The Florida Alliance for Retired American's Quarterly Executive Board Meeting
September 17th, 2009
Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites, Tampa Florida
Florida CFO, Alex Sink (left); FLARA President, Tony Fransetta (center) and ARA State Organizer, Jennifer Kenny (right); photo by Tony Kiwak
FLARA MEMBERS AT EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING, SEPTEMBER 17TH; photo by Tony Kiwak
KEN WOOD, PRES. IBT, LOCAL 79; SOUTHERN V.P. OF IBT; photo by Tony Kiwak
CAROL ANN LOEHNDORF, FLARA 2ND V.P.; photo by Tony Kiwak
MARNA DAVIDSON, FLARA's Treasurer & UFT (left); PHYLLIS LAPIDUS, FLARA Trustee & AFT (center); and YVONNE GARRITY, FLARA Exec. Dir. (right); photo by Jennifer Kenny
Summary of September 17th's Executive Board Meeting (by Daneen Regna, FLARA Board Member)
Report
The Florida Alliance for Retired Americans
Quarterly Executive Board Meeting
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Tampa. Florida
After opening exercises President Tony Fransetta gave his report, beginning with the FLARA healthcare reform meeting held in Delray Beach, August 20, at the Civic Center. Although the meeting wasn’t scheduled to begin until afternoon opponents of Obama’s healthcare plan began arriving at 10 A.M. in an attempt to fill all of the seats which has a seating capacity of 500 people. According to the Palm Beach Post nearly 2,000 people showed up for the event. This was a ticketed event; however, some of the reserved tickets must have been picked up by others, because when some of the retiree leaders showed up their tickets were already gone. It was reported to FLARA officials that approximately 250 protesters were bused in and put up overnight at the Ritz Carlton in Malapan. It was reported that their expenses had been paid for by insurance companies. In spite of this the meeting went smoothly as president Fransetta did not answer questions from the floor, but the questions had to be written up and turned in earlier. Fransetta did read and answer some of the questions that were submitted by the opposition, however. Legislative Director Tony Kiwak’s report also contained some very interesting information concerning prescription drug companies. In his report entitled “Drug Companies Pay to Get Doctor’s Orders” he mentions that there is an online database that lists how much Eli Lilly & Co. paid physicians for their expertise during the first quarter of 2009. This information was disclosed as part of a $1.4 billion settlement with the federal government earlier this year. The doctors were paid as representatives to talk to fellow doctors over dinners and “lunch and learns.” They were to promote Lily’s drugs, i.e. Cymbalta, Zyprexa and Cialis. According to the report Lily spread $22 million among 3400 health care providers nationwide during the first three months of the year. For each dollar paid to physicians Lily made $12 in additional prescription sales. One Tampa physician said she made extra money during the first quarter by speaking to her colleagues at about $2000 an appearance. Lily has an annual cap on payments of $75,000 a year. Several states do require drug companies to disclose physician gifts valued at as little as $25. Senator Charles Grassley has proposed a federal law which would make drug makers’ payments to doctor’s public to patients.
Treasurer Marna Davidson reported that due to the weak economy we have received only about half of what we normally would in dues money. We need to encourage all unions who are in arrears to pay their dues for this year. FLARA is taking economic measures to help overcome our reduced income. One of those cost-cutting measures is, we have let our web page designer go, and Yvonne Garrrity has taken over that responsibility.
Guest speakers were: State
Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink. CFO Sink reported that the Florida Senate had unanimously passed a bill to protect senior citizens from insurance fraud (annuities); however, one person in the House was able to keep the bill from passing. When asked to name that person she said it was Representative Pat Patterson out of Central Florida. It was mentioned that he is an insurance professional. The biggest reported problem is insurance companies selling annuities to senior citizens that will not mature for years into the future. Most of the annuities will not mature for 15-20 years. There is a 15%-20% penalty for getting your money back. The length of the surrender period is tied to the insurance agent’s fee for selling the product. The agent’s fee is paid up front by the insurance company. Before you invest get a 2nd opinion from a trusted source. For additional information you can log on to myfloridacfo.com. This is Alex Sink’s web site.
State Representative Betty Reed, D-59 said that almost everything that she had intended to say had already been reported. She did add that she was opposed to offshore drilling and also the new fee increases (driver’s licenses, etc.).
Richard Polangin, FLARA’s Director of Government Affairs said that none of our bills advanced during the last state legislative session. ·The Affordable Senior Housing bill failed. Representative Hozel didn’t allow it to be heard in the House. ·A resolution asking Congress to ask for Universal Affordable Healthcare was not heard in committee. Richard also reported that the administrative costs for Medicare are 3% as opposed to 15%-20% for private companies. We are in support of the contention that it would be more cost effective that the age to enter Medicare be lowered as opposed to establishing a whole new program.
Jenny Kenny reported that we should begin to watch the Florida legislative web sites to see what bills are being filed. One bill that bears watching is to exempt the state of Florida from having to obey Federal laws.
