $776.96
Disbursements:
NARFE Alzheimer 50-50
November Meeting:
$ 113.08
Newsletter – November
38.28
Total $151.36
ROLFE SABEN, TREASURER
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LEGISLATIVE CONTACTS
Mark R. Warner; United States Senate,
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-2023
fax
202-224-6295
Email-Go to:
http://warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=contact and
fill out the screen information requested.
Tim Kaine; United States Senate,
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-4024
fax
202-224-6363
Email-Go to: http://kaine.senate.gov/contact/ and fill out
the screen information requested.
Dave Brat; U.S. House of Representatives,
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-2815 (may be temporary)
fax
202-225-0011 (may be temporary)
Bryce E. Reeves; State Senator, 17th District
PO Box 7021, Fredericksburg , VA 22407
540-645-8440
E-mail district17@senate.virginia.gov
Thomas A. Garrett, Jr. State Senator, 22nd District
E-mail district22@senate.virginia.gov
Peter F. Farrell; State Delegate-56th District
PO Box 87, Richmond, VA 23218
804 644-0266
E-mail DelPFarrell@house.virginia.gov
Robert D. Orrock, Sr.; State Delegate-54th District
P.O. Box 458, Thornburg, VA 22565
540-891-1322
E-mail DelOrrock@house.virginia.gov
COMMITTEE CHAIRS & APPOINTED POSITIONS
Service Officer and Chaplain– Bob Juza
540-872-5498
Newsletter Editor – Lee Miller
540- 872-4696
Alzheimer’s Fund – Bill Patterson
540-967-5592
National Legislation – Ray Siewert, Actg. 540-967-1544
State Legislation – Vacant
Sunshine – Donna Juza
540-872-5498
Public Relations – Kate Killham
540-907-2353
Program – Dick Shrum
540-872-5409
Holiday lunch – Rachel Hollins
540-872-2870
Commission on Aging – Bill Martin
540- 872-3345
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