SPOKANE CHAPTER 32 NEWSLETTER Published Monthly except July and August www.narfespokane.org 22 – 05 Advocates for Current and Former Federal Employees May 2022 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Scott Robinson MAY CHAPTER MEETING | MONDAY MAY 9, 2022 Lunch at 11:30 - Meeting at 12:15 Darcy’s Restaurant 10502 E. Sprague Ave. PRESENTOR: Guy Gifford - Community Resilience Program, WA State Department of Natural Resources. During the week of May 1-7, public servants across the country will be recognized for their commitment to ensure our government fulfills the needs of all Americans and keeps the country moving forward in these unprecedented times. During Public Service Recognition Week, NARFE proudly joins other government organizations, Congress, and the White House to express gratitude for our valuable contributions.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists 41,100 government jobs in Spokane and Spokane Valley in March 2022. People fulfilling these jobs make government work at all levels,
including city, county, state, and federal.
On April 18, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management announced that the Combined
Federal Campaign will conduct a special solicitation that will allow the federal
community to support charities serving and affected by the war in Ukraine and the resulting humanitarian and refugee crisis. “In this moment of need, our efforts should focus on assisting the people of Ukraine,” said OPM Director Kiran Ahuja.
This special solicitation will run through June 30, 2022. The CFC online giving portal can be accessed at cfcgiving.opm.gov.
FEDcon22 will be held August 21-23, 2022, at the Westin Kierland Resort in Scottsdale, AZ. Early bird registration ends on May 13. You can find more information about this important conference online at narfe.org.
Our May 9 membership meeting will be at 11:30 at Darcy’s Restaurant in the Spokane Valley. I hope to see you there. Please call me at 208-661-7695 or email me at scottsoriole@q.com if you have any questions regarding Spokane Chapter 32.
LEGISLATION Roger Bosky
During the first week in April, the President signed the postal service reform legislation. This law allows the postal service to maintain a high level of service to the public. to establish a sound financial status, while at the same time providing for greater accountability. The law does have one feature which may adversely affect future retirees. Future USPS retirees who are in the Federal health program will be required to enroll in Medicare A and B. Federal non-postal are not so required. Some analysts predict that the Medicare enrollment requirement will be extended to all Federal retirees.
The Government Pension Offset/ Windfall Elimination legislation continues to pick up sponsors and the total is now 269. Just 21 more and the bill must come to the House floor for a vote. If your representative hasn’t signed on, maybe a little nudge is in order.
I’m not a financial planner, but I just read from a reliable source that you can buy Government I bonds from Treasury Direct that pay 7.1% interest. They must be held for 12 months and there’s a loss of 3 months interest if held less than 5 years.
ALZHEIMER’S Pat Hegerberg
Seaweed-Based Drug Approved for Alzheimer’s
The first prescription drug since 2003 to be approved for Alzheimer’s is now available in China but not yet in the United States.
Much to the surprise of the global Alzheimer’s research community, the drug, called GV-971, has been given the go ahead in China following successful trials. Scientists in China were interested in the connection between poor gut health and Alzheimer’s. This led research to look at the properties of seaweed to restore balance to the intestinal flora.
In a mouse model of Alzheimer’s, unbalanced gut bacteria led to infiltration of immune system T cells into the brain, where they stoke neuro-inflammation. Treatment with GV-971 altered the microbiome so it no longer triggered an inflammatory response. Trials are underway with human models. NCBI Publicmed.com
MEMBERSHIP
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 MaryAnn Bosky
You can contribute to NARFE – PAC using the contribution form found in the monthly 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.
PAST VICE PRESIDENT Arlene Patton
At our recent Washington State Federation meeting the Advisory Committee approved financial support for NARFE members to attend the upcoming FEDcon22 in Scottsdale, Arizona in August 21-23, 2022. Specifically, Washington State Chapter and National Only members in good standing will be reimbursed the amount of $190 to cover the (early bird) registration fee and up to $750 for airfare, hotel, and out-of-pocket expenses upon receipt of the Washington State Federation Form F-1 and relevant receipts.
You can register and learn more about FEDcon22 at:
https://fedcon.narfe.org/registration
You will be expected to attend all sessions.
I encourage you to consider this generous benefit of your NARFE membership because the future of NARFE is in our hands now. Should you decide to take advantage of this opportunity, please provide me with your name and contact information after you register.
Should you have any questions, please contact Steven Roy by phone at 425.344.3926 or
by email stevenroy1@comcast.net.
PROGRAM Chris Smith and Joanne Welch
May will see Guy Gifford from the Community Resilience Program with the WA State Department of Natural Resources. He will be talking about recent wildfires and rising statistics, some of the mitigation the state is doing to address the situation, and some things we as individuals can do, too. Guy has been a Firewise instructor for many years. He will be one of the first presenters to speak with us in person since Covid.
In June, Deb Barnes, the host for our chapter website, will be joining us to talk about all things web. Bring any questions about or suggestions for our website. June will be our last meeting before summer break (July and August).
Some events and dates to share:
The city is giving away free disposal passes every month in partnership with Neighborhood Services. Each pass is worth $25 of trash to be taken to Waste to Energy; apply at the city’s website at myspokanecity.org.
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!
SUNSHINE Susan Harvey
Today was rainy and cool in Oregon. Spring is having a hard time getting here for us. Let's hope the flowers are soon to follow.
Happy Birthday and Anniversary wishes to those who celebrate in May.
Recently, we learned that Mary M. Hansen and Terry D. Willson passed away.
REMINDER, spouses can be members on their own OR can take over the membership of a deceased member. If you are interested in continuing this very valuable membership, please contact Scott Robinson. He is currently recruiting for a Membership Chair. If you are interested, please contact him.
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.
This is a wonderful opportunity for our members to attend and become familiar with NARFE, receive excellent training on how to protect our earned pay and benefits and meet fellow NARFE members from our federation as well around the county.
SPOKANE SERVICE CENTER
Narfe0032@gmail.com
509-624-9465
DATE FOR YOUR CALENDAR
MAY CHAPTER MEETING
(ZOOM CONNECTION) MONDAY MAY 9, 2022- 11:30 AM
To join the Zoom Meeting, you can either call 253.215.8782 and enter:
Meeting ID: 839 6653 2783
Passcode: 230631
OR
SERVICE & OUTREACH Kathy Brooks We are holding our plans for the 2022 Pre-Retirement Seminar for a few months. The class will depend on the pandemic schedule. Keep checking in with us, for the schedule. MEMBERSHIP 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. PROGRAM IDEAS If you any ideas as to topics for future chapter meetings, be sure to write or call Chris and Joanne at redpoll@mac.com or (907) 350- 9866. We want to remain responsive to members’ interests. 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
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