SPOKANE CHAPTER 32 NEWSLETTER
Published Monthly except July and August
20 - 06 Advocates for Current and Former Federal Employees June 2020
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Scott Robinson
Jen Ballantyne is an Elder Law Attorney who spoke at one of our luncheon meetings. She shared the following story of Carlyn Morisset with Louise Soles, who then shared with me. Now, I want to share Carlyn’s story with the members of Spokane Chapter 32. Although Carlyn may not have attended our meetings, she was certainly one of us in spirit and purpose.
"One of the great things that came from the NARFE opportunity was meeting a little spitfire of a woman who was ahead of her time. Carlyn Morisset and I (Jen) became friends and I helped her get her legal and financial affairs in order. She passed away at age 97 on March 12 and now I am settling her estate.
Carlyn was an Army nurse during WWII. She went to UW for Bachelor's and Master's degrees in nursing and healthcare administration. Carlyn joined the Army Reserves in 1958 and retired as a Colonel in 1982. She worked for over 40 years for the VA as a nurse and in nursing administration. When she retired, Carlyn took her sick pay and traveled on an 80-day cruise around the world. She lived the last ten years of her life at Providence Emilie Court.
I (Jen) know that NARFE was particularly important to Carlyn, although I don't think she was able to attend many meetings near the end of her life. I wanted to make sure someone in the local organization knew about Carlyn's loss. Can you please pass this information along for me to the appropriate people?"
I wish to announce that Chris Smith and Joanne Welch (NPS Anchorage) will be Program Co-chairs for Spokane Chapter 32. Thank you, Louise, for all of your years of doing this job.
DATES FOR YOUR CALENDAR
Due to the present health situation all Meetings
are cancelled until further notice.
LEGISLATION Roger Bosky
RUSH TO JUDGEMENT
We are all a little anxious. We miss meeting with our friends, or groups, and churches. We want to get back to our usual routines. Going shopping should not be an adventure! We are being urged to get out of the house.
The rush to normalcy entails the risk of danger to Federal employees. 126 workers have died of COVID-19. The recovery process has been infected with politicization. We realize that it is important to keep our economy churning. But how do we balance the economy versus the risk of contagion? We need vigilant and cautious calibrated plans. We are getting a hodgepodge.
This brings up a second point. The Federal government has abdicated its role in bringing us back to normal. OMB guidance asks agencies to adopt a mission focused strategy in consultation with State and local governments to decide when and how to reopen. If we are truly waging a war on this pandemic, this is like asking State militias to fight World War II.
A further point is that agencies may lack personal protective equipment. Only 40% of the 30% of federal workers on the front line say that they have the resources necessary to stay safe. Is the Federal government going to help or are the State, regions, and districts going to negotiate for what they need? We also have a piecemeal approach to bringing employees back to work.
The House of Representatives has offered several measures in support of workers, including additional sick leave for workers sick or exposed to the virus and up to 10 thousand dollars in premium for hazardous duty.
CALL TO ACTION: Another positive development is the progress of a Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) bill (H.R.141) in the House, which now has 245 sponsors. If that number reaches 290, then it must go to the whole House for a vote. Our representative is not yet on board as a co-sponsor. Give her a call to join the bandwagon.
NOTICE: Washington State Federation has a new website.
The address is – www.narfewa.org.
PROGRAM Chris Smith and Joanne Welch
Due to the COVID – 19 the Chapter Meetings are cancelled.
VICE PRESIDENT Arlene Patton
Washington State Federation (WSF) update: The WSF held a board meeting on Thursday, May 21st. During the meeting it was announced that the National FEDcom 2020 conference has been cancelled. Elections and bylaw changes will be voted on in August 2020.
The new WSFederation officers were sworn in, as follows: President, Steven Roy, Vice President, Mary Binder, Treasurer, Arlene Patton and Secretary, Linda Waller. A committee was formed to make recommendations regarding DVPs.
MEMBERSHIP Sandy Cook
As we get out and about, we will have opportunities to interact with current and retired Federal employees. As a refresher, below are some tips for engaging in recruitment.
Recruitment happens in many locations. But what do you say?
The last thing you want to do is stumble after you have gotten someone's interest. That is why it is good to practice ahead of time, so that you can articulate NARFE as well as motivate your listener to want more information. The recent NARFE Recruitment and Retention magazine illustrates and elevator script that you can use or improve upon to make it your own.
1st Floor: Have you heard of NARFE . Its biggest goal is to protect our federal employee retirement and health benefits.
2nd Floor: It is not only for retirees. It is never too early to join and protect your future.
3rd Floor. About 1/3 of our members are active Federal employees. They see that their future is important and want it protected.
4th Floor. It is never too early to learn. Why fear retirement when you have an association like NARFE that will walk you through it and inform you of the unknowns?
5th Floor. Would you rather know what your retirement involves before you retire? Or would you rather wait for the surprise.
What else can I tell you? Oh yes, continue to be safe.
.
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!
NARFE-PAC MaryAnn Bosky
You can contribute to NARFE-PAC at our monthly meetings at Darcy’s or by completing the NARFE-PAC contribution form in the NARFE magazine. I will have pins for a $25 contribution at our meeting.
The more members we have the more power to protect our benefits/retirement. We are speaking to all members not just those retired.
SEMINAR & OUTREACH Kathy Brooks
THANK YOU TO ALL WORKERS, GOVERNMENT AND CIVILIAN, ENSURING WE HAVE NORMALCY IN OUR LIVES BY PROVIDING SERVICES.
Spokane Chapter 32’s new website has launched. You can view it at www.narfespokane.org. Please take a look and share your thoughts.
SUNSHINE Susan Harvey
Chapter 32 sends birthday and anniversary wishes to all who celebrated in May and upcoming June celebrations.
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 membership chair, Sandy Cook at 509-294-3296 or sjcook51@hotmail.com.
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
The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) recently awarded $3.5 million to researchers developing early detection tests for Alzheimer’s. A portion of that award went to French company Amoneta Diagnostics for a promising blood test their researchers have been developing that could detect mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and early Alzheimer’s disease.
Unlike other Alzheimer’s detection tests like a PET scan or lumbar puncture that look for a buildup of beta-amyloid plaques or tau, toxic proteins often found in Alzheimer’s patient’s brains, this test looks at ribonucleic acids (RNA) in the blood.
Preclinical studies have shown that the test is 100 percent accurate in detecting Alzheimer’s disease.
Olivier Danos, vice president of the executive board and scientific advisor of FIRALIS SA, the mother company of Amoneta Dianostics, speaking about the availability of tests for clinical use says that “We have prototypes we’ve been testing in the clinic on patient samples already, but the real product will take a couple of years to become available to the public."
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
VOTE
FOR
LINDA L. SILVERIO
Candidate for
NARFE REGION IX
VICE PRESIDENT
Sincere
Intelligent
Loyal
Valuable computer skills
Enthusiastic
Responsible
Information sharer
Organizational skills
Paid for by the candidate
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