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1686 GAZETTE
Newsletter of Chapter 1686 Sunnyslope
Vol. XXXV
JANUARY 2015
No. 3
6
Meetings of Chapter 1686 NARFE held at Cross Roads United Methodist Church, 7901 N.
Central Ave., Phoenix. (S.E. corner of Central & Northern Aves. Enter from Northern Ave.)
NEXT MEETING: Friday, January 16, 2015
Registration - 12:30 p.m.
Meeting - 100 p.m. ~ ~
All Federal Employees, Retirees and their
spouses are most welcome. Refreshments
and fellowship will follow the meeting. ~ ~
PROGRAM: The speaker for the January meeting will be Sharon Knutson-Felix, Executive Director
of Phoenix 100. She will tell what their organization does for the local community. ~ ~
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE (Virginia
Ginter, alnav5@juno.com):
Our Holiday Party
at Ironworks was successful, due
to Clarice, Carol, Jean, Roseanne
and Fred.
There were about eight plus
guests and NARFE members from other Chapters including Ron Adelman our District VII VP
along with his wife. Total attending was 35.
Reviewing our past year - Carol Culbertson
attended the National convention; Chapter had
good participation working the Health Fairs; 35th
Anniversary celebration; variety of very good
speakers with good attendance for most meetings. About seven members attended the Federation Workshop in May.
We also gave donations of money, food,
clothing and toys to Desert Mission. The three
social luncheons during the summer months had
good participation.
Plans for 2015 - Continue with quality
speakers, more focus on Legislative issues.
Lois Gossett is one of three selected from all Arizona chapters to go to Washington for the
NARFE Legislative Conference in March. Our
chapter members are also active with the Task
Force which includes meeting and discussing
issues with other chapters. Planned participation
in May Federation convention.
From Richard Thissen, National
President: "Below are a few of the
NARFE's legislative accomplishments in the 113th Congress. We
will go into 2015 with a strong resolve to continue to execute NARFE's primary mission: "To
support legislation beneficial to current and potential federal annuitants and to oppose legislation contrary to their interests." (Refer to GEMS
website for more details.)
1. NARFE successfully opposed chained CPI
prevented alterations to Federal annuities.
2. Prevented damaging alternatives to Federal
Health Plan.
3. Successfully opposed increased premiums
and loss of FEHBP coverage for postal employees and retirees.
4. Supported addition of self, plus one to
FEHBP.
Looking forward to an active and successful
2015. ~ ~
My Best Year Yet
May this be the year that I love to live.
Have fun, achieve, have much to give.
Pursue, attain, forgive, forget.
In short, may it be my best year yet!
Page 1 of 8.
FIRST VICE PRESIDENT AND PUBLIC
RELATIONS OFFICER’S REPORT (Carol
Culbertson, claudehc@yahoo.com):
2015 is here, it will be an
exciting year. For example, I can
hardly wait to file my 2014 tax
return! Yes, we are surrounded
by Government. Rest assured,
National NARFE including our Region VII VP
Rodney Adelman, the Arizona Federation led
by Etta Bryant, Federation Vice President
Thad Andreski, District 1 Vice President and
our Sunnyslope Chapter 1686 led by Virginia
Ginter, will do their utmost to look after our interests!
Sharing an inspirational story with you:
The Necessity Of Stress by Travis - December 30, 2014.
It's amazing what humanity can learn from
nature. The Biosphere 2 project was created as
a research tool for scientists to study Earth’s
living systems, and it allowed scientists to play
with farming and innovation in a way that didn't
harm the planet. One of the most profound discoveries made by the scientists had nothing to
do with a cure for some new disease or a new
way of farming land. Rather, the discovery had
to do with the wind’s role in a tree’s life. The
trees inside Biosphere 2 grew rapidly, more
rapidly than they did outside of the dome, but
they also fell over before reaching maturation.
After looking at the root systems and outer layers of bark, the scientists came to realize that a
lack of wind in Biosphere 2 caused a deficiency
of stress wood. Stress wood helps a tree position itself for optimal sun absorption and it also
helps trees grow more solidly.
Without stress wood, a tree can grow
quickly, but it cannot support itself fully. It cannot withstand normal wear and tear and survive. In other words, the trees needed some
stress in order to thrive in the long run.
So what can we learn from this about ourselves? For us to reach our full potential, we
need stress too.
