national active and retired federal employees northern
TRANSCRIPT
Serving Active & Retired Federal Employees,
Spouses, and Survivor Annuitants
Virginia Federation of Chapters – Area 1 November 2021 – January 2022
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Several weeks ago, as I slept much of the day due to COVID (I had been vaccinated), I often woke up to the song “The City of New Orleans.” Those who remember the 1970’s, know this song was about the last trip of this famous train. I thought about Chapter 1823 and that it is like the train: about to disappear. BJ and I have agreed to continue to serve as co-presidents for another year, but we are asking for everyone’s help. First, please attend our meetings. Second and just as important, if you know someone who would be an interesting speaker or location for a meeting, please let BJ or me know. If you are willing to plan a meeting, that is even better. Third if you know someone who is a current or retired federal employee, encourage that person to join NARFE. On October 10-13, seven chapter 1823 members attended the Virginia NARFE annual meeting and conference. We heard a number of outstanding speakers. A speaker from the Federal Trade Commission discussed the many different of fraud and scams we all have encountered, and how best to avoid being scammed. We hope to have this gentleman be a guest speaker via zoom. Another speaker was from the Social Security Administration. She discussed how Social Security benefits are calculated when the WEP and GPO are involved. (48,000 Federal annuitants in Virginia are impacted by WEP!) Most importantly, there were discussions about issues that are specifically relevant to federal employees and retirees. We received a summary of NARFE’s recent contacts with Virginia’s Senators and Congressmen during the Federations’ National Legislative Conference. I have included
National Active and Retired Federal Employees
Northern Neck Chapter 1823
Co-Presidents Jim Landrum BJ McMillan
Jim – 804-529-6415 BJ – 804-580-8666
[email protected] [email protected]
1st Vice President Bruce McMillan 804-580-8666
2nd Vice President Larry McIlwee 804-450-3919
Past Vice President John Yonce
804-438-8011 [email protected]
Secretary Betty Gasper 804-453-6919
Treasurer Ted Munns
804-438-4194 [email protected]
Editor Katherine Paris 804-472-3523
2
a portion of that report as an addendum to this message. The Virginia NARFE Federation congressional liaisons and the NARFE headquarter staff are working on our behalf, representing our views and concerns. If you have concerns, I encourage you to communicate them to your legislators. The more they hear from us, the better. I look forward to your continued support of our Northern Neck NARFE chapter1823. Your views and concerns are extremely important.
Jim Landrum NATIONAL LEGISLATION The Cost of Living Increase (COLA) information payable on January 1, 2022, was recently released. Civil Service Retirement System and Social Security recipients will receive a 5.9 percent benefit increase. Federal Employees Retirement System beneficiaries will receive a 4.9 percent increase.
Bruce McMillan NARFE National Legislative Conference NARFE’s 2021 National Legislation Conference was held on June 21-23, 2021. 10 members of our 13 person VFN National Legislation team were able to attend this year’s virtual conference and participated on June 26 in NARFE’s virtual Advocacy Day with 12 of VA’s 13 Congressional Delegation Offices. Virginia had a total of 18 NARFE members attend the conference, most of whom participated in the Advocacy Day zoom hill meetings. I believe we were successful in carrying NARFE’s 2021 Legislative priorities to our VA congressional delegation and in thanking those who had already signed on as sponsors or cosponsors to the bills supporting the NARFE legislative priorities and asking the others to sign on as cosponsors to the bill if they had yet to sign on.
NARFE’s Advocacy Day and August Advocacy Month Priorities---These are the NARFE Priorities we carried to the Hill and the members of the VA congressional delegation who had signed on as cosponsors before the conference.
1) Repeal of WEP & GPO (HR 82)-Social Security Fairness Act. 48,700 Federal annuitants in Virginia are impacted by WEP!!
2) Reform WEP & GPO (HR 2337)-Public Servants Protection and Fairness Act.3)
3) Postal Service Reform Act of 2021 (HR 3076) Issue: Need to determine what impact the bill would have on Federal Employees Health Benefits BEFORE considering to passing this bill.
4) Fair COLA for Seniors Act (HR 4315) Issue: Use CPI-E (Which better represents cost for the elderly)
5) Equal COLA Act (HR 304)-Treat FERS fairly and equally with other COLA recipients
6) House Resolution 131-To recognize NARFE’s 100th Anniversary, Introduced by Rep Gerry Connolly (D) VA; Virginia cosponsors 5: Reps Wexton, Wittman, Luria, Beyer & Cline (18 cosponsors) Please reach out to your Representative and Senators to ASK for their support!
