SPOKANE CHAPTER 32 NEWSLETTER
Published Monthly except July and August
21 - 01 Advocates for Current and Former Federal Employees January 2021
JANUARY CHAPTER MEETING MONDAY Jan. 11, 2021 - 11:30AM ZOOM MEETING: To Join the Zoom Meeting, you can:
CALL: 1.253.215.8782 Meeting ID: 869 6851 3284 Passcode: 142288 Or you can CLICK ON THIS LINK. PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Scott Robinson
2020 is finally over, and 2021 lies ahead. Four toxic years are behind us; four healing years are ahead of us. Hope of a vaccine is behind; a shot in the arm is in front. Zoom meetings will hopefully become a thing of the past; in-person meetings at Darcy’s will hopefully return. Many of you can offer your own variants to this theme. I encourage our members to remain optimistic about the future of our organization during the New Year.
NARFE will mark its centennial anniversary in 2021. NARFE will celebrate its progress in becoming a modern, effective, well-governed association that provides valuable benefits and resources to its members. In conjunction with this celebration, NARFE will host LEGCON 2021, which is a legislative training conference and an opportunity to meet our legislators. NARFE remains well-positioned for success in 2021 by following its vision, advocacy strategy, and service to members.
Capture the image that conveys your interpretation of the phrase "Greetings From the USA" and submit it to the 2021 NARFE Photo Contest. Winning photos will be featured in the 2022 NARFE Calendar. Submissions will be accepted from now through 2 April 2021. All NARFE members in good standing, except for professional photographers, are eligible to enter.
I am continuing to recruit the Membership Chairperson, who could be you. Please call me at 208-661-7695 or email me at scottsoriole@q.com if you are interested in becoming a more active member
DATES FOR YOUR CALENDAR
Due to the present health situation all Meetings are virtual until further notice.
ZOOM MEETING: To Join the Zoom Meeting, you can:
CALL: 1.253.215.8782
Meeting ID: 869 6851 3284
Passcode: 142288
Or you can CLICK ON THIS LINK.
LEGISLATION Roger Bosky
Time to throw out the old and bring in the new. We have a New Year and a new Congress. This means that all the old legislation before the Congress is out, and new bills must be brought before them.
Several pieces of legislation that favored employees and retirees should be brought back We need new legislation for such issues as the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) a revised CPI for COLAS and pay raise for Federal employees.
The WEP affects almost 2 million beneficiaries and lowers their Social Security benefits because they have worked for less than 30 years under Social Security. The CPI affects all Social Security and Federal retirees. The government uses the CPI-W to measure any increases. This measure does not include health care costs, which have gone up dramatically. There is another measure, the CPI-E which includes changes in health care costs. This would be a fairer measure for us.
We need to contact our representatives to make sure that these issues are on the Congressional table.
Agencies have until January 19th to identify all employees involved in “policy” positions. These employees would be identified as “Schedule F”. They would then lose their civil service protections and become “at will” political appointees. This effort to politicize the civil service could affect thousands of employees. Estimates mention 20% of the workforce. NARFE has come out strongly against this Presidential proposal.
NARFE-PAC MaryAnn Bosky
You can contribute to NARFE-PAC contribution form in the NARFE magazine or by sending a check, made out to NARFE-PAC to our post office box. The address is: NARFE, PO Box 4592, Spokane, WA 99220.
The more members we have the more power to protect our benefits/retirement. We are speaking to all members not just those retired.
PROGRAM Chris Smith and Joanne Welch
Our speaker for December was Steven Roy, new President of the NARFE Washington State Federation. Steve had a long and varied federal career including being a forest technician, and working with the EPA, BIA, and the Soil Conservation Service. He talked about the fact that five NARFE chapters in Washington had closed due to lack of leadership and reduced membership. Washington State has 4800 NARFE members (Spokane chapter has 516). He mentioned NARFE was celebrating its Centennial this coming June 21. All legislative bills will be sunsetting on 12/31. If you have personal stories about any issues of concern for NARFE members, please contact him. As an officer in the Federation, Steve periodically meets with the state’s elected officials about NARFE interests and programs. He suggested that local chapters and individuals do the same.
