The RPEN 2009 annual Board of Directors’ meeting was held at the Fiesta Hotel in Henderson on September 22-25th. It kicked off with a dinner on Tuesday evening where the attendees got an opportunity to discuss the candidates for the Executive Board seats, committee member appointments, proposed bylaw changes, and socialize with old friends from last years meeting in Reno.
Wednesday morning President Colleen Bell opened with a welcome and introduced Henderson Mayor Andy Hafen, who is a member of RPEN. Mayor Hafen commended all those present for being active members of RPEN and encouraged us to continue to fight the good fight on behalf of all retirees. Senators Steven Horsford, State Senate Majority Leader, Joyce Woodhouse, and Barbara Buckley, Assembly Speaker, were all keynote speakers during the event. All of the speakers praised Marty Bibb, our Executive Director, for his steady presence and obviously valued his opinion in any area pertaining to retirees. It was evident that Marty had developed a good working relationship with each of the Senators and garnered their respect in the process. The gist of their speeches was that they strongly support retirees and would do their best to honor the promises made to us. However, we were reminded to be continually vigilant, as they all mentioned term limits and how it would change the composition of both the Senate and Assembly, especially in the 2010 elections. Barbara Buckley, for instance, will be termed out in 17 months and sorely missed as an RPEN supporter.
We also had speakers from PERS and PEBP during the course of the conference but rather than try to recall who said what, I will give you a few highlights:
*Nevada still has the fewest number of employees per capita in the nation.
*The current average benefit of those retiring today through PERS is just over $2300 per month. Although it was created by the Nevada Legislature and the seven member Board is appointed by the Governor, PERS is not part of state government. It’s a fund of money paid into by active members and their employers and is not accessible by the state of Nevada. Another interesting fact is that PERS also manages the Legislative Retirement System.
*Our PERS is the 12th healthiest retirement system in the nation. However, we’ve suffered a 15% loss of value, for a total of 26% (still unfunded).
*As a 501(c)4, RPEN can lobby as much as it wants or can afford. It cannot conduct political activities, nor can it endorse candidates or it will jeopardize its tax exempt status. During an election year, if we invite candidates they must represent both major parties.
Our Chapter can’t be just a social organization. Our mission must always be to educate and protect all retirees.
*PEBP, a self-funded group insurance plan, is an agency of the state of Nevada. It is also governed by NRS and NAC. Eight of its’ nine member board are appointed by the Governor. As such, its’ administration is effected by not only the rising costs of healthcare, but the political climate as well.
*RPEN gives recommendations to both PERS and PEBP Boards.
The High Desert Chapter of RPEN was chartered on Thursday, making it the 17th chapter of RPEN and encompassing Laughlin, Bullhead City, and Searchlight. Our Chapter officers had an opportunity to visit with George Cleveland, their President, his wife, and some of their other officers and they will be a welcome addition to the annual meetings, bringing fresh ideas.
There were four new state bylaw changes ratified:
1) Instead of Chapter rebates to fund our operating expenses, we are now required to submit an annual budget. We submitted ours, with the assistance of Terri Laird, this month and will actually benefit from the process.
2) Past State Presidents costs to the annual meetings will be covered, provided the Executive Board has funding and gives approval. This will rarely involve having more than 3 past presidents at any future meetings.
3) Terms for Chapter officers is now one year beginning on October 1st and ending on September 30th the following year.
4) And, finally, the Executive Board now has the authority to appoint a temporary Executive Director in the event that something happens to Marty Bibb.
These changes need to be incorporated into our own bylaws. We will be voting on those changes at our December meeting.
The RPEN Web site was brought online just before the annual meeting. Although it contains much of the same information, the new Web site is much more attractive, eventually will offer each Chapter a page to submit current events, and has downloadable membership applications available. Each year there is a little controversy and we generated some with the Two Rivers Blogsite, but by applying the same standards as we do to meetings, we can maintain it without jeopardizing our tax exempt status.
