CHAPTER #87 COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER

CHAPTER #87
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA
October — December 2014
QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
Volume 10, Issue 4
William Toney
Legislative Report for Quarter Ending September 30, 2014
Our legislative advocacy efforts moved forward
during the month of September. NARFE Chapter
87 members met with Congressman Joe Wilson
and one of his staffers on September 3rd (picture
below). NARFE members met with Amanda
Loveday, Congressman Clyburn’s Communication
Director, on September 19th. Both of these
meetings were productive in getting NARFE
issues presented and discussed in detail. Issues
addressed at these meetings were (1) NARFE’s
opposition to any effort to use the “Chained
Consumer Price Index” in determining our annual
cost of living raise, (2) No further targeting of
federal workers’ pay and benefits for deficit
reduction, (3) NARFE’s opposition to pending
Postal Reform that threatens the Federal Employee
Health Benefit Program (FEHBP) and (4) the
planned personnel reductions at Fort Jackson.
For the remainder of this year, thanks in part to the
efforts of NARFE, federal workers and retirees
should see no negative legislation affecting pay
and benefits. A Continuing Resolution (CR) has
been passed to keep the Government running
through December 11th. There will be no action on
Postal Reform and the CR almost assures a 1%
raise for federal workers. The issue of the
“Chained CPI” is delayed for now as well as any
matters relative to the FEHBP and federal worker
retirement contributions. The 114th Congress
convening in January 2015 will begin our
continued strong defensive strategy to protect
federal worker and retiree pay and benefits.
NARFE will not rest during this period and will
remain watchful and fully engaged on the
legislative issues.
Listed below are some brief legislative highlights
from our National NARFE Convention held
August 24-28, 2014 in Orlando, FL.
 U. S. House of Representatives John L. Mica (R-FL
7th District) and Alan Grayson (D-FL 9th District)
addressed NARFE delegates. Both expressed the
highest regard for federal workers and retirees. There
was an acknowledgement of the vilification of federal
workers by the public, most politicians and in popular
culture. The popular message was that we should be
proud of our federal service and we do not have to
apologize for having been a public servant.
Congressman Grayson indicated his intention to
introduce legislation to expand Medicare to include
hearing, vision and dental coverage for seniors and call
it “seniors have Ears, Eyes and Teeth Act.”
 Jessica Klement, NARFE’s Legislative Director,
provided an extensive overview of NARFE’s
legislative accomplishments, current issues and
legislative challenges. She urged NARFE members to
become more involved in the legislative process and
use the Protect America’s Heartbeat (PAH) Toolkit.
 Dr. Aubrey Jewett, Associate Professor of Political
Science at the University of Central Florida gave a
forecast of this year’s mid-term elections and the 2016
Presidential race.
His predications are that the
Democrats may maintain control of the Senate but it is
more likely Republicans will pick up enough seats to
take control of the Senate. It is certain Republicans
will maintain control in the House and will gain a few
seats. For the 2016 Presidential race, Clinton is the
favorite for the Democrats and one of the seven (7)
Republicans expected to run will be the nominee. Here
is Dr. Jewett’s prediction for the final November 2016
matchup—Clinton vs. Bush II.
As always, you as a member of NARFE are urged
to visit the NARFE website at www.capwiz.com/
narfe/home to support legislation by sending
prepared letters to your elected Representatives.
NARFE members are urged to VOTE ON
NOVEMBER 4, keeping in mind our pay and
benefit interests.
Inside this Issue
Legislative Report
1
Chapter Officers
2
Oct, Nov & Dec Programs
2
Membership Report & $10.00
Recruiting Incentive
2
President’s Report
3
Service Officer’s Report
3
Open Season Checklist
3
2015 State Convention
3
NARFE’s Mission, etc.
4
Health & Happiness
4
Note from Federation President
& Request for Officer Nominations for 2015
5
Guest Speakers
October 10, 2014
Alzheimer’s Disease — What You
Need to Know
Sheila Lewis
Midlands Area Program Director
for SC Chapter of
Alzheimer’s Association
November 14, 2014
Health Care Needs of Active &
Retired Federal Employees
Sandy Alexander Ward, Jr.
Senior Marketing Representative
for Blue Cross/Blue Shield of
South Carolina Federal Employee
Program
December 12, 2014
Pictured here from left to right are
William Toney, Chapter 87 3rd VP &
Legislative Chair, Joe Wilson, U.S.
Representative from South Carolina’s 2nd
District, and John Geiger, former South
Carolina federation president and now
Legislative Chair for Chapter 934 in
Aiken.
In addition to William and John, six
other members from Chapters 87 and 934
met with Mr. Wilson in his Columbia
office to discuss key issues important to
active and retired federal employees in
the 2nd district.
