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Thread: Narfe

  1. #1

    Join Date
    Dec 2004
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    Fulton, TX USA
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    Unhappy Narfe

    Guess what ?!?
    Annual dues go UP $9/year when you are retired !!!


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  3. #2

    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Oregon
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    268

    Default Re: Narfe

    Here is an option for feds that want to participate in NARFE for a lesser rate: $40.00 per year instead of $45.00. Also, remember if you join before 12/31/2010 you will be joining for $33.00 per year. Ask your plumber or electrician how much its costs them to maintain their union representation. This is a good deal. IMHO

    E-NARFE Membership: Executive Vice President, Paul Carew noted that 50% of new NARFE member drop their membership in the first three years – or less. Since 2001 when data on chapter closings were first accumulated, an average of 28 chapters have closed annually while an average of only three chapters either opened or reopened annually. Similarly, a total NARFE membership in 2001 of 404,909 has decreased to 303,143 as of September 2010, for a loss of 127,165, or 31.4 percent. With losses in membership of this magnitude, it is only a matter of time before NARFE will no longer be viable in the eyes of Congress and be able to exercise the potent lobbying muscle required to protect our earned benefits. The NEB approved exploration of the proposal to establish an E-NARFE Chapter membership which would initially be offered at the rate of $40.00. The E-NARFE Chapter would be on-line and totally paperless. It would focus principally but not exclusively on FERS issues and concerns, provide a chat room for interactive communication and mobilization, and be a vehicle for formulating and articulating their much needed espousal for NARFE’s mission of protecting our earned benefits. Those joining through the E-NARFE membership category would be enrolled in federation E-NARFE chapters for accountability and bylaws purposes. It would not do away with chapters, but open a chapter to new members/ideas and potentially grow NARFE membership. It would require a Federation volunteer to monitor the discussion. The E-NARFE membership is a complementary recruiting and retention mechanism that is designed to parallel, but not displace the traditional NARFE membership process. It is proffered solely to attract potential new members not interested in participating in the comity of NARFE chapter life. Organizations similar in structure to NARFE have long since offered this type of membership.
    No God, No Peace. Know God, Know Peace.

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  5. #3

    Join Date
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    Default Re: Narfe

    Quote Originally Posted by 2moryrs View Post
    Here is an option for feds that want to participate in NARFE for a lesser rate: $40.00 per year instead of $45.00. Also, remember if you join before 12/31/2010 you will be joining for $33.00 per year. Ask your plumber or electrician how much its costs them to maintain their union representation. .
    NARFE isn't a Union.

    Ask NARFE when they are going to fight for unlimited TSP trades. When I tried to get them to support it back when we were fighting, they sided with the ignorant Thirft Board and said timing the market wasn't possible.

    (Sentiment survey is currently #1 on returns for 2010, by the way).

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  7. #4

    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Oregon
    Posts
    268

    Default Re: Narfe

    If not for the economic climate, NARFE may have averted pay freezes if our membership was still over 400,000. We do have the ear of congress and we are lobbying the new members to protect that which we have earned. No other union, lobby, organization cares to protect retired feds and current employees. Please realize how much has been lost and how much could be lost if you don't join and help be a part of the solution. We have taken a hit on support in congress so the ride could get bumpy from here on.

    For retirees it costs just $2.80 a month. For current employees you have to pay once a year. Still the best organization in mho and the information is very valuable. www.narfe.org. Check it out.
    No God, No Peace. Know God, Know Peace.

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  9. #5

    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Oregon
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    268

    Default Re: Narfe

    James48843,
    You are right. NARFE is not a union, but it is a lobbying body for our benefits. TSP number of trades allowed probably isn't considered a benefit, we just liked the flexibility. I'ld be more worried about my annuity and my health benefit than the number of trades in my tsp. I know that tsp is important for fers folk, but in the big picture, less trades probably causes you to become a wiser investor.

