RETIRED EMPLOYEES OF KERN COUNTY

MINUTES OF BOARD MEETING

November 9, 2004

President, Norman Briggs, called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m.

ROLL CALL: Mary Lou Bennett, Jeanne Berkshire, Norman Briggs, Opal Hargis, Lois Maujer, Ginger Mello, David Merritt, Walter Stewart and Elinor Wells

OTHERS PRESENT: Dut Dauwalder, Belva Jared, Everett Julkowski and Earlene Smith

President, Norman Briggs, called a closed session of the Board Meeting. During this time, a discussion was held that the Board had not voted on appointing Earlene Smith to replace Dolores Christian for the remainder of her term. Numerous members of the Board felt that it was final that Earlene would complete the term for Dolores. MOTION by David Merritt to appoint Earlene Smith to the remaining term of Dolores Christian, which is a one year, seconded by Jeanne Berkshire and CARRIED.

President, Norman Briggs, asked for the other people present to return to the meeting after the closed session was completed. President, Norman Briggs, informed Earlene Smith that the Board had officially appointed her to replace Dolores Christian.

MOTION by David Merritt to approve the October General Meeting minutes with the correction of the spelling of Earlene Smith’s first name and to state Earlene Smith will be considered to complete the term of Dolores Christian, seconded by Elinor Wells and CARRIED. President, Norman Briggs, quickly read over the October Board Minutes. MOTION by Jeanne Berkshire to receive the October Board Minutes with corrections, seconded by Mary Lou Bennett and CARRIED. The following are the corrections:

NEWSLETTER – A discussion was held regarding a column from Audrey Cochran which is a health issue. The words health issue should read health column.

GUEST SPEAKER – ERIC BARTHEL – At this time there are 4 different providers for retirees. This should be changed to read there are 4 different providers for retirees over 65. After Eric spoke, the meeting was continued where it was stopped and Eric ran an errand and was to be back in time to speak to our members at the General Meeting. The sentence should read: After Eric spoke, the Board meeting continued and Eric ran an errand.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE – Earline Smith will be appointed by the Board to complete the term of Dolores Christian. The correction is Earline to Earlene and Earlene will be considered for appointment by the Board at their next meeting to complete the term of Dolores Christian.

BOARD OF RETIREMENT – RETIREE POSITION - John DeMario and Norman Briggs are the only ones running for the above position. Should read: John DeMario and

Norman Briggs are running for the Board of Directors Position and Alternate Position for KCERA. As there are no other parties there will be no election for these positions.

CRCEA – Everett Julkowski stated that he was not able to attend the conference due to illness. Doris Williams stated that it was excellent, one of the best conferences that she has ever attended. Everett commented that this was the first time that the conference had such a diversified program. The spring conference will be held in March in Long Beach. Everett will have a report in January 2005. Yvonne Blansfield, the office manager for CRCEA was hospitalized shortly after the conference with a malignant melanoma and all office work is on a back burner. President, Norman Briggs, commented that he has the presentation made at the conference by our law firm and has the ability to put it up on our Web Site. The presentation was regarding what a 1937 Act county can do politically if they are organized the correct way. Opal Hargis commented that most of the people were still there on the third day. Everett stated that that is very unusual.

CCAPE- Blue O’Connor reported that he has to go to the Laborer’s Hall tonight for a meeting regarding a squabble over a new court system building. They are trying to build a new Federal Court Building in the area where CCAPE’s office is. There are no requests from CCAPE to REOKC.

HOST/HOSTESS PROGRAM – For the month of October, 31 volunteers worked 95 hours and assisted 1,659 visitors to the County Administration Building. Mary Lou reported that she thinks that this is the most visitors in a month since the program began. Helen Dodd worked a 6 hour shift one day and assisted 222 visitors. President, Norman Briggs reported that he had met with Bill Wilbanks several months ago alerting him to the fact that the Parks and Recreation Department was going to start charging us and that it would have an impact on our cost of this facility. Bill told Norman not to worry about it and Norman said OK but I will be back if something happens. Nothing has officially happened yet. Norman read an e-mail from Bill Wilbanks stating that it is unlikely that they will agree to wave the fee. Bill Wilbanks stated that depending on the amount, he would see if his office can backfill the charges to REOKC. The information desk is a good public relations vehicle for us but if they want the desk to be manned then they need to support us. Norman asked the Board what their feelings are on how tough Norman should be regarding the fee increase. The feeling is to be very tough. Mary Lou Bennett stated that she will get the information of each month over the last year and estimate how much time she has put into doing the telephoning and scheduling each month over the last year and send it to Norman. The Board was emphatic about the fact that we are exempted from the fees or we will no longer do the Host/Hostess Program.

