PRIME TIME Volume 34, Number 1 September 2015

RETIRED EMPLOYEES OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY

The only officially recognized organization representing SB County Retirees

Monday September 21, 2015

SBPEA Meeting Room 433 N. Sierra Way

San Bernardino 1:30 p.m.

C.A.S.A Court Appointed Special Advo-

cates

Cesar Navarrete Executive Director

C.A.S.A. of San Bernardino County

Please join us to learn about this important program which serves foster youth and juve-nile offenders. Cesar Navar-rete has been Executive Direc-tor since 2014, and has spent 15 years working with at-risk youth and social justice is-sues.

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

RESBC Officers — 2014-16

Wes McDaniel, President

Argie Brogdon, 1st Vice President

Sue Shuey, 2nd Vice President

A.B. Brand, Treasurer

Coby Hinkle, Secretary

Tom Potter, Past President

RESBC GENERAL MEETINGS Monday, September 21, 2015

Monday, October 26, 2015 (note change in meeting date)

Monday, November 16, 2015 (Location: 433 N. Sierra Way

San Bernardino; SBPEA mtg room)

Holiday Luncheon Monday, December 14, 2015

(Arrowhead Country Club; 11:00 a.m.) 3433 Parkside Drive, San Bernardino

RESBC EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETINGS

Monday, September 14, 2015 Monday, October 5, 2015

Monday, November 2, 2015 Monday, December 7, 2015

(Location: 433 N. Sierra Way San Bernardino; SBPEA mtg room)

PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

IT’S NOT YOUR FATHER’S RESBC!

OK, here we go again on another fun filled RESBC year! But, hold on for the ride … things are going to change!

Yes, we will begin in the fall with conventional meetings and programs at SBPEA, culminating with the De-cember luncheon at the Arrowhead Country Club. And yes, Virginia, there will still be a Santa Claus. (I never really contemplated the inner meaning of that phrase until now!)

But, then in the spring, as an out-come of Tom Potter’s research at last June’s closing Country Club luncheon, we will embark on a differ-ent approach, as we travel the county and substitute events and visits for the standard fare of monthly meetings at SBPEA.

Where will this lead? We don’t know. It’s an experiment. Tell us what you think as we make the jour-ney. Then we’ll reanalyze it at the conclusion next summer.

And, hopefully, we can pick up addi-tional members joining our hearty regulars as we go along. Please invite your fellow retirees, and those of you reading this in Prime Time … consider joining us.

See you September 21! Wes McDaniel

Postcards from SBCERA by Dawn Stafford

Retirement Board Trustee Elected by Retirees

In the public pension community, everyone nervously awaits the June end of the fiscal year to find out how their fund did. We at SBCERA are no exception. It turned out that there wasn’t any public fund that reached its goal (at least not in this state), in our case 7.5%.

SBCERA’s investments earned 4.6% last fiscal year. Actually, we did very well on a relative basis. In Califor-nia, only CalSTRS and the County of Sonoma did better, earning 4.8%. The big gorilla, CalPERS, earned only 2.4%. On a risk adjusted basis, SBCERA outperformed everyone. SBCERA was the only fund to be positive in June, because of our re-sistance to equity market downturns.

In monetary terms, SBCERA’s in-vestments earned $351 million dol-lars last year, bringing us from $7.9 billion at the beginning of the year to $8.1 billion at the end of the year.

The Wilshire Trust Universe Com-parison Service calculated the na-tional median return of public plans with more than $5 billion in assets at 3.4%, ending a two-year streak of double digit returns. Wilshire had the same groups at 2014 showing a median return of 17.3% and 12.5% for the previous year. The highest return for big plans this year so far is 5.4% for the $75.2 billion Teachers Retirement System of Columbus Ohio. The culprit in the recent low returns: lower stock market returns. Equities are always going to be a driver of returns as they make up roughly half of public pension portfo-lios.

Continued on Page 2

Prime Time — Sept 2015 — Page 2

Projections calling for lower equity returns for the next decade are caus-ing plans to explore lower return goals. Continuing low interest rates did not help the situation: fixed-income rates went mostly sideways, ending the year where they began. The main component of SBCERA’s strategy has been fixed income, not equities. It is very tough sledding out there!

The big question for investors in the upcoming year is, “When will the Feds raise interest rates?” Many say it will do so in September. However, our consultant Alan Martin of NEPC does not think so because of low growth and inflation, although he admits he could be wrong.

On the local front, many of us who have followed the “Set ONTario Free” movement will be glad to hear that a settlement has been reached which will put Ontario Airport back under local control where it belongs. The transfer may happen by next July. A representative of the move-ment spoke recently at one of our meetings. The transfer of the airport to local control should have a posi-tive impact on the local economy.