    I just think it is a good organization to support.
    csh
    No God, No Peace. Know God, Know Peace.

  10.  
  11. #6

    Default Re: Narfe

    Quote Originally Posted by 2moryrs View Post
    James48843,
    You are right. NARFE is not a union, but it is a lobbying body for our benefits. TSP number of trades allowed probably isn't considered a benefit, we just liked the flexibility. I'ld be more worried about my annuity and my health benefit than the number of trades in my tsp. I know that tsp is important for fers folk, but in the big picture, less trades probably causes you to become a wiser investor.

    I just think it is a good organization to support.
    csh
    Maybe NARFE should have just remained neutral rather than siding against a right that we had taken away.
    Official Retirement Date: 06-31-2014!

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  13. #7

    Join Date
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    Default Re: Narfe

    Quote Originally Posted by 2moryrs View Post
    ... I'ld be more worried about my annuity and my health benefit than the number of trades in my tsp...
    With unlimited trades, I could make a hell of a lot more money that I'll ever see with annuity and health benefits.


    NARFE didn't (and doesn't today) see the forest for the trees.

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  15. #8

    Default Re: Narfe

    Quote Originally Posted by James48843 View Post
    With unlimited trades, I could make a hell of a lot more money that I'll ever see with annuity and health benefits.


    NARFE didn't (and doesn't today) see the forest for the trees.
    Amen!
    Official Retirement Date: 06-31-2014!

  16.  
  17. #9

    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Oregon
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    268

    Default Re: Narfe

    I respect your opinions. In the current economic climate, congress will be looking in every nook and cranny to see where they can save a buck so they can spend it else where, like on pork barrel stuff for "constituents" back home. If NARFE folk had been asleep at the wheel, lots of retirees in OR would have had to pay taxes on their annuity back in the late 80's I think. There was going to be no equity for federal retirees who were going to be taxed and state retirees who were not. What they got was a compromise; if you retired before a certain date, you would not be taxed; after that date you would be taxed on a ascending scale until all fed retirees would again be taxed.
    NARFE is concerned about fairness and equity for all retirees and current employees. FERS employees will now get to count some of their sick leave earned towards their annuity calculations. NARFE was instrumental in that being passed through congress. If you are hit by a bus, all the money in the world won't help your family continue their lives. (of course, you may be young and don't have families yet )
    No God, No Peace. Know God, Know Peace.


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  19. #10

    Join Date
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    Default Re: Narfe

    Quote Originally Posted by 2moryrs View Post
    NARFE is concerned about fairness and equity for all retirees and current employees. FERS employees will now get to count some of their sick leave earned towards their annuity calculations. NARFE was instrumental in that being passed through congress. If you are hit by a bus, all the money in the world won't help your family continue their lives. (of course, you may be young and don't have families yet )
    Virginia Congressman Jim Moran is who introduced FERS Sick Leave bill in the fall of 2007.

    http://www.afgelocal1869.org/Newslet...Nov%202007.pdf

    It was introduced again in 2008, and it appears it was spring 2009 before NARFE began even mentioning it in documentation and newsletters.

    I'll have to check out NARFE and see what they do legislatively.
    Last edited by James48843; 12-23-2010 at 01:00 PM.

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  21. #11

    Join Date
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    Oregon
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    Default Re: Narfe

    You can find NARFE on Facebook. NARFE National . . .
    No God, No Peace. Know God, Know Peace.

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  23. #12

    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Eastern WV - East TN
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    10

    Default Re: Narfe

    Quote Originally Posted by James48843 View Post
    With unlimited trades, I could make a hell of a lot more money that I'll ever see with annuity and health benefits.
    Or lose a hell of a lot more money.

    I watched a TON of my co-workers 'day and a half' trade their accounts right into the ground. They ALL had some crystal ball plan or followed some online TSP guru. Oh well, guess it's your money. As long as the more trades doesn't increase the management fees for the rest of us, no biggie.

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