REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

Transcription

1 REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT TERRY A. ZITEK PRESIDENT NARFE FLORIDA D/B/A THE FLORIDA FEDERATION (813) (h) (813) (c) March 4, 2019

2 EVENTS AND VOLUNTEERS PART A

3 CALENDAR OF EVENTS FEBRUARY 26 thru MARCH 2, 2019: NARFE FLORIDAsponsored cruise in support of Alzheimer s research, embarking from Fort Lauderdale with stops in Key West and Havana, Cuba. MARCH 10-13, 2019: NARFE LEGISLATIVE TRAINING CONFERENCE (LEGcon19), at the HILTON MARK CENTER ($175/night + tax) in Alexandria, VA, with a registration fee of $225. LEGcon19: NARFE FLORIDA has set aside funds to reimburse NARFE FLORIDA members who attend the conference, up to $1000/person depending on the number of members who attend.

4 MORE CALENDAR EVENTS MAY 7-9, 2019: NARFE FLORIDA CONFERENCE, at the ROSEN PLAZA HOTEL ($109/NIGHT + TAX (S or D)+ $20 each for additional person), 9700 International Drive, Orlando, FL, with a $50 registration fee, which includes one lunch, two breakfasts, and a book to inspire you. There will be no banquet dinner. While the agenda is a highly tentative one at this point, there will be an inspirational speaker, a financial planner, some politicians, and NARFE National Secretary-Treasurer Kathryn Hensley. This will basically be a day-and-a-half affair, starting formally on Wednesday morning, May 8 th, and ending at 1:00 p.m. on May 9 th. To make a hotel reservation, call and ask for the NARFE group rate. The cutoff date is April 22, A reservation must be cancelled five (5) days prior to arrival, or there is a fee. There will be no advance sale of raffle tickets all raffle tickets will be sold at the Conference. The pre-registration, advertising and booster list forms are available online at narfefl.net. The deadline for submitting these forms is April 1, NARFE FLORIDA CONFERENCE: we need VOLUNTEERS to help put this conference together and make it a success. Please sign up.

5 NARFE FLORIDA 2019 ELECTIONS The deadline for the submission of resolutions and nominations for officers is March 1, The officer elected positions are: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and the eight District Vice-Presidents. Any member in good standing may nominate any other member in good standing, subject to the limitations set forth in the bylaws. Article XI of the bylaws sets forth the procedure for the submission and proper form of a resolution. Voting will be by ballot (paper or electronic) and will commence on or around June 1, Voting will end on August 1 st. The results will be announced on or around September 1 st. Officers will begin their duties on October 1 st.

6 THE TRICKY PARTS A notice of the deadlines for the submission of resolutions and nominations for officers was placed in the hard-copy newspaper, the latest issue of which was published in late December, As of this date, the publisher has cancelled the contract. Prior to June 1 st, it will be necessary to provide a paper ballot to all members who do not want to vote electronically. How do we do that? Who will design the ballot? Assuming that paper ballots are submitted, who shall count them? We need VOLUNTEERS to serve on the ballot and tellers committee to assist us.

7 MORE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED NARFE FLORIDA needs more VOLUNTEERS. NARFE FLORIDA has established the Congressional District Leader (CDL) Program. The CDL acts as a liaison between a Member of Congress and his or her NARFE constituency. The purpose of the program is to make our political advocacy more efficient and effective. There are currently 27 House members along with our two Senators in Florida. Many of the CDL positions remain unfilled. Please volunteer for one of these positions in the Congressional District in which you live.