Elections are one of the activities conducted during the annual meeting. Hal Keaton, Lincoln Chapter, is now our State President. Colleen Bell, who has faithfully attended many Two Rivers meetings, will still remain an active part of the Executive Board. Nancy Hollinger, Washoe Chapter, was elected State President Elect, Jimmy Green, Doris’s husband, was elected State Treasurer, and Sharon Williams, Las Vegas Chapter, is now State Secretary. All the newly elected officers were sworn in on Friday morning by Henderson Judge Ann Small and the updated list of officers and their contact information can be found on the RPEN Web page. Some of you will be pleased to know you can opt out on the barrage of e-mail and just visit the website for similar updates.
There were numerous reports given by the various committees and members of the Executive Board. Each Chapter President also makes a report to the attendees regarding their activities throughout the year. If you’re interested, mine is on our Blog site. The Pat Fladager Special Recognition and Awards were announced during the banquet dinner held Thursday night. And, finally, there was a memorial service held in honor of the 300 members who died this year. It’s a grim reminder that we must actively recruit members since so many are taken through attrition.
Joyce Nies and the Henderson Chapter worked hard to make the meeting a memorable one. The Fiesta Hotel was a great venue and all the food and entertainment was a welcome treat. All four of our Two Rivers Chapter Board members attended, as we will be hosting the 2010 Annual meeting in Mesquite next September. Though we didn’t even place in the Ugly Tie/Hat Ensemble Contest, two of our Board, Marilyn Cheney and Jeanne Crayton, were recognized for their efforts on our behalf and received plaques for their dedicated service to RPEN throughout the year.
There is very little idle time during the annual meeting. This is the second year I’ve attended and it has served to deepen my respect for the people who generously donate their time and efforts to RPEN and its’ mission to preserve our retirement benefits and to educate others about retiree issues. Many of our members, who are often our friends and/or former co-workers, are facing the inevitable health issues which are part of the “Golden Years” and it’s vital that we join together while we can, volunteering our time and effort to protect our common interests. I encourage you to recruit an illegible retiree, become an active member of RPEN by contributing some of your time and energy to our Two Rivers Chapter, and help ensure we have a louder voice, one with a little more influence, each and every year at the legislature.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Report Given at the Annual Meeting in Henderson
Each year at the annual meeting the Chapter President makes a report to the Executive Board. Here was my report:
The Two Rivers Chapter has grown this year to 125 members. The Board has spent the year tweaking things to increase our active members and meeting attendance. Initially we held meetings every other month but amended that later in the year to monthly meetings and continue to process new ideas for attracting a more active membership. We have held 6 meetings since last year and had a variety of interesting speakers, including a cowboy poet, a mortician, a local gardening expert, a policeman, and a firefighter. Increasing attendance will be one of our challenges in the year to come as we continue to build a core group, especially as we begin preparations for the 2010 Executive Board meeting in Mesquite. We are looking forward to showcasing the resources available in our area for next year’s meeting. We also started and maintained a blogsite for Two Rivers Chapter and hope to link our site with the State RPEN web-site now that it's online. We invite you all to have a look at our site at tworiverschapterofrpen.blogspot.com and, if you are interested, we can help you to set up your own blogsite for your chapter. Eventually we hope to have a network of sites that will make information easier to access and share among the members and Chapters.
I’m very proud of the efforts of our Chapter Board throughout the year. Each officer has honored their commitment to start the chapter and collectively do their part to build a solid, lasting foundation for it to outlive us. Marilyn Cheney, our vice president, has often helped prepare and lead the meetings and assisted the state nominating committee. Our secretary, Luana Juenger, has proven to be efficient, well-organized, and keeps us on task. And, Jeanne Crayton, our state delegate, has proven to be an outspoken advocate for RPEN on several occasions with Nevada politicians. I’m also grateful for the benefit of having Colleen Bell and Doris and Jimmy Green at nearly every meeting this year. They have been on hand to share the state news with our membership, help us conduct meetings, and offer advice about increasing attendance. Their combined experience has kept us from reinventing the wheel as we establish ourselves as a Chapter.
