Category Archives: General Announcements

The Frederick News Post (FNP) has a front page article about the new Alzheimer’s Postal Stamp that was approved after years of  effort by Kathy Siggins (Chapter 409).  Once the stamps are printed in the next month or so, ask at your local post office to purchase the stamps.  The funds will go to DHHS to support Alzheimer’s research.  The article can be found at:  FNP, Kathy Siggins.

Hi All,

As NARFE/MD representative on the Board of the Maryland Gerontological Association, I want to pass on information about MGA’s 35th Annual Conference on Tuesday, June 20 at the Meeting House in Columbia, Maryland.

The Hidden Epidemic: Substance Use, Misuse and Abuse in Older Adults is the subject matter for the conference. This should be a very important topic to us all.

Please join me in attending this conference. Please share this information with family members and friends and anyone you know who are in the field of aging.

I am a lay person in this field but I always learn a lot from these conferences.  I hope to see you there.

Register now!  Use the conference brochure below.

Pat Farmer
NARFE/MD Secretary
MGA Board Member

If you have already registered, we will see you next month!

To: MD Federation Committee Chairs, Chapter Presidents and Social Media Coordinators

NOTE: Chapter Presidents, Please pass to your Newsletter Editors.

From: Linda Adams, Chair, Electronics Communication Committee

Subject: Information on Work Distribution on Federation Website

The Electronic Communications Committee (ECC) would like to inform Chapter Presidents, other Federation Committee Chairs, and Newsletter Editors that Diane Bicjan is no longer the Federation Webmaster.  She has done an incredible job, but for personal reasons can no longer perform as webmaster.

The duties to be covered temporarily by the ECC are as follows:  Pat Dempsey and Linda Adams will be standing in for posting information and Flash Gordon and Jim Lish will work with Network Solutions on server issues.  In this regard, please send updates for information to be posted to:  narfemdfed@gmail.com.  Please do not send to Diane.  Since Pat Dempsey and I are novices to this website, please bear with us.

 Please help us in our recruiting efforts by posting a Help Wanted Ad in your newsletters.  You may use the below ad if you have room. 

 The Maryland Federation is recruiting for a webmaster.  The Federation currently uses WordPress for our software.  If you have any interest in this position or are willing to learn how to post items, please email narfemdfed@gmail.com.  This position takes a few hours a month.  The website is established, so only updates will be posted.  Please consider volunteering for this important position. 

Our REGION II TRAINING SYMPOSIUM will be held on APRIL 4-5, 2016 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in York, Pennsylvania.

The registration form, which includes all of the details listed below, is available here: Region II Training Symposium Registration Form APR 4-5, 2016 

A full description of class offerings is available here: Class Descriptions April 2016

REGISTRATION: The fee is $80, which includes classes, presentations, and access to vendors, plus lunch and dinner on April 4 and breakfast April 5.   The fee and a completed Registration Form, with three (3) class selections, must be mailed to Carl Fascio [Carl Fascio, New Jersey Federation Treasurer, 22 Dayton Lane, Manalapan, New Jersey 07726-2805, Phone: 732-409-6770, Email: Poppy.070309@gmail.com] no later than March 24, 2016.

Cancellation Policy: Because of commitments to the Hotel any one cancelling after that date and ‘no shows’ should not expect a refund. However, every attempt will be made to accommodate emergency situations.

Checks for the registration fee should be made out to National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, and show “Region II Training Registration” in the memo line. As said above, full payment for each attendee must accompany each completed Registration Form.

HOTEL: The Symposium is being held at the Wyndham Garden Hotel, 2000 Loucks Road, York, Pennsylvania 17404. The phone number is 717-846-9500.   The rooms are $97.01 (YES, $97.01) per night, single or double occupancy, including tax. While the ‘official’ night of the 2016 Symposium is April 4, the hotel is honoring the group rate for three nights before April 4 and three nights after. Refer to “NARFE CM” to receive the special group rate.  Registration for a hotel room at the special rate can be made now and MUST BE MADE NO LATER THAN March 5, 2016 for arrival April 4.  If you plan to come earlier, you must book your room at least 30 days prior to your planned arrival to get the group rate.   You are responsible for making your own hotel reservations unless otherwise instructed by your Federation President or other official. DO NOT request hotel accommodations from Carl Fascio when you send him your Registration Form and Class Selections.

All rooms are non-smoking. Check in is at 4 p.m., but some rooms may be ready earlier. The hotel has two floors, 180 guest rooms, an elevator, ample free parking, dining and a heated indoor pool.   All guest rooms include coffee/tea maker, iron and ironing board, hair dryer, mini-fridge, flat screen TV, two (2) queen beds OR one (1) king bed AND a queen sofa bed, and more.   Some rooms have connecting doors, sitting area, hypoallergenic beds and bedding, and/or indoor pool view. There are seven (7) ADA rooms, with features such as bathroom safety bars and wheelchair accessibility.   Attendees may request features they wish when they book a hotel room. There are three (3) suites NOT available at the group rate.

TIME FRAME FOR EVENTS AT YORK: Region II Training Symposium registration on site at the Hotel begins at 10 a.m. April 4, with Lunch starting at 11:30. The first training session starts at 1 p.m. Dinner begins at 6:30 p.m., following a cash bar.   On April 5 Breakfast will be between 6:30 and 7:45 a.m., with training resuming at 8 a.m. Classes end by 11:30 a.m. Lunch is not provided April 5. Check out is noon.

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS: The Hotel is just off PA Rt. 30, and several miles from Interstate 83.   Close by are: Colonial Complex in downtown York, Harley-Davidson Factory Tour, Indian Echo Caverns and Estate, Martin’s Potato Chips Plant Tour, Mason-Dixon Wine Trail, Susquehanna Ale Trail, Turkey Hill (ice cream) Experience, Utz Potato Chips Tour, and Tanger Outlets, among other attractions. Gettysburg, Lancaster/Amish Country, and Hersey Park are within 25-40 miles.

QUESTIONS: Refer any questions or comments to your Federation President, or to Evelyn Kirby, Region II Vice President, ekirby@atlanticbb.net. Each is on the Planning Committee.   Your Chapter President may be able to help you as well. Should you have a special dietary issue, contact Kathy Adams, Delaware Federation President, Adamskhawaii@aol.com.

Richard G. Thissen published an OpEd in The Hill on April 22, 2015 that is of interest to the NARFE membership.

The article is entitled ” No Way to Run a Business or the Goverment” and is available here.