8 SERVICE OFFICERS NEEDED NARFE FLORIDA has also established the position of Federation Service Officer (FSO) and for each of our eight Districts, a District Service Officer (DSO). We have the obligation to serve the needs of all 12,000+ members of the Florida Federation, 48% of which have no Service Officer to contact, and our Chapter Members are discovering that many chapters no longer have a Service Officer. Today s NARFE member wants INFORMATION about his or her benefits. Yesterday s NARFE Service Officer was trained on very few aspects of the benefits we enjoy. Today s Service Officer must be able to provide information on a variety of topics, which means an ENHANCED function. However, as envisioned, the ENHANCED DSO need not be an expert of federal employment benefits or other benefits, but a person who knows where the answer to a question can be found. It just so happens that many federal agencies have created websites which offer detailed information about the benefits they provide. Once the ENHANCED DSO is familiar with the websites, or in some cases, the telephone number for the agency with the answer, the DSO can provide real value by sending the NARFE member with the question to the website or telephone number where the answer can be found. The FSO and DSO s also would provide training and assistance to the Chapter Services Officers, mostly in the form of directing them to the best website. We need a volunteer for the position of FSO and for several of the DSO positions.

9 TIP FOR PERSUADING A PERSON TO VOLUNTEER At FEDcon18, NARFE brought in a speaker named Cynthia D Amour, MBA, a Leadership Strategist and the President of People Power Unlimited in Ann Arbor, MI. She works with organizations that want to get more members involved and organizations that want to develop their leaders. She offered some very simple, common-sense, tips. First, she explained that research has shown that people volunteer for one of three motivating reasons: (1) learn; (2) help; or (3) meet. A recruiter needs to know these three reasons and find out which one a prospective volunteer embraces. Second, once the recruiter knows which button to push, push it often. Second, the recruiter must make being a leader more attractive, and prepare the volunteer to step up with ease. The recruiter must always display a positive attitude. Serving as an officer in NARFE should not be viewed as a painful experience. Third, and perhaps most important, the recruiter must show appreciation for the volunteer s work on a regular basis, and acknowledge accomplishments.

10 STATISTICS AND RECRUITMENT PART B

11 THE LATEST STATISTICS There are currently approximately members in the Florida Federation, placing us 4 th among all Federations in size. Approximately 48.8% of those members have no chapter affiliation (often referred to as national only members). In 2018, 450 NARFE-eligible persons provided NARFE with a prospect card. In 2017, 272 such persons did so. In 2018, 77 new members joined a FL chapter. In 2018, 270 FL members died. In 2018, 357 FL members dropped their membership. There are officially 63 chapters in the Florida Federation, but there are several in the pipeline to be closed.

12 RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION We need some fresh recruitment and retention ideas. Problem: do prospects want what NARFE currently has to offer? Problem: are local chapters still relevant? Problem: OPM will no longer send out a NARFE flyer to recently retired Feds. Problem: what else? DISCUSSION!!

13 RECRUITMENT CHALLENGE BUREAUCRACY: A GOVERNMENT CHARACTERIZED BY SPECIALIZATION OF FUNCTIONS, ADHERENCE TO FIXED RULES, AND A HIERARCHY OF AUTHORITY; A SYSTEM OF ADMINISTRATION MARKED BY OFFICIALISM, RED TAPE AND PROLIFERATION. OFFICIALISM: LACK OF FLEXIBILITY AND INITIATIVE COMBINED WITH EXCESSIVE ADHERENCE TO REGULATIONS IN THE BEHAVIOR OF USUAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. BUREAUCRAT: A MEMBER OF A BUREAUCRACY. EXAMPLE (inspired by a true event): A NARFE member was having a conversation over lunch with a Florida Congressman whom he also knew as a friend. The Congressman stated that government officials were a bunch of bureaucrats. If you were trying to recruit this Congressman to join NARFE, how would you respond?

14 NARFE REFORMS PART C

15 THE 2018 FEDERATION PRESIDENTS MEETING STAFF VP of MARKETING and MEMBER RESOURCES BRIDGET BOEL discussed NARFE S BRANDING INITIATIVE. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BARBARA SIDO discussed NARFE s proposed BUSINESS MODEL INNOVATIONS and NARFE NEXT. STAFF VP for ADVOCACY JESSICA KLEMENT discussed INFLUENCER ANALYSIS.

16 THE BRANDING INITIATIVE NARFE began with the premise that in the 21 st Century it wants to be the goto resource for its members, the federal community, policy makers, the news media and the public. NARFE formed a committee to study the issue and make recommendations. NARFE conducted an investigation with the goal of determining whether its current message (logo and brand) suggest the purpose of the organization. The investigation was conducted by a local consulting company with organizational branding experience. The company conducted telephonic interviews with NARFE members and working Feds, and sent out online surveys to selected NARFE officers, prospects and other members. The ultimate question was: how well does the NARFE logo/brand suggest the purpose of the organization?

