T R E N D. J & S TRAVEL toll free (866) KERN FEDERAL CREDIT UNION or (661)

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1 T R E N D (Thinking Retired Employees Need Direction) Retired Employees of Kern County Volume MMVII-VI November December Jeanne Berkshire, President (661) M. L. Bennett, Editor (mlbennett36@sbcglobal.net) The year 2007 is rapidly drawing to an end; it s time to give thanks and recognize the members who have given so freely of their time, knowledge and energy. First, our heartfelt thanks go out to John De Mario for his years of service on the Retirement Board, representing us, the retirees. We are very grateful for all his work, obtaining and protecting our benefits and rights as well as keeping us informed over the years. We also want to thank Norman Briggs for his contribution as the alternate retiree member of the Retirement Board for several years. With years of experience working for and with retirees, Norm has agreed to seek election to replace John, and it is with great pride that I am endorsing him and urging all retirees to support him as well. Our thanks continue to go out to all the Helping Hands volunteers who work hard to make REOKC a beneficial entity to both its members and the community. I certainly want to thank our Board of Directors for the fine job they did this year and the members who regularly attend the monthly general meetings for all their support and encouragement. Health Insurance continues to be one of the greatest concerns for retirees, especially those under 65 years of age and not eligible for Medicare. As of this writing, we still do not have all the information from 1 the County. We do know that the Health Benefits Fair will be held on November 1st in the Kern County Administrative Building beginning at 1:00 p.m. Open enrollment for Health Insurance officially closes on November 16th. According to the Health Benefits Office, letters with additional information will be going out to all retirees prior to the Fair. With the approach of April, 2008, we once again want to acknowledge and thank the sponsors who have agreed to help meet some of the expenses incurred with hosting the CRCEA Conference: LIESTRONE MARKETING toll free (866) J & S TRAVEL toll free (866) jandstravel@wherewillyougonext.com KERN FEDERAL CREDIT UNION or (661) LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE or (661) WESTERN ASSET MANAGEMENT CO. 385 East Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA Our thanks also go out to the individual REOKC members who have so graciously contributed to the CRCEA fund to help make this conference a success. The November speaker will be Sandy Morris, who is with the Crime Prevention Division of the Bakersfield Police Department. Our entertainment for the December Christmas luncheon (held in Harvest Hall at the Kern County Fair Grounds) will once again be Harley s Bakersfield Country Band, which we all enjoyed at the July picnic this year. Come and join us at these luncheons and see old friends and meet new ones. See you there! Jeanne Berkshire

2 YOUR RETIREMENT BOARD by JOHN De MARIO Well, this is the last report I will be doing as your representative on the KCERA Board of Retirement. The next report will be from your new Board representative in the January issue. As I leave you, Mr. Norman Briggs was the only person to file for the Retirement Board and should be appointed by the Board of Supervisors to be the retiree representative. Norm has served REOKC as its 1 st Vice President and three terms as President. He has served as the retiree alternate to the Board Of Retirement for the past three years and was a major player in the Board of Retirement granting an increase in the Death Benefit from $1,000 to $3,000, he has been a firm watchdog to preserve SRBR benefits, and is an important member of the Retirement Board s search for a new benefit system. Norm has earned the respect of the general membership as well as those on the Board of Retirement. Mr. Norman Briggs is dedicated, and will provide retirees with exceptional representation on the KCERA Board of Retirement. When Norm and I got together to discuss his running for the Board of Retirement, we both wondered who would step forward to assist Norm as the alternate retiree Board of Retirement member that would do for him what he had done for me. Norm, as the alternate retiree Retirement Board member, chaired the Information Technology Committee, and was a member of the Audit/Actuary Committee and the Investment Committee. He has shown due diligence, making trips to oversee investment managers, and has provided retiree viewpoints to the Board of Retirement on many