Statement of Kathryn Hensley

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    Since I was elected in 2018 as your Secretary/Treasurer, my time has been spent in the governance and financial matters of NARFE. There have been a number of organizational challenges as we continue the implementation of One Member One Vote (OMOV) and Optional Chapter Membership (OCM).

    On the governance side, the following actions have occurred:

·    Continuing review of the 2018 National Bylaws covering eleven amendments adopted by the membership and update for compliance with our governing requirements

·    Updating guidelines publications 

·    Revised chapter and federation bylaws templates and approval of chapter and federation bylaws

·    Development of NARFE Policy Manual to replace outdated policy document from 2014

·    Updated membership renewal and membership forms to clarify members’ option to chapter membership.

    Financially, the Consolidated Financial Statement for the Year Ended December 31, 2018 was audited and reported in the June 2019 narfe magazine as required. Now, it’s time to review ways to enhance and add new tools to protect assets and lower operating costs.  Projections were on target at the midyear point to meet budget projections with increased monitoring and reporting. NARFE’s investment portfolio had gains averaging between 7% and 9% through November. Net membership income is lower than budgeted, as was the case in 2018, and special efforts have been made to tap into non-dues revenue resources and shift staffing for this important area. A new corporate credit card agreement that tightened potential risk was signed and enhances the headquarters purchase order process to monitor day-to-day expenditures more closely. 

    NARFE-PAC has been successful in maintaining its plans of increasing available funds for support of NARFE’s advocacy program. 

    While good things have happened at headquarters, one that brings daily complaints is the inherited Association Management System (AMS) initiated and contract signed with design and deliverable requirements committed before current officers were even elected. It is now the most critical activity in headquarters. Everything we do is affected by the AMS and we are working hard to fix it. 

    Overall, we still have a number of actions we want to add to best management practices of NARFE. With help from all our members as well as the federations and chapters, we will continue our standards of excellence in advocating for federal workers’ pay and benefits that NARFE members expect.

    I respectfully ask for your vote for another term as NARFE Secretary/Treasurer to maintain continuity on these initiatives.

    NARFE is a unique organization for the federal employee and retiree family.  We touch every facet of federal benefits and pay for federal workers and retirees..  Through our NARFE-PAC we have the opportunity to be a player in all things concerning active and retired federal employees.  

     We have been able to celebrate a number of successes with our advocacy program during this session of Congress.   At the federal level we were able to work through our coalitions to achieve a paid parental leave act, a significant pay raise for active federal workers, and a reinstatement for the payment of retired workers who return as reemployed annuitants.

     We can join with state and local organizations in seeking changes to state legislation that impacts negatively on senior citizens especially those of us who retired from federal service.

During the past year and a half, a number of issues were addressed and action taken:

· Solved the issue of the application and renewal forms to remove all confusion.

· Aggressively addressed the well-being of active, retired, and survivor annuitants 

· Maintained a strong dedication to making our advocacy program locally driven

· Focus on the structure of the association and how services are provided to our members. This has not been completed.

· Address the technology requirements of NARFE - bring to 21st Century standards. This is a continuing item.

In the meantime, several new issues were identified:

· The Building Committee met and made several recommendations to the National Executive Board (NEB). The decision was to place the building on the market with an experienced commercial realtor to seek buyers and if found, to locate new quarters for NARFE.

· A NEW Association Management System using modern web applications was selected by the Executive Director. After a rough start, reports are finally being produced. During the installation and implementation, some areas are being identified for further work.

· A major re-branding effort was accomplished and its expansion is continuing.

· A referendum to clean up some lingering changes needed as a result of the OMOV and OCM votes was started with the more basic items being completed in 2019 and more comprehensive ones postponed for the 2020 ballot.

· Updated cooperative agreements were executed with our partners at FEEA and the Alzheimer’s Association.

· During the 35 day shutdown of government, NARFE rose to the occasion and truly because a “go to” resource for those adversely affected.