The First 100 Days of “The Unity of Purpose”
The Unity of Purpose was recently implemented by your Executive Board, including:
Tag: NARVRE Membership
Preparing for NARVRE Membership Renewals
To all NARVRE members, it is time to prepare for the membership renewal drive for 2023. We are urging every unit to get set up for this crucial time. Maintaining and gaining new members is essential to NARVRE carrying out the many duties that keep your retirement benefits secure.
Benefits of NARVRE
If you are a railroad veteran, current railroad employee, or retired from the railroad, you should consider joining NARVRE if you are not yet a member. NARVRE is the National Association of Retired and Veteran Railway Employees. NARVRE is essentially your gateway to Washington D.C. The legislative offices of NARVRE work closely with the Railroad Retirement Board ensuring that your benefits stay intact among many other legislative appropriations, including upgrading computerization. Once the computerization is upgraded, we will be more assured that our information is protected, and our field offices are adequately staffed.
Meet NARVRE’S New National President
We are proud to announce our newly elected National President, George Boatwright. Mr. Boatwright began his 32-year railroad career in Jacksonville, Florida, on the Seaboard Coast Line railroad in 1977. Eight years later, he was hired by Amtrak for Auto Train Service as a Locomotive Engineer. During this time, he served on the safety committee and as a Vice Local Chairman of the BLE&T Southeast Regional Meeting in Orlando, Florida.
NARVRE Celebrated its Biennial Convention
at the Waterfront Hotel in Oakland, California
NARVRE
In May of this year, 2022, we celebrated our 42nd biennial convention at the Waterfront Hotel in Oakland, California. We were very pleased to be able to celebrate this year since COVID-19 put plans on hold for our previous convention that was to be held in 2020.
Memories of NARVRE’s Outgoing National President
Since the age of 48, Tom Dwyer has been a vital member of NARVRE. Tom started in Unit 109 at Minneapolis’ St. Paul. Initially, he was the Unit Legislative Representative as well as a term as president. He has seen NARVRE do some marvelous things under his guidance.
Medicare Appeals Process
NARVRE
Medicare can sometimes feel confusing and frustrating, especially if you disagree with Medicare’s decision to pay a claim or feel they did not pay enough on the claim. Here is a helpful guide for you on the Medicare Appeals Process.
You can first file a first-level appeal with the Medicare contractor that originally processed the claim. For example, if you have Railroad Medicare, your part B claims are processed by Palmetto GBA. Your part A claim, which includes hospital stays or being at a Skilled Nursing Facility or any other facility or claims for medical equipment and supplies, are processed by your local Medicare Administrative Contractors. When you receive your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN), the name and address of the processor are on that notice.
3 Tips for Recruiting New Members to N.A.R.V.R.E.
At N.A.R.V.R.E., National Association of Retired and Veterans Railway Employees, we do meaningful work. We are sure that every member is proud and happy to spread the word about the benefits of being a member of N.A.R.V.R.E. Yet, sometimes, knowing how to spread the word can be difficult. You may think you have tried everything. You have been to the stations and put-up flyers on the bulletin boards. You might spread highlights of N.A.R.V.R.E.’s work on your own Facebook page. You go to the meetings and talk with newcomers. We are thankful for you and thankful that you see the good we do and want to pass it on to others.
Restoring Amtrak Service to the Gulf Coast
Part 2
In our last blog, we discussed the Surface Transportation Board getting ready to hold hearings on restoring Amtrak service to the Gulf Coast. Since Hurricane Katrina hit that region in 2005, the passenger rail service, where the Sunset Limited used to run, has been suspended.
Since then, tracks have been replaced, yet discussions to restore Amtrak service to the Gulf Coast did not begin until the passage of the FAST-ACT of 2015. This act instructed the US Department of Transportation to form a working group assigned to the Southern Rail Commission. The group aimed to estimate investment costs from the government freight railroads and if there would be enough interest from the communities affected to move forward with restoring Amtrak services.
Amtrak is Having Issues with Planned Expansion Across the United States
NARVRE
Riding rail service is becoming as popular as it once was decades ago. An Amtrak ride across the United States isn’t just beautiful, it is also much less expensive than flying. The team at NARVRE or the National Association of Retired and Veteran Railroad Employees has been working with the issue Amtrak expansion is facing in restoring passenger rail service across the Gulf Coast for years. We have even joined local communities and the Southern Rail Commission to grant funding. We have the alliance of Senator Wicker, a Republican of Mississippi, and Booker, a Democrat from New Jersey. However, the issue still stands, and we are still fighting for the funding. If the expansion is allowed to continue, it will provide many job opportunities and convenience to American citizens.