1. society
2. work
3. retirement

T R E N D
(Thinking Retired Employees Need Direction)
Retired Employees of Kern County
Volume MMXIV-VI
NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2014
Phil Franey, President (661)872-4530
M. L. Bennett, Editor (mlbennett36@sbcglobal.net)
Our mission is to promote the education and earned benefits
of all retirees of Kern County, advocate the safeguarding and
continuation of Kern County retiree pension and health benefits, provide avenues of support and information for Kern
County retirees and beneficiaries, ensure proper and necessary
representation on the Kern County Board of Retirement, and
participate as an integral contributor in our Kern County communities quality of life.
I am sure most of you are looking forward to the end
of another election season. Social Security, with the need
for a careful decision, is on the agenda of many of us.
Health care and Medicare enrollment also will be a significant concern for many. Lastly, we will be presenting next
year’s REOKC Board.
Not to belabor another election season too much, but
there are a few things you can do to mitigate the annoying
calls and campaign commercials. Two of the best devices
are your television remote control - to mute or change the
channel and use of your phone service with answering
machine - to block and screen calls. Although, voting is
very important; so get informed and seek reliable sources.
There are many articles on Social Security that explain the financial impact of delaying benefits for individuals other than for disability and/or beneficiary benefits.
Social Security benefits can be claimed as early as age 62.
Each year an individual delays filing a claim - up to age
70 - the monthly benefits increase. This may be of particular importance for the benefit level to be received by a
surviving spouse. For example, if you were born within
1943-1954 your normal retirement age would be 66. By
waiting until 66 you would receive approximately 25%
more than at 62. For every year after 66 that you continue
to delay benefits, you will receive approximately 8% annually until 70. This may sound great, but there are risks.
You will need to consider other factors such as: spousal
eligibility for Social Security, health of yourself and your
spouse, family health history, savings, etc. Talk with the
www.reokc.org
1
Social Security Administration to explore all your benefits
and options.
Still on the medical front, and if you are approaching
65, you need to be seriously thinking about Medicare enrollment. According to some sources, 10,000 baby boomers
will turn 65 every day for the next 16 years. There are numerous regulations and many nuances of Medicare coverage. For most individuals you have a seven month period
that begins three months before the month you turn 65 and
ends three months after the month you turn 65. There are
numerous sources of information including Medicare (1800-Medicare), Social Security Administration, and Kern
County Adult and Aging Services. Contact information is
also included in your annual open enrollment packet for
retiree health benefits.
Our September and October luncheon speakers discussed very important and relevant issues to our membership on Advanced Health Care Directives (AHCD)/Living
Wills and Medicare respectively. Both programs were very
informative with encouragement for all to be current with
your AHCD, Living Wills, and Medicare. Seek advice from
people, agencies, and providers you trust. Don’t forget seniors are targets of scam artists in financial, medical, and
most other important life matters. Be careful!! So on a positive note, the following is important information you do
need on open enrollment.
By the time you receive this issue of the TREND, the
open enrollment information concerning health benefits
should have or will soon be sent to all retirees by the Kern
County Administrative Office Health Benefits Division.
Please read the information carefully and if you have any
questions, use the contacts that are indicated on the mailed
publication. You may also access more health information
at
the
Health
Benefits
Division
website:
www.KernCountyHealthBenefits.com.
Retiree health insurance is administered by the County
Administrative Office - Health Benefits Division, not the
Kern County Employees Retirement Association
(KCERA). Your REOKC Board also is scheduling enrollment for the Pacific Group Agencies, Inc. (PGAI) Supplemental Benefits Program. This is a separate program
from that of the County’s health insurance benefit program. The PGAI Supplemental Benefits Program is a program endorsed by REOKC to offer additional benefits, such
as legal services and other insurances to include: dental
(President’s Message continued on Page 2)
During the KCERA October Meeting Wurts & Associates Inc., KCERA’s Investment Consultant, presented
fund investment performance for the period ended June
30, 2014. With the results showing the following performance net of fees as of June 30, 2014:
1 Year - 15.0% with total assets of $3,557,435,646.
3 Years - 8.7%
5 Years - 11.7%
10 Years - 6.4%
More detailed information and reporting may be obtained
from KCERA at www.kcera.org.
