From Box Office to Basketball, AMBA Discounts Is a Slam Dunk of Savings

Isaiah on October 23, 2023

Have you discovered the amazing discounts waiting for you through AMBA Discounts? From movie tickets to sporting events and more, you can take advantage of incredible savings on your favorite entertainment every day.

This fall sees many long-awaited blockbusters hitting the theaters. From the latest installment of your favorite action and adventure franchises to Oscar-bound dramas and romances, there are plenty of reasons to get to your local cinema. Additionally, you have an even better reason to reserve your tickets: AMBA Discounts offers up to 40% savings on tickets at nationwide theaters like AMC, Cinemark, and Regal Entertainment Group!

AMBA Discounts is your MVP to get you the best prices to cheer on your favorite team in the stands! Through special deals with the website Tickets at Work, we give you access to get to the game for your favorite teams and enjoy every play – including NFL Football, NBA Basketball, NHL Hockey, MLB Baseball, Major League Soccer. We even have huge discounts for Golf, Tennis, and NASCAR events! With AMBA Discounts, you’ve already placed a winning bet with up to 40% off at many of these events!

Want to play as well as watch? AMBA Discounts can save you on your next round of golf with waived reservation fees through GolfNow. And of course, we’ve got you covered for your clothes and accessories with big savings on big names like Adidas, Ray-Ban, Garmin, GoPro, and Thule!

And that’s just the start! Certainly, there’s a whole world of additional savings for you to enjoy, including, dining, hotels, car rentals, electronics and more! Ready to explore the perks of joining my AMBA Passport?

Start Saving Today!

These are just some of the amazing offers currently available. There are so many more savings to explore, like luxury travel, shopping, and car rentals. Best of all, as a member of NCRGEA, your Passport Savings account is absolutely FREE! Contact our office for your AMBA Discounts secret activation code now by calling 800-356-1190. Already have an account? Start browsing by visiting www.passportcorporate.com.

State loses their latest fight against Lake Case

Craig Campbell on October 23, 2023

In June of 2023, the State of North Carolina, including the State Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees and State Treasurer Dale Folwell, filed a Writ of Prohibition with the North Carolina Supreme Court seeking to overturn and prohibit the March 2022 Supreme Court decision on Lake v.  NC State Health Plan from moving forward at the trial court level.  The North Carolina Supreme Court’s March 2022 decision determined that eligible State employees have a contractually vested right in a noncontributory health plan for life, equivalent to the plan in place when a class member’s rights are vested.

On October 20, 2023, the North Carolina Supreme Court denied the Writ of Prohibition, allowing the case to continue to be adjudicated in the Gaston County, North Carolina Superior Court.

Use this link for more official NCRGEA information about the Lake Case: Lake Class Case – Gray Layton Kersh.

FAS Forward with Us!

Tracie Eubank on October 23, 2023

September/October 2023 LivingPower Newsletter

By State Employees’ Credit Union

couple in meeting

Did you know that State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) has local advisors who are fully
devoted to helping members with comprehensive financial planning services? From insurance and investments to managing retirement risks to estate planning and trust services, members have access to the services they need to help achieve and maintain their financial goals. Dedicated specialists can help members plan their financial future at any SECU branch location.
The advisors, titled Financial Advisory Services (FAS) specialists, are salaried employees who
are committed to acting in our members’ best interests. This unique business model allows us to focus on our mission—providing personalized services to help members meet their financial needs and objectives— while remaining committed to the long-established SECU philosophy of People Helping People® and member-focused service.
Everyone can benefit from discussing financial needs and goals with a professional. Our Financial Advisory Services specialists can help members get started by working together to identify financial objectives and prioritize the next steps. They can help implement strategies designed to meet short and long-term goals. Additionally, they can objectively review an existing plan to confirm strengths and areas for improvement or important consideration. Finally, our advisors can help members monitor and adapt their plans over time to increase the likelihood of being prepared for both expected and unexpected life events.
SECU is invested in our members’ success and well-being! Our goal is for our members to leave a meeting with our advisors, knowing they have an advocate and coach who will be by their side on their financial journey. Contact your local branch and ask to speak to a FAS specialist today! Not yet an SECU member? Join today to access these and our many other financial services.