other subjects. In other words, we worked as a team to provide retirees with full representation. Enter Mr. Phil Franey; Phil had served on the KCERA Board of Retirement for the past 20+ years. Mr. Franey, as the elected County Treasurer/Tax Collector since 1986, had acted 2 as interim director of KCERA three times during the search for new directors and as a statutory Board of Retirement member. Mr. Franey, during those years, was a primary supporter of the SRBR 1, SRBR 2, and SRBR 3 benefits for retirees, as well as a supporter of the increase in the Death Benefit from $1,000 to $3,000. Mr. Franey retired from public office in January 2007 and started his retirement by playing golf with old friends and surfing at the Beach. Phil contacted Norm and asked if there was any thing he could do to help the retirees, and at a later meeting when presented with the fact that there was a need for a team player as the alternate retiree Board of Retirement member, he agreed to run for the alternate retiree Board of Retirement position. During the past 20+ years, Mr. Franey has served on every committee, held every chairmanship, and worked on every benefit package ever formed by KCERA during that time period. During the years Mr. Franey has served on the KCERA Board of Retirement, he has earned a reputation for his honesty and integrity and his dedication to the Retirement Fund. When you receive your Board of Retirement ballot in November 2007, both Norm Briggs and I urge you to vote for Mr. Phil Franey for the Alternate Retiree Board of Retirement member. Make your vote count; vote Phil Franey to complete the team. I want to thank all of you for your support and assistance, it has been a very great honor and a pleasure to represent retirees on the Retirement Board. I hope to see all of you at one of REOKC meetings and if I can ever be of help to any of you, please contact me via the Internet at jjdmario@aol.com. Thank you for the best time of my retirement and god bless all of you. There is no greater blessing than a friend who s there when good times aren t. Author Unknown

3 DO YOU Community HAVE INTERNET Service ACCESS? TREND Summer is LIST almost IS here. GROWING Some of us will be planning vacations and expecting family visits. Volunteers unable to Thanks work their to all regular of you shifts who have or who signed would up like for to trade for membership a different week in the Trend should contact list. Mary We are Lou almost Bennett, , as up soon to saving as possible $ to enable per timely year scheduling. and that s not chump change! Also, we would like to enhance the volunteer program with a list We of retirees need to who keep can this be floaters "trend" to going. fill in : for ) the regular volunteers So, if you needing have time internet off. access, Anyone please interested in helping and becoming Norman a Briggs volunteer, to sign either up and a floater help our or regular, budget. should contact Mary Lou at the above number. To receive the TREND newsletter electronically: Regular volunteers only work 3 to 6 hours per month at Send the County an Administration to briggs1937@sbcglobal.net Building s information with booth. Floaters your name, would only current work mailing occasionally address when and regular your volunteers were address. absent. (Subject: It s a rewarding TREND experience mailing list). so please OR: help us out and call Mary Lou at Our thanks to all who are helping Send a so letter many with people your each name month and find their way address around to: the Administrative REOKC complex. A job well done! P.O. Box 2592 Bakersfield, CA ~Mary Lou Bennett Host/Hostess Program During the month of August 2007, 35 volunteers worked 104 hours assisting 986 visitors at the County Administrative Building. UPCOMING EVENTS Nov 7 KCERA-Investment/Regular 8:30 am Board Meeting County Admin. Bldg. Nov 13 REOKC Board Meeting 10:00 am Wilson Road Vets Hall Nov 13 REOKC General Meeting 11:30 am Lunch served 12:00 noon Wilson Road Vets Hall *** Dec 11 Christmas Lunch 11:30 am Kern County Fair Grounds Harvest Hall Harley s Bakersfield Country Band Installation of 2008 Officers Dec 12 KCERA-Investment/Regular 8:30 am Board Meeting County Admin. Bldg. During the month of September 2007, 27 volunteers worked 81 hours assisting 761 visitors at the County Administrative Building. Since 1992 our volunteers have assisted more than 252,000 visitors to the County Administrative Complex at 1115 Truxtun Ave.! There is always a need for additional volunteers. Please contact Mary Lou at if interested. IMPORTANT NOTICE Due to the increase in attendance at the monthly luncheons/meetings, it may be necessary to move our meeting place next year from the Wilson Road Veteran s Hall to the Norris Road Veteran s Hall. We are still in the process of finalizing this move and will update you as soon as possible. Our request has been filed and we are hoping to have approval before the end of November, Your Board of Directors 3 LUNCHEON MENU November 13th, 2007 Meat Loaf Mashed Potatoes and Gravy Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce Tossed Green Salad Rolls Chocolate Cake Iced Tea, Coffee, Water December 11th, 2007 Turkey & Ham Dinner with Stuffing and Cranberry Sauce Yams Mashed Potatoes and Gravy Green Beans Rolls - Cheesecake Iced Tea, Coffee, Water

