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FMW Newsletter, January 2017
Friends Meeting of Washington
Monthly Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business
December 2016
Are you concerned for responsible use of natural resources and their nurture for future generations? Do you try to avoid wasteful consumption and pollution? Do you seek to preserve the beauty and balance of God's world?
Population growth and technological abuses are threatening the planet. Millions of people are malnourished or starving, unable to obtain food, homeless. Our faith that there is that of God in every person calls us to concern over this tragic situation. Friends are advised to set the example in living simply so that others may have the wherewithal to live. We are called also to work for public policy aimed toward conserving the world's resources on one hand and sharing them fairly among all God's children on the other. - Baltimore Yearly Meeting, Faith and Practice
If it is right that we should show love and compassion for people, surely it is right that we should extend our love and compassion to animals, who can feel fear and experience pain in much the same way as humans. They may not be able to speak, but we can certainly see fear in their eyes and demeanour. I feel that being a vegetarian is a natural progression from being a pacifist and a Quaker. - Vera Haley, 1988
The love of God, unutterable and perfect, flows into a pure soul the way light rushes into a transparent object. The more love we receive, the more love we shine forth; so that, as we grow clear and open, the more complete the joy of loving is. And the more souls who resonate together, the greater the intensity of their love, for, mirror-like, each soul reflects the other.
– Dante Alighieri, The Divine Comedy
2016/12-1 Welcome of Visitors Meeting for Business opened at 12:15 pm with 28 Friends present. Friends welcomed Valerie Graff and Eleanor Graff, Jean Davidson, Natilie Wowk, George Schmidt, Candy Miller, and Victoria Wellborn as a first time attenders to our Meeting for Business.
2016/12-2 Clerk's Report
- The Shoebox Project came off very well this year with no major hiccups. The approximately 50 people on Saturday and 100 people on Sunday (with overlap) all had a good time. We prepared, wrapped and distributed 1,008 gift boxes this year, 600 men's, 204 women's and 204 children's boxes.
The boxes were distributed at 11 shelters across DC.The smallest is Dorothy Day Catholic Worker's House which received 20 men's boxes.The largest was the 801 East shelter on the campus of St. Elizabeths which received 380 men's boxes.
The Hunger and Homeless Taskforce will be requesting feedback from the shelters on how the recipients like the items that we're including and whether we might make adjustments for next year.
At 1,008 boxes, we're at about half of our peak of a number of years ago.This is mainly due to changes in how our main source of funding, the staff at the World Bank, can be solicited.We would be able to increase the number of boxes if alternative fundraising possibilities were identified. April 30th we will have a fundraising lunch. Come with a full wallet and empty belly. Leave with a full belly and empty wallet.
- For many, the holiday season is a reminder of loved ones lost. It can be an unbearably lonely few months. Please join Liz Pomerleau and other members with hospice training for a Blue Christmas meeting for worship this evening in the parlor to honor grief in this holy season. Light refreshments to follow.
- Plans for our Christmas Eve potluck and worship are proceeding apace but help is still needed in the kitchen; please notify office if you can pitch in. Doors open at 5:00, dinner at 6:00, worship at 7:00.
- Plans for the Women's March are also proceeding nicely. We have a couple of dozen people signed up to come already and another two dozen in the wings. Four extremely wonderful Friends have volunteered to stay overnight. We need cooks and kitchen help, as well as people to gather information and help with the planning. Contact Steve Coleman or Elaine Wilson if you'd like to help.
- There is a private Facebook page called Quaker Uprising. They are holding the Electoral College in the Light, and discussing other ways to support peace and social justice. To join the Facebook page contact Meg Greene at email@example.com .
- In late November, FMW answered a late call to convene a meeting with folks from the Standing Rock reservation to tell us about their efforts to protect their water from the Dakota Access Pipeline. The talk was quite meaningful and well-received—we literally ran out of chairs trying to seat everyone in the Assembly Room—and those gathered included Friends from DC and Maryland Meetings, our neighbors from the Dupont Circle Civic Association, and others who read our Facebook event page. We were able to read our Minute in support of the water protectors and present a copy of it to Royce Gay of the Oglala Sioux. Five days later, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers put a temporary stop to the permit and recommended finding another route for this pipeline. The water protectors are still monitoring the situation to be sure that the pipeline company obeys the order. The struggle continues.
- The Religious Education committee is looking for a few more people to serve in First Day School. Contact either Michael Beer or Anita Drever.
