National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association

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1 National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association Virginia Federation of Chapters 3rd Quarter FY 2015 Serving Current, Former and Retired Federal Civilian Employees - Spouses and Survivor Annuitants President Richard Giangerelli NARFE1241@gmail.com 1 st Vice President Kathy R. Arpa mkarpa@hotmail.com 2 nd Vice President Leslie Ravenell Nell8211@gmail.com Secretary William A. Schmidt billschmidt39@yahoo.com Treasurer Raphael Wong wongr@ieee.org Past President Luther Santiful santiful@aol.com FEDERATION PRESIDENT S MESSAGE In the next few pages of these VFC Notes, you will see articles that address what has occurred in the Virginia Federation during the third quarter of our fiscal year, January thru March, along with a few notes from the VFC Convention. But there is more to report on than just previous activity. I, therefore, will address some continuing issues. The last three months have been extremely busy. As I look back at my calendar, I do not see many days during which there was not at least one event or appointment scheduled. I, and probably you too, envisioned retirement as a time of relaxation... the golden years. However, it doesn't seem to be working out that way. Politicians seem to be intent on keeping us excited and pressured, and our personal lives seem to be getting busier as well. It has been tiring! But, we can't give up! We need to continue standing up for our rights and continuing on! And yet, it appears that some of us have given up, or are ready to give up. In November 2014, I had to close a Virginia Federation chapter, Loudoun-Leesburg Chapter 1133, because the few members who were chapter officers were worn out trying to keep their chapter going and they were not getting very much support from the other members of the chapter. And no other members were willing to step up and take over for them. In March 2015, I had to close another Virginia Federation chapter, South of the James Chapter 1138, for the same reason. In addition, I have been contacted by three more Virginia Federation chapters that also wish to close for that very same reason. Also, during this three-month period, the Virginia Federation decreased in size by 384 members! Why is this happening? Is it a sign of growing frustration? I know we are all getting older, and, even though I claim to not celebrate my birthdays any more, only anniversaries of my 25th birthday,... the last one celebrated was the 47th anniversary,... my body is telling me something very different. I, too, would like to sit back and watch the world go by... and let the youngsters carry on the fight; but that doesn't seem to be possible. We all need to continue! And we need to do it together! At the NARFE Legislative Training Conference in March 2015, approximately 250 NARFE members from around the country attended. Thirty of those attendees were members of the Virginia Federation and two other attendees VFC NOTES MAY 2015 PAGE 1

2 were Virginia members of the National E-NARFE Chapter, but the Virginia contingent only represented seven of eleven of Virginia's Congressional Districts; and two of those Districts only had one member each in attendance. Where were the other Virginia Federation members? Many of you may think of the Republican Party is the anti-federal employee and retiree party. However, sequestration was imposed when the Democratic Party was in control of Congress. During the 113th Congressional session, the Senate was controlled by the Democratic Party and the House of Representatives was controlled by the Republican Party; and federal employees and retirees lost an estimated $100 billion in benefits, over the following 10-year period. Now, during the 114th Congressional session, the Republican Party is in control of both houses of Congress, and almost $200 billion in cuts, over the following 10-year period, are being considered to the benefits of federal employees and retirees. It was made obvious at the NARFE Legislative Training Conference that NARFE has not and cannot hope to match the political financial influence of the Super PACs and financially well-off individual political contributors. However, NARFE can remain a significant influence in protecting our earned benefits... but only with your involvement and participation. A few of us can keep NARFE and the Virginia Federation going... for a while. But, to keep NARFE and the Virginia Federation going and strong, and to protect our earned benefits, your involvement and participation is an absolute necessity. Step up and join in! Richard (Dick) Giangerelli, VFC President FIRST VICE PRESIDENT S MESSAGE I attended the VFC Board Meeting in January in Fredericksburg. Everyone seemed to like the new location and the complimentary hot breakfast and welcome home reception. Each room was equipped with a full kitchen and there was a fitness center on site. Board members were given a tour of the Fredericksburg Expo Center in anticipation of the upcoming VFC Convention in April. Several of the 2015 Convention Committee Members joined us on the tour. I was extremely busy during the period January-March as I was serving as the Coordinator of the convention. I was in almost daily contact with the convention chair and the committee secretary in developing the agenda, recommending speakers and communicating with committee members. Numerous meetings were held with the Expo Center staff as well as the convention committee. I was responsible for signing the contract with the Expo Center, ensuring we had the proper liability insurance, and approving all expenditures for the convention. I also served as convention s Supporter Chair which kept me busy updating the database and mailing checks to the VFC Treasurer. NARFE members were urged to sign up for the early bird special in early February which really gave us a jump start on registrations far ahead of previous years. The new location seemed to generate much interest and registrations continued throughout February and March. The Convention Committee is expecting a successful convention. We have many important NARFE activities coming up in the next few months. We have Service Officer training in May and the annual Legislative Planning Meeting in June. Many of you may be interested in the upcoming Region X Conference which will be held in Virginia Beach in September. In October (before bad weather hits), we will begin our chapter organization training in four locations and in November we will have membership training. I hope you are able to participate in some of these activities. Kathy Arpa, VFC 1 st Vice President VFC NOTES MAY 2015 PAGE 2

