NARFE Chapter 16, Vallejo, CA

Solano County launches new redistricting website; encourages community participation in the process. https://redistricting.solanocounty.com/about/

#ThrowbackThursday: Today in 1963, President Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act. Enforced by the U.S. Department of Labor, this bill was the first aimed at closin...g the gender pay gap in the U.S. Today, women make up more than 43% of the federal workforce - and more than half of NARFE members.

Do you know how you plan to handle your spouse's TSP account after they pass away? Visit bit.ly/SpouseTSPTransfer for the answer to the question below.

Laughter-banner Join us! Coffee with Peter Wilson... Special Guest Speaker Interim Vallejo Fire Chief Kyle Long May 26, 2021 (tomorrow) Wednesday at 10:00am Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88920094375 Easy Call In +16699009128,,88920094375# Invite your friends to attend Coffee with Peter Wilson. Senior Food Program The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano 2nd and 4th Wednesday, Food Distribution 10:00am-11:00am Peer Run Warm Line 855-845-7415 for non emergency emotional support. Provides free and confidential emotional support.

Should I buy a year's worth of stamps at $.55 each for the chapter?

Join NARFE and speakers from Congress and the administration in celebrating NARFE's century of service to the federal community. Our virtual Centennial Gala is a once-in-a-lifetime event you won't want to miss! Visit the website for more information and to register: bit.ly/CenturyGala

LAST CHANCE TO SAVE! Register for #LEGcon21 by 11:59 p.m. ET TONIGHT to receive the early bird discounted rate. For more information and to register, visit bit.ly/LEGcon21 .

Here are the stamps I bought online for the February 2021 Chapter 16 Newsletter mailing to 126 of our members. We prefer email, but love to support the USPS. It was the first time I had ever used the USPS Store. These were ordered 1/7 and delivered today! Shipping was $1.80, which I will not charge to the chapter. What will I order next time? I did this really hurriedly. It is a well organized store. Next time I will pick something else. I chose the first horizontally oriented first class stamp I saw.

NARFE Launches New Website We are pleased to announce the soft launch of our new website, reflecting the wealth of federal benefits and advocacy content we have to offer at NARFE. As we have just launched, there are still functions that are currently in development.... The new site includes new features, simpler navigation, and a great new look. It is now easier to share NARFE's content to your social networks, videos are easily viewed on different devices, and there is a robust search function you can access in the top right of the homepage. The news section will have important updates and information on upcoming events going forward. Over time this section will grow into an invaluable hub for our members. We'd love to know what you think of the new website - so please send us your feedback to [email protected]. https://new.narfe.org/

Thank you Nestor Aliga, member Chapter 16

Robin Leong Nov 22, 2020, Greetings NARFE Chapter 16 members wanting your newsletters via e-mail, I hope that everyone is in good health and spirits. Here is your Dec 2020 newsletter. Don't forget to checkout your medical, dental, and vision plans during open season that ends on Dec 14. See your November newsletter for that info. Additionally, membership dues will be increased from $40 to $48 next year. If you want to get the lower rates (including 2 year and 3 year rates) d...o it before Dec 24 since National's staff goes on vacation after that until the new year. You can do it online or call the toll free number 800-456-8410 (press 1 for membership). However your chapter likes it when you sign up for dues withholding. Just to it and recruit a member! BTW newsletter is being sent only to those members that we have their email addresses. If you know of a current member that complains that they did not receive their December newsletter, please explain that they need to share their e-mail address with me. I won't share it with anyone. https://www.narfe.org/site/chapter16/files/fullName18860.pdf Have a safe and HAPPY Thanksgiving and Great Christmas holidays,

Officers of Region VIII, I am pleased to inform you that your new Region VIII Vice President will be: Robert H. Ruskamp, 177 Tapatio Street, Henderson, NV 89074-1937, Phone 703-628-3234; email [email protected]. Congratulations to Robert on his new endeavor. As I step down from this position, I want to thank you all for the support and assistance you have provided to me during the past 12 years. I have learned much from your comments and questions. I hope that I served ...as an inspriation for you, and that you will consider serving at a higher level of leadership. I have enjoyed the work and the visits that I have made to your Federations and Chapters and send my gratitude for the friendships made. I look forward to seeing you in the future at NARFE Events. My Chapter has already put me to work for them, I am now the Legislative Chair for Vallejo Chapter. Wishing you all the best in the coming year! Sincerely, Helen L. Zajac Region VIII VP

Helen Zajac's 12 year term on the NEB as the RVIII VP ends this month. Her home chapter, ours, recognizes her service in our January 2021 newsletter. We are so happy she agreed to be our Chapter Legislative Chair for National and State issues. https://www.narfe.org/site/chapter16/files/fullName18925.pdf

Don’t forget to RSVP to my Virtual Town Hall on Thursday, November 19 at 7pm. We will be discussing the rising spread of the Coronavirus with George Rutherford,... MD, Professor of Epidemiology & Biostatistics at UC San Francisco and Dr. Karen Relucio, Dr. Karen Relucio, Deputy Director of Napa County Health & Human Services-Public Health Officer. Email [email protected] to RSVP and I look forward to seeing you tomorrow! See more

NARFE National Membership Dues Increase Frequently Asked Questions In August of 2020, after 10 years at the current dues rate, NARFE members approved an increase of annual national membership dues. The modest increase will help NARFE continue fighting for the benefits and well-being of every active and retired federal employee. It will also enable us to continue providing members with top-notch service and high-quality programs and benefits, like the award-winning NARFE Magaz...Continue reading

Remember to include your Chapter 16 $11 annual dues. We value your membership and produce a monthly newsletter.

