Minnesota Federation of National Active and Retired Federal Employees
NARFE
District 6 News Letter
Carolyn Billing
1501 College Way Apt 202
Fergus Falls, MN 56537
District 6 News Letter
December 2005
From
the Desk of Carolyn Billing, District 6 Field Officer
You
need NARFE and NARFE needs you! What
has NARFE done for you? What
have you done for NARFE lately? Recruiting
and retention needs constant attention in order to keep NARFE an active
organization. You
are important. Current members
are important. Current federal
employees are our future. We
all need to sell NARFE to ourselves, current members, potential members,
and the community. Let’s
become informed, motivated, committed, and active members.
Attend chapter meetings; become a chapter officer; contact
legislative leaders; or serve on a committee. In other words do your part
to make your NARFE chapter a successful organization.
Sign up for Gems on the headquarters web site at www.narfe.org
and sign up for NARFE-Net with ElRoy Angen at eangen@visi.com.
Both will give you important E-mail alerts. Check out the
headquarters site at www.narfe.org
and the Minnesota web site at www.mn-narfe.org.
Both sites are updated regularly and contain a wealth of information
that can be helpful to you. The
Headquarters site has an easy method to contact the congressional leaders.
Contact your senators and congressman often;
either by phone, E-mail, or letter to either thank them for their support
or to ask them for their support on our important issues.
Grass roots efforts are important!
Become
a team player and work together to achieve our goals and protect our
benefits. You can
contact me at carolynbilling@charter.net
(218)736-5843,
Individual
Recruitment Incentive and Recognition
At the September Federation Board meeting a recruitment incentive was put in place. An award of $200.00 will be given. $100.00 will be given to the first place winner with $100.00 divided equally between the second and third place winners which will include ties. Recognition will be given at the May State Convention. The time frame used will be January 1st through December 31st of each year. This went into effect for 2005. There is a minimum of three recruits or more necessary in order to qualify. The Headquarters publication Recruiters Quarterly will be used as the sole source for determining the winners. All Federation board members and any others involved in group recruiting will be excluded from eligibility. Carry application forms with you at all times. You never know when you will meet a potential member.
Unified
Dues/Mandatory Chapter Membership Issue
Unified
dues/mandatory chapter membership is being discussed nation-wide as a
result of a Headquarters resolution to be voted on at the National
Convention in
Medicare
Part D Drug Coverage Not Necessary With FEHBP
OPM has determined that all Federal Employee Health Benefit Program Plans offer prescription drug coverage equivalent to Medicare Part D’s drug coverage. Federal Employee Health Insurance Benefit members are being advised they do not need to purchase Medicare Part D at this time as long as they keep their Federal Employee Health Benefit coverage. However, if at a later time you decide to enroll in Part D (and have not gone 63 days without FEHB coverage), you will not have to pay the penalty for not enrolling in Part D at your first opportunity. There are circumstances when Medicare will waive Part D premiums and beneficiaries will not have to pay prescription out-of-pocket costs (premiums and co-pays). If an annuitant thinks they might meet Social Security Administration’s low-income criteria, they should contact SSA and the Web site www.socialsecurity.gov or call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213. Be sure to put away for safe keeping your OPM notice that states your current federal health plan is at least equivalent to Medicare Part D. This is your proof you did not need to enroll at this time and you will not have to pay a penalty if you change your mind and wish to enroll in Medicare Part D at a later date. This is very important!
District
Meeting Held in Fergus Falls
An
informational district meeting was held at the
District 6 Chapter Contact Information
·
The
chapter meets on the third Thursday of every other month at
·
The
chapter meets on the second Wednesday at the Holiday Inn in
·
The
chapter meets on the second Monday of every month except for the months of
July and August at the
·
The
chapter meets on the third Wednesday four times a year during the months of
May, June, August, and September at the
2006 State Convention at the Willmar Holiday Inn May 23rd to May 25th
The
2
nights…$121.00 each person double occupancy, $190.00
single occupancy. Includes
five meals. 3
nights…$182.95 each person double occupancy, $286.45 single
occupancy. Includes
eight meals. Meals only
(dinner Tuesday, lunch Wednesday, and banquet Wednesday evening) can be
purchased for $40.80 or banquet only for $18.00.
The meals only reservation form and payment is also sent to the
motel with a copy to Mary Ann. Mail
four copies of the registration
form to Mary Ann by March
15th. Convention
registration is from
Dropping Federal Medical Insurance Coverage Could Be Disastrous
The
rising cost of medical insurance is a concern for all of us.
But I want to caution you to be extremely
careful if you are thinking of changing insurance companies
because of rising premium costs. Be
sure you understand the coverage you are getting with the new company and
what you are giving up with the federal insurance coverage.
It is important to read the fine print.
Check with your current insurance carrier and OPM before making any
changes. Dropping
your federal health plan could be disastrous for you!
Mary Burkett, Federation Membership and Public Relations VP
REGION
V COMMITTEE ON MCM/UNIFIED DUES
URGENT!