Mystery Guest
Chapter 87 meets the second
Friday of each month, at 11:30
A.M., at Seawell’s at 1125
Rosewood Dr., Columbia, SC,
directly across from the main
entrance to the SC Fair Grounds.
Doors open at 11:00 A.M. A
complete buffet lunch costs
$14.00, payable at the door. A
reservation is not required.
Please be prompt.
2014 CHAPTER OFFICERS & COMMITTEE CHAIRS
President
Bob Shear
(803) 386-2027
Greeter — Welcome
Eddie Adams
(803) 234-2247
1st Vice President
Clara L. Gillentine
(803) 796-3106
Health & Happiness
Donna Kea-Smith
(803) 427-4338
2nd Vice President
Linda Toney
(803) 786-1097
Historian
Nellie Bodenhamer
(803) 894-3245
3rd Vice President
William M. Toney
(803) 786-1097
Legislative
William M. Toney
(803) 786-1097
Secretary
Annie Gilchrist-Settles
(803) 865-1090
Membership
Clara L. Gillentine
(803) 796-3106
Treasurer
Kathy Hensley
(803) 957-7750
NARFE — FEEA
Charles (Randy) Herald
(803) 520-7169
Chaplain
Donald Myers
(803) 695-9396
NARFE — PAC
Tom Castellucio
(803) 786-1783
Sergeant-at-Arms
W.K. “Chub” Jordan
(803) 783-0230
Nominations
Carl R. Caughman
(803) 776-6045
Executive Committee
Elaine Von Eck
(803) 738-1569
Programs
Linda Toney
(803) 786-1097
Executive Committee
Marion Eargle
(803) 779-4227
Public Relations
Linda Toney
(803) 786-1097
Executive Committee
Olivia Williams
(803) 783-6825
Registration Cashier
Dale Kneece
(803) 798-8225
Executive Committee
Charles (Randy) Herald
(803) 520-7169
Registration
Betty Schwartz
(803) 776-0760
Parliamentarian
Kathy Hensley
(803) 957-7750
Service Officer
Ernest Williams
(803) 783-6825
Alzheimer’s
Linda S. Waters-Hamilton
(803) 794-0110
Newsletter
Bob Shear
(803) 386-2027
Audit
Raymond Jensen
(803) 568-3939
50/50 Drawing
Nellie Bodenhamer
(803) 894-3245
Greeter — Welcome
Loretta Canonica
(803) 520-6447
50/50 Drawing
Steve Thomas
(803) 256-7955
Programs
Linda Toney
October 10, 2014 — Sheila Lewis, Midlands Area Program Director for the
Alzheimer’s Association–South Carolina Chapter, has been working with caregivers
and older adults for the last 10 years, most recently at the Greenville Area Office of
the Alzheimer’s Association. A Columbia native, Sheila received her bachelor’s
degree in nonprofit administration from the University of South Carolina-Upstate and
is currently pursuing a master’s degree in public administration. Her connection with
the Alzheimer’s Association started many years ago when her grandmother developed
the disease in the early 80s. Sheila’s mother, Dr. Delores Macey, founded the Alzheimer’s Association in Columbia
after discovering the lack of and the need for resources for those affected by the disease. Sheila is dedicated to
promoting awareness of this disease and providing support to those affected.
November 14, 2014 — Sandy Alexander Ward, Jr. is the Senior Marketing Representative for Blue
Cross/Blue Shield of South Carolina Federal Employee Program. He specializes in the health care
needs of active and retired Federal employees. Sandy has been employed with Blue Cross/Blue Shield
for thirty-three and a half years. He is a graduate of South Carolina State University. Sandy and his
wife, Dianne, have been married over thirty years and are the proud parents of three children (David,
Michael and Vanessa). One of his son’s is a graduate of USC and the other is a graduate of Coastal
Carolina University. His daughter will be a freshman at Coastal Carolina in the Fall. Sandy gives
credit for his success to his father, the late Sandy A. Ward, Sr., a retired Postal employee, and his
mother, Roberta D. Ward.
December 12, 2014 — Mystery Guest
Clara Gillentine
Membership Report
The membership drive originally planned for September 2014
only has been extended through the end of the year!
The Incentives — Recruiters will receive $10 for each new
member, active OR retired, who joins between September 1 and
December 31, 2014. Applications must be postmarked, and calls or
website joins must be received, by the December 31 deadline.
Successful recruiters will also be entered into a drawing (once for
each new member recruited) for a Kindle Fire tablet.
Gather Your Materials — A NARFE membership application,
the F-135 pamphlet, is available at monthly meetings; an
application is also on page 60 of your August NARFE magazine.