– Jim Landrum Update on NARFE’s Support for Alzheimer’s Research National NARFE fundraising total as of September 30, 2021, is $14,082,862.41. We have met our goal of $14 million, and we have a new national goal of $15 million by December 2024. During July through September 2021, members raised a total of $147,884. Of that amount, Region X, of which the Virginia Federation is a part, contributed $113,319.89. Of this amount, the Virginia Federation chapters contributed $110,646!!!
3
Chapter 1823 will add to this amount with our memorial contributions and white elephant silent auction at the Holiday Luncheon.
– Nellie Landrum STATE LEGISLATION No State Legislation to report. For any new state information and updates, please visit www.vanarfe.org.
– John Hodges Voting Ballot For Virginia State Federation of NARFE In November, or the first of December, which is up to sixty days from the VFN Conference, members of NARFE will be sent a ballot either by mail, or Email, to vote for two issues.
Issue 1: The office of First Vice President has two candidates, so the members will vote for one of those personnel to become the First Vice President of the Virginia Federation of NARFE. You will be asked to vote for J. Larry McIlwee, Member of our chapter 1823, or Doris McAdams, member of Chapter 1270 Woodbridge Chapter.
Issue 2: You will be asked to vote on changes to the VFN Bylaws.
Please vote for each, as it is one member, one vote, and we need your votes.
– Larry McIlwee CHAPTER 1823 EVENTS Past Events
On August 3rd Chapter member Linda Steele set up a wonderful meeting at the O’Gara Group in Montross, VA. O’Gara trains government employees and
civilians in security, risk and threat responses. This is a closed facility; however, after the overview, the group was taken on a tour of the
training site. On September 7th Chapter members and guests, including Jeanne Garrison, our Area 1 Vice President, met for the annual picnic at Belle Isle State Park. Congressman Rob Wittman spoke to the group on current national and Northern Neck issues, including his continued efforts to get broadband area-wide.
Chefs Bruce McMillan, Larry McIlwee, and John Hodges again volunteered their masterful grilling skills, while members
brought in a wonderful assortment of side dishes and desserts. Thanks to all for making it another annual success!
On October 5th members and guests met for a buffet lunch at China Inn. New guest Speaker Michelle Griffin, Blue Cross Blue Shield Field Service Account Consultant, provided the latest changes in the 2022 FEHBP
benefits and discussed the different options that are available. Upcoming Events November 2nd - Chapter 1823 will be meeting at the Backdraft at 1:00 pm. Guest speaker Brenda Squires, Benefits Program Specialist, Westmoreland Department of Social Services, will speak to the group on “Long-Term Care.” Members and guests will order of the menu.
4
December 1st - Our Holiday Luncheon will start at noon at the Unique Experience Eatery in Heathsville, VA (see page 5 for the reservation form). We will again hold a silent auction to raise money for Alzheimer’s Research. Each attendee is asked to contribute one or more treasured items. Remember, your white elephant or handmade item may be just what someone else needs. There is ample room to display many auction items at the restaurant. The second option for contributing to Alzheimer’s Research is to make a donation in honor or memory of a loved one. Identify your loved one(s) and we will read the names at the holiday luncheon. See page 5 for Memoriam Recognition form and instructions. Ted Munns will bundle and mail the checks to Donna Shackelford, the Alzheimer’s/NARFE representative for Virginia. You will receive a letter from Alzheimer’s that you can use when you itemize deductions on your 2021 Federal & State taxes. MEMBERSHIP
Now is a great time to put efforts into recruiting new members because HQ will pay $10 for each member recruited from now through December 31, 2021. One helpful tactic is to leave extra or past copies of the NARFE magazine in your car, and then hand them out to any prospective members you meet. I recently handed out four magazines to participants in my water aerobics group - two people were retired FEDs, and another took the magazine for her daughter who is a current FEDERAL worker in San Diego. The subject came up as a result of my talking to two current Chapter 1823 members
about the next meeting at the Backdraft, so it was easy to offer a copy of the magazine to the potential recruits, making sure that the Membership application was filled out with my NARFE member # of course.
– BJ McMillan
SERVICE OFFICER INFORMATION I am available to provide assistance to members on procedures and forms governing delivery of annuity payments, federal life and health insurance, survivor benefits, change of beneficiary, or federal income tax withholding. I can also assist in resolving problems involving claims submitted to OPM by chapter members. Please contact me at (804) 453-4466, if you need assistance.