Learning to engage with stress and manage the consequences of choices is actually
the richer, more fulfilling road to success. Rather than avoid stress, we need to embrace it Page 2 of 8.
turn our sails toward the wind, make decisions,
and learn to adapt. In the long run - the deeper
your roots will grow, the stronger your skills will
be and the more successful you will become. ~ ~
LEGISLATIVE REPORT (Lois Gossett):
President Barack Obama
signed the 2015 National Defense
Authorization Act, which will give
soldiers a 1 percent pay raise, as
well as a $3 increase in most prescription co-pays. The bill is the result of a compromise in troop benefits reached by the House
and Senate Armed Services Committees.
Below are highlights of the bill: DoD requested "significant increases" to military pharmaceutical co-pays. The committee rejected
this request and approved a limited $3 increase
for selected pharmacy co-pays.
Troop Pay & Allowances: The NDAA upholds
the President's request for a 1 percent pay increase in 2015 for military personnel and the
pay freeze for General and Flag Officers in
FY15. The NDAA also turned away DoD's request for a 5 percent reduction in basic allowance for housing (BAH). Instead, it replaces that
reduction with a 1 percent decrease. This will
not affect veterans' benefits.
Rehiring Federal Annuitants: NDAA includes
a provision that would extend by five years
agency heads' authority to rehire federal annuitants without a salary offset. (this applies to all
agencies)
Presidents Executive Order: Federal employees under the General Schedule will receive a 1
percent pay increase in 2015.
Members of Congress will not get a raise
this year. Nor will the Vice President and certain
senior political appointees covered by the Executive Schedule, after those salaries were frozen
as part of the 2015 spending package.
The President's executive order, however,
keeps locality pay percentages at 2014 levels.
Congress is in recess until next year when
the newly elected will take office. All bills that
were proposed in 2014 will die and any issues
they represented will have to be reintroduced.
KEEP WATCH! ~ ~
SERVICE OFFICER’S REPORT (Richard Yee,
birdy55@yahoo.com):
Happy New Year! This year
2015 should be a pretty good
year for those who are working
and those who are retired. Zero
and eight are good numbers because both go round and round and never end.
The number 2015 is a good example, because
if you add these numbers, 2015 will total 8.
This is the time of the year to gather all of
your documents for the filing of your taxes and
to get the necessary brochures from the IRS.
Some of the booklets that are important for
everyone are the 1040, 1040A, Publication 17
(Your Federal Income Tax), Publication 502
(Medical and Dental Expenses), Publication
525 (Taxable and Nontaxable Income), Publication 554 (Tax Guide for Seniors), and Publication 721 (Tax Guide to U.S. Civil Service Retirement Benefits). Based upon my previous
experience you can go to your nearest IRS Tax
Office to get what you need, and if you are unable to find a publication, you can call 1-800829-3676 to have it sent to you.
Also, the beginning of each year is a good
time to update your F-100 (03-10) - “Be Prepared for Life’s Events.” This is a booklet
about what your survivors should know and it is
a guide to help you organize your personal and
financial information in one location. Your circumstances may have changed in such areas
as finances, insurance, assets, investments,
and the location of your various documents.
And you computer users should provide your
siblings or children with your various user
names and passwords so that they can access
them in case of any emergency. And for those
of you who do not have this booklet, just give
me a call or send me an e-mail and I can make
arrangements to have one sent to you. ~ ~
Minnehaha: A very, very small joke. ~ ~
One of the privileges of old age is to relate experiences
that nobody will believe and give advice that nobody will
follow. ~ ~
MEMBERSHIP REPORT (Clarice Pharo,
clarphx@cox.net):
Happy New Year! Hopefully
we will be able to increase our
Chapter membership in 2015.
Our Activity Reports from the
National NARFE office for November and December show the following: Reinstatements: 2; New Member; 1; Dropped for
non-payment of dues: 3; Transferred out of
chapter to e-Chapter: 1; Deaths: 1.
We ask our members to help in recruiting
new members. If you know of any prospective
members give me their name and address and I
will send them an application form and more information on NARFE. ~ ~
“NARFE needs you and you need NARFE”.
NEW CHAPTER 1686 MEMBER:
Michael Karlson, 4611 E. Onyx Ave., Phx.
Welcome to Chapter 1686 Sunnyslope!
We hope to meet you soon. ~ ~
AREA AGENCY “Lift the Wait” CAMPAIGN:
Thanks to those who contributed to the Area
Agency on Aging campaign.
