CSEA District B - Let`s Get Moving!

CSEA District B - Let’s Get Moving!
Roxie Allen, Director
Nell DaSilva, RPAC-South
Linda Blanchard, Assit. Dir.
Sharon Galliani, RPAC-North
July 2015 - Volume 4
RUEB Chair Election Results Have Been Counted
All councils held elections during the
months of May and June.
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Council presidents were to mail election
results to the Retiree Board by June 30.
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All ballots were collected on Tuesday,
July 7, 2015 and were counted by tellers
Robin Hill and Jan Tomisaka, both retired
members. Retiree Unit Secretary Mariam
Stout facilitated the counting process.
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The election results were:
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Total ballots returned
Invalid ballots
46
4
Roxie Lair Allen
Ron Duva
Bill Regis
7
23
12
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Therefore, Ron Duva is the duly elected
Retiree Unit Executive Board
Chairperson for the two-year term of
office commencing at the close of
Conference 2015. The Retiree Unit
Executive Board certified the election
results at its July 9, 2015 meeting.
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Congratulations, Ron!
Social
Security
celebrates
its 80th
Birthday
Friday,
August 14!
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We need to protect, improve and expand
Social Security. They’ve never missed a
payment!
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Social Security will be around for future
generations if top wage earners paid their
fair share just like the rest of us.
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You can call your congressmen to urge
them to vote against any cuts to the
program or privatization.
Inside this issue:
Fraud Protection Tips
Medicare 50th Birthday
ARA Conference Report
CARA News
News You Can Use
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Page 3
Pages 4-6
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Page 8
Protect Yourself from Fraud and Scams
Katie Carruesco is
the Northern
California Education
& Outreach
Coordinator for the
Department of
Business Oversight
(DBO). This
department is
committed to
providing consumers with helpful information
and materials on a variety of financial topics. In
May, Ms. Carruesco met with members of Marin
Retiree Council 5013 to discuss how to protect
seniors from fraud and scams.
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soybeans. Commodities are very risky.
Escrow Scams - many sites are phony copycat
sites. If there’s no address or phone number
listed on their website - it’s a red flag! Don’t
provide personal or financial information unless
you initiated the contact.
Abusive Mortgage Lending Practices & Fraud
Scams - TimeShare, Charity, Grandparent,
Lotteries Sweepstakes, Foreign Letter,
Phishing
Excessive Fees
Home Foreclosures and Modifications
Frauds appear via a phone call, email or snail
mail. You may be deceived by someone you
trust, a family member, or someone pretending
to represent members of our union. If something
sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t. No
matter how trustworthy the person who brings
the investment opportunity to you seems, verify
everything. No investment is risk-free. Avoid any
offer that isn’t presented in writing. Be suspicious
if you are told to keep the opportunity
confidential. Always investigate any opportunity
and consult with an uninterested third party
(attorney or financial advisor) before you sign
anything.
The flagship program of the Department is
Seniors Against Investment Fraud (SAIF). The
SAIF program alerts and educates Californians
over the age of 50 about financial and
investment fraud, scams, and unscrupulous
sales practices that specifically target seniors
delivered through community events and
presentations at senior centers and other
locations throughout the state.
There are many types of fraud and scams.
Agents target seniors because they know we are
trusting and may not be up to date.
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Did you know?
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Secure websites have an “s” at the end of the
“http” in their website address, displayed as
“https.” Most browsers display a padlock icon to
indicate that the website is secure.
• Ponzi and Pyramid schemes steal investor’s
money for personal use
• Free lunch seminars - the goal is to recruit new
clients and sell products
• Annuity abuse - it’s a complex contract. You
need to know if it fits your situation before
signing a contract. These products can carry
high surrender fees.Ask about drawbacks, not
just the benefits.
• Settlement Investments - risky investments
involving terminally ill or elderly who sell their
life insurance policy death benefit at a discount
for cash.These are not guaranteed. All
insurance policies are contestable for two
years after being issued.
• Commodities Fraud - these are offers to
purchase options on items such as silver, gold,
foreign currency, crude oil, gas, corn or
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The US Securities Exchange Commission (SEC)
Office of Investor Education and Advocacy
provides a variety of services and tools to help
investors invest wisely and avoid fraud. Visit
www.investor.gov or www.sec.gov or call
1-800-732-0330.
