Membership in NARFE is open to persons with service in any agency of the
federal or District of Columbia government including retirees, employees, former
employees, spouses and surviving spouses of persons eligible to join.
Annual National dues are $33.00 for retirees and $25 for current federal emloyees, which includes a subscription to our Monthly "NARFE
Magazine."
"NARFE
Magazine." is the only publication dedicated solely to the issues and
concerns of our membership and it alone is worth the cost of membership. For a sample copy of magazine, email a request to NARFE magazine.
Be sure to include your name and mailing address.
Also, please tell us if you are a current or retired federal employee.
In addition to solid legislative and professional retirement and health care
benefits assistance, NARFE membership includes special savings and discounts on
a variety or products and services.
Contact any listed officer or any member under contacts Contacts or call 1-800-627-3394 for further
information or a membership application.
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Six Reasons to be a Member of NARFE |
- 1. Let Congress Hear You!
- 2. Learn About Changes
- 3. Get Valuable Information
- 4. Get Membership Discounts
- 5. Qualify for Scholarships
- 6. Personal Service Officer Advice
- REASON 1 LET CONGRESS HEAR YOU!
NARFE is the ONLY association dedicated to preserving and improving the retirement benefits of federal employees. We have since 1921!
NARFE's reputation and power enable us to influence legislative decisions that affect your life. We are YOUR special interest group.
- REASON 2 LEARN ABOUT CHANGES
Your federal retirement, life insurance, health benefits and other benefits can change from time to time, and NARFE keeps you abreast of those changes.
In addition, your benefits can be different depending on whether you are covered by CSRS, CSRS Offset or FERS, and whether your FERS annuity has a CSRS
component. Recent changes include
OPM Changes in Flexible Spending Accounts
OPM Changes in FEHBP for Employees and Retirees Returning from Active Duty Military Service
Different considerations for Employees vs. Retirees
CSRS vs. CSRS Offset
Reductions in Social Security for those under the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)
- REASON 3 GET VALUABLE INFORMATION
NARFE's award-winning monthly magazine contains information you won't find anywhere else on national legislation affecting retired and current employees,
questions and answers on federal retirement and health benefits, Association news, member profiles and chapter photos. It is written specifically for
members of the federal family. NARFE's comprehensive Web site contains vital members-only information and access to NARFE's electronic Legislative
Action Center, where you can track the progress of NARFE's legislative issues and send targeted messages to your members of Congress.
- REASON 4 GET MEMBERSHIP DISCOUNTS
Membership in NARFE has privileges of its own. Earn back your membership dues with valuable savings on auto, long-term care, dental and supplemental
insurance plans. From car rentals to moving services, hotels and travel offers, get the most for your money through trusted names you'll recognize.
NARFE member discounts mean real savings.
- REASON 5 QUALIFY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS
NARFE sponsors 60 scholarships a year, each in the amount of $1,000. High School seniors who meet the academic requirement, and are children,
grandchildren, stepchildren and great-grandchildren of current NARFE members are eligible.
- REASON 6 PERSONAL SERVICE OFFICER ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE
Chapter and District Services Officers provide assistance to our members with questions about current and future retirement issues. In case of
the death of an annuitant, a survivor annuitant,or a spouse of an annuitant, the Service Officer will assist in forms to OPM. For best information
consult your Chapter Service Officer, Arlene
Deurbrouck, our Chapter 196 Service Officer, who says she’s ready to help assist our members
with questions about current and future retirement issues. There six Service Center in the State of Washington as listed under the web page
Washington Federation
.
But Arlene is the best source of information and answers to your questions. Arlene says if she
can’t come up with an answer, she will find out who can supply an answer. Arlene
can be reached at (360) 647-3416. Or you may E-mail her at rainbows8XXcomcast.net
Northwest Cascades Chapter 196
CONSTITUTION & BYLAWS
Article I. NAME
This chapter shall be known as the Northwest Cascades Chapter, # 196 of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association. The chapter shall be affiliated with the Washington State Federation of Chapters, subject to the constitution and bylaws of that body.
Article II. OBJECTIVES
Section 1. The objectives of this chapter shall be to support and work toward the objectives of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, as set forth in paragraph 3 of the Association’s Articles of Incorporation. In furtherance of these objectives, this chapter shall be in conformance with Association Bylaws. It shall operate in unity with policies established by the Association’s national conventions and national executive board, together with such other activities looking toward the preservation of American institutions and ideals as shall be espoused by the Association.
