May 2022

SPOKANE CHAPTER 32 NEWSLETTER Published Monthly except July and August www.narfespokane.org 22 – 05 Advocates for Current and Former Federal Employees May 2022 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Scott Robinson MAY CHAPTER MEETING | MONDAY MAY 9, 2022 Lunch at 11:30 - Meeting at 12:15 Darcy’s Restaurant 10502 E. Sprague Ave. PRESENTOR: Guy Gifford - Community Resilience Program, WA State Department of Natural Resources. During the week of May 1-7, public servants across the country will be recognized for their commitment to ensure our government fulfills the needs of all Americans and keeps the country moving forward in these unprecedented times. During Public Service Recognition Week, NARFE proudly joins other government organizations, Congress, and the White House to express gratitude for our valuable contributions.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists 41,100 government jobs in Spokane and Spokane Valley in March 2022. People fulfilling these jobs make government work at all levels, including city, county, state, and federal. On April 18, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management announced that the Combined Federal Campaign will conduct a special solicitation that will allow the federal community to support charities serving and affected by the war in Ukraine and the resulting humanitarian and refugee crisis. “In this moment of need, our efforts should focus on assisting the people of Ukraine,” said OPM Director Kiran Ahuja. This special solicitation will run through June 30, 2022. The CFC online giving portal can be accessed at cfcgiving.opm.gov. FEDcon22 will be held August 21-23, 2022, at the Westin Kierland Resort in Scottsdale, AZ. Early bird registration ends on May 13. You can find more information about this important conference online at narfe.org. Our May 9 membership meeting will be at 11:30 at Darcy’s Restaurant in the Spokane Valley. I hope to see you there. Please call me at 208-661-7695 or email me at scottsoriole@q.com if you have any questions regarding Spokane Chapter 32. LEGISLATION Roger Bosky During the first week in April, the President signed the postal service reform legislation. This law allows the postal service to maintain a high level of service to the public. to establish a sound financial status, while at the same time providing for greater accountability. The law does have one feature which may adversely affect future retirees. Future USPS retirees who are in the Federal health program will be required to enroll in Medicare A and B. Federal non-postal are not so required. Some analysts predict that the Medicare enrollment requirement will be extended to all Federal retirees. The Government Pension Offset/ Windfall Elimination legislation continues to pick up sponsors and the total is now 269. Just 21 more and the bill must come to the House floor for a vote. If your representative hasn’t signed on, maybe a little nudge is in order. I’m not a financial planner, but I just read from a reliable source that you can buy Government I bonds from Treasury Direct that pay 7.1% interest. They must be held for 12 months and there’s a loss of 3 months interest if held less than 5 years. ALZHEIMER’S Pat Hegerberg Seaweed-Based Drug Approved for Alzheimer’s The first prescription drug since 2003 to be approved for Alzheimer’s is now available in China but not yet in the United States. Much to the surprise of the global Alzheimer’s research community, the drug, called GV-971, has been given the go ahead in China following successful trials. Scientists in China were interested in the connection between poor gut health and Alzheimer’s. This led research to look at the properties of seaweed to restore balance to the intestinal flora. In a mouse model of Alzheimer’s, unbalanced gut bacteria led to infiltration of immune system T cells into the brain, where they stoke neuro-inflammation. Treatment with GV-971 altered the microbiome so it no longer triggered an inflammatory response. Trials are underway with human models. NCBI Publicmed.com MEMBERSHIP The Chapter is looking for a Membership Chair. If you are interested, please contact any of the Officers or Directors. Come be a part of a great group of people fighting for your benefits. NARFE – PAC MaryAnn Bosky You can contribute to NARFE – PAC using the contribution form found in the monthly NARFE Magazine or by sending a check, made out to NARFE – PAC, to our Post Office Box. The address is: NARFE, PO Box 4592, Spokane, WA 99220.