3 SECOND VICE PRESIDENT S MESSAGE It seems like spring is on the way! For some of you, I know it was a rough winter. Where I live near the Potomac River, we do not get as much severe weather, so it was a gray but mild February day when 1 st Vice President Kathy Arpa traveled to Colonial Beach for the first time to attend the meeting of Chapter 595 where she installed the 2015 officers for 2015 including me as President. In March I, along with more than 30 Virginia Federation members, attended the NARFE 2015 Legislative Training Conference in Crystal City. This was my fourth Legislative Conference and many others agree with me, it was the best so far. In addition to hearing from some of our old friends in Congress like Representative Gerry Connolly, we also heard from two new kids on the block Representatives Barbara Comstock and Don Beyer. We also had a new topic this time, State Advocacy, a session led by NARFE Senior Analyst, Chris Farrell. All of us from Virginia were very proud when our own Patti Downs was called upon to present comments on the VFC State Legislative Program. Before I move on to our Program Chair reports, I want to take a few moments to recognize Jim Brewer, VFC National Legislative Chair. Jim first served in this position for eighteen months in 2010 and He then came back to us in April During the past year he has persevered trying to work the important National Legislative issues while at the same time facing some tough personal issues. I want to publicly thank Jim for his hard work and dedication to the VFC as he now moves on. I want to personally thank him for keeping me (as 2 nd Vice President) in the loop. Best of Luck, Jim! As usual, our six VFC Committee Chairs have submitted interesting, diverse, and informative reports. Filling in for our just resigned National Legislative Chair is Senate Legislative Liaison (SLL) Steve Ledford who has written an account of the meeting between Senator Warner, Senator Kaine and VFC members on March 20, Patti Downs, State Legislative Chair, presents a summary of actions from the General Assembly and also information on the Virginia budget. You will see from his report that our Public Relations Chair, Gaston Gianni, has processed several matching funds requests, one with Chapter 1549 and one with Chapter 2265 and is ready to work with your chapter on matching funds. He also provides some information on the NARFE Strategic Planning process going on right now. Membership Chair, B.J. Thomas, has some facts and figures on membership and also presents some data on our top recruiters for the year. Our Alzheimer s Chair, Donna Shackelford, will tell you in her report about the huge success at the 61 st VFC Convention in raising funds for Alzheimer s. Last, but not least, our Co-Service Officers, Connie and John Bails, hope that all Chapter Service Officers are ready to come to Fredericksburg on Thursday, May 28, 2015, for Service Officer Training. We really hope that some of you, who are not always able to come to the VFC Convention, will be able to come out to this special event. Leslie Ravenell, VFC 2 nd Vice President SECRETARY'S REPORT Most of my significant actions occurred in January and were reported in the last newsletter. I decided not to seek re-election so this will be my last submission for the VFC Notes. It has been my pleasure to serve as the VFC Secretary and to be a part of the board. I wish the new board every success as they serve and support the members and chapters throughout the state. William A. Schmidt, VFC Secretary VFC NOTES MAY 2015 PAGE 3

4 REGION X VICE PRESIDENT S MESSAGE When I assumed office on November 1st as the Regional Vice President for NARFE Region X, there were 183 chapters within the five Federations which make-up the Region - - Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia. The total number of chapters is now 180. Through recent conversations with the five Federation Presidents, I have learned that several chapters will be closing or are currently considering closure. Some of the reasons given for the closures are: 1) lack of attendance at chapter meetings; 2) loss of membership within the chapter and; 3) lack of members willing to step-up and assume a leadership position. Reason #1 can be resolved through increased contact with chapter members on a regular basis either telephonically or electronically urging them to attend to renew friendships gained through their NARFE membership. Also, at the chapter level, presentations of interesting programs may attract members back into the fold. While loss of membership (Reason #2) may be due to the untimely passing of members, I urge chapters to develop ideas that could lead to a very active recruitment program. Check with other chapters within the Federation for ideas. Additionally, establishment of a Chapter Membership Committee to address the categories of dropped members due to failure to renew as well as those that receive second notices regarding dues renewal may forestall the loss of membership at the Chapter level. The problem of members being unwilling to assume chapter leadership positions (Reason #3) has been a longstanding problem within NARFE. Members need to be reminded that NARFE is 90 plus years old and there has never been an individual born into a leadership position. Each of us can look back into our past and identify one or two persons that have served as mentors on NARFE procedures and issues. Additionally, each Federation has some form of officer/leadership training that is excellent. And finally, let us not forget those individuals who have stepped down from leadership positions These persons are ALWAYS willing to assist in the development of new leaders. William Bill Shackelford NARFE Region X Vice President NATIONAL LEGISLATION REPORT The biennial NARFE National Legislative Conference was held in mid-march. The final day of the Conference is designed to visit with the Senators and Representatives, and their staff, of the respective state for which we are constituents. This was my third Conference, and fifth year as Senatorial Legislative Liaison (SLL) for the VFC. This year, we were honored that both Senators Warner and Kaine altered their schedules to personally meet with over 20 Virginia NARFE members. Virginia attendees were the only contingent to meet with two sitting Senators. The main topics during the minute discussions were the chained CPI and its implications, and the continued denigration of the federal civil servant. Both Senators are former Governors and have had a long relationship with NARFE; and they clearly recognize the size of federal employees/retirees, Postal Service employees/retirees, and military presence in Virginia. Regarding the Chained CPI, Senator Warner, a member of the Senate Finance VFC NOTES MAY 2015 PAGE 4