Life insurance is offered through SECU Life Insurance Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary
of State Employees’ Credit Union. Investment advisory services are offered through Credit Union Investment Services. Securities are offered through SECU Brokerage Services: member FINRA, SIPC. Trust Services are offered through Members Trust Company, a federal thrift regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Securities, Trust, and Insurance products are not Credit Union deposits, are not obligations of or guaranteed by the Credit Union or Members Trust Company, and are not insured by the NCUA or any federal government agency. Securities and Trust products involve investment risks, including possible loss of principal invested. Insurance products are subject to underwriting. Investment, Trust, and Insurance representatives are Credit Union employees who may accept deposits. Investment and Insurance representatives are licensed in North Carolina only.

October’s Recipe: Stuffed Butternut Squash with Quinoa, Sausage & Cranberries

Isaiah on October 18, 2023

Welcome to October! For foodies, this is one of the best months of the year. Fall produce is in full swing, farmers markets are overflowing with autumn’s best flavors, from cauliflower to apples and pumpkins, and hearty, satisfying foods and flavors are in full effect.

This recipe has it all: comforting roasted winter veggies, lean protein from the chicken sausage, fiber from the quinoa, leafy greens, and a little pop of sweetness from the cranberries. It is a crowd pleaser and is perfect as a main or side dish!

Ingredients

  • 3 small butternut squash
  • 1 lb ground chicken sausage
  • 3/4 cups uncooked quinoa
  • 1¼ cups chicken broth
  • 2 cups kale (stems removed)
  • ½ cup dried cranberries
  • 1-2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • salt & pepper

Instructions

  1. Line a large baking sheet with foil and preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Cut each butternut squash lengthwise in half. Scoop out all the seeds from inside with a spoon. Drizzle olive oil on the cut side of each squash and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. 
  3. Place the squash cut side down on the baking sheet. Roast for approximately 30 minutes or until you can easily stick a knife all the way through.
  4. While the squash is cooking, make the filling. Start by rinsing the quinoa with cold water in a fine mesh strainer. Then in a medium sized pot, combine the quinoa and broth. Put the pot over high heat until you bring the liquid to a boil. Once boiling, turn the heat down to low and let it simmer for about 20-25 minutes. 
  5. Next, preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add 1 tbsp of olive oil to the pan. Add the chicken sausage, season with salt and pepper, and use a wooden spoon to stir occasionally until the meat is brown and cooked through. Once brown, drain off any excess oil or liquid from the meat, then add the kale. Stir frequently for about 1-2 minutes, until the kale is wilted. 
  6. Remove the pan from the heat and add in the cranberries.
  7. Once the quinoa is done and all the liquid is absorbed, then add the quinoa to the sausage mixture and stir it all together. 
  8. Once the butternut has cooked and cooled for a few minutes, it is time to assemble the meal. Before I transferred the filling, I scooped a little bit of the inside of the butternut out so that I would have more room for filling, then saved the rest for a later meal, but that step is optional. 
  9. To assemble, spoon the quinoa mixture into each butternut squash until they are full. You will have some mixture left over to save for later. 

Plate each butternut, serve and enjoy!

Want to Take Control of Healthier Aging? These Are the Essential Five Steps 

Isaiah on October 16, 2023

As we age, we become aware that our physical and mental health, as well as dietary and social needs, changes over time. We can maintain control of our health by making the appropriate adjustments.

5 Steps for Healthier Aging

If you’re ready to take charge of your well-being, these easy to accomplish steps can help you keep your body and mind healthy as you age.

1. Get moving

Maintaining regular physical activity can help maintain a healthy weight, lower blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and blood sugar levels.

  • Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week.
  • Beginning physical activity can be as easy as walking for 10 to 15 minutes for three to four days per week and increasing as you go.
  • Make your physical activity FUN and something you enjoy doing! If making it social will keep you motivated, ask a friend to be your workout buddy.

