MOUNT BALDY NEWS



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VOLUME V ISSUE 5 May 1, 2014

Follow us on Facebook Mt Baldy Chapter #1497

'Tweet us after finding us on Twitter at NARFE Chapter 1497.'

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MT. BALDY CHAPTER #1497 MEETINGS WILL BE ON THE SECOND WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH AT COCO’S,

60 W. FOOTHILL BLVD, (corner of Euclid and Foothill Blvds.) UPLAND, CA, AT 1:00pm May 14, 2014: Denis Sandoval, an expert in senior law, will talk about living trusts.

June 11, 2014: Picnic Magnolia Park, Upland

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It appears that NARFE will be experiencing significant changes due to declining membership, less member participation and fewer members willing to take on leadership roles. I’m glad that the NARFE leadership is taking action to remedy these problem areas. They have established a Future of NARFE (FON) Committee consisting of smart individuals that will be seeking a solution and ensure that NARFE will continue to have a bright future. One of the future changes will be to open membership in the Association to everyone to include retired and former military and spouses of members-bring your wife or husband to the Chapter meeting. Let’s face it, without NARFE there will be no entity that will support legislation beneficial to current and potential federal annuitants and to oppose legislation contrary to their interests. Believe me when I tell you that there are current bills on the Hill that can seriously jeopardize our retirement benefits!

Now for some good news, our chapter attendance has increased with many guest visitors wanting to know what NARFE Chapter meetings are all about and also the opportunity to listen to our guest speakers who have much important information to share regarding retirement issues. Also the great food served at Coco’s restaurant and socializing with other retired federal employees.

A big reminder is our upcoming summer picnic this June 11th. Information will be provided in the newsletter as to time and location-so please mark your calendar and plan to attend. Fellow retirees, continue enjoying your federal retirement and think NARFE!!

MARCO RODRIGUEZ

President, Mt. Baldy, NARFE Chapter 1497

Find us on Facebook:

And spx for current information regarding our Chapter.

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NARFE MT. BALDY

CHAPTER #1497

April 9, 2014, Meeting

There were17 people attending: 14 members and 3 guests Di Anderson, Doris Pivovaroff and Lupe Rodriquez. Kathleen Jeffery welcomed the guests and first time attendees Bonnie Gagner, Sandra Dunn and Elsie Millet. There were no new members.

MINUTES: Secretary Will Patton reported on the highlights of the March meeting.

TREASURER REPORT: President Marco

Rodriquez is filling in as Treasurer since Lorraine Brannen has regretfully resigned because of health reasons. Marco reported that our bank statement shows that we have $3,484.35 on hand.

MEMBERSHIP REPORT: Second VicePresident and Membership Chairman Stan Dack reported our membership is 157 with 11 National only (non-voting). He requested from National the number of E-Chapter members who reside in our Chapter area. (Will Patton commented that he probably will not receive it, since these people specifically do not wish to be members of a local chapter.) Four members were dropped for nonrenewal. One member Adele Hart transferred out of our chapter. One member James Mansfield of Claremont, CA passed away on April 3, 2014.

Stan attempts to call and e-mail folks who are on our rolls, but have not graced us with their presence lately. Invitations to attend our meeting were sent to 4 prospective members listed by National. One decline, 2 addresses were bad and one had an appointment.

SUNSHINE & HOSPITALITY REPORT:

Martha Trimillos was absent because of illness. Emil Trimillos reported that Martha had sent cards to two people. The Chapter requested that she send cards to Joanne Ghidotti, to Lorraine Brannen and to the family of James Mansfield.

SOCIAL COMMITTEE REPORT: Ernestine

Abogado had nothing new to report. Bernice Minnis reported that she had the plastic ware for the picnic and would give to Ernestine the month before the picnic so that she can inventory the supplies.

LEGISLATIVE REPORT: President Marco

Rodriguez gave the Legislative Report. He noted that the Report of the Future of NARFE (FON) Committee was accepted and recommendations were adopted. The number of regions will be changed from 8 to 5. By-Law changes to implement the FON report will be voted on at the convention in Florida in August. It could make joining a chapter optional. One proposal is to open the membership up to youth under 26 for $10 a year.

The Postal Reform Act as proposed would remove Postal Retirees and Employees from FEHB. They would have to enroll in Medicare Part B if they were eligible. NARFE opposes the Postal Reform Bill.

He noted that many older employees are not planning to retire in 2014 because of the economy.

He reported that the Consumer Price Index for the elderly (CPI-E) is more generous because older persons spend more of their income on medical care. Medical care inflation and shelter for the elderly have increased significantly more than other areas.