PAST VICE PRESIDENT Arlene Patton At our recent Washington State Federation meeting the Advisory Committee approved financial support for NARFE members to attend the upcoming FEDcon22 in Scottsdale, Arizona in August 21-23, 2022. Specifically, Washington State Chapter and National Only members in good standing will be reimbursed the amount of $190 to cover the (early bird) registration fee and up to $750 for airfare, hotel, and out-of-pocket expenses upon receipt of the Washington State Federation Form F-1 and relevant receipts. You can register and learn more about FEDcon22 at: https://fedcon.narfe.org/registration You will be expected to attend all sessions. I encourage you to consider this generous benefit of your NARFE membership because the future of NARFE is in our hands now. Should you decide to take advantage of this opportunity, please provide me with your name and contact information after you register. Should you have any questions, please contact Steven Roy by phone at 425.344.3926 or by email stevenroy1@comcast.net. PROGRAM Chris Smith and Joanne Welch May will see Guy Gifford from the Community Resilience Program with the WA State Department of Natural Resources. He will be talking about recent wildfires and rising statistics, some of the mitigation the state is doing to address the situation, and some things we as individuals can do, too. Guy has been a Firewise instructor for many years. He will be one of the first presenters to speak with us in person since Covid. In June, Deb Barnes, the host for our chapter website, will be joining us to talk about all things web. Bring any questions about or suggestions for our website. June will be our last meeting before summer break (July and August). Some events and dates to share: The city is giving away free disposal passes every month in partnership with Neighborhood Services. Each pass is worth $25 of trash to be taken to Waste to Energy; apply at the city’s website at myspokanecity.org. NARFE is more than just a great magazine. Let them know! Promote NARFE anytime you can. The more members we have the more power to protect our benefits and retirement! NARFE = YOUR BEST BET FOR THE FUTURE! SUNSHINE Susan Harvey Today was rainy and cool in Oregon. Spring is having a hard time getting here for us. Let's hope the flowers are soon to follow. Happy Birthday and Anniversary wishes to those who celebrate in May. Recently, we learned that Mary M. Hansen and Terry D. Willson passed away. REMINDER, spouses can be members on their own OR can take over the membership of a deceased member. If you are interested in continuing this very valuable membership, please contact Scott Robinson. He is currently recruiting for a Membership Chair. If you are interested, please contact him. NARFE-PAC MaryAnn Bosky You can contribute to NARFE-PAC contribution form in the NARFE magazine or by sending a check, made out to NARFE-PAC to our post office box. The address is: NARFE, PO Box 4592, Spokane, WA 99220. This is a wonderful opportunity for our members to attend and become familiar with NARFE, receive excellent training on how to protect our earned pay and benefits and meet fellow NARFE members from our federation as well around the county. SPOKANE SERVICE CENTER Narfe0032@gmail.com 509-624-9465

DATE FOR YOUR CALENDAR MAY CHAPTER MEETING (ZOOM CONNECTION) MONDAY MAY 9, 2022- 11:30 AM

To join the Zoom Meeting, you can either call 253.215.8782 and enter:

Meeting ID: 839 6653 2783

Passcode: 230631

OR

Click HERE and join online Zoom meeting

SERVICE & OUTREACH Kathy Brooks We are holding our plans for the 2022 Pre-Retirement Seminar for a few months. The class will depend on the pandemic schedule. Keep checking in with us, for the schedule. MEMBERSHIP The Chapter is looking for a Membership Chair. If you are interested, please contact any of the Officers or Directors. Come be a part of a great group of people fighting for your benefits. PROGRAM IDEAS If you any ideas as to topics for future chapter meetings, be sure to write or call Chris and Joanne at redpoll@mac.com or (907) 350- 9866. We want to remain responsive to members’ interests. Spokane Washington Chapter 32 PO Box 4592 Spokane, WA 99220 National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association 32 NARFE on the Web: National: www.narfe.org WSF: www.narfewa.org Spokane: www.narfespokane.org

SPOKANE CHAPTER 32 NEWSLETTER

Published Monthly except July and August

www.narfespokane.org

22 – 04 Advocates for Current and Former Federal Employees April 2022

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Scott Robinson

One of our members, Dwaine, called me about a month ago about seeking help with the Office of Personnel Management. He previously mailed his wife’s death certificate to OPM so that her name would be removed from his benefits account. He has had no response from OPM during the two months that have since passed and feared that OPM never received his mail.