All members are encouraged to attend Retirement
Board Meetings on the second Wednesday of each month.
KCERA Retirement Board
By
Phil Franey, KCERA Retiree Trustee
“A retirement system board’s duty to the system’s participants and their beneficiaries shall take precedence over
any other duty” (Section 17(b) of Article XVI of the California Constitution).
Most of the September KCERA Board Meeting consisted of the annual trustee education seminar that was
coordinated by KCERA Administration. Various presentations by experts in their field were heard by KCERA
Board Trustees including such topics as: Economic and
Fixed Income Outlook, Portfolio Strategies in the Current
Market, Insight into Securities Fraud and Corporate Governance Litigation, Generating Incremental Yield, and
closing remarks by Gloria Dominguez, KCERA Executive Director. To responsibly perform their fiduciary duties, trustees must remain knowledgeable and stay informed regarding pension matters. By attending educational seminars and conferences on current pension matters, trustees fulfill one of their many duties for the more
than 17,000 members of KCERA.
In September, the KCERA Finance Committee
(Committee) met again to discuss the Supplement Retiree
Benefit Reserve (SRBR) unallocated vested funds. As
stated in prior TREND articles, a SRBR letter was sent to
Michael Turnipseed, KCERA Board Chairman. The letter
was signed and sent by representatives of Kern County
Employees bargaining groups and REOKC to the
KCERA Board and copied to the Board of Supervisors.
The intent of this letter was to request the KCERA Board
perform its fiduciary duty and assign SRBR unallocated
funds. According to years of numerous legal opinions,
SRBR funds are vested by law and the KCERA Board is
mandated by law to allocate those funds solely for the
benefit of current and future retirees and beneficiaries.
With the exception of an earlier death benefit increase
from $1,000 to $3,000, no action has been taken for more
than 10 years. After this letter was reviewed by the
KCERA Board, it was sent to the Committee as an agenda
item on June 26, 2014. After the Committee heard the
item with discussion, the Committee directed the KCERA
actuary to prepare a study of unallocated SRBR funds. In
September the Committee received the study followed by
further discussion and review. The Committee then directed administration and the actuary to provide more
specific information on $5,000 and $7,000 death benefits
funding with consideration for the assignment of remaining unallocated funds. The results of the revised study
will be presented to the Committee for preparation of a
recommendation to the KCERA Board. We will keep you
apprised of this matter and hope you attend the Committee and Board meetings on this matter.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE continued from page 1
insurance, vision, pet, and accident/travel. The Supplemental Benefits Program is administered by the Pacific Group Agencies, Inc., not KCERA. Current enrollment in PGAI various programs is more than 1,700 retirees and beneficiaries.
Our final slate of officers was presented at our October
meeting. Your proposed slate for 2015 Board of Directors
was presented as follows:
Phil Franey - President
Nancy Warnick - 1st Vice President
Teresa M. Vasquez - 2nd Vice President
Ginger Mello - Secretary
Mary Lou Bennett – Treasurer
Josie De La Torre - Director
Cheryl Anderson - Director
Tony Rizos - Director
Alan Annis - Director
Sally A. Ruiz - Director
Jeanne Berkshire - Past President
As an ongoing reminder to save publishing and mailing
costs, all of our 4,800 plus members are encouraged to
request placement on REOKC’s email list by contacting
Mary Lou Bennett at mlbennett36@sbcglobal.net to receive the TREND and timely notices concerning important retirement matters. You may also access past
TREND issues and other important retiree information at
reokc.org.
Don’t forget our next luncheon will be on November 18
(not the 11th - Veterans Day) with serving by table number beginning at 11:30 A.M. The general meeting will
begin at 12:00 Noon.
