Atlanta Pension Funds Membership Association
|
| |
About the APFMA
Dear Fellow City of Atlanta Pensioner:
The Board Members of the Atlanta Pension Funds Membership Association, Inc. (APFMA) welcome you to our
web page and ask that you please read our letter and consider joining us as we continue our work on behalf
of Atlanta's retirees.
WHO ARE WE?
The Atlanta Pension Funds Membership Association includes retired employees from the City of Atlanta
General (City and Schools), Fire and Police pension funds. Our Association also includes the spouses,
domestic partners and beneficiaries of City of Atlanta retirees.
Our group was formed in the early 1990's for two reasons: First, to protect the funds from the embezzlement
and mismanagement that were occurring at that time. Second to create a community of retirees who can work
together to stay informed and act on issues that impact our retirement and health insurance benefits.
WHY JOIN OUR ASSOCIATION?
We are the only City of Atlanta retiree’s organization, and now have over one thousand active members.
Through our cooperation and communication we can work to insure that our pension and health insurance
benefits are administered in a fair and legal manner.
WHAT HAVE WE DONE FOR YOU LATELY?
- 1. In 2006 we prevailed in our joint legal action against the City of Atlanta when the Georgia Supreme
Court declined to hear the City's appeal of the Court of Appeals. We had used dues collected from our
members to join with the Southern States Police Benevolent Association (PBA) to sue the City. We
won the right to hire a third party administrator and to hire independent legal counsel. We have been
awarded legal fees but the actual reimbursement of these fees to our treasury has not yet occurred. Not
to worry as our legal counsel advises that these monies are earning a prime interest rate during the
delay.
- Another reason we filed suit was we wanted to end the embarrassment of having city employees
arrested for theft, and end the confusion and lack of customer service when our beneficiaries called to
change address or to apply for death benefits. We want telephone calls returned when there are
problems regarding direct deposit and changes in deductions. When we prevailed in the Appellate
Court, the Pension Boards hired a responsive and capable private firm for less expense than these
services have been provided by Atlanta’s Employee Benefits Division in the past. We wanted better
service for Atlanta retirees, and we took the City of Atlanta to court to get it. see: Southern States PBA
v. City of Atlanta No. 2003CV79284.
- 2. In March of 2005 APFMA Board Members addressed the Finance Executive Committee of City
Council to express concern regarding the significant impact of the late "Open-Enrollment" processes in
2003 and 2004. Many retirees had significant problems obtaining health insurance ID cards, were
enrolled with the wrong physician, or not enrolled. This resulted in hundreds of Atlanta retirees
experiencing problems obtaining prescriptions and medical care. Some retirees were denied medical
treatment because of the late "open-enrollment" registration, the failure of the Employee Benefits
Section to return phone calls, and failure of the City to work cooperatively with Blue Cross and Blue
Shield of Georgia. These lapses in service and insurance coverage were preventable and were
unacceptable.
- We received personal assurances from City Councilmembers that the City Council will closely monitor
the "Open Enrollment" process in 2005. Also, the City Council has passed an ordinance, which Mayor
Shirley Franklin has signed, directing that the "Open Enrollment" for health and life insurance be
completed by a certain date each year. Open enrollment will begin after Easter in 2007 for a July 1
(fiscal year) deadline. This process was significantly improved in 2005 and we have been assured by
Mr. Ray Zies, City Controller, that this process is proceeding according to schedule this year.
- 3. A very significant accomplishment of the APFMA in 2003 was putting an end to retirees paying more
than active employees for health insurance costs in 2001 and 2002. We discovered that, contrary to
City of Atlanta Code, a Finance Department employee had arbitrarily separated the active employees
from retirees for purposes of calculating group benefit costs. Obviously this had a significant financial
impact on pensioners. As a result of APFMA Board Members working cooperatively with elected
officials and Finance Department management, the error was corrected for 2003. Health insurance
costs for retirees returned to the same level as active employees. This resulted in significant savings on
health insurance premiums for all City of Atlanta retirees.
- 4. We frequently address issues that are of concern to our members. These issues have included age
penalty disparity, processing of beneficiary benefits, explanation of heath insurance coverage and
customer service. We welcome member input.
WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN or RENEW TODAY!
While your pension payments are secure and guaranteed, to say the least there has been a great deal of
room for improvement in health benefits and overall customer service. We are the only group or association
working for the improvement of these services on behalf of Atlanta's retirees and we need you as a member.
All APFMA Board members are volunteers. We accept no pay, compensation or free meals. Over the past 15
years we have worked cooperatively with many City officials to insure equitable treatment of retirees and to
inform the City Council and the Mayor of issues that are important to Atlanta's retirees. When necessary we
have used member's dues to retain legal counsel to insure that City of Atlanta pensioner rights are
protected.
Several APFMA Board members serve as your elected Pension Fund Trustees and we work to assist them in
fulfilling their responsibilities as pension fund fiduciaries. Our Board of Directors also work as advocates for
our health care benefits
There will be many policy issues and decisions in the coming years that will have an impact on individual
insurance benefits. Your support will help!
The Atlanta Pension Funds Membership Association, Inc. needs YOU as a member. Please join or renew
today by selecting one of the three categories available:
One Year: $10 (for 2007)
Three Years: $25 (2008, 2009, 2010),
Lifetime: $150
WE WILL HAVE TWO MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS THIS YEAR; May 10 and December 13. (Note that these are
subject to change so check back for future confirmation of date and location) In addition to the opportunity to see
friends from your time with the City and the overall fellowship of these gatherings, we have presentations on
many issues important to retirees; including health insurance updates, fraud and consumer protection
information, and general information about the status of the respective pension funds and services.
Our next scheduled membership meeting will be held on May 10 at the Piccadilly Cafeteria at 2449 Godby
Road, College Park, GA 30349 (Phone: 404-768-426l). We moved to the Piccadilly Cafeteria in 2005
because of the excellent food, assistance with food trays and service, easy parking and access, and a private
meeting room that will accommodate up to 160 members. See you there!
Sincerely;
Joseph Studgeon Marcia Dell W. R. Harber
President President Elect Treasurer
PS: We need you to join our association. Please consider sending your dues with your Name, address,
telephone and e-mail as you would like for these to appear in our next membership directory. We also would
like to know the fund you are in: (General/Fire/Police/BOE). Remember to include a check for either 10, 25 or
150 dollars and send to:
Atlanta Pension Funds Membership Association Inc.
P. O. Box 2099
Smyrna, GA 30081-2099
FYI: We are grateful to Piccadilly Cafeteria for allowing us to use their meeting room facility.
For information about the nearest Piccadilly Restaurant see: http://www.piccadilly.com
LA
|
|
