From the President’s Desk_______

Happy New Year! We are glad to be back to begin the work of Chapter 717 in 2004. This new year brings renewed hope for success for the NARFE 2004 legislative agenda in Congress. We are happy to welcome back the last returning “snow birds” from their chilly northern homes Let’s work together to keep NARFE strong.

I am pleased to report that at the Chapter meeting on December 11, 2003, the following members were installed as officers for 2004: President – Steve Shoub; 1st Vice President – John Burton; 2nd Vice President – Bill Leatham; Treasurer – Saundra Barrington; Secretary – Vacant (John Burton Acting Secretary).

Appointed Officers for the year 2004 are:
Chaplain – Bill Kennedy
Alzheimer’s Charity Chair – Lou Spataro
Legislative Officer – Ben Martorella
Membership Chair – Nancy Marik
Recruitment and Retention – Dick Brettle
NARFE Net Coordinator/Webmaster - Bill Leatham
Newsletter Editor – Richard Katz (starting in March)
Public Relations – Terry Greenwood
Service Officer and Sunshine – Gladys Green
Telephone Coordinator – Karen Bosley and Jean Burton
Historian - Carolyn Barszcz
Senior Advisors – Roy Reichelt, Herb Schwenker and Lou Spataro

HELP WANTED We have the following critical appointed officer and committee position vacancies. Urgent – we need you to volunteer!
- Secretary – Voting member of Executive Committee.
- Ways and Means - Duties related to raising money for the chapter.
Anyone interested in more information or volunteering should call me. Isn’t it your turn to help out for a year? It’s only a few hours a month. You can do it. Contact me now.

Those year 2003 Chapter Officers who have chosen not to continue in their positions are deserving of our deep appreciation for all they accomplished for and their dedication to this chapter and NARFE. They are: Terry Greenwood, First Vice President and Newsletter Editor; Leroy Herman, Legislative Officer; Myron Gerbitz, Membership Chair; Barbara Beverly, Calling Committee Coordinator; Roy and Eedie Reichelt, Ways and Means Co-Chairs, and Helen Wedding, Recruitment and Retention. Each has done an outstanding job and deserves our sincerest “Thank you!”

District 8 Meeting. NARFE Florida Federation President Dave Whalen will be the keynote speaker at the NARFE District 8 meeting on February 10, 2004, at the Olde World Restaurant in North Port. Registration fee (which includes a full lunch) is $10 per person. If you are interested in attending this event, call or send me an e-mail ASAP.

Annual Audit of the Chapter Financial Records. The following members were appointed to conduct the annual audit of the books: John Burton, Terry Greenwood, and Roy Reichelt. They will conduct the audit in early January and report their findings in February.

Florida Federation Convention Delegates. If you are planning to attend to the NARFE Florida Federation Convention May 17 - 21, you can be designated a voting delegate and represent the Chapter. Call me if you are interested.

NARFE Alzheimer’s Fund. The official NARFE charity is Alzheimer’s funding for research, and to that end we push now for donations to the NARFE Alzheimer’s Fund. Since donations to the NARFE Alzheimer’s Fund are tax deductible, please think about donating and get the tax benefit. Make your check out to “NARFE Chapter 717.” In the MEMO section write “Alzheimer’s Fund.” Send your check to NARFE Chapter 717, PO Box 2203, Venice, FL 34284-2203. Thank you.

Mark your calendar for these special events:

1. District 8 Seminar conducted by District 8 Vice President Art Garafolo, will be on Monday, February 10, 2004 at the Olde World Restaurant in North Port. NARFE Florida Federation President and Dave Whalen will speak. Cost is $10.00, including lunch.

2. Fourth Annual Fund Raising Auction – April 15, 2004 at the Holiday Inn in Venice. Bring those unwanted holiday gifts. They will find a new home!

3. The Chapter 717 Annual Picnic will be on Thursday, April 22, 2004 at the Lemon Bay Park Pavilion in Englewood.

4. The NARFE Florida Federation Convention will be May 17 – 21 , 2004, at the Hilton Orlando/Altamonte Springs outside of Orlando. Those interested should contact the Secretary or me.

Our Chapter web site is improved and running strong. The web site is for you. Please view it at: www.narfe717.org. Webmaster Bill Leatham runs the best NARFE web site in Florida and maybe in all of NARFE! It is very informative and has links to other sites. You can join our e-mail list by clicking on the subscribe button in the web site.

Reminder: When you are called about meeting meal reservations, please make a reservation only if you are relatively sure you will be attending the meeting. This is especially necessary if you reserve a special meal. No reservation? You can attend the meeting anyway. We usually have a few extra meals on hand for late deciders and guests.

We are looking for your input. Do you have a recommendation for a luncheon speaker? Tell Bill Leatham or me who you would like us to have as a guest speaker. Do you have a suggestion for an all Chapter 717 event? Tell me what it is, and we’ll discuss the idea before the Executive Committee.