5 Committee, very candidly stated that eliminating sequestration is a top priority and if getting it removed includes Chained CPI as a cost of doing business, he would go along. Senator Kaine stated he would wait to see the legislation, if proposed, but also wants sequestration to go away. Both Senators pledged that they will do all they can to stop further reduction of benefits to current and retired federal employees and to demonstrate the value of federal civil servants. For example, Senator Warner speaks on the floor of the Senate, to be recorded in the Federal Register, at least once a month to highlight a federal employee or program. Senator Kaine has agreed to also make the same effort. Lastly, Senator Warner and his staff put together a one-hour, NARFE Town Hall Conference Call last year. Both Senators agreed at our March meeting to host at least one per year. These conference calls can accommodate up to 1,000 callers. When scheduled, I will notify VFC Board so word can get out to Chapter Presidents and chapter members about the opportunity. Stephen R. Ledford, VFC Senatorial Legislative Liaison A Very Happy Spring to All! STATE LEGISLATION REPORT Our State Legislative Plan & the 2015 General Assembly Session. Numerous bills were sponsored within the Virginia Senate and the House of Delegates on two of our four issues - Nonpartisan Redistricting Reform and Senior Absentee Voting. Following consolidation of the bills with the same or similar language, the Senate passed meaningful legislation on both issues, but the legislation stalled and ultimately failed in the House. In the case of the Enhanced Protection of Incapacitated Adults issue, one Senate bill and one House bill were introduced but each failed in committee. The issue of Income Tax Subtraction for Retiree Health Insurance Premiums had no sponsors this year. While the final results are disappointing, the situation challenges us to face the realities of state legislatures: most successful legislation usually requires a multi-year advocacy commitment. The issues in our State Plans have generally changed from year to year, so it may be time to take on a new type of commitment, allowing ourselves to better understand and conduct the type of advocacy efforts needed to succeed. Virginia s Budget. Governor McAuliffe signed the two-year state budget passed by the General Assembly in March. The $95+ billion budget reportedly can withstand any potential cuts in federal spending due to sequestration. Virginia s budget situation is better now due to higher-than-projected revenues, such as profits from the state liquor monopoly. The new budget contains no new taxes. It includes pay raises for teachers, police, and other state employees to take effect on September 1; and increases in benefits for welfare recipients and health care for those with severe mental illnesses. It also builds up the state s cash reserves and provides more economic development funding. CSRS Retiree Lawsuit in Virginia. Karl Beisel, a NASA retiree, filed a lawsuit against Virginia earlier this year claiming unfair and discriminatory taxing of CSRS pensions. The lawsuit alleges that the state s income tax exemption for the Social Security portion of FERS and the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) is discriminatory because there is no comparable exemption for CSRS retirees. Beisel wants the state to grant a comparable income tax exemption for CSRS retirees for each of the past three years. The state is attempting to dismiss the case and a hearing was held in early March. A written decision is expected soon. See for details. Two NARFE Members Run for General Assembly Seats. Two NARFE members are running for General Assembly seats in the upcoming general elections in November. Paul McIlvaine, former State Legislation Chair for the Springfield Chapter, is running as an Independent in the Virginia House of Delegates District #43. For more info, visit Paul s website at Shelly Simonds, Peninsula Chapter, is running as a VFC NOTES MAY 2015 PAGE 5

6 Democrat in the House of Delegates 94 th District. Shelley s website is at Check them out! Should you have any questions or comments about our State Legislation Program, you can reach me at patti10@centurylink.net or Patti Downs, VFC State Legislation Chair MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE CHAIR S REPORT Overall VFC Membership continues to decline (down by about 10% for 2014) but at a slower pace. Three Chapters even had a NET INCREASE in members, and another 8 Chapters had a decline of 5% or less. This past year, I ve placed emphasis on two factors: Prospect Conversion Ratio the # of New Members vs. the # of Prospects referred by NARFE HQ). Retention Ratio the # of Reinstatements vs. the # of Non-Renewals. Prospect Conversion Ratios Overall, there were 139 new members in the VFC, while HQ referred contact information for almost 2600 individuals. So, the Prospect Conversion Ratio for the VFC as a whole was about 12%. Area VI had the highest Prospect Conversion Ratio (19%) and, for individual chapters, Louisa Chapter 2065 had the highest Prospect Conversion Ratio (167%). Six other chapters had Prospect Conversion Ratios of over 40%. HOWEVER, 27 Chapters had Prospect Conversion Ratios of UNDER 10%, indicating that more work needs to be done in contacting prospects identified in HQ reports. (For help in this regard, I ve posted Guides to Mailing, ing, Calling Prospects in the Membership section at Retention Ratios Area V had the highest retention rate (37%). Among chapters, Waynesboro Chapter 178 had the highest Retention Ratio. Thirteen chapters had Retention Ratios of 40% or more, BUT many chapters had Retention Ratios of less than 30%, and some had ratios of 0%!! Again, this indicates that more attention should be paid to efforts to get lapsed members to reinstate. Number of Members Involved in Recruiting Another concern is the number of members involved in recruiting new members. Only 95 members recruited even one new member in I m urging that every member set as a goal recruiting JUST ONE new member in VFC Convention, April 12-15, 2015 At the VFC Convention in April, the Membership Committee meeting covered the subjects of how to recruit a Chapter Membership Chair and how to use the monthly Membership Stats to assess how your chapter is doing in Gaining and Retaining members. (I distribute the Membership Stats monthly to all VFC Officers and Area Vice Presidents and to everyone who is a member of the VANARFE Membership Group on Google.) I also demonstrated how to use the OAM (Online Activities Module) system accessible at how to access and use the VANARFE Membership Group on Google, and where to find help resources both at the NARFE HQ website and at the VANARFE.org website. Also at the VFC Convention, a workshop on Using Social Media to Gain and Retain Members was held. The Workshop covered Facebook, Google Plus, Pinterest, Twitter and Blogs and demonstrated how they can be used to: Post news, photos/videos of your chapter, and links to the chapter newsletter. Alert members and potential members to chapter meetings and activities. Post clipped articles from NARFE HQ, newspapers, other websites of interest to Federal workers and retirees which Chapter members may then redistribute to others who may be potential members. Alert members when advocacy actions are needed. Create a mechanism for members and potential members to write comments, ask questions start a conversation. VFC NOTES MAY 2015 PAGE 6

