National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association

Ventura County Chapter 190

General Meeting, January 28, 2010

Meeting called to order at 12:00 p.m. by President Tony Pizza. He spoke about the death of our dear friend and long time Board member, Marilou Balangue, who passed away on December 31, 2009. Marilou did so much for our NARFE chapter.

1st v.p. Juanita Davis read the invocation and led the pledge to the flag.

Tony introduced member Vie Johnson who is a volunteer tax preparer under the auspices of AARP and the IRS. The service is free! He spoke on some of the many changes for the 2009 tax year. There is no distribution required for your IRA in 2009. We all need to read the booklet carefully so that we can take advantage of the changes. There are new Schedules that can be used to save us money. If you do your own return, Vie said that the volunteers would review it for you so that you pay the lowest possible tax. Take all your info to them and let them do it in the first place. There is no charge for the service and they are well trained. They will file the forms for you electronically or you may mail the paper copies and there is no charge to you for their service. Confidentiality is observed and you take all your information home with you.

2nd v,p, George Ramirez said that Federal retirees and public coverage for healthcare would not be mixed. This is good for us.  He said the program for February would be on luggage. March will be Christine Stitt.

Submitted by Secretary Mary Ellen De Luca