Benefits Bits by John Michaelson

Insurance Programs --- In early Sep-tember, the Employee Benefit Advi-sory Committee (EBAC) will be doing face-to-face negotiations for the health insurance rates that will be effective the first of the year for the County offered health insurance. Both the retiree and current em-ployee contracts for health insurance are generally rebid every three to four years. For the interim years rates are negotiated with the provid-ers based on actual cost and experi-ence to date. This coming year will probably be the final year of that cy-cle and will be rebid for the 2017 covered year. Hopefully semi final rates for 2016 will be available by the time Prime Time goes to press for the newsletter you receive in Octo-ber, so stay tuned.

For other types of insurance you may be interested in, or already have through our partner Pacific Group Agencies, you should receive a com-plete booklet in the mail in early Oc-tober.

Legislation --- While there is still no state legislation that would affect current retirees, I would caution that there is still several, what are called spot bills, that could be amended to include something that might nega-tively affect us. This doesn't appear to be the case as I hear no rumors of something waiting in the wings.

There is one bill that may be of inter-est to some, ACA 3 by Gallagher. So far it has not made it out of com-mittee, but has been granted recon-sideration (which means the author can try again). If passed by the Leg-islature, it requires a vote of the peo-ple, and if approved, would embed in the State Constitution a provision that would prohibit retroactive en-hancement of retirement benefits such as was done for Safety with 3@50. This provision is already in state law passed with PEPRA (the major public pension reform law). Guess the author wants to make darn sure the provision sticks.

Returning Retirement Board Mem-ber --- As you may know the Board of Supervisors appoints 4 of the 9 members of the Board of Retirement. Current County Supervisor Janice Rutherford, who previously served on the Board of Retirement was re-cently reappointed by the Board of Supervisors.

Medicare Appeal Process --- There are a number of ways to appeal Medicare related issues from drug to pure medical to hospital issues. There are even differences in the appeal process between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare so if you find yourself in this position, be careful. One of the best resources for the specifics of the process is the Medicare website: www.medicare.gov

The following is a summary of what appeared in a recent Medicare Rights newsletter, printed with per-mission. A reader asked if their fa-ther, who is on Medicare and in a hospital after a fall could appeal the hospital’s decision to discharge him when he did not feel he is well enough to return home.

The answer is yes, the appeal proc-ess for a hospital discharge is differ-ent from other Medicare appeals, because hospital discharge appeals follow a fast timeline. To appeal, consult the "Important Message from Medicare" notice, which the hospital should provide a patient at least once during their inpatient hospital stay. Among other things, the no-tice tells patients how to request a review of their case by the Benefici-ary and Family-Centered Quality Improvement Organization (QIO). The QIO is an independent body that reviews hospital discharge appeals for Medicare beneficiaries.

Know that while the QIO is reviewing your appeal, the hospital must pro-vide you a more detailed notice of why they think you are ready to leave. In the meantime, the QIO will review your medical records and contact you for your opinion on the discharge.

The QIO should make its decision and call you within 24 hours of re-ceiving all the information it needs. If

Rick Hartmann

Linda Porter, Ambre Carter

Dawn Stafford — Continued from Page 1

Continued on Page 3

Prime Time — Sept 2015 — Page 3

Highlights—RESBC General Meeting

Monday, June 15 2015 Spring Luncheon was held at the Arrowhead Country Club. Presentation was made to Dorothy Lueking in recognition of her years of service to RESBC and CRCEA. Ten $20 door prizes were won by members. Highlights—RESBC Special Board

Meeting Monday, June 29, 2015

Tom Potter gave a report on the sur-vey he had taken at the June lunch-eon, and after discussion, it was de-cided to have six meetings in 2016, including two luncheons. AB Brand was authorized to budget $1,000 to subsidize the luncheons and was also authorized to budget amount needed to pay costs for five individuals to attend each upcoming CRCEA Conference.

Hi Cap is a non profit organization that will assist seniors in deciding which supplemental insurance is best for them to add to Medicare benefits.

The phone number is 800-434-0222.

APPRECIATION

At the June luncheon, RESBC recognized and honored Dorothy Lueking for her many years of service to RESBC. Dorothy has been an integral part of the suc-cess of RESBC. She was Prime Time editor for several years, and has also been an invaluable histo-rian. We cannot thank her enough for all she has done for RESBC!