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You can contact the Financial Industry
Regulatory Authority (FINRA) to check a broker
or investment adviser background. Go to FINRA
BrokerCheck at www.finra.org or call
1-800-289-9999.
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ARA Legislative Conference Report
Our CSEA Retiree Board members weren’t able
to attend the Alliance for Retired Americans
Conference due to a July Board meeting conflict.
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Each session was convened by Richard Fiesta,
Executive Director, ARA, a great speaker who
knows his topics and provided delegates with
legislative history.
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When we lift up all workers, we can all rise up to
succeed. Every life matters. Raises come through
our collective voices. Social Security is the prime
source of income for 75% retirees 65+.
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Various comments that stay with me include:
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I thank the CSEA RUEB for selecting me as one
of four delegates to attend the ARA Legislative
Conference in Washington, DC. It was a great
learning experience. Not only with legislative
matters and workshops, but the weather, humidity
and what’s blooming at this time of year.
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I flew in to Washington, DC on Monday, July
6.The conference began Tuesday, July 7 and
ended Friday, July 10.
We need to shift the conversation to tap the
wisdom of our older Americans. Retirement
security is the number one concern of Americans.
One third of Americans have $70,000 in assets
that are 65 or older. Social Security is critical
income for so many elders, disabled and children
across the USA. Raising the minimum wage
helps elders too.
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Day One
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I attended Alliance 101: An Introduction
session prior to the Opening Plenary at 1pm.
The ARA was founded in 2001. We were shown a
timeline of six important issues that the ARA has
focused on including 2002-03 Prescription
Express, 2005-08 defeating Social Security
privatization, 2009-10 won Medicare expansion,
2012 human chain events against CPI, and 2015
Medicare Turns 50 and Social Security turns 80.
We were also informed of ARA’s priorities:
protect, expand and increase social security,
defend Medicare and Medicaid, make
prescription drugs affordable, protect pensions,
and preserve voting rights.
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86% of Americans agree we face a retirement
crisis. 40 million households (age 25-64) do not
have retirement accounts which will put pressure
on public assistance reverting to elder poverty.
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The typical working-age household has $2,500 in
retirement assets; near-retirement household has
$14,500.
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We broke into Action Sessions. I attended Using
Digital Tools for Advocacy. Social media (SM)
is interactive. 14-59% of elders use SM. 37% of
elders have a cell phone. 74% of Americans use
SM. Retired women are the fastest growing
sector using FaceBook (FB). 23% of Americans
check FB 1-5 times per day. It’s the largest social
network. Legislative aids see FB comments as
significant. They pay attention to comments
posted on Congressmen’s pages. Note: I “liked”
various congressmen FB pages so I can receive
updates and make comments on their pages.
When reposting an item, always add your own
message/content to catch attention. This was a
very informative workshop.
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I found the other CSEA delegates: Jeanne Foster,
Chuck Walker, Sr. and Susan Adams and we sat
together.
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…continued on page 5
ARA Legislative Conference Report continued
Day Two
Private retirement investments are inherently
risky. Even sophisticated investors can lose
everything. We have a responsibility to secure
the dignity of our families and ourselves when
wages stop at retirement, disability or death.
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We listened to more speakers and attended
more Action Sessions.
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I attended a Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)
session. The TPP is a trade pact being
negotiated by the United States and eleven other
countries (Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Australia,
Mexico, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, Peru,
Chile and Singapore) across the Pacific Rim.
The TPP will impact nearly every aspect of our
economy, jobs and environment.This trade deal
has the potential to negatively impact retirees as
well, through increased prescription drug prices,
possible cuts to Medicaid and Medicare (by
blocking Congress from enacting price
negotiations), and less access to affordable
healthcare. It’s believed that the final agreement
will be ready in August for public viewing. It will
then go for congressional votes within 90 days.
If the middle class can’t count on Social Security
in their retirement years, what can it count on?
Not home equity, or 401Ks and IRAs whose
value has dropped. Not disappearing pension
plans. Social Security is the one retirement
system that really works.
