National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE), Wayne County Chapter 2218, met April 14, to hear Dennis Petrack, Ohio NARFE past president, speak on the Protect America’s Heartbeat project that NARFE has going. This is a national campaign to fight drastic cuts in the pay, health and retirement benefits of the active and retired federal workers who have dedicated their lives to protecting America’s heartbeat. In the April 2011 magazine there is more information on this. NARFE wants all retired and active federal employees to get involved and contact their representatives and senators. This can be done in two ways: send all federal representatives a personal letter or go to ProtectAmericasHeartbeat.org where there is a prepared email that may be sent. Either way, act now.

The group will be selling sandwiches at Buehler’s in Orrville on July 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is a fundraiser that the chapter has been doing for the last several years.

Also, the chapter took a vote and the cost of the meeting meal has been changed to $8, instead of $7.50.

The state convention will be held April 26-28, 2012 and Chapter 2218 is involved in helping plan and work at it.

The next meeting will be May 12, at 11:30 a.m., at Ryan’s in Wooster.