John Guilbeault, Cascadia CFC Outreach Coordinator, reminded folks that they can contribute to CFC as retirees, too. Visit cascadiacfc.org for more information. You have until January 15, 2021 to write a check or make a pledge.
In January, we will be welcoming Deanne Wilfong of Smooth Transitions of the Inland Northwest LLC. Deanne periodically presents courses for Community Colleges of Spokane. She will be sharing some tips and tricks on downsizing or rightsizing, especially dealing with the hurdles of dealing with the lifetime accumulations. Her full-length course is How to Get Motivated to Declutter and Organize Your Stuff. I attended her course last year on Antiques and Collectibles and found it fascinating. January is a great time to lighten your load, so be sure to join us on Zoom on January 11.
VICE PRESIDENT Arlene Patton
2021 NARFE Scholarship open for applications. The deadline to apply is March 25, 2021. Eligible applicants are high school seniors only. Applicants must be children, grandchildren, or great-grandchildren of NARFE members. To apply, visit www.feea.org/our.programs/scholarships/.
MEMBERSHIP
We are looking for a energetic member willing to become the Membership Chairperson. Contact Scott Robinson if you are interested.
NARFE is really 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!
SPOKANE SERVICE CENTER
Narfe0032@gmail.com
509-624-9465
SUNSHINE Susan Harvey
Winter is here. Cold, snow, ice, and, of course, COVID is in the mix. Please be extra careful walking, stay home of avoid that nasty, nasty bug. Do your absolute best to avoid illness or injury!
Our Chapter recently lost another long-time member, Milton P. Storm.
Chapter 32 sends birthday and anniversary wishes to all who celebrate in January.
REMINDER, spouses can be members OR can take over the membership of a deceased member. If you are interested in continuing this valuable membership, please contact Scott Robinson. He is currently recruiting for a Membership Chair. If you are interested, please contact him.
If you become aware of good news, illnesses, surgeries, or a death of a member or family member, please contact me.
ALZHEIMER’S Pat Hegerberg
“Women’s Superior Verbal Memory Skills May Mask Alzheimer’s”.
When it comes to verbal memory skills women have the edge over men, yet in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) this "cognitive reserve" may not confer an advantage but rather mask early signs of the disease, new research shows.
"Right now, memory tests use norms or cutoff points that are used to determine whether someone is impaired, regardless of sex," says Dr. Erin Sundermann. "Our results suggest that you should have two different cutoff points in standardized tests for men and women.”
Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) Published 10-05-2016 in Neurology
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
ELECTED OFFICIALS
President Donald Trump
202-456-1414
www.whitehouse.gov
Senator Patty Murray
10 N. Post, Suite 600
Spokane, WA 99201
509-624-9515
www.murray.senate.gov
Senator Maria Cantwell
920 W. Riverside Ave., Suite 697
Spokane, WA 99201
509-353-2507
www.cantwell.senate.gov
Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers
10 N. Post, 6th Floor
Spokane, WA 99201
509-353-2374
www.mcmorris.house.gov
Officers and Directors:
President Scott Robinson 208-661-7695
Vice President Arlene Patton 747-1589
Secretary
Treasurer Keith Townsend 990-5224
Directors
* (2021) Roger Bosky 443-0686
* (2021) Pat Hegerberg 448-5343
* (2022) Frances Baker 638-6561
* (2022) Susan Harvey 534-6165
* (2022) Sandy Cook 294-3296
* (2023) Margie Dennis 994-7004
* (2023) Wanda Faulkner 329-0215
Committees:
Alzheimer’s Pat Hegerberg 448-5343
Legislation Roger Bosky 443-0686
Membership Sandy Cook 294-3296
NARFE-PAC MaryAnn Bosky 443-0686
Public Relations Kathy Brooks 624-9465
& Newsletter Harry Lippincott 443-0570
Nominating Ken Kaul 448-3542
Wanda Faulkner 329-0215
Kathy Brooks 624-9465
Program Chris Smith 907-350-9866
Joanne Welch 907-350-9866
Raffle & Greeter Gisela Moyle 467-3477
Service & Outreach Kathy Brooks 624-9465
Sunshine Susan Harvey 534-6165