He also reported that there is a bill in the house to authorize a 3.3 percent pay raise for Federal Employees.

NEWSLETTER EDITOR REPORT: Will Patton

reported the April newsletter was sent by e-mail on Saturday morning before the meeting. He asked that articles for the May newsletter be sent to him by 24 April.

NARFE PAC Coordinator Stan Dack called our attention to the cover of the NARFE magazine which is a return envelope and form for donating to our NARFE-PAC. He noted that the money is kept separate from other NARFE money and that a Committee after consultation with local chapters gives the money to candidates for Congress who are friendly to federal workers and retirees.

SERVICE OFFICER REPORT: Joanne Ghidotti

was absent, but Will Patton read her report. She had 2 inquiries for assistance; one regarding divorce and one regarding Social Security.

ALZHEIMER’S REPORT: Marco quoted from

the latest CSFC Alzheimer’s report on progress in detecting the likely hood of coming down with the disease.

LUNCH was served as the guest speaker arrived at 2:00 pm.

GUEST SPEAKER: Mr. Bob Endicott spoke on two organizations: Fun-After-Fifty and AARP Chapter 781. Mr. Endicott is the President of

AARP Chapter 781 and a past President of FunAfter-Fifty. He explained that you do not have to be single to attend the Fun-After-Fifty meetings. He felt that a retired person should join AARP for the discounts offered to its members by businesses.

President Rodriguez thanked Mr. Endicott for his presentation and presented him a certificate of appreciation from the Chapter.

NEW BUSINESS: The Minnis family has been attending other Chapter meetings in our district. Clark prefers the way our meetings are run.

GOOD OF THE ORDER:

Alzheimer’s 50/50 drawing: No drawing held.

EMIL’S LUCKY DAY! Marco and Maria Rodriguez Free Lunch: Emil Trimillos won the free lunch.

Attendance Award with $25 in the kitty. Emil Trimillos’ name was drawn, and he was presented a check for $25. The Award will be $5 in May 2014.

First Vice-President Kathleen Jeffry reminded those present that next month’s speaker Denis Sandoval is an expert in senior law and will talk about living trusts.

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OUR MAY SPEAKER DENIS SANDOVAL

Dennis Sandoval is the only attorney in California that has certifications in the three areas of estate planning, elder law and taxation. Dennis serves as the Director of Education for the American Academy of

Estate Planning Attorneys (AAEPA). The AAEPA is a nationwide membership organization of attorneys concentrating their law practices in estate planning. He is also one of only nine California members of the Special Needs Alliance, a nationwide membership organization of attorneys interested in advancing the care of special needs persons through proper planning. Dennis serves on many boards and advisory committees to professional groups, universities and businesses in the Riverside and San Bernardino area.

By Diana Ramirez, CMC, MG, BSW

Elder and Disability Care Coordinator

Dennis M. Sandoval, A Professional Law Corporation

3233 Arlington Avenue Ste 105

Riverside, CA 92506 951-787-7711 diana@protect-your- websites:

protect-your- cal-elder-

August 24-28, 2014: National Convention, Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, FL

April 29 & 30, 2015: CSFC Convention, San Luis Obispo, CA.

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NARFE CHAPTER PRESIDENT GOES TO PRISON

For the past 2 years, Marco Rodriguez who is our Mt. Baldy Chapter President has been visiting the Norco and Chino State Prisons. Marco holds the title of Toastmaster District 12, Division E, Area E-5 Governor. He visits the prisons on a weekly basis to mentor the prisoners in public speaking and to provide support. He helps the inmates to build their confidence and to effectively express themselves in any situation. They learn to formulate and express their ideas and are more persuasive and confident when giving presentations. They also improve their one-onone dealings with others.

Toastmasters offers inmates an opportunity to have a future different from their past and to learn better communication, higher self-esteem and how to work with others. Once these inmates are released into society, they will have strong communications skills that will enable them to find employment and build relationships with friends and family members. Hopefully these newly acquired skills will prevent recidivism.

Marco said the first visit was the hardest and very scary. But once he had interacted with the inmates, he continues to return because he finds the experience rewarding for both the inmates and himself.

MARCO RODRIGUEZ, President, Mt.

Baldy, NARFE Chapter 1497

Toastmaster District 12, Division E, Area E5 Governor.

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HUMOUR WITHOUT PROOFREADERS

Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.

Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered. The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility. Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow.

