1 NATIONAL ACTIVE AND RETIRED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION VIRGINIA FEDERATION OF CHAPTERS PRESIDENT Richard J. Giangerelli 2710 Viking Drive Herndon, VA 20171 703-860-4490 NARFE1241@gmail.com 1ST VICE PRESIDENT Kathy R. Arpa 2717 Bowling Green Drive Vienna, VA 22180 703-205-9041 Mkarpa@hotmail.com 2ND VICE PRESIDENT Leslie E. Ravenell 112 Stratford Circle Colonial Beach, VA 22443 804-224-3069 Nell8211@msn.com SECRETARY William A. Schmidt 5707 Ottawa Road Centreville, VA 20120 703-968-5837 Billschmidt39@yahoo.com TREASURER Raphael Wong 20888 Prince Lowes Terrace Potomac Falls, VA 20165 703-948-0090 Wongr@ieee.org PAST PRESIDENT Luther L. Santiful 758 Lantz Road Edinburg, VA 22824 540-331-6012 Santiful@aol.com SUBJECT: 2015 NARFE VFC CONVENTION BULLETIN # 1 October 31, 2014 It is time to start making plans to attend the 61st Annual NARFE VFC Convention in April 2015. The Convention will be held at the Fredericksburg Expo & Conference Center, 2371 Carl D. Silver Parkway, Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401. Tel: 540-548-5555. There are two hotels nearby with excellent rates that include a hot breakfast in the rate. They are both within a short walking distance to the Expo Center and there is also a large 1,200 space parking lot at the Expo Center. We encourage all Chapter members to join us at this new location. The following is some important preliminary information: Convention Dates: April 12-15, 2015 Registration At Conference Center Sunday April 12, 2015, 2PM-5PM; April 13, 8AM; April 14, 8AM Meet and Greet Reception April 12, 2015 6:00 8:00 p.m. Hampton Inn Opening Session: Monday, April 13, 2015, at 9:30 am Welcoming Reception: Monday, April 13, 2015, at 5:30 p.m. Banquet: Tuesday, April 14, 2014, at 6:30 p.m. Closing Session: Wednesday, April 15, 2014, at noon Hotel Name and Address HOTEL INFORMATION Homewood Suites Fredericksburg by Hilton Hampton Inn & Suites 1040 Hospitality Lane Fredericksburg at Celebrate Virginia Fredericksburg, VA 22401 1080 Hospitality Lane Fredericksburg, VA 22401 540-786-9700 540-786-5530 Telephone Number Accommodation One King bed and pullout sofa King Standard Room or Two Queens Other Hot Breakfast each day Hot breakfast each day Room Rate $94.00 per night plus tax $89.00 per night plus tax Web Address http://homewoodsuites.hilton.com http://hamptoninn.hilton.com Group Name NATIONAL ACTIVE & RETIRED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION Group Code NAR Check-In April 12, 2015 Check Out April 15, 2015 The cut-off date for reservations at discounted rates at these hotels is March 22, 2015.
2 HOSTS: The hosts for this Convention are the six Chapters of VFC Area IX: 232 Alexandria, 1159 Annandale, 401 Falls Church, 356 Manassas, 893 Springfield, and 1270 Woodbridge. These members are all working very hard to make this Convention as useful, appealing, and successful as possible. AGENDA DEVELOPMENT: The Program Committee would appreciate suggestions for topics and speakers for the Convention. Suggestions from the 2014 VFC Convention evaluations are being considered. We invite you to provide suggestions on topics and training you would like the Planning Committee to consider for the convention. Please submit no later than December 1, 2014 to Pierce Johnson, radmpierce@gmail.com, the Convention Chair. We are very excited to announce that we have already confirmed Gene L. Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States and Head of the Government Accountability Office (GAO), as one of the guest speakers. We have made a few changes for the 2015 Convention. For example, we will host a Meet and Greet reception at the Hampton Inn the night before the convention begins to welcome first time attendees and to renew acquaintances among other NARFE members. CONVENTION THEME: Every VFC Convention has a special theme. The Convention Committee selected as the theme for the 2015 VFC Convention, NARFE Embracing Change MEMORIAL SERVICE: A memorial service will be conducted at the Convention for members who passed away during 2014. Also, if you know of any member who passed away prior to January 1, 2015, who has not been recognized in a memorial service at a previous Convention, he or she may also be included in the 2014 VFC Convention memorial service. Each Chapter is requested to forward, by January 27, 2015, a list of members to be recognized in the memorial service to: Margaret Yowell, VFC Chaplain 5822 Fitzhugh Street Burke, VA 22015-3625 or email: Fitzhughlady@aol.com REGISTRATION & BANQUET: The registration and banquet information is listed on the enclosed 2015 VFC Convention Registration form (Form VFC 61-1). The form may be reprinted as needed and will also be available on the VFC website, at http://www.vanarfe.org. This year we are offering an early bird special if you register by February 14, 2015. Please note, there is an additional $5.00 late registration fee for registrations postmarked after March 20, 2015, and banquet registrations received after April 4, 2015 may not be accepted. We cannot guarantee that names of late registrants will be included in the Convention Program Book. Each completed registration form together with a check covering the cost of registration must be forwarded to: NARFE VFC Convention Jim Little, Database Manager, 11759 Buckley Court, Woodbridge, VA 22192-5725
