About RPEN

What is RPEN?
We are an association of Nevada retired public employees, individuals covered by the Public Employees' Retirement System, (PERS). Our members are former employees of cities, counties, the state, school districts, police & fire service, and other local government employers in Nevada.
RPEN is NOT PERS. We work with PERS but are independent from them. We are an association of PERS retirees. Just because you receive a PERS pension does not make you an RPEN member.
RPEN was formed in 1977 by a group of Nevada public employee retirees including the state’s first executive officer of PERS.
These founders discovered that upon retirement, retirees not only lived on fixed incomes but saw an increasingly greater percentage of their retirement income spent for health care.
RPEN was founded to work with PERS, retired public employee group insurance programs such as the Public Employees' Benefits Program (PEBP), the Nevada State Legislature and others to bring PERS retirees a strong, collective voice to ensure our issues are heard.

Why Join RPEN?
Public employees retire and presume their retirement will be protected. For that to happen it takes attention to retirement and health care issues which if left unattended can cause serious problems for retirees. RPEN works to ensure those concerns are addressed.
In the early 1980’s RPEN representatives worked to help establish the first post retirement (cost of living) increases for Nevada retired public employees.
RPEN takes retiree issues to the state legislature.
RPEN has worked for approval of annual post retirement increases for retired public employees which can reach 5 per cent.
RPEN Carson City state office is a full-time operation.
RPEN has sought additional health insurance options for retired public employees.
RPEN works for rate equity for retired public employees in health insurance programs.
RPEN recommends retired public employees for state boards and commissions.
RPEN staff and members attend meetings of the PERS board, Public Employees Benefits Program (PEBP) and testify before legislative hearings and other important committees and panels.

Proposed By-Laws For Our Chapter

Retired Public Employees of Nevada
Two Rivers Chapter
By-Laws

Article 1 – Name
The name of this association shall be the Two Rivers Chapter of the Retired Public Employees of Nevada.
Article 2 – Purposes
The purposes for which this corporation is formed are to address the problems of retired persons including both members and nonmembers, and to prepare and present information on such problems to the general public and concerned groups and agencies. Inasmuch as RPEN was granted tax exemption under 501 (c) (4) of the Internal Revenue Code, it shall carry out its purposes through promotion of social welfare by educational means designed to achieve its purposes.
Article 3 – Membership
People eligible for membership in RPEN who live in or around the areas of Moapa, Moapa Valley, and Virgin Valley shall be eligible for membership in the Two Rivers Chapter. RPEN members who live outside those boundaries, who would like to belong to the Two Rivers Chapter for fraternal reasons, will also be accepted as members.
Article 4 – Officers
Section 1: The Chapter officers shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer, and Delegate, and shall be elected for a term of two years or until his/her successor is elected and installed.
Section 2: Collectively, these four officers shall constitute the Chapter Board, which shall regularly meet in advance of Chapter meetings or at the call of the President. The Board shall have the authority to carry out the routine functions of the Chapter between Chapter meetings, shall make arrangements and prepare an agenda, and carry out any other functions as authorized by the Chapter.
Section 3: A nominating committee, consisting of three Chapter members, shall be appointed by the President on even years in February to report at the April meeting. Nominations may be made from the floor at the April meeting, with elections to take place at the June meeting. No member may be nominated without his/her consent. Any member of the Chapter in good standing, except associate members, is eligible for nomination and election to an office.
Section 4: No Chapter officer may hold more than one elective office concurrently.
Section 5: The term of office shall be from July 1 through June 30 of even years. All members in good standing, except associate members, are eligible to vote.
Section 6: In the event of the resignation of the President, or his/her inability to complete a term, the Vice-President shall serve out the term. The executive committee shall fill other vacancies through appointment.
Article 5 - Standing and Special Committees
The President shall have the authority to appoint any temporary committees he/she deems necessary.
Article 6 - Meetings
The regular meetings of the Two Rivers Chapter shall be held on even months on the third Tuesday of the month designated by the President and the location shall alternate between Moapa Valley and Virgin Valley at a place also designated by the President.
Article 7- State Delegate
Section 1: The Chapter shall elect a representative to the State Board of Directors, the governing body of RPEN, at the April meeting for a term of two years and their term as delegate shall begin on October 1st of the year of election. The current Chapter President is also a member of the RPEN State Board of Directors.
Section 2: In the event of the resignation of the State Delegate or his/her inability to serve out a term, they shall be replaced by appointment of the Chapter membership at a meeting.
Article 8 - Fiscal year
The fiscal year of the Chapter shall begin on October 1st and end on September 30th of the following year.
Article 9 - Parliamentary Authority
The rules contained in the current edition of the Robert’s Rules of Order (Newly Revised) shall govern this Chapter in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these By- Laws and any special rules of order RPEN may adopt.
Article 10 - Amendments
Section 1: These By-Laws can be amended only upon authorization of the Chapter by a two-thirds vote of those present at the regular December or June meeting. Notice of proposed amendments must have been submitted in writing to all members present at a meeting prior to the December or June meeting. The amendments, if passed, shall become effective at the end of the meeting wherein they are passed.
Section2: No amendment shall be adopted if it would in any way be inconsistent with or conflict with the State RPEN By-laws or Policies and Procedures.

