Monthly Archives: March 2015

Deadline for Maryland Federation Convention Registration in Ocean City is fast approaching

To: Maryland Federation Board Members, especially Chapter Presidents

The deadline for registration for the Maryland Federation Convention in Ocean City is fast approaching – Saturday, April 4 is the deadline to register.

Please pay prompt attention to getting your registration and those of your chapter members to Dick Strombotne ASAP to meet the April 4 deadline.

Also, here are other deadlines related to the convention.  Please make sure you meet these deadlines as well.

Summary of Upcoming Deadlines
March 27          All submittals other than Registration Forms are due.
April 4               Registration Forms must be received by Federation Treasurer.
April 17             Last date to cancel and receive a refund for registration and
                            banquet.


The original call to convention and the associated information are attached and provided here.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Pat Farmer
Secretary, NARFE/MD
301-776-4645

Opportunity to Assist Your Federation – Federation Newsletter Editor Needed

WANTED:  Federation Newsletter Editor

Linda Adams, Maryland Federation Newsletter Editor

This past spring and fall when the newsletters were published, it was an increasingly difficult time for me for personal reasons.  I will remain as the Chair ECC where timing is not as critical as the newsletter.  I have enjoyed being the Federation Newsletter Editor, but I am asking for another volunteer to take over the duties.  Dan and Pat  have the editing duties very organized, so it will be easy for a new individual to take over the duties.  So, if anyone is interested, please contact Dan McGrath or myself.  Our email addresses are in the Directory in this publication.  The next publication is in August.  I am more than happy to assist a new editor in learning how to publish the newsletter and I am willing to continue as the newsletter editor until a new volunteer is found.  Thanks to all who have aided me in the years I have  published the newsletter particularly the Federation Presidents and Federation Secretaries.

Senator Barbara Mikulski Announces Retirement – March 2, 2015

Sen. Barbara Mikulski Announces Retirement

2015 - Barbara Mikulski Photo

Do I spend my time raising money or do I spend my time raising hell?’ —Sen. Barbara Mikulski
By Greg Hambrick (Patch Staff) March 2, 2015 at 9:57am

Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., announced Monday morning that she is retiring from the Senate, in a press conference in Fells Point.
“In 2016 my reelection would be on the horizon. I have thought long and hard about the next two years,” Mikulski said at the press conference, which WBAL streamed live.
“Who am I campaigning for? Am I campaigning for me or for my constituents?” Mikulski said, explaining her thought process leading up to 2016. “I had to decide how I would spend my time—fighting for my job or fighting for their job. Do I spend my time raising money, or do I spend my time raising hell?”
Mikulski continued: “…it really became clear that I want to campaign for the people of Maryland. I want to make sure that they have a future, that they have a job. I’m here today in Fells Point to announce that I will not be seeking a sixth term in the U.S. Senate.”
The decision was not one that she made lightly, after a long career in politics, one that began on the Baltimore City Council in 1971. “This has been a hard decision to make,” Mikulski said. “I will have served over 30 years.”
Currently in her fifth term as a U.S. Senator, Mikulski is known as the “Dean” of the Senate women and helping forge bipartisan relationships for decades that often result in compromise.
For the remainder of her term, Mikulski said she plans to continue fighting for change. “I want to give 120 percent of my time focused on my constituents. Because it’s never been about me. It’s always been about them,” she said.
When a reporter asked if she had one particular accomplishment of which she was most proud, Mikulski said that it was not one piece of legislation, although she cited Rosa’s law, which removed the term “retarded” from the health and education code in Maryland, which she said originated out of a round table discussion in Anne Arundel County. In 2010, President Barack Obama signed Rosa’s law into federal statute requiring all health, labor and education laws to remove “retarded” and refer instead to people living with “intellectual disability.”
Mikulski also mentioned her work to support local firefighters with federal grant money, based on learning that a fire engine can cost $1 million.
“For me, it’s not any one accomplishment. It’s the joy of listening to the people, knowing what their needs are, responding to that need and trying to turn it into national policy,” Mikulski said.
Mikulski, 78, was the first woman to chair the powerful Appropriations Committee, according to The Washington Post.

Chapter 306 Acting President Ed Reed to represent its 177 members at The State Federation Bi-Annual Convention

The National Association of Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE)’S Hagerstown MD Chapter 306 Acting President Ed Reed will represent its 177 members at The State Federation Bi-Annual Convention, April 26-28 2015 at the Carousel Oceanfront Hotel in Ocean City Maryland.

Monthly Chapter 306 luncheon meetings (except July and August) are held at noon at the Western Sizzlin’ Steakhouse, 17567 York Road, Hagerstown, Maryland. All active and retired Federal Employees are welcome.

2015 March - Ed Reed