4 PAYROLL DEDUCTION FOR MONTHLY LUNCHEON SAVE A BUCK!! If you sign up for payroll deduction for your luncheon cost, you will only be charged $4.00 If you buy a ticket at the luncheon, it will cost $5.00. AUTHORIZATION FOR DEDUCTION RETIRED EMPLOYEES OF KERN COUNTY, INC. MEMBERSHIP DUES I hereby authorize and direct you to deduct five dollars ($5.00) per month from my pension warrant as an additional elective payment to the Retired Employees of Kern County, Inc. This deduction shall commence with the next pension payment. I understand that this authorization and membership in the Retired Employees of Kern County, Inc. organization is voluntary and may be revoked by me, in writing, at any time in the future. Name Social Security # Signature Date signed WELCOME! NEW MEMBERS OF THE RETIRED EMPLOYEES OF KERN COUNTY Barbara Crawford Human Services, Julia Garcia Sheriff, Gerard Gomez Probation, Teresa Kitchen Child Support, Melissa Lance Mental Health, Josie Luminarias Human Services, Albert Albiar Fire, William Dillon Waste Mgmt., Fred Hendryx Fire, Ellen Hurst Health, Kathleen Kress Superior Court, Warren Leleaux S. J. Valley UAP, Erlinda Matthews- Superior Court, Glenn Nakashima Fire, Sharon Nuckolls General Services, Jutta Presley-Human Services, Isabel Rodriguez Human Services, Michael Rosengren Mental Health, Evan Shipp S. J. Valley UAP, Peggy Volkers District Attorney Beneficiaries: Robert Davis Probation, Robert Smith Treasurer- Tax Coll., Charles Pierce-Human Services, Joy Porter- Mental Health (Send to: KCERA, 1115 Truxtun Ave., Bakersfield, CA ) Application for Membership in REOKC and Authorization for Deduction of Dues I receive a retirement and/or survivor s allowance from Kern County. I hereby authorize the Kern County Employees Retirement Association to deduct from my monthly retirement benefits, dues of one-dollar ($1.00) per month for my membership in REOKC, and to pay such deductions monthly to that organization. Name (print) Address City State Zip Telephone ( ) SSN Signature Date (Send to: KCERA, 1115 Truxtun Ave., Bakersfield, CA ) 4 WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER OUR DECEASED REOKC MEMBERS: Mary A. Burke Supervisorial District John Harries Weights & Measures Bob Harrington Probation Sandra Parris Deferred/Reciprocal Archie Porter Mental Health Services Eva Ramirez KMC Donnie Skaggs Human Services John Sloas Sheriff Allen Williamson General Services Selena Barber KMC Cecile Brashier Auditor-Controller Allen Graham Waste Mgmt Enterprise Fund Charles Heath Fire Claudetta Herman KMC Donald Hill Fire Joyce Hotz Farm and Home Advisor Ethel Musick Human Services Audrey Pierce Human Services Dennis Sceales Planning/Development Charles Swartz Sheriff

5 KERN COUNTY HISTORY Come with me! We ll enjoy a journey back to 1887 and live a part of Kern County history. The only way we can get around Bakersfield is to walk, ride a bicycle, ride a horse or travel in some kind of animaldrawn carriage. Bakersfield has grown since the 1860s and 70s. Our city fathers have instigated a municipal transportation system. The Bakersfield and Sumner Street Railroad (sic) made its debut in Join me as we watch streetcar tracks laid on ties fashioned from tree trunks and fence posts or whatever wood is applicable. We feel privileged when we ride in our new-fangled horse-drawn streetcars which have the right-of-way over all other things on the streets. I haven t heard anybody complain about inclement weather when we ride in the open-sided cars. Smell the poignant odor drifting from blacksmith shops as we pass through downtown. We agree, we don t enjoy the smell of fresh manure as we ride down Chester Avenue and 19th Street on hot summer days. Come on, let s ride to the end of the line. We ll board at the Court House (located on the site of the future City Hall) and ride to the barn at 19th Street and Union Avenue. A ticket is a whopping 25 cents one way. That s a lot of money, but we ll pay the price. It s amazing how things