17 THE BRANDING INITIATIVE CONT. The answer was basically not well. The specific criticisms were: (1) the logo s appearance is dated; (2) NARFE creates the perception that it is an organization primarily for retired federal employees; (3) NARFE s advocacy message overwhelms the information/guidance/training value message; (4) NARFE s name itself creates confusion about its mission.

18 THE BRANDING INITIATIVE CONT. Based on this information, the NARFE committee decided that its next steps would be as follows: (1) evaluate and fine tune a number of taglines to better inform NARFE s message; and (2) evaluate and finetune a number of potential new logo designs, which designs would include a more modern representation of NARFE s current logo. The committee s product should be available for comment any day now.

19 TWO PROPOSED LOGOS

20 LOGO IMPLICATIONS The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association will hereinafter be known as NARFE. The new tagline for NARFE will be Federal Benefits Experts. NARFE will target the working feds with its products and services.

21 BUSINESS MODEL INNOVATION DIRECTOR BARBARA SIDO defined a business model as that thing of value which an organization delivers to those who use that thing. In the case of NARFE, its business model must do two things: (1) it must create value through new programs, products and services; and (2) it must deliver this value through more efficient and effective business processes.

22 BUSINESS MODEL INNOVATION CONT. As is typical for NARFE, a Committee was created. It conducted an investigation. Its conclusions were: (1) NARFE is not offering unique programs, products and services to attract currently working Feds; (2) advocacy is missioncritical but not directly revenue-generating activity; and (3) NARFE is investing significant resources in supporting the mechanism of the organization.

23 BUSINESS MODEL INNOVATION The Committee also concluded that NARFE must respond to two needs: (1) enhance confidence in a secure retirement; and (2) support better-informed decision-making. The Committee further concluded that NARFE must also (1) position itself as the go-to resource for information; (2) move toward a digital business model; and (3) generate new revenue streams.

24 NARFE NEXT To accomplish the goals of the business model innovation, NARFE has four new offerings in development: (1) MOBILE APP; (2) PREMIUM BENEFITS COUNSELING; (3) PRE-RETIREMENT CHECK-UP; and (4) FIND A FINANCIAL ADVISOR. The MOBILE APP will be NARFE in your hand. It will showcase what NARFE is and what it does. It will allow members to directly access NARFE content and services, including taking action through the LEGISLATIVE ACTION CENTER. The PREMIUM BENEFITS COUNSELING will give NARFE members the opportunity to receive customized benefits guidance and expertise for a fee. Please note that this component is intended to target working Feds facing important benefits decisions, as well as all Feds experiencing major life transitions and events.

25 NARFE NEXT CONTINUED The next offering is PRE-RETIREMENT CHECK-UP SERVICE. This, of course, is intended for the working Feds. It will provide expert, customized guidance for more complex retirement plans. It will employ highly trained subject matter experts. The fourth offering will be a link between NARFE members and financial advisors. The link will give NARFE members exclusive access to an online service to connect with a certified financial planner (or the equivalent) who is also certified as an expert in federal benefits and a NARFE partner.

26 NARFE NEXT CONTINUED According to BARBARA SIDO, none of these new products and services will do NARFE any good if it keeps doing business the same, old way. The current way of doing business is extremely dues-dependent, and most of its dues are devoted to maintaining its infrastructure, which produces no revenue. NARFE needs to change the way it supports members, chapters and Federations it must be less about administration and more about program support. NARFE must update its technology and move toward a more digital organization. NARFE must diversify itself and change its ration of dues to non-dues (currently about 60/40). It must offer more dues-generating products. NARFE must better align what members need with what NARFE needs.

27 INFLUENCER ANALYSIS VP JESSICA KLEMENT addressed the following problem: there currently is a negative perception of federal employees and the federal government in general, which perception drives policies that seek to take away our earned pay and benefits. To defeat this negative perception, MS. KLEMENT stated that NARFE must change the narrative.