The Two Rivers Chapter Petitions for a Charter in September

The first "official" meeting for the proposed Two Rivers Chapter of RPEN was held at the Mesquite Senior Center. It's an exciting time to be involved in RPEN as we bolster our membership and strengthen our collective voice in Carson City!

Here are the minutes from that meeting:

June 17, 2008 RPEN MINUTES


Meeting was held at the Senior Citizen’s Center, Mesquite, NV at 9:30 A.M.

Welcome: Ken Rodgers

Introduction of guests: State Pres.- Colleen Bell
State Coor. – Doris Green
Medicare SHIP Rep. – Sharon Goldstrohm

Introduction of officers for proposed Two Rivers Chapter of RPEN:
Pres. – Ken Rodgers
V. Pres. – Marilyn Cheney
Sec. – Luana Juenger
Treas. – Jeanne Crayton

Speaker Colleen Bell:
-This will be the first new chapter of RPEN in 9 years
-It is a very important year in the legislature – regarding 401 K’s, Ins., etc.
-Information for establishing new chapter
-By-Laws to state office by Sept. 1 to be voted on by the Executives and
The Board of Directors
-the delegate is an elected position with the election held in May -
position held for 2 years
- Current employees can join RPEN if 50 or have 5 years vested - Spouses
may join whether they are state employees or not
-Chapter dues can only be used for the purpose of educating members

Speaker Sally Coates, Director of Mesquite Senior Center
-Passed out explained newsletter
-Sen. Ctr. Delivers lunch to 100 homebound sen. Citizens
Cost of lunch served at center is $2.50 for 60 & over and $4 under 60
-Discussed excursions taken
-Talked about the services of Silver Rider for appts. in town and to Las Vegas
and St. George for a minimal fee

Speaker Sharon Goldstrohm:
-SHIP volunteers offer free one-on-one assistance and counseling with respect to
many problems seniors encounter regarding Medicare, supplemental
health insurance and long-term care options.
They provide services for –information and eligibility on Medicare
entitlements
-assistance with claims and appeal processes
-determine health insurance needs
-outreach information to seniors through meetings, seminars,
classes, health fairs, senior fairs and the media
-referrals and coordination with other state and community
services
-it was suggested that everyone should check their Medicare plan
annually
-they are in need of volunteers in the rural areas
-one of the main things they do is help with Part B
She answered questions from the audience and stayed after the meeting for one-
on-one questions.

Ken Rodgers – thanked the speakers and everyone for attending
- -announced that the next meeting would be at the Overton Comm. Ctr.
on August 19th at 9:30 A.M.

Meeting adjourned