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CONGRESSIONAL

REPRESENTATIVES FOR MT BALDY

CHAPTER #1497

CD-27 JUDY CHU (D)

Pasadena 626 304 0110 D.C. 202 225-5464

CD-31 GARY G. MILLER (R)

Rancho Cucamonga 909-980-1492

D.C. 202-225-3201

CD-32 GRACE NAPOLITANO (D)

DEl Monte 626-350-0150 D.C .202-225-5256

CD-35 GLORIA NEGRETE McLeod (D)

Montclair 909-626-2054 D.C. 202-225-6161 CD-39 ED ROYCE (R)

Brea T (714) 255-0101 | (909) 420-0010

D.C. T (202) 225-4111 F (202) 226-0335

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Alzheimer's Research Newsletter for CSFC APRIL 2014

Alzheimer's Research total as of January 31, 2014 was $10,702,345. We are well on our way to meet the $11,000,000 goal. Thanks to all who so generously donate.

POSSIBLE ALZHEIMER'S BLOOD TEST

SPURS OPTIMISM-CONCERN UT San

Diego March 11, 2014 By Paul Sisson

A new study is generating hope - and international attention-that a sample blood test may be able to determine who will develop Alzheimer's disease.

The test would be a major milestone because current methods of detecting the progressive neurological affliction are expensive and invasive. A relatively lowtech alternative, like a blood test, could greatly expand the number of participants in clinical trials needed to create Alzheimer's drugs and therapies.

The study published on line March 9 of this year in the journal Nature Medicine, was conducted by researchers at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. and the University of Rochester in New York. It found low levels of certain lipid fats in the blood of 28 seniors, all age 70 or older, who developed Alzheimer's or mild cognitive impairment. About 500 other seniors who did not show signs of Alzheimer's had normal to high levels of those lipids.

Looking for the 10 markers of Alzheimer's, then, could yield an early warning of who is on the path to developing Alzheimer's. Authors of the new study believe scientists and doctors can use the lipid method to predict onset "within a two-three year time frame with over 90% accuracy"

Dr. Mark Mapstone, the paper's lead author, said March 10 that the public should not expect to start getting blood tests for Alzheimer's anytime soon. More research is needed to verify that the initial results are valid and whether the analysis can be effective for people in their 40s and 50s. Earlier detection could give patients and health providers more options for preventing, halting or slowing the disease.

Beyond the issues of accuracy and effectiveness, a test that can predict with near certainty who will develop the disease also comes with complex moral questions. Effective treatments need to be developed before widespread use of such a test. Persons taking the test could be devastated if they are unprepared to receive the diagnosis.

Dr. Mapstone said the preferred method for moving forward and validating the initial results is to do what's called a retrospective study, which examines blood samples given to other labs for other studies. He says he has already been contacted by many researchers who have volunteered samples that might help get the job done. Laura Wilcox—

CSFC Alzheimer's Coordinator

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SERVICE OFFICER CORNER

MAY 2014

by Joanne Ghidotti

SUBJECT: Designation of Beneficiary for Federal

Employees’ Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Various life events may make it advisable to change one’s Designation of Beneficiary (SF 2823). Active employees can obtain the form from their Employing Agency. Retirees can order the form by phone at 1-888767-6738; by email at retire@, providing the number of the form and return mailing address; or by writing to OPM at P.O. Box 45, Boyers PA 16017-0045. By Internet Retirees can go to , click on

“Insurance” at the top of the page; click on “Life

Insurance” in the left column; click on “Designating a

Beneficiary” in the left column; click on the “Forms for Designations” tab; and click on “SF 2823”. The necessary information to complete the form can be typed in and the entire form can be printed. Both Active employees and Retirees must submit hard copies of the completed forms as they require original signatures of the Insured and two (2) Witnesses. Active employees should submit the form to their Employing Agency; Retirees should submit the form to OPM. In both cases, Section E of the form will be completed to show receipt and a copy will be returned to the Insured for his or her records.

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Check out this website for recent quake activity in California and Nevada.