- If you plan to donate this year to Friends Meeting of Washington and have not already done so, please get your check or online donation in during the next week to be sure that it counts as a December donation. You can donate by credit card, online at our donation page, or via check.
- A Friend announced that our member Charmaine Gilbreath is recovering from cancer surgery. We are holding her in the Light.
2016/12-3 Capital Campaign update
Mark Haskell, member of the Capital Campaign Committee, said the committee wants more voices in the discussion. So they will be reaching out to everyone in the community before the end of the year and before they finalize the construction. We will need to go to banks and therefore we need to show that the entire community supports this project without taking from the Meeting needs in general.
Major items
2016/12-4 Young Adult Friends Annual Report
Kate Oberg, convener of Young Adult Friends, presented their annual report, a copy of which it attached. The report reflects her observations of the community as it stands today. There are 258 members on the listserve but many of them are not active. Many YAF are active in Meeting committees. Most of these persons are men because they are the people most active in the Meeting. There were a number of challenges in the last year including the vestiges of the individual who had harassed women. Regardless of our challenges the future is bright. Adversity can bring communities together and she is hopeful that this is the case with Young Adult Friends.
A Friend wants to express his gratitude with how YAF's have stepped up to leadership in the meeting.
A Friend expressed gratitude to Kate's leadership in a difficult time.
Friends ACCEPTED the report.
2016/12-5 Annual Report from AFSC
Jean Meyer-Capps , meeting liaison to AFSC, presented her annual report. She noted that 2017 is the 100th anniversary of ASFC which the Meeting should consider ways to celebrate. AFSC donated their records on how Friends helped Jews escape in WWII to the Holocaust Museum. She hopes we can have a display and talk about these papers. AFSC sent a delegation to Standing Rock, Black Lives Matter, and so many of the activities that are on the forefront at this time. She recommends their Webpage.
She noted that they consist of regional and national offices.
Friends support her idea of bringing a person from the Holocaust Museum so she will take it to the Peace and Social Concerns Committee to work out logistics.
Friends ACCEPTED her report.
2016/12-6 Annual Report from FCNL
Elaine Wilson, Meeting liaison with FCNL, presented her annual report, a copy of which is attached. The national lobby day this year was on mass incarceration. The first issue in the New Year is the Affordable Care Act. We need to oppose religious registry. For these and other issues, go to their website.
We look to FCNL for leadership in these trying times and they provide it. We must work with them and make sure others know about them.
A Friend noted that the house that FCNL is working on was given to them from Betty Morris, a longtime member of the meeting and that she doesn't seem to get credit for it. The clerk will write a letter to enquire about it.
Friends ACCEPTED the report.
2016/12-7 Peace and Social Concerns Committee
Elaine Wilson, member of the Peace and Social Concerns Committee, asked about rotating banners. We now have "Black Lives Matter Banner." They proposed FCNL's banner: "#Lovethyneighbor No Exceptions" until February 1st.
Friends APPROVED placing the banner.
The committee reported it was working with Quaker Uprising to do trainings and provide support for the January 21 weekend.
2016/12-8 Membership Committee
Janet Dinsmore, clerk of Membership Committee, presented the application of Chris Wickham for membership for its first reading. Joe Izzo, member of the committee, read the letter: Chris was a student at Swarthmore and worked at the Friends Historical Library. Exposure to the actions inspired him to "give Quakerism a try." After attending FMW meeting he felt that he had always been a Quaker, feeling at home in the silence of the Meeting. He now works with prison reentry organizations in DC. He has already served on a committee. At times he has felt frustrated by Friends' slowness and lack of communication between the different age groups. But he wished to join to be one of the voices.
The application for membership will be held over for one month as is our custom.
The following people were recommended for removal from membership.
Amy Marie Babcock
Timothy Felton
Brian Fifield
Karen Garlick
Barbara Gates
Mary Goepfert
Marjorie Grace
Philip Hazelton
Sarah Hoadly
Christopher and Timothy Hopkins
Juana Jenkins
Sarah Johnston
E. Oliver Jones
Kimble Kokich
Ellen Kraus
Jason, Norman & William Lee
Eric Lynn
Joan McCandlish
Winthrop Morgan
Lawrence Newcomb
Celia Louise Newcomb
Charlotte Oldham-Moore
Robert Rouse
Donna Shor
Barbara Smith
Friends asked membership to make additional queries about Dana Harrison and Mary Huggens Napier who were also recommended for removal.