As most of you know by now, Motion 05-07-04, Subject: Mandatory Chapter Membership (MCM), was made by NFVP Davis from Region VI and seconded by NFVP Harrell from Region III, and voted on at the July 2005 National Executive Board (NEB) meeting. It was approved by a vote of 8 (Yes) to 6 (No) votes. Refer to the November issue of NARFE magazine for the vote breakdown. Passage of this motion means that at the National Convention in Albuquerque in Sep 2006, the NEB will recommend by resolution to the delegates the following modifications of MCM: (1) Allow members at their next anniversary renewal date to opt for national membership only or continue chapter membership. (2) Allow any member whose chapter of record is closed, merged or disbanded to opt to become national members only in lieu of transfer to the gaining chapter.
If the NEB resolution proposed above is successfully passed in Albuquerque, it will be the beginning of the end of chapters and federations. It will have disastrous financial impact on chapters and federations. Most chapters have two-thirds or more of their membership that is inactive (do not attend meetings). Imagine if all those members choose to become national only members (saving themselves the cost of chapter dues). It is very likely that many inactive members will make this choice, if given the opportunity. It will effectively cut deeply into the financial support of the chapters/federations and easily could slowly lead to their eventual demise.
In view of the above, Region V, at the recent College of Narfe Knowledge (CONK), last August, voted to establish a Region V Committee to study this issue and come up with a possible solution by submitting our own Region V resolution to counter the resolution that NEB will be submitting. One member was selected from each of the seven (7) states in Region V. I was appointed by the MN Federation President to represent MN on this committee. I am making every effort to insure that all MN NARFE members are aware of this issue and welcome comments from any source. Announcements have been published in the Federation Bulletin to all Chapter Presidents, in the Federation Newsletter mailed to all active members in the state, on the MN web site (www.mn-narfe.org), and also, at any other opportunity that presents itself.
Please
educate yourself on this important issue and, if possible, share your
thoughts/comments/suggestions with me as soon as possible.
The region committee is working now on this issue and will adopt a
resolution for presentation at the national convention in September 2006. However,
because of mandatory time lines involved, all information from the members
must be received as soon as possible, but not later than the end of the
year (Dec 2005), so that paperwork, printing, distribution can be
accomplished according to the required deadlines.
You can reach me by phone: 763/421-1385;
by email: mburkett1@mindspring.com;
or by mail:
MARY BURKETT, Membership VP
MN State Federation of Chapters/NARFE
Wayne Ruona Chapter #1842 POW Experience
After
about ten months in Stalag 2B prisoner of war camp in
On January 29th we left Stalag 2B in a blizzard which lasted three days. As we
were traveling many of the POW's became tired so they began to throw away
what they thought was extra baggage. They were convinced we were going to
another POW camp where the Germans said we would be housed and fed. Being
skeptic I did not believe the rumors the other prisoners were spreading.
I made a sled with a box on it. I
started picking up what others were throwing on the roadside to lighten
their loads. I picked up Red
Cross parcels of food that were thrown as well as cigarette butts. I tore
off the paper and stored the tobacco in a metal can I carried.
Our
first night out we spent in a landowner’s straw barn. Not having rubber
protection for our shoes the leather on the shoes got wet. After making a
bed in the straw I took off my shoes and slept with the shoes next to my
body. The other POW's placed
their shoes beside their blankets. Their
shoes were frozen stiff the next morning.
Their struggle to put them on was a pitiful sight.
A few nights later we were forced to sleep in the open with no
building nearby. I obtained the assistance of a four man group that was in
a quandary as to know what to do. Being
in a conifer-wooded area, I asked them if I could join them for the use of
my five blankets and my knowledge of how to prepare a bed in the snow. They
agreed. We all pitched in and
made a bed of balsam fir branches with some blankets on top. This gave us a
warm and dry mattress.
I
had decided when I left Stalag 2B I would stay with the column of French,
WAYNE
RUONA
Chapter
#1842
The
Legislative Toll Free Number
The
legislative toll free number is 1-866-220-0044.
Use this number for legislative alerts or requests for immediate
response to your legislators. This
number connects you to the
NARFE’s
Legislative Priorities
Priority
1…..Protect Current Benefits
Congressional leaders are in the budget reconciliation process with the finalization of the appropriations. Keep an eye on what is happening as we may need to spring into action immediately. Your congressional leaders are listed below.
Priority
2…..Premium Conversion…..S-484 and HR-994
S-484
and HR-994 allows Federal civilians and military retirees to pay health
insurance premiums on a pre-tax basis.
Co-sponsors…..Senate 52 and House 289 as of
Priority
3…..Repeal of WEP/WEP…..S-619 and HR-147
S-619
and HR-147 would repeal both of the Social Security Offsets…..the
Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision that can
unfairly penalize federal retirees and other public sector employees.
