September 7, 2016

Dear NARFE member,

Good afternoon. Having just returned from the NARFE 34th Biennial National Convention in Reno, Nevada, I would like to share some important outcomes from that gathering.

Recent extensive strategic planning led NARFE’s National Executive Board to submit a number of resolutions to the Convention. These were based on our strong commitment to the long-term health of the Association and our ability to successfully drive NARFE’s mission well into the future. Of significant note:

• Membership in a NARFE chapter is now optional. New members now will simply join NARFE. With their welcome information, new members will be provided the option to also join a local chapter. Likewise, renewing members may choose to belong to NARFE as a national member or opt to enjoy the benefits of their local chapter as well.
• All members will continue to receive all benefits provided by NARFE, including: narfe magazine; access to the members-only portion of the NARFE website and blog; and access to the NARFE Federal Benefits Institute, the Legislative Hotline and NARFE NewsWatch. In ADDITION, members have enhanced benefits. With passage of a One Member, One Vote resolution, every member now has a vote and a say in NARFE governance and the election of NARFE officers. All are eligible to run for National Officer and Regional Vice President (RVP) positions. (Per NARFE’s bylaws, only members of chapters and federations are eligible to run for chapter and federation offices.)
• Please note, with the passage of optional chapter membership, the National Executive Board incentive program that established the eNARFE chapter has been rescinded. All members from this chapter are now national members with all the benefits listed above and will, upon renewal, be provided the option to join a local chapter.

For those of you who serve in officer positions and/or would like further information on implementation of these changes, your federation president, federation membership chair and federation secretary have been provided extensive notes.

These few changes will usher in a new day for NARFE. With them, great strides have been made to ensure the continued success of NARFE and our important mission.

Thank you for your membership.

Sincerely,

Richard G. Thissen
NARFE National President