A Friend asked if we ask why people leave? A member of the committee said that they tried to reach out to the members and for associate members reach out to their parents. But few responded. This is a transient community.
A Friend noted long as people who stay on the rolls, memberships are part of our apportionment for BYM. A Friend clarified that the apportionment is based only on contributing families.
A Friend noted that we keep people on for years after they have left and we should not be so delicate. We should celebrate the committee's work.
Friends APPROVED the removal of the Friends.
2016/12-9 Finance and Stewardship
Jim Bell, clerk of Finance and Stewardship, made the Fifth month financial review presentation. He noted that we are currently not meeting our goals for this year of $190,000 but are closer to $180,000. This may result in our no longer being able to support outside organizations fully and this will impact the 2018 budget. He urged Friends to look into their hearts to see where they could contribute. Thanks to those who have contributed.
A Friend asked when the committee requests for budgets are due. The process is starting in January.
2016/12-10 Search Committee nominations
Meg Greene, clerk of the Search Committee made the following nominations to the Nominating Committee.
Martha Solt, member, until 2019
Byron Sandford, member, until 2019
Friends APPROVED the nominations.
2016/12-11 Nominating Committee annual report
Todd Harvey, clerk of Nominating Committee set forth the nominations for the Meeting for the next year a copy of which is attached.
He noted these 57 slots will join 170 slots but only with approximately 100 people. We need to bring more people into the system. In the next year we will have a committee fair in February, spotlight committees on the list serve and a physical presence in the assembly room. We still need to identify two communities that are underrepresented in committees: YAF and the young families.
Finally they will be looking at the size and number and function of committees to look for a better balance and focus and a deeper commitment to the Meeting. Others are encouraged to be part of this discussion.
A Friend noted that the committee structure is more complicated than most Meetings including the Taskforces. She also reminded the Membership Committee must make clear at the process of joining the Meeting that membership includes participating in committees.
A Friend noted that having the committee fair in the fall could be a better time for people to meet committees for a January to December position. She also noted that YAF are well represented on the committees. She recommended sending out a call for specific needs.
Friends APPROVED the nominations except Greg Robb (a) for member and clerk of Ministry and Worship and Bill Strein (a) for clerk of Personnel Committee and Mark Kawar (a) for Records and Handbook which were held over.
Other business
Property Committee –
Merry Pearlstein and Brian Lutenegger, co-clerks of Property Committee, reported on the first period of the implementation of the trial alcohol policy, a copy of which is attached.
There has been only one event where alcohol was served and it went well. Meantime, we have provided space for Al-Anon for a nominal fee with the rest being paid for with the rental fees from those who serve alcohol.
A Friend noted that apparently some alcohol was left behind. The policy should make clear that all alcohol must be removed from the premises at the end of the event.
It is already part of the policy. There needs to be follow-up to ensure compliance.
Friends wish to express their gratitude for the clerks and recording clerk for their service for the past few years.
Friends APPROVED the minutes as improved.
The Meeting closed at 2:15 PM with approximately 17 persons in attendance to reconvene as Way opens on January 8, 2017.
FCNL continues to be very active. They are fully staffed: so much so that finding space for volunteers to do any work is a challenge as every desk is filled!
They are continuing with business as usual lobbying congress on a range of issues.
December 10, Lobby Day, Friends around the country lobbied their Congress people in their states on the issue of Mass Incarceration. FCNL is still calling for Friends to write or call their congress people on this.
The Affordable Care Act: Amelia Kegan is urging Friends to contact their senators and congress people right away, as this is the first issue that will be brought before Congress in the New Year. Urge members to oppose repeal without simultaneously enacting a responsible and comprehensive replacement. Oppose Creation of a Religious Registry: Yasmine Taeb urges us to write to congress people opposing the creation of such a registry.
Standing Rock: On November 30 and Dec 1 Royce Gay of the Oglala Lakota Sioux travelled to DC and spoke to a packed house at Friends Meeting of Washington and Langley Hill Virginia Meeting respectively.
FCNL is still calling for Friends to oppose militarized policing at Standing Rock despite the success in persuading the Government to reroute the proposed pipeline.
At this difficult time when we are all wondering what we can do to effect change or prevent rollbacks of important policies we can turn to FCNL as a place to guide our effort. They make lobbying our congress people accessible to the regular person. Spread the word to your friends and family.