The IRS, for example, has a link on their webpage to inform their processing of your tax refund status. State has a similar link to inform their processing of your application status for a passport. However, I am unaware of OPM having any such link of information on its webpage.

My only suggestion to Dwaine and others like him is (1) request the Postal Service for a return receipt anytime you mail anything to any government agency, and (2) have a boat load of patience for the agency to respond to your request. The first action won’t inform you of the agency’s progress, but it will tell you when it received your request. Regarding the second action, I’m confident the federal employees are doing their best to serve us during the current times we are experiencing.

After all, didn’t we retirees do our best to serve the public when we were active employees? I called Dwaine as I write this article and he still has not learned anything from OPM.

Spokane Chapter’s board recently decided our monthly member meetings will return in-person at Darcy’s Restaurant in the Spokane Valley. We believe the risk of disease spread has been greatly diminished. Our next meeting will be Monday, April 11 at 11:30. I hope to see you there.

Please call me at 208-661-7695 or email me at scottsoriole@q.com if you have any questions regarding Spokane Chapter 32.

LEGISLATION Roger Bosky

NARFE LEGISLATION 04/22

Of the many legislative issues that NARFE is advocating on our behalf, there are three that I would like to discuss:

1.POSTAL REFORM HR 3076 This legislation allows the Postal Service to maintain a high level of service while eliminating the onerous requirement to prepay future retiree health benefits. It also requires greater accountability by publishing performance measures. Of great importance to us, in part because of NARFE advocacy, it requires greater coordination with Medicare and prevents unintended increases in FEHBP premiums. The legislation is now on the President’s desk.

2.THE GOVERNMENT PENSION OFFSET AND WINDFALL ELIMINATION PROVISION HR 82 Currently, workers who have worked in both a job covered by Social Security and a government job not covered by Social Security may have their earned Social Security benefits reduced upon retirement. This bill would eliminate this unfair discrimination. The bill keeps gaining co-sponsors, who now number 267. We can be appreciative that our own Representative, Cathy McMorris Rodgers has signed on to this legislation for the first time. Thank you Representative McMorris Rodgers.

3.THE FAIR ACT HR 6398. This legislation proposes a 5.1% pay increase for Federal employees in 2023. However, the President’s budget proposal for 2023 proposes a 4.6% increase. These raises do not keep up with inflation and will hardly attract the type of employees needed in our government.

ALZHEIMER’S Pat Hegerberg

From Medscape Medical News 3/23/2022

As the controversial Alzheimer's disease (AD) drug aducanumab (Aduhelm) begins its integration into clinical practice, some physicians are concerned the drug's prescribing label does not include adequate brain imaging recommendations (MRI’s) to detect amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA).

ARIA is the most common risk associated with aducanumab and has two types: ARIA-E (with edema) and ARIA-H (with hemosiderin). These can co-occur, particularly in brain areas of high amyloid burden.

(Edema=swelling and hemosiderin = iron storage in body tissue)

ARIA is often detected incidentally via MRI. Patients are usually asymptomatic, but when they do have symptoms, headache, dizziness, and vision changes are the most common complaints.

Specifically, the drug's label calls for three MRI brain scans before, and during, the titration period. The problem is the trial data used for the drug's approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) included five MRIs to screen for ARIA. (Titration period is the period in which a new medication or change in meds is being adjusted to reach maximum benefit without causing intolerable side effects)

PAST VICE PRESIDENT Arlene Patton

NARFE Region IX Vice President

Linda Silverio has announced that she will be moving to Iowa and not eligible to represent our NARFE Region IX as Vice President when her term is up. She will be missed as she has done a great job. Members interested to serving in that important leadership should submit their application ASAP. Our current Washington State Federation President Steven Roy’s name will appear on the ballot. Steven has done a great job leading the WSF and would be truly missed, should he be elected. Not sure if others in Region IX might submit their applications. I will keep you informed if I hear of others.