The proceeds of $71.00 from the Silent Auction at the Chapter Holiday party were donated to
the “Lift the Wait” Campaign. ~ ~
1686 GAZETTE is published eight issues a year
by Chapter 1686, National Active and Retired Federal
Employees (NARFE), 825 E. Cinnabar Ave., Phoenix,
AZ 85020-1732. Members annual dues include subscription to this publication. Non-profit bulk mail rate
permit postage paid at Glendale, AZ. ~ ~
Page 3 of 8.
SUMMARY - MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER
MEETING:
President Virginia Ginter
called the meeting to order at 1:00
p.m. She called for a moment of
silence for Doris T. Walton and all
departed Armed Services men
and women. Col. Tom Burch, our guest speaker for today, led us all in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Col. Tom Burch, who is a volunteer for the
AARP Arizona Driver Safety Program, spoke on
“Negotiating Traffic on the Roads Today.” Col.
Burch retired in 1959 as a Colonel in the Army
after 28 years, and he has a Bachelor of Science degree in Law Enforcement, a Master’s
Degree in Criminology, and a Master of Arts
Degree in Military Science.
Col. Burch held our attention as he spoke
about Arizona’s traffic problems regarding cell
phones and the unrestricted prevalence of
trucks in any lane on the roads. Two basic
rules for senior citizens and drivers of any age
are to be mentally aware and to look around by
scanning the traffic for one second before proceeding. There are about 6.4 million people in
Arizona, and of the driving population, l7% are
drivers over the age 65. By the year 2020, this
will increase to 20%. It is estimated there is an
8% crash rate for seniors over the age of 65,
and 75% of these crashes occur at intersections. If you are driving in Coconino County,
you cannot text or be on the cell phone. Col.
Burch also covered the many problem areas of
dementia, alcohol, medications, and using the
light rail as an alternative to driving. Virginia
presented him with a NARFE cup.
Richard gave the treasurer’s report and
Virginia asked him about the cost of putting out
the newsletter, which was $918 in 2013.
There will be an audit in January.
Membership chair Clarice reminded us that
we have until December 31th to sign up a new
member and receive $20, and to be sure to sign
up for the Holiday Party by December 9th.
Eleanor Dullas, Officer Election chair, reported that the executive board will remain the
same for the year 2015.
Virginia reported that donations for Area
Agency on Aging’s campaign, “Lifting the
Page 4 of 8.
Wait”, has been falling and there are 1037
people waiting for services and aid, and she
passed out envelopes for donations.
Legislative Officer Lois Gossett reported
that federal retirement claims were up during
October. Congressional leaders are focusing on
budget issues that would raise federal employees’ tributions towards retirement, such as paying 5.5% more of their salary toward retirement.
Representative Jason Chaffetz of Utah has introduced a bill to require federal agencies to fire
any employees who are delinquent on paying
their taxes. Another chairman to watch for is
Senator Ron Johnson, who wants a hearing on
whether federal employees are overpaid even
though there has been a three-year freeze on
their pay. Congress needs to pass legislation to
keep the government going beyond December
11, and we need to check Gems which advocates for us. To do this, go to www.narfe.org/
legislation and sign up for GEMS. On the left
page about half-way down, look for “add e-mail
and join Gems”. Click on this and also click the
first bullet in the “Change Email Type”. Reminder: Donate to the NARFE-PAC!
Attendance: 17 members, one guest:.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:40 p.m.
Submitted by Roberta Yee, Secretary ~ ~
AUDIT AND BUDGET COMMITTEE:
The Audit and Budget committee will be
meeting on January 12th to audit the chapter
treasury books and prepare a proposed budget
for 2015.
The proposed budget will be printed in the
February chapter newsletter and discussed and
voted on at the February meeting.
Committee consists of Chairman, Lois
Gossett, Fred Garcia and Clarice Pharo. ~ ~
NARFE 2015 LEGISLATIVE TRAINING
CONFERENCE:
Congratulations to Lois Gossett for being
selected to attend the Legislative Conference in
Arlington, VA in March. Lois is our Chapter
1686 Legislative Officer and will be one of four
from the Arizona Federation to attend the conference this year. ~ ~
BIRTHDAYS: Jan. 16th thru Feb. 15th:
Tom Solnit
Evelyn Fisher
Palmer Baken
Steven Rabatin
Charles Kelber
Terrence Loyer
Annette Fischer
Edith Hanna
Caroline Deegan
-
Jan. 31
Feb. 01
Feb. 01
Feb. 08
Feb. 09
Feb. 10
Feb. 11
Feb. 14
Feb. 15
Best Wishes!