change. Our streetcars have been replaced with electric trolley cars. Trolley cars, like their animal-drawn predecessor, can t turn around when they arrive at the end of the line. Stand out of the way with me while the conductor flips the seat backs to face forward for the return trip. It s amazing how our trolley cars are designed for the conductor to operate from either end, depending on which direction the cars are traveling. I won t complain, if you won t, about the hard wooden seats. It was fun standing with you on the sidewalk after dark, watching sparks flying from trolley arms gliding along the cables stretched over the streets. It s always fun to watch people jump out of the way when they hear the clang, clang, clang of the trolley bells. We traveled in our streetcars and trolley cars for over half a century. Automobiles and buses are the demise of our rail system. We were saddened when we saw old Number 17 roll into the barn at 19th Street and Union Avenue for the last time, February 28, Our trolley cars were unceremoniously scrapped. Why didn t one of us have the foresight to 5 save one for our Kern County Pioneer Village? Opportunity knocks but once. Thanks for traveling with me. I enjoyed your company! By WALTER E. STEWART HELPING HANDS PROFILES Walter Stewart is well known to most of us because of his articles on KERN COUNTY HISTORY which appear in almost every issue of this newsletter. What some of you might not know, however, is that he is the artist who does the drawings of our Officers and Directors which appear in our newsletter also. A native of Bakersfield, born and raised here, Walter graduated from Kern County Union High School (KC), served two years in the Navy during World War II and was stationed in the South Pacific. After the war, he received his B.A. in Education from the California College of Arts in Oakland and taught high school for one year in Stockton. He next worked ten years for Standard Oil and then became a Kern County employee in 1961 for General Services. He later transferred to Public Works from which he retired in 1992 with the title of Architectural Engineer and Drafting Technician. He and his wife, Betty, were married in 1954 in the town of Taft, California. They have a son, Mark, a daughter, Carol, and five grandchildren. He is a charter member of the Peter Lebeck Chapter of the Ancient Order of E Clampus Vitus and has had many articles on historical and current events published. Walter became involved in REOKC soon after his retirement and has since filled positions of Director and Vice President on our Board, worked as a volunteer at the Information Desk at the Kern County Administration Center and consistently does a wonderful job in leading the Pledge of Allegiance at our Meetings. We are very proud and thankful to have such an accomplished and knowledgeable author, artist and gentleman as a member of REOKC.

6 HEALTHY NOTES Medicare Beware by Audrey Cochran, RNCS,CCCN Medicare was negotiated with the American Medical and Hospital Associations to provide care for citizens 65 years of age and older, for acute care only and on a cost plus basis. Not very clever. Costs soared with unnecessary surgeries, because doctors only got paid when they did something, and for referrals for tests to laboratories, often owned by the prescribing doctor. Then price controls on fees were instituted, and referrals to one s own lab forbidden. Legislation encouraging formation of Medicare HMOs was passed, with the money saving promise that HCFA would agree to pay 95% of their existing average costs for Medicare patients in a given geographical area, and the HMOs would attract subscribers by promising to cover the annual co-pay for hospitalization and other incidentals so a supplementary policy wouldn t be necessary. Unnecessary procedures would be eliminated by requiring members to have a primary care doctor who would determine the need for them. But care was capitated, i.e. a doctor given a fixed sum per patient to take care of those assigned to them. The less care they gave and the fewer referrals they made, the more money they got to keep. So denials for care are frequent and appeals take so long sometimes the subscriber dies before they are treated. But not to worry, corporate profits are soaring. Ralph Nader called Medicare HMOs insurance companies in drag because their goal, he said, was to make money for their investors so their executives could reap huge bonuses. If you have any doubts just Google United Health, Humana, or WellPoint and pick the Big Charts option and you ll see how their stock prices soared. In addition, HMO members are not a typical cross section of seniors. Prospective subscribers were offered free pie and coffee to come hear the pitch, thus eliminating anyone too sick to get in their car and drive to the chosen restaurant. Cherry picking this is called. And the ones who sign up then get sick, desperate after denials for needed care, often return to regular Medicare if they live that long. They used to have this option monthly, but the HMOs used their legislative influence to put a stop to that so now it s just once a year, in December. 