BEEHIVE CHIMES Newsletter of UTAH FEDERATION OF CHAPTERS Isabel Sullivan, Editor FEBRUARY 2017 Website: Narfe.org/site/UT PRESIDENT S MESSAGE Our Utah Federation has unfortunately seen yet another chapter close due to inability to fill officer positions to keep the chapter functioning. While understanding the difficulty our older and aging members face in trying to fill positions, it seems that whatever voice and influence NARFE members (should & must) have is going to be up to the younger members of NARFE, either still working or just newly retired. In today s world, communication via electronic means (e-mail, twitter, facebook etc) is more important than ever. Our National legislative team is working hard to bring reports and information to us. They also make it easy for us to contact our legislators regarding their sponsorship (or lack of) for NARFE supported bills, and to impart to them our opinions regarding the on-going efforts to diminish & discredit federal employment. We must, as active employees, retirees, and annuitants, double our efforts to be vigilant, vocal, and supportive of those legislators who act in our best interests, and be equally vocal to those who do not. Those of you who have been reluctant to share your e-mail address with NARFE, please reconsider you're missing a lot of up to date information and easy links to correspond with your senators and representatives. Your information is not shared with any other organization, and you can decide which reports you want to receive. It doesn't cost you anything but a few minutes; and you may find yourself learning things you don't learn from the magazine or the nightly news. Winter is going to be with us for a little while longer, so please continue to observe the winter safety rules, and stay warm and safe Marla Ramey, President, Utah Federation 435-882-3876 or marlaramey54@gmail.com Ph:
FROM THE JANUARY 2017 ALZHIEMER S NEWSLETTER: The new year is a time to reaffirm our commitments and resume our work to achieve our goals. As we begin 2017, the Alzheimer's Association is grateful for the continued support of NARFE members in our research and policy efforts to bring us closer to our vision of a world without Alzheimer's. In this issue, as we look at how both research and advocacy have a role to play in addressing the disparities in the disease's impact on women, we invite you to join us at the Alzheimer's Association Advocacy Forum in Washington, D.C., on March 27-29. This year's Forum features speakers including Alzheimer's champion Maria Shriver, co-host of NBC's "Access Hollywood" Liz Hernandez and former White House Press Secretary Mike McCurry.Early-bird registration is available until March 3. LEGISLATION We have a new President and the 115 th Congress is underway. There are expected to be changes to our Federal community including: Increasing the share that federal employees and retirees pay for their health benefits thru FEHBP Eliminating retiree health benefits for new hires Lowering the rate of return on the TSP G Fund to near zero Increasing federal employee contributions toward retirement w/o increasing benefits Eliminating FERS annuity for new hires Reducing the federal workforce through attrition Instituting pay freezes or limits on future pay increases Reducing merit-service principles/due process protections Calculating annuities based on the highest five years READ more about the potential threats to your earned pay and benefits on Page 24 of the February NARFE magazine. CONTACT your members of Congress NOW, 866-220-0044 or the local numbers on the last page of the Chimes.
An excerpt from President Thissen s weekly hotline message: NARFE looks forward to continuing to serve as a trusted, unbiased source of information for President Trump and his administration. Our advocacy efforts will continue on behalf of the five million federal employees and annuitants as well as their spouses and survivors. NARFE will remain vigilant of any attacks on the federal community and continue it's aggressive lobbying in defense of the its members. Nancy Carlson-Gotts, Federation Vice President, Legisllation NEWS FROM CHAPTERS SALT LAKE #0155; January was our holiday lunch, thanks to those who attended, great conversation as always. Our Tuesday, February 21, 1:00 PM meeting will be our annual income tax discussion; Karen Moore from H&R Block will provide us with updates to the tax laws as well as addressing questions from members; deaths of spouse, reporting of rental property income/expenses and recently retired - how to determine withholding. We will, as usual, meet at the Mt. Olympus Senior Center. Nancy Carlson-Gotts, President LAYTON # 829: At our January 2017 meeting President David Crawford advised us that we need to keep active in Legislative issues. He encouraged us all to participate in the letter writing campaign National Headquarters sends us via email and in our NARFE magazine. We were led by President Crawford in introducing ourselves to members present and telling a little about our government careers. Our next meeting is being held at the Layton Library, at 1:00 PM, on February 8, 2017. A presentation about tax laws for 2017 will be presented by Mr. Ralph Adams of Hewitt Tax Preparations. Please mark your calendars for February 8th and join us. We will also have a white elephant and book sales for the Alzheimer s Research. We raised another $49.00 toward the Alzheimer s Research contribution! Joan L. Turner, Secretary CEDAR CITY #1205: Bryan Randall; Funeral Director at Affordable Funeral Services, Cedar City UT, was our guest speaker at our January meeting. He is a lifetime resident of Utah, living in West Jordan, St. George and currently Cedar City. He attended college in St. George.
Bryan assisted in opening the Affordable Funeral Services in Cedar City following his employment departure from a large Cedar City funeral home. Even though the Affordable Funeral Services is a new establishment, Bryan has vast knowledge of the funeral business. His discussion covered pre-need planning, pre-pay funding, military funerals, cremation and even body donations options. Also discussed was an option for the family that has purchased burial plots in out of area locations. Our next meeting will be held on February 6, 2016 at the Sizzler on N Main at 12 noon. Our guest speaker will be Kyle Hunsaker with the BLM Forestry division. Mitchell Gitz, President ALZHEIMER S DONATIONS: from Utah Federation Chapters should be sent by check payable to NARFE Alzheimer s Research. Be sure your chapter number is on the check where it says For or Remarks. Mail to: John Light, Utah Federation Alzheimer s Chair, 3769 South 3325 West, West Valley City, UT 84119-3509. Editor Contact: Chimes Editor may be contacted by phone at 801-685-8822, e-mail: isull@comcast.net, or US Postal Service at 1361 Portside Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84123-5906. CONTACT INFORMATION FOR UTAH S CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS: Sen. Orrin Hatch, Washington, D.C. Office: 202-224-525; Salt Lake City Office: 801-524-4380 Address: 8402 Federal Bldg., 125 S. State St., Salt Lake City, UT 84138 Sen. Mike Lee, Washington, D.C. Office: 202-224-5444: Salt Lake City Office: 801-524- 5933 Address: Wallace F. Bennett Fed. Bldg., Suite 4225, 125 S. State St., Salt Lake City, UT 84138 Rep. Rob Bishop (District 1), Washington, D.C. Office: 202-225-0453; Ogden Office 801-625-0107 Address: 101 Federal Building, 324 25 th Street, Ogden, UT 84401 Rep. Chris Stewart (District 2), Washington, D.C. Office: 202 225-9730; Salt Lake City Office: 801-364-5550
Address: 420 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84111; St. George Office: 435-627- 1500 Rep Jason Chaffetz (District 3), Washington, D.C. Office: 202-225-7751; Provo Office: 801-851-2500 Address: 518 S. University Ave., Suite 318, Provo, UT 84088 Rep. Mia Love (District 4), Washington, D.C. Office: 202-225-3011; West Jordan Office: 801-996-8729 Address: 9067 S. 1300 West, West Jordan, UT 84088