“If we would learn when the human race really is at bo om, we need only observe it in elec on mes.” ‐ Mark Twain 2
HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM YOUR UPCOMING EVENTS
November 5
KCERA Board Meeting:
Investment/Regular Board
8:30 am
KCERA Office, 11125 River Run Blvd., Bakersfield
November 18 REOKC Board Meeting 10:00 am
Norris Road Veterans’ Hall
November 18
REOKC Lunch 11:30 am—noon
General Meeting
12:00 noon
Norris Road Veterans’ Hall
December 9
*********
REOKC Board Meeting
10:00 am
Norris Road Veterans’ Hall
December 9
REOKC Lunch
11:30 am—noon
General Meeting
12:00 noon
Norris Road Veterans’ Hall
Host/Hostess Project
During the month of August 2014,
32 volunteers worked 96 hours assisting 835 visitors
at the County Administrative Building.
During the month of September 2014,
37 volunteers worked 112 hours assisting 968 visitors
at the County Administrative Building.
Since 1992 our volunteers have worked over 27,000
hours assisting more than 331,000 visitors to the County Administrative Complex at 1115 Truxtun Ave.!
December 10
KCERA Board Meeting:
Investment/Regular Board
8:30 am
KCERA Office, 11125 River Run Blvd., Bakersfield
UPCOMING REOKC PROGRAMS
November 18, 2014:
There is always a need for additional volunteers.
Please contact Mary Lou at 871-5270 if interested.
Our speakers will be: Robin McGarrah with the
Alzheimer’s Disease Association of Kern County,
and Sandy Morris with Christmas for Seniors.
SUNSHINE COMMITTEE NOTICE
December 9, 2014:
Richard Noel, accordionist, will be our musical
entertainment for the Christmas Luncheon.
If you know of any of our members who could
use a get-well or sympathy card, please contact
JOSIE DE LA TORRE at (661) 348-4222
Thank you!
LUNCHEON MENUS
TRAVEL TIPS!
November 18th, 2014
Sliced Tri Tip
Sinful Potatoes—Napa Salad
Creamy Broccoli—Rolls
Pumpkin Pie/Whipped Cream
Iced Tea, Coffee, Water
UPCOMING TRIPS:
7 DAY WESTERN CARIBBEAN CRUISE
May 9—16, 2015
WEST MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE—7 DAYS
June 7—14, 2015
ALASKA CRUISE—7 DAYS
June 19—26, 2015
7 DAY WESTERN COASTAL CRUISE
October 3—10, 2015
Call Julie at The CruisePort (661 324-6910) with any
questions or to make reservations for these or other trips.
3
December 9th, 2014
Holiday Ham & Turkey
Mashed Potatoes—Gravy—Yams
Green Beans—Green Salad
Dressing—Rolls—Cheese Cake
Iced Tea, Coffee, Water
PAYROLL DEDUCTION FORM
“WELCOME!”
To sign up for (or stop) payroll deduction,
check the box(es) below, complete the form,
and submit it to REOKC.
NEW MEMBERS OF THE
RETIRED EMPLOYEES OF
KERN COUNTY
REOKC Luncheon Payment
By checking this box, I authorize KCERA
to deduct $4.00 per month from my pension
benefit as an additional elective payment to
REOKC. This deduction shall begin with
my next pension payment.
ASSESSOR: Harold G Neville
CA CHILDREN SERVICES: Janet K Buehler
CHILD SUPPORT: Valerie Rodriguez
HEALTH DEPARTMENT: Pamela McMasters
HUMAN SERVICES: Andrea Kelley; Wanda
(Sign up for the luncheon payroll deduction
and save $1.00 per meal!)
Morgan-Wallace
INFO. TECH. SERVICES: William Risenhoover
K.C. CALL CENTER: Lynn Hayden
KERN MEDICAL CENTER: Dana Lencioni
MENTAL HEALTH: Monica Hall; Vicki Lueth
PARKS: Barbara Anson; Mark Wayne Meek
ROADS: William J Magner
SHERIFF: Jeri Leavelle-Wheeler; Shirley Teitsworth
SOLID WASTE ENT. FUND: Stephen Schneider
TREASURER-TAX COLLECTOR: John Mattly
REOKC Membership Dues
By checking this box, I authorize KCERA
to deduct $2.00 per month from my pension
benefit as dues for my REOKC membership and to pay that organization. This
deduction shall begin with my next pension
payment. I understand my authorization and
REOKC membership are voluntary and may
be revoked by me, in writing, at any time.