Last but certainly not least, Two Rivers Chapter extends a heart felt thank you to the State staff who worked so diligently on our behalf during an incredibly challenging 2009 legislature. We deeply appreciate your dedication, vigilance, and tenacity which surely helped us dodge a big bullet this year. Marty Bibb, Bob and Gaye Johnston, Terrie Laird, and Kerri Armanasco…thanks for doing such a great job under such difficult circumstances! With the SAGE commission’s recommendations and the state budget crisis looming so large in each legislators mind, we made a likely target. Thanks for reminding them that a promise made is a promise kept. Personally, I hope to follow your example and become more involved in the process so essential to each former public employee. As Two Rivers Chapter President, my hope is that, as we mature as a chapter, we can learn to be more vocal representatives of our common interests, continue to increase our membership, and overcome the apathy that will endanger our retirement benefits. Once again on behalf of our Chapter, a heartfelt thank you!
The Two Rivers Chapter has grown this year to 125 members. The Board has spent the year tweaking things to increase our active members and meeting attendance. Initially we held meetings every other month but amended that later in the year to monthly meetings and continue to process new ideas for attracting a more active membership. We have held 6 meetings since last year and had a variety of interesting speakers, including a cowboy poet, a mortician, a local gardening expert, a policeman, and a firefighter. Increasing attendance will be one of our challenges in the year to come as we continue to build a core group, especially as we begin preparations for the 2010 Executive Board meeting in Mesquite. We are looking forward to showcasing the resources available in our area for next year’s meeting. We also started and maintained a blogsite for Two Rivers Chapter and hope to link our site with the State RPEN web-site now that it's online. We invite you all to have a look at our site at tworiverschapterofrpen.blogspot.com and, if you are interested, we can help you to set up your own blogsite for your chapter. Eventually we hope to have a network of sites that will make information easier to access and share among the members and Chapters.
I’m very proud of the efforts of our Chapter Board throughout the year. Each officer has honored their commitment to start the chapter and collectively do their part to build a solid, lasting foundation for it to outlive us. Marilyn Cheney, our vice president, has often helped prepare and lead the meetings and assisted the state nominating committee. Our secretary, Luana Juenger, has proven to be efficient, well-organized, and keeps us on task. And, Jeanne Crayton, our state delegate, has proven to be an outspoken advocate for RPEN on several occasions with Nevada politicians. I’m also grateful for the benefit of having Colleen Bell and Doris and Jimmy Green at nearly every meeting this year. They have been on hand to share the state news with our membership, help us conduct meetings, and offer advice about increasing attendance. Their combined experience has kept us from reinventing the wheel as we establish ourselves as a Chapter.
Last but certainly not least, Two Rivers Chapter extends a heart felt thank you to the State staff who worked so diligently on our behalf during an incredibly challenging 2009 legislature. We deeply appreciate your dedication, vigilance, and tenacity which surely helped us dodge a big bullet this year. Marty Bibb, Bob and Gaye Johnston, Terrie Laird, and Kerri Armanasco…thanks for doing such a great job under such difficult circumstances! With the SAGE commission’s recommendations and the state budget crisis looming so large in each legislators mind, we made a likely target. Thanks for reminding them that a promise made is a promise kept. Personally, I hope to follow your example and become more involved in the process so essential to each former public employee. As Two Rivers Chapter President, my hope is that, as we mature as a chapter, we can learn to be more vocal representatives of our common interests, continue to increase our membership, and overcome the apathy that will endanger our retirement benefits. Once again on behalf of our Chapter, a heartfelt thank you!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Come, Join the Two Rivers Chapter
While it's true that PERS survived the 2009 legislative changes relatively intact, PEPB took some major hits to member health insurance subsidies. During the June meeting one member asked why we should continue to meet since the legislature isn't. At face value that was a good question since RPEN is not a social organization, but I was reminded almost immediately via a Las Vegas Review Journal article that the SAGE commission made some inroads towards changing our benefits and they are not planning on resting for the next two years. They were excited to have made even a small impact on public employees and implied that they would continue the attack until successful. Earlier in the session, I spoke with one of our volunteer lobbyists and was told that he had faith in MOST of our legislators, assuring me that most of them were reasonable and prudent. Our adversaries, which include some of our elected representatives, aren't resting and our State RPEN Board won't be taking the next two years off either. If we expect our State to honor the adage "A promise made is a promise kept", we must aid the watchdog efforts of RPEN and not leave the fight entirely up to others. Each RPEN Chapter must make efforts to overcome apathy and develop active members willing to join the fight to protect our benefits. It needn't be a full time job, but it is a worthy endeavor.