2. Maintain a healthy diet

Eating right can help you stave off major health issues like obesity and the risk of diabetes and heart disease.

  • Eat appropriate portion sizes.
  • Eat a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables and have them make up half of your plate.
  • Avoid excessively processed, especially ultra-processed foods.
  • Stay hydrated- adults should drink between 10-16 cups of water per day, depending on gender, living environment, and activity level.

3. Stay social

Along with increasing cognitive function, and boosting self-confidence and mood, healthy social connections as we get older also improves (and can help even prevent!) symptoms of anxiety and depression.

– Take advantage of technological innovations like attending online or in-person classes (employing appropriate safeguards) that interest you.

– Use Zoom, Facetime, WhatsApp, text messaging, and even a good old-fashioned phone call to stay in touch with friends and family.

– Stay in contact with family and friends through in-person meet-ups.

4. Balance your body and mind

Regular exercise for older adults can not only improve overall fitness levels and quality of life, it also reduce the risk of disability or chronic conditions. Participating in regular physical activity has been shown to have a positive effect on both physical and mental well-being for seniors. 

– Maintain a positive attitude.

– Keep your mind active by reading, doing puzzles or other mentally stimulating actions.

– Keep your body active through mindfulness, stretches, yoga and similar pursuits.

5. Be proactive

Receive regular medical, dental, and vision checkups. Many diseases and health issues can be prevented when caught early.

Healthier Aging Starts with Peace of Mind

Life Insurance is the safest path you can take and is something you should have to protect the ones you love. Get a Whole Life policy today to make sure your loved ones are taken care of. You’re guaranteed acceptance, even if you smoke or have weight issues. Plans are available from your very own association and its trusted partner AMBA. Joining is easy: you can purchase your policy online right now. It even includes a no-obligation 60-day return policy. Learn more about a Whole Life Policy through NCRGEA and AMBA at www.ambalifeinsurance.com/ncrgea or call 800-956-1228.

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/stillgoingstrong/index.html

Opportunities Abound

Tracie Eubank on October 16, 2023

LivingPower September/October 2023

By Mike Taylor

Attendees at Durham Fall Conference

One line from our website says it all. “If you are a member, get involved here.” Membership in NCRGEA offers each of you a variety of opportunities to do just that, get involved. From a Zoom briefing in the comfort of your home to local district gatherings to regional conferences, your association is making it easy to get involved and engage.

One of the pleasures I take from serving as President of NCRGEA is to attend our regional conferences. Since last fall, I have attended conferences in Concord, Shelby, Winston Salem, Fayetteville, here in my home county of Carteret at Morehead City, and Hendersonville. And later this month, we have conferences scheduled for Statesville (September 13), Durham (September 19), and Greenville (September 26). This job is certainly offering me a crash course in NC geography.
You should have already received an invitation to attend one of the September conferences, and if one is close to you, I especially encourage you to do so. As our Executive Director Tim O’Connell says of these conferences, “The goal is to bring retirees together.” The conferences offer a chance to find out the latest information about a multitude of issues that impact our lives as retired public servants. Topics for the conferences include health insurance, Social Security, updates from the NC State Treasurer’s office, General Assembly happenings, and much more. Over a dozen of our sponsors and state agencies have tables to distribute information, talk with retirees about specific issues, and even offer freebies to take home.

At the spring conference in Hendersonville, Humana offered hand fans to attendees. I had to have one of those and told the gathering, in my opening welcome, after seeing the fans I had a flashback to that rural church I attended in my youth where similar fans provided our air conditioning. Of course, those fans were all provided by the local funeral home!

But NCRGEA provides so many more opportunities for you to get involved in your association. NCRGEA has nine regional districts that stretch from the mountains to the coast. Those nine districts come in all shapes and sizes. In the northeastern portion of our state, District 5 is made up of 25 counties, while District 8 includes just one county, Wake. Given the location of the state government, that should be easy to understand.