Name (print)___________________________________
Address_______________________________________
City__________________________________________
State___________________ Zip___________________
Phone________________________________________
Email (optional)________________________________
Social Security #_______________________________
Signature_____________________________________
The Grand Canyon trip for REOKC members was the first
major excursion organized by Julie Salazar-Garcia with The
Cruise Port Travel Agency. Future trips are being planned.
Date_________________________________________
Clip out completed form and send to:
REOKC / PO Box 2592 / Bakersfield, CA / 93303
STOP DEDUCTION(S)
Check box to stop your deduction for the
luncheon.
Check box to stop you deduction for
REOKC membership dues.
4
KERN COUNTY HISTORY
Change of Address Form
I’M OLD
By WALTER E. STEWART
Marilyn vos Savant’s column appears
in PARADE magazine in the Sunday
Bakersfield Californian newspaper. She was asked, “What
do people talk about?” She replied, “People talk about themselves.” Well, I’m old and I’m going to talk about myself
and tell lies. I’ll never admit my age but my car insurance
covers accident, theft, fire and Indian raids. I tell people I’m
twenty years older than I am to hear them say how good I
look for my age. I know I’m old because the history that
kids study today I remember as current events. By the time
they finish lighting the candles on my birthday cake, the first
candles have burned out. I remember when the Dead Sea
was alive.
When I ran into a parked car at the shopping mall, people
saw me writing a note and putting it under the windshield
wiper; it read, “As I’m writing this, people are watching me.
They think I’m writing my name, phone number and insurance company, but I’m not.”
I no longer trust my doctor. A patient leaving his office
dropped dead. My doctor told his nurse to turn him around
so it’ll look like he was coming in. I quit that doctor when
my pharmacist staggered out of the pharmacy that just blew
up. He told his apprentice to tell the doctor to not write anymore
prescriptions—
PRINT THEM.
My neighbor irritates
the heck out of me. I told
him every time my wife
and I argue, she becomes
historical. My know-it-all
neighbor corrected me
and said, “You mean hysterical.” NO! I mean historical, she always brings up the past. His wife told him to
change the baby and he brought home a different kid. I remember when his wife was arrested for indecent exposure
and only her face was showing. She was fat and ugly. She
went on a diet and became skinny and ugly. When she died,
the mortician asked my neighbor, “Do you want to embalm,
cremate or just bury her?” He said, “All three, let’s not take
any chances.”
While talking about farm animals with my nine year old
great-grandson, he asked, “Grandpa, *if a sheep is a ram and
a donkey is an a - - , how come a ram in the a - - is a
goose?” I’m old, but I don’t know everything.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and have a wonderful New Year. I’m not kidding. Merry Christmas, Happy
Hanukkah and have a wonderful New Year!
*Milton Berle
5
If your address has changed, in order to receive the
TREND newsletter and other important notices from
REOKC, you must complete this form and send it to
REOKC, PO Box 2592, Bakersfield, CA 93303:
Name_____________________________________
(print)
NEW Address______________________________
City, State, Zip______________________________
OLD Address_______________________________
City, State, Zip______________________________
Signature___________________________________
REOKC USEFUL CONTACTS
KCERA Administration 661-381-7700
www.KCERA.org
 Retirement Check
 Withholding Forms
 Beneficiary Change
 Address Change (& REOKC) *
 Retirement Board Meetings
Retiree Health Benefits 661-868-3182
 County – Health Insurance Div.
REOKC Endorsed Insurance and
Other Supplemental Benefits
 Pacific Group Agencies, Inc.