Co sponsors…..Senate 24 and House 301 as of
Congressional Leaders in NARFE District 6
| 1 | Leroy A. Stumph | (DFL) | 1-A | Maxine Penas | (R) | |
| 1-B | Bemie Lieder | (DFL) | ||||
| 2 | Rod Skoe | (DFL) | 2-A | Kent Eken | (DFL) | |
| 2-B | Brita Sailer | (DFL) | ||||
| 4 | Carrie L Ruud | (R) | 4-A | Frank Moe | (DFL) | |
| 4-B | Larry Howes | (R) | ||||
| 9 | Keith Langseth | (DFL) | 9-A | Morrie Lanning | (R) | |
| 9-B | Paul Marquart | (DFL) | ||||
| 10 | Cal Larson | (R) | 10-A | Bud Nornes | (R) | |
| 10-B | Dean Simpson | (R) | ||||
| 11 | Dallas C. Sams | (DFL) | 11-A | Torrey Westrom | (R) | |
| 11-B | Mary Ellen Otremba | (DFL) | ||||
| 13 | Dean E. Johnson | (DFL) | 13-A | Bud Heidgerken | (R) | |
| 13-B | Al Juhnke | (DFL) | ||||
| Mark Dayton | (DFL) | 6th | Mark Kennedy | (R) | ||
| Norm Coleman | (R) | 7th | Collin Peterson | (DFL) | ||
| 8th | James Oberstar | (DFL) | ||||
Frank
Boys, Federation President, Frank Blake, Federation State Legislative Vice
President, and Al Schacht, Rochester Chapter President met with Senator
Koering in April to have a $40,000 per couple or $20,000 per single or head
of household exemption on Minnesota state income taxes per year on pensions
and annuities with no exclusion on total annuity income.
Senator Koering introduced bill S.F. 2280 this past session in the
Minnesota Senate. Frank Blake
along with Karl Lacher, NARFE member who resides in her district, met with
Representative Mindy Greiling in August.
The context of Bill S.F.2280 was explained to her.
Representative Greiling indicated she would introduce a companion
bill to the already introduced Senate Bill when the State Legislature
convenes in March. She also
thought the bill would have a good possibility of passing.
It is extremely important for you to contact your
Mailing Congressional Leaders Postcards
You
received postcards addressed to congressional leaders and NARFE
headquarters with your August NARFE
Magazine. If
you have not yet mailed those post cards do so today.
This is urgent!
Ed Keyser Federation Federal Legislation VP
This
has certainly been an interesting year legislatively.
Republicans and Democrats, liberals and conservatives have all been
at odds with each other over appropriations, budget reconciliation, the war
in Iraq and just about everything else concerning the people's business.
Our Congress will be coming back to work on December 6.
This will provide them with about 10 legislative days to complete a
huge volume of work before the beginning of the Christmas Holiday Season.
9 of the 11 appropriations bills have been completed and sent to the
President for his signature. The
Defense, Health and Human Services, and Labor and Education appropriations
bills still need to be completed with not near enough time left to do them
justice. Besides the 3
appropriations bills, Congress will be attempting to iron out differences
between the House $50 billion and the Senate $35 billion budget
reconciliation bills. These
two bills deal with reductions in entitlement program spending.
A tax reduction bill is also on the table along with border security
and immigration issues. You
should also be aware that nothing has been accomplished yet in terms of
This
makes the case for all of us to work harder to let our Senators and
Congressmen know what matters and is important to us as their constituents.
2006 is an election year. It
is imperative that we let them know that we expect them to concentrate on
the People's Business without partisan politics, political mudslinging, or
takeovers by special interest groups.
We
must Stand Together and tell them that WE MATTER and that our interests are
their interests.
This
coming year I will be putting together an action plan that will emphasize
personal contact with our Legislators and letting them know what is
important to us as their constituents and members of a great organization
called NARFE.
ED KEYSER
MN
Federation Legislative Vice President
Annual Scholarship Awards
Do you have a child, step child, grandchild, or great grandchild who is a high school senior with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher? Six scholarships are given in each region by the Federal Employees Education and Assistance Fund (FEEA) and are made possible by the calendar and/or greeting card program and contributions made to the NARFE Scholarship Fund. What a great opportunity for NARFE member’s children and/or grandchildren! College is expensive! The deadline for receiving applications is April 30th. All applicants must provide:
- A
written letter of recommendation or character reference from a teacher
or counselor. This letter
must be submitted on school letterhead with the application package.
- A
list and description of awards and/or extracurricular/community service
activities on a separate page. Provide
enough information for the selection committee to be able to know what
was done. It cannot exceed
one page.
- A
typed, double-spaced, essay on a specific topic must be written.
The topic, application, and other specifics will be published in
the February, March, and April NARFE
Magazine. Essays
must not exceed two pages.
- Copies
of the student’s American College Testing (ACT) or Scholastic Aptitude
Testing (SAT) scores, or other scores as applicable must be included
with the application.
- All
materials must be mailed unfolded
in the same 9x12 (or larger) envelope.
Transcripts can be mailed separately, but must be received by the
deadline.
- Two
stamped (first-class postage) self-addressed #10 business-size envelopes
must be sent with the application.
The first envelope will be used to acknowledge the receipt of the
completed application. The
second will be used to provide results of the judges.
All applicants will be notified of judges’ decision by the end
of August.
- All
entries are mailed to NARFE Scholarship Award Program, C/O FEEA,
Happy
Holidays! I hope the season
brings you tidings of great joy, good cheer, and happiness; and you have a
great, prosperous, and healthy New Year. Carolyn Billing