You might want to review the sample “Elevator Speech,” or
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summary of NARFE’s focused sales pitch, available online at
www.narfe.org. Once logged in, go to Officer Resources, “Tips,
Tools and Templates,” and you’ll find it is the last link on that
page.
Familiarize Yourself With Ways to Join — Mail the completed
F-135 or the application that appears in every issue of NARFE’s
monthly magazine; go online to narfe.org and click the Join link;
or call 800-627-3394.
Don’t Forget Recruiter Membership ID & Chapter #0087 —
Credit for recruitment can be given only if ID number of the
recruiting member is provided upon joining. Membership IDs &
chapter #s are shown on the monthly magazine mailing label or your
official NARFE membership card.
Here’s to a terrific recruitment season — one that will earn money
for Chapter 87 members and perhaps a Kindle Fire.
Volume 10, Issue 4
Bob Shear
President’s Report
The NARFE National Convention held from
August 24-28 in Orlando, FL, was a big success
with between 900 and 1,000 attendees. The
21 South Carolina chapters were well
represented. This was my first convention and I
found it most rewarding from both a learning
and networking standpoint. Who knew that we
had such a great organization representing
about a quarter of a million active and retired folks.
NARFE’s next national convention will be held in Reno,
NV, from August 28-September 1, 2016. Two years
later, the convention will be back in Florida in
Jacksonville from August 26-30, 2018. Begin now
thinking about attending one or both of these conventions.
They are very informative in terms of finding successful
ways to protect our earned benefits.
It’s also a great time to share ideas with fellow active and
retired federal employees from many different agencies.
I even had a chance in Orlando to visit with an old friend
that I hadn’t seen in 30 years. The most amazing thing
was that we recognized each other after so many years.
Two more items of emphasis for your consideration:
 Pay particular attention to Ernest Williams’ report
below on the upcoming federal benefits open season and
the open season checklist that follows his report.
 See the information box below on the next South
Carolina state convention scheduled for April 27-29,
2015. Mark you calendars now to reserve these dates.
CHALLENGE TO ALL MEMBERS — Go out on a
limb where the fruit is and recruit a new member!
Earn $10.00 for your efforts and bring them to our
next luncheon!
online. Go to: http://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/
open-season.
Ernest Williams
Service Officer’s Report
OPM has a separate website for this year’s Federal Benefits Open Season that contains information on the various
benefits that employees and retirees can enroll in or
change enrollment in. It also contains information about
Open Season web casts that will be available for viewing
Open Season runs from the Monday of the second full
workweek in November through the Monday of the second full workweek in December; therefore, Open Season
this year will be Monday November 10, 2014 – Monday
December 8, 2014.
Federal Employees Dental & Vision Insurance
Federal Employees Health Benefits Program
 If in a dental or vision plan, check premium for next
 Check to see if your current plan is leaving the program
year.
or if the service area is changing.
 Review current plan’s benefit brochure to identify any
 Check if your plan’s premium has changed from last
changes.
year.
 See if out-of-pocket costs are changing.
 Review your current plan’s 2015 brochure to see if there
 Compare plans by looking at Appendix I of the “2015
Guide
to
Federal
Benefits”
(www.opm.gov/
healthcareinsurance/healthcare/planinformation/guides).
For even more details on different plans, go to
www.opm.gov/insure and use the “Compare Plans” tool or
a tool provided by PlanSmartChoice.
Get your flu shot!
South Carolina State
Federation Convention
for 2015
For next year, the State Federation Convention will be
held in Famously Hot Columbia, SC. The convention
kicks off the afternoon of Monday, April 27, and wraps
up at about noon on Wednesday, April 29. Please
Volume 10, Issue 4
are changes to covered services or out-of-pocket costs.
 Determine what’s the best plan for you; e. g., fee-for-
service, high deductible, consumer driven, or HMO.
 Compare plans by looking at Appendix E of the “2015
Guide to Federal Benefits” or go to www.opm/insure and
use the “Compare Health Plans” tool or tools provided by
PlanSmartChoice and Checkbook.
mark your calendars now and plan to attend.
Our own Chapter 87 is the lead chapter on convention
planning. We’ve already partnered with the Columbia
Marriott located at 1200 Hampton Street. The Marriott is
an exceptional hotel with great convention facilities plus
lots of nearby shopping, restaurants and entertainment.
Before taxes, the room rate is $94.00 per night with free
parking. Parking will also be free for members who drive
to the convention each day but don’t stay at the hotel.
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Columbia, SC CHAPTER #87
National Active & Retired Federal Employees Association
104 Parkview Court
Lexington, SC 29072
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage PAID
Permit No. 273
Columbia S.C.
