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SAN FRANCISCO, CA

President's Report

August 2013

GREETINGS AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL CHAPTER MEMBERS WITH BIRTHDAYS AND/OR ANNIVERSARIES IN AUGUST…I believe the Chapter accomplished an important and successful recruitment and outreach event in July. For three days we ensured that the Federal Workers in the 90 Seventh Street Federal Building were given the opportunity to learn about NARFE and join NARFE, if they saw fit. Most exciting were the many people who made this effort a success. NARFE members Herman Bracey, Leslie Ching, Jane Ramos, Jess Ramos, Frank Morelli, Juanita Lot, Joe and Sue Mangiameli, and Ann Lindsay provided a presence at the recruitment table, set up and cleaned up for the Sky Garden social, or ensured that we had an excellent presentation for 50 retirees and active workers on various retirement issues.

It was a lot of work, but when so many participate, it makes it a much easier task. It was also great to see so many active employees in the building who are NARFE members and value their membership in NARFE. Several came by the table to say how pleased they were with their membership and the valuable information that NARFE provides to them..saying, “The information NARFE provides its members is worth the cost of membership, and the advocacy and lobbying on behalf of Federal workers and retirees earned benefits makes membership a great bargain.”

I might add that when NARFE members came over to the table in the lobby of the Federal Building, I challenged them to take an application and to find a co-worker to give it to and ask him/her to join. They gladly took the applications and said they would approach a co-worker about joining. Additionally, I asked several new members why they joined. The most common response was that a co-worker or friend whom they trusted and valued had told them about NARFE and its informational and advocacy value. These comments simply reinforce the importance of members spreading the word about NARFE. The weekend before our recruitment event, I attended a family reunion in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and discovered two of my relatives by blood or by marriage were not NARFE members, one an active federal employee and the other a federal retiree. Having brought my applications with me to Idaho, I signed them up, explaining the now deceased head of the family, my father, had been a strong supporter of NARFE and that he would want them to join and share the benefits of NARFE. Recruitment is the responsibility of every NARFE member. The members of Chapter 65 understand that responsibility.

I am pleased to inform you that at the Wednesday August 21st meeting at 1pm in the Federal Building, we will have Alex Lazar from Congresswomen Pelosi’s office presenting to our members. He will be discussing the Chained CPI and other issues of importance to Federal workers and retirees. He will also answer any questions and concerns that you may have in regards to the Congresswoman’s positions on issues affecting you and your earned benefits. Since the chained CPI may reduce your earned benefits by tens of thousands of dollars, this promises to be an interesting and lively topic. Please consider attending this important meeting with the Congresswoman’s representative.

Please note that the September tour of the Palace Hotel will be on September 3rd at 11:00 am and will be conducted by a NARFE member and author of a book on the Palace. This event will take the place of our normal monthly meeting. There is a $10 fee for the tour. Please fill out the coupon in the newsletter if you are interested in this special event sponsored by your San Francisco NARFE Chapter 65. Mail the coupon to the address provided with your check per attendee to NARFE 65 by no later than August 21st. Those members who are interested can also partake of the $25 two-course lunch available in the Garden Court restaurant or you can gather with others from the tour at any nearby restaurant after the tour. Late submissions may not be able to be honored.

During a NARFE teleconference in June, an (unnamed) member of Congress was heard to remark that if the Chained CPI is enacted, that it “would not be a big deal” and that those affected “could cut a few extra coupons each month” to make up for the financial shortfall. In response NARFE is planning a coupon campaign, you can CUT COUPONS from newspapers and magazines, (Each coupon MUST have a monetary value on its face (example: $1 off)). MAIL the coupons to: NARFE, 606 N. Washington St., Alexandria, VA 22314. National headquarters will use the coupons to publicize the lost annuities, as a result of the proposed changing to the chained CPI. NARFE Chapter 65 is asking all its members to cut out the Sunday coupons and send them in by August 15th.

I will conclude with urging you again to also consider either writing, calling, or emailing your congressperson, your senators, and the president about your concerns about basing COLAs on the Chained CPI. What appears to be a small adjustment is actually a method to cause your earned benefits to shrink significantly. Besides visiting NARFE’s website and sending emails to the congress or the president, you can call the Capitol using NARFE’s toll-free number 1-866-220-0044 and ask the operator to connect you to your representative's or senator’s office. Moreover, you can call the White House at 1-888-225-8418, ask for the comment line and leave your message for the president. You can have your voice heard in Washington, but it requires that you make the effort to speak up for what is fair and right. Sitting back and doing nothing will likely result in a significant loss of earned benefits.

     Jerry Hall, President Chapter 65
    fritz1313@hotmail.com

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