The 38th annual Minnesota state convention of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees is underway in Austin.

The Austin-Albert Lea, Owatonna and Faribault Chapter No. 4698 is serving as hosts for the convention at Holiday Inn Conference Center in Austin.

Jonathon Green of Albert Lea is president of Chapter No. 4698. He is also legislative officer, field officer for District No. 3 six chapters and convention chairperson.

NARFE's legislative proposals for the 108th Congress are to protect federal employees health benefits program. In addition, NARFE wants to preserve the earned economic security of federal annuitants, provide long-term care and Medicare for current and future generations while strengthening Social Security benefits for government retirees.

According to Green, a retired elementary school teacher in the Republic of Panama, the latter proposal includes repealing the Social Security Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision.

The convention began Tuesday afternoon with a welcome from Austin Mayor Bonnie Rietz. For the next two days, delegates will conduct business, elect officers and consider resolutions to pass along to the federal NARFE organization.

The original NARFE was organized by 14 federal workers in 1921.

The Federal Employees Health Benefits Program in 1959 and automatic cost-of-living retirements benefits adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index in 1962 further enhanced members' retirement.

Today, NARFE represents retired, former and active federal employees as well as spouses and surviving spouses.

Postal workers, meat inspectors, cooperative extension agents and other job classification are among those represented.

According to Ron Seath, a retired Minnesota Extension Service educator for 4-H programming, there are more than 170 delegates at the state convention representing 22 chapters.

Tonight, storyteller Al Batt will entertain the convention at a banquet. Tomorrow the convention breaks-up and the focus shifts to Washington, D.C., where the legislative proposals are being debated in Congress and where NARFE was born.

NARFE originated locally in 1947 and boasts a membership of nearly 100.

Dan C Galvan, the organization's national vice president, said membership is stable, but growth is needed. He praised the Minnesota federation increasing members last year.

"They know they have worked long and hard to help the country in so many ways," Galvin said of members.

Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at :mailto:lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com