7 The Membership Committee Agenda, and the presentations on Membership and on Using Social Media to Gain and Retain Members are available at VANARFE Membership Group in Google This non-public group now has 48 members. It operates like a cross between and a community bulletin board and is designed to let group members share ideas with each other. It is also how I distribute ideas, stats, and suggestions about Membership issues. If you are a Chapter Membership Chair (or Chapter President) and are not yet a member, please contact me at vanarfe-membership-group@googlegroups.com, or Top Recruiters In the VFC Membership Contest, which covered the period April 2014 through February 2015, the Top Recruiters and awards received by each, were: Small Chapters Bill Martin 9 new members -- $200 TIE: Jackie Richards & Wilhelmina Santiful each 2 new members -- $50 each Middle size Chapters Betty Mitchell 10 new members -- $200 Carolyn Wilson 5 new members -- $100 Large Chapters Marie Collins 16 new members -- $200 Connie Bails 7 new members -- $100 Day-Long Membership ( Gain and Retain ) Training Finally, we are planning for a 1-day training session for current or potential Membership Chairs this fall, to be held in at least three locations across Virginia, in November. Let me hear from you about topics you would like me to include. I am also available to come to Area or Chapter meetings to talk about Membership ideas. B.J. Thomas McMillan, VFC Membership Chair SERVICE OFFICERS ANNOUNCEMENT John & Dr. Constance T. Bails, VFC, Co-Service Officers will provide a one-day training session for all Virginia Chapter Service Officers on Thursday, May 28 th, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., Homewood Suites, 1040 Hospitality Lane, Fredericksburg, VA Topics include: Duties of a Chapter Service Officer How to Make Condolence Calls Service Officer Log; Track your Contacts Custom Power Point Template for Chapter Presentation Training How to Obtain Materials from HQ Electronic F-100 Access Contact John or Constance Bails (H) ; John jbails@aol.com; Constance ctbails@aol.com PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE CHAIR S REPORT Yes, that s correct, SPRING is finally here!! Hope that everyone got through the winter and all the snow. I guess we have to be thankful that we don t live in New England! It s now time to jump back into helping NARFE and your chapter. We need YOU to help spread the word about the importance of NARFE membership. We need YOU to be engaged with your Congressional representatives, letting them know your position on important NARFE issues. Your chapter needs YOU to be involved in their activities. YOU can help! Each of YOU has something VFC NOTES MAY 2015 PAGE 7

8 special to offer your chapter. Your chapter needs YOU to help it become an active and thriving chapter. GET INVOLVED, IT s FUN! Winter time has been slow in the PR department. Most of my energy has been devoted to helping VFC Area IX plan the 61 st Annual VFC Convention. Our theme for the convention this year was NARFE-EMBRACING CHANGE. You might ask why that theme. Well last year there was the Future of NARFE Report, commonly referred to as the FON Report. The report had a number of recommendations for modernizing NARFE so that it can operate effectively in today s environment. It was released a few months before the last NARFE National Convention and caused a lot of discussion, some good and some bad. As a result, many of the recommendations were not taken up at the convention. Instead, the convention voted to establish a Strategic Planning Committee to address the issues raised by the FON Report and to use the report as a starting point. NARFE was founded in 1921 and is guided by a set of bylaws. These bylaws establish policy and direction for the organization. The National Officers, Regional Vice Presidents, and Staff are the implementers of these policies. In order for bylaw policies to be changed, there must be a proposal at the National Convention held every two years and it must be approved by 2/3's of the voting members. This model of governance results in very little change. When change comes, it comes very slowly! Over the years NARFE has had many successes; however, the current fast pace, changing environment that NARFE, as well as most organizations, must operate in requires a more nimble organizational and governance structure. Thus, NARFE needs to make some major changes if it is to survive in the future. Change is difficult; therefore, the VFC Convention Planning Committee decided to use the theme EMBRACING CHANGE as a way of alerting our members that change needs to occur and we need their support for change. While the specifics of the changes have yet to be worked out by the by the NARFE Strategic Planning Committee, it is important for all NAFRE members to stay informed of the committee s progress. Please visit the NARFE web site at and click on the Strategic Planning banner. As the process goes along more information will be posted. Comments are encouraged and welcomed. In the interest of full disclosure, I represent NARFE Region X on the Strategic Planning Committee. As you read this issue of the VFC Notes, it will be prime time for your chapter to identify and participate in membership drives. A number of chapters have used matching funds to have a NAFRE table or booth at various county fairs and festivals. This is a good way to meet people, inform them about NARFE and pass out membership applications. The nice thing about using the matching funds process is that between National and the VFC, 75% of the project costs are covered leaving only 25% for the chapter to pick up. If you have any questions or comments please contact me at gastongianni@aol.com or call CLOSING QUOTE: Thanks to Henry Steele Commager Change does not necessarily assure progress, but PROGRESS implacably requires change! Gaston Gianni, VFC Public Relations Chair ELECTRONIC COMMITTEE UPDATE Over the past several months there have been numerous comments/complaints about the VFC website. As a result it was decided at the January Board Meeting that the Electronic Committee would take a look at it and give a report at the July Board Meeting. Per the VFC Organizational Handbook, the Electronic Committee is composed of the NARFE-Net Coordinator, VFC Web Coordinator, VFC Secretary, VFC Newsletter Editor, and others appointed by the President or First Vice President. The Committee is responsible for establishing and monitoring policies for VFC use of electronic communications and the Internet website. Kathy Arpa, 1 st Vice President, asked John Bails, Patti Downs and B.J. Thomas McMillan to join the Electronic Committee and they have agreed. Patti Downs has agreed to take the lead on this project. Kathy has asked committee members to send her their VFC NOTES MAY 2015 PAGE 8

