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Thread: Narfe

  1. #37

    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Oregon
    Posts
    268

    Default Re: Narfe

    I KNOW THIS IS LONG, BUT I HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER CHECKING OUT THIS INFORMATION
    Just home from the Oregon Federation NARFE convention. Last time we will be using the delegates format for voting at our annual meetings.
    In 2019 we will be having Conferences with expanded training on issues of interest to all our members, both retired and active employees.
    Planning on attending the FEDcon2018 in Jacksonville, FL. The newly confirmed director of OPM, Dr. Jeff Pon will be there. Hope he knows what he is getting into after the letter that he wrote to Congress regarding changes to pay and benefits.
    If there are any NARFE members here, I want to urge you to read the information regarding the resolutions that all members will be voting on. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do not just check the box(s) that say accept all or reject all. On the blog there are many discussions from members concerning how these resolutions may hijack our NARFE from the membership and put control into the hands of the National Headquarters board.
    I know it is an election year, but Congress has got to be watched closely so that the Federal Family is not harmed by any changes to pay and benefits. For an example, talk to anyone you know that is a postal retiree about what Congress has proposed for the 76,000 retirees regarding their health care (S756). If Congress succeeds there, THEY WILL BE COMING AFTER THE REST OF THE FEDERAL RETIREES.
    No God, No Peace. Know God, Know Peace.

  2.  
  3. #38

    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Oregon
    Posts
    268

    Default Re: Narfe

    Quote Originally Posted by evilanne View Post
    So what is the difference between NARFE and AARP as far as their lobbying efforts and benefits for being a member? Typically, I'm not a joiner as it seems like any association with any organization seems to get you on their marketing lists & more unwanted junk mail.
    Evilanne,
    I am now ready to repond to your question. Primarily, AARP is for those receiving Social Security or other pension not considered an annuity from the Federal Government via having retired from a Federal Agency. NARFE is primarily concerned with the Federal family of retirees and active employees. With all the changes that have happened and are happening to Federal HR departments, NARFE is becoming the premiere Federal Benefits Resource center. Where do you go if you have questions about your earned benefits? They have created the Federal Benefits Institute to answer questions from members which are in the magazine monthly. Membership is $40 dollars a year; BUT if you sign up for payment from your annuity, you save 15%. I spend $3.59 per month for my membership dues to NARFE and my local chapter. REMEMBER, NARFE is not a Union. We are an organization concerned with protecting the benefits we earned while working for the Federal Government. There are many other member perks, but they are too numerous to mention here.
    HOW MANY OF YOUR BENEFITS COULD YOU AFFORD TO LOSE? REMEMBER, ONCE A BENEFIT IS LOST YOU WON'T BE GETTING IT BACK.
    I have found with NARFE, if you truly do not want their marketing materials, you can call them and they WILL stop sending them to you. I enjoy the questions and I will try to answer them with honesty and intergrity.
    No God, No Peace. Know God, Know Peace.

  4.  
  5. #39

    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Oregon
    Posts
    268

    Default Re: Narfe

    FEDcon18 in Jacksonville, FL is now history.

    Five very good motivational speakers:
    Joe Theismann, Mara Liasson, Mike Massimino, Tammy Flanagan, Henry Winkler (yeah THE FONZ)

    One disappointing speaker in one way and good in another way: Dr. Jeff Pon, OPM director. I was disappointed that he did not address the issues that could have a devastating affect on the Federal Family of employees and retirees. In a good way, I got the feeling that he was very humbled by the sea of retirees and current employees in front of him. He decided to tell us his story and how he came to be the Director of OPM. Very interesting story. Some changes that are being explored are transferring some functions of OPM to GSA. Would you like GSA in charge of handling your retirement papers?

    There were also some very good workshops presented by NARFE National staff and others to advance our knowledge in estate planning for Feds, introduction to social media, and FEHB and Medicare: what's best for you. There were others but these are the areas I was interested in at this time.

    FEDcon2020 is to be held in Phoenix/Scottsdale Arizona. NARFE is changing, maybe even morphing, into an organization that will be the go to resource for information regarding your Federal Benefits. NARFE National has created The Federal Benefits Institute to answer all your questions regarding your federal benefits. If you do not have an HR Department to contact, you can try out The Federal Benefits Institute as a part of your member benefits. If you are retired you can have dues taken from your annuity at a 15% discount. Will vary if you decide to join a chapter.

    Well, I was pleased with the new Conference vs Convention format. Get the business of voting on officers and resolutions done ahead of time and sit back and learn, advocate and lead!
    No God, No Peace. Know God, Know Peace.

  6.  
  7. #40

    Default Re: Narfe

    Quote Originally Posted by 2moryrs View Post

    Some changes that are being explored are transferring some functions of OPM to GSA. Would you like GSA in charge of handling your retirement papers?
    I can't even imagine how messed up that would be!

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  9. #41

    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Oregon
    Posts
    268

    Default Re: Narfe

    It has been awhile since checking in on this thread. NARFE is working on Fedcon2020 in Phoenix area. Don't have much information available yet but will be forthcoming soon.

    NARFE is now under 200,000 members. We don't seem to reach the current employees on the importance of protecting what they are earning in benefits. No other organization cares what happens to the federal "family." Apparently the retirees do not apparently care what happens to their benefits either. If NARFE was to "cease to exist"; poof the Legislative folks would no longer be on The Hill lobbying to keep Congress's fingers off of our EARNED benefits. The attacks are real and they happen every day.

    Several people that used to work in the building I worked at are now in their 90's. If we were to lose any of our earned benefits, would we be able to buy our health insurance from the exchange? If the cost of living adjustments were to disappear would we be able to pay our basic living expenses? (And by BASIC I mean taxes - income, property - electricity, water/sewer, trash collection, phone.) Health insurance premiums going up on average 6% +/-, property taxes going up 3% +/-, cost of food going up, cost of fuel going up.

    We invested in a solar aray system, 14 panels, and so our electricity is the ONLY cost that we have managed to control as there are just two of us. We also own our home and autos. But, I think of the elderly woman who attends our NARFE meeting; widowed several years now, husband was retired Postmaster so just gets CSRS annuity, no social security. He was pretty wise so I hope he planned well for her survival upon his demise. My point is there are folks living at the poverty level even though they work or worked for the federal government. We had a taste of what could happen to those folks during the government shutdown.

    Okay, so I am down off my soapbox (where did that expression come from) just some ramblings that run through my mind oftener than I would like.

    Cheers, weekend is coming! Oh, yeah, I am retired, every day is the weekend!
    No God, No Peace. Know God, Know Peace.

  10.  
  11. #42

    Default Re: Narfe

    Thanks for the reminder 2moryrs!

  12.  
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