North Carolina Federation of Chapters of NARFE New Members’ and Attendees’ Orientation April 28, 2009

2009 NEWCOMERS SESSION PRESENTED BY: Charlie Pratt Doris Maxwell

On behalf of the North Carolina Federation of Chapters, welcome to NARFE. On behalf of the North Carolina Federation of Chapters, welcome to NARFE.. Congratulations for making the important decision to become a member of NARFE the only nationally recognized organization that exists for the sole purpose of looking after the interests of those individuals like yourself. It makes no difference whether you have retired or are a current federal employee; have Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) benefits; or a spouse of an annuitant. The following questions and answers may be helpful in understanding your NARFE connection

NEWCOMERS SESSIONS IntroductionsIntroductions –Why do this –Newcomer confidence –Understanding NARFE at all levels –Exposure to website, resources and tools for all NC Federation NARFE chapter members

WHY DO THIS? Know NARFE’s important issuesKnow NARFE’s important issues Familiarization of the structureFamiliarization of the structure Put names with facesPut names with faces Extend welcomeExtend welcome Get feedbackGet feedback Encourage “talking up”Encourage “talking up”

What does being a NARFE member really mean to me? PROTECTING YOUR EARNED BENEFITSPROTECTING YOUR EARNED BENEFITS SPECIAL BENEFITSSPECIAL BENEFITS SUPPORT SERVICESSUPPORT SERVICES KNOWING THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONEKNOWING THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE OPTIONS FOR ASSISTING OTHERSOPTIONS FOR ASSISTING OTHERS KNOWING THAT YOUR ARE PART OF OUR NARFE FAMILY OF 4OO THOUSAND MEMBERS NATIONWIDE

ISSUES / NATIONAL EARNED BENEFITS CSRS – FERSCSRS – FERS National IssuesNational Issues –Roll-backs of benefits –Reduction of COLAs –Premium Conversion –Windfall Elimination Provision –Government Pension Offsets –Declining membership

ISSUES / NORTH CAROLINA STATE INCOME TAX LAWSTATE INCOME TAX LAW –Bailey – Patton Settlement –Legislation to Extend Bailey – Patton –“Investing in North Carolina’s Future” STATE PROPERTY TAX LAWSTATE PROPERTY TAX LAW –Revise Homestead Act

STRUCTURE NATIONALNATIONAL –Four Nationally Elected Officers –Ten Regional Vice-Presidents –Fifty State Federations –Chapter Members –National Only Members

NARFE National – Alexandria, VANARFE National – Alexandria, VA –National Issues –National Lobbying –National NARFE PAC –National Publications –Support Services –Website –Biannual National Convention

Where am I in the organization? ONE OF 400,000 NARFE MEMBERS WORLD WIDEONE OF 400,000 NARFE MEMBERS WORLD WIDE ONE OF 7,200 NORTH CAROLINA MEMBERSONE OF 7,200 NORTH CAROLINA MEMBERS A MEMBER OF ONE OF OUR 52 CHAPTERSA MEMBER OF ONE OF OUR 52 CHAPTERS A PROSPECTIVE LEADERA PROSPECTIVE LEADER AND EACH MEMBER IS OF VITAL IMPORTANCE TO US BECAUSE THROUGH VOTING STRENGTH WE CAN PROTECT OUR EARNED BENEFITS

NORTH CAROLINA FEDERATION Four elected officersFour elected officers Six Area offices elected atSix Area offices elected at convention by caucus convention by caucus Ten appointed officersTen appointed officers

Elected Officers (Term of one year) –President Elaine Hughes –Executive Vice President Paul E. Sams –Secretary Gracie W. Couch –Treasurer Samuel E. Crain

Area I VP Frieda Terrell Area II VP Dan Schmidt Area III VP John Koivisto

Area IV VP Ben Saunders Area V VP Vilma Geisert Area VI VP Glenda McRary

Service Providers –Service Officer Lloyd Geisert Chapter Service Officers –National Legislative Officer Ron Miller Area Legislative Contact Officers Chapter Legislative Officers –State Legislative Officer James Sears Chapter Legislative Officers –Membership Coordinator Theron Rumsey Chapter Membership Officer –NARFE PAC Coordinator Joe Childers Chapter NARFE PAC Coordinator

OUTREACH –Alzheimer’s Research Coordinator Margaret Malley Chapter Alzheimer’s Officer –N.C. Coalition on Aging –Isabelle Buckley (no photo) –N.C. Senior Assembly –Charles Dickens

COMMUNICATIONS Public Relations Officer –Doris Maxwell Chapter Public Relations Officer –Federation Newspapers Editor –Betty Whitten Chapter Newsletters Editors –Federation Website Coordinator –Charlie Pratt Chapter Website Coordinators

RESOURCES General PublicationsGeneral Publications NARFE MAGAZINENARFE MAGAZINE NC Federation Quarterly NewspaperNC Federation Quarterly Newspaper

WEBSITESWEBSITES –National Website –State Website –Chapter Websites

GETTING THE MOST FROM THIS CONVENTION Program Book Booster Book In Memoriam Book

BOOSTER BOOK Provides support for this Convention

THIS YEAR’S PROGRAM Convention Committee Meetings –First Afternoon of the Convention New Member’s Orientation –New this year Opening Session –Welcomes and first committee reports Blue Cross-Blue Shield Reception –Don’t miss this - 8:00 pm Lobby

Wednesday, April 29 th Business Session II 8:15 am Breakout Sessions 9 – 10 am and 10 – 11 am (repeat of each session) –Leadership (Embassy Room) Bill Austin –Legislation (Newton Room) Ron Miller and James Sears –Membership (Terrell Room) Theron Rumsey

BREAKOUT SESSIONS (cont.) –Public Relations (Conover Room) Doris Maxwell –NC and National Websites (Carolina/Parlor Room) Charlie and Linda Pratt AREA CAUCUSES – ELECTIONS 11:15 am

BUSINESS SESSION III –Keynote Speaker –Special Guest Speaker Mark Fleming, District Director for Congressman Patrick McHenry –Bailey Extension Overview Paul E. Sams (Don’t miss this presentation) –Election of 2010 Federation Officers –BANQUET AT 6:00 pm a time and place to meet and greet

Thursday, April 30 th – the last day MEMORIAL SERVICE 8:30 am Business Session IV 9 am Final Convention Reports Federation Officers Reports

POCKET GUIDE Keep this brochure handy to give to anyone showing an interest in issues important to US.

YOUR TURN Please give us feedback –Did you enjoy the presentation –What changes would you make –Did you get useful information –Did you sign-up to take on a leadership position for next year –Would you recommend this program for new comers next year?