President’s Message - Melanie Miller · 2016. 5. 28. · happily we can celebrate a milestone...
4
Madison Area Chapter 120 Newsletter Volume 25 Issue 2 April 1, 2016 National NARFE www.NARFE.org Chapter Web: NARFE 120.wordpress.com President’s Message - Melanie Miller The weather is always a topic of discussion in Wisconsin and this spring is certainly no exception. Early warm weather, later snow storms, early budding plants and trees, all make for an interesting mix and unpredictable happenings. But the weather isn’t the only unpredictable thing lately. The political climate which exists in our country also fits in this category. We have a presidential election coming up in November. You might think this is a bit early for this reminder but this will be the focus of our media, both local and national, for the next seven months. All Americans need to pay attention to and participate in the election process. As Active and Retired Federal Employees we need to be active in this process. We need to look for truth in the information being shared by candidates, their supporters and opponents. We need to sift and sort things reported by the media. We need to be aware of the sources of information as ideas and opinions are broadcast over the internet through social media, making sure they are reliable not just random accusations. We also need to be active and support the voting process. Many polling places need workers. There are many opportunities to volunteer and help voters register or physically get to the polls on voting day. Don’t sit back and watch this process. Be a part of it. Think about what our country needs. Consider what our country has stood for in the past and what we want for a future. As American citizens we have a responsibility to not just vote, but to cast an educated and thoughtful ballot. Take advantage of this opportunity to make a difference. Service Officer Notes - Bob Kramer As our spirits are lifted by the coming of Spring they may also be raised by some positive developments on the benefits front. After decades of NARFE efforts to address inequities in the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), hearings have been held to grapple with the problems these provisions provide. While NARFE continues to favor an elimination of these provisions entirely, it is likely that a new formula will deal with the Social Security reduction differently. NARFE’s President Thissen has stated “NARFE is encouraged by the ongoing various reform efforts, particularly with regard to H.R.711. This bill would help mitigate the WEP penalty by providing some relief for both current beneficiaries through a rebate and future Social Security recipients by improving the formula going forward. This relief is long past due but would be very much appreciated by individuals who are being penalized for their public service.” You will find a further discussion of this matter on page 6&7 of the current April issue of NARFE magazine. Another positive sign is the House Budget Plan which does not single out federal employees for certain reductions unrelated to their employment as it did last year.
Transcript of President’s Message - Melanie Miller · 2016. 5. 28. · happily we can celebrate a milestone...
MadisonAreaChapter120 NewsletterVolume25Issue2 April1,2016
NationalNARFEwww.NARFE.org ChapterWeb:NARFE120.wordpress.com
President’sMessage-MelanieMillerTheweatherisalwaysatopicofdiscussioninWisconsinandthisspringiscertainlynoexception.Earlywarmweather,latersnowstorms,earlybuddingplantsandtrees,allmakeforaninterestingmixandunpredictablehappenings.Buttheweatherisn’ttheonlyunpredictablethinglately.Thepoliticalclimatewhichexistsinourcountryalsofitsinthiscategory.WehaveapresidentialelectioncomingupinNovember.Youmightthinkthisisabitearlyforthisreminderbutthiswillbethefocusofourmedia,bothlocalandnational,forthenextsevenmonths.AllAmericansneedtopayattentiontoandparticipateintheelectionprocess.AsActiveandRetiredFederalEmployeesweneedtobeactiveinthisprocess.Weneedtolookfortruthintheinformationbeingsharedbycandidates,theirsupportersandopponents.Weneedtosiftandsortthingsreportedbythemedia.Weneedtobeawareofthesourcesofinformationasideasandopinionsarebroadcastovertheinternetthroughsocialmedia,makingsuretheyarereliablenotjustrandomaccusations.Wealsoneedtobeactiveandsupportthevotingprocess.Manypollingplacesneedworkers.Therearemanyopportunitiestovolunteerandhelpvotersregisterorphysicallygettothepollsonvotingday.Don’tsitbackandwatchthisprocess.Beapartofit.Thinkaboutwhatourcountryneeds.Considerwhatourcountryhasstoodforinthepastandwhatwewantforafuture.AsAmericancitizenswehavearesponsibilitytonotjustvote,buttocastaneducatedandthoughtfulballot.Takeadvantageofthisopportunitytomakeadifference.