Reserved seating will not be available at the banquet; however, attendees with special needs will be allowed early access to the banquet room. Please indicate your choice of entrée on registration form. Please note: A Delegate-At-Large is a VFC Board member or a past VFC President; A Lead Delegate is selected by each Chapter to carry the votes of the Chapter, should a ballot vote be required for the election of VFC officers or for proposed VFC Bylaw amendments; The number of delegates a Chapter is authorized is based upon the Chapter s membership on December 31, 2014, divided by 25, and rounded up to the next whole number; and the result is the same number of votes that a Chapter is authorized. This information will be distributed in January 2015; A Chapter may have as many Alternate Delegates as they are authorized for Delegates; and all other attending Chapter members will be identified as Members; Although allowed by the VFC Bylaws, it is recommended that a Delegate-At-Large not act as a Lead Delegate for the Chapter. While it is our goal to have all Chapters attend and participate in the convention, circumstances may arise where the Chapters will not have any members attend. If this occurs, the Chapter should identify a person from another Chapter to carry their proxy votes. RESOLUTIONS: All members are invited to prepare resolutions for consideration at the 2015 VFC Convention. A resolution can address any issue, operation, or procedure of the VFC that is not specifically addressed by the VFC Bylaws and Constitution. The resolutions must be submitted on the enclosed VFC Resolutions form (Form VFC F-3A), for receipt at least 75 days prior to the start of the VFC Convention (i.e., January 28, 2015), to: William Schmidt, VFC Secretary 5707 Ottawa Road Centreville, VA 20120-1441 or email to: billschmidt39@yahoo.com All submitted resolutions will be reviewed by the VFC Resolutions Committee and will be voted on in a floor vote by all Delegates-at-Large, Lead Delegates, and Delegates in attendance at the 2015 VFC Convention. A simple majority is required for approval of a proposed Resolution. PROPOSED BYLAWS AMENDMENTS: A proposed Bylaws amendment may be submitted by any Virginia Federation Chapter member for consideration at the 2015 VFC Convention. The current VFC Bylaws can be found on the VFC web site www.vanarfe.org. A Bylaws amendment can address any issue, operation, or procedure that is specifically addressed in the VFC Bylaws A proposed Bylaws amendment must be submitted on the enclosed VFC Bylaws Amendment form (Form VFC F-3C), for receipt at least 100 days prior to the start of the VFC Convention (i.e., January 2, 2015), to both: Del Dyer William Schmidt VFC Constitution & Bylaws Committee Chair VFC Secretary 4180 Dori Del Hills 5707 Ottawa Road Blacksburg, VA 24060-8993 Centreville, VA 20120-1441 ddyer@vt.edu billschmidt39@yahoo.com 3
All submitted proposed Bylaws amendments will be reviewed by the VFC Constitution & Bylaws Committee, will be available for discussion at the 2015 VFC Convention, and will be voted upon by ballot vote by the attending Delegates-at-Large, Lead Delegates, and Proxy Delegates. A two-thirds majority of all votes cast is required for approval of a proposed Bylaws Amendment. ELECTION OF OFFICERS: The five officers on the VFC Executive Committee (i.e., President, 1 st Vice President, 2 nd Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer) and the ten VFC Area Vice Presidents will be elected at the 2015 VFC Convention. If there is only one nomination for a particular office, the VFC President can declare that that person is elected by acclamation, and no ballot vote will be required for that office. The VFC Area Vice Presidents will be nominated and elected in the Area Caucus meetings by members in attendance at these meetings. The five officers on the VFC Executive Committee will be nominated by the VFC Nominating Committee. Officers will be elected by ballot vote by the Delegates-At-Large, the Lead Delegates, and the Proxy Delegates. A simple majority of all votes cast is required for election. It is the responsibility of the VFC Nominating Committee to propose a slate of at least one candidate for each of the five officer positions on the VFC Executive Committee. The functions and responsibilities of these positions are listed in the VFC Organizational Handbook, which is posted on the VFC website, at http://www.vanarfe.org. If any member is interested in being considered by the Nominating Committee, that member must contact the VFC Nominating Committee Chair. A brief bio must be submitted, by December 1, 2014, to: Dorothy Almassy, Chair, Nominating Committee 13 9 th Street Colonial Beach, VA. 22443-1618 Or email: dotalmassy@yahoo.com Also, at the 2015 VFC Convention, any interested member in any of these offices in attendance at the Convention may be nominated from the floor. CHAPTER BANNERS: Each Chapter is encouraged to bring their Chapter banner to the Convention for display. On the last day of the Convention, all Chapter banners must be removed. 