But no matter the geographic size of our districts or the number of retirees that live there, all NCRGEA members have the same opportunities through a Community Advisory Board (CAB) that is established in each district. These CABs, which meet at least twice a year, help connect NCRGEA with its membership at the local level. Join the CAB in your district. You can find out more information on a CAB near you by visiting the NCRGEA website.

Dr. Deryl Davis Fulmer, a retiree from the NC community college system, who also worked in higher education in Wisconsin, serves as our Community Liaison, connecting members with activities like our monthly Lunch and Learn webinars and other Zoom programs. These active engagement programs cover the spectrum of topics, from “Aging Un-Lonely,” steering clear of internet fraud, health insurance, and how to organize your documents for the inevitable (no explanation needed). We are quickly discovering that providing educational content programming is a value-added feature of your membership. Participation has been strong, with virtual attendance totaling over 1,400 since January 1, 2023. Dr. Fulmer adds, “It’s exciting to know how many members we are reaching.”

NCRGEA believes strongly in getting you, the membership, involved, and your participation is proving that if offered a good program, NCRGEA members will zoom in!

There are numerous opportunities for you to get involved in your association. Another line from our
website sums it up best: “NCRGEA is for those who want to be more active and engaged in retirement.”

Being a Welcoming Neighbor Can Pay Dividends: Family Adopts Local as “Honorary Grandpa”

Isaiah on October 12, 2023

When Wilson and Sharaine Caraballo and their six children moved to Texas from the East Coast, they were looking forward to moving into their new home. Little did they expect that soon they’d be “adopting” a new member to their family.

Sharaine and Wilson were apprehensive when they moved into the new neighborhood. Sharaine, who is originally from Pawtucket, New England, said, “One of my biggest fears was meeting our new neighbors. I was wondering who they were going to be and what they were going to be like. When Paul welcomed us into the neighborhood I knew I had made the right choice.”

But one of the first people to welcome the Caraballos to the neighborhood in March 2022 was 82-year-old Paul Callahan. Callahan’s warm welcome helped put them at ease. He offered helpful advice to the new homeowners and assistance with issues and concerns about their new home.

“He was coming over with tools. He’d bring screwdrivers and teach Wilson how to fix up the garage and Wilson followed all his advice,” explained Sharaine.

The family of eight quickly bonded with Callahan and, to everyone’s delight, Paul took on the role of de-facto grandpa.

The Caraballos and Paul now see each other every other day. They invite him to all family cookouts, and spend every holiday together, and this Father’s Day, Paul received a new outfit from the family as a present.

The warmth is mutual. “He’s always coming over with little trinkets for the kids,” Sharaine continues, “They play with him a lot and call him Uncle Paul. He’s got stories for days.”

Sharaine’s kids love Paul as much as she does. Likewise, the older man does what he can to contribute to making them feel at home too. As much as Paul helps the family, Sharaine knows her family plays an important role in keeping Paul feeling social and vital.

“I asked what drew him to us and he said he was a very social person and that he grew up around lots of kids,” she said. “‘That’s how I grew up, my house was always where everybody hung out.’

Staying social and feeling like you’re contributing to making others feel better is important throughout our lives, and especially as we get older. NCRGEA provides many opportunities to rub elbows with peers. Everything from association meetings to volunteering opportunities to group travel. There’s no reason to go it alone. Join the group! Visit rgea.info/membership or call 800-956-1228 to learn about membership and social options and enjoy being among friends.

Source: https://mymodernmet.com/widower-adopted-by-family-sharaine-caraballo/

District Community Connections

Tracie Eubank on October 9, 2023

LivingPower September/October 2023

By Deryl Davis Fulmer

Members attending the September NCRGEA Fall Conference in Greenville

Dear Fellow Retirees,
Can you believe it? Fall is already here! The year has flown by; before we know it, it will be Christmas.
Please make sure you send us your holiday recipes, desserts, or drinks that you have enjoyed over the
years and want to share. We will publish our first NCRGEA Digital Holiday Recipe Book on November
3rd, just in time to enjoy it during the holidays. Be a part of this exciting and new activity and show off your culinary skills! Here’s the link: www.rgea.info/submit-a-recipe.