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Expanding Social Security will help address the
nation’s looming retirement income crisis, the
current squeeze on working families, and rising
wealth inequality. We can pay for it by making
the extremely wealthy pay the same rate as the
rest of us.
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Wall Street brokers stand to make huge new
trading fees if they get to handle more private
retirement accounts.
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I also attended Getting the Message Right.
The Social Security system hasn’t missed a
payment in over 80 years. We need to go on the
offense to nay-sayers by reinvigorating the
image of Social Security as a retirement system
we can truly count on.
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We need to make our voices heard. Talk, phone,
write our elective officials to let them know we
need to expand Social Security, not cut it.
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Politics and Advocacy in Action was our final
Action Session for the day. An overview and tips
were provided when speaking with our
Congressmen and Senators. Be on time, don’t
be intimidated, come prepared with facts, be
direct but courteous, no insults. All lobbying
forms matter.
OUR Social Security
system is a critical
system that serves us
all, like the military or
highway system. It is the
foundation of our
retirement security. It is
basic protection for our families if we become
disabled or die.
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Following the end of Conference for the day,
California delegates met and received postcards
that had been collected all over the State to give
to our Congress and Senate representatives. We
didn’t have appointments and would only meet
with staff members. I received four packets to
deliver to various Congressmen in the
Longworth House.However, we did have a 2pm
appointment to meet with Senator Diane
Feinstein’s aids on Thursday.
…continued on page 6
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Each generation has done its part to maintain its
foundation over 80 years.
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Our Social Security system is vital because it is
by far the safest, most efficient, most universal,
and most reliable way for Americans to
guarantee their retirement savings.
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ARA Legislative Conference Report continued
Day Three
for four Congressmen and delivered my post
cards.
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This day opened with powerful speeches from
various members of Congress.
I ate my box lunch in the park across from the
White House which is currently undergoing
renovation. Just another day in Washington, DC.
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Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Leader, US House of
Representatives, California, provided a very
inspiring speech.
Comments included:
Medicare is not just
right for ourselves,
but right for the
country. Trickle down
economics doesn’t
work. They may have
the money, but we
have the American people. Know your power.
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I arrived at Senator Feinstein’s office about 1:50
pm for a 2pm meeting. Approximately thirty
California delegates were waiting to meet with
her legislative
assistants Megan
Thompson and
Ellen Freedman.
Our group was
lead by CARA
President Nan
Brasmer and
CARA VP and
Legislative
Committee Chair
Hene Kelly. Nan and Hene relayed many
concerns including Social Security and Medicare
issues, and the impact of TPP. Various members
spoke about their personal experiences with
Social Security and Medicare. We discussed
issues for an hour. The assistants informed us of
Senator Feinstein’s stand on some topics and
agreed to relay our concerns. We reported our
lobby experiences to the group upon returning to
the Washington, DC Hilton.
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Ruben Gallego, US House of Representatives,
Arizona, gave another rousing speech and
stated, “It time for us to go on offense.”
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Bernie Sanders is a very dynamic Presidential
candidate. He believes in Medicare and health
care for all. It is a right. It’s earned. Great
nations are judged by how they treat their most
vulnerable and weakest
members.
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Our last speaker of
the morning was Mark
Diamondstein,
President, American
Postal Workers Union
(APWU). A two-minute
You-tube video, Our
Postal Service, with actor-activist Danny Glover
was shown championing the need for a vibrant
public Postal Service. Doing the right thing is not
always easy, doing the right thing is always
right.”
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Senator Elizabeth Warren from Massachusetts
gave a rousing speech reiterating a lot of what
we had learned this week.
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Day Four
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There were more speakers, closing remarks and
next steps provided. This was a great learning
experience. Unfortunately, I can’t visit
Washington, DC during the summer months
again as I discovered that I’m seriously allergic
to Crepe Myrtle which was blooming throughout
the city.
…Nancy Malcolm!
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Members were loaded onto busses bound for
Capitol Hill based on their meeting times. Once I
cleared the security check, I used the
underground tunnel to get to the Longworth
House where I met with various staff members
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CARA News
North Bay CARA Forms!
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The North Bay (Marin and Sonoma counties)
CARA Action Team (CAT) began on June 30.
