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From the President’s
Desk_______
Let’s work together to keep NARFE strong. Stay a member and be active!
I am pleased to report that at the Chapter meeting on February 19, 2004, Kay Rex
was presented a certificate of Honorary Life Membership and membership card.
Join the NARFE Chapter 717 “Armchair Activists.” If you have a computer, get on
the NARFE web site at www.narfe.org. There
you can send an e-mail to our Senators and Congressmen.
At the February Chapter meeting, the Legislative Officer Ben Martorella
distributed petitions for us to sign during the meeting. He thereafter sent them
to our Florida Congressional delegation. Well done, Ben!
Greeter\s Committee established. In an attempt to make all who attend our
meetings very welcome, at the urging of Dick Brettle, Recruitment and Retention
Director, we established a Greeter Committee. Greeters will welcome and join new
members and guests at our meetings. No one will be left alone at a meeting.
District 8 Meeting. NARFE Florida Federation President Dave Whalen was the
keynote speaker at the NARFE District 8 meeting on February 10, 2004, at the
Olde World Restaurant in North Port. Ten members and officers of our chapter
attended.
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. The audit results are excellent and the books are
OK.
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. 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!
2. The Chapter 717 Annual Picnic will be 11:00 am on Thursday, April 22, 2004 at
the Lemon Bay Park Pavilion in Englewood. All are welcome. No charge
for this event. Chapter will provide sand-
wich ham, bread, condiments, soft drinks, paper goods, etc. You will provide
salads, desserts, etc. Contact Gladys Green, Food Coordinator at 941-497-7256 if
you plan to bring food.
3. 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 ASAP. Hotel rate is $72 plus tax per night.
HELP WANTED We have the following critical appointed officer and committee
position vacancies. Urgent – we need you to volunteer!
- Recruitment and Retention Contact Caller. Assist the Recruitment and Retention
Director by contacting current and potential Chapter members. Be a part of the
team!
- 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.
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 or me for more info.
The NARFE Florida Federation web site is at
www.flfed-narfe.org. Check it out.
Federal Times has joined with NARFE to extend a Special Discount Offer to NARFE
members. Support NARFE by subscribing to Federal Times for 52 weekly issues for
only $36. In addition to a great rate, Federal Times will remit $5 of every
subscription to NARFE! Call 1-800-368-5718.
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 KUDO to 2nd Vice President Bill Leatham for his appointment as NARFE
Florida Federation Automation Chairman. Special thanks to all who donated door
prizes!
The February 19, 2004, Chapter Meeting at Holiday Inn of Venice opened at 11:30
p.m. with 42 members and guests present. Chaplain Bill Kennedy led the
Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance. Legislative Officer Ben Martorella
distributed a petition for signature. Sarasota County Deputy Chris Perz with his
police dog Jet provided interesting information about the use of police dogs in
the county. The 50/50 and door prize games were played. Anniversary and Birthday
wishes were extended thanks to the singing voice of Linda Braswell. The meeting
adjourned at 2:00 p.m.
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 FULL NEW ZIP+4 DIGIT NUMBERS! WE WILL
NOTIFY NARFE HQ OF THE CHANGES. You can get your new ZIP Plus 4 from your
address on your electric bill. It’s there! Send an e-mail to Nancy Marik,
Membership Chair, or call me.
We hope to see you at the next Chapter meeting on March 18, 2004.
The next Executive Committee meeting will be on March 4, 2004.
Regards to all,
Steve Shoub, Pres.
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FROM YOUR SECOND
VICE PRESIDENT
(Bill Leatham)
Internet
Our webhost lost our e-mails for an eight day period starting Friday, January
23rd and ending January 30th inclusive. Any e-mail sent to any narfe717.org
address went into an electronic limbo, never to be recovered. Please resend any
such e-mails. My apologies for the inconvenience.
We are now bringing back service forms. Our Membership Chair, Nancy Marik, is
presently testing a form for existing members. After this is finalized, I will
be working with Retention and Recruitment Chair Richard Brettle on a similar
form for inquiries. This will make it easier for members and prospective members
who are on line to request membership services.
Next Speaker
Our next speaker, Robert J. Samuels, has a remarkable story. He was an extremely
successful international banker at the peak of his career when he found out that
he had exceptionally aggressive prostate cancer.
He has fought it in an epic ten year battle, is still fighting it, and has gone
on to form the Florida Prostate Cancer Network. He is now an activist fighting
to save lives.
He will tell you much that will be new to you!
Prostate cancer is the male equivalent of breast cancer in women, with
remarkably similar statistics. It killed my father.
Fraud Warning
There is a new scam out there based on the Patriot Act. What happens is that the
prospective victim receives an e-mail purporting to be from the FDIC that
his/her bank account has been frozen by the Department of Homeland Security
because he/she is suspected of money-laundering for foreign terrorists. The
e-mail asks for extensive financial information in order to get the “freeze”
released.
If the victim falls for the scam, their bank account gets cleaned out and their
identity is stolen-classic Identity Theft!