9 ideas/thoughts/comments suggestions, etc. for improving the VFC website by the end of May. Patti will collect the comments and prepare what is needed for the July Board Meeting. Some chapters have asked for a hit counter so they can tell the number of visits to a page. I can add this feature if you wish. A few chapters have a Facebook page that has very up to date information. I can add a Facebook link to the chapter s web page. Please review your chapter s web page to verify that everything is correct. Please send me the updates at stan@vanarfe.org if you have them. The changes you make via the F7 do not come to me. Some folks do not want their on the web page. I can put officers with their names or not as you wish. I cloak the s in the code for the web page to slow down the web crawler programs that harvest s. Quite a few chapters have their newsletters on their web site. The chapter number shows up on the left for about a month after it is up. For a week or so after the newsletter is first posted, new newsletters show up in red next to the chapter number. One Area also has a newsletter. Our web host has very reasonable rates and is based in the United States. I have a logo for the company near the bottom of the links on the left. If you know anyone (including a business) that would like a reasonably priced web page, please tell them to click on that link to investigate the costs and sign up for a web page through that link. The VFC gets a nice rebate for each web site that is signed up this way. They provide plenty of on-line help to set up your page. You do not need to be a member to sign up for a site. With your assistance we will have an updated and improved website soon. Stan Palen, VFC Co-Webmaster ALZHEIMER'S COMMITTEE CHAIR S REPORT The Virginia Federation is AWESOME. The chapters contributed outstanding donations to the Silent Auction at the Convention and we had great items for the raffle "purple bags." We set a record high dollar intake during my tenure as your Alzheimer's Chair, with $3,306 being forwarded to the Association. The actual breakdown is: Raffle Purple Bags $ Special (Quilt & Basket) Silent Auction 1, /50 and donations Fines for cell phones during sessions Grand Total $3, I want to share with you a statement from the Alzheimer's Association regarding comprehensive planning subsequent to a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). A bill was reintroduced in Congress by Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Paul Tonko (D-NY) - HR 1559/S857, Health Outcomes, Planning and Education (HOPE) for Alzheimer's Act. Currently, Medicare provides coverage for diagnostic services, but it does not provide for comprehensive care after the diagnosis. HOPE will ensure newly diagnosed Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers receive comprehensive care planning services and will require the diagnosis to be documented in their medical record. It will also help inform health care providers about what steps should be taken following a diagnosis, which will enhance assistance for people with Alzheimer's and their caregivers. Robert Egge, Alzheimer's Association Chief Public Policy Officer said, "This legislation encourages doctors to talk to their patients about an Alzheimer's diagnosis and ensures that the necessary steps are taken to provide them with access to available care planning services." VFC NOTES MAY 2015 PAGE 9

10 Only 45 percent of people with AD or their caregivers have been told of the diagnosis by their doctor. Compare that to 90 percent of patients with breast, colorectal, lung and prostate cancers are told the diagnosis. Studies show that there are benefits to early detection and diagnosis, including the ability for the patient to participate in planning for the future, taking advantage of support services, and participating in clinical trials. Senator Stabenow is quoted as saying, "...this can be the year we have a real breakthrough in the fight against Alzheimer's." Please continue to contribute at your chapters so we can make Senator Stabenow's vision a reality. Donna Shackelford - VFC Alzheimer s Chair NEWS FROM ACROSS VIRGINIA AREA I Due to computer problems, no article was submitted for Area 1. Patricia Taylor, VFC Area I Vice President AREA II During January and February, some of our chapter meetings were cancelled because of winter storms or suffered from low attendance because of fear that another storm would move into Southeastern Virginia. The January meeting of Virginia Beach Chapter 974 featured our third annual presentation by local tax experts. This year two professional tax preparers explained changes to the tax code that would have an impact on 2014 tax returns and answered tax questions from chapter members and guests. The February meeting of Chapter 974 was cancelled because of a storm that moved into Southeastern Virginia on the morning of the chapter meeting and made driving on secondary roads dangerous. The March meeting of Chapter 974 featured a presentation by a life safety specialist from the City of Virginia Beach. He explained many dangers found in the typical home that can cause property damage or serious injuries. Seaside Chapter 1827 held its February meeting at the Westminster Canterbury Retirement Community in Virginia Beach. A conference room on one of the upper floors of one of the facility s tower was made available for the meeting. The speaker came from the History and Genealogy branch of the Virginia Beach Public Library. She gave an interesting presentation on our local history and efforts by the library to create a digital collection of historic pictures and documents. The digital collection is available online and includes a vast assortment of historic records. Seaside Chapter 1827 had its annual Spaghetti Luncheon in March. Contributions from chapter members who attended the luncheon were donated to Alzheimer s Research. Tidewater Chapter 66 had interesting speakers at its February and March meetings. A member of the Norfolk Master Gardener Association spoke at the February meeting. The Master Gardener Association was created to help residents of Norfolk and Virginia Beach by providing horticultural information. Many residents are transient and are not familiar with trees and plants that thrive in our local climate and soils. Others have lived here for years but don t realize the limits of the small lots in newer subdivisions. The speaker offered helpful information on landscaping and gardening in our local climate and soils, including what to plant and where. The March speakers gave a presentation on reverse mortgages and explained circumstances where the proceeds could help solve financial issues that arise as we age, such as the need to make a home accessible for a disabled family member. Eastern Shore Chapter 1175 does not meet during the winter months. Its next regular meeting is planned for the 12 th of May. VFC NOTES MAY 2015 PAGE 10