Section 2. The chapter shall not enter into activities, arrangements, or agreements which conflict with programs or activities of the Association.
Article III. MEMBERSHIP
Any person who is or shall be eligible to receive an annuity or survivor annuity from any of the civilian retirement programs of any agency of the government of the United States of America or the District of Columbia shall be eligible for membership in the Association and this chapter, without regard to race, color, sex or age.
Article IV. DUES
The chapter shall fix such dues as are necessary to meet the expenses of carrying out its business and functions. Any chapter document relating to dues or contributions must contain this statement: “Dues payments and gifts or contributions to NARFE are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.”
Article V. OFFICERS, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, AND COMMITTEES
Section 1. Chapter officers shall be a President, a Vice President, a Secretary and a Treasurer (or secretary-treasurer if offices are combined) who shall be elected at the Annual Meeting to serve for a term of one year or until their successors are elected. Officers assume duties on adjournment of the Meeting at which they were elected. Officers shall be chapter voting members.
Section 2. The Executive Committee shall consist of the elected chapter officers (and other appointed officers and committee chairs as deemed appropriate). The executive committee shall fill a vacancy in any office and shall exercise such other functions as the chapter may prescribe.
Section 3. The Membership Chairperson shall be appointed by the President. It shall be the duty of the membership chairperson to develop a Membership Plan that describes organized efforts to gain and keep members, encourage dues withholding, and contact lapsed members.
Section 4. The Legislative Chairperson shall be appointed by the President to: a) keep abreast of state and national legislative matters concerning federal civil annuitants and prospective annuitants; and b) make recommendations for action to the chapter, the Federation and the Association.
Section 5. The President may appoint a Service Officer, a Public Relations Officer, a Sunshine Chairperson/s and such other committees as deemed desirable.
Section 6. The chapter may by resolution require the Treasurer (or Secretary-Treasurer) to give bond for the faithful performance of his or her duties. The expense of obtaining a bond shall be paid from chapter funds.
Section 7. The Audit Committee shall be appointed by the President to annually perform an audit of the financial records of the chapter.
Article VI. CHAPTER MEETINGS
Section 1. Meetings of Chapter #196, National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, shall be scheduled and announced by the Executive Committee. A meeting in the Fall of each year shall be the Annual Meeting.
Section 2. Special meetings shall be called by the chapter President when necessary or upon the request of ten (10) of the chapter voting members. Advanced notice of all special meetings shall be given to each chapter voting member at least seven days before such meeting.
Section 3. A quorum for conducting chapter business shall consist of ten (10) of the chapter’s voting members, but less than a quorum may adjourn to meet on a future date, of which due notice shall be given to each voting member.
Article VII. NATIONAL CONVENTION DELEGATES
Delegates to the Association’s national convention shall be elected by the chapter’s voting members, in accordance with the National Bylaws and Federation guidelines, as soon as possible after the official count of membership and delegate strength is issued by National Headquarters.
Article VIII. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
The provisions found in Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall govern chapter business in all matters not in conflict with the chapter bylaws or the Association’s Articles of Incorporation or National Bylaws.
Article IX. AMENDMENTS
An amendment to this constitution and bylaws shall be made by concurrence of two-thirds of the voting members present and voting at any regular business meeting, provided advance notice of the proposed amendment has been transmitted to all chapter voting members not less than sixty (60) days before the meeting at which the vote is taken. Amendments shall then be approved at National Headquarters before becoming effective.
CHAPTER STANDING RULES (Standing rules may be suspended by a majority vote for the duration of a meeting.)