ANNIVERSARIES (over 50 years):
Mr. & Mrs. Palmer Baken
Jan. 15th - 71 years
BIRTHDAY DRAWINGS:
If you find the Hidden Birthdate in this newsletter and it’s yours, you will receive a NARFE
cup.
If your name is drawn from the list of
birthdates in the newsletter, you will also receive
a cup. You must be present in either case.
The Hidden Birthday for November was for
Barbara Campbell, who was not present.
Wanda Hauger’s name was drawn from the
birthdays listed in the newsletter. She was not
present. ~ ~
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING:
The February Board meeting will be held
on February 5th in the Library Room at the
Cross Roads Church at 1:00 p.m. All members
are welcome to attend these meetings. ~ ~
50/50 WINNERS:
Fred Garcia collected $30.00 for the 50/50 at
the November meeting. The chapter treasury received $16.00 and Edline Van Beers and Elaine
Caves each received $7.00. ~ ~
SUNSHINE REPORT (Carol Ehle,
carollehle@gmail.com):
Our Sunshine Lady has not been feeling well
lately. We wish you a speedy recovery, Carol..
We received word that our long-time
member, Jesse Pate, passed away recently.
No other information available at this time. ~ ~
REFRESHMENTS:
Refreshments for the November meeting were furnished by Marlyne
Falk, Tressie Annand and Dan Gilchrist. Thank
you. ~ ~ 5-9
ELECTION OF CHAPTER OFFICERS:
ADDRESS CHANGES:
The following chapter officers were installed at the Holiday Party:
We ask, again, if you have a change of address or e-mail, let Fred or Clarice know. We
still have some newsletters that are being returned because of incorrect addresses.
The chapter is charged for any returned
mail and we would like to keep the mailing lists
up-to-date.
. Thank you. ~ ~
Elected:
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
-
Appointed:
Legislation
Membership
Service Officer
Public Relations
Editor
- Lois Gossett
- Clarice Pharo
- Richard Yee
- Carol Culbertson
- Clarice Pharo ~ ~
Check out our AZ Federation Web page at:
http://www.narfeaz.com
Virginia Ginter
Carol Culbertson
Roberta Yee
Richard Yee
Page 5 of 8.
DATES TO REMEMBER:
Jan. 14, 2015 (Wed.)
Jan. 16, 2015 (Fri.)
Feb. 20, 2015 (Fri.)
Mar. 20, 2015 (Fri.)
Apr. 17, 2015 (Fri.)
May 3 –5, 2015
-
District 1 & 5 Task Force Mtg., Ginter Residence, 1902 W. Joan de Arc Ave, Phx.
Chapter 1686 Monthly Mtg., Cross Roads Church, Northern & Central Aves., Phx.
Chapter 1686 Monthly Mtg., Cross Roads Church, Northern & Central Aves., Phx
Chapter 1686 Monthly Mtg., Cross Roads Church, Northern & Central Aves., Phx.
Chapter 1686 Monthly Mtg., Cross Roads Church, Northern & Central Aves., Phx.
Federation Convention, Windermere Hotel in Sierra Vista, AZ ~ ~
DID YOU KNOW?
♦
Pam cooking spray will dry finger nail polish.
♦
For shiny hair use brewed Lipton tea.
♦
To remove labels from glassware, rub with
peanut butter.
♦
For dirty grout, use Listerine.
♦
Minor burns, Colgate or Crest toothpaste.
♦
Grass stains, use Karo Syrup
♦
Bee stings, meat tenderizer.
♦
To keep flowers fresh longer, add a little
Clorox or two Bayer aspirin,
♦
Puffy eyes, Preparation H..
♦
Athletes feet, cornstarch
♦
Sweat stains, use Efferdent or vinegar.
♦
Kool Aid cleans dishwasher pipes. Just put it
in the detergent section and run a cycle.
♦
Candles last longer if put in freezer 3 hours
before burning. ~ ~
We sincerely thank the First Credit Union for supporting our newsletter with their monthly advertisement.
Stop in and visit them at 803 East Devonshire Ave., Phoenix, AZ ~ ~
THIS CREDIT UNION IS FEDERALLY INSURED BY THE NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION
Page 6 of 8.
HIGHLIGHTS OF CHAPTER 1686 HOLIDAY
PARTY:
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
Party was held on December 19th at the
Ironworks Restaurant with 35 members and
friends in attendance.
Carol Culbertson was the Master of Ceremonies and Lynn Engles was the Greeter.
Federation Vice President Thad Andreski
installed the Chapter 1686 Executive Board
for 2015.
