MadisonAreaChapter120 NewsletterVolume25Issue2 April1,2016

NationalNARFEwww.NARFE.org ChapterWeb:NARFE120.wordpress.com

President’sMessage-MelanieMillerTheweatherisalwaysatopicofdiscussioninWisconsinandthisspringiscertainlynoexception.Earlywarmweather,latersnowstorms,earlybuddingplantsandtrees,allmakeforaninterestingmixandunpredictablehappenings.Buttheweatherisn’ttheonlyunpredictablethinglately.Thepoliticalclimatewhichexistsinourcountryalsofitsinthiscategory.WehaveapresidentialelectioncomingupinNovember.Youmightthinkthisisabitearlyforthisreminderbutthiswillbethefocusofourmedia,bothlocalandnational,forthenextsevenmonths.AllAmericansneedtopayattentiontoandparticipateintheelectionprocess.AsActiveandRetiredFederalEmployeesweneedtobeactiveinthisprocess.Weneedtolookfortruthintheinformationbeingsharedbycandidates,theirsupportersandopponents.Weneedtosiftandsortthingsreportedbythemedia.Weneedtobeawareofthesourcesofinformationasideasandopinionsarebroadcastovertheinternetthroughsocialmedia,makingsuretheyarereliablenotjustrandomaccusations.Wealsoneedtobeactiveandsupportthevotingprocess.Manypollingplacesneedworkers.Therearemanyopportunitiestovolunteerandhelpvotersregisterorphysicallygettothepollsonvotingday.Don’tsitbackandwatchthisprocess.Beapartofit.Thinkaboutwhatourcountryneeds.Considerwhatourcountryhasstoodforinthepastandwhatwewantforafuture.AsAmericancitizenswehavearesponsibilitytonotjustvote,buttocastaneducatedandthoughtfulballot.Takeadvantageofthisopportunitytomakeadifference.

ServiceOfficerNotes-BobKramerAsourspiritsareliftedbythecomingofSpringtheymayalsoberaisedbysomepositivedevelopmentsonthebenefitsfront.AfterdecadesofNARFEeffortstoaddressinequitiesintheWindfallEliminationProvision(WEP)andtheGovernmentPensionOffset(GPO),hearingshavebeenheldtograpplewiththeproblemstheseprovisionsprovide.WhileNARFEcontinuestofavoraneliminationoftheseprovisionsentirely,itislikelythatanewformulawilldealwiththeSocialSecurityreductiondifferently.NARFE’sPresidentThissenhasstated“NARFEisencouragedbytheongoingvariousreformefforts,particularlywithregardtoH.R.711.ThisbillwouldhelpmitigatetheWEPpenaltybyprovidingsomereliefforbothcurrentbeneficiariesthrougharebateandfutureSocialSecurityrecipientsbyimprovingtheformulagoingforward.Thisreliefislongpastduebutwouldbeverymuchappreciatedbyindividualswhoarebeingpenalizedfortheirpublicservice.”Youwillfindafurtherdiscussionofthismatteronpage6&7ofthecurrentAprilissueofNARFEmagazine.AnotherpositivesignistheHouseBudgetPlanwhichdoesnotsingleoutfederalemployeesforcertainreductionsunrelatedtotheiremploymentasitdidlastyear.

MadisonAreaChapter120 NewsletterVolume25Issue2 April1,2016

NationalNARFEwww.NARFE.org ChapterWeb:NARFE120.wordpress.com

PresidentMelanieMillerMelanie.miller@es.uwex.edu608-513-9894

1stVicePresidentJamesBrenJIMBREN@CHARTER.NET608-845-7447

2ndVicePresidentMyrnaMcNattmydomcnatt@tds.net608-831-5759

SecretaryLindaKustka

Linda.kustka@ces.uwex.edu608-238-6910

TreasurerKathyLosbytkmlosby@sbglobal.net608-238-6910

ServiceOfficerRobertM.Kramerbucksawbob@yahoo.com608-238-8571

LegislativeChairTomMillertfmillerphoto@sbcglobal.net608-273-1501

Sunshine/HospitalityVeronicaGuskironni@tds.net608-849-5701DianeMaertzmumslady@frontier.com608-837-3377LizEddyyarite@charternet608-365-5254

