Category Archives: Legislative – State Blog

Maryland Federation of NARFE – Patricia Farmer, Secretary, NARFE/MD

• Opening: President Dr. Gary Roundtree Sr. called the meeting to order at 9:34 a.m.
• Bowie-Crofton President Frank Lee introduced new member Charles Smith who was affected by the recent partial shutdown. His shutdown story was featured in the Washington Post. As a result of the affect the shutdown had on him, Charles decided to retire and is waiting for his papers to go through.
• President Dr. Gary Roundtree Sr. went over the Federation’s reimbursement policy for those attending the National Legislative Training Conference (NLTC), March 10-13, at the Hilton Mark Center in Virginia.
• First Vice President and Legislative Director Dr. Sudha Haley talked about the Crusade to Capitol Hill on March 13. This is the day the NLTC attendees from NARFE/MD will visit Senators and Representatives on Capitol Hill.
• Guest Speaker John Koskinen, former IRS Commissioner, spoke to attendees and gave insights into his management style during his career. He made sure employees at all levels knew him and had the opportunity to ask questions and let him know about problems at any level. He stressed that the ethos in an organization is very important. As the lead for Y2K in the United States, and he subsequently became the lead in the world. As a result of his management and the people he worked closely with in government and the private sector, there was no disaster when we rolled over to the year 2000. He mentioned a few glitches, one in Japan and the other in the United States.
• William Guthrie, President Chapter 1260, Southern Prince George’s, was inducted as a Board member by President Dr. Roundtree.
• Luncheon Speaker was Colonel William Pallozzi, Maryland Secretary of State Police. As such, he is a member of Governor Hogan’s cabinet. He is responsible for the 23 Barracks of State Troopers within Maryland. His purview also includes an aviation section and the largest crime laboratory in the state. Maryland State Police began in 1921 and is now 98 years old. In keeping with its three missions, there is a Traffic Bureau, a Criminal Investigation Bureau and a Support Services Bureau. Colonel Pallozzi stressed that it is a dangerous, noble profession. The Polar Bear Plunge, sponsored by the State Police, is the largest single day fundraiser in the world. There are 152 Police Departments in the state of Maryland.
• New Region II Vice President Kathy Adams gave her report. Region II includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. RVP Adams reported items from the National Executive Board (NEB) meeting, including the existence of four new committees at the National level: Membership Committee; Non-Dues Revenue Committee; Building Committee (all reasonable options, even sale of the HQ building, which is large, with only 50 employees currently); and 2021 – 100^th Anniversary Centennial Committee (Kathy Adams is Chair; Dr. Sudha Haley is one of committee volunteers).
• Dr. Bruce Fowler, Chair of the Federal Legislative Committee, said that the 2019 Profiles in Civil Service, Golden Edition, should be out in March and the NARFE/MD delegation from the NLTC will be taking copies to Capitol Hill to keep reminding Congress what federal employees do every day for this country.
• Paul Schwartz, Chair of the State Legislative Committee stressed the importance of NARFE/MD having a large contingent going to Annapolis on Feb. 13 for the hearing on HB 327, which would decouple Maryland from Federal taxes and allow taxpayers to itemize at the state level. He also urged members to give to MD-PAC because it allows us to meet/greet our state legislators and share with them our legislative interests. Toll free phone number for General Assembly: 1-800-492-7122. Tell the operator who you are and your organization and that you support HB 327 and why. Also, you can go to LWV.org to get a phone number and email address for a specific lawmaker. (LWV is the League of Women Voters.)
• Second Vice President and Membership Director Ed Reed handed out a Membership packet and exercise to each Chapter President. The exercise is an effort to recruit US Postal Employees; packets include 20 F135 applications, 18 M2 prospective member forms, the new membership manual, and three packets for US Post Offices.
• The Board voted to accept the proposal to amend the National Bylaws to ensure fairness in the NARFE ballot used in voting.
• Scholarship Chair Eleanor Kaul said that FEEA/NARFE Scholarships have been reduced to $700. There is a new Memorandum of Understanding between FEEA and NARFE due March 25.
• Alzheimer’s Chair Eleanor Kaul reported that Maryland NARFE is Region II’s second largest donor to NARFE Alzheimer’s Research. The three top donor chapters are: 969 St. Mary’s County/$5,500; 2274 Ocean Area/$1,577; and 1127 Rockville/$1,500.
• Co-Chair Larry Walton gave an update on the 2019 Biennial Conference, May 5-7, 2019 in at Dunes Manor, Ocean City, Md. Dunes Manor is located at 28^th Street, in the heart of Ocean City. Oceanfront rooms are available all week for $98.35. Vendor Chair for the Conference Eleanor Kaul has sent letters to 16 vendors, inviting them to rent tables at the conference. Several vendors have taken ads in the conference program and are sponsoring meals. Registration fee is $50, which includes two breakfasts and two lunches. The Installation Banquet is separate at $45. For details, contact your Chapter President who received the Call Letter to the 2019 Biennial Conference. Also, on Feb. 8, the Maryland Federation Secretary Pat Farmer sent information on the May Conference to each member of the Maryland Federation from the NARFE Email System.
• Programs Chair Edward Holland has been busy securing speakers for the May conference; among them are Barbara Sido, NARFE Executive Director; James Marshall, NARFE Federal Benefits Institute; John Wobensmith, Maryland Secretary of State; and many other speakers from State and Federal government and beyond.
• Public Relations Chair Edward Holland stated that his goal is to tell the story of NARFE and get us in the fight.
• Adjournment: 2:54 p.m.