– Bud Bolger
CHAPTER 1823 CONTACTS Alzheimer’s – John Yonce (438-8011) Chaplain – Mike Ramming Membership – BJ Thomas McMillan (580-8666) Nat’l Legislation – Bruce McMillan (580-8666) State Legislation – John Hodges (804-450-1302) Programs – Vacant Publicity – Nellie Landrum (529-6415) Sergeant-at-Arms – Stan Brown (453-7502) Service Officer – Bud Bolger (453-4466) Network Coordinator – Linda Steele (472-8982)
CHAPTER 1823 Website
Visit us at www.narfe.org/site/chapter1823 or Google “NARFE Chapter 1823” to view upcoming and past events, newsletters, and important links.
You can also get to the website by going onto www.vanarfe.org and clicking on “List of Chapters”
on the left column and then clicking on “1823”.
Welcome to new Member Liza Hearns, Lancaster, VA
5
************************************ Annual Alzheimer’s In Memoriam Recognition
In Honor Of ___________________________________ In Memory Of _________________________________ Donation By __________________________________ Please send your check payable to NARFE Alzheimer’s Research, with Chapter 1823 on the memo line, and mail to Ted Munns, 132 Lancaster Drive, #606, Irvington, VA 22480
************************************** 2021 NARFE Holiday Luncheon
Please submit your luncheon reservation and
payment before November 30. When: Noon, Tuesday, December 7 Where: Unique Experience Eatery 8200 Northumberland Highway Heathsville, VA 22473 Cost: $35/person (includes entrée, dessert, tea or coffee, tax and gratuity). Cash bar will be available. Entrée Choice: _____Breaded, Seasoned & Fried Pork Chops w/baked
potato and southern green beans _____Baked Rockfish w/baked potato and southern
green beans _____Pasta Alfredo or Baked Spaghetti (call BJ
McMillan to discuss which entrée (804-436-4392) Dessert: _____Cherry Cobbler w/Ice Cream Name(s) ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Please send your check for lunch, payable to Chapter 1823 NARFE, with your reservation form to Ted Munns, 132 Lancaster Drive, #606, Irvington, VA 22480
**************************************
LEGISLATIVE CONTACTS Richard H. Stuart (VA State Senator - 28th Dist.) P.O. Box 1146 Montross, VA 22520 Phone 804/493-8892 / Fax: 804/493-8897 Email: [email protected] Ryan T. McDougle (VA State Senator - 4th Dist.) P.O. Box 187 Mechanicsville, VA 23111 Phone 804/730-1026 / Fax: 804/730-1051 Email: [email protected] M. Keith Hodges (VA State Delegate - 98th Dist.) P.O. Box 928 Urbanna, VA 23175 Phone 804/277-9801 / Fax: 804/695-0216 Email: [email protected] Margaret B. Ransone (VA State Delegate 99th Dist.) P.O. Box 358 Kinsale, VA 22488 Phone: 804/493-8484 / Fax: 804/493/8481 Email: [email protected] Mark Warner (U.S. Senate) 919 E. Main St., Suite 630 Richmond, VA 23219 Phone: 804/771-2221 / Fax: 804/771/8313 Email: [email protected] Tim Kaine (U.S. Senate) 507 East Franklin Street Richmond, VA 23219 Phone: 804/771-2221 / Fax: 804/771-8313 Email: [email protected] Rob Wittman (U.S. House of Representatives) 508 Church Lane Tappahannock, VA 22560 Phone: 804/443-0668 / Fax: 804/443-0671 Email: www.wittman.house.gov
6
NARFE LAWS CAN CHANGE – SO CAN YOUR RETIREMENT BENEFITS!!
CHAPTER MEETING SCHEDULE November 2 1:00 pm – Backdraft, 7415 Oldhams Road, Kinsale, VA. Speaker: Brenda Squires, Benefits Program
Specialist Westmoreland Department of Social Services, “Long-Term Care.” Members and guests will order off the menu.
December 7 12:00 Noon – Annual Christmas Luncheon, Unique Eatery Experience, 8200 Northumberland
Highway, Heathsville, VA. See page 5 for reservation form. January 4 1:00 pm – Soup and Sandwich, TBD. Soup will be provided (members and guests may bring a
sandwich). February 1 1:00 pm – Black History Month, TBD. March 1 1:00 pm – TBD. Speaker: Mid County Rescue Squad. April 5 1:00 pm – Northumberland Public Library, 7204 Northumberland Highway, Heathsville, VA. Speaker:
FTC, “Scams with Seniors.” Light snacks will be provided.
REMINDER! If you change your email address, please send your new address to [email protected].
VA Federation of Chapters
Check the website at www.vanarfe.org to find our Chapter’s quarterly newsletter, website, and other
additional information