National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association
Florida Federation of Chapters
www.narfefl.net
__________________________________________________________________________________
Newsletter
April 2006
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Officers
:
President:
Ben Pappa 941-743-7117
retatc@comcast.net
1st Vice President:
Don Stewart 305-442-6388
dejs33149@aol.com
2
nd
Vice President:
Wally Roepke 941-355-6139
w
all_nan@verizon.net
Secretary:
Steve Henderson 941-776-9191
stevehende@msn.com
Treasurer:
Ken Carter
813-983-9101
kcarjax@aol.com
Newsletter Editor:
Marc Harris
Marc.Harris@narfefl.net
Important Dates::
Federation EB Meetings
May 17, 19
August TBD
November TBD
Federation Convention
May 17-18
NARFE National Convention
September 10-14
Legislation Status:
WEP/GPO
House bill in Ways & Means
Senate bill in Finance
Premium Conversion
House bill in Ways & Means
Senate bill in Finance
What members should do to help
Call, email and write Cong
representatives and ask them
to help get these bills out of
Committee and onto the floor
for a vote!
President’s Message
It’s that time in the year when the Florida Federation is between it’s two
major events. We have completed the District Annual meetings and are
gearing up for the 2006 Florida Federation Convention. This past year
we also had a third major event, the Training Seminar last November. A
central two day training seminar was not only a first for Florida, it’s a first
for most all Federations. My research found that only one other
Federation some years ago held a similar event. The two day event was
held at the Hilton Hotel in Altamonte Springs, with over 125 members
attending representing 42 of our 79 chapters. It was rated as a successful
event and for those that missed it, we hope to do a follow up to it in 2007.
The Annual District meetings also went off very well, at some the turnout
was a bit less, but for the most, they were well attended. This gave
Margaret and I the opportunity to meet many of the dedicated leaders
and members of most of the chapters. Each meeting, though similar in
nature, still had the personal touch of the District Vice President. Along
with my attending each Annual meeting, our Region III NFVP Bob Harrell
was also in attendance.
We are now looking forward to another record attendance at the May
convention. For those that may have missed last year’s event, Florida
had the largest attended convention of all the Federations. Considering
California has about 10,000 more members than Florida, I believe we
fared very well. This year’s convention will carry about the same agenda,
however, we do have one event that is new and appears to be showing
quiet a bit of interest…Dolly Parton’s “Dixie Stampede”. The event is set
for Tuesday evening, with the bus pickup at the hotel at 4:00pm. Of
course there will be the normal business meeting, and this year there are
13 resolutions to be addressed. Some pertain to the Florida Federation,
and others will be sent on to our National Convention that is being held
September 10th - 14th in Albuquerque, N.M. The National Convention
normally has 1400 to 1500 delegates in attendance. The resolutions to be
addressed there will be mailed to all Chapters in time for you to address
the issues and make known your wishes through your Chapter Delegates
that will be attending the National Convention. I understand that there will
be some major issues coming up this year, so, please take the time to
look them over and make your wishes know through you delegates or
proxy vote.
Margaret and I are hoping to see many of you at the Federation
Convention, so please try to get all of your paper work in before the
deadlines.
Ben