PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Scott Robinson
Your National Executive Board and NARFE headquarters staff invite you to FEDcon24, which is NARFE’s biennial training conference, August 18-20 in St. Louis, Missouri. You are entitled to early bird pricing if your mailed registration is postmarked by May 17. When you attend FEDCon24, you will help NARFE grow, maximize your benefits, activate your advocacy and, for mid- and late-career federal employees, unlock your career potential! FEDcon24 is also your chance to engage with your fellow feds. The effort to advance NARFE’s mission starts with you by registering today! (source narfe.org).
April 2024
APRIL CHAPTER MEETING MONDAY APR. 8, 2024 Lunch at 11:30 Meeting at 12:15 Darcy’s Restaurant10502 E. Sprague Ave.
PRESENTER – Jennifer Ballantyne – Elder Law Attorney
The Washington State Federation, along with the Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Alaska Federations, is working on the 2024 Region IX Training Conference to be held October 24-26 in Kennewick, WA. Watch for more information as planning continues. If you would like to see a topic covered during the training, then let either President Cray Henry or Conference Chair Mary Binder know to include it on the agenda. Mark your calendar!
(source www.narfe.org/wa).
As your President, I am recruiting Leadership for Alzheimer’s, Program, Membership, and NARFE-PAC committees for Spokane Chapter. If you are interested in any of these tasks, then please contact me. With no chairperson, a village is needed to complete these tasks.
Please call me at 208-661-7695 or email me at scottsoriole@q.com if you have any questions regarding Spokane Chapter 32.
ALZHEIMER’S (vacant Chairperson)
Lauran Neergaard of the Associated Press reported new research, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, about tracking middle- aged and older adults for 20 years with regular brain scans, spinal taps, and other tests. Researchers found that people who eventually developed the mind-robbing disease had higher levels of an Alzheimer’s-linked protein in their spinal fluid 18 years prior to diagnosis, when compared to those who remained cognitively healthy. Then every few years afterward, the study detected another biomarker of brewing trouble.
Scientists do not know exactly how Alzheimer’s forms, but this study offers a timeline for how those abnormalities pile up. One early hallmark is that sticky protein called beta-amyloid which over time builds up into brain-clogging plaques. Amyloid alone is not enough to damage memory because plenty of healthy people’s brains harbor a lot of plaque. An abnormal tau protein that forms neuron-killing tangles is one of several co-conspirators. The study’s importance “cannot be overstated,” said Dr. Richard Mayeux, an Alzheimer’s specialist at Columbia University, who was not involved in the research. “Knowledge of the timing of these physiological events is critical” for testing new ways of treating and eventually even preventing Alzheimer’s, he wrote in an accompanying editorial. The findings have no practical implications yet (sources: alz.org, apnews.com).
You can contribute to NARFE-PAC by either using the contribution form in NARFE Magazine or sending a check, made out to NARFE-PAC, to NARFE, P.O. Box 4592, Spokane, WA 99220.
Spokane Chapter is recruiting an Alzheimer’s Chairperson. If you are interested in sharing your learned knowledge with the group, then please contact any Officer or Director. With no chairperson, a village is needed to share information with our group.
PROGRAM (vacant Chairperson)
If you missed our recent meetings, then I encourage you to go to www.narfespokane.org to read about our past guest speakers. In future months, we will learn about Elder Law, and William Clark’s servant York. Please join us at our next membership meeting at 11:30 at Darcy’s Restaurant in the Spokane Valley. I hope to see you there.
Spokane Chapter is recruiting a Program Chairperson. If you are interested in sharing your learned knowledge with the group, please contact any Officer or Director.
MEMBERSHIP
Current membership numbers are 229 Chapter members plus 217 National only members for a total of 446 members within the Spokane Chapter area.
The Chapter is looking for a Membership Chair. If you are interested, please contact any of the Officers or Directors. Come be a part of a great group of people fighting for your benefits.
NARFE – PAC (Vacant Chairperson)
For several years, this ghost writer has said, “the Congress giveth and the Congress taketh.” Over time, the Congress has given federal employees and annuitants employment benefits, such as health benefits, in exchange for lower wages of comparable jobs in the private sector. NARFE-PAC supports Fed-friendly legislators who understand that government should keep the promises made to its public servants. NARFE- PAC bolsters the profile of our top issues, educates lawmakers on issues that affect us most, and doing away with the Law - Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). You can help protect our earned benefits by contributing to NARFE-PAC (source narfe.org).
You can contribute to NARFE-PAC by either using the contribution form in NARFE Magazine or sending a check, made out to NARFE-PAC, to NARFE, P.O. Box 4592, Spokane, WA 99220.
Spokane Chapter is recruiting a NARFE-PAC Chairperson. If you are interested in advocating for our earned benefits, then please contact President Scott Robinson. With no chairperson, a village is needed to complete the task.
LEGISLATION Roger Bosky
All the bills, like the repeal of the Government Pensions Offset/WindfallElimination Provision, the equalization of COLA’s measure that is fair to the elderly,
are still withering on the Congressional vine.
Congress has proposed a new bill that favorably affects Social Security recipients (no bill number currently). The bill is called “The you earned it, you keep it”. Under the provisions there would be no Federal income taxes on Social Security benefits. To pay for the bill the wage base would increase to $250,000, and higher in later years. The extra plus in this is that the increased receipts would help fully fund the Social Security fund through 2054, instead of the current 2034.
The new Postal Service Health Benefits plan is starting to take shape in OPM. Retirees can enroll in Part B and likely part D from April 1st - through September 1st. Currently there are 32 different carrier options, and the plan is similar to the Federal Employees Health Benefit’s plan.
Open season for both plans will be November 11th through December 9th.
NARFE is more than just a great magazine. Let them know!Promote NARFE anytime you can. The more members we have the more power to protect our benefits and retirement!
NARFE = YOUR BEST BET FOR THE FUTURE!
WEBSITE Chris Smith
Please contact me at finesse.minds_0j@icloud.com if you have any pictures or pertinent articles that may be of interest to members via the website.
SUNSHINE Susan Harvey
WELCOME to the new member, Deborah Knaub! Happy birthday and anniversary celebrations to all who celebrate in March and April.Our Chapter has lost another member this year, Doryce Bond passed recently. She was a resident of Sublimity, Oregon.Scott Robinson is continuing the search for a Membership, Alzheimer’s, and Programs Chairs.Call him if you are interested. REMINDER, spouses can be members on their own OR can take over the membership of a deceased member. If you become aware of good news, illnesses, surgeries, or a death of a member or family member, please contact me at 509-953-6828. REMINDER, spouses can be members on their own OR can take over the membership of a deceased member.
SERVICE & OUTREACH Kathy Brooks
We are looking for ways to reach active employees of the government agencies in our area. If you have ideas, please share them with us. Spokane NARFE Chapter 32 is planning on holding a Seminar early in 2025.
SPOKANE SERVICE CENTER
509-747-1589
DATE FOR YOUR CALENDAR
MARCH CHAPTER MEETING MONDAY MAR 11, 2024 – 11:30 AM DARCY’S RESTAURANT10502 E SPRAGUE SPOKANE VALLEY
The meeting will be available via ZOOM: The ZOOM information is:
Meeting ID: 846 9246 3195 Passcode: 137652+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Spokane Washington Chapter 32
PO Box 4592 Spokane, WA 99220
National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association 32
NARFE on the Web: National: www.narfe.org WSF: www.narfewa.org Spokane: www.narfespokane.org