1-800-817-8838
1-800-511-9065
REOKC Other Related Services
 Trend Editor
 Host/Hostess - Volunteer Program
 Membership
 Address/Email Change *
 Scholarship Program
Mary Lou Bennett 661-871‐5270
mlbenne 36@sbcglobal.net  Luncheon Reservations
Brenda Preston 661-835-0294
 Sunshine (Cards of Expression)
Josie De La Torre 661-348-4222
KCERA Board Retiree Member
 Phil Franey –
franeyp@bak.rr.com
 Alternate—John De Mario
jjdmario@aol.com
HEALTHY NOTES
CHROMIUM
By Audrey Cochran, APRN, BC, CCCN
“Atypical Depression” is marked by the following
signs: craving sweets and other carbohydrates, tendency
to gain weight, especially around your abdomen, tired for
no obvious reason, arms and legs feel heavy as if made of
lead, tendency to nod off or to be excessively sleepy, feelings easily hurt by rejection from others, depression onset
before age 30. According to the psychiatrist author of
Lifting Depression: the Chromium Connection, Malcolm Noell McLeod, M.D., this can be related to a lack of
trace amounts of chromium in your diet. That type of depression is sometimes caused by insulin resistance with a
fasting blood sugar over 100 or high blood pressure; persons matching either of the above descriptions can be
helped by taking between 400 to 1000 micrograms of
chromium picolinate. I ordered the book from Barnes &
Noble and found it a fascinating read, convincing me that
I should try some of his suggestions, even though I have
only some of the symptoms he described.
The National Institutes of Health has an informative
fact sheet on chromium picolinate, which states older people are more vulnerable to chromium depletion than
younger adults. Their public med Abstract states:
Chromium (Cr) picolinate (CrPic) is a widely used nutritional supplement for optimal insulin function. A relationship among Cr status, diabetes, and associated pathologies
has been established. Virtually all trials using CrPic supplementation for subjects with diabetes have demonstrated beneficial effects. Thirteen of 15 clinical studies
(including 11 randomized, controlled studies) involving a
total of 1,690 subjects (1,505 in CrPic group) reported
significant improvement in at least one outcome of glycemic control. All 15 studies showed salutary effects in at
least one parameter of diabetes management, including
dyslipidemia. Positive outcomes from CrPic supplementation included reduced blood glucose, insulin, cholesterol,
and triglyceride levels and reduced requirements for hypoglycemic medication. The greater bioavailability of
CrPic compared with other forms of Cr (e.g., niacinbound Cr or CrCl(3)) may explain its comparatively superior efficacy in glycemic and lipidemic control. The
pooled data from studies using CrPic supplementation for
type 2 diabetes mellitus subjects show substantial reductions in hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia, which
equate to a reduced risk for disease complications. Collectively, the data support the safety and therapeutic value of
CrPic for the management of cholesterolemia and hyperglycemia in subjects with diabetes.
McLeod also suggests taking an Omega-3 Fatty acid
supplement, which I already was, in the form of fish oil 6
(I use Carlsen’s Norwegian Cod Liver Oil available at
Lassens). My mother used to give me cod liver oil in orange juice when I was a child–she was right as mothers
often were without the advances in the science of nutrition from which we can benefit today.
McLeod concludes, “Each person’s body and mind is
different. You should not feel inadequate should medication for insulin resistance be necessary.”
WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER
OUR DECEASED REOKC MEMBERS:
Jewell Adams—General Services
Nellie Albitre—Sheriff
Margaret Carroll—Kern Medical Center
Patsy J Cox—Kern Medical Center
Judith A Davies—Kern Medical Center
Calvin B Fields—Kern Medical Center
Mary F Garner—Human Services
Judith A Gilkey—Kern Medical Center
Erma Hill—Health Department
Katherine S Hoadley—Library
Michael Lage—Sheriff
Anna Louis—NOR Sanitation
Fern Matlock—Sheriff
Gloria McAfee—Kern Medical Center
Carl McCallum—Fire
Eileen McClintock—Health Department
Robert McClure—Purchasing
Eugene Miner—Probation
Jean Nafus—Health Department
Mickie Owen—Sheriff
Rachel L Perry—Fire
Dorothy Sisson—Kern Medical Center
Aldeen Slitor—Health Department
Dorothy Taylor—Sheriff
Edna Thompson—Kern Medical Center
Walter Thompson—Eng./Surv. & Permit
Sylvia L Toppin—Sheriff
Stanley Wallace—Sheriff
Notice: The surviving spouse of a retired Kern County
Employee is eligible for REOKC membership, which
includes all the benefits which were available to the retiree. Just complete the Payroll Deduction Form on Page
4 and mail it to:
REOKC, PO Box 2592, Bakersfield, CA 93303
NOTICE: All views and opinions expressed in the TREND
are solely the representation of each writer. REOKC’s only
intention is to fairly inform our membership. The information presented in the TREND is believed to be from reliable sources. REOKC does not sell or disclose information
about our members to third parties.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
Jewel of the Seas & Oasis of the Seas
7 Day Alaska
June 19—26, 2015
Seattle, Inside Passage, Juneau
Skagway,
7 Day Coastal Cruise
October3—10, 2015
Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, SFO,
Monterey & Ensenada
Tracy Arm Fjord, Victoria
Balcony Cabin $1241.90
Balcony Cabin $2095.29
Outside Cabin $926.40
Outside Cabin $1804.28
Inside Cabin $847.40
Inside Cabin $1310.78
7 Day Western Caribbean
7 Day Western Caribbean
May 9—16, 2015
June 6—13,, 2015
Fort Lauderdale, Labadee, Haiti,
Fort Lauderdale, Labadee, Haiti,
Jamaica & Cozumel
Jamaica & Cozumel
Balcony Cabin $1348.42
Balcony Cabin $1858.92
Outside Cabin $1078.42
Outside Cabin $1537.42
Inside Cabin $965.92
Inside Cabin $1396.92
A deposit of $250.00 per person is required to
hold you cabin. This is a promotional rate and
can expire or increase at any time. Proof of citizenship is required for this trip. Which is a
certified copy of your birth certificate and valid
photo ID or a valid
Every free Kasasa checking account refunds
your ATM fees* – from coast to coast.
*Account approval, qualifications, limits and other requirements apply. See member services representative for details.
Retired Employees of Kern County
P.O. Box 2592
Bakersfield, CA 93303
PRSRT-STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
BAKERSFIELD, CA
PERMIT NO. 349
November & December 2014
Time Dated Material
Official Newsletter of
The Retired Employees of Kern County Inc.
November Luncheon Reservation
November 18th, 2014—11:30 to noon, Veterans’ Hall, 400 NORRIS ROAD. If you wish,
you may use this form to order tickets for this luncheon. Please send your check, made
payable to REOKC, together with a stamped, self-addressed envelope to REOKC, PO Box
40801, Bakersfield, CA 93384-0801. Deadline for reservations is the Wednesday prior
to the luncheon (11/12/14). Phone reservations are not accepted. You may cancel your
reservations by calling Brenda Preston at (661) 835-0294 or Mary Thorp at (661) 832-5578
prior to the deadline. Cancellations after the deadline cannot be refunded.
Member’s name ($5.00)______________________Spouse ($5.00)___________________
Member’s Phone No. (required)____________________ Email_______________________
Guest ($8.00)_______________________ Total tickets____ Amount enclosed $_________
December Luncheon Reservation
December 9th, 2014—11:30 to noon, Veterans’ Hall, 400 NORRIS ROAD. If you wish,
you may use this form to order tickets for this luncheon. Please send your check, made
payable to REOKC, together with a stamped, self-addressed envelope to REOKC, PO Box
40801, Bakersfield, CA 93384-0801. Deadline for reservations is the Wednesday prior
to the luncheon (12/03/14). Phone reservations are not accepted. You may cancel your
reservations by calling Brenda Preston at (661) 835-0294 or Mary Thorp at (661) 832-5578
prior to the deadline. Cancellations after the deadline cannot be refunded.
Member’s name ($10.00)_____________________Spouse ($10.00)___________________
Member’s Phone No. (required)_________________
Email________________________
(Members and Spouses Only—No Guests) Total tickets_____ Amount enclosed $________