Points to Ponder #02-04

POINTS TO PONDER

Issue 02-04

from your Federation President

NARFE Members of California:

BI-PARTISAN POLITICAL ACTIVITY: This being an election year, 

many NARFE members will be getting involved with Congressional Representatives 

and other Political Activities.  The following is taken from an article written by 

Region VII National Field Vice President, Mory Lewis and Art Gardner, 

Colorado Federation Vice President, in the Colorado Federation Newsletter, which 

I believe is also applicable to California NARFE Members.

    We spent 30 years under the Hatch Act; we learned little or no political skills; 

and we learned to stay out of politics.  We retire, and starting the next day, we 

become wards of Congress; and the quality of our life becomes dependent upon how 

articulate, active, and successful we are in bi-partisan political activity.  This 

message is critical to all of us!  Please share this with other members of NARFE.

        1)  ALWAYS TALK NARFE ISSUES AND CONCERNS - not party 

affiliation of a candidate or elected official.

        2)  TALK ABOUT WHAT HE IS FOR AND WHAT HE IS AGAINST THAT 

AFFECT US - not farmers or ranchers or liquor store owners, but NARFE.

        3)  DON'T TALK ABOUT OTHER POLITICAL ISSUES OF HIS POLITICAL 

PARTY, because then you get locked into being a party supporter of that candidate.  

You don't want that!

        4)  WE WANT TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF A CANDIDATE ON ISSUES THAT 

CONCERN US,  EITHER PRO OR CON.

        5)  NEVER PUBLICLY ENDORSE A CANDIDATE, BUT PRAISE HIS OR HER 

SUPPORT FOR NARFE ISSUES.  If you endorse someone, you lock yourself in.  You 

become a "Democrat" or "Republican", and the other side will tune you out.

        6)  NEVER PUBLICLY ENDORSE AN AMENDMENT OR REFERENDUM 

THAT DOES NOT DIRECTLY AFFECT NARFE, BUT LEND SUPPORT THROUGH 

COALITIONS ON ISSUES THAT DO AFFECT NARFE MEMBERS.  And we do that 

very well, with other local and national organizations, such as the 41 national lobbying 

organizations in the Coalition to Assure Retirement Equity (CARE).  That is where we 

can leverage NARFE positions and ideas.

        7)  WE MUST HAVE ACCESS TO ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS (OR THEIR 

STAFF) WHO CAN OFFICIALLY AFFECT US - - - AND THAT MEANS WHO'S IN 

OFFICE IS WHO WE WANT TO BE INVOLVED WITH - - - WHO WE WANT TO 

LISTEN TO US.

        8)   YOUR PARTY AFFILIATION IS YOUR PERSONAL BUSINESS, AND YOU 

SHOULD ACT ON IT ANY WAY YOU WANT.  HOWEVER, YOU SHOULD 

COMMUNICATE WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS AND PROMOTE NARFE ISSUES 

REGARDLESS OF PARTY AFFILIATION.

    The above are elementary political techniques - - - things that NARFE members 

probably NEED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT - - - AND THINK MORE ABOUT -  

AND DO MORE ABOUT.  It will strengthen all of us.

Till next time ...

Your California Federation President, Lea Zajac