Region VII Vice President Rodney Adelman
commented on the Federation and about
starting his new position as Region VII Vice
President.
The Silent Auction, set up by Jean Rigtrup
and Roseanne Sonchik, donated the proceeds to Area Agency on Aging “Lifting the
Wait” Campaign.
Lynn Engles and Violet Toy each made
$15.00 on the 50/50 drawing. $29.00 went
into the chapter treasury.
Clarice Pharo won the Losers’ Prize.
Door Prizes
winners
were:
Cecilia
Casaneda, John Curth, Mercille Curth, Bunny Rabinowitz, Becky Dullas, Eleanor
Dullas, Marlyne Falk, Fred Garcia, Virginia
Ginter, Lois Gossett, Edith Hanna, Clarice
Pharo, Roseanne Sonchik, Violet Toy. Prizes were donated by Blue Cross, GEHA, First
Credit Union and members.
The food and service were good and everyone enjoyed the afternoon. ~ ~
DONATIONS FOR DESERT MISSION:
Thanks to the members who brought toys
to the November meeting for the Mission to distribute to the children for Christmas.
January is the month to bring your donations for Desert Mission. Bring non-perishable
food items, usable clothing, items that can be
sold in their Thrift Store or cash to the January
meeting. They will be delivered to the Mission
following the meeting.
Thank you. ~ ~
NEW FEDERATION NEWSLETTER:
The Arizona Federation has contracted for
a new newsletter.
Starting in March 2015, it will be
sent quarterly to all NARFE members
in Arizona at no cost to the Federation. Cost
will be borne by advertisers.
Chapters are encouraged to submit articles
for this publication. They should be sent to Bob
Elgines. ~ ~
NARFE DUES SCHEDULE:
$ 40 ~ 1 yr.
National, plus Chapter Dues
$ 72 ~ 2 yrs., National, plus Chapter Dues
$102 ~ 3 yrs., National, plus Chapter Dues
$ 34 ~ 1 yr., National, Dues W/holding,
plus Chapter Dues
We hope all our NARFE members
had a very Merry Christmas.
And we wish them
(Retirees only eligible for Dues W/holding.)
$ 10 ~ 1 yr., Chapter
$ 40 ~ New Member, first year only
(Includes National and Chapter Dues.) ~ ~
all the best for 2015!
January
2015
Stone - Garnet
Flower - Carnation
Page 7 of 8.
NARFE
Nat’l. Active & Retired Fed. Employees Assn.
Chapter 1686 Sunnyslope
Clarice M. Pharo, Editor
825 E. Cinnabar Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85020-1732
Time Value
JANUARY 2015
Address Service Requested
Dated Material
CHAPTER 1686 EXECUTIVE BOARD:
President:
1st V. President:
Secretary:
Treasurer:
Virginia Ginter
602 942-6093
Carol Culbertson
602 943-7834
Roberta Yee
623 337-4498
623 337-4498
Richard Yee
8844 W. Kings Ave.
Peoria, AZ 85382-3511
Legislative:
Lois Gossett
Unlisted
Membership:
Clarice Pharo
602 943-4753
Service Officer: Richard Yee
623 337-4498
Public Relations: Carol Culbertson
602 943-7834
Clarice Pharo
602 943-4753
Editor:
* * * * * * * * * *
Dist. 1 V. Pres.:
Fed. President:
Fed. V. Pres.
Reg. VII VP
Ron Castaneda
Etta Bryant
Thad Andreski
Rodney Adelman
623 546-5596
520 578-0848
928 252-6743
623 505-4719
God Bless America!
Page 8 of 8.
COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN:
Sunshine, Carol Ehle:
602 943-7308
Greeter, Lynn Engles:
602 265-3750
Membership Records,
Fred Garcia:
623 878-7007
Attendance and 50/50
Fred Garcia:
623 878-7007
Refreshments, Clarice Pharo: 602 943-4753
Telephone Chairman,
Virginia Ginter:
602 942-6093
NARFE-Pac Coordinator, Vacant
Asst. to Editor, Jean Rigtrup: 602 841-1203
CHAPTER TELEPHONE CALLERS:
Richard Yee
Roberta Yee
Joan Ashton
Barbara Campbell
Carol Ehle
Need a Caller
-
Addie to Clark
Carlos to Gilchrist
Ginter to Kelber
Kelleman to Miller
Moed to Schultz
Solnit to Zandee
Contact Virginia (602 942-6093) if you would
like to be a caller. Thank you. ~ ~