THIS MONTH’S HOT TOPICS
Serve on the Orange County Grand Jury!
Apply now to be one of the 19 members of the Orange County Grand Jury to make a positive impact on your community. In Orange County, the major functions of a grand jury are deciding on criminal indictments and conducting civil investigations to improve Orange County for all residents. The civil investigation portion requires the majority of time. Service on the Grand Jury is a full-time position for one year and includes a $50 per day stipend, mileage reimbursement, and secure parking.
The Court seeks a diversified panel, in age and ethnic backgrounds, in order to properly represent Orange County. If you’re thinking about taking a gap year from college, are looking for an internship, or you just want to be involved in making your community a better place, the Grand Jury is an excellent opportunity. More information and an application are available online at www.ocgrandjury.org or you may call (657) 622-6747.
Veterans Needed — Share Your Story!
VOICES is an opportunity for veterans to share the stories that have shaped their lives
Share your story – veterans needed!
The voices of veterans come alive at Heroes Hall on the Orange County Fairground as former military men and women share their very personal and poignant stories of service.
VOICES is the culmination of a six-week veterans’ storytelling workshop. Veterans are invited to participate FREE. Storytelling workshops led by Dave Barton from Rude Guerrilla Theater Company.
Learn how to craft your stories and present selections at the public reading event on October 20th.
Workshops: 6:00 p.m. Wednesdays, Sept. 13-Oct. 18, 2017. To register, contact Dave Barton: (714) 598-7406 or rudeguerrilla@gmail.com.
Public reading event: 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20, 2017.
Click here to reserve your seat!
Partner organizations: Arts Orange County, Heroes Hall at OC Fair & Event Center and Veterans First OC. This project is generously supported by: California Arts Council and Orange County Community Foundation.
Open Enrollment for your County Health Plan is October 17 through November 17, 2017
The County will be sending out the Open Enrollment packets in late October. It is very important that you keep your address current with the County of Orange Employee Benefits section. This will ensure the receipt of your Open Enrollment materials. The number to call to reach Employee Benefits is: 1-800-858-7266
REAOC and the County Benefits staff are co-sponsoring an Open Enrollment Health Plan Session on Wednesday, November 8th at the Mile Square Park Clubhouse, 10401 Warner Avenue in Fountain Valley. Those retirees who have reached age 65 and are eligible for, or are receiving Medicare, will meet from 9:30 to 11:30 AM. The pre-age 65 retirees meet from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. The Open Enrollment packets will be mailed to each retiree toward the end of October. Bring your packets and questions to meet with the medical insurance vendors, REAOC and County Benefits staff for answers.
WHAT’S IN THE NEWS – WEEK OF OCTOBER 9, 2017
Governor kills OC Supervisors control of CalOPTIMA
The Voice of OC reports that the Governor has signed legislation that effectively blocks any future attempts of the Board of Supervisors to restructure the Board of CalOPTIMA, thus putting to rest restructuring attempts that created political battlefields. (More)
Welfare Directors’ conference an eye-opener for journalist
Each year the County Welfare Directors Association (CWDA) has a conference that attracts hundreds of practitioners, managers, executives and consultants. Topics of various workshops and presentations by speakers are usually nuts and bolts presentations about everything from poverty, child abuse, elder abuse, the drug epidemic, heath care access, the endless federal and state regulations that the county departments must try to untangle, and tools to try and deal with these human tragedies including employee recruitment and retention, automated systems and the like. This year a journalist attended and he wrote about what he learned – which is respect for what these people do. (More)
Editorial – State pension costs crowding out services
Pension reformers for several years have advocated reform by arguing that as pension costs rise there is less government money for basic services. They call this “crowd out”. In this editorial of the Orange County Register the newspaper, a source of frequent editorials critical of public defined benefit pensions, embraces the crowd out theory. (More)
ABOUT OUR LUNCHEONS
WHY
REAOC luncheons are held for the purpose of bringing Orange County retirees together for an afternoon of camaraderie, entertainment, and information. Friends and family are always welcome! Each luncheon features a different theme, with door prizes, and special gifts. As an added bonus, there is a valuable Progressive Drawing. They also serve as a general meeting for the membership.
WHERE
The Mile Square Park Banquet Facility located at 10401 Warner Ave., Fountain Valley, California, 92708. For directions, call the Mile Square Banquet Facility at (714) 962-5541 or see map below showing where the Facility is located. Please DO NOT call the Facility to make reservations. Reservations are made by sending in the reservation form in The Informer or by calling the REAOC office at (714) 840-3995.
WHEN
Luncheons are held the 4th Wednesday of January, March, May and September, and on the first Wednesday of December at Noon. To ensure a parking spot please arrive by 11 a.m. Please carpool.
Luncheons for 2017 are listed below:
January 25 March 22 May 24 September 27 December 6
Please Note: Reservations by phone or mail for the December 6th luncheon must be at the REAOC office by Wednesday, November 29th, 2017.
Luncheons for 2018 are listed below:
January 24 March 28 May 23 September 26 December 5
COST
Cost for the luncheon is $17.00 per person. A reservation form is provided in The Informer (on the current Luncheon page), in the “Forms” section of the REAOC web site or you may email the REAOC office of your request (reaoc@reaoc.org).
HEMET CHAPTER LUNCHEONS
Luncheons in Hemet have been traditionally held on the second Tuesday during the months of February, April, June, October and December. Attendees arrive around 11:30 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in the Fellowship Hall (please note the new location) located at 515 E. Kimball Avenue in Hemet and lunch is served between 11:45 and noontime. The cost is $9.50 per person. The Hemet Chapter would like new members and encourages all REAOC members who live in the area or within driving distance to join them for the luncheons.
REAOC’s Hemet Chapter will hold its next luncheon on Tuesday, October 17, 2017 at 11:30 AM at the First Presbyterian Church in the Fellowship Hall (please note the new location) located at 515 E.Kimball in Hemet.
Make your reservation by calling Joyce Emery at 951-658-2549 or Jane Pabitzky at 951-237-3240 by no later than October 10, 2017.
Luncheons for 2017 are listed below:
February 14 April 11 June 20 October 17 December 12
MAP TO MILE SQUARE PARK
Below is a map showing the general location of the Mile Square Park Banquet Facility located at 10401 Warner Ave., Fountain Valley, California 92708.
If you need exact directions from your house you can go to MapQuest and click on “driving directions.”
