New Mexico Federation of Chapters

Transcription

1 New Mexico Federation of Chapters January 15, 2014 SUBJECT: Call to Convention - New Mexico Federation of Chapters, April 24-26, 2014 Dear NARFE Members, As President of the New Mexico Federation of Chapters, I invite you to attend our 53rd annual convention at the Las Cruces Hilton Garden Inn, April We federal employees and retirees continue to face negative public opinion and numerous attempts by Congress to solve national budget problems by taking away our earned benefits. At the convention you will hear the latest news that could affect your earned benefits and find out what you can (and must) do to protect them. Our convention theme is Spring Forward With NARFE! Attached is a Planning Guide with detailed information to help you prepare for the convention. Please note the deadlines for submitting resolutions, registering for the convention, reserving a room at the convention hotel, and submitting names of deceased members for the Memorial Service. As the draft agenda shows, we have reverted to the two-day convention in 2014 for several reasons. First, we have a lot of business to handle: statewide election of all five Federation Officers (President, Executive Vice President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer); district elections of the four District Vice Presidents; and resolutions, not only for the Federation but also in preparation for the National Convention in August Second, in response to comments evaluating the 2013 convention, we have increased the number and length of breaks and added more opportunities for NARFE members to socialize. Third, we are offering help desks and an educational opportunity. On Thursday afternoon we will staff several help desks that will provide a one-on-one opportunity to verify your online NARFE information, update your chapter s F7, sign up for GEMS, order membership materials, and try to resolve problems you have with National Headquarters. And, if OPM accepts my invitation, we will have a live representative from OPM who will be able to resolve on the spot many problems you have with that office! Chapter Presidents and District Vice Presidents are asked to meet with the Federation President on Thursday afternoon from 4:15 to 4:45. On Thursday evening we will have a Welcome Reception from 5:00 to 6:30 pm. This will allow you to greet fellow members prior to dinner on your own. 1

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3 PLANNING GUIDE NARFE New Mexico Federation Convention Hilton Garden Inn, 2550 Don Roser Drive, Las Cruces, NM April 24-26, 2014 For more information, contact Sharon Reese, Chair, Convention Planning Committee, or The Hilton Garden Inn is located at 2550 Don Roser Drive (right off I-25 and University Avenue), Las Cruces, New Mexico. Check it out on the website: There are 114 guestrooms (16 suites) with 6 ADA compliant guestrooms. A single room, including full breakfast, is $96.00 plus tax with a government ID. A double room, with full breakfast, is $ plus tax with a government ID. A government ID can be a military ID (active or retired), a civilian ID or a retired civilian ID. If you don t have a retired civilian ID, all you need to do is take a copy of your last 50 action to the nearest government ID section and you can be issued an ID. If you are a couple, only one government ID is required. If you do not have a government ID and don t want to go to the trouble of obtaining one, the room rate will be an additional $11.00 per night. The hotel tax rate is 12.56% and a $2.50 convention rate per night. For reservations call the hotel direct at and ask for the NARFE rates. If you need one of the handicap accessible rooms, make your reservations as soon as possible. Reservation cut-off date is March 24 th. There are no resort or parking fees! The convention registration fee is $70.00, which includes the welcome reception on April 24 th. The banquet cost is $35, with a choice of two entrees. On Friday, April 25 th, lunch is on your own. The hotel has offered to serve lunch (approximately $12) in the breakfast common area if 25 or more would eat there. On your registration form there is a box to indicate if you would partake in a lunch at the hotel. Nearby restaurants include Dublin s, Lorenzo s, Schlotzky s, and a McDonald s on University Avenue (within 4 blocks) and several chain restaurants on Telshor (about a mile from the hotel). 3

