NARFE Leadership Report Prepared for North Carolina Federation President Elaine Hughes

Chapter Leadership We have a void in Chapter Leadership How can we Recruit officers to lead NARFE Chapters?

What makes a Leader? Are they born Or Is it a learned ability?

Webster Defines Leadership as The ability to guide, direct, or influence people

The Big Question: Is LEADERSHIP A LEARNED TRAIT?

People are not all born with the same potential. Whether it is: People are not all born with the same potential Whether it is: To Lead To Sing To Play Ball

However Everyone can develop/improve their effectiveness

How? Practice!

Compiling the Report I asked for input from Over 100 NARFE members At all levels of our organization

Suggestions: Identify strong officers who can mentor new potential officers. We should move members with potential into leadership positions. When ready, At their own speed. Do not impede potential officers’ progress because of a lack of seniority in NARFE.

Committees are Essential We should establish committees from within the ranks of our active members to assist The Legislative Officer, The Membership Chair/Retention Chair and The Service Officer.

Everyone should be Involved We should get every active member to join one of the committees. Committees should meet at a designated time to: Set goals, Determine actions Review progress

Leadership is an acquired Trait Recognized that we are not just looking for past management experience for leaders We need leaders with political experience Politics is the foundation of our organization. Some of the best political leaders have never served in management positions.

Mentor New/Potential Officers Chapter president should schedule other officers to preside at designated chapter meeting. Relieve fear of addressing the chapter Build confidence to accept more responsibility

Enticement to Serve To attract officers We must first attract members The Key to a strong Chapter is Member Participation

A Reluctance to Participate The question is how can we get our members to participate? How do we convince proven leaders that NARFE is worth their time?

Establish a Common Purpose. Chapters/members should have a clear definition of the chapter’s purpose

There are many Distractions Avoid the pitfalls Being sidetracked by distractions that dilute our primary mission.

Action Items Chapters should put a limit on a chapter president’s term. Chapter meetings have got to be Interesting Cordial

Benefits are Constantly Threatened Most NARFE members are paying dues to have someone else work to protect their benefits. NARFE Members must be convinced that there is something to be gained from attending the meeting.

Today's New Members March is to a Different Drummer The baby boomers “especially” “only” want to meet when there is an urgent need. What can we do to attract members to the meetings?

Issues It was suggested that we explain current issues WEP-GPO- Premium Conversion, State issues Etc. Members would like to feel that they are making a contribution. That they belong to the group. And Every attendee must feel welcome.

Member Support There should be: A Calling tree An E-mail System to Contact members who do not attend the meeting Reach and remind every member of up coming events

Organize a rally to promote NARFE issues. Get Members Involved Organize a rally to promote NARFE issues. Homestead Act Tax Free CFE Retirement benefit Sponsor a “meet the candidate night” during local election campaigns. It would create an awareness of NARFE and increase the involvement of our membership.

Spread the Word Seek permanent space to house a local/area office. A local Credit Union might be willing to donate space since the persons seeking NARFE information would also be potential members of the credit union and vice versa. Senior centers might be another resource. Purchase holders for NARFE material and place them in high traffic federal employee locations.

Advertise Invest in recruitment ads: Use the local newspaper under the help wanted section. “Needed retired and current federal employees to help protect our annuity. Note: The national public relations will match dollar for dollar most advertising projects.

Traditional Methods Create a leadership academy Held in conjunction with the federation convention. On Line academy Study at your own pace

Learn from the Past Build a New Future NARFE continues to loose members at an alarming rate Retention is a major problem NARFE is in a transition period From the “Hero” generation to the “Baby Boomers”.

It is Time to Face Reality We continue to loose members Causing Less member revenue Causing rising dues Causing fewer members Causing less revenue Etc.

What Can We Do? Stop the Negative Spiral Envision a New Future

We Should Lead Not Just Follow the Trend NARFE at all levels must Make Corrections to survive NARFE is a large business and should be run like one.

Fewer Members – Less Money It is time to cut back on Association Expenses Right Size the Organization Remove Redundancy Reduce NARFE Dues

Refocus. Move Back to the Basics. Concentrate our limited Resources Refocus Move Back to the Basics Concentrate our limited Resources on our Core Business. Legislation Membership Recruitment and Retention Service

Right size NARFE Before it is too late We must cut cost and become more efficient more productive And Continue to generate more non-dues revenue

Move NARFE Operations out of Politics NARFE’s day to day operation should be managed by a Chief Operations Officer Hired by the President/Chair of the Executive Board Approved by a 2/3rd majority of the National Executive Board. The COO should serve at the pleasure of the Board.

Actions long overdue Approve a Single NARFE Due Hire A Chief Operations Officer Selected by the President and approved by the National Executive Board

Benefits Open our national officer ranks to many more qualified, dedicated members. Allow combination of the Secretary and Treasurer position saving $100,000.00 plus annually. The three officers working from home could have their salaries reduced to half of their present amount. (Another savings of $50 to $100,000 annually)

Later (A Long Term Transition) The Regional Vice President’s position and duties should be increased. A Region Executive Board should be created. Each State Federation President and Vice-President could be a member of the Region’s Executive Board. This would get the decision making process closer to the membership. The Regional Vice Presidents should be staffed to accept responsibility for most programs now managed by the federations. (WEB Page Coordinator, Public Relations Alzheimer’s, and etc.)

Federations should move toward a concentration on our core business (Legislation, Membership, and Service) The Regions should provide support services for Alzheimer’s, Public Relations, etc. Region could serve a larger membership base for our non-critical functions. Reduce duplicated federation overhead by 50% to 80%

Ten RVPs and the National Officers would continue to comprise the NARFE National Executive Board/Board of Governors. All financial operations for the federations and Regions could be handled by the Office of the National Treasurer. The Region and Federation would operate under the national budget.

No federation assessment of chapters (Per Capita). Each federation would have a president, a vice president/membership chair, secretary/treasurer, a national/state legislative officer, and a service officer. District vice presidents would remain as presently configured

National dues should support. the ten regions, National dues should support the ten regions, federations and chapters. There should be one super chapter for each Congressional District with satellite chapters scattered throughout each district The super chapter would provide legislative, membership and service officer advice and counsel to each of the individual chapters within the district cluster.

Each Regions could hold a convention during the National Convention off year Allow maximum participation of national officers and functional directors. State federation convention/caucuses, could be held at the region conventions

NARFE’s Hero Generation Are Our Traditional Members A Solid Foundation Salt of the Association Benevolent Charitable But Resistant to Change

Ideas presented to stimulate your thinking. It is time to begin a process of reshaping NARFE. Take advantage of the efficiencies of the 21st century.

Let’s Talk Let’s get Busy It’s Time to Walk The Walk