NARFE members urged to contact legislators about shutdown

The National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) Bloomfield Chapter 0847 met Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019 at the Casa Sevilla Restaurant in Bloomfield with 17 present.

President Larry Dent welcomed all followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. George Butz gave the invocation before lunch was served.

President Dent brought the business meeting to order after lunch. Mike Padgett, Treasurer, gave the treasury reports for November and December 2018. Member Jim Hert had received correspondence from the banking facility of the former Linton NARFE Chapter that was closed in 2018 showing a small remaining balance that was not available to include in the previous money transfer to the Bloomfield Chapter. President Dent will contact that financial institution to get instructions for final closing of the account.

Karlene Priest, Secretary, read the December meeting minutes followed by the membership and CPI-W reports given by President Dent. Chapter 0847 currently shows 70 members but with the death of Walter Burcham in December, the correct number is 69. The CPI-W report currently indicates a year-to-date (YTD) increase of .17%.

Vice President Jane Barnett held the Half Pot 50/50 drawing, won by Patti Rollins, who donated her half to the Chapter treasury. Jane also gave the Alzheimer’s report which begins a new year of donations.

Vice President Jane Barnett gave the Legislative report stressing the need for all members to contact their legislators and urge them to end the current partial government shutdown which affects approximately 800,000 government employees and is now in its 19th day at the time of this release. Adding insult to injury, President Trump signed an executive order on December 28 to freeze federal pay rates for calendar year 2019. The combination of shutdown and pay freeze hurts employee morale and imperils the financial security of federal public servants and their families. The good news is that Congress has the power to end both the shutdown and pay freeze at any moment. Again, contact your legislators!

In a related matter, Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, wrote to Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Jeff Pon, to express strong opposition to a letter in which the director proposed sweeping cuts and increased contributions to federal employee retirement. Turner took particular issue with OPM’s proposals to increase retirement contributions from current federal employees and to eliminate the cost-of-living (COLA) adjustments for all current and future retirees under the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS).

In old business, President Dent asked members to be prepared to discuss and make decisions for the annual 3B meeting (Bloomfield, Bloomington, and Bedford Chapters) which will be hosted by Bloomfield in August 2019.

During new business, President Dent asked committee chair (Patti Rollins) for the Officer Nominating Committee, including Pat Hamlin and Judy Wright, to report the result of their efforts for officers for calendar year 2019. She reported that all current officers had agreed to serve again. President Dent called for additional nominations from the floor, receiving none. With no additional nominations for any office, a motion was made and seconded that all unopposed candidates be elected by acclimation. In addition to officers selected, other members were appointed by President Dent for the following positions: Public relations/Service officer, Karlene Priest, Legislative/Alzheimer’s fund/Half Pot drawing, Jane Barnett. Patti Rollins will serve as alternate. Chaplain, George Butz and Sunshine Lady, Ginny Schroeder/Patti Rollins. For membership recruitment, any member can assist.

President Dent received email originally from National President Ken Thomas asking for volunteers to serve on four (4) National Committees. Special Committee on Non-dues Revenue, Special Committee on the NARFE Building Charter, Special Committee on the NARFE Centennial Charter, and Special Committee on NARFE membership. Volunteers, if any, can contact President Dent.

The next meeting for Bloomfield NARFE Chapter 0847 will be February 12, 2019 at the Casa Sevilla Restaurant in Bloomfield starting at 1130 a.m. All Federal employees, retirees, and spouses are invited to attend.