See message posted May 2010.

Message from the President

GREETINGS TO ALL...

...and THANKS for visiting our Minnesota NARFE web site! My name is John Schmidt, and I am currently President of the Executive Board of the Minnesota State Federation of NARFE Chapters. I want to personally welcome you on this visit, and hope that you will continue to visit with us from time to time, in order to keep yourself up to date and "educated" on all the issues of interest to all current and retired federal employees.

We have many concerns, but our primary objectives are recruiting/retention of members and LEGISLATION that may impact our earned and promised benefits. Our primary goal is to convince current and retired federal employees that we must be willing to unite and work together to enhance and protect the benefits that were promised to us before, during and sometimes after our many years of dedicated service to our country.

To accomplish this formidable task, we need each and every current or retired federal employee to join our ranks. We all recognize that there is "strength in unity," and we must be able to get Congress to listen to us and act in our behalf. To do this, we must try to maintain and continually increase our membership numbers so they will consider us worthy of their attention/actions. When dealing with Congress, numbers count and the size of your constituency determines the attention you receive.

If you are interested in membership, please visit our "Contact Us" section, and we will be happy to send you an application and other useful NARFE information for your review. I would also encourage you to visit our headquarters web site which also contains much interesting information. Just click on the "National Website" button.

Again, welcome to our web site and please continue to visit us often. Some of our sections are seldom updated; but, others continually change (Membership, with reports listed at the end of the introductory section; News & Notes; Legislature, with reports listed at the end of the introductory section; and, MN Happenings). So, remember – think about joining NARFE soon, and help us protect your current and future hard-earned benefits!

PER CAPITA
The question comes up on how many members does a chapter pay dues for. The invoice is based on the Chapter membership as of December 31 of each year. If a chapter feels it is different, they need to resolve the difference with the National Office.

NARFE-NET
Richard Neider has 518 members on NARFE-NET. That means 10% of our members get the information he sends out and 90% are missing it. To sign up just make sure Richard has your email address. Along that line, how many of you are members of GEMS on the national website at www.narfe.org?

HEALTH CARE LEGISLATION
Many of you have been hearing bits and pieces of information on what the health care legislation impact will be on Federal Employees and Retirees. Dick Thissen will be speaking at our State Convention. He is working with Dan Adcock, our lead legislative person in Washington D.C. We invite you and your chapter members to attend our convention and hear the latest straight scoop from Washington and Dick. You can be sure he will talk about "Protection of Entitlements."

MEMBERSHIP
A special thanks to Carolyn Billing, District 6 Field Officer, and all the Chapters in District 6 for showing a membership increase this year. The chapters are Detroit Lakes, Lake Region, Vikingland, Thief River Falls, and Bemidji. Keep up the good work.

A special thanks to Mary Burkett for her recruiting efforts with the Federal Executive Board that has a monthly seminar for federal employees on employee and retirement benefits.

Northwest Suburbia Chapter is currently in the running for medium size chapters for membership recognition at the National Convention. We have a few months to go but I challenge the leadership of Northwest Suburbia to go the extra mile to recruit members and bring home the prize. All of Minnesota would be proud of our Northwest Suburbia Chapter if they achieve this national recognition.

STATE CONVENTION
We hope to see most of you at the Minnesota Federation State Convention in Rochester May 25-27, 2010 at the Kahler Hotel. There is still time to register. If it is difficult to find a hotel room, come for at least a day and spend it with your fellow federal members. The host chapters of Red Wing and Rochester are doing a great job. District 3 Field Officer, Al Schacht is doing a great job of putting speakers together for Wednesday, May 26. Since we are next to the Mayo Clinic, he is putting a group of speakers together that has a central theme of health and medical care.

A panel of three Congressional members is being planned to talk about impacts on federal employee and retiree benefits. The panel is being planned for 5:00 so that current employees within easy driving distance of Rochester can attend. If you know federal employees that could benefit from this, please invite them. I say planned time because we may need to adjust this to accommodate the most people.

The registration fee of $10 will be collected when you get to Rochester. It does not show up on the convention form so some members are surprised when they arrive and must pay $10. The convention form covers hotel and meal information. Make sure your convention goers are aware of this.

