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Region VI News



July, 2010, Report

Jerry D. Hatfield, NARFE Region VI

 

            This report will address the recent referendum and resolutions that concern NARFE Dues, i.e. single dues for all members and the associated dues increase. Regardless what you may have read elsewhere, the majority (over 60%) of valid ballots favored the referendum. “Valid ballots” is the key phrase because one-third of our almost 1,500 chapters did not vote. Half of that third were chapters that did not send in their ballots. The other half of the third were chapters that did not follow directions. They had put an X or a check mark in theblock instead of the number of votes to which the chapter was entitled. Many years ago NARFE was sued because of a voting irregularity, so everyone must follow the rules carefully. (NARFE won the suit, but legal fees were over $20,000.)

 

            The many resolutions concerning NARFE dues are already posted on the www.narfe.org web site. Books of those same resolutions will be mailed to every delegate and to every CHAPTER SECRETARY after the closing date of June 30th. The chapter president will receive a resolutions book only if she/he is a delegate or when the chapter secretary gives one to him/her. Do not call a federation officer, me or NHq for the book.

 

            Every chapter should discuss the NARFE Dues concept and assure that their voting delegate or proxy understands their chapter’s stand on the issue. With so many resolutions concerning NARFE Dues, and with the many possible variations, no one can guess exactly what will finally reach the floor for the delegates. The duties of the Bylaws Committee will be to combine like resolutions into one composite resolution that delegates can vote for or against. Chair of that committee is Jeff Vaughan, immediate past-president of Oklahoma.

            The Resolutions Committee works with non-bylaws items and is chaired by Charles Stanphill, federation president of Oklahoma. Joe Landry, Louisiana President, will vice-chair the Credentials Committee, Ted Holmes, past president of Louisiana, will vice-chair the Sgt-at-Arms Committee, with three Okies on that committee. Arkansas President Winston Wolfe will serve on the Membership Committee. Texans James Sills and Executive VP and TFR Editor Marshall Richards will be on the Ballot & Tellers and Legislation Committees, respectively. Region VI is well represented at this Thirty-First National Convention.

            My report on the National Executive Board meeting of June 15-17 will be sent to your federation president who may share it with federation officers and members as he wishes.

            A quote I heard concerning the dues increase:

“With our earned retirement benefits in jeopardy, this is no time to quibble over pennies!”  

Unofficial Notes from June, 2010, NEB Meeting

Jerry Hatfield, RVP VI

 

With all 14 National Executive Board members present, the following senior staff were often present: Director of Operations Wil Speer, NEB Executive Assistant Marian Uffen, PRS Director Mary Pierson, Director of Retirement Benefit Services David Snell, Director of Membership Development John R. Clements, Director of Budget & Finance Tayo Coker-Polson. Observers at times were Past MD Federation President Richard Strombotne, Don Pierson, Past CA Federation President Lea Zajac.

            1. Pre Retirement Seminar Director Mary Pierson gave a briefing of the progress of the PRS program. She explained that PRS Coordinators do not change when new Regional VPs change. Nor do Regional FEEA & Alzheimer’s chairs change unless the chair or RVP desires a change.

            2. Director of Retirement Benefit Services David Snell spoke about Economic Systems, Inc., or EconSys, which is a management consulting and Federal human resources software and services firm which is web-based for retirement benefits information.

            3. National Secretary Brown discussed use of chapter dues regarding questions from chapters wanting to know if they can use chapter dues to donate to charities, and it was the consensus that those funds should be spent on chapter business such as recruiting and retention, etc.  Mr. Brown will prepare an article for the October issue of the Quarterly News explaining his rationale. Mr. Brown introduced Jim Delgado who was hired by NARFE in January as a Volunteer Manager to work with chapters and federations to energize volunteers.

            4. Director of Budget & Finance Tayo Coker-Polson gave a review of the 2010 mid-year budget and investment status.  The mid-year budget was approved by consensus. RVPs voluntarily lowered their travel budget by another 2%. The budget for operating expenses was reduced by $271,044 for 2010. RVPs complained that the cost to mail the hardcopy of the budget to them was exorbitant and asked that it be sent by e–mail in the future.

            5. The following staff members joined the meeting Wednesday: Director/Editor of Communications Margaret Carter, Assistant Editor of Communications Donna St. John, Director of Legislation Dan Adcock.

            6. There was a slight change to the agenda for Wednesday morning; in that, the National President was invited to attend a breakfast meeting on Capitol Hill with Legislative Director Dan Adcock for Congressman Joe Sestak.  National Vice President Beaudoin presided during the time the National President was attending the meeting on Capitol Hill.

