Graham County NCRSP Newsletter
LOCAL NEWS
- Summer is over and if you are like me you are looking forward to a quieter time of the year. Traveling is over until the holidays and the garden is finally finished. Even the tree farm will rest until November when we begin to cut the trees for sale.
- NCRSP is still up and running. Hopefully you have been keeping up with the news and association publications. There has not been much good news lately, but locally we have some things to crow about. The biggest news is we have received a $600.00 grant from the district to help with recruiting new members and to help pay for the expenses of our convention delegates. Of course that means a little extra work for us. If each of us would recruit one member, we would be a stronger organization. The grant will help pay for one free meal for each new member. We will send our newsletters to all retirees this year to inform them of our goals and purposes. We will also emphasize that they do not need to attend all of our meetings to be a member. However, research shows that the best recruiting results occur with personal contact. Please try to contact one or two people who you think might like to join us.
- Don’t forget to keep track of your volunteer hours. Last year 15 members reported 2,648 hours of service. That is a whooping $52,298 contributed to our county at the rate of $19.75 per hour. (This figure is generally accepted for the worth of volunteer hours.) Just imagine what it would be if the other 11 members reported their hours. Be prepared to turn these in at the December meeting. Don’t forget to count hours spent in civic organizations and activities, school or education related activities, and church activities including meetings, practices, and planning hours all count.
- Our next meeting will be October 21st at 11:30 at First Baptist Church. Guest speaker will be Ken Nicholson, District 1 President. Lunch will be catered from Subway with extras from Nancy. Cost will be $4.50. Dues will be collected at the meeting for Cash Members. Cash dues are due by Dec. 1st. Please mail to Bobbie Carpenter if you cannot attend this meeting.
- STATE NEWS
- Health Plan
- You should have received information about changes to the Health Plan.
- FYI: History of the Health Plan –
- Started in 1971 – state paid $10 per month – Now Medicare eligible $289
- Non- Medicare eligible $300+
- 1979- We were assured Health Care for life at no charge.
- We are one of only 2 states that provide this benefit to retirees.
- Upset over increases in co-payments and deductibles? It could be worse.
- You also have to realize that the state paid $250 million to rescue the Plan by covering the deficit up to June 30. They also appropriated $132 million to cover from July1, 2009 – June 30, 2010 and $276 Million from 2010-2011. That makes a grand total of $658,000,000.
- Note: If your doctor believes you would benefit from the shingles vaccine, the State Health Plan will pay for it. (Over $200) If you are Medicare eligible it should be submitted to Medicare first, they will deny coverage, then your provider should send in the claim to the State Health Plan for reimbursement. If you have to pay it up front, send the bill to State Health Plan with their reimbursement form.
- COLA - Cost of Living Adjustment
- No COLA this year, but the state’s contribution to the retirement system increased 29 million for 2009 – 3.56 up from 3.35
- 160 million for 2010 – 4.9 up from 3.56.
- This will keep the retirement system sound for the immediate future. Predictions are that it will need to increase again.
- Our lobbyists worked long and hard to get these appropriations and save as much as they could from the budget crunch. Your support was appreciated.
- Hope to see you Oct. 17th.
- Nancy