As previously mentioned, the Two Rivers Board will be implementing a few changes to encourage the membership to become active participants. We now hold meetings on the third Tuesday of each month, and will hold a 50/50 raffle at the door. One half the proceeds will be used for Chapter refreshments and the other half will be paid to the winning contestant. We will continue to schedule speakers who educate us on retiree interests. In September of 2010, Two Rivers is sponsoring the State RPEN Board meeting in Mesquite and we will be recruiting members to assist in the planning and registration for that event. We will also hold elections for our Chapter positions in the coming year. We encourage you to attend our meetings and be active in protecting our benefits. The next four meetings are listed in the article below.
As previously mentioned, the Two Rivers Board will be implementing a few changes to encourage the membership to become active participants. We now hold meetings on the third Tuesday of each month, and will hold a 50/50 raffle at the door. One half the proceeds will be used for Chapter refreshments and the other half will be paid to the winning contestant. We will continue to schedule speakers who educate us on retiree interests. In September of 2010, Two Rivers is sponsoring the State RPEN Board meeting in Mesquite and we will be recruiting members to assist in the planning and registration for that event. We will also hold elections for our Chapter positions in the coming year. We encourage you to attend our meetings and be active in protecting our benefits. The next four meetings are listed in the article below.
Announcement Postcard for Upcoming Meetings
You are invited to attend the Two Rivers Chapter meetings for the Retired Public Employees of Nevada.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009 @ 9:30AM
Moapa Valley Senior Center
325 N. Cooper Ave. Overton, NV.
Speaker: Carol Bishop- Extension Services
Tueday, October 20, 2009 @ 6PM
Marilyn Redd Park
Mesquite, NV.
Baked Potato Pot Luck (Bring your favorite topping)
Tuesday, November 17, 2009 @ 9:30 AM
Lost City Museum Tour
Overton, NV.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009 @9:30 AM
Mesquite Senior Center
102 W. Old Mill Rd.
Mesquite, NV.
Virgin Valley history presentation
Tuesday, September 15, 2009 @ 9:30AM
Moapa Valley Senior Center
325 N. Cooper Ave. Overton, NV.
Speaker: Carol Bishop- Extension Services
Tueday, October 20, 2009 @ 6PM
Marilyn Redd Park
Mesquite, NV.
Baked Potato Pot Luck (Bring your favorite topping)
Tuesday, November 17, 2009 @ 9:30 AM
Lost City Museum Tour
Overton, NV.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009 @9:30 AM
Mesquite Senior Center
102 W. Old Mill Rd.
Mesquite, NV.
Virgin Valley history presentation
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Changes Are Coming
Dear RPEN member,
The Chapter Board has been racking their brains lately to help build a more active membership. We would like the majority of the Chapter to look forward to our monthly get together. In order to maintain our tax exempt status, we are required to have an “educational” component at each meeting, but we’re open to suggestions to make them more fun. We will be implementing some of our ideas throughout the upcoming year:
* Starting in September, we will be going to a monthly meeting. Members who only attend the meeting in their own valley will no longer have to wait for four months for an update. The meeting date will remain the third Tuesday and we will continue to alternate between Virgin Valley and Moapa Valley.