March 1950 Chapter 32 was organized. The oldest Chapter in the state of Washington celebrates it’s 72nd anniversary. A special thanks to all those that have served in leadership position and the many that support Chapter 32

PROGRAM Chris Smith and Joanne Welch

Beverly Tryk of People’s Memorial Association joined us in March via Zoom. A non-profit for all of Washington, PMA was established in 1939 as a response to high prices and unsavory sales practices of the funeral industry. The organization is all about education and advocacy in funeral choice and price transparency as well as cultural rights. Membership is a one-time $50 and allows for price savings with contracted funeral businesses, including cremation, burial, urns, tombstones, pet funerals, and more. Beverly mentioned sharing funeral plans with others in writing and filling out a Disposition Authorization Form (it’s available for download on the website).

Over 80% of people in Washington choose cremation; prices average $1600. Ashes can be scattered in navigable waterways.

Other options include alkaline hydrolysis which uses water and salt rather than fire to break down the body, the same process used by medical schools like the Mayo Clinic and UCLA. It runs about $1500 and returns ashes like cremation.

People may also choose bio-composting like that used at WSU and the Western Carolina University Forensic Anthropology Department. About 3 cubic feet of soil are returned to the family or donated to the Washington Land Trust. The cost is between $5,000 - $7,000.

Traditional burial costs average about $2,900 plus $2,000 for cemetery fees. Restrictions apply in cemeteries since the plot is only leased.

Green burial (without embalming) involves a biodegradable container rather than a casket. There are six cemeteries in Washington that provide this service. Remember to budget for transportation.

You can also donate your body to a medical or mortuary school.

Beverly recommended treating shopping for funerals/burials just as you would for any other major purchase. PMA provides a bi-ennial price list for funeral homes; Beverly also reminded members that Costco and Amazon carry caskets and urns at reasonable prices. She indicated she is leaving a “love letter” to all her friends and family, a wonderful addition to any ceremony. PMA’s website is peoplesmemorial.org for more information.

April’s meeting features Vicky Dalton, Spokane County Auditor, and Mike McLaughlin, Elections Manager, who will be talking to us about the integrity and security of Spokane’s elections. In view of the publicity on restrictions to voting in other states, they will be addressing protections in place here in Washington balanced against access to voting. They will also talk about Washington’s voting by mail which has been a model for other locations for many years. Although we will be meeting back in person at Darcy’s, due to Vicky and Mike’s busy schedule, they requested to use Zoom.

NARFE is more than just a great magazine. Let them know!

Promote NARFE anytime you can. The more members we have the more power to protect our benefits and retirement!

NARFE = YOUR BEST BET FOR THE FUTURE!

SUNSHINE Susan Harvey

The Chapter is sending birthday and anniversary wishes to all who celebrate in April 2022.

REMINDER, spouses can be members on their own OR can take over the membership of a deceased member. If you are interested in continuing this very valuable membership, please contact Scott Robinson. He is currently recruiting for a Membership Chair. If you are interested, please contact him.

If you become aware of good news, illnesses, surgeries, or a death of a member or family member, please contact me at 509-953-6828.

Chapter Member, Constance Behrman, recently passed. National Member, Dailord LaCombe, recently lost his wife, Sylva. Condolences have been expressed.

NARFE-PAC MaryAnn Bosky

You can contribute to NARFE-PAC contribution form in the NARFE magazine or by sending a check, made out to NARFE-PAC to our post office box. The address is: NARFE, PO Box 4592, Spokane, WA 99220.

DATE FOR YOUR CALENDAR

APRIL CHAPTER MEETING (ZOOM CONNECTION)

MONDAY APRI. 11, 2022- 11:30 AM

To Join the Zoom Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83966532738?pwd=MDNuMzVMVmRxK09yZ3RsMFFkb1BIUT09

Meeting ID: 839 6653 2738

Passcode: 230631

One tap mobile

+12532158782,,83966532738#,,,,*230631# US (Tacoma)

SERVICE & OUTREACH Kathy Brooks

We are holding our plans for the 2022 Pre-Retirement Seminar for a few months. The class will depend on the pandemic schedule. Keep checking in with us, for the schedule.

MEMBERSHIP

The Chapter is looking for a Membership Chair. If you are interested, please contact any of the Officers or Directors. Come be a part of a great group of people fighting for your benefits.