All members are responsible for membership growth. Bring a retired or current federal employee to a meeting or give them an application for membership. Remember, only you can keep NARFE and Chapter 717 strong. Need an application for membership? Contact the Membership Committee or any officer.

Think about paying your dues through dues withholding or obtaining a NARFE Life Membership. NARFE National dues are increasing to $29.00. If you pay your dues by automatic dues deduction by OPM, you will receive the lower rate of $24.85 per year – a saving of over $4.00 per year. If you reached your 85th birthday and are a 20-year NARFE member, you are eligible for Honorary Life Membership (no more dues). Call the Membership Chair for more info.

Kudos to the volunteers and Officers of the Chapter who are working so professionally to keep the Chapter strong and provide the services you expect! A special thank you to Claire Zoldak who worked for weeks to make party favors for the meeting, to Linda Braswell and Terry Greenwood for the holiday party sing-along, Ralph Alfaro for the party photos, and to Bill Leatham, Saundra Barrington, and Gladys Green for getting the flowers and gifts.

The December 11, 2003, Chapter Meeting at Holiday Inn of Venice Restaurant opened at 12:00 p.m. with 59 members and guests present. Chaplain Bill Kennedy led the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance. Wally Roepke, Florida Federation Legislative Officer, discussed current legislative issues. Ben Martorella, Chapter Legislative Officer provided a letter for each person to use and mail. District 8 Vice President Art Garafolo announced that at the Feb. 10, 2004 District Seminar in North Port, the keynote speaker will be Dave Whalen, NARFE Florida Federation President. He also conducted the Installation of Officers for 2004, except for the permanent Secretary. Linda Braswell led the membership in a sing-along of holiday tunes, assisted by Terry Greenwood and his orchestra. The 50/50 and door prize games were played. Anniversary and Birthday donations were accepted. The meeting adjourned at 2:30 PM.
We hope to see you at the next Chapter meeting on January 15, 2004.

The next Executive Committee meeting will be on January 8, 2004.

Regards to all,
Steve Shoub, Pres.
 

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GUEST EDITORIAL

As I see It

By Chapter President Charles Salk
MANHATTAN-BRONX CHAPTER #23

No question about it, 2003 was a terrible legislative disappointment. I really believed we had a good possibility of enacting the Premium Conversion Bill. It would have meant a saving of $300 - $500 to every federal and military retiree in 2004 and every year there after.

We correctly focused our legislation; We racked up an unprecedented list of co-sponsors for the bill; We successfully resisted the strong attempts to reduce or
eliminate our annual CLOA’s; And National President Charles Fallis succeeded in obtaining Senate Committee hearings on the injustices of the GPO and WEP for the first time in NARFE history.

But not one single item of our legislative agenda was reported out for a floor vote. WHY? Where are we going wrong?

As I see it, if we are wrong about anything, it’s our failure to recognize that we’re bucking the most anti-government employee/anti-public administration that we have encountered. Witness the economy which 18 months ago showed a large surplus and now shows a huge deficit. Witness the two huge tax cuts that ran into the TRILLIONS mostly for the rich and corporations. Witness the recent Congressional approval for the President’s request for $87 BILLION to be poured down a rat hole.

I am convinced that 2004 will see an even greater attack on our earned benefits targeting our health plans and COLA’s as well as Social Security and Medicare. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to see that the real target all along has been our social safety nets. In 2004 the administration will cry crocodile tears and tell us there is no money to fund these programs and they have to be cut.

It is no wonder that there is a pervasive feeling of discouragement and a tendency of the membership to place blame on the leadership. I am just as sure that these feelings contribute to the steady decline in membership, poor attendance at meetings and other ills plaguing most chapters.

But the picture is changing and we must take advantage of it. More and more of the disastrous policies of this administration are being questioned by responsible forces. With greater rank and file involvement we can rally our forces and defend our interests. 2004 is an election year. We must elect an administration more friendly to federal retirees and in tune with the real needs of the American people.

Support NARFE and your chapter. Attend meetings; Call the chapter and national hotlines; get involved and ACT IN YOUR OWN BEST INTEREST.

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LEGISLATIVE REPORT
(Ben Martorella)


At our Christmas party/meeting, Wally Ruepke asked if any of us were worried about the passage of the Medicare reform/prescription drug benefit legislation. Many raised their hands and some did not. We ALL should be worried. This legislation could be a first step toward reducing or eliminating our prescription drug benefit.

As dedicated Federal employees and retirees this is a benefit we all have worked very hard for and it needs to be preserved. In July, the House of Representatives passed HR 2631. This bill protects our prescription drug benefit. The Senate companion bill, S. 1369 is in committee and has yet to be voted on . I have written to Senators Nelson and Graham, requesting their co-sponsorship and passage of S.1369. It is incumbent on all of us to write to our Senators. I have been informed that one handwritten or type written letter to a Senator or Congressperson has more impact than one thousand signatures on a petition. Let's all do our part to protect our benefits.