11 Virginia Beach Metro Chapter 5 held a meeting in February to elect its delegate to the 2015 VFC Convention. Alex Adkins, VFC Area II Vice President AREA III I will start this report off with the statement that the winter of 2015 has not been kind to the chapters in Area III. Several chapters have not been able to meet for one month and some for two months. This had an adverse effect on the contributions to the 61 st VFC Annual Convention. As usual, our chapters continue to lose members and, in many cases, attendance is very low at monthly meetings. Hopefully warmer weather will bring members out to the meetings. Petersburg Chapter 28 has lost 10 members since the last report; they now have a total of 168 members. However, the chapter continues to have interesting programs. Richmond Chapter 60 s membership has dropped; they now have 223 members. South of the James Chapter 1138 was closed this quarter. All of the requirements for closing a chapter and the official notification to HQS NARFE were submitted the first week of April. Colonial Heights Chapter 1472 has gained one member since the last report, they now have 162 members. Imperial Plaza Chapter 1510 has gained SEVEN new members since December. The new President, Edward Heflin, wrote a letter, after he was sworn in, to each member introducing himself. Two members asked to be transferred out of the chapter into chapters closer to their homes. I THINK THIS WOULD BE A GOOD THING FOR ALL CHAPTER PRESIDENTS TO DO, SINCE MEMBERS DO NOT HAVE A TENDANCY TO CORRECT THEIR ADDRESSES AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS, NOR DO THEY ASK TO BE TRANSFERRED TO CHAPTERS CLOSER TO THEIR ACTUAL RESIDENCE. For the most part, members of this chapter are residents of an assisted living facility. The members turn out for all meetings and always have a great time. Midlothian Chapter 2265 had no change in number of members and remain at 321. Midlothian was very successful with their Alzheimer's donations; a total of $2, was donated this year. Rachel Murphy-Weast was the winner of a NARFE $1,000 scholarship. Rachel is the granddaughter of Sally Weast, a member of Chapter VFC President Dick Giangerelli installed the new officers which included a new president, Helen Willis, at their Holiday Luncheon. Bill Shackelford, NARFE Region X VP; Donna Shackelford NARFE and VFC Alzheimer's Chair; and Leslie Ravenell, VFC 2 nd VP and her husband Richard also attended the luncheon. I continue to be busy with the Chesterfield TRIAD and Chesterfield Council on the Aging. Unfortunately due to three deaths in my family, one in October and two the week Christmas, I have been in West Virginia most of this quarter. Of course, I was always just a phone call away if one of the Chapters needed assistance. As I announced early in this fiscal year, I will be leaving office at the 2015 VFC Convention. I will be nominating Jack McMurchy, President of Chapter 28 and prior Area III VP, as my replacement. Carolyn Wilson, VFC Area III Vice President AREA IV All chapters in Area IV meet monthly except when they stand down during July and August. chapter websites under for specific meeting information. Visit individual Area IV is active in supporting NARFE and VFC goals and objectives by meeting with U.S. and State Congressional representatives and their staff assistants. Monthly chapter meetings focus on NARFE and VFC actions and plans; but, also strive to be entertaining and mind-broadening through guest speakers from a variety VFC NOTES MAY 2015 PAGE 11

12 of occupations and backgrounds, such as Congressional staff, financial advisors, elder care/senior living, music (singing, etc.) and sporting activities. Chapter representatives also support State legislative objectives by meeting with state representatives and/or staff to discuss NARFE/VFC issues and give out copies of the VFC State Legislation trifold. Personally, I visit all chapters on a regular basis and I also host a quarterly President s Breakfast for all Area IV chapter presidents, where we discuss issues, goals, activities and problems. All Area IV chapters will be represented at the VFC Convention either by members attending or by providing a proxy for vote (Portsmouth Chapter 63). Although recruiting and retention continue to decline in Area IV, as elsewhere, we continue to be proactive in our recruiting campaigns. The Churchland Chapter has already reserved a space and tent for the annual Smithfield Olden Days Festival in late June where we ll pass out bags containing NARFE magazines, brochures, applications and gifts in an effort to attract new members. Long range Suffolk Chapter (augmented by other chapters' members) will use matching funds to have a recruiting booth at the annual Suffolk Peanut Festival in October; and, Churchland Chapter will again have recruiting tables at Federal Health Fairs on military installations (such as Naval Medical Center and Naval Shipyard) in the November timeframe. In addition to participating in VFC activities and recruiting efforts, we have interaction between our chapters and other VFC Areas for special events, such as the upcoming Service Officer Training presented by John and Connie Bails in May. While it is hosted by Chesapeake Chapter, all interested members in Areas I, II and IV have been invited to attend. Bobby L. Whittington, VFC Area IV Vice President AREA V Area V consists of six chapters: Lynchburg 110, Piedmont 2080, Bedford 1068, Southside 2079, Danville 1011 and Martinsville/Henry Two of these chapters are doing well, while the other four are not meeting at this time and two have no current/active officers. I am proud to say that Lynchburg 110 is making a comeback from no meetings and no one wanting to be an officer, to meeting monthly and two officers. Attendance is improving with each monthly meeting. They also plan to send their president to the VFC Convention in Fredericksburg in April. Farmville continues to thrive with a full slate of officers and monthly meetings. They also plan to send their president to the VFC Convention. I have met with several members of Southside Chapter 2079 about getting the chapter reorganized. Their president resigned from office and NARFE to go into the missionary field and their treasurer passed away. The members that came to the last meeting expressed an interest in continuing to have chapter meetings; however, no one felt they were in a position to become an officer. I will be meeting with them again in May and, hopefully, get someone interested in being in a leadership role. I still need to get officers in the other chapters and get them meeting on a regular basis. NARFE is so important to each member and the information that is shared at chapter meetings is invaluable. I plan to have each of the six chapters represented at next year s VFC Convention. If you are a member of one of the chapters in Area V and are interested in serving as an officer or have questions about what is involved in being an officer, please contact me at tdlaughon@netzero.com or phone me at Training will be held in October at various locations throughout the state for new and current officers. I will be contacting each member of the inactive chapters about reorganization meetings in their Area. Area V is a great Area and will become more active in the next year. Debra Laughon, VFC Area V Vice President VFC NOTES MAY 2015 PAGE 12

