Florida Federation of    Chapters
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NARFE Florida Federation’s 55^th Annual Convention

Newly Elected President Don Stewart   

Nearly 300 retired federal employees from all parts of Florida gathered at the Hilton Hotel in Altamonte Springs on May 15-17 to attend the 55^th Annual Convention of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE). 

This year’s keynote speaker was NARFE National President Margaret Baptiste.  Mrs Baptise, NARFE’s first female President and first President who is the spouse of a federal annuitant, told the participants: “Our legislation,  which would allow retirees to pay their portion of health benefits with pre-tax dollars, just like active federal employees, and changing the law so federal retirees can get full Social Security, are our First priorities.  NARFE has a solid future.”

Elected to statewide office were: President Donald Stewart (Coral Gables), 1st VP Wallace Roepke (Sarasota), 2^nd VP Treva Devers (Cape Coral), Secretary William Leatham (Nokomis) and Treasurer Kenneth Carter (Temple Terrace).

Also elected to office were District Vice Presidents Robert Shaw (Panama City),  Harold Bartelt (Pomona Park), Ruth Blackwell (Altamonte Springs), Sharon Sharp (Orlando), Richard Zeiner (Plant City), Anthony Torchia (Coral Springs), Angel Almodovar (Miami), Robert Miller (Sarasota), Richard Gerber (New Port Richey), Lucette Chizik (Port St. Lucie), and James Greene (Ft. Myers) .

Several awards were presented for outstanding service to NARFE, along with the annual main awards to the Woman of the Year, Sharon Sharp (Orlando), and Man of the Year, Don Stewart (Coral Gables).

Other evening events consisted of nearly 100 delegates attending the Sleuth Mystery Dinner Theater in Orlando on Tuesday evening, and an informal banquet on Wednesday evening combined with specialized computer training.  At the Thursday night Inaugural banquet, new President Donald Stewart (Coral Gables) said to the attendees:

“NARFE is a Beacon of Hope, ever vigilant, continually protecting what we have earned! These are precarious times for us...not every Federal retiree seems to appreciate what NARFE is and what NARFE does and, most importantly, what NARFE  accomplishes.  I have come to the conclusion that NARFE is one of the best kept secrets around. A problem that goes along with this “SECRECY” is that we, as retired bureaucrats, feel comfortable and protected in a structured, bureaucratic environment. 

I firmly believe that we must reach out to our community, to let them know who we are and what we do. One of my major objectives is to have NARFE become known in the community as a group that addresses issues that affect the entire community, issues not limited to our own retirement and health benefits.   There are bread and butter issues that affect senior pocket books, such as property tax relief, tax portability, insurance premium reductions, to name a few.  These are issues we should get involved in as residents in our communities..” 

Other highlights of the Annual Convention were the raising of funds for NARFE’s main charities, Alzheimer’s, and the Federal Employees Education & Assistance Fund (FEEA).

NARFE is the nation's oldest and largest federal employee/retiree organization representing the interests of nearly 5 million federal employees and retirees. More information about NARFE in Florida is available from www.narfefl.net.