4 Draft Convention Agenda in Brief: April 24, Thursday 11:00 Federation Executive Board Meeting 1:00-5:00 Registration and Exhibits 2:00 Convention Committee Meetings as needed 2:00-4:30 Help Desks 4:15-4:45 Chapter Presidents District VPs Meeting with Federation President 5:00-6:30 Welcome Reception with refreshments and cash bar 6:30 Dinner on own April 25, Friday 7:00 Registration and vendor exhibits 8:00 Convention Call to Order; Opening Ceremonies Welcome to Congressional delegation or staff; their presentations 8:45 Skype discussion: Headquarters staff (legislation, membership) 9:45-10:10 Break 10:10 Keynote Speaker: National O fficer 11:10 Roll Call of Chapters; declaration of quorum Approval of Convention Agenda Convention Standing Rules Preliminary Credentials Report Recognition of Minutes and Sergeant-at-Arms Committees 2013 Convention Minutes Noon to 1:30 Lunch on Own 1:30 Resolutions Committee Report; Voting on resolutions 2:45-3:10 Break 3:10 Nominating Committee Report; Election of Federation Officers 3:45 Caucuses to elect District VPs Break 4:10 Memorial Service 5:00 Recess until April 26 at 8:30 a.m. 6:00-6:30 Social hour; no-host bar 6:30 Banquet (tickets required), award presentations, installation of officers, raffle drawings, and entertainment April 26, Saturday 8:30 Workshop: what you need to know, especially if your chapter does not have a Service Officer 9:25 Break 9:45 Federation Officer Reports: 3-minute summaries with discussion District Vice Presidents reports: 3-minute summary Statewide chapter report: 3-minute summary Committee Reports: 3-minute summary 11:00 Discussion of State of Federation and Options for Future Election of Nominating Committee for Transfer of gavel to President for noon Convention adjourns 4

5 Important Deadlines February 8 - Resolution Submission Submit resolutions to the Resolution Chair Gary Montoya, President Chapter 1341, 875 W. 9 th, Truth or Consequences, NM 87901, gmont@windstream.net. March 24 Room Reservation at Hilton Garden Inn Call hotel direct at Ask for NARFE rates, single room $96.00 with government ID, double room $ with government ID (includes full breakfast), plus 12.56% tax and $2.50 convention fee per night. April 5 - Convention Registration $70 includes Welcome Reception; $35 Banquet; indicate your choice of entrée and any dietary needs; $10 late fee after April 5 Submit registration form and check or money order payable to NARFE Chapter 182 to NM 2014 Convention, Special PO Box 16424, Las Cruces, NM Cancellation Policy: Refunds will be made after the convention to registrants who cancel in writing on or before April 5, April 10 - Deceased Members Report names of chapter members who died between April 12, 2013 and April 10, 2014 to Janice Baker, Federation President, at JaniceNARFE@msn.com or 2082 Placita de Vida, Santa Fe, NM Please double-check the spelling of the names! 5

6 REGISTRATION FORM NARFE NEW MEXICO FEDERATION CONVENTION Hilton Garden Inn 2500 S. Don Roser, Las Cruces, New Mexico APRIL 24-26, 2014 PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY EARLY REGISTRATION ENDS: April 5, 2014 Name: Phone: (Complete one Form for each Attendant) Mailing Address: City: State: Zip: I am: (check all that applies) Federation Officer Past Federation President Delegate Alternate Delegate Member (non-delegate) Guest First Time Atttendee Your Chapter Name & Number In case of emergency notify: Phone: Function Cost Paid Convention (includes sessions, breaks, & welcome reception) $70.00 Banquet (April 25- select entre below) $35.00 Late Fee (If received or postmarked after April 5, 2014) $10.00 (Check one) Beef w/mushroom sauce Chicken Breast w/lemon sauce Special Dietary Needs Total Enclosed Participate in no host lunch at hotel Y (yes) or N (no) Please specify any special dietary needs Make check or money order payable to NARFE Chapter 182 send to NM 2014 Convention Special - PO Box Las Cruces, NM FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY REGISTRATION# DATE RECEIVED AMOUNT Cancellation Policy: Refunds will be made after the convention to registrants who cancel in writing on or before April 5, Questions: Sharon Reese or sreese346@gmail.com One form per person please make additional copies as needed or download form 6

7 NARFE NM STATE CONVENTION PROGRAM BOOK April Hilton Garden Inn, 2500 S. Don Roser Las Cruces, NM Name Address City State Zip Code Telephone and/or DISPLAY TABLES are available for $ Contact Sharon Reese (below) Please check appropriate box for size of advertisement Back Cover Full page color - $ (7 x 10 ) Full page - $ (7 x 10 ) Half page - $75.00 (7 x 5 ) Quarter page - $50.00 (3-1/2 x 5 ) Business card - $30.00 (3-1/2 x 2 ) Ads must be camera-ready. Photographs show best black & white (half-tone). Please package to prevent bending and mail with this form and your check, or your ad copy as a.pdf attachment (will be processed after payment is received). Make check or money order payable to NARFE Chapter 182 and send to: Sharon Reese 1625 Thunderbird St Las Cruces, NM sreese346@gmail.com Phone: or Cell, MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN MARCH 25,