WebsiteTomParslowThomas@parslowfamily.com

NewsletterRobertaHerschlebherschleb@att.net

MembershipReport-MyrnaMcNattOnemembertransferredintotheMadisonChapter,twomemberstransferredout.Wehave5newprospectivemembers.Totalmembershipis637.Happenings–VeronicaGuskiOurmemberdeathreportsexceedmembernewbirthreports,buthappilywecancelebrateamilestonebirthdayanniversaryinApril.CongratulationsandallthebesttoRoswellT.Mair,oneofourregularluncheonmeetingsmembers,onhis90thbirthday!

JohnBrendenpassedawayon2/20/16.JohnwasaForestProductsLabemployee.

MiriamDregnepassedawayon3/3/16.HerfullobituarywasinEasterSunday'spaper.

EthelynEickner(died2/16/16)wasthewifeofoneofourmembers(HerbertEickner).

CurtisFaustpassedawayon2/29/16.HeworkedfortheU.S.PostalService.Hishobbywasmakingmodelairplanes.

CatherinePasellCatherinewasemployedasadietitianattheVeteransHospitalinMadison.Shediedon3/13/16.

RobertSteidemannpassedawayon1/27/16-Bobworkedasaforesterandmanagementanalystfor40years.

KarlWenzelpassedawayon2/25/16.HeworkedfortheU.S.DeptofHealthandHumanServices.KarlplayedhisclarinetintheFrieslandCommunityBandforover30years!

MaeWildtwifeofWayneWildt(whopassedon6/6/15)diedon2/23/16.

JoanneBiesek

Joanne(onleftinphoto)receivesacertificatefromPresidentMelanieMilleronbehalfofChapter120to

appreciateandhonorher10yearsofcapableserviceas

ourTreasurer.

MadisonAreaChapter120 NewsletterVolume25Issue2 April1,2016

NationalNARFEwww.NARFE.org ChapterWeb:NARFE120.wordpress.com

Chapter120LegislativeUpdateSubmittedbyTomMiller,Chapter120andFederationLegislativeChair

