Jan. 23rd: Luncheon Speakers

Jim Foster, Co-Chair Legislative Committee, shared with members the need for all to get on board with emailing our district legislators to keep them informed and educated about the negative situation they have created for us.  For more specific and detailed information regarding how best to respond this most important request, click here.

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Dave Pollington shared his work as an administrator of program(s), and coordinater of students persuing GED diplomas.  His continual need for folks to volunteer on his and his students' behalf prompted his request to speak at the luncheon.  



Jim Bumgarner and Dave Pollington.   

Anyone interesting in helping can contact him here:

Dave Pollington

Coordinator of Adult Literacy

Benton Franklin CAC

720 W. Court St

Pasco, WA 99301 

545-4042 ext 212

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Kevin Slattery and Rohn Rutledge, AMBA Representatives



Kevin Slattery, AMBA representative, presented the AMBA program.  AMBA (Association Member Benefits Advisors) provides a full menu of beneifts to members of WSSRA including: Long Term Care/Home Health Care Insurance, a Cancer Treatment Policy, Long Term Care Annuity, Medicare Supplemental Insurance, Whole Life, Dental, Vision, Tax Deferred Annuities, Hearing Benefits, and an outstanding Medical Air Transportation Service.

Also available are: Government Employee Travel Opportunities, Vacations-to-Go Cruises, La Quinta Inn and Suites Discounts, Rental Car Discounts, Dell Computer and Apple Discounts, 1-800-Flowers Accounts, Wirefly (Verizon, Sprint; T-Mobile Cell Phone Plans, CU Wireless Plans, a Presto Printing Mailbox, and Identity Theft Solutions.

For more information, click here.
   

Legislative Committee's Report to the BFSRA Board

OK members-it is time to reawaken the sleeping giant. Statewide WSSRA has about 18,000 members (and many retirees who are not members) and 525 of those members are right here in BFSRA.

WSSRA in Olympia really needs our help in two areas:

1) We really need everyone's e-mail address because when it gets to "crunch time" in the Legislature, it will require everyone messaging our 8th and 16th legislators. Out of 18,000 members, Olympia only has 1,368 e-mail addresses.

FOLKS- We can do better than that!!! More e-mail addresses means we can get messages between our members and our legislators in a timely, effective fashion.

Please e mail your address to Ed Gonion at ed@wssra.org .

2) Contact our legislators and tell them "Pension Funding is a contractual and moral obligation of the State upon which retirees lives depend". For non e-mailers the 1-800-562-6000 still is a good number to call.

You know the "pre-legislative" meeting in Olympia was extremely "ineffective" and the real work is happening now, meaning the "$2 billion cut" still lies ahead so hang onto your shorts and be alert. AJ, Elaine and Jim go to Olympia January 18th and 19th to carry your concerns to legislators.

You can e-mail concerns and "pension losses" to Elaine at debanks2223@msn.com and/or Jim and AJ at cameojj@charter.net !

One more thing-carefully read the January Journal pgs3,4&5.

YOUR legislative committee,


Elaine, AJ and Jim.

"Welcome Back"

We are looking forward to seeing everyone again, sharing holiday memories, enjoying another great Red Lion lunch, and getting back into the B/FSRA routine for 2012.  The January luncheon will feature two presentations, both interesting, and important.  Hope you can join us!   

AMBA (Association Members' Benefits' Advisors): with Kevin Slattery and Ron Rutledge

Members of WSSRA, which includes all B/FSRA members, are eligible for certain Member Benefits: Dental, Vision, Long Term and Home Health Care; Cancer Treatment, Medicare Supplemental; Final Expense Whole Life Policies, Tax-Deferred Annuities; and more. To explain these benefits and answer questions, Kevin Slattery and Ron Rutledge of AMBA (Association Member Benefits Advisors), will be our featured presenters at the January 23rd luncheon.

AMBA is a nationwide full-service agency focused on plan design, negotiations, and implementation of benefits for associations. AMBA provides expertise in evaluating benefits and providers to assist WSSRA in obtaining quality benefits with flexible choices for members.

Check out the available benefits package at this link: http://wssrabenefits.com/.

Benton/Franklin Action Council: with Dave Pollington

Dave Pollington, Coordinator of Adult Literacy, will make a short presentation regarding the Action Council and it's mission regarding adult literacy.

Also, please find the letter of thanks we received from Alexi Alemeida, scholarhip recipient from last spring. Just go to her name in the left hand margin beneath the title, "Scholarship Applications and Letter."