* There will no longer be any meetings scheduled for the months of July and August. Many of our retirees head for cooler weather during the summer months.
* We are starting a 50/50 raffle at the door next to the sign-in sheet. Tickets will be one dollar and one participant will win half the money in the pot. One name will be drawn at the end of the meeting and the winner must be present. The other half will help fund our annual social event.
* Meeting locations will vary now too, depending on the activity planned. Luana Juenger, Two Rivers Secretary, will be sending postcards listing our fall activities.
Our next Chapter meeting will be June 16th at 9:30 am at the Mesquite Senior Center. Jeanne or one of our state representatives will report on the most recent changes to PERS and PEBP following the legislative session. We will also have a representative from the Mesquite Fire Department to give us helpful safety tips. Hope to see you there!
Ken Rodgers
The Chapter Board has been racking their brains lately to help build a more active membership. We would like the majority of the Chapter to look forward to our monthly get together. In order to maintain our tax exempt status, we are required to have an “educational” component at each meeting, but we’re open to suggestions to make them more fun. We will be implementing some of our ideas throughout the upcoming year:
* Starting in September, we will be going to a monthly meeting. Members who only attend the meeting in their own valley will no longer have to wait for four months for an update. The meeting date will remain the third Tuesday and we will continue to alternate between Virgin Valley and Moapa Valley.
* There will no longer be any meetings scheduled for the months of July and August. Many of our retirees head for cooler weather during the summer months.
* We are starting a 50/50 raffle at the door next to the sign-in sheet. Tickets will be one dollar and one participant will win half the money in the pot. One name will be drawn at the end of the meeting and the winner must be present. The other half will help fund our annual social event.
* Meeting locations will vary now too, depending on the activity planned. Luana Juenger, Two Rivers Secretary, will be sending postcards listing our fall activities.
Our next Chapter meeting will be June 16th at 9:30 am at the Mesquite Senior Center. Jeanne or one of our state representatives will report on the most recent changes to PERS and PEBP following the legislative session. We will also have a representative from the Mesquite Fire Department to give us helpful safety tips. Hope to see you there!
Ken Rodgers
Monday, May 25, 2009
Minutes from April Meeting
Two Rivers Chapter Minutes
April 21, 2009
Moapa Valley Senior Center
Overton, Nevada
Called to Order by Jeanne Crayton (Two Rivers State Delegate) @ 9:37 AM – 8 Members and 1 Guest Speaker Present
Pledge to the flag
Welcome by Jeanne Crayton
Minutes of February 17, 2009 meeting read by Luana Juenger…Approved with no changes.
Treasurer’s Report for April 21, 2009 read by Luana Juenger…Clarification of receipt of funds from PERS….Approved.
Guest Speaker
Dr. Sylvan Wittwer (Director Emeritus of the Michigan State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Professor of Horticulture)
-Provided information specific to gardening in the local areas
-Recommended fertilizer for this area’s gardening should be 11-52-0
-The book, “Gardening In Moapa and Virgin Valleys” by Dr. Sylvan Wittwer may be obtained free of charge from University of Nevada Cooperative Extension office at 1897 N. Moapa Valley Boulevard in Logandale or may be downloaded by logging on to www.unce.unr.edu. (Click on “Publications, then “Horticulture.”)
Reports
Jeanne Crayton
-Provided updated information of the possible effects to PERS on Bill # 406 presented by Ty Cobb should the bill pass in the legislature.
Announcements
-Next Two Rivers Chapter meeting will be June 16, 2009 in Mesquite @ 9:30 AM at the Mesquite Senior Center, 102 West Old Mill Road.
-Executive Board Meeting will be held in Henderson in September
Adjourned @ 10:30 AM
April 21, 2009
Moapa Valley Senior Center
Overton, Nevada
Called to Order by Jeanne Crayton (Two Rivers State Delegate) @ 9:37 AM – 8 Members and 1 Guest Speaker Present
Pledge to the flag
Welcome by Jeanne Crayton
Minutes of February 17, 2009 meeting read by Luana Juenger…Approved with no changes.
