North Carolina Federation of Chapters of NARFE

 

New Members’ and Attendees’ Orientation

April 28, 2009

2009NEWCOMERS SESSION

PRESENTED BY:

Charlie Pratt

Doris Maxwell

On behalf of the North Carolina On behalf of the North Carolina Federation of Chapters, welcome to Federation of Chapters, welcome to

NARFENARFE..

 

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Congratulations for making the important decision to Congratulations for making the important decision to become a member of NARFE the only nationally become a member of NARFE the only nationally recognized organization that exists for the sole recognized organization that exists for the sole purpose of looking after the interests of those purpose of looking after the interests of those individuals like yourself. It makes no difference individuals like yourself. It makes no difference whether you havewhether you have retired or are a current federal retired or are a current federal employee; have Civil Service Retirement System employee; have Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or Federal Employee Retirement System (CSRS) or Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) benefits; or a spouse of an annuitant. The (FERS) benefits; or a spouse of an annuitant. The following questions and answers may be helpful in following questions and answers may be helpful in understanding your NARFE connectionunderstanding your NARFE connection

NEWCOMERSNEWCOMERS SESSIONSSESSIONS

• IntroductionsIntroductions– Why do thisWhy do this– Newcomer confidenceNewcomer confidence– Understanding NARFE at all levelsUnderstanding NARFE at all levels– Exposure to website, resources and tools for Exposure to website, resources and tools for

all NC Federation NARFE chapter membersall NC Federation NARFE chapter members

WHY DO THIS?WHY DO THIS?

• Know NARFE’s important issues Know NARFE’s important issues • Familiarization of the structureFamiliarization of the structure• Put names with facesPut names with faces• Extend welcomeExtend welcome• Get feedbackGet feedback• Encourage “talking up”Encourage “talking up”

What does being a NARFE member really mean to me?

• PROTECTING YOUR EARNED BENEFITSPROTECTING YOUR EARNED BENEFITS• SPECIAL BENEFITSSPECIAL BENEFITS• SUPPORT SERVICESSUPPORT SERVICES• KNOWING THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONEKNOWING THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE• OPTIONS FOR ASSISTING OTHERSOPTIONS FOR ASSISTING OTHERS

KNOWING THAT YOUR ARE PART OF OUR KNOWING THAT YOUR ARE PART OF OUR NARFE FAMILY OF 4OO THOUSAND NARFE FAMILY OF 4OO THOUSAND

MEMBERS NATIONWIDEMEMBERS NATIONWIDE

ISSUES / NATIONALISSUES / NATIONALEARNED BENEFITSEARNED BENEFITS

• CSRS – FERS CSRS – FERS • National IssuesNational Issues

– Roll-backs of benefitsRoll-backs of benefits– Reduction of COLAsReduction of COLAs– Premium ConversionPremium Conversion– Windfall Elimination ProvisionWindfall Elimination Provision– Government Pension OffsetsGovernment Pension Offsets– Declining membershipDeclining membership

ISSUES / NORTH CAROLINAISSUES / NORTH CAROLINA

• STATE INCOME TAX LAWSTATE INCOME TAX LAW– Bailey – Patton SettlementBailey – Patton Settlement– Legislation to Extend Bailey – PattonLegislation to Extend Bailey – Patton– ““Investing in North Carolina’s Future”Investing in North Carolina’s Future”

• STATE PROPERTY TAX LAWSTATE PROPERTY TAX LAW– Revise Homestead ActRevise Homestead Act

STRUCTURESTRUCTURE

• NATIONALNATIONAL– Four Nationally Elected OfficersFour Nationally Elected Officers– Ten Regional Vice-PresidentsTen Regional Vice-Presidents– Fifty State FederationsFifty State Federations– Chapter MembersChapter Members– National Only MembersNational Only Members

• NARFE National – Alexandria, VA NARFE National – Alexandria, VA – National IssuesNational Issues– National LobbyingNational Lobbying– National NARFE PACNational NARFE PAC– National PublicationsNational Publications– Support ServicesSupport Services– WebsiteWebsite– Biannual National ConventionBiannual National Convention

Where am I in the organization?  