28 INFLUENCER ANALYSIS CONT. To attack this problem, NARFE partnered with the National Journal s Network Science Initiative (NSI) Division. NSI conducted its own investigation and did its own analysis. What were its findings? There are two main camps: the Detractors and the Allies. Who are the Detractors? There are four categories: (1) donors; (2) think tanks; (3) advocacy organizations; and (4) media outlets. Their motivations emanate from ideology and/or economic arguments. Their network is densely interconnected, enabling it to effectively promote opposition narratives.

29 INFLUENCER ANALYSIS CONT. The basic Detractor ideology is a distrust of the federal government and a preference for small government. The basic Detractor economic argument is that a reduction in the federal workforce presents economic opportunities for the private sector. Most Detractors adhere to both ideological and economic arguments because they dovetail with one another.

30 INFLUENCER ANALYSIS CONT. Who are the Allies of the Federal workforce? They consist primarily of advocacy organizations and unions (see the members of the Federal-Postal Coalition, among others). They are not organized in the same way as the detractors. The allies divide themselves into specialized policy niches that are obliquely related to improving the public perceptions of the Federal workforce. Those niches are: (1) federal technology; (2) public administration scholarship; (3) whistleblower protections; and (4) federal recruitment practices. The Allies do not have the tightly-marshalled organization that has made the detractors of Federal employees so effective. Instead, the Allies are more loosely connected through periodic collaborations and personnel crossover. Among the Allies, few have policy preferences that align perfectly with NARFE s preferences and they often focus on issues only adjacent to NARFE priorities.

31 INFLUENCER ANALYSIS CONT. Another major difference between the Detractors and the Allies is their motivation. The Detractors promote narratives that serve ideology and economic interests, but they don t seek to take credit for the reason or the narrative, so long as the end goal is achieved. On the other hand, the various Allies individually promote a narrative similar to that of the other Allies, but the overall message gets lost because there remain differences and inconsistencies and they are not coordinated, plus each one wants credit.

32 INFLUENCER ANALYSIS CONT. According to MS. KLEMENT, to mitigate the anti-government narrative espoused by the Detractors, there must be a concerted and coordinated counter-message. The Allies must (1) enlist the support of centrist influencers; (2) build coalitions with state and local public sectors; (3) launch a communications campaign and support and amplify Allied research and journalism; and (4) monitor and manage Detractors. NARFE can help with appropriate story-telling get the word out about what the Federal workforce can and does do, with examples. NARFE can leverage Allied support to promote greater recognition of the Federal workforce. NARFE can help develop messaging strategies for target audiences and amplifiers.

33 WHAT CAN WE DO? At the minimum, we can tell our on narrative to our two Senators and 27 Representatives or to members of their staff working in Florida. Every member of Congress has a LOCAL staff whose responsibility is to serve the needs of their respective constituencies. The typical constituent either has a problem with a federal agency, or has a problem which he or she wants a federal agency to solve. The staff member reaches out to the federal agency and tries to solve the problem. The staff member then reports the result to his or her member of Congress a pipeline of flowing information. In this way, the member of Congress learns about the performance of the federal agencies in his or her jurisdiction, and is then able to form an opinion about the true value of the federal workforce. NOTE: Many new members of Congress do not have prior knowledge or understanding about the Federal workforce and what it does (or doesn t do during a SHUTDOWN), much less the earned benefits the workforce receives. NARFE members, CDL/SDLs or otherwise, can access this pipeline by establishing a meaningful relationship with their member of Congress or his or respective LOCAL staff. Once established, WE can contribute to the flow of information and include our own narrative.

34 FEDERATION PRESIDENT ACTION At the request and insistence of the Federation Presidents, NARFE National has once again revised its membership renewal forms. The federation Presidents in 2018 contended that the then current forms led to confusion on the part of NARFE members and resulted in chapter members inadvertently dropping their chapter membership. The new and improved forms have begun to be used.