ServiceOfficerNotes-BobKramerAsourspiritsareliftedbythecomingofSpringtheymayalsoberaisedbysomepositivedevelopmentsonthebenefitsfront.AfterdecadesofNARFEeffortstoaddressinequitiesintheWindfallEliminationProvision(WEP)andtheGovernmentPensionOffset(GPO),hearingshavebeenheldtograpplewiththeproblemstheseprovisionsprovide.WhileNARFEcontinuestofavoraneliminationoftheseprovisionsentirely,itislikelythatanewformulawilldealwiththeSocialSecurityreductiondifferently.NARFE’sPresidentThissenhasstated“NARFEisencouragedbytheongoingvariousreformefforts,particularlywithregardtoH.R.711.ThisbillwouldhelpmitigatetheWEPpenaltybyprovidingsomereliefforbothcurrentbeneficiariesthrougharebateandfutureSocialSecurityrecipientsbyimprovingtheformulagoingforward.Thisreliefislongpastduebutwouldbeverymuchappreciatedbyindividualswhoarebeingpenalizedfortheirpublicservice.”Youwillfindafurtherdiscussionofthismatteronpage6&7ofthecurrentAprilissueofNARFEmagazine.AnotherpositivesignistheHouseBudgetPlanwhichdoesnotsingleoutfederalemployeesforcertainreductionsunrelatedtotheiremploymentasitdidlastyear.
MadisonAreaChapter120 NewsletterVolume25Issue2 April1,2016
NationalNARFEwww.NARFE.org ChapterWeb:NARFE120.wordpress.com
SecretaryLindaKustka
Sunshine/HospitalityVeronicaGuskironni@tds.net608-849-5701DianeMaertzmumslady@frontier.com608-837-3377LizEddyyarite@charternet608-365-5254
MembershipReport-MyrnaMcNattOnemembertransferredintotheMadisonChapter,twomemberstransferredout.Wehave5newprospectivemembers.Totalmembershipis637.Happenings–VeronicaGuskiOurmemberdeathreportsexceedmembernewbirthreports,buthappilywecancelebrateamilestonebirthdayanniversaryinApril.CongratulationsandallthebesttoRoswellT.Mair,oneofourregularluncheonmeetingsmembers,onhis90thbirthday!
JohnBrendenpassedawayon2/20/16.JohnwasaForestProductsLabemployee.
MiriamDregnepassedawayon3/3/16.HerfullobituarywasinEasterSunday'spaper.
EthelynEickner(died2/16/16)wasthewifeofoneofourmembers(HerbertEickner).
CurtisFaustpassedawayon2/29/16.HeworkedfortheU.S.PostalService.Hishobbywasmakingmodelairplanes.
CatherinePasellCatherinewasemployedasadietitianattheVeteransHospitalinMadison.Shediedon3/13/16.
RobertSteidemannpassedawayon1/27/16-Bobworkedasaforesterandmanagementanalystfor40years.
KarlWenzelpassedawayon2/25/16.HeworkedfortheU.S.DeptofHealthandHumanServices.KarlplayedhisclarinetintheFrieslandCommunityBandforover30years!
MaeWildtwifeofWayneWildt(whopassedon6/6/15)diedon2/23/16.
JoanneBiesek
Joanne(onleftinphoto)receivesacertificatefromPresidentMelanieMilleronbehalfofChapter120to
appreciateandhonorher10yearsofcapableserviceas
ourTreasurer.