Ken Wood, IBT, Local 79 and Southern V.P. of IBT stated that pensions can be in danger due to the previous federal administration. Many of our new members don’t understand how we got where we are and he emphasized those retirees who created what we have that is good have to be vigilant to keep it going.
Lisa Tilson, SEIU said that her organization had collected personal healthcare stories. Lunch was sponsored by Frank Barrella, IBIS Financial. He and his fellow representative Todd Orloff gave a power point presentation entitled Empowering Clients Through Strategic Insurance, Wealth and Estate Planning Solutions. The presentation generally covered long term care and associated problems. Annuities were also addressed briefly by this team, but the main topic was long term care and the financial burdens encountered by families because long term care is a family issue.
“According to a 2007 study by the AARP, 52 million caregivers provided unpaid care to family and friends valued at an estimated $375 billion, risking their own health and financial security.” 1
“The typical caregiver in the United States is a 46 year old woman working outside the home who provides more than 20 hours per week of eldercare to her mother.” 2
Mr. Barrella and Mr. Orloff took notes as to our concerns and may have more information for us at our December 4 meeting in West Palm Beach.1Improving Long-Term Care and Care for Chronic Conditions, AARP, 20092Valuing the Invaluable: The Economic Value of Family Caregiving, 2008 Update, AARP
Respectfully submitted, Daneen RegnaFLARA Board memberFEA-R Advisory Board District 10 DirectorUTD Retired Chapter Immediate Past President
MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Meeting called to order by President Tony Fransetta who led the Pledge of Allegiance and Silent Prayer. Attendance Sheet was passed around and checked off by individual board members. Motion was made to accept Minutes of FLARA’s last Meeting of June 1st and 2nd.Motion moved by Harold Labell; seconded by Tony Kiwak; Minutes approved unanimously.
President’s Report was presented by President Tony Fransetta. Motion was made to accept the President’s Report by Tony Kiwak; seconded by Harold Labell and the report was unanimously approved.The President’s Report was passed out at the meeting, for additional copies contact FLARA’s office. (see below link for President's Report)
Legislative Report was presented by Tony Kiwak, FLARA’s Legislative Director.A motion was made to accept the Legislative Report by Mark Boston; seconded by John Morris and the report was unanimously approved.The Legislative Report was passed out at the meeting; for copies, please contact FLARA’s office. (see below link for Legislative Report)
Carol Ann Loehndorf (AFSCME) was recommended by President Fransetta to serve as FLARA 2nd V.P.Carol Ann spoke on her background with various organizations and unions and how she became involved with FLARA.A motion was made to accept President Fransetta’s recommendation by Phyllis Lapidus; seconded by Marna Davidson and was unanimously approved. Brian Dempsey, UAW, Gainesville area requested to speak to the FLARA board.Mr. Dempsey is running for Secretary-Treasurer of the Florida AFL-CIO.Mr. Dempsey spoke about FLARA’s footprint within the state. Treasurer’s report was presented by Marna Davidson. For a copy of the financial report, please contact FLARA’s office.Phyllis Lapidus moved to accept the Treasurer’s Report, Bob Meeks seconded; report unanimously approved. Guest Speaker, Alex Sink, CFO spoke to the members about the current financial status of Florida.
FLARA’s Government Affairs Director, Richard Polangin reported on two failed bills: affordable senior housing and the health care resolution bill.He also spoke on FLARA’s resolution (copy on back page of President’s Report) public option plan expanding Medicare.A motion moved by Carol Ann Loehndorf to accept FLARA’s resolution; seconded by Mark Boston; motion passed.Sarah Jones CSEA retirees, local 952, wanted to go on record as voting against resolution. Guest speaker State Representative, Betty Reed, Hillsborough County, D-59.Representative Reed spoke about the previous Legislative session. Ken Wood, President IBT, Local 79, spoke on health care reform, pensions being in jeopardy and the Employee Free Choice Act. Lisa Tilson, SEIU Retirees, spoke on health care reform and town hall meetings. Jennifer Kenny, ARA State Organizer, reported on the various activities of FLARA members on healthcare reform.Richard Polangin moved to accept report, Mark Boston seconded, motion approved. Area and Union Executive Vice Presidents’ Reports given by:
Mark Boston FLARA Area V.P., Palm Beach Treasure Coast
Irwin Scharfeld, AFSCME retiree Coordinator, FLARA Union Executive V.P.
Bob Meeks,FLARA Area V.P., Tampa Bay Area
John Morris, FLARA Area V.P., Palm Coast Northeast Central FL
Donesa Jackson, FLARA Area V.P., Central FL area
Lunch and presentation provided by Frank Barella, IBIS Financial Meeting adjourned.
Florida Alliance for Retired Americans, 12773 Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 211, Wellington, Florida President, Tony Fransetta Telephone: 561-792-8799; fax: 561-792-8798