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CHAPTER 1497 ELECTED OFFICERS

PRESIDENT, LEGISLATIVE CHAIR &

PUBLICITY

MARCO N. RODRIGUEZ

(909)590-1849

Mnrodriguez770@

1st. VICE-PRESIDENT KATHLEEN JEFFERY

(909)621-3519

Kayjay251@

2nd. VICE-PRESIDENT, MEMBERSHIP,

TELEPHONE COMMITTEE & NARFE PAC

COORDINATOR

STANLEY DACK

(909)628-8853 standack@

3rd. VICE-PRESIDENT, SECRETARY, NEWSLETTER

EDITOR & PARLIAMENTARIAN

WILL PATTON

(909) 623-5700

Will91766@

TREASURER & ALZHEIMER’S CHAIRWOMAN

Vacant

CHAPLAIN & GREETER

Vacant

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS

MARIA RODRIGUEZ

(909)590-1849

Mnrodriguez770@

ASST NEWSLETTER EDITOR & ASST HISTORIAN

EMIL TRIMILLOS

(909) 591-3455

Trimillos1938emil@

CHAPTER 1497 COMMITTEE CHAIRS HISTORIAN VACANT

SUNSHINE & TELEPHONE

MARTHA TRIMILLOS

(909) 591-3455

Trimillos1938emil@

SERVICE OFFICER

Joanne Ghidotti

(909) 628-8774 ghidottijoannec@

SOCIAL COMMITTEE CHAIRWOMAN

ERNESTINE ABOGADO

(626) 257-8011

NARFE NET COORDINATOR

Vacant

DISTRICT III VICE-PRESIDENT NICK SCHESTOPLE

(951)303-3107 csfcdvp3@

NARFE CSFC PRESIDENT

RICHARD OSTERGREN, (559) 855-2970, mailto:rcoo@

Honoring Our Public Servants

Connecting Citizens with Their Government

May 4–10, 2014

Celebrated the first week of May since 1985, Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW) is time set aside to honor the men and women who serve our nation as federal, state, county and local government employees and ensure that our government is the best in the world.

The theme for PSRW 2014 is Proud to Serve. We encourage government employees and leaders alike to take the opportunity to communicate the benefits and value of the work they do. To help spread the word, like us on Facebook and join the conversation on Twitter: #PSRW and #Proud2ServeUSA.

PSRW is organized annually by the Public Employees Roundtable (PER) and its member organizations. PER will kick off PSRW 2014 with its second annual Public Service 5K run/walk in Washington, D.C. Other feature events in Washington include a public town hall meeting with Cabinet secretaries, a Washington Nationals baseball game and a congressional breakfast to announce the finalists of the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals.

Throughout the country, mayors, governors, agency leaders, communities and public service organizations participate in PSRW by issuing proclamations; hosting award ceremonies and special tribute events; and delivering messages about the value of public service.

Public servants deserve our thanks throughout the year and we invite you to continue honoring them for the work they do each and every day. Ideas range from sending messages of thanks to holding appreciation events to highlighting employee accomplishments on your website or newsletter. For additional suggestions, please download our How to Celebrate PSRW Guide.

NARFE's Legislative Action Center has been updated to include a Letter to the Editor template for members to complete and send to the newspapers in your local area. The "Media Guide" on the Legislative Action Center makes this easy,

and adding your own content will make the letter even more likely to be published.

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LETTER FROM OUR NARFE PRESIDENT

Dear NARFE Member,

I want to provide an update on the proposals that

the National Executive Board (NEB) will bring to the NARFE

National Convention, August 24-28 in Orlando, FL.

The NEB plans to ask delegates to the National Convention to pass a general resolution and two bylaw amendments growing out of the Future of NARFE Committee report and recommendations.

The general resolution seeks delegates’ agreement

“that the NEB continue developing the model for

Future NARFE using the Future of NARFE Committee report as the foundation, and provide implementing resolutions and bylaw amendments for consideration at the 2016 National Convention.”

The resolution has been the source of some misunderstanding, and the NEB wants to clarify its intent. To be clear, the resolution does not seek approval for implementation of the Future of NARFE (FON) Committee report and recommendations. The resolution seeks agreement only for strategic planning, with stakeholder participation, to decide the best organization for the future of the Association. The results of the planning may, or may not, include the ideas contained in the FON Committee report.

The two amendments to the NARFE Bylaws would: Reduce the number of National Officers from four to two, retaining only a National President and National Treasurer and abolishing the National Vice

President and National Secretary positions; and Make membership in chapters optional rather than mandatory as it has been since 1988.

On the advice of the Association’s attorney, the NEB has withdrawn plans to offer two additional amendments. One proposed to open nonvoting membership in the Association to individuals who are not eligible for a federal annuity; the other

proposed creation of a discounted membership for individuals under age 26. The proposals require additional analysis. Sincerely,

Joseph A. Beaudoin

National President

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March Consumer Price News

On April 15, the Labor Department’s Bureau of

Labor Statistics (202-691-6994) reported the

Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and

Clerical Workers (CPI-W). The CPI-W for March is

232.560, an increase of 0.73 percent for the month (the February index was 230.871). At the halfway point in the measurement year, consumer prices have risen 0.97 percent when compared to the 2013 third-quarter base index (230.327). April consumer price indices will be released May 15. More information is available to members on the NARFE website.

Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive Is May 10th

NARFE is again pleased to support the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, the largest one-day food drive in our country, on Saturday, May 10. In solidarity with the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) and the National Rural Letter Carriers Association (NRLCA), we urge each NARFE member to plan now to collect and bag nonperishable food items and place the bag by your mailbox for your city or rural letter carrier on Saturday, May 10. The NALC website has more details on the 22nd annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.

Planning, Mapping, Coordinating Grass-Roots

Advocacy Month

Before chapters go dark for the summer, President Beaudoin urges members and leaders to plan to use upcoming weeklong recesses, and the month-long August recess, to meet with House AND Senate candidates – incumbents, their challengers and open-seat candidates. The Chained CPI proposal

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may not be gaining headlines, but threats to current and future federal retirees are never far away. Chapter, district and federation officers, working together, need to plan now for a successful summer of advocacy. See “Grass-Roots Advocacy Month to Focus on Candidate Meetings” on page 9 of the May issue of narfe magazine.

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Parties stake out dueling positions on federal workforce issues

• By Eric Yoder, April 8 at 12:05 pm

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House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan

(R-Wis.) left, and Rep. Chris Van Hollen (DMd.), the committee’s ranking Democrat, on

April 2. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

The size of the federal workforce and the amount employees pay toward their retirement benefits will be among the issues in competing budget plans the House is set to consider starting today.

A spending outline for the upcoming fiscal year approved on a party-line vote by the House Budget Committee aims to shrink the workforce by attrition and require employees to share equally with the government in funding civil service retirement benefits. However, a vote also is scheduled on a Democratic-sponsored plan that rejects both those ideas.

The plan from Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) would allow agencies to fill only one of three vacancies, with an exception for national security positions, with an eye to reducing the workforce by 10 percent.

However, the alternative from ranking committee Democrat Chris Van Hollen of Maryland says that “proposals to implement an indiscriminate 10 percent across-the-board cut to the Federal civilian workforce would adversely affect security agencies, leaving them unable to manage their total workforce, which includes contractors, and their operations in a cost-effective manner.”

It says that “nearly all” of the growth in federal civilian employment since 2001 has been in security-related agencies such as the Defense, Homeland Security, Veterans Affairs and Justice Departments. The increase “in part, represents a transition to ensure civil servants, as opposed to private contractors, are performing inherently governmental work and an increase to a long-depleted acquisition and auditing workforce at the Pentagon to ensure effective management of weapons systems programs, to eliminate the use of contractors to oversee other contractors, and to prevent waste, fraud and abuse.”

According to the White House’s recently released budget plan, federal civilian employment outside the Postal Service as measured by work-year equivalents grew from 1.7 million in fiscal 2001 to 1.9 million in fiscal 2009 and to an estimated 2.1 million currently. It further says that the four departments cited in the Democratic plan now account for 65.9 percent of the federal workforce, up from 58.8 percent in 2001 (with the Homeland Security portion at the time spread among other agencies).

The Democratic alternative also contains no requirement for employees to pay more toward

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their retirement benefits, in contrast to the Ryan plan that for most employees would mean an increase in that contribution of about 5.5 percentage points. Nor does it reflect the Ryan plan’s call to end a supplemental retirement benefit paid to many federal workers who retire before 62 and also end a student loan reimbursement program available to agencies as a recruitment and retention incentive.

Both plans are silent regarding a 2015 federal pay raise, in effect leaving room for the 1 percent boost the White House has proposed. Last year, by taking no position on a raise through the entire budget process, Congress allowed the administration’s proposal for a 1 percent January 2014 raise to take effect by default.

Some House Democrats have separately proposed a 3.3 percent raise. Pay raise decisions typically are finalized in a separate appropriations bill.

Several other budget alternatives also have been cleared for a vote, including the White House’s own plan and one from a group of House conservative Republicans that would among other things end the authority for “official time,” on-the-clock time for certain union duties used by federal employees who also serve as union officials.

The competing plans stake out positions on issues but the “budget resolution” itself is expected to go no farther since the Senate already has said it will not draft a counterpart. It instead is proceeding straight to writing appropriations bills, using a budget agreement reached last December as its outline.

NOTE: Rep. Darrell Issa continues with plans to introduce legislation to overhaul the US Postal Service that more closely tracks with a White House plan, a move that the California Republican hopes will help rally more Democrats, congressional aides say.

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MOUNT BALDY NEWS

NARFE CHAPTER #1497

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