Why Advocacy is Critical to the Continued Success of NARFE and to Protecting and Preserving Your Earned Rights and Benefits
Why I should I be an NARFE advocate/activist/member?
- I want to have an annuity when I retire
- I want to keep the annuity I am receiving
- I want the Federal Employee Health Benefit Program to remain viable
- I want to have some control over the benefits I earned, they were not given to me
What should I do as an advocate/activist?
- Show up at legislative representative meetings—physical town halls, tele-town halls, NARFE membership meetings with the representative, Rotary Clubs, Elks, Chamber of Commerce or any meetings the public can attend
- Talk to everyone about NARFE/your issues at the meeting and seek out news media employees to get your issues in print or on the radio
- Be prepare by knowing the issues and how to present them and know where your representative stands on those issues
- Keep track of the representative voting record and visit her/his website daily
- Post the representative’s remarks on Facebook, Twitter so other can view and voice their opinions
- Keep your Chapter President informed of your activities so it can be reported to NARFE Headquarters in Alexander, Virginia
Do I need to do anything else?
- You need to vote for those having your best interest
- You need to always be vigilante and active
- You need to share your knowledge and enthusiasm with others
There is a war going on and if you want to win you must prepare yourself and others to do battle to protect your earned not given benefits.
Remember “the best place, to find helping hands, is at the end of your wrists.”
ADVOCACY
NARFE members must engage with their lawmakers to protect the federal community and these simple steps will aid in that engagement:
- Explore lawmakers and candidates’ websites and see where they stand on your hot-button issues.
- Find an Incumbent in the United States House or Senate go to www.congress.gov to find out how they voted on bills, their roles and activities in Congress and how to contact them
- Find out how they voted on NARFE issues www.narfe.gov
- Attend their town halls, informal coffees or other neighborhood appearances. Some candidates have phone or online tele-town halls as well.
- Call or visit the campaign office. Ask to speak to the candidate or her/his representative and get your questions answered. Most will oblige.
- Check the candidates’ answers. www.Factcheck.org run by the University of Pennsylvania, monitors the accuracy of candidates’ statements, as does www.politifact.com operated by the nonprofit Poynter Institute.
- Go to trustworthy sources to find out more about the candidates. One site that is favored by political pros doing research on state elections and candidates is the nonpartisan www.ballotpedia.org.
- Sign up for enewsletters http://www.governing.com/
- Opensecrets https://www.opensecrets.org/
- Sammy Awards for the federal workforce https://servicetoamericamedals.org/
ADVOCACY
Statement on the Purpose of federal, state and local retirees and employees
This statement reflects the different views and attitudes of Americans. It affirms the essential role we play in improving our society when we are truly committed to meeting the needs of ourselves and members.
It is more critical that we focus on generating long-term value for all members and address the challenges we face, which will result in shared prosperity and sustainability.
Our members, governments and communities need to know the investment made in our careers started with compensation being fair and benefits been provided. It also included supporting training and education that help develop new skills for a rapidly changing world.
This Statement of Purpose will assist us in becoming better citizens. NARFE was started to support involving all members in advocacy efforts at all levels.
A weekly advocacy message is emailed to NARFE members, posted on the NARFE website and available to NARFE members via telephone by calling 1-800-456-8410 select option 4. Past editions are archived online. If you have any questions regarding the information please email NARFE’s Advocacy Department at [email protected] or call 1-800-456-8410 select option 3.
Capitol Hill calling is an easy and powerful way to protect your earned benefits. Use NARFE’s toll-free number and follow these simple instructions: Call 1-866-220-0044 You will be asked whether you would like to speak with your senator (press 1), or representative (press 2). You will be asked to enter your zip-code. If you do not know who your senators are you can find them here. Find your representative here.
State Board of Elections Contact Info: (919) 814-0700 (866) 522-4723 (toll free)
ADVOCACY
Statement on the Purpose of federal, state and local retirees and employees
The purpose of our Federal Government, as found in the Constitution, is to “establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our posterity.”
Perhaps government responsibility to provide social programs to its citizens is the most controversial of all: The New Deal programs, many of which provided people with relief through jobs, payments, and food. The “Great Society” programs aimed at eliminating poverty in the entire country.
These and other programs generated a need for federal, state and local employees to provide vital information and services that bind the nation together—as we have done since the beginning of establishing the central government of America.