MadisonAreaChapter120 NewsletterVolume25Issue2 April1,2016
NationalNARFEwww.NARFE.org ChapterWeb:NARFE120.wordpress.com
Chapter120LegislativeUpdateSubmittedbyTomMiller,Chapter120andFederationLegislativeChair
Atthetimeofthiswritingthelegislativeagendaisrelativelylight.ThereareafewbillsofgeneralinteresttoNARFEmembersweavingtheirwaythroughthelegislativeprocess.ThereissomeactivityasitrelatestoPostalReform,reducingtheWEP(WindfallEliminationProvision)penaltyforthosereceivingaCSRSpensionandalsoeligibleforSocialSecuritybenefits,andlegislationtoprotectfederalretireesandveteransfrompensionadvanceschemesandensurepensionsaresafefromfraudulentsalespractices.Inaddition,abillwasintroducedtoprotectTSPinvestorsfromreceivingbadinvestmentadvice.Anarticleonpages6-7oftheAprilNARFEmagazinedescribestheWEPandhowitaffectsfederalretirees.ItwasannouncedonFridayMarch18thattheHouseWaysandMeansSocialSecuritySubcommitteewouldholdhearingsMarch22onHR711thatincludesreformstoWEPandtheGovernmentPensionOffset(GPO).ThisisagoodsignthatthecommitteewilltakeactiononthisresolutionduringthissessionofCongress.OnFridayMarch18,theHouseBudgetCommitteeapprovedalongpartylinestheHouse’sFY2017budgetresolution.Thisincludesadirectivetothecommitteethatoverseesfederalretirementandhealthbenefitstoreducespendingunderitsjurisdiction.Whilenotspecific,theFY17budgetassumescutsto“othermandatory”spending,acategorythatincludesfederalandmilitaryretirementandhealthbenefits.Thisissomethingmembersshouldkeepaneyeonoverthenextfewmonthsandrespondtoacalltoactionifneeded.Keepup-to-dateonalllegislationaffectingcurrentandretiredemployeesbycheckingtheNARFEwebsiteregularlyorfollowingtheBillTrackerintheNARFEmonthlymagazineorbysigninguptoreceiveperiodicemailsfromNARFEheadquarters.ItiscriticallyimportantforNARFEmemberstocontactmembersofCongressregardinglegislationthataffectsourbenefits.Theylistentoconstituentssothemoretheyhearfromusthemoreweprotectourearnedbenefits.TheNARFELegislativeActionCenterisagoodwaytofindyourmemberofCongressandletthemknowofyourconcernsbysendingalettertotheappropriatemember.Sincethisanelectionyearitisagoodtimetomakepersonalcontactwiththoseseekingreelectionaswellastheiropponentstovoiceyourconcernsandaskthemtosupportfederalworkersandretirees.IdentifyyourselfasaNARFEmemberbecausethishelpswhennationalNARFEleadershipcallonmembersofCongresstoseeksupportforlegislationofinteresttomembers.Here’sthetentativeschedulewhentheSenatewillbeinrecess(meaningtheyareintheState)forthenextfewmonths;March21-April1,May2-6,May30-June3,andJuly18-September5.TheHouseisscheduledtobeinrecessMarch24-April11,May2-6,May30-June3,June27-July1,andJuly18-September5.Ifyouhavequestionsorwouldlikemoreinformationaboutlegislativeadvocacypleasecontactmeat608-273-1501ortfmillerphoto@sbcglobal.net.NoFooling–RobertaHerschlebIwasafoolnottolookfirsttoNARFEwhensortingthroughajumbleofbenefitscoordinationquestions.Aftersomelongscrollsthroughseparaterelevantwebsites(OPM,Medicareandothers)Icamefinallytowww.NARFE.org.Theessentialanswerswereallthere,customtailoredtofitafederalemployee/retiree!NofoolingwhenNARFEpromises“TirelessAdvocacy,TrustedAdvice”.
MadisonAreaChapter120 NewsletterVolume25Issue2 April1,2016
NationalNARFEwww.NARFE.org ChapterWeb:NARFE120.wordpress.com
NARFEChapter120,MadisonWisconsinKathyLosby,Treasurer542CharlesLaneMadisonWI53711ADDRESSSERVICEREQUESTEDSendaddresschangestoherschleb@att.netMARKYOURNARFECALENDARS:APRIL22NDNOONMEETINGATCULVER’SRESTAURANTINEDGERTON(nearNewville)
Join us at noon on April 22nd. Our featured speaker, Bonnie Nutt of the Alzheimer’s Association Education Program, will fill us in on the direction this disease is taking and what can be done to reduce the chances of experiencing it’s many ill effects.
A sunny day is planned for the brief trip down Interstate 90 toward Janesville. Get off on exit 163 turning east on US highway 59 about a block. Turn right onto Richardson Springs Road for about a block where you will find Culvers (571 E. Richardson Springs Road).
No registration is required as we can order off of the menu. Registration and a social hour will begin at 11:00a.m. We will meet in the restaurant’s meeting room to the left of the ordering counter. Orders will be delivered to you in the meeting room.
MAY 20TH BREAKFAST MEETING AT MONONA GARDEN RESTAURANT 8:00A.M. REGISTRATION
After our 8:30a.m breakfast, Scott Lautenschlager will speak about the activities of the Wage and Hour Division when the Department of Labor is in the “Agency Spotlight!” Is the restaurant waiter who serves your coffee earning only $2.13 per hour plus tips? Hear what the rules are, how compliant Wisconsin businesses are, and the many other things the DOL Wage and Hour Division oversees.
No registration is required and we can order off of the menu. The Monona Garden Restaurant is at 6501 Bridge Road on East Broadway across from Monona State Bank and Cranberry Creek Restaurant.