35 FLORIDA FEDERATION INITIATIVES PART D

36 VOTING RECORD OF FLORIDA ELECTED OFFICIALS IN 115 TH CONGRESS ON NARFE ISSUES SENATORS MARCO RUBIO AND BILL NELSON BOTH SCORED IN AT 83%. NO MEMBER OF THE HOUSE (27 Districts 16 Republicans and 11 Democrats) SCORED EITHER 0% OR 100%.

37 NARFE-PAC The basic philosophy of NARFE-PAC is: NARFE- PAC protects NARFE members' pay and benefits by raising and spending money to elect members of Congress who support the federal community. Contributions to NARFE-PAC also helps build strong relationships with lawmakers, a key component to winning legislative fights. NARFE- PAC is financed through NARFE members direct, voluntary contributions to a separate fund.

38 NARFE-PAC CHAPTER DON0RS BY SELECTED STATES AND NATIONAL DONORS FOR THE PERIOD THRU 8Q STATE DONORS AMOUNT AVERAGE SUSTAINERS REGION CA (1) 2,009 $138, $ FL (4) 1,010 $62, $ (3 RD ) 3 GA (12) 446 $24, $ MD (3) 1,380 $101, $ NATIONAL 11,709 $583, $ OH (8) 679 $38, $ NC (10) 513 $35, $ NY (7) 712 $32, $ PA (5) 1,166 $61, $ TX (6) 767 $46, $ VA (2) 1,299 $99, $ WA (9) 679 $53, $

39 NARFE-PAC DONATIONS BY FL CHAPTERS FOR THE PERIOD THRU 8Q TOP 12 LOCATION CHAPTER DONORS AMOUNT SUSTAINERS DELRAY BEACH $4, STRAWBERRY $3, APOLLO $2, CLAY COUNTY $2, ENGLEWOOD $1, ST AUGUSTINE $1, SW MARION $1, SOUTH TAMPA $1, MANATEE CTY $1, NORTH TAMPA $1, GRTR NAPLES $1, W HERNANDO $1,

40 NARFE-PAC DISBURSEMENTS TO FLORIDA CANDIDATES AND TO CC AND PACS IN THRU 8Q CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT NAME PARTY AMOUNT/ RESULT 06 NANCY SODERBERG D $1,000/L 07 STEPHANIE MURPHY D $2,000/W 09 DARREN SOTO D $1,000/W 10 VAL DEMINGS D $1,000/W 13 CHARLIE CRIST D $1,000/W 14 KATHY CASTOR D $1,500/W 23 DEBBIE WASSERMAN- SHULTZ 25 MARIO DIAZ- BALART D R $2,000/W $2,000/W 26 CARLOS CURBELO R $3,000/L SENATE BILL NELSON D $10,000/L NON-CANDIDATES CC AND PACs R and D $190,000 FUND RAISER ATTENDED

41 ALZHEIMER S FUNDS COLLECTED AND REPORTED TO THE FEDERATION TREASURER DISTRICT FY 2017 AMOUNT DISTRICT FY 2018 AMOUNT 1 $ $2, $2, $1, $ $ $ $5, $4, $ $ $ $3, $3, CRUISE $4, OTHER $ $3.86 TOTALS $18, $11,004.83

42 DISTRIBUTION OF ALZHEIMER S CONTRIBUTIONS RECIPIENT FY 2017 AMOUNT RECIPIENT FY 2018 AMOUNT ALZHEIMERS ASSOC CHICAGO $ ALZHEIMERS ASSOC CHICAGO $2, USF FOUNDATION $12, USF FOUNDATION $5, ALL OTHERS $3, ALL OTHERS $3, TOTAL $18, TOTAL $11,000.97

43 USF PLAQUE ON DISPLAY

44

45 IS NARFE A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION? PART E

46 NARFE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM FOR THE 116 TH CONGRESS DID YOU VOTE TO APPROVE THE NARFE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM FOR THE 116 TH CONGRESS, AS WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE IN THE PAST AT THE NATIONAL CONVENTION?

47 THE ANSWER IS: NO! IT WAS NOT ON THE 2018 BALLOT!

48 THE END ANY QUESTIONS? ANY COMMENTS?