Federal Employees Association (NARFE)
Protecting the Future for Retired and Current Federal Employees
Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chapter 258
Last updated July 1, 2008
The Montgomery County Board of Elections is looking for registered voters to work in the polls as Election Judges November 4, 2008. Training is provided and Election Judges receive a stipend for attending training, attending a pre-election meeting at their polling place and working on Election Day. Bi-lingual voters to work as Election Judges are also needed.
In addition to full-day judges a new type of judge this year is the Closing Judge. Closing Judges are expected to arrive at their assigned polling place no later than 6:30pm. Their duties conclude once the critical materials have been returned to the Board of Elections. Under normal circumstances this means that Closing Judges would serve for approximately 4 hours.
If you are interested please call or email The Montgomery County Board of Elections:
240-777-8533 or electionjudge@montgomerycountymd.gov
240-777-8570 or democrats@montgomerycountymd.gov (Democrats)
240-777-8575 or republicans@montgomerycountymd.gov (Republicans/Others)
You may also download an application from our website: www.777vote.org
The Montgomery County Board of Elections is located at 751 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville, Maryland 20849 (240-777-VOTE (8683))
Pork Barrel Spending (4/3/08)
Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) has just released its annual "Pig Book" covering the 2008 Federal budget. Their database of over 11,000 pork-barrel projects in the current Federal budget is searchable and can be found at http://www.cagw.org/site/PageServer?pagename=reports_pigbook2008_database.
"In fiscal year 2008, Congress stuffed 11,610 projects (the second highest total ever) worth $17.2 billion into the 12 appropriations bills. That is a 337 percent increase over the 2,658 projects in fiscal year 2007, and a 30 percent increase over the $13.2 billion total in fiscal year 2007. Alaska led the nation with $556 in pork per capita ($380 million total), followed by Hawaii with $221 ($283 million) and North Dakota with $208 ($133 million)."
Representative Van Hollen is listed for 20 projects, SenatorMikulski for 179 and Senator Cardin for 145.
What Identifies a "Handicapped Only" Parking Space? (1/23/08)
If you think that a "handicapped only" parking space is officially designated by a blue handcap symbol painted on the pavement, you have a lot to learn.
According to Montgomery County Code Sec. 31-26A, "Parking spaces reserved for handicapped individuals": "A parking space is reserved for handicapped individuals if it is designated by an official sign", which is one that is posted prominently and can be easily seen. And there's a practical reason for this: A symbol painted on the pavement is not visible when a car is parked in the space. And you may have noticed that the painted symbols on the pavement fade into illegibility after several years.
For more information go to http://www.amlegal.com/nxt/gateway.dll?f=templates&fn=default.htm&vid=amlegal:montgomeryco_md_mc
and search on "Sec. 31-26A. Parking spaces reserved for handicapped individuals."
Free and Discounted Public Transportation (1/04/08)
As Nora Taylor pointed out with an Email earlier this year, senior citizens (65+) and the disabled now can ride the Montgomery Ride-On buses for free during all hours of operation and Metro buses and subway trains with a reduced fare.
Starting Jan. 1, 2008, the Montgomery County Ride-On buses and certain Metro buses in the county are free at all times to seniors and disabled persons. Formerly, the Ride-On buses were free on weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., with reduced fares at other times.
The information about the Seniors and People with Disabilities Ride Free Anytime is posted on the website in Riders' News:
www.montgomerycountymd.gov/tsvtmpl.asp?url=/content/dpwt/transit/ current_events.asp
(Be sure to use the whole address from www. to .asp)
If you need to apply to Metro for a Senior Citizen ID Card (can be done at the library), expect it to take a couple of weeks to arrive. For Ride-On buses I just show the gold-colored Senior Citizen ID Card I received from Metro. Although most drivers will likely let you ride free based on your looking like a senior citizen, I always have the high hope of being mistaken for a teenager and asked for my senior citizen ID.
Metrobus & Metrorail
Basically, the program works like this: First you submit your application to prove you're entitled to discount fares along with a check for $15. Metro then sends you a gold-colored ID card and a fancy SmarTrip card with your $15 in it. Then you're ready to go; just swipe it over the fare box in the bus or the indicated area on the subway turnstile. You can refill the SmarTip card at any subway station. A tip for using it: You don't need to take the SmarTrip card out of your purse of wallet to get it to register at the farebox or the turnstile. Just swipe your wallet or purse containing the card, which has embedded electronics. It's a great system and easy to use.
Fare: ½ of the regular fare, all times of day, not to exceed $1.95, for qualifying for the senior citizens and people with disabilities.
Senior citizens and people with disabilities who have a valid Metro ID or a valid Medicare card and photo identification are eligible to participate in this program.
Seniors may apply for the Senior ID Card at any local public library or Metro Sales Office. The card will then be mailed to you.
Get a Retirement Services Reference Card (12/15/07)
Suppose you want to prove your retired civil service status, perhaps to take advantage of discounts offered by various businesses. One way to do that is to obtain a "Retirement Services Reference Card" from the Office of Personnel Management.
When you retire OPM is suppose to send you the Card, but most retirees that I’ve talked to never receive one.
To receive your card call OPM at 1-888-767-6738. Generally you will receive your card in 5 days. If anything
happens to you, your spouse or executor will have the card handy. Your name and Claim Number are on the front
while OPM contact information is printed on the back.
Show this to your grandchildren (11/26/07)
At our age we now realize the time value of money and wish we had saved more when were young. And now we want to pass that wisdom on to our grandchildren but how do we impress upon them the difference that time can make? Here's something that may make them invest instead of buying that fancy new car (courtesy of The Washington Post, Sept. 24, 2006).
Ask your grandchild this question: If a person begins at 25 and saves $2000 a year for 8 years (total $16,000) and then stops, and another person waits to 35 and then invests $2000 a year for 30 years (total $60,000), at age 65 who will have more money (assume the same rate of return for both)?
Most people will say that the person who invested $60,000 will obviously wind up with more. But that's wrong---because of the time factor.
At 65 and assuming a 10% return, the person who invested only $16,000 will wind up with $531,200. The person who invested $60,000 will wind up with $361,887. That's a difference of $169,313 or 47% more.
| Age and annual investment: | Total investment: | Value at 65 assuming 10% return: |
| 25; $2000 for 8 years only | $16,000 | $531,200 |
| 35; $2000 for 30 years | $60,000 | $361,887 |