The order of business at all regular meetings shall be:
1. Call to Order
2. Invocation (or moment of silence)
3. Pledge of Allegiance
4. Introduction of members
5. Program
6. Reading of the minutes
7. Officer reports
8. Committee/Chair reports
9. Unfinished Business
10. New Business
11. Announcements
12. Adjournment
Chapter President: _____________________ Chapter Secretary: ________________________
Date: ____________________ Date: ____________________
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
APPROVED at National Headquarters National Secretary
______________________________
Date
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Brady Green, Past President and Membership Chairman
Biography
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Your Membership Benefits Include: |
* Assertive legislative representation on federal and state levels;
* Liaison with the Office of Personnel Management to help retirees and survivors with their benefits;
* Informative monthly magazine, NARFE Magazine, the prime source for information about federal retirement
and health care issues;
* Up-to-date information through www.narfe.org and NARFE e-mail;
* United network of support with other federal employees and retirees;
* Opportunities for leadership, political action and community service;
* Health, life, dental, auto and long-term care insurance programs;
* Travel packages, group tours and discounts through NARFE Travel Services;
* NARFE Master Card program;
* NARFE Premier Federal Credit Union;
Who Can Join?
Membership is open to civilians who are or will be eligible to receive an annuity or survivor annuity from the federal
retirement programs of any agency of the United States government or the District of Columbia, including:
* Active employees
* Retirees
* Former employees
* Spouses and surviving spouses of those eligible to join NARFE
* A former spouse who is legally entitled to a federal survivor annuity. When you enroll in NARFE, you join the National
Association and a chapter closest to your area of residence or another chapter of your choice. You may transfer to a different
chapter at any time.
Five Key Recruitment and Retention Tips
- Renew your commitment to recruit.
About one-third if NARFE’s new members are recruited by chapter members. Another third sign up through direct mail from
National Headquarters, while the final third of our members join through a number of other sources, such as advertising,
pre-retirement seminars, etc. The hardest member to recruit is the first group. However, once you’ve tasted success, it
becomes easier to ask questions without feeling nosy. You’ll feel more confident reaching for a NARFE membership application
and saying, “Join us!” Be friendly, be yourself and ask the right questions. Remember, you joined!
- Stress NARFE’s value.
A new membership is just $45 for federal employees and retirees. We keep making it easier to get prospects to join our
membership programs, such as dues withholding. Stress that dues withholding, for instance, takes out members’ annual membership
fees from their annuity in low monthly installments and that members can save a total of $4.40 a year on national dues through
this program. Alternately, if they choose to join on an annual basis, they may pay by check or credit card, or request that
NARFE bill them. Convince your prospect that NARFE is similar to a low-cost insurance policy and have them fill out an application form.
- Banish their doubts.
To some people, cancelling a NARFE membership is no big deal, with no real repercussions. To them, it’s like cancelling
another magazine subscription or skipping an oil change. Since 1921, NARFE has worked to preserve and protect the benefits of
active and retired federal employees and their families. NARFE is an advocate for both active and retired federal employees
before Congress and the White House. NARFE sponsors and supports legislation to protect the earned benefits and general
welfare of members. In addition to NARFE's legislative clout, NARFE membership includes advance information on changes to
federal retirement, health and other benefits; an award-winning monthly magazine and exclusive Web site access; special
member discounts; and eligibility for college scholarships and disaster relief grants. Federal employees and retirees know
they have a major stake in their retirement. That, itself, justifies the cost of their NARFE membership. We must convince
those in doubt that NARFE is not only the right choice when it comes to preserving their federal retirement benefits. It’s
the only choice.
- Begin retention from Day One.>
Persistence pays off. Do you have a new-member checklist? It might look something like this:
- Offer to take the new member to his or her first few meetings.
- Officially introduce the new member at the meeting.
- Send a personalized welcome letter.
- Send a sample copy of the chapter newsletter.
- Phone the new member.
- Regularly review the services offered to the member by the chapter.
- Include your new member’s spouse in the chapter meeting invitation even if the spouse isn’t a member yet.
- Do everything possible to make the new member feel comfortable and welcome.
- When a member returns a renewal form and dues, follow up with a thank you note. Be as creative as time and money permits.
Be assured, courtesy is never wasted.
- Recognize that new members are invaluable in helping ferret out other prospective members.
Picture this… NARFE Headquarters receives calls from several members at a large agency.
One caller discloses that nearly a hundred employees are retiring from that agency at the end of the month.
We pass this information on to the federation president so he or she might offer NARFE assistance. Those retirees
may know many more retirees and even more active federal employees at that agency. Can they help you recruit? You bet
they can! Can you then add a few more members to your NARFE chapter? It’s worth a try, isn’t it? Sometimes, when you
ask the right questions, the answers can open doors. NARFE Headquarters needs and values referrals.
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