Remember Post Master Gail Childs’ presentation on January 15th? Same scam,
different flavor. Follow her advice, don’t give out any information unless you
initiated the call or e-mail and it is to an address or phone number that you
are sure is legitimate. Just because the address looks right doesn’t mean that
it is right. For a classic example, www.whitehouse.gov is President Bush’s site;
www.whitehouse.com is a large porn site that depends on name confusion for a
large part of its revenue.
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SUNSHINE REPORT
(Gladys Green)
We are sad to report the deaths of two members: Henry Ezell passed away on
February 6, and we recently learned that Barbara Post passed away on December
29.
Lois Liberty reported that her husband, Rich Liberty, is not doing well. Rich
has been very active in the chapter in the past. He served as newsletter editor
and vice president. Lois said it might cheer him up to receive cards or calls
from some of our members. Cards can be mailed to Rich Liberty, 700 Apalachicola
Rd, Venice, FL 34285-1636.
Our president, Steve Shoub, was also sick for several days. We hope he is
feeling better.
Other members reported ill were Florence McNamara, Jody Michalski, Betty
Heminger, Manfred Klatt, and both Arthur Mayer and his wife, Pearl.
Although our chapter sends a get well card to every member who is under the
weather, I’m sure each would appreciate a card or note from individual members.
So, send a bit of Florida sunshine to someone who is stuck indoors because of
illness—send a card!
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Service Report
(John Burton)
OPM Services Online
If you own or have access to a computer, you can use OPM Services Online to
perform many activities related to your federal retirement. Anyone who receives
benefits under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), Federal Employees
Retirement System (FERS), or FERS Special, or the Organization Retirement and
Disability System (ORDS) can use the online services.
To use OPM Services Online, go to http://www.servicesonline.opm.gov/mainris.asp
You may need your CSA or CSF claim number and your PIN (personal identification
number). Your PIN is the random number issued to you by OPM. It is the same
number required to use the OPM automated self-service telephone system
(1-888-767-6738). If you do not have a Personal Identification Number (PIN),
call OPM at the preceding number. A Customer Service Specialist will ask you
identifying information and then will arrange to mail your Personal
Identification Number (PIN) to you. The PIN is mailed to you to help maintain
the security of your records.
OPM Services Online allows you to perform the following activities:
1. Start, change, or stop federal and state income tax withholdings.
2. Buy, change, or stop savings bonds.
3. Request a duplicate 1099R tax statement.
4. Change your PIN for accessing automated systems.
5. Establish, change, or stop an allotment to an organization.
6. Change your mailing address.
7. Start direct deposit of your payment or change the account or financial
institution to which your payment is sent.
8. Establish, change or stop a checking or savings allotment.
9. View a statement describing your annuity payment.
If you receive payments for someone else, you must use the toll free phone
number to change your mailing address, start direct deposit of payment, or
change the account or financial institution to which payments are sent.
Federal Employees Group Life Insurance
If a Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) death benefit is over
$7,500, the money is put in a money market account. To access the funds, the
recipient can write a single check to close out the entire account or write
several checks to disburse the proceeds. The money remaining in the account
accrues interest; in effect, it is an interest-bearing checking account. For
beneficiary payments above $7,500 the money market account is considered to be
more secure and convenient. This method avoids lost checks or difficulty in
cashing a single, large check.
FEGLI paid to the beneficiary of an insured member is NOT taxed when it is paid.
FEGLI proceeds paid after the death of an insured annuitant are not taxable for
federal income tax purposes; therefore, no taxes are withheld from a payment of
FEGLI.
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LEGISLATIVE REPORT
(Ben Martorella)
Over the next several months leading up to the conventions and presidential
election, we will be inundated with political advertising, and unfortunately a
lot of it will be confusing and negative. It is imperative for us to be
attentive, not to the advertising, but to the personalities that are running for
office.
We must all be informed and educated citizens and voters. It is important for
all of us to look at the candidates stand and voting record on issues that are
meaningful to ourselves and our families and make decisions that reflect how
closely each candidate matches our own agenda and welfare. As members of NARFE,
the issues of Medicare reform and health benefits protection should be one of
our primary concerns. Please join with me to keep PRESSURE on our Senators and
Congresswoman to insure that they are aware of the voice of their constituents.
Senator Bob Graham Senator Bill Nelson
Toll free 866-418-9569 toll free 888-671-4091
Fax 202 224 2237 Fax 202 228 2128
Congresswoman Katherine Harris
941 951 6643
Fax 202 225 5015
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CHAPTER MEETING
The next meeting of Englewood Venice Chapter 717 will be held on March 18, 2004
at the Venice Holiday Inn, 455 US 41 Bypass, Venice, FL. The speaker for this
meeting will be Robert J.
Samuels who will be speaking on his fight with prostate cancer.
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
Corned Beef and Cabbage
Carrots and Boiled White Potatoes
Chef's Choice Dessert
Iced Tea, Coffee and Decaf
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