Questions regarding supplemental insurance programs? Please con-tact:

Pacific Group Agencies, Inc. Member Services Administration 25876 The Old Road, #11 Santa Clarita, CA 91381 800-511-9065 fax: 800-549-0059 e-mail: RESBC@pgagencies.com www.pgagencies.com/resbc

TREASURER’S REPORT June 2015

6/1/2015 77,199.45

Revenues Dues 4,838.00 Luncheon 1,219.47 Interest 31.35 Total Revenues 6,008.82 Expenditures Travel 1,079.20 Administration Cards 4.31 Other 200.82 Newsletter Printing 2,015.28 Postage 1,828.74 Luncheon Meeting Meals 2,190.09 Door Prizes 200.00 Total Expenditures 7,518.44 6/30/2015 75,769.83 PERB Designation Balance 38,729.71 Checking Account 1,340.23 Savings Account 33,333.29 CDs 40,960.13 Petty Cash Fund 136.18

75,769.83

A.B. Brand, Treasurer

Membership: 4,838

the appeal is successful, your care will continue to be covered. If the appeal is unsuccessful, you will not be held responsible for the cost of the wait time for QIO to make a deci-sion, but any additional time will be on you if you don't win a higher level appeal.

The higher levels of appeal are also covered at the Medicare website I mentioned earlier. Keep in mind, as with most government programs, it is important to know and follow the rules and deadlines. Also, know that there are other options for continuing some level of care after discharge from a hospital. You may benefit from home health services, or from care at a skilled nursing facility (SNF).

Questions or comments to John Michaelson, email johnmichael-son1@verizon.net or cell 909-821-2279.

Nancy Clarke

Marsha Workman, Tatjana Khokhlov

John Michaelson — Continued from Page 2

Dorothy and Ted Lueking

Prime Time — Sept 2015 — Page 4

NEW MEMBERS (through August 25, 2015)

Frank Abril Rebecca Allen Spradling

Efren Anchondo Joanne Apodaca Linda Apodaca Myriam Aragon James Baidoo Mark Barnes Sheila Bass

Barbara Branske Roberta Byington-Rouke

Jeffrey Cain Marta Campoy Cena Chappell

Bernard G. Castro Madeline Chavez Gwendolyn Cole

Susan Cole Fe Coria

New Statewide Initiative is an All Out Attack on Public Pensions!

by Mike DeBord Co-Chair, Retirement Security

Committee, CRCEA

The new statewide “initiative” (that will soon be circulating around the state gathering petition signatures) will try and close every single state and local government defined benefit retirement plan to new employees! The initiative, titled “Public Employ-ees. Pension and Retiree Healthcare Benefits” would apply to all cities and counties, school districts, special dis-tricts, boards, commissions, universi-ties and State government. If the pro-ponents of this initiative get sufficient signatures by February 8, 2016, it will be on the November 8, 2016 General Election ballot as an amendment to the State Constitution.

The proponents of this initiative sub-mitted their proposal to the State Attor-ney General who is responsible for writing the “Title and Summary” for all initiatives submitted. The Attorney General says in their summary of this initiative, that the proposal would:

eliminate constitutional protec-

tions for vested pension and retiree healthcare benefits for current employees, including those working in K-12 schools, higher education, hospitals, and police protection, for future work per-formed.

add initiative and referendum

powers to the Constitution (so voters could be responsible) for determining public employee compensation and retirement benefits.

would bar government employ-

ers from enrolling new employ-ees in “defined benefit” plans, or paying more than one-half cost of new employee’s retirement benefits, or enhancing retirement benefits, unless specifically ap-proved by the voters.

This initiative would require thou-sands of new ballot measures at taxpayer cost and close defined benefit retirement plans to new em-ployees even though they have the lowest fees and highest investment returns compared to other types of plans such as 401(k)s.

This Initiative is the most serious threat to public pensions ever put

forth in California! It creates very burdensome and expensive barriers for local government to continue pen-sions for their new employees. It also affects existing workers and can affect current retirees as existing retirement plans are closed to new employees. We need your help to try and defeat this initiative which would undermine all public sector workers, including teachers, nurses, police and firefight-ers. Please don’t be fooled by the proponents, and their deep pocket supporters, who use the media very effectively to put out their propaganda. Tell your family and friends not to sign the petition for this destructive Initiative! We will be providing future updates and additional information. Thank You for Your Help!