            7. Most RVPs expressed disappointment in the quality and quantity of the greeting cards sent to members. We agreed that the new NEB will discuss it at their November meeting. NARFE is guaranteed at least $150,000 on the cards. The calendar program yielded a net profit of $516,753.52

            8. A previous proposal to change the $8.00 finders fee for AFEs to $4.00 for recruiting AFEs and $4.00 for recruiting retirees was discussed. The initial motion was that NARFE retain the incentive program to reward recruiters. Motion passed with 11 votes For and 2 Against. Subsequent motion was that we change the current recruiters’ finders fee of $8.00 incentive program to reflect that recruiters receive $4.00 for retired members and recruiters receive $4.00 for active members to be effective January 1, 2011. That motion did not pass.

            9. The NEB voted on the site for the 2014 National Convention. Sixteen facilities were visited by one of the four Site Selection Committee members, with recommendations for the best three. Thirty factors were considered for each of the 16 contending sites. The results were:

            10 votes For Rosen Centre Hotel, Orlando, Florida

            2 votes For Kansas City Marriott Hotel, Kansas City, Missouri

            2 votes For Greensboro Sheraton Hotel, Greensboro, North Carolina

Therefore, the 2014 National Convention will be in the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Florida.

            10. There was a general discussion of the convention events and procedures. (See July issue of NARFE magazine.) The RVPs drew for seating areas in the main auditorium. Region VI delegates will sit in the center section behind the host region IV. Candidates will draw for their exhibit booth location on Saturday morning. The exhibit hall will open at noon on Sunday.

           11. The many resolutions concerning NARFE dues are already posted on the www.narfe.org web site. Books of those same resolutions were mailed to every delegate and to every CHAPTER SECRETARY last week. The chapter president will receive a resolutions book only if she/he is a delegate or when the chapter secretary gives one to him/her. Do not call a federation officer, me or NHq for the book.

            12. Every chapter should discuss the NARFE Dues concept and assure that their voting delegate or proxy understands their chapter’s stand on the issue. With so many resolutions concerning NARFE Dues, and with the many possible variations, no one can guess exactly what will finally reach the floor for the delegates. The duties of the Bylaws Committee will be to combine like resolutions into one composite resolution that delegates can vote for or against. Chair of that committee is Jeff Vaughan, immediate past-president of Oklahoma.

            13. The Resolutions Committee works with non-bylaws items and is chaired by Charles Stanphill, federation president of Oklahoma. Joe Landry, Louisiana President, will vice-chair the Credentials Committee, Ted Holmes, past president of Louisiana, will vice-chair the Sgt-at-Arms Committee, with three Okies on that committee. Arkansas President Winston Wolfe will serve on the Membership Committee. Texans James Sills and Executive VP and TFR Editor Marshall Richards will be on the Ballot & Tellers and Legislation Committees, respectively. Region VI is well represented at this Thirty-First National Convention

            14. Caucuses will be held Tuesday afternoon, 2 PM till 5:00. However, with so many Resident Officer candidates (NINE so far) we may be there after 5:00.We will have the first 30 minutes for Region VI business. If we have only one candidate for the Region VI RVP, she or he can be elected in the caucus. If more, that will go to the ballot. Nancy Stanphill, Oklahoma Federation Secretary, has agreed to take minutes at our caucus.

            15. Each RVP is allowed two tables at the banquet. Region VI Federation Presidents and spouses will be at Table #33. Additional Region VI members will be at the adjacent table, #44.

            16. Assistant Editor Donna St. John presented a draft of the new 90th anniversary book which will be available for sale at the convention for $10.00 each. Editor Maggie Carter discussed an electronic newsletter called NARFE NewsWatch, which the NEB agreed to use in the near future.

            17. Director of Legislation Dan Adcock gave an update of legislative issues; i.e., health care reform, medicare, etc.

            18. There was a celebration party for Tricie Johnson and Linda Parsons,  NARFE staff employees with 20 years of service.

            19. A question was raised regarding the feasibility of including an option for dues withholding on the membership application.  It was pointed out that it would necessitate two separate membership applications – one for retirees and one for Active Federal Employees.  This would cause confusion for AFEs.  Therefore, no change is planned.

            20. Paul Lamb, NARFE Parliamentarian, gave the NEB a “delegate orientation” presentation for the upcoming National Convention in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Paul’s “parliamentary procedures” session is not dry and boring as you may expect. For example, he covers the three rules of parliamentary order: Rule 1, one person in charge; Rule 2, one person speaking at a time; Rule 3, NO HITTING!

            21. Think about this: “Do nominations require a second?”

            22. Everyone is encouraged to attend Mr. Lamb’s presentation Sunday afternoon. Further, whether this is someone’s first national convention, or their fifth, everyone should attend a Voting Practice Session!!

            23. Please note that Alzheimer’s Association CEO Harry Johns speaks Sunday afternoon; OPM Director John Berry delivers the Key Note address Monday morning.

 

Jerry Hatfield, Region VI
NARFE Regional VP
Texarkana USA