The capital campaign is in its public phase and events are happening around the country to further this effort: In January, Diane is travelling to Tampa FL and Austin TX. In February, she is in San Francisco and in March Albuquerque NM. Enough money has already been raised to begin the work of renovating the building at 205 C Street that will enlarge the FCNL campus. Development Staff report to me that although the final goal has not been reached that the campaign is doing well.
Young Adult Friends
by its convener, Kate Oberg
Leadership and Communication
At the beginning of last fiscal year, Michael Huffington and Kate Oberg were conveners of YAF. Michael Huffington resigned in late summer 2016, leaving Kate Oberg as the sole convener of YAF.
In terms of outreach YAFS have maintained the Meetup.com site. Kate Oberg thinks it is a worthwhile endeavor to have as those interested in Quakerism can easily find the YAFS and the meeting as a whole. Many people have found YAFS this way, and it lets all know about Friends Meeting of Washington, not just people who identify as "young."
The YAF listserv has continued to provide a forum for YAFs to convene outside of the meeting. The listserv has been used to disseminate information and coordinate in-person gatherings. There are currently 258 members of the YAF listserv. This is only 10 more than the previous year, partly because of Kate Oberg's efforts to be responsive to removal requests and also contact members who may not be active or consider themselves YAFs still. Debby Churchman has offered to take over this task, and this offer may be taken up by Kate! Kate Oberg is also open to exploring new listserv providers as this one is not easily used by many university students.
Young Adult Friends and the wider meeting
Many YAFs have been active in Meeting wide events and serving on committees. Of Young Adult Friends that identify with the YAF group (rather than people that do not attend Young Adult Friends events even if they are in the typical age group) these have include: Lydia Pecker (Personal Aid), Brian Lutenegger & Justin Kwong, (Property), Chris Wickham (Records & Handbook), Carl Johnson (Religious Education), David Beavers (Capital Campaign Committee), Matt Cooper (Information Technology Committee) as well as others not named. Kate Oberg is on the Scholarship committee for Langley Hill Friends Meeting, and Josh Wilson is a staff member at William Penn House. Of YAFS active during July 2015-June 2016 Kate Oberg and Lydia Pecker are possibly the only women to be on a committee, reflecting the gender ratio of Young Adult Friends at this time, rather than any bias on the part of nominating committee.
Social and Spiritual Activities
The Young Adult Friends continue to meet at least monthly basis for a shared meal. Friends in Petworth, Lydia Pecker and Carl Johnson, shared their home on a regular basis for a continued series of YAF social events, the Saucy Pasta Social, until their move in summer 2016. Rebecca Nelson Jacobs has stepped into the gap, so the sauce past social night is continuing.
Social events have included a visit to the Renaissance fair, ice skating, watching the DC high heel race, game nights, a backyard fire with s'mores, a criminal justice discussion, caroling, zoo lights, and tubing.
Each YAF event attracts 4-10 Friends although it is very varied who shows up. Many young Friends attend Meeting for Worship on a regular basis and in that, Kate Oberg thinks YAF has a very strong representation especially when including the different times and locations.
Gene Throwe continues to act as chaplain at American University.
Budget Use
The Young Adult Friends spent only $873 this year out of $1075 this year. YAFS spent money on outreach and awareness building of Young Adult Friends (~$180 - $5 over budget) through meetup.com. YAFS spent $394 ($6 under budget) on scholarships for members (no conveners were among this number) to go to Quaker conferences and events, and in one case a prisons workshop. Instead of spending money on a camping trip this year, YAFS spent money on partial or full subsidies for YAFs to engage in two recreational events – one going ice skating, and the other going tubing (For a total of $278.50 - $28.50 over budget). Additionally, in the recreation category, YAFS spent $21.10 on extra financial help for simple meals that was originally not factored into the approved budget. YAFS had thought to spend the remainder on a scholarship but got a bit confused. YAFS did not spend the money allocated for literature/pamphlets ($100) or help for Capital Pride although members did attend in support. With the fall a little disorganized, YAFS also did not bring a speaker as originally planned, so the $150 allocated for a speaker was also not spent. Of the $250 in the categories originally planned but not engaged in, approximately $48 was spent on other categories.
Challenges and the future
Kate believes that the period from July 2015 to August 2016 has been a rough one for Young Adult Friends. Many members learned for the first time of systematic and extensive harassment of female members of the YAF community by an individual YAF. While the events were described in the previous report, the effects are still being felt. Conversations and opportunities have taken place to facilitate healing and learning, yet with spotty attendance by many, of all genders people have "voted with their feet". FMW's YAF group has many more male identified members than female-identified cisgender members and the numbers of active members is smaller.