The Minnesota Federation and host chapters do not have pre or post convention tours planned as we had talked about at one time. The advance commitment and dollars needed to make this happen was not feasible. There is still a chance we might work a casino trip in. We hope you will consider spending a little extra time to visit the Mayo House, take a cave tour, stop in Red Wing to see the history of Red Wing pottery, etc.

DUES
All of you know the dues referendum narrowly missed passing this past fall with just under two thirds of the chapters supporting the change. With the many different dues structures, formats, and rates, it becomes confusing at best to understand our system and what the dues are for a particular member. A dues restructuring is definitely needed and can be expected to come up again at the National Convention in Grand Rapids Michigan August 29-Septermber 2, 2010.

WEBSITE
We have a website at www.mn-narfe.org. Three of our Executive Board members, Frank Blake, Carolyn Billing, and Joyce Booher, can make changes with material on the website. However, it is up to all of us to provide them with copy ready material to make updates. This can include items such as District events, Chapter events, legislation, minutes, financial reports, special happenings, etc. We want to make the website a tool you can use for Minnesota NARFE information but we need you to help keep it up-to-date and then we need you to use it.

MEET YOUR CANDIDATE
This is an election year. There will be a lot of interest in this years Congressional elections. August 9-September 10, 2010 is "Meet Your Candidates Month." This is also the August recess when current members of Congress are in their home districts campaigning. It is important that all chapters coordinate with their District Officer an appointment to meet with their Congress person. We are asking you, as an interested person, to step forward and help your District Officer coordinate this effort. Make an appointment, get as many chapter members as possible to keep the appointment. Keep your visit short, to the point, and emphasize the issues important to federal employees and retirees. This is a non partisan activity. In a district with contests, we want to meet with members of all political parties.

ACTIVE CHAPTERS

As I talk with various chapter members here are some tips to have an active chapter. Hold regular chapter meetings. Have a program of interest at the meeting. Recruit new members because their is nothing like new blood to keep a chapter moving. Delegate, share responsibilities with other members. Share information between members including material such as this bulletin. If you do a few of these basic things, your chapter will be successful.

LET GEORGE DO IT
      Hi! My name is George. I'm an all around handyman and I want you to feel free to use my service for all your chores, errands, and duties. Anytime there is something that needs doing and you would rather not do it, let George do it.
      I'll write your congressman for you. And your newspaper editor. I'll serve on your NARFE board for you if you are too tired or preoccupied. With me around, you can be as lazy as you like. Or just have fun. You haven't time to vote, let George do it. I have time.
      There is certainly no need for you to concern yourself with attending NARFE or other civic meetings. You do not want to accept committee assignments and extra responsibilities anyway. Besides why should you worry about my retirement benefits because they will always be there. You let George tend to those things.
      Now, you ask, why should you leave important jobs to somebody you have never met? That is a reasonable question. Put your mind at ease. I am no beginner.
      I am not as famous as Khrushchev. If it had not been for me - you would never have heard of him. And that goes for Stalin, Hitler, Bin Laden, and Sadam too. I made those guys. And the big time racketeers in the U.S. like Al Capone, or Bernie Madoff, or Denny Hecker. You name em; without me those guys would be nothing!
      Why do I want to run errands for you when I am the guy who runs all these "Big Wheels." Don't you see I get a kick out of electing Presidents for school boards, unions, and yes your Congressman who decides what your retirement will be. All these things you used to do before you started doing other things.
      Don't feel like you are imposing. I am glad to be of service helping you. I am really helping myself.
          How do you think I was able to take over and run a third of the world? Because no one wanted to bother. They said "let George do it." So I did it.
      Now I am taking over in lots of cities and counties in the United States. I figure it is just a matter of time until I take over the country. I want to thank you for making it possible.
      Remember now, if there is ever any way in which I can be of help, I am at your service. You have fun, enjoy your retirement and don't worry about a thing. I will worry for you.
      I will bill you later.

Sincerely, George

P.S. Someday, you will wake up and wonder where your retirement benefits you worked all your life for, went.