MONTHLY PROGRAM – Jeanne Berkshire announced that someone from CALM will be at the meeting today. Tom Anspach was out of town and Jeanne talked to Lana Fain who stated that someone would be here today to speak about CALM and the 2 million lights. President, Norman Briggs, told Jeanne that in the future he might be interested in doing a monthly program on the presentation that the law firm had made at the CRCEA Conference.

NEWSLETTER – President, Norman Briggs, announced that the next deadline for the TREND would be December 15^th.

KCERA – Wanda Castro was not in attendance.

COMMUNICATIONS –Newsletters from the Bakersfield Homeless Center, 2 items from Kern County Museum, 2 items from Bakersfield Rescue Mission, and 5 County Newsletters. Also received was a change of address for the TREND and a request by snail mail for the TREND to be sent by e-mail.

OLD BUSINESS:

STATUS OF PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE – Secretary, Ginger Mello, sent the minutes of the November 3^rd meeting to all the principal participants. President, Norman Briggs, commented that the first few meetings that were held were very informal and this time he made out an agenda. This agenda consisted of introductions, what the goals and purposes of these quarterly meetings are, and a name for our committee. Secretary, Ginger Mello, will also be Secretary for this committee. Health insurance and benefits are at the top of everybody’s list.

PAC UPDATE – President, Norman Briggs, stated that we have a legal opinion that we do have the ability to do a PAC. We can either make REOKC a PAC or make a PAC as an umbrella under REOKC. President, Norman Briggs, handed over the original incorporation papers to Secretary, Ginger Mello. It is not the original papers but has the original signatures. A copy of this was sent to the law firm and they determined that we are a 501(C)(4). Political activity can not be our main purpose but it can be secondary. President, Norman Briggs, reported on exactly what AB111 and SB 270 mean to REOKC and other 1937 Act Counties. AB111 states that the administration has to give "reasonable advance notice" to the retiree organization when there are going to be changes to the health premiums or benefits. SB270 states that the retirees should receive "reasonable advance notice" of any proposed changes to the retirement benefits offered by the system or the use of excess funds of the retirement system. President, Norman Briggs, stated that when David Merritt was President he sent a letter to Bill Douglas informing him of AB111 and David received a letter from Scott Jones that he was in receipt of David’s letter. This letter was dated January 11, 2002. Again we were given a five day notice. President, Norman Briggs, had to plead for a sixth day so that the Board could meet. MOTION by Jeanne Berkshire to request that our law firm write a letter to Kern County Administration Office strong enough that they will realize that REOKC wants adequate notice, seconded by Elinor Wells and CARRIED. President, Norman Briggs, stated that he would like to make sure that the PAC is set up properly. MOTION by Jeanne Berkshire to have the law firm set up as a separate entity as a PAC under the umbrella of REOKC with a common Board and possibly a separate Treasurer, seconded by Walter Stewart and CARRIED.

RENTAL OF OFFICE SPACE – Everett Julkowski is looking around the downtown area with parking space. Everett stated that he needs to know how much square footage is needed and whether we want office space divided into rooms or one big room. Everett feels that the Credit Union space has already been allotted. Everett is leaning on three separate office spaces within one. One for general reception and information, one for computer and files and one for work space.

FEE INCREASE – This was covered under Host/Hostess Program.

GIFT FOR MEMBERSHIP – Everett is taking care of this at home.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE BALLOTS – Opal Hargis has the ballots for voting. It was asked if the Officers could be voted in by acclimation. At this time, Dut Dauwalder remarked that since he is one of the three people who are to be voted for, if he withdrew his name then the election could be by acclimation. This was not accepted. Opal Hargis stated that she would rather not be involved in counting the ballots since her name is on the ballot. Walter Stewart and Mary Lou Bennett volunteered to do the counting. The ballots are going to be collected prior to the Program and counted and then announced during the meeting.

MEMBERSHIP CHAIRMAN – Secretary, Ginger Mello, commented that this was a topic spoken on at the CRCEA Conference. Ginger stated that maybe this would be a position that we would like to have to take over some of the responsibilities that Treasurer, John DeMario is doing. The person could send out the letters to the new retirees that John is sending out now. We will keep the membership idea but let’s think about it.

ALTERNATE TO THE ALTERNATE – CRCEA – Secretary, Ginger Mello, was concerned about having a delegate at the conference. Everett Julkowski explained that there is no procedure for having any more than one alternate. If the Board wants to designate another person to be the representative in a case where both the Delegate and the Alternate Delegate cannot be in attendance, then that can be done.

ANNOUNCEMENTS – The next meeting will be the Christmas Luncheon. Doris Smith has the luncheon tickets and Secretary, Ginger Mello, is taking care of the program and the Directory.

TREASURER – MOTION by David Merritt to pay the bills, seconded by Mary Lou Bennett and CARRIED.

MOTION by Lois Maujer to adjourn the meeting at 10:44 a.m., seconded by David Merritt and CARRIED.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,

 Ginger Mello, Secretary