WWW.87.SCNARFE.ORG
Time Sensitive
As you read the NARFE mission statement,
please review pages 38 and 39 in the October 2014
NARFE magazine to see how South Carolina’s U. S.
Representatives and Senators voted on issues important to active and retired federal employees.
NARFE’s 33rd National Convention was held in
Orlando, Florida, from August 24 to 28, 2014.
Chapter 87 representatives attending the convention
were Bob Shear, chapter president, and Linda and
William Toney, chapter vice-presidents. Chapter 87
member, Kathy Hensley, also attended in her role as
South Carolina’s state federation president.
Health and Happiness
NARFE’S MISSION STATEMENT
To support legislation beneficial to current and potential federal annuitants and to oppose legislation contrary to their interests.
To promote the general welfare of current and potential federal annuitants by advising them with respect to their rights under retirement laws and regulations.
To cooperate with other organizations and associations in furtherance of these general objectives.
Donna Kea-Smith
SPECIAL THANK YOU NOTE FROM DONNA TO CHAPTER 87 FRIENDS: Please allow me to thank each and
everyone of you for the cards, texts, e-mails, calls and most of all your prayers during the hospitalization of my sister,
Betty Anne Kea. Then, to those of you who made time to attend her funeral there are no words to express my appreciation. May God bless each and everyone of you.
DECEASED MEMBERS: John E. “Jack” Kunesh, husband of member Joyce Kunesh, died on June 6; Terry L.
Goldring, wife of member Stephen Goldring, died on June 22; Mary Ann Kelly McGee died on July 3; Dorothy Mumford Daniels died on July 20; and Edna M. Swartzbeck died on August 6.
SYMPATHY CARDS: To Joyce Kunesh on the death of her husband, Jack; Stephen Goldring on the death of his wife,
Terry; Thomas Daniels on the death of his wife, Dorothy; and Jan Urban on the death of her mother.
CORRESPONDENCE: Rebecca McKiver called on August 9 advise me of Daniel Adams’ health crisis and a get well
card was sent to him. A condolence letter was sent to the family of Edna M. Swartzbecks;
NOTIFICATIONS TO NARFE: For Mrs. Swartzbeck’s death.
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Volume 10, Issue 4
Newsletter Extra
The two articles below were added after the newsletter went to
print so only people receiving the newsletter electronically will see
these articles before the next chapter meeting on October 10.
South Carolina Federation News
After a very successful State Convention in North Charleston in May, we turned our attention to the National Convention
in August. Our state delegation consisted of 27 people representing eleven chapters and with proxies from the other ten
chapters in the state. This 100% participation was much appreciated.
After hearing from three candidates running for National President, the delegates to the convention elected Dick Thissen,
former National Treasurer, to lead us for the next two years. The position of National Vice President was eliminated and
the position of National Secretary was merged with National Treasurer position. Jon Dowie, from St. Augustine, FL, was
elected Secretary/Treasurer for the next two years. He is extremely well credentialed to be the treasurer.
A newsletter from the Federation will be coming out soon but you can go to www.narfe.org and tune in to the convention
happenings. Our modern technology allowed for live streaming during the event, and it is still on the web site.
Kathy Hensley
President, SC NARFE Federation
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
It’s that time of year again. Have you noticed that some of us would like to change positions or just be a loyal member of NARFE? Some of our officers have expressed a desire to train a new person … so now is your opportunity.
The officer and Executive Committee positions are:
President – requires an individual who can lead and supervise the various aspects of the chapter.
1st Vice President – of all the positions, this one requires a person who is willing to commit many hours of nuts and
bolts work. This person serves as the Membership Chair which involves following up on prospective members, contact with members whose renewal dates are near or in arrears, and providing an active recruitment effort in local
agencies.
2nd Vice President – this person arranges speakers on a quarterly basis, confirms their attendance before the meeting, and identifies any A/V needs.
3rd Vice President – this individual needs to be on top of legislation that affects active and retired federal workers.
It also involves active communication with members of Congress and reminders to our members to contact Congress.
Secretary – records votes on any business that comes before the chapter and a brief report on other items of information in the meeting.
Treasurer – requires some experience with banking and accounting.
All the above positions require that the individuals have some basic computer skills. A commitment to attend meetings is very important.
Additional officer positions are:
Chaplain and Sergeant at Arms
The Executive Committee is composed of four individuals from the general membership and should include at least
one past President if a past president does not occupy an officer position. Committee chairs and other positions are
appointed by the President.
If you are interested in continuing in your current position or are willing to be considered for any of the above positions, please contact Kathy Hensley ([email protected], 957-7750) or Clara Gillentine
([email protected], 796-3106).
Volume 10, Issue 4
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