Spokane Washington Chapter 32

PO Box 4592

Spokane, WA 99220

National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association 32

NARFE on the Web: National: www.narfe.org WSF: www.narfewa.org Spokane: www.narfespokane.org

March 2022

SPOKANE CHAPTER 32 NEWSLETTER Published Monthly except July and August www.narfespokane.org

22 – 03 Advocates for Current and Former Federal Employees March 2022 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Scott Robinson MARCH CHAPTER MEETING MONDAY MAR. 14, 2022 - 11:30 AM (ZOOM MEETING information below under “Dates for your Calendar”) On February 17, the Senate passed (65-27) a Continuing Resolution, which President Biden signed into law. This was the third continuing resolution since the fiscal year started in October 2021. It funds the government through March 11. This came after the House of Representatives passed the measure also with bipartisan support, 272-162. As Congress extended the deadline, there was also news of a breakthrough in negotiations for full-year FY 2022 funding bills. Congressional leaders indicated they reached an agreement on top-line numbers that would boost both military and non-defense spending. This compromise could lead to a comprehensive deal to fund the government for the remainder of the fiscal year and avoid another government shutdown. NARFE National President Ken Thomas earlier (2/9/2022) issued the following statement: “This is nothing to celebrate; reliance on continuing resolutions is dereliction of duty on the part of lawmakers. Why Congress refuses to buckle down and pass full-year appropriations bills, instead of settling for just four weeks of funding, is difficult to understand. Lawmakers must end the cycle of perpetual CRs and dismantle the current culture of accepting them as a normal part of the negotiating process. Little, if anything, is gained for either side by delaying agreement. Yet federal agencies are kept in limbo for months due to congressional dysfunction.” Because of current COVID numbers in Spokane County, our membership meetings will continue via zoom until further notice. We are more concerned about maintaining your health than comingling with friends in a public space. You will find information within this newsletter about joining our meeting. I hope to see you then. Please call me at 208-661-7695 or email me at scottsoriole@q.com if you have any questions regarding Spokane Chapter 32. LEGISLATION RogerBosky The House of Representatives has passed and sent to the Senate the Postal Reform Act of 2022 (HR 3076). This bill provides that OPM set up a health benefit plan for postal employees and retirees. Importantly, the bill requires coordinated enrollment of retirees under Medicare and the new program. NARFE supported this bill after it was amended to prevent unintended increases to federal retirees’ health benefit premiums. Additionally: • Postal retirees can still choose whether to enroll in Medicare Part B. • The requirement that USPS prepay future retirement benefits is repealed. • USPS can sell non-postal services and products within limits. • And the postal service must trade and publish performance measures and initiate measures to deal with inefficiencies. Let’s tell Senators Cantwell and Murray to get behind this bill. In addition, diabetes leads to an excess of insulin, which may alter the amount or status of other neurochemicals reaching the brain. This imbalance may lead to Alzheimer's disease. And finally, elevated blood sugar leads to inflammation. This may also damage brain cells and open the door to Alzheimer’s disease. Reducing Your Risk Consult with a trusted health care professional to determine your blood sugar levels and address your lifestyle accordingly. Over the years a number of strong scientific studies have shown that lifestyle modifications such as weight loss, dietary changes, and exercise are critical for preventing and even managing type- 2 diabetes. ALZHEIMER’S Pat Hegerberg How Does Diabetes Affect Brain Health? Diabetes can affect brain health by raising the risk of heart disease, which in turn can damage blood vessels and block blood flow to the brain. Put simply, chronically high blood sugar is a recipe for poor brain health.