13 AREA VI As I prepare to step down, I hope I will be successful in finding someone else to serve as Area VI Vice President for 2015 and beyond. With my health improving, I intend to take part in the VFC Board meetings and to attend the VFC Convention in April. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve in this position. Del Dyer, VFC Area VI Vice President AREA VII It was no surprise that the winter was cold in Northwestern Virginia, as indicated by the high bills I got from my electric company and propane provider. This made up for the mild winters the last two years. Brrr! Because of that, a few of Area VII chapters went into partial hibernation. Some, like the Shenandoah County Chapter, didn t meet in one of the months; however there is still a lot to report. The highlight of the quarter, though, was the biennial NARFE National Legislative Training Conference held in March in Arlington, VA. Area VII Winchester, Staunton, and Shenandoah County chapters sent representatives that culminated in Capitol Hill visits to their representatives and their staffs. Winchester Chapter representatives were able to meet with Congresswoman Barbara Comstock (R-10 th District), while the others met with staff personnel. The conference was well-attended by NARFE members throughout the 50 states, and the general impression was that it was the best NARFE Legislative Conference to date. Back at chapter meetings and activities, members were entertained by speakers from the surrounding area. Shenandoah County Chapter heard from April Moore on climate change and David Ferguson, Chairman of the Shenandoah County Board of Supervisors on the County budget. The Staunton-Waynesboro-Augusta County Chapter heard from Nancy Sorrells, a local historian and author who gave a pitch on extending the Lewis & Clark Trail to include Virginia. In March, they listened to Debbie Branham, Outreach Coordinator for the Valley Program for Aging Services. Also in March, the Charlottesville Chapter was given a presentation by Mark Vyros, one of their own members, on how to convert old technology movies/videos to the current DVD format. In January, the Winchester Chapter heard from Susan Herskowitz: P.L.L.C., on all aspects of Estate Planning. And in February and March, they were entertained, respectively, by the Sweet Adelines, a female chorus, and Two of the Faithful Four, a musical duo. In February, the Charlottesville Chapter set up a table at an all-day family fair at a military facility in Charlottesville, NGIC. It was attended by 400 military members and families. Several of them are former and current civilian federal employees, and many prospects names were attained. It was a milestone since it was the first time a local NARFE chapter was allowed to participate. In the same month, some of the chapter members also attended a Red Cross Charlottesville Joining Community Forces Meeting as NARFE representatives. The Harrisonburg Chapter heard from the Rockingham County Clerk of Court, Chaz Evans-Haywood in January. Then, in February, the chapter had their yearly in-house live auction with Auctioneer Sonny Henkel - proceeds raised went to the Alzheimer's Association. Subsequently, in March the chapter had as a speaker Ms. Karen McNeal, Director of Marketing at Bridgewater Retirement Community, who recapped the 50-year history of the Bridgewater Retirement Community. Page Valley Chapter speaker in January was Major Jason Pettit, Page County Sheriff's Office, who updated chapter members on the latest scams to avoid. Ginny Itterly, from the Page County Railroad Club, came in March and spoke about the history of train travel, status of the new Railroad Museum Grand Opening and plans for community outreach. VFC NOTES MAY 2015 PAGE 13