6 Keep in mind, CMS (the former HCFA) now pays Medicare Advantage programs (at one time called Medicare Plus), 125% of what Medicare subscribers cost so you re going to face some high pressure sales pitches. The October 2007 AARP Bulletin has an article Don t Fall for the Hard Sell which is a must read before you make your election in the November- December annual free-to-chose period. Be especially wary of the new PFFS (private fee for service) plans, which allow you to go to any doctor or hospital accepting their terms, because very few have agreed to do so. You can get unbiased advice from or if you lack Internet, phone the local HICAP program of Kern Aging and Adult Services, KERN COUNTY FAIR VOLUNTEERS Thanks to the following volunteers, we are once again able to use the Harvest Hall at the Kern County Fair Grounds for our Christmas Luncheon this year without paying the usual fee; saving us over $2,000: Kathy Puryear Larry Hundsdorfer Mary Lou Bennett Ginger Carpenter Harold Dominguez Jeanne Berkshire Ellie Wells Helen Dodd Belva Jared Roger Hargis Dut Dauwalder Bill Barnhart Billie Laughlin Kathy Stanier Lois Gastineau Clara Bishop Charles Mello Brenda Preston Linda Knowles Earlene Smith Bob Edwards Karen Yingst Jean Park Walter Stewart Loretta Beller Ken Berkshire Mary Ann Hundsdorfer Margaret Barberena Margaret Dominguez Barbara Goodlow Regina Hoelscher Lois Maujer Jerry Dodd Opal Hargis Mary Thorp Mary Kofahl Patty Barnhart Carole Rugnao Lillian Smith Robert Jones Kathy Ervin Ginger Mello Georgia Morgan Vivian Kuhn Anna Slack Harold Yingst Mildred Moore Cheryl Richards Thelda Carnahan Bobbie Palmer

7 KERN FEDERAL CREDIT UNION MEMBERSHIP: A GREAT WAY TO WARM UP Membership with Kern FCU is just like having a hot cup of cocoa on a chilly day... it s warm and reassuring it hits the spot. Membership is open to all Kern County residents. Take the chill off with Kern FCU Membership Open an account or refer someone for membership you ll both be entered into a drawing for a $500 Visa Gift Card! Plus, everyone who joins Kern FCU between October 1 December 31, 2007, will be entered into a drawing for 30 seconds in our money booth!* Watch your savings grow with: Regular Savings Certificates Money Markets IRAs Youth Accounts % Open any additional savings account and you ll get another chance into the drawing to win THE $500 Visa Gift Card! To open an account today, stop by one of our branch offices, log on to or call (661) *Complete promotional details and official rules are available online, at

8 Retired Employees of Kern County PRST-ST P.O. Box 2592 U.S. POSTAGE PAID Bakersfield, CA BAKERSFIELD, CA PERMIT NO. 349 November/December 2007 Time Dated Material Official Newsletter of The Retired Employees of Kern County Inc. November Luncheon Reservation November 13, 2007 at 11:30 a.m., Southwest Veterans Hall, 1905 Wilson Road. If you wish, you may use this form to order tickets for this luncheon. Please send your check, made payable to REOKC, together with a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Doris Smith, 2500 Drake, Bakersfield, CA Deadline for reservations is the Wednesday prior to the luncheon (11/7/2007). Phone reservations are not accepted. You may cancel your reservations by calling Doris at prior to the deadline. Cancellations after the deadline cannot be refunded. Member s name ($5.00) Spouse ($5.00) Guest ($7.00) Total tickets Amount enclosed $ December Luncheon Reservation December 11, 2007 at 11:30 a.m., held at Harvest Hall, Kern County Fairgrounds. Enter at the Ming Ave. entrance and park inside the fairgrounds. If you wish, you may use this form to order tickets for this luncheon. Please send your check, made payable to REOKC, together with a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Doris Smith, 2500 Drake, Bakersfield, CA Deadline for reservations is the Wednesday prior to the luncheon (12/5/2007). Phone reservations are not accepted. You may cancel your reservations by calling Doris at prior to the deadline. Cancellations after the deadline cannot be refunded. Member s name ($10.00) Spouse($10.00) (Members and Spouses Only No Guests) Total tickets Amount enclosed $