In June, we launched our first Virtual Lunch and Learn webinars, developed to share important topics that will help you to navigate retirement, understand aging concerns, and have information at your fingertips to improve your quality of life. It was held via Zoom on Wednesday, June 28th, from 12:30-
1:30 pm. It was entitled: Aging Un-Lonely: Staying Connected for your Health. Over 330 members
registered, and over 90 attended. Dr. Megan Smith, UNC-Charlotte; Dr. Cheryl Greenberg, AARP/The Age Coach; and Ms. Rebecca Freeman, NC Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS/DHHS) gave the audience useful tools to help with isolation and loneliness. They encouraged participants to reach out to them if they had questions and/or needed resources. It was a great event and start to our Lunch
and Learn series.

On July 18th, AMBA representative, Jon Green, talked about the benefits of AMBA and the Passport Discount that is part of the NCRGEA membership packet. Members really enjoyed learning about these benefits and immediately began to access them. On August 16th, our third Lunch and Learn was about Aetna’s upcoming role as the third-party administrator for the state’s Health Care Plan. More than 370 members signed up for this informative session, and they asked a lot of questions. Our members are requesting more of these educational presentations, so the Lunch and Learns are currently scheduled as a monthly event on Wednesdays from 12:30 – 1:30 pm. Please watch for the logo and be sure to register to attend. NCRGEA sends information and registration instructions to your email, so it is important that we have your email address. We encourage you to invite friends (members and non-members) to join these events. If you need to provide or update your email address, please send that information to info@ rgea.info or call our office at 919-834-4652.

In early July, I had the opportunity to attend the CenterWell Primary Care service launch for Medicare patients who live in Durham and surrounding areas. CenterWell is the largest of such services in the US and has locations in other parts of NC as well. Tiffany Roberts, the new market president, stated, “We are truly delighted to bring CenterWell Senior Primary Care to the Raleigh/ Durham community. Seniors live at the heart of CenterWell’s mission, to deliver personalized care that isn’t rushed, with a dedicated care team that is accessible and focuses on the unique physical, emotional, and social wellness needs of seniors.” For more information about CenterWell Senior Primary Care or to schedule a tour, visit seniorfocusednc.com.

We’ve heard from many of you, and you are interested in securing part-time employment. The Governor’s “Hometown Strong Initiative: Empowering Rural North Carolina” (featured in the July/August edition) may be what you are seeking. Please visit their website: hometownstrong.nc.gov, for more information. Be sure to check it out.
If you are interested in volunteering, please remember the American Cancer Society’s Road to Recovery program and Meals on Wheels programs in your area. These organizations are always in need of volunteers across the state!
If you are in Wake County, please consider volunteering for the Center for Volunteer Caregiving. Your help is needed!

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at deryl@rgea.info. Please let me know if you want to join your district’s Community Advisory Board (CAB). And finally, if you are a new retiree, please consider joining NCRGEA and become active with us!
Happy Fall, everyone!
Deryl

True Life Lassie Rescues Owner in Lake Tahoe

Isaiah on October 9, 2023

Saul isn’t only a good boy– he’s also an excellent rescuer. Saul is a border collie who led a search-and-rescue team directly to his injured owner.

The 53-year-old Nevadan had plunged 70 feet down a steep slope in the Tahoe Forest. The fall broke the man’s hip and some ribs. The next day, he managed to crawl his way to a patch of cell service and call for help.

Search and Rescue pinged the location of his last call, while a friend of the victim advised them, “Look for Saul.”

As it turns out, Saul would’ve been hard for the rescuers to miss. While searching the remote country, the black and white border collie ran up to them and began jumping up and down and spinning around in circles.

Saul had run about 200 yards away through the woods to find the Search and Rescue team. And, just like Lassie, led them to his owner. Saul’s rescue of his owner was so quick that the man was airlifted to a hospital within eight hours of when he first called 911.