Over 25 people attended our first meeting. The
North Bay CAT will meet the first Tuesday of
each month beginning August 4 at 1pm at Maria
B. Freitas Senior Community, 455 Manuel
Freitas Parkway, San Rafael.
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Co-Chairs:
Kris Organ
(415) 492-8596 [email protected]
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WHO CARA SERVES
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Ruth Carter
415-492-9160 [email protected]
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If you were unable to attend the first meeting, no
worries. Everyone is welcome to attend.
As an umbrella organization for more than 275
affiliated groups, CARA serves a combined
membership of over 950,000 Californians. Its
broad-based coalition includes senior centers,
tenant associations, retired public employee
organizations, trade union retirees, and a variety
of other agencies and associations.
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If you have questions or items for the agenda,
please call one of the co-chairs above.
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WHO is CARA?
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The California Alliance for Retired Americans
(CARA) is a statewide nonprofit organization
that unites retired workers and community
groups to win social and economic justice, full
civil rights, and a better, more secure future for
ourselves, our families, and future
generations. Join CARA on Facebook. CARA is
the official state affiliate of the Alliance for
Retired Americans, www.retiredamericans.org.
CARA’s Website, www.californiaalliance.org, is
designed to be a dynamic entity, and as such,
will always be changing to better serve the
needs of CARA members and the mission of the
organization. It is important to CARA to provide
older Americans with useful and timely
information.
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WHAT CARA DOES
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CSEA is a member of CARA. CARA is working
towards the advancement and achievement of
just and equitable living conditions for seniors
within the state and the nation though legislative
advocacy.
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Let’s Get Moving is created quarterly
by Editor Nancy Malcolm and District B
Director Roxie Allen
to keep District B Retirees informed
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It’s posted at www.csea.com under About
Us tab, Retiree Unit Drop down, District B
News you can use...
Retiree Unit
Executive Board
Chairperson Bill
Regis reminds us...
Save Money!
Access Member
Benefits
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Tell your retired classified
employee friends to join
the Retiree Unit!
CSEA serves our members in three ways: locally
(chapter leader negotiations), statewide
(benefits negotiation on behalf of all members
throughout the state) and nationally throughout
our affiliation with the AFL-CIO’s benefits
division known as Union Plus.
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The CSEA Retiree Unit
continues to grow due to retirees speaking with
their retired coworkers about joining the unit.
Anyone who is retiring and wants to keep all
CSEA benefits needs to sign up for the Retiree
Unit. Benefits include discounts for movie
tickets, aquariums, amusement parks, candy,
adventure shows, zoos, and more!
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CSEA has discount tickets for movies,
aquariums, amusement parks, candy, adventure
shows, food, zoos and more.
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The most convenient way to purchase tickets is
through the CSEA store at www.csea.com/store,
or by phone with your credit card at
866-487-2732.
Call 866-487-2732 to request an application or
you can download it from www.csea.com. It only
costs $3 per month to retain access to all
benefits.
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Statistics show that over half our members lose
dental, vision, and life insurance plans upon
retiring. These programs are available through
CSEA affiliates and UnionPlus. Long Term Care
Insurance is offered through American Fidelity
Assurance Company www.americanfidelity.com/
csea (800-365-9180 x345) and Mercer
Consumer www.cseainsure.com
(877-492-3862). Mercer Consumer also offers
dental, in-hospital, term life and vision service
plans.
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Join the Victory Club!
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CSEA members are automatically covered by a
$5,000 accidental death and dismemberment.
However, members are also eligible for an
additional $10,000 worth of coverage through
the AFL-CIO’s Union Plus Accident Insurance by
calling 800-393-0864.
Retirees can contribute a few dollars to the
Victory Club through an automatic CalPERs
deduction. You decide how much you’d like to
contribute. The combined contributions of tens
of thousands of Victory Club members makes a
big difference, bringing in close to one million
dollars a year. This means political power for
CSEA in Sacramento and in Washington DC.
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You can also obtain one-on-one Medicare
assistance/counseling from Debra Hoffman at
United Insurance Partners (UIP) 800-707-2360.
This service is available to both active and
retired members. There is NO CHARGE for this
service!
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You can download the application at
www.csea.com.
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