2020 #OpenSeason is here! Find out which plans are right for you and your family at NARFE.org/Open-Season.

This makes me think fondly of our chapter. I am going to make a donation in the memory of Rose Utterback. She always supported the Wreaths Across America project. When she was our chapter 1st VP, she had organizers for the wreath project at the National Cemetery in Dixon come and talk to us.

FEHB Open Season Webinars. Links thanks to Robin Leong, Chapter 16 1st VP and Mel Teigen, Delta Chapter 1718 1st VP. The first link has on demand webinar. I just registered and skimmed the 83 minute content. KP is minutes 0-18, BC/BS is 18-40, Aetna is 40-51. GEHA is 51-67, and Healthnet is 67-79. Ends with open season recap 79-83 https://event.on24.com/eventRegistration/EventLobbyServlet https://event.on24.com/eventRegistration/EventLobbyServlet

JOIN & SAVE! After 10 years at the current level, NARFE members approved an increase of annual membership dues to $48. If you act now, you can save. Call 1-800-...456-8410 (Press 1) before December 31 to renew or join at the current rate of $40. Join or extend your renewal for two or three years and save even more. This modest increase will enable NARFE to continue providing top-notch services, including: Exclusive access to educational benefits webinars Personalized answers to federal benefits questions from our team of specialists Powerful advocacy on Capitol Hill

Annual Meeting 10/28/2020 This video includes the reports given by NARFE National President Kenneth J. Thomas and NARFE National Secretary/Treasurer Kathryn Hensley, as well as remarks from Alzheimer's Association President and CEO Harry Johns. This video was presented virtually to a quorum of NARFE members on October 28, 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4dvBqQJ69g&feature=youtu.be

NARFE ANNUAL MEETING GOES VIRTUAL: Please join your fellow current and former Feds on Wednesday, October 28, from 2 to 5 p.m. ET, for NARFE's annual membership ...meeting. Please register by logging in at www.narfe.org. (Look for "NARFE Annual Meeting" on the member home page.) The meeting will include a report to the membership from NARFE President Ken Thomas as well as reports from NARFE National Secretary/Treasurer Kathryn Hensley and Alzheimer's Association President and CEO Harry Johns. We will be talking about the state of NARFE and our accomplishments for the year, as well as NARFE's relationship with the Alzheimer's Association.

NARFE members whose memberships expire after December 31, 2020, are encouraged to save money by calling 800-456-8410 (press 1 for membership) and renew their annual membership now for one year at the current dues rate of $40. To save even more, members who currently pay the one-year rate can extend to a two- or three-year membership at the current dues rates of $72 or $102, respectively. Please also stay a member of Chapter 16 and pay our $11 annual dues. NARFE Members Appr...ove Dues Increase - Renew Early and Save In August of 2020, after 10 years at the current annual membership dues rate, NARFE members approved a dues increase. The modest increase will help NARFE continue fighting for the benefits and wellbeing of every federal employee and retiree. It will also enable NARFE to continue providing members with quality services and benefits like the award-winning NARFE Magazine, access to educational webinars, personalized answers to federal benefits questions from our experts, and many new services planned for the near future. The new dues rates go into effect on January 1, 2021. Dues for NARFE National membership will increase from $40 to $48 per year. The two-year national dues rate will increase to $92, and the three-year dues amount will be $126. Members with membership expiration dates after December 31, 2020, will be billed at the new dues levels. Chapter dues are not affected by this change. NARFE members whose memberships expire after December 31, 2020, are encouraged to save money by calling 800-456-8410 (press 1 for membership) and renew their annual membership now for one year at the current dues rate of $40. To save even more, members who currently pay the one-year rate can extend to a two- or three-year membership at the current dues rates of $72 or $102, respectively.

Have you logged onto the NARFE website lately? I just signed up for the annual meeting. Wed, Oct 28, 2020 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM PDT NARFE Annual Meeting Goes Virtual Please plan to join us on Wednesday, October 28, from 2 to 5 p.m. ET, for NARFE's annual membership meeting. This virtual meeting will include reports from NARFE National President Ken Thomas, NARFE National Secretary/Treasurer Kathryn Hensley, and Alzheimer's Association President and CEO Harry Johns. Don't miss this opportunity to hear about the state of NARFE and our accomplishments for the year, as well as NARFE's relationship with the Alzheimer's Association.

On #NationalVoterRegistrationDay, take a few minutes and make sure your registration is up-to-date and you are #VoteReady. Visit https://vote.gov/ to get registered, check your registration and learn more about how to vote!

I thought this article is important for us NARFE members to support. We all hail the firefighters as heroes. Please read this article by a Federal Firefighter. There needs to be reform in pay, and needs for these brave men. https://wildfiretoday.com//federal-firefighter-asks-for-s/

The Solano County Registrar of Voters (ROV) is pleased to announce when it comes to voting in the 2020 General Election, you have options. Voters can cast thei...r ballot by mail, drop it off at 15 drop-off locations and at more than 100 traditional polling locations. Safety measures will be in place to help prevent the transmission of COVID-19 disease, including social distancing, face coverings and regular equipment cleaning. The ROV is also taking extra precautions to ensure the integrity of the voting process, including a five-step validation process for every ballot. Watch a quick video on the voting options: https://www.facebook.com/CountyOfSolano/videos/2544084192572130 View the full press release on the Solano County website: http://www.solanocounty.com/news/displaynews.asp