Although Americans share some broad agreements on basic political values, such as liberty, equality, and justice, they reflect a wide range of political attitudes, from highly conservative ideologies to very liberal ideologies. Despite their differences, modern Americans share one other political view — they are highly critical of politicians, and they have high expectations for their government and their elected leaders.
What Factors Shape Political Attitudes?
A common political culture by no means suggests that all Americans think alike. Some conservative, some liberal and some independent. Some have more negative attitudes toward public officials than others. Many factors — including family, gender, religion, race, ethnicity, and region — all contribute to political attitudes and behavior. There is no “typical American.” We are influenced by a wide array of factors when we cast our secret votes on Election Day.
Participating in Government
People may participate in politics in many ways. They can write their Representative or Senator, work for a candidate or political party. They can make presentations to their local school board, city council or call the police to complain about the neighbor.
Statement on the Purpose of Advocacy
- Do you write your Representative or Senator via US mail?
- Do you send electronic messages via NARFE’s Legislative Action Center?
- Do you call your Representatives 1-800-456-8410 select option 5?
- Do you vote in all the elections?
Only you can make a difference in your voting history and future actions by advocating and voting.
Renew Membership 800-456-8410 [email protected]
ADVOCACY
Statement on the Purpose of A Corporation – The Business Roundtable
American deserve an economy that allows each person to succeed through hard work and creativity and to lead a life of meaning and dignity. We believe the free-market system is the best means of generating good jobs, a strong and sustainable economy, innovation, a healthy environment, and economic opportunity for all.
Businesses play a vital role in the economy by creating jobs, fostering innovation, and providing essential goods and services. Businesses make and sell consumer products; manufacture equipment and vehicles; support the national defense; grow and produce food; provide health care; generate and deliver energy; and offer financial, communications and other services that underpin economic growth.
While each of our individual companies serves its own corporate purpose, we share a fundamental commitment to all of our stakeholders. We commit to:
DELIVERING VALUE TO OUR CUSTOMERS
- We will further the tradition of American companies leading the way in meeting or exceeding customer expectations.
INVESTING IN OUR EMPLOYEES
- This starts with compensating them fairly and providing important benefits. It also includes supporting them through training and education that help develop new skills for a rapidly changing world. We foster diversity and inclusion, dignity and respect.
DEALING FAIRLY AND ETHICALLY WITH OUR SUPPLIERS
- We are dedicated to serving as good partners to the other companies, large and small, that help us meet our missions.
SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE WORK
- We respect the people in our communities and protect the environment by embracing sustainable practices across our businesses.
GENERATING LONG-TERM VALUE FOR SHAREHOLDERS
- [They] provide the capital that allows companies to invest, grow, and innovate. We are committed to transparency and effective engagement with shareholders.
Each of our stakeholders is essential. We commit to deliver value to all of them, for the future success of our companies, our communities and our country.
ADVOCACY
Advocacy at all levels of government
Why does local advocacy matter when it’s already being done at the federal and state levels? Many decisions made by federal government that affect us were implemented by city, county or state and folded into federal government.
If we want to make sure everyone knows the outstanding governmental duties we do/did, we must tell them. The good news is we can tell our stories better than anyone else and there are many stories to be told. We can tell the stories of the duties we perform/performed at our agencies. We can explain how our members are vital contributors to the local economy.
While much of NARFE’s advocacy efforts are focused on federal issues, all levels of government provide an additional playing field for NARFE members to fight for their retirement security. NARFE members can take action on a host of issues, including those surrounding the Bailey Settlement, long-term care insurance, health care, taxes and much more.
Advocacy matters because it helps the government see the value in NARFE which makes it easier for them to support our mission.
A weekly advocacy message is emailed to NARFE members, posted on the NARFE website and available to NARFE members via telephone by calling 1-800-456-8410 select option 4. Past editions are archived online. If you have any questions regarding the information please email NARFE’s Advocacy Department at [email protected] or call 1-800-456-8410 select option 3.
Capitol Hill calling is an easy and powerful way to protect your earned benefits. Use NARFE’s toll-free number and follow these simple instructions: Call 1-866-220-0044 You will be asked whether you would like to speak with your senator (press 1), or representative (press 2). You will be asked to enter your zip-code. If you do not know who your senators are you can find them here. Find your representative here.
State Board of Elections Contact Info: (919) 814-0700 (866) 522-4723 (toll free)