14 And to top it all off, Dora Tyler, a member of the Winchester Chapter, was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation for her faithful service on her 100 th birthday in February. Steve Dansker, VFC Area VII Vice President AREA VIII I installed officers at Falls Run Chapter 2434 and Lake of the Woods Chapter All chapters have new officers in place for All chapters received Bulletins 1 and 2 for the upcoming VFC Convention. Chapter New officers installed for They have eight members signed up for the VFC convention. Interesting speaker Glen Markwith from the Virginia Waterman Heritage Tours, day trips on the water detailing marine life. This speaker may be of interest to other VFC chapters. Chapter 90 Signed contract with library to continue to have the monthly meetings for 2015 there, except for July, August and December. Filed Form 990-N & IRS accepted E-Postcard. Mailed VFC dues in mid-march. Working with Congressman Wittman s office for a visit in August. Chapter One person attending VFC Convention. Chapter 2065 Guest Speaker Ray Siewert, Immediate Past Chapter President, and his son Patrick Siewert spoke on topics including digital and information security, mobile technology, how it affects users and recent information on security breaches in government and industry to include network breaches to businesses like ebay, Target & Home Depot. Chapter 2112 Had Pastor David Williamson as a guest speaker in February, who spoke on various projects that churches are doing to help teens, unwed mothers and young men and women that need counseling to help them make a better life for themselves. They also have a partnership with churches in Nairobi, Kenya. Guest Speaker for March was from the Better Business Bureau on the topic of what scams to look for, etc. Chapter 2343 Moved their meetings to day time meetings. The president attended the Legislative Training. Maureen Nolet, VFC Area VIII Vice President AREA IX Although I was asked to report on activities in VFC Area IX for the quarter from January 1st to March 31st, I want to take this opportunity to report on the 2015 VFC Convention and the work associated with preparing for the Convention, as this consumed a enormous amount of effort over the past several months for the Chapters in Area IX and some members of Chapters outside of Area IX. After serving as the VFC Area IX Vice President for the past six years, I am taking this opportunity to submit my final VFC Notes article. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as the liaison to the VFC Board for the six southern chapters of Northern Virginia. As you know, Jim Little, Past President of my home chapter, Woodbridge 1270, was elected to be the next Area IX Vice President at the 2015 VFC Convention. I know Area IX will continue to give him the outstanding support they have given me. The 2015 VFC Convention is now over, and I have been reviewing the evaluations (over 100) which were submitted. Our convention committee did a FANTASTIC job, and indeed, IT WAS THE BEST CONVENTION EVER!!! As in any undertaking of this magnitude, it took a TEAM effort, and I want to publicly thank all the members of the team. I knew that several of the jobs were key to our success, and one of the prime jobs was the Data Base Manager. Jim Little stepped up to the job, learned a lot and kept everyone informed of our progress in many areas. It VFC NOTES MAY 2015 PAGE 14

15 required many long hours into many nights, with much assistance from his wife, Bonnie. Thanks, Jim! A second very important job was the Program Book. Here we had to step out of our Area IX to Area VIII, where Mary Heck (Fredericksburg Chapter 90) managed a superb effort. Chapter 90 also provided our Facilities Management Chair, Maureen (Moe) Nolet. Of course, it helped that Moe works at the Fredericksburg EXPO and Conference Center to smooth every issue. Thanks, Mary and Moe! Key to any event of this magnitude is the incoming revenue. Two major leaders in this area were Doug Jones (Annandale Chapter 1159) and Pat Harahan (Springfield Chapter 893). Doug was responsible for Advertising and Sales, while Pat was responsible for Exhibitor Tables. Doug was successful in obtaining many, many ads from commercial advertisers, and also from NARFE members, while Pat, assisted by Linda Force (Woodbridge Chapter 1270) and Sterling Nichols (Alexandria Chapter 232), got a record number of exhibitors. Many thanks to each of them! Every NARFE member of Virginia was given the opportunity to support the convention, and Kathy Arpa (Vienna Chapter 1116) marshaled all those troops and kept track of them. Of course, she was also the Convention Coordinator. Many thanks, Kathy! To ensure everyone was properly and legally registered, Jack Shipley and Blaine Stockton (Manassas Chapter 356) were in charge of Registration and Name Badges. They were assisted by Darwin Ransom (Woodbridge Chapter 1270), Jana Bennett, Priscilla Saboe (Manassas Chapter 356) and Janet Gahagan. After registering, delegates were met by Mary Lou Vroman, Ginny Taylor and Joyce Bounds (Frances Hudson helped from afar), all from Annandale Chapter 1159, who ensured Credentials were correct for voting, and they also served as the Ballot and Tellers Committee. It was a testament to their attention to detail that there were NO ISSUES! My thanks to each of them! No convention would be complete without the banquet, and here Deanna Shepherd (Springfield Chapter 893) was magnificent. The decorations, the reception and the meal were fantastic, and it reflected well on her efforts and coordination. Thanks, Deanna! Nick Andrus (Alexandria Chapter 232) was responsible for lining up the entertainment, and he was great! From George Washington to the Mary Washington University String Quartet to the Tallwood Trio, it could not have been better. Thanks Nick! Greeters were Doris McAdams, Ray Humenick and Francis Piper (Woodbridge Chapter 1270). Thanks! Ray Humenick (Woodbridge Chapter 1270) stepped in superbly at the last moment to serve as our convention photographer. And since they are on the VFC Board of Directors, the following get to help out at each VFC convention: Chaplain Margaret Yowell (Springfield Chapter 893) a very fitting Memorial Service; Audio Visual/Internet Stan Palen (Colonial Beach 595) great job, with projectors to spare and no glitches; Alzheimer s Chair Donna Shackelford (Fairfax Chapter 737) fantastic Silent Auction; and Sergeant at Arms Lee Barta (Louisa Chapter 2065) no problems at all. Thanks to each of the above we couldn t have done it without you! Of course, it was great to have our National President, Richard Thissen join us for the entire convention. National Legislative Chair Jessica Klement wowed us with her presentation and update, and Tammy Flanagan (Woodbridge Chapter 1270) gave retirees valuable information. Thanks to each of them. John Restall (Falls Church Chapter 401) will be in charge of evaluating the evaluations with next year s Convention Coordinator Kathy Arpa. My thanks to each of you. Finally, my very deepest thanks and gratitude go to the Convention Secretary Gaston Gianni (Woodbridge Chapter 1270). Gaston not only served as my Executive Assistant, anticipating problems and keeping track of all loose ends, but he also invited Gene Dodaro, the Comptroller General of the United States to be our keynote speaker and Rob Wittman, the Virginia First District Congressman to welcome us. Neither the team, nor I, could have succeeded without him. Thanks Gaston! VFC NOTES MAY 2015 PAGE 15