According to Sgt. Dennis Haack of the Nevada Country Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue, “At first, we didn’t believe it because it sounded like a movie. When they came back and described it to us, the reality was that they had followed the dog directly to the victim.” With a smile, Haack adds, “Great work and skill by all involved.”

The team got a helicopter to the scene and transported the man to a hospital for his traumatic injuries. While his owner received treatment, Saul was taken to the nearby town of Grass Valley where he “was given lots of treats and a well-deserved dinner,” Haack said.

Saul was reunited with his very grateful owner the following day.

While Saul’s efforts to aid rescuers to save his owner are invaluable, the expense of emergency medical transportation can still cost thousands of dollars. A Medical Air Services Association (MASA) plan can protect you from catastrophic financial loss when emergencies arise at home or while traveling by covering your ambulance or airlift, regardless of your age or medical condition. Services are paid in full, with no deductibles, co-pays, or dollar limits. MASA provides coverage in all 50 states and Canada. NCRGEA and AMBA make getting a MASA plan easy. You can even sign up online. Learn more at www.ambamedtransport.com/ncrgea or call 800-956-1228.

Source: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-07-18/dog-leads-rescue-team-to-injured-owner-in-tahoe forest#:~:text=Saul%20eventually%20led%20them%20to,in%20the%20Tahoe%20National%20Forest.

Building a North Carolina for the Future

Tracie Eubank on October 8, 2023

LivingPower September/October 2023

By Tim O’Connell


Much of this legislative season has focused on a few key policy areas but none more than healthcare and education. As the debate on various bills related to these topics filled the lawmakers’ calendars, North Carolina received the nation’s topic ranking for its business climate by CNBC for the second year in a row. This pinnacle of recognition provides a vantage point to look back to understand how we earned this ranking and simultaneously look forward to how we must use it to shape our future — a future that includes a dramatic change in our population.

The NC Office of State Budget and Management data shows that over the next 15 years, the population of those over 65 will swell to 2.7 million. That is 1 million more than the current number in this age group. To give context to this number, imagine every single person living in Cumberland County, Mecklenburg County, and Wake County as 65 or older. Returning to the state’s top business ranking, there are many to thank for this status: our lawmakers over the decades, entrepreneurial innovators, small business owners, and you, as a retired government employee, who laid the foundation during your working career. The roads you built, the students you educated, the communities you protected, the workforce training programs you delivered, the parks and recreation programs you provided, the economic development you fostered, the healthcare services you administered, the building permits you issued, and on and on, making North Carolina an attractive option for businesses to thrive.

In his book North Carolina Beyond the Connected Age: The Tarheel State in 2050, economist Mike Walden provides a budgetarily descriptive view of a potential “generational clash” between funding education for our youth and funding the healthcare needed to serve the increased demand for North Carolina’s over-65 population. Clearly, as successful as North Carolina is in business, it has the opportunity to lead the nation in successfully educating its younger people and successfully providing care for its older population. We are fortunate to live in a state where leading industries are healthcare, pharmaceutical research, education, and technology — giving our political leaders, government entities, and business communities a head start in bringing resources together to address this future, with much less chance of a “clash” if we so choose.

You now have an important role in advocating for this future with your elected leaders and potential supporting agencies. I encourage you all to familiarize yourself and get involved with the NC Division of Aging and Adult Services’ comprehensive initiative called All Ages, All Stages NC: A Roadmap for Aging and Living Well. Key areas of the plan include Strengthening Communities for a Lifetime, Optimizing Healthcare, Supporting Older Adults and Their Families, and Affording Aging. All of these areas are ones that NCRGEA directly or indirectly supports and lobbies for on your behalf at the legislature.

I invite you to visit the website for All Ages, All Stages NC to find more details, including how to easily fill out an online form to join a stakeholder workgroup.

You were an integral part of building North Carolina into what it is today. Now you have an opportunity to continue that building by contributing your wisdom and expertise as you advocate for North Carolina’s future.