• ONE OF 400,000 NARFE MEMBERS WORLD ONE OF 400,000 NARFE MEMBERS WORLD WIDEWIDE

• ONE OF 7,200 NORTH CAROLINA MEMBERSONE OF 7,200 NORTH CAROLINA MEMBERS• A MEMBER OF ONE OF OUR 52 CHAPTERSA MEMBER OF ONE OF OUR 52 CHAPTERS• A PROSPECTIVE LEADERA PROSPECTIVE LEADER

AND EACH MEMBER IS OF VITAL AND EACH MEMBER IS OF VITAL IMPORTANCE TO US BECAUSE THROUGH IMPORTANCE TO US BECAUSE THROUGH VOTING STRENGTH WE CAN PROTECT OUR VOTING STRENGTH WE CAN PROTECT OUR

EARNED BENEFITSEARNED BENEFITS

NORTH CAROLINA FEDERATIONNORTH CAROLINA FEDERATION

• Four elected officersFour elected officers

• Six Area offices elected at Six Area offices elected at

convention by caucusconvention by caucus

• Ten appointed officersTen appointed officers

• Elected Officers (Term of one year)– President

• Elaine Hughes

– Executive Vice President• Paul E. Sams

– Secretary• Gracie W. Couch

– Treasurer• Samuel E. Crain

Area I VP Frieda Terrell

Area II VP Dan Schmidt

Area III VP John

Koivisto

Area IV VP Ben Saunders

Area V VP Vilma Geisert

Area VI VP Glenda

McRary

• Service Providers– Service Officer Lloyd Geisert

• Chapter Service Officers

– National Legislative Officer Ron Miller• Area Legislative Contact Officers• Chapter Legislative Officers

– State Legislative Officer James Sears• Chapter Legislative Officers

– Membership Coordinator Theron Rumsey• Chapter Membership Officer

– NARFE PAC Coordinator Joe Childers• Chapter NARFE PAC Coordinator

• OUTREACH– Alzheimer’s Research Coordinator

Margaret Malley

• Chapter Alzheimer’s Officer

– N.C. Coalition on Aging– Isabelle Buckley (no photo)

– N.C. Senior Assembly– Charles Dickens

• COMMUNICATIONS

Public Relations Officer– Doris Maxwell

• Chapter Public Relations Officer

– Federation Newspapers Editor– Betty Whitten

• Chapter Newsletters Editors

– Federation Website Coordinator– Charlie Pratt

• Chapter Website Coordinators

RESOURCESRESOURCES

• General PublicationsGeneral Publications

• NARFE MAGAZINENARFE MAGAZINE

• NC Federation Quarterly NewspaperNC Federation Quarterly Newspaper

• WEBSITESWEBSITES– National WebsiteNational Website

• www.narfe.org

– State WebsiteState Website• www.ncnarfe.info

– Chapter WebsitesChapter Websites

GETTING THE MOST FROM THIS CONVENTION

• Program Book

• Booster Book

• In Memoriam Book

BOOSTER BOOK

• Provides support for this Convention

THIS YEAR’S PROGRAM

• Convention Committee Meetings– First Afternoon of the Convention

• New Member’s Orientation– New this year

• Opening Session– Welcomes and first committee reports

• Blue Cross-Blue Shield Reception– Don’t miss this - 8:00 pm Lobby

• Wednesday, April 29th

• Business Session II 8:15 am

• Breakout Sessions 9 – 10 am and 10 – 11 am (repeat of each session)– Leadership (Embassy Room) Bill Austin– Legislation (Newton Room) Ron Miller and

James Sears– Membership (Terrell Room) Theron

Rumsey

• BREAKOUT SESSIONS (cont.)– Public Relations (Conover Room) Doris

Maxwell– NC and National Websites (Carolina/Parlor

Room) Charlie and Linda Pratt

• AREA CAUCUSES – ELECTIONS 11:15 am

• BUSINESS SESSION III– Keynote Speaker– Special Guest Speaker Mark Fleming,

District Director for Congressman Patrick McHenry

– Bailey Extension Overview Paul E. Sams (Don’t miss this presentation)

– Election of 2010 Federation Officers

– BANQUET AT 6:00 pm a time and place to meet and greet

Thursday, April 30th – the last dayMEMORIAL SERVICE 8:30 am

Business Session IV 9 amFinal Convention ReportsFederation Officers Reports

POCKET GUIDE• Keep this

brochure handy to give to anyone showing an interest in issues important to US.

YOUR TURN

• Please give us feedback – Did you enjoy the presentation– What changes would you make– Did you get useful information– Did you sign-up to take on a leadership

position for next year– Would you recommend this program for

new comers next year?