Treasurer’s Report for April 21, 2009 read by Luana Juenger…Clarification of receipt of funds from PERS….Approved.
Guest Speaker
Dr. Sylvan Wittwer (Director Emeritus of the Michigan State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Professor of Horticulture)
-Provided information specific to gardening in the local areas
-Recommended fertilizer for this area’s gardening should be 11-52-0
-The book, “Gardening In Moapa and Virgin Valleys” by Dr. Sylvan Wittwer may be obtained free of charge from University of Nevada Cooperative Extension office at 1897 N. Moapa Valley Boulevard in Logandale or may be downloaded by logging on to www.unce.unr.edu. (Click on “Publications, then “Horticulture.”)
Reports
Jeanne Crayton
-Provided updated information of the possible effects to PERS on Bill # 406 presented by Ty Cobb should the bill pass in the legislature.
Announcements
-Next Two Rivers Chapter meeting will be June 16, 2009 in Mesquite @ 9:30 AM at the Mesquite Senior Center, 102 West Old Mill Road.
-Executive Board Meeting will be held in Henderson in September
Adjourned @ 10:30 AM
Friday, April 3, 2009
Legislative Update
The following is an email recieved from our members lobbying in Carson City on our behalf:
Hi to all,
Please share the following with your members. The informal Benefits Coalition discovered on Monday, March 30 that the salary cuts and PEBP issues were to be heard Wednesday, April 1. It had not been announced. Along with RPEN, all coalition members were, and are, concerned about the same issues. We all met and came up with what would be said at the committee hearing and who would testify if allowed. At the committee hearing most of the Democrats, in addition to Republicans Raggio and Gansert, voiced opinions that we would be treated fairly and that all our benefits would not be cut. Buckley announced that no actual decisions can be made before the Economic Forum submits its budget on May 1. We have been meeting continuously with leaders of both parties and, in fact, met with Senator Woodhouse immediately after the Ways and Means/Finance Committee meeting. Several things did not come up at the hearing. One had to do with sunsetting any cuts that might be made so they could be reinstated when the economy turns around. Another was pushing back the timetable from July 1, 2009 to the following year so people could have time to make these life-changing decisions. Although most of the committee members made great supporting statements, we know the battle is not over and things change in a nanosecond over here, so we are not letting down our guard. We will continue to put pressure on the lawmakers and will not let them forget that many of them are in the positions they are in because seniors vote and our support is very important to their future as legislators. We will try to get another bulletin out as soon as there is anything new to report. We hope to see you all soon.
Gaye and Bob Johnston.
Hi to all,
Please share the following with your members. The informal Benefits Coalition discovered on Monday, March 30 that the salary cuts and PEBP issues were to be heard Wednesday, April 1. It had not been announced. Along with RPEN, all coalition members were, and are, concerned about the same issues. We all met and came up with what would be said at the committee hearing and who would testify if allowed. At the committee hearing most of the Democrats, in addition to Republicans Raggio and Gansert, voiced opinions that we would be treated fairly and that all our benefits would not be cut. Buckley announced that no actual decisions can be made before the Economic Forum submits its budget on May 1. We have been meeting continuously with leaders of both parties and, in fact, met with Senator Woodhouse immediately after the Ways and Means/Finance Committee meeting. Several things did not come up at the hearing. One had to do with sunsetting any cuts that might be made so they could be reinstated when the economy turns around. Another was pushing back the timetable from July 1, 2009 to the following year so people could have time to make these life-changing decisions. Although most of the committee members made great supporting statements, we know the battle is not over and things change in a nanosecond over here, so we are not letting down our guard. We will continue to put pressure on the lawmakers and will not let them forget that many of them are in the positions they are in because seniors vote and our support is very important to their future as legislators. We will try to get another bulletin out as soon as there is anything new to report. We hope to see you all soon.
Gaye and Bob Johnston.
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