4 CONVENTION SUPPORTERS: Sources of funding beyond the registration and banquet fees are required to fund the VFC Convention. One of those sources is from the Chapter members who become Convention Supporters. Convention Supporters will be listed in the Convention Program Book. All Chapter members are invited to show their support and their Chapter pride by contributing in one of the following five categories: Super Angel ($25), Angel ($15), Cheerleader ($10), Booster ($5), and Supporter ($1). A supporter form for individual members (Form VFC 61-3-2) and a supporter form for groups of members (Form VFC 61-4) are enclosed. Chapter Coordinators need to ensure that the names are printed so that proper recognition can be given in the Convention Program Book. The completed forms together with a check for the appropriate payment must be sent, postmarked by March 14, 2015, to: Kathy Arpa, NARFE VFC Convention Coordinator 2717 Bowling Green Drive, Vienna, VA 22180
PROGRAM BOOK ADS: A second source of funding beyond registration and banquet fees required to fund the VFC Convention is ads in the Convention Program Book. One source of ads is Virginia Federation members, groups of members, Chapters, and groups of Chapters who are not advertising a commercial operation or business. A completed Form VFC 61-1-1 must be sent, postmarked no later than March 14, 2015, together with a copy of the ad and the appropriate payment to: Doug Jones, VFC Advertising Chair 4716 Trotting Lane Annandale, VA 22003-4631 An electronic copy of the ad must be submitted, not later than March 14, 2015, to: Program Book Chair Mary Heck at: mary_heck@msn.com. Another source of ads is political incumbents or challengers, and commercial businesses. A completed Form VFC 61-2-1 must be sent, postmarked no later than March 14, 2015, together with a copy of the ad and the appropriate payment to: Doug Jones, VFC Advertising Chair 4716 Trotting Lane Annandale, VA 22003-4631 An electronic copy should be sent to Mary Heck at: mary_heck@msn.com by March 14, 2015. As an incentive to political incumbents or challengers, and to commercial businesses, all ads that cost at least $200 are eligible to be posted on the VFC website through May 2015. As an incentive for Chapter members to sell ads to political incumbents or challengers and to commercial businesses, the VFC will give the Chapter 10% of the amount they collect when that amount exceeds $499. A letter of introduction for members to use in obtaining ads is enclosed with this bulletin and may be reproduced, as needed. The Chapter President, or other designated Chapter officer, should complete and provide this form letter to members seeking ads for the 2015 VFC Convention Program Book. Since many organizations prepare their 2015 budgets in the fall, now is a good time to ask for an ad. We ask that each Chapter appoint a person to serve as ad/convention supporter coordinator and to submit the name of the coordinator to Doug Jones, VFC Convention Advertising / Sales Chair. If you have any questions, please contact him at: Doujones500@verizon.net or call him at 703-425-3361. EXHIBITORS: A third source of funding, beyond registration and banquet fees, required to fund the VFC Convention is exhibitors at the Convention. Pat Harahan, 2015 VFC Convention Exhibitor Tables Chair, is responsible for accomplishing this task. If you have any suggestions, you can contact him at harahan@verizon.net or 703-569-9684. SILENT AUCTION & 50/50 DRAWING: A silent auction and a 50/50 drawing will be held to obtain contributions for Alzheimer s Research. Each Chapter is encouraged to donate one or more items for the Silent Auction. Some of the smaller chapters may want to coordinate with other chapters to create an area basket for the auction. The donated items should have a minimum value of $50 and must be in excellent condition. Our sales at the Silent Auction have declined in the past two years. This year we are looking for quality items, not quantity. Items that have been popular in the past are jewelry, wine, original paintings, timeshares, gift cards and money baskets. The donated items should be delivered to the Alzheimer s table as soon as possible. 5
A receipt for tax purposes will be provided and all items will be displayed and provided adequate security. The 50/50 drawing tickets will be available in the same vicinity. For more information, please contact Donna Shackelford, VFC Alzheimer s Chair; Telephone No. 703-830-6590. Thank you in advance for your support and participation. Convention information will be updated in Bulletin #2. Please direct any questions or comments to Pierce Johnson, the VFC 2015 Convention Chair, at radmpierce@gmail.com or call him at 703-680-7936. 6 Kathy Arpa Kathy Arpa, VFC 1 st VP VFC Convention Coordinator 1. Form VFC 61-1, 2015 VFC Convention Registration 2. Form VFC 61-1-1, Ad Contract Member & Chapter 3. Form VFC 61-2-1, Ad Contract Commercial & Patron 4. Form VFC 61-3-1, Invitation to Members Convention Supporters 5. Form VFC 61-4, Multiple Supporter Listing 6. Form VFC 61-5, Letter of Introduction for NARFE Ad Sales 7. Form VFC F-3A, Proposed Convention Resolutions 8. Form VFC F-3C, Proposed Bylaws Amendments