To Contact Senators:


Senator Bob Graham
524 Hart Senate Office Bldg
Washington, D.C 20510-0903

Senator Bill Nelson
716 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, D. C. 20510-0905

To contact our Senators and Congresspeople by email: go to our website, www.narfe.org. click legislation. Site will prompt you to put in your name and ID number, login. And follow instructions from there

If there are any questions you may contact me at 941 473-7946 or email benmax@ewol.com

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Service Report
(John Burton)
Changes in BCBS Service Benefit Plan

In her November 2003 Service Report, Gladys Green related the changes in premium for the Service Benefit Plan, for both the Standard Option (7.1 % Self, and 7.3 % Self and Family) and the Basic Option (8.6 % Self, and 8.3 % Self and Family).

The NARFE Service Officer News provided information on health plan changes for 2004. The following is what they provided for the Service Benefit Plan.

BCBS now provides benefits in full under the Standard Option for outpatient pharmacotherapy (medication management) received from preferred providers after the enrollee pays a $15 co-pay-ment. Previously, the plan paid benefits for outpatient pharmacotherapy given by preferred providers at 90 percent of the plan allowance after the enrollee’s Standard Option calendar year deductible had been met. Under the Standard Option, BCBS now provides benefits for emergency admissions to non-member facilities at 100 percent of the plan allowance after the patient’s $300 per-admission co-payment. Previously, benefits were provided at 70 percent of the plan allowance after the $300 per-admission co-payment.

Under Standard Option, BCBS now provides benefits for covered ambulance transport services not related to accidental injury at 90 percent of plan allowance, not subject to the calendar year deductible. Previously, benefits were subject to the calendar year deductible and were paid at either 90 percent or 75 percent of the plan allowance, depending on the contracting status of the ambulance provider. The enrollee remains responsible for any difference between the plan allowance and the billed amount when non-participating/ non-member ambulance providers are used.
BCBS no longer requires prior approval under the Standard Option for partial hospitalization or intensive outpatient treatment provided by non-preferred providers. BCBS now provides benefits for bone density tests when performed for screening purposes. Benefits are now provided for covered services performed by physician assistants. BCBS now provides benefits for autologous bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell transplants performed in specific, comparative trials funded by the National Institutes of Health (HIH) for systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and multiple sclerosis. BCBS changed a number of the procedure codes for covered dental services to reflect changes made by the American Dental Association (ADA). BCBS changed the addresses for FEP Enrollment Services and for filing overseas claims. Benefits are no longer provided for acupuncture performed by a physical therapist.

The plan’s prior approval prescription drug program and Patient Safety and Quality Monitoring Program will continue in 2004. All Standard Option enrollees will continue to pay (for up to a 90-day supply) co-payments of $10 for generic drugs, and $35 for brand name drugs ordered from the Mail Service Prescription Drug Program.

When Medicare (Parts A and B) is a Standard Option enrollee’s primary insurer, the plan will waive inpatient hospital per-admission co-payments, inpatient non-member hospital coinsurance, and non-preferred inpatient per-day co-payments for mental health/substance abuse care. The plan will also waive (when Medicare is primary) Standard Option enrollee’s calendar year deductible, coinsurance for services and supplies provided by physicians and other health care professionals, co-payments for office visits to PPOs, other health care professional and facility providers. Note that when Medicare (Parts A and B) is an enrollee’s primary insurer, the plan does not impose its benefits limitations (e.g., the 25-visit limit for home nursing care, etc.) or its coinsurance and co-payments for prescription drugs.

The plan will continue to cover limited skilled nursing facility care for Standard Option enrollees who are covered by Medicare Part A. The skilled nursing care benefits are available during each applicable Medicare benefit period during the contract year.

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SUNSHINE REPORT
(Gladys Green)

Members who have been reported sick since last month’s newsletter: Bea Beauregard and Claire Zoldak. We wish them both a speedy recovery.

New member, Vince MacElroy, recently lost his mother-in-law.
 

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ADDRESS UPDATES

Address correct? Snow Birds need to remind us that you have returned to Paradise. ASAP!

THOSE IN VENICE WHO ARE BEING CONVERTED TO ZIP CODE 34285 MUST NOTIFY US OF THE CHANGE AND INCLUDE YOUR NEW ZIP 4 NUMBERS! WE WILL NOTIFY NARFE HQ OF THE CHANGES.

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CHAPTER MEETING

The next meeting of Englewood Venice Chapter 717 will be held on January 15, 2004 at the Venice Holiday Inn, 455 US 41 Bypass, Venice, FL. The speaker for this meeting will be Gail Childs, U. S. Postmaster for Venice who will be speaking on preventing identity theft and what to do about it if you are victimized. Ms Childs is a regular speaker at crime prevention seminars. The luncheon meeting will start at 11:30 and the cost is $13.00. All current and retired Federal employees are welcome to attend.

MENU

Petite Garden Salad with Dressings
Beef Tips with Egg Noodles
Green Beans
Chef's Choice Dessert
Iced Tea, Coffee and Decaf
 

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