Members are less active in Young Adult Friends, usually drifting away or moving away because of professional opportunities. For professional opportunities, YAFS who have left include Anna Jo and Dave Sydlik, as well as Lydia Pecker and Carl Johnson.
Kate believes that YAFS hope that in the future a YAF core group will re-emerge. Already new friendships are forming, Kate is happy to see. The YAF listserv welcomes many new YAFs, practically every week.
Kate asks that larger meeting at this time to be gentle. She believes that most Young Adult Friends are all trying to be centered, contributing participants in the life of Friends Meeting of Washington. The Friends Meeting of Washington Community is not a small one. Most YAFS will take a while to get to know members and regular attenders. At first, to many, Friends Meeting of Washington is a sea of faces. The smaller YAF community and listserv is an important part of that journey for many Quakers throughout the years. Kate Oberg hopes that the large meeting will interact with YAF understanding that YAF members are adults doing their very best, making rational decisions, and that having this community facilitates Quaker development. Kate Oberg has noticed that for her personally, she is approached often with requests, demands, and approaches that fail to take this into account and induce guilt on the part of the receiver. In other instances, she has noticed insults directed at herself or others, even whole groups, within YAF. These ungentle approaches have the opposite effect of what is intended and bring out reactions that affect others not acting in this way. She asks for FMW members and attenders to be gentle, to provide opportunities, not chores. Provide guidance with love, not the need to be 'right'. Listen first. Communicate with careful thought and consideration for tone. If a request is refused, it may have a logical reason for being refused. Teach by example.
Regardless of current challenges the future for YAF is bright. Recent events have drawn many to take more direct action with the larger meeting and this is very positive sign. Adversity can bring communities together and Kate Oberg is hopeful this is the case for Friends Meeting of Washington's Young Adult Friends.
Respectfully submitted,
Kate Oberg
First Report on Implementation of the Revised Alcohol Policy
Friends may recall that at its July, 2016 Meeting for Worship with Concern for Business the Meeting approved a one-year trial period in which beer and wine could be served in limited circumstances with the prior approval of the Meeting office.
We are pleased to report that the first event at which alcohol was served, a fund raiser for the Snow Leopard Trust, was held in good order in the Quaker House Living Room on November 7, 2016. The Friendly Office Presence reported, "Nice group, nice caterer, no damage, no trouble." The event did underscore the need to enforce closing times as happy guests lingered for some time after the hour the event was scheduled to end.
The Property Committee has been working to update our website and rewrite space use and related agreements to reflect the altered policy. As requested by Friends, the agreement for events involving alcohol includes the following language: "Please note that, In keeping with our values, FMW will apply a portion of your event rental fee to assist organizations that aim to mitigate the effects of alcohol abuse in our society."
FMW Nominating Committee, 2017 slate of committee nominations
(This ends the minutes & reports from the Meeting for Business, 12.2016)
Jan. 4: Help make sandwiches for our vulnerable neighbors! Grate Patrol convenes at 5:00 pm in the Assembly Room. For more information, contact Steve Brooks at firstname.lastname@example.com
Jan. 7: Help make breakfast for our vulnerable neighbors at So Others Might Eat, starting at 6:15 a.m. The kitchen is at 70 "0" St. NW, adjacent to a parking lot. For more information and to sign up, contact Betsy Bramon at email@example.com
Jan. 9: At 7:00 PM at the Bethesda Library, Bethesda Friends Meeting presents a free Parenting Workshop: Preventing and Responding to Bullying. Join us for this interactive, responsive conversation and leave with strategies for having discussions with children and teens. The leaders are Jen Cort and Brooke Carroll – educational consultants, clinicians, former school administrators, and parents of middle and high school students. www.jencort.com and www.bcarrollconsulting.com
January 15 - BYM Camps Registration Opens for Returning Campers-Catoctin, Opequon, Shiloh, and Teen Adventure Quaker Camps For full information about BYM Camps, see their website
Jan. 21: Women's March on Washington- FMW will be hosting people who are coming to participate in this march. Please help! We need folks to stay in the Meeting House, or shop, or cook, or get the word out. If you know of individuals/groups coming who need housing, have them contact firstname.lastname@example.com.
Jan. 27 to 29: BYM Women's Retreat at the Pearlstone Conference Center in Reisterstown MD. The theme is Quaker Wisdom: Echoes in Our Souls. Registration is now open: https://bym-rsf1-org.presencehost.net/events/ymevents/women17.html Please register by December 15.
"If whiteness is no longer the default and is to be treated as an identity (even, soon, a
'minority'), then perhaps it is time white people considered the disadvantages of being a race. The next time a white man bombs an abortion clinic or goes on a shooting rampage on a college campus, white people might have to be lectured on religious tolerance and called upon to denounce the violent extremists in their midst. The opioid epidemic in today's white communities could be treated the way we once treated the crack epidemic in black ones; not as a failure of the government to take care of its people but as a failure of the race. The fact that this has not happened, nor is it likely to, only serves as evidence that white Americans can still escape race." - From "The Identity Politics of Whiteness," by Laila Lalami, author of The Moor's Account, in The New York Times Magazine, November 27, 2016.


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Facepunch Fixer
Fixes various problems with the facepunch stylesheet.
I'm pretty lazy, so if you notice something you'd like fixed, or have a suggestion on a better way to "fix" something, feel free to PM me.
I'm pretty lazy, so if you notice something you'd like fixed, or have a suggestion on a better way to "fix" something, feel free to PM me.
More info
- Profile isn't a complete fucking mess!
- Automatically resizes large images to match the page width, if they're too big
- Posts no longer have a scrollbar again, usually
- Buttons have proper padding
- Added the release tag back, so older posts that used it aren't broken.
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- Usertitles are shrunk down considerably, but respects varying sizes of titles, without allowing them to be annoyingly large
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- v0.2.9 Added fix for rating position when guests post. It's really hacky.
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- v0.2.8.1 Minor change for pagination borders, first_last border
- v0.2.8 Change .blockbody background to match the rest, re-add pagination separators, add margin view-conversation-pagination
- v0.2.7.2 Fuck I accidentally overwrote it with a version that doesn't have comments
- v0.2.7.1 Chrome was being a douche, so I prepended "body" to the ratings box rules
- v0.2.7 Overhauled the profile to better match the new style.
- v0.2.6 Realigned the right portion of the main header, fixed a small pagination issue on the profile, darkened the ratings box alternate row highlight a little, and fixed a line-height issue on the main page.
- v0.2.5.2 Garry changed the preview box at one point, so now i need to add "!important" there to override it.
- v0.2.5.1 Small change to ratings box
- v0.2.5 Pagination should be fine now. Also touched up the legacy [release] code support
- v0.2.4.3 Pagination on post view wasn't changed, so that's fixed now too.
- v0.2.4.2 Forgot to remove "top:5px" from pagination. No clue why that is even there by default.
- v0.2.4.1 Tried "fixing" the ratings box, but I may have just made it look worse.
- v0.2.4 Fixed the pagination box, because it was a fucking mess
- v0.2.3 I was too aggressive when removing the background from rows in the profile, which caused the PM "older" entries to not have a background. Fixed that.
- v0.2.2 re-added the margin between username/title on posts
- v0.2.1 "Fixed" the scrollbar on the ratings
- v0.2.0 Garry changed layout again, fixed the threadview memberlist from being on the side in firefox
- v0.1.9.1 Also removed the popup arrow in the pagination span, because it pushes it down and there's no longer a popup box.
- v0.1.9 Some people's join dates on the profile were too long so it was moved to the next line, so I made an exception for that.
- v0.1.8 Fixed up the profile a little bit. Bright red headers are now baby blue.
- v0.1.7 Changed the margin on post spoiler tags to compensate for the unnecessary spaces that come with it
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- v0.1.5 Added a little more top/bottom padding to the message section of posts. (3 px)
- v0.1.4 Modified quotes to once again only take up the minimal amount of width. Also "fixed" the bbcode [code] as much as I can at the moment to not break quotes. This means that they have text-wrapper however.
- also fixed [cpp], which everybody should be using anyways
- I legit can't figure out a better way to fix this without having full control over the content. If you can figure out a way by just overriding the style, i'd love to know.
- v0.1.3 Fixed "postpreview", which is used when previewing your posts.
- v0.1.2 Made it so bbcode tables with a specified width are automatically capped to 100%.
- This is done as people keep making fixed width tables, which are ugly as fuck.
- v0.1.1 Modified images within quotes to not be stretched. (oops)
- v0.1 Initial script.
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After political parties, including Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the army in Kashmir has now come out in favour of holding discussions with separatists leaders to solve the ongoing crisis in the Valley.
Interacting with the media, the Northern Army Commander today in Srinagar hinted