Issue 02-02

from your Federation President

NARFE Members of California:

SPOUSAL MEMBERSHIP - At a time when we are trying to increase

our membership, Headquarters is offering a reduced one year membership for

spouses.  In the January 2002 issue of Retirement Life there is a $15 coupon on

Page 51 that can be used to sign-up your spouse for NARFE membership.  A $10

check, along with the $15 coupon should be attached to a membership application

and sent to Headquarters.

NOTE: This offer is only valid through February 28, 2002.  If you have misplaced

your January issue of Retirement Life, the $15 coupon will also be in the February

issue.

You might ask, "Why should my spouse be a member of NARFE?"  Following are

five reasons:

    1) Of course, the obvious is to increase our membership numbers. The more

members we have, the more clout we have with Congress.

    2) The death of the annuitant is not the time to find out that the spouse has no

idea about the benefits he/she is entitled to, and how to get them.

    3) As a member, the spouse would know the chapter has a Service Officer who

can provide guidance, support and assistance when applying for survivor benefits.

    4) As a member the spouse can rely on the chapter Service Officer for information

and assistance regarding retirement benefits including:

(1) health insurance benefits and/or coordination of medicare benefits and

(2) advocating with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), if necessary, for

problems such as lost or missing annuity payments, income tax information or forms,

change of address.

    5) As a member, the spouse can be an active individual in the chapter such as

officer or committee chair.  Many of our active chapter leaders are spouses of

annuitants.

Till Next Time....

Regards, Your Federation President, Lea Zajac