PAST VICE PRESIDENT Arlene Patton F-100 Be Prepared for Life’s Events While one’s death is a difficult topic to discuss, reviewing this information your family will help them to understand the steps they will need to take. You should ensure that your family member review the F-100 guide with you and know where it is located. You also should review the guide periodically to ensure that the information is up to date. The F-100 guide is available on the NARFE.org website. PROGRAM Chris Smith and Joanne Welch February’s speaker, Candice Correia, Professor at Whitworth, delivered a fascinating history of taxation in the U.S. and some practical information about 2021 taxes. Fifty percent of taxes that help run our government entities and agencies comes from income tax. It started in 1862 with a two-tiered tax rate of 3% for an income of $600-$10,000 and 5% for incomes greater than $10,000. Taxes were mainly for the wealthy. In 1943, taxes were withheld from every citizen’s paycheck, and it was considered a patriotic duty. For filing this year, check out combining the gift tax with the Unified Transfer Tax Credit if you are passing on assets. Required minimum distributions are back and have a steep penalty if not paid. Lastly, there’s only a .7% chance of being audited for ordinary citizens; 3% if you fill out a schedule A or C. Forty percent of people fill out their income tax incorrectly, Thanks, Tami Robinson, for arranging for Candice to join us! Beverly Tryk of People’s Memorial Association will join in March via Zoom as planned. A non-profit for all of Washington, PMA was established in 1939 as a response to high prices and unsavory sales practices of the funeral industry. They are associated with the Funeral Consumers Alliance who encouraged the Federal Trade Commission to adopt a set of pricing standards called the Funeral Rule. This rule allows consumers to obtain accurate price and procedure information from funeral homes. It’s good to know truthful information about this important life passage. Next month Vicky Dalton, Spokane County Auditor, and Mike McLaughlin, Elections Manager, will be talking to us about the integrity and security of Spokane’s elections. In view of the publicity on restrictions to voting in other states, they will be addressing protections in place here in Washington balanced against access to voting. They will also talk about Washington’s voting by mail which has been a model for other locations for many years. Although I indicated we may be meeting back in person in April, due to Vicky and Mike’s busy schedule, they requested to use Zoom. NARFE is more than just a great magazine. Let them know! Promote NARFE anytime you can. The more members we have the more power to protect our benefits and retirement! NARFE = YOUR BEST BET FOR THE FUTURE! SUNSHINE Susan Harvey If you become aware of good news, illnesses, surgeries, or a death of a member or family member, please contact me at 509-953-6828. REMINDER, spouses can be members OR can take over the membership of a deceased member. If you are interested in continuing this very valuable membership, please contact Scott Robinson. He is currently recruiting for a Membership Chair. If you are interested, please contact him. NARFE-PAC MaryAnn Bosky You can contribute to NARFE-PAC contribution form in the NARFE magazine or by sending a check, made out to NARFE-PAC to our post office box. The address is: NARFE, PO Box 4592, Spokane, WA 99220. March is NARFE PAC month which is the perfect time to support NARFE’s political action committee (NARFE-PAC). I hope you will consider contributing to the PAC and help our Washington State Federation (WSF) stand out. Your support of NARFE-PAC goes a long way in the fight for our earned pay and benefits. The funds raised in March will ensure that NARFE members and staff have additional opportunities to spread NARFE’s message to lawmakers, as well as support Fed-friendly candidates in the highly competitive midterm elections this November. Thank you for your commitment to protecting your benefits with NARFE-PAC. Together, we can ensure that the PAC is in a strong position to fight for our community. This month is starting out with no bad/sad news among our membership (at least none reported). Happy Birthday to all the March babies, we are a great group! Happy Anniversary to all the brides and grooms, too. PROGRAM IDEAS If you any ideas as to topics for future chapter meetings, be sure to write or call Chris and Joanne at redpoll@mac.com or (907) 350- 9866. We want to remain responsive to members’ interests.

DATE FOR YOUR CALENDAR MARCH CHAPTER MEETING MONDAY MAR. 14, 2022- 11:30 AM To Join the Zoom Meeting:

To Join the Zoom Meeting, you can either call 253-215-8782 and enter:

Meeting ID: 847 6320 6413

Passcode: 044180

Or you can click here: NARFE ZOOM LINK SERVICE & OUTREACH Kathy Brooks We are holding our plans for the 2022 Pre-Retirement Seminar for a few months. The class will depend on the pandemic schedule. Keep checking in with us, for the schedule. MEMBERSHIP The Chapter is looking for a Membership Chair. If you are interested, please contact any of the Officers or Directors. Come be a part of a great group of people fighting for your benefits. SPOKANE SERVICE CENTER Narfe0032@gmail.com 509-624-9465 Spokane Washington Chapter 32 PO Box 4592 Spokane, WA 99220 National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association 32 NARFE on the Web: National: www.narfe.org WSF: www.narfewa.org Spokane: www.narfespokane.org