THIS MONTH’S HOT TOPICS
New Health Plan Rates for 2018
At the Board of Supervisors meeting on August 8, 2017, the new retiree health plan rates for 2018 were approved. Please click on the links below to see the new rates.
HMO & PPO Health Plan Tables for 2018
Sharewell and Wellwise Health Plan Rate Tables for 2018
OCERS Town Hall Meeting
The OC Employees Retirement System (OCERS) invites all active employees and retirees to a Town Hall meeting they will host on Tuesday, September 26, 2017 from 11:30 – 1:00 PM. They will be discussing matters important to your retirement.
This meeting will be held at the OC Crime Lab Division, 320 N. Flower Street, 5th floor, in their training room.
For more information and to see the flyer for this event, click here.
Hold the Date!
REAOC and Hoffy Tours presents¦
Pasadena Architectural Jewel bus and walk tours including tours of the Gamble House, Descanso Gardens and a bus tour of Pasadena historical districts.
When: Tuesday, October 10th: 8:15 – 4:30
This is your opportunity to see beautiful Pasadena in one fun-filled day!
Cost: $75 and includes picnic lunch and home & garden entries
Click here for more information!
IRS warns of new twist to old phone scams
Below is an article found at the MSN Money section of the Internet (click here to read the entire article on line).
Just because it’s summer doesn’t mean that scammers are taking a break. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued a warning about a new telephone scam.
In the scam, callers posing as IRS representatives advise potential victims that two certified letters were sent to the taxpayer in the mail but were returned as undeliverable. The callers then threaten to arrest the potential victim if a payment is not immediately made through a prepaid debit card. The scammer also tells the victim that the purchase of the card is linked to the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) system: it is not.
To ensure that the potential victim doesn’t back out, the caller warns the taxpayer not to contact their tax preparer, an attorney or their local IRS office until after the tax payment is made. This should be a red flag. You should always have the opportunity to contact your tax professional before resolving a tax dispute. Additionally, if you’re not sure that you owe taxes, you always have the opportunity to hang up and call the IRS directly (1.800.829.1040) for more information. Don’t be pressured into making a spur of the moment payment.
To continue to reading this article, click here..
WHAT’S IN THE NEWS – WEEK OF AUGUST 7, 2017
100 top lobbying spenders in Sacramento listed
The Sacramento Bee newspaper published this article listing the top 100 spenders attempting to influence public policy in California. The oil industry, medical and hospital industries and other government agencies such as the counties of Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego are well represented on this list, as are public sector unions. (More)
Prosecutor misconduct taints So-Cal cases – OC the worst
The Daily News reports that a “new study by Harvard Law School’s Fair Punishment Project shows Southern California ranks high in trial decision reversals in which misconduct by a prosecutor played a factor”. And “the embattled Orange County District Attorney’s Office has the state’s worst record based on population.” (More)
Sheriff-Fire helicopter dispute in OC escalates
This Voice of OC story says that the air war between the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and the Orange County Fire Authority over which agency’s helicopter should be performing which duties appears to be far from settled though County Supervisors appear to be backing the Sheriff. (More)
OC cities dominate in $100,000 retiree pay
Transparent California is based in Nevada, not California. It is a conservative think tank financed secretly by unknown benefactors. It or its parent organization periodically issues press releases or “reports” about public sector retiree pay and benefits to targeted media markets nationally, and some newspapers choose to pick it up and run a story. The latest is this front page story in the Orange County Register newspaper. (More)
OC Civic Center homeless man gets 21 years for robbery, assault
A trace of a stolen cell phone from a Santa Ana robbery and assault led to a tent in the Santa Ana Civic Center and the arrest of a homeless man later convicted and sentenced to 21 years according to this story in the Orange County Register. The 61-year-old man found guilty was, according to this story, was a three-striker with previous convictions for robbery and burglary. (More)
Caregiver gets 5 years for stealing from man with dementia
In what can only be described as a vivid case of elder abuse, this story in the Orange County Register reports that the caregiver of a 70-year-old man with dementia was tried before a jury that found the caregiver guilty of felony theft and money laundering. The story says that a bank manager noticed suspicious transactions and alerted Adult Protective Services, which contacted the police. (Editor’s Note: This is a textbook case of county government at work to protect the vulnerable and a testimony to a law enacted, at one point, over the objection of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, to require bank employees to report suspicious financial transactions!) (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 September 27th luncheon must be at the REAOC office by Wednesday, September 20th, 2017.
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 10, 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 2, 2017.
Luncheons for 2017 are listed below:
February 14 April 11 June 20 October 10 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.”