Atthetimeofthiswritingthelegislativeagendaisrelativelylight.ThereareafewbillsofgeneralinteresttoNARFEmembersweavingtheirwaythroughthelegislativeprocess.ThereissomeactivityasitrelatestoPostalReform,reducingtheWEP(WindfallEliminationProvision)penaltyforthosereceivingaCSRSpensionandalsoeligibleforSocialSecuritybenefits,andlegislationtoprotectfederalretireesandveteransfrompensionadvanceschemesandensurepensionsaresafefromfraudulentsalespractices.Inaddition,abillwasintroducedtoprotectTSPinvestorsfromreceivingbadinvestmentadvice.Anarticleonpages6-7oftheAprilNARFEmagazinedescribestheWEPandhowitaffectsfederalretirees.ItwasannouncedonFridayMarch18thattheHouseWaysandMeansSocialSecuritySubcommitteewouldholdhearingsMarch22onHR711thatincludesreformstoWEPandtheGovernmentPensionOffset(GPO).ThisisagoodsignthatthecommitteewilltakeactiononthisresolutionduringthissessionofCongress.OnFridayMarch18,theHouseBudgetCommitteeapprovedalongpartylinestheHouse’sFY2017budgetresolution.Thisincludesadirectivetothecommitteethatoverseesfederalretirementandhealthbenefitstoreducespendingunderitsjurisdiction.Whilenotspecific,theFY17budgetassumescutsto“othermandatory”spending,acategorythatincludesfederalandmilitaryretirementandhealthbenefits.Thisissomethingmembersshouldkeepaneyeonoverthenextfewmonthsandrespondtoacalltoactionifneeded.Keepup-to-dateonalllegislationaffectingcurrentandretiredemployeesbycheckingtheNARFEwebsiteregularlyorfollowingtheBillTrackerintheNARFEmonthlymagazineorbysigninguptoreceiveperiodicemailsfromNARFEheadquarters.ItiscriticallyimportantforNARFEmemberstocontactmembersofCongressregardinglegislationthataffectsourbenefits.Theylistentoconstituentssothemoretheyhearfromusthemoreweprotectourearnedbenefits.TheNARFELegislativeActionCenterisagoodwaytofindyourmemberofCongressandletthemknowofyourconcernsbysendingalettertotheappropriatemember.Sincethisanelectionyearitisagoodtimetomakepersonalcontactwiththoseseekingreelectionaswellastheiropponentstovoiceyourconcernsandaskthemtosupportfederalworkersandretirees.IdentifyyourselfasaNARFEmemberbecausethishelpswhennationalNARFEleadershipcallonmembersofCongresstoseeksupportforlegislationofinteresttomembers.Here’sthetentativeschedulewhentheSenatewillbeinrecess(meaningtheyareintheState)forthenextfewmonths;March21-April1,May2-6,May30-June3,andJuly18-September5.TheHouseisscheduledtobeinrecessMarch24-April11,May2-6,May30-June3,June27-July1,andJuly18-September5.Ifyouhavequestionsorwouldlikemoreinformationaboutlegislativeadvocacypleasecontactmeat608-273-1501ortfmillerphoto@sbcglobal.net.NoFooling–RobertaHerschlebIwasafoolnottolookfirsttoNARFEwhensortingthroughajumbleofbenefitscoordinationquestions.Aftersomelongscrollsthroughseparaterelevantwebsites(OPM,Medicareandothers)Icamefinallytowww.NARFE.org.Theessentialanswerswereallthere,customtailoredtofitafederalemployee/retiree!NofoolingwhenNARFEpromises“TirelessAdvocacy,TrustedAdvice”.

MadisonAreaChapter120 NewsletterVolume25Issue2 April1,2016

NationalNARFEwww.NARFE.org ChapterWeb:NARFE120.wordpress.com

NARFEChapter120,MadisonWisconsinKathyLosby,Treasurer542CharlesLaneMadisonWI53711ADDRESSSERVICEREQUESTEDSendaddresschangestoherschleb@att.netMARKYOURNARFECALENDARS:APRIL22NDNOONMEETINGATCULVER’SRESTAURANTINEDGERTON(nearNewville)

Join us at noon on April 22nd. Our featured speaker, Bonnie Nutt of the Alzheimer’s Association Education Program, will fill us in on the direction this disease is taking and what can be done to reduce the chances of experiencing it’s many ill effects.

A sunny day is planned for the brief trip down Interstate 90 toward Janesville. Get off on exit 163 turning east on US highway 59 about a block. Turn right onto Richardson Springs Road for about a block where you will find Culvers (571 E. Richardson Springs Road).

No registration is required as we can order off of the menu. Registration and a social hour will begin at 11:00a.m. We will meet in the restaurant’s meeting room to the left of the ordering counter. Orders will be delivered to you in the meeting room.

MAY 20TH BREAKFAST MEETING AT MONONA GARDEN RESTAURANT 8:00A.M. REGISTRATION

After our 8:30a.m breakfast, Scott Lautenschlager will speak about the activities of the Wage and Hour Division when the Department of Labor is in the “Agency Spotlight!” Is the restaurant waiter who serves your coffee earning only $2.13 per hour plus tips? Hear what the rules are, how compliant Wisconsin businesses are, and the many other things the DOL Wage and Hour Division oversees.

No registration is required and we can order off of the menu. The Monona Garden Restaurant is at 6501 Bridge Road on East Broadway across from Monona State Bank and Cranberry Creek Restaurant.