We want MOWNC and our communities to know that NCRGEA members are active and engaged and care about their communities. If you register to volunteer before February 16, we’ll send you a t-shirt to wear during Community Champions week and anytime you are volunteering for MOWNC.
The “Power of a Knock” from a MOWNC volunteer can transform lives, bring hope, health, nutrition and care to seniors throughout North Carolina, so please volunteer for this worthwhile event.
To volunteer and receive your free t-shirt, sign up online at tinyurl.com/4XARK4AX.
Click the video below to view volunteers from our 2023 MOWNC Community Champions Week!
Although surgeons have been able to transplant corneas successfully for years, the quest for a complete eye transplant has remained elusive. That is, until now.
Surgeons say Aaron James, who suffered a high-voltage electrical accident, is the first patient who has undergone the world’s first complete eye transplant on a man.
Although it is not certain James, a military veteran, will regain vision, this breakthrough is a pivotal moment in a decades-long search to restore sight to millions of people.
James, a high-voltage utility line worker from Arkansas, lost most of his face when it accidentally touched a 7,200-volt live wire in 2021. He had to have his left eye removed because of the pain.
A Dream Team To Do The Eye Transplant
In May of 2023, James underwent numerous surgeries. In all, more than 140 healthcare professionals were involved to help replace half of his face, provide him with a prosthetic arm, and – perhaps the most complex of all – the eye transplant.
The donated face and eye came from a single male donor in his 30s. During the surgery, doctors injected adult stem cells from the donor’s bone marrow into the optic nerve to encourage its repair.
Doctors say the donated eye is recovering well and looks remarkably healthy. The breakthrough surgery offers scientists an unprecedented window into how the human eye tries to heal. In fact, one of the reasons the doctors are most optimistic James may regain his sight in his left eye is that there is direct blood flow to the retina – the part of the eye that sends images to the brain.
He says he is “grateful beyond words” to the donor and their family for making the surgery possible and describes the eye transplant and its possibilities “life-changing”.
The future holds incredible breakthroughs and miracles for our eyes and vision. Even today, with the help of regular checkups and proper eyecare, maintaining healthy vision for our lifetimes is more likely than ever. That’s why regular eye exams are so important. The Vision Plan from NCRGEA and AMBA covers annual WellVision exams, 100% coverage for most lenses, even progressives, and thousands of nationwide in-network providers. Sign up today – acceptance is GUARANTEED! – at www.AMBAdentalvision.com/NCRGEA#vision or call 800-956-1228.
NCRGEA urges you to let North Carolina Department of Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey know your comments concerning the North Carolina Rate Bureau asking for an average statewide increase in homeowners’ insurance rates of 42.4%, with some rates as high as 99.4%. To see a specific table of proposed homeowners’ rate increases across the state, please click here.
You can provide your comments four ways:
A public comment forum will be held to listen to public input on the North Carolina Rate Bureau’s rate increase request at the North Carolina Department of Insurance’s Jim Long Hearing Room on Jan. 22, 2024 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Jim Long Hearing Room is in the Albemarle Building, 325 N. Salisbury St., Raleigh, N.C. 27603.
Written public comments must be received by Kimberly W. Pearce, Paralegal III, by Feb. 2, 2024 and addressed to 1201 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C. 27699-1201.
All public comments will be shared with the North Carolina Rate Bureau. If Department of Insurance officials do not agree with the requested rates, the rates will either be denied or negotiated with the North Carolina Rate Bureau. If a settlement cannot be reached within 50 days, the Commissioner will call for a hearing.
The North Carolina Rate Bureau represents companies that write insurance policies in the state and is a separate entity from the North Carolina Department of Insurance.
This rate filing follows the homeowners’ insurance rate filing that the Department of Insurance received from the North Carolina Rate Bureau in November 2020, where the Rate Bureau requested an overall average increase of 24.5%. That filing resulted in a settlement between Commissioner Causey and the Rate Bureau for an overall average rate increase of 7.9%.
The Rate Bureau has asked for the rates to become effective Aug. 1, 2024.
Rate increases affect everyone living in North Carolina; either directly for homeowners, or in increased rents as landlords pass the cost to renters. Don’t think that someone else will speak for you. Take action and let Commissioner Causey know how this will affect you.
NCRGEA is inviting all retirees from public service, both state and local, to join us for refreshments and a discussion of issues that affect public service retirees of North Carolina.
We’ll talk about current legislative issues, retiree issues, and retirement benefits available to all public service retirees.
This is a great opportunity to meet and speak with other retirees who share the same concerns you have and to talk to Josephine, Outreach Coordinator at NCRGEA, with your questions.
Registration is FREE: Click on the button at the top or use this link.
Location:
East Rockingham Senior Center | 135 Safie 6th St. | Rockingham, NC 28379
NCRGEA is inviting all retirees from public service, both state and local, to join us for refreshments and a discussion of issues that affect public service retirees of North Carolina.
We’ll talk about current legislative issues, retiree issues, and retirement benefits available to all public service retirees.
This is a great opportunity to meet and speak with other retirees who share the same concerns you have and to talk to Josephine, Outreach Coordinator at NCRGEA, with your questions.
Registration is FREE: Click on the button at the top or use this link.
Location:
Bazemore Active Adult Center | 500 W. Jefferson St. | Monroe, NC 28112
NCRGEA is inviting all retirees from public service, both state and local, to join us for refreshments and a discussion of issues that affect public service retirees of North Carolina.
We’ll talk about current legislative issues, retiree issues, and retirement benefits available to all public service retirees.
This is a great opportunity to meet and speak with other retirees who share the same concerns you have and to talk to Josephine, Outreach Coordinator at NCRGEA, with your questions.
Registration is FREE: Click on the button at the top or use this link.
Location:
Grace Martin Harwell Senior Center | 310 W Main Street | Washington, NC 27889
NCRGEA is inviting all retirees from public service, both state and local, to join us for refreshments and a discussion of issues that affect public service retirees of North Carolina.
We’ll talk about current legislative issues, retiree issues, and retirement benefits available to all public service retirees.
This is a great opportunity to meet and speak with other retirees who share the same concerns you have and to talk to Josephine, Outreach Coordinator at NCRGEA, with your questions.
Registration is FREE: Click on the button at the top or use this link.
Location:
Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center | 121 Shiloh Road | Asheville NC 28803
NCRGEA is inviting all retirees from public service, both state and local, to join us for refreshments and a discussion of issues that affect public service retirees of North Carolina.
We’ll talk about current legislative issues, retiree issues, and retirement benefits available to all public service retirees.
This is a great opportunity to meet and speak with other retirees who share the same concerns you have and to talk to Josephine, Outreach Coordinator at NCRGEA, with your questions.
Registration is FREE: Click on the button at the top or use this link.
Location:
Watauga County Parks and Recreation | 231 Complex Drive | Boone NC 28607
NCRGEA is inviting all retirees from public service, both state and local, to join us for refreshments and a discussion of issues that affect public service retirees of North Carolina.
We’ll talk about current legislative issues, retiree issues, and retirement benefits available to all public service retirees.
This is a great opportunity to meet and speak with other retirees who share the same concerns you have and to talk to Josephine, Outreach Coordinator at NCRGEA, with your questions.
Registration is FREE: Click on the button at the top or use this link.
Location:
Jo Story Senior Center | 701 Jackson St. | Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870