Kathy Dolan, Diane Miller, Lynell Burns

Lisa Coulson John Cronin

Carol Cushing Yolanda Daugherty David De LaTorre

Kenny Driver Frances Elder

Mary Anne Eliasz Kathleen Fast

Rigoberto Fernandez Corinne Flores William George Carol Halstead Dawn Harris

Steve Hinojos Martha Howard Kenneth Latner

Jacqueline Lawrence Kathleen Majors

Julie Maniord Clifford Matney Sandra Meyer Arthur Milian Michael Miller Dale Mondary Linda Olsen Mary Padilla Dolores Platt

Mark Plamondon Erlinda Pondivida

Gary Ragle Ruta Raterman

Nan Rigsby Lisa Rogan

Michael Roser Ronald Sanchez Kenneth Stang

Barbara Stevens Tammy toner-Niedert

Kenneth Szul Harold Terry

Lillian Tolerico Claudia Toth

Roberta Wertenberg Ricky Whitehead James Woodfield Cynnthia Wray Eileen Yancy

David Zinsmeyer

Tom and Pat Sharpe

Prime Time — Sept 2015 — Page 5

Ted and Maureen Waitish

Bob Morales, Diane Harkison

Ed and Rita Baumgertner Renee Lovato, Ted and Dorothy Lueking

Joseph Siles, Susan Malmberg

Fred Ransom, Sandra Davis Eva Schneider, Norma Crosby, Cynthia Burgess

Joe Gonzales

Pat Cole, Darin Woinarowicz

Bobbie Zamudio, Joelene Fogg

Millie Henson, Sally Lewis, Sue Shuey

Please enjoy these, and the other photographs in this issue, which were taken at the RESBC June Luncheon,

held at the Arrowhead Country Club Monday, June 15, 2015

Tom Potter speaking with attendees about RESBC survey.

Prime Time — Sept 2015 — Page 6

QUESTIONS FOR THE BOARD OF RETIREMENT?

Any questions you may have con-cerning your pension, or retirement, must be answered by SBCERA (Retirement Board). Please call 909-885-7980, or toll free 877-722-3721. There is also information on the SBCERA website: www.sbcera.org Address is: 348 W. Hospitality Lane, 3rd Floor, San Bernardino, CA 92415-0014.

SYMPATHY CARDS are sent to families of our members when-ever we are notified of a death. GET WELL CARDS are also sent to our members who are experi-encing health problems. Please call Carol Ceniceros at 909-731-2856, or you may e-mail her at: carolnray7@gmail.com, if you know of someone who would be cheered by receiving a card from RESBC.

There are always many things to do when you move to a new address. One of the most important is to let the Retire-ment Board know your new address so you won’t miss receiving your pension check. On their change of address form is a place for you to sign that authorizes them to release your new address to RESBC. It would also be wise to send RESBC a letter, or postcard, telling us directly that you have moved. Mail c h a n g e s t o : RESBC, PO Box 2323, San Bernar-dino, CA 92406-2323.

BEYOND RETIREMENT

(through August 17, 2015)

In Memoriam

John Baker Eugene Baum

Lucille I. Belcher Michael D. Black Margaret Blaikie

Bruce Brown Alma Caldwell

Stuart Campbell Russell Carter Lena Carver

Bertha Chatman Roger Cizewski

Mary Lou Clayton Evelyn Crawford

Ronald Dana Audrey Davenport

Eugene Dove Gale Duffy Virgil East

Margaret Garcia Mae Glider

Gilda Gustafson Edward Hawkes

Margaret Illingworth Mildred Jackson Lydia Kollman Noel Kordyak

Donahue Krout, Jr. Gary Kuhlman

Allan Larm Jacquelin Lawrence

John Lejuwaan Anna Lindeman John Lounsbury Tymothy Lowe Martin Macy

Thomas Magness Donald Mattson

Bonnie Mauk Myrna Medina Robert Mitchell

Lucille M. Olivares Jacqueline Osborne

Otis Pace Julia Pak

Bonnie Poynter Kerry Reed

Jose Renteria Wanda Gail Romprey

Lore Rugg Kathrine Timko Amy V. Trujillo

Ray Van Zanten Laurence Vaughan

Ramona Von Drott Kay Margil Wadley

Michael Wakefield Betty Walstrom Louise Walton

Cera White Howard Williams

LaWanda Williams Daniel Wypiszynski

“To live in the hearts we leave

behind is not to die.” ~Thomas Campbell

WINNERS—$20 DRAWING

Lynell Burns Merie Cooper Bobbie Cox Sharon Felix

Felicia Forman Susan Lacey Phillis Owens Linda Porter Tom Sharpe Jean Shaw

Coylia Jewett, Pat Barbosa

Pat McGinnis, Merie Cooper Pat Moody, Dick Lardin

Prime Time — Sept 2015 — Page 7

NEW MEETING/EVENT SCHEDULE BASED ON SURVEY RESULTS by Wes McDaniel Those who were at the June luncheon at Arrowhead Country Club know that Tom Potter was busy with a survey form, asking people to reflect upon our several-years-now pattern of monthly afternoon meetings at SBPEA featuring speakers and programs. This follows discussion during the spring, and musings in Prime Time, seeking input on po-tentially changing this pattern to one which is more varied in terms of dates, times, place, meal events, and special location visitations.

Part of the consideration is occasioned by the possibility that SBPEA, following the affiliation with Teamsters, may not be as predictably available in the future. It’s also driven by awareness that we have been rather unique in this regular non-meal programming. We re-ceive all of the other 1937 Act County retiree newsletters, and almost uniformly they meet every other month in a luncheon format, with some special events thrown in. And, not that we don’t appreciate the loyal attendance by our 30-some “regulars”, but there is interest in varying the routine and reaching out to those literally thousands of members in the Inland Empire alone who have not participated. Thus, the Executive Board met on June 29 at the home of Virginia Adams and Tom Potter (thanks, guys!) for an in-depth discussion of Tom’s findings and consideration of new directions. So, with a deep breath, we elected to jump into the deep water, beginning next spring, and try some new things. Then, next summer, we’ll examine the results and go from there. FALL 2015 For the fall, we will remain conventional, as follows: September 21 Standard Monday meeting at 1:30 pm at SBPEA. Our speaker will be Cesar Navarette of C.A.S.A. (see program announcement on cover of this Prime Time). October 26 Standard Monday meeting at 1:30 pm at SBPEA, featuring our usual October presentation by Steve Pettee, Pacific Agencies Group, discussing latest Supplemental Benefits’ package. November 16 Standard Monday meeting at 1:30 pm at SBPEA. Currently planned is an illuminating talk by Richard McInnis of the Historical Society on “How California, and San Bernardino County, got their shapes!” December 14 Usual Holiday luncheon, complete with Santa Claus, at Arrowhead Country Club. BUT, NOW COMES SPRING 2016 January Dark; no meeting. Essentially beginning variable scheduling. February 16 Meeting in the High Desert. Location and program/event under development. March 21 Meeting/visit at Norton AFB Museum, San Bernardino April Dark, no meeting. May 16 Spring Luncheon at Arrowhead Country Club; inauguration of new officers (unless there’s a recall earlier!). Note change from usual June date. June-August Dark; no meetings. Naturally, we will be discussing this new spring schedule at our fall meetings, and presenting additional informa-tion in Prime Time.

RETIRED EMPLOYEES OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY

P.O. BOX 2323 SAN BERNARDINO CA 92406-2323

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

DATED MATERIAL

Prime Time is published monthly from September through June (with a combined December/January issue) by the Retired Employees of San Bernardino County, P.O. Box 2323, San Bernardino, CA 92406-2323. Please send changes of address to the address above. Monthly dues are paid by payroll de-duction only. For information and/or a payroll deduction form, please con-tact Membership Recruitment Chair Gwen Ortiz at: gwenlynn77@aol.com Prime Time mailing list: Dora Goffman dgoffman63@aol.com Wes McDaniel, President, RESBC 909-499-3489 mcdcon@jps.net Virginia Adams Editor, Prime Time 909-790-7199 lvlyva@msn.com

NOTICE: The information pre-sented in Prime Time is believed to be from reliable sources. However, no responsibility is assumed by RESBC, the Editor, or the writers, for inaccuracies in articles pub-lished.

Spouses of deceased RESBC Members are eligible to become Associate Members of RESBC. If you would like more information, please contact our Membership Recruitment Chair Gwen Ortiz by writing her at P.O. Box 2323, San Bernardino, CA 92406-2323, or via e-mail: at gwenlynn77@aol.com.

Privacy Statement:

RESBC is very aware of the need for the privacy of its members and is committed to protecting your per-sonal information. The only infor-mation RESBC has about you is your name, mailing address, and payment of membership dues. RESBC does not sell or share our member list. RESBC does not dis-close any of this information about our members to third parties. The companies with which RESBC does business, such as LFG Solutions (for mailing Prime Time) and Pacific Group Agencies (supplemental in-surance) are obligated to keep your information confidential.

RESBC MISSION STATEMENT

As a voluntary non-profit associa-tion, the singular goal of the RE-TIRED EMPLOYEES OF SAN B E R N A R D I N O C O U N T Y (RESBC) is to support and cher-ish the obvious need to maintain and improve our quality of life during retirement. The focal points of RESBC are to: keep its members informed and knowl-edgeable about retiree issues and concerns; provide programs and information on topics that will give members insight into the challenges affecting seniors; and focus on benefits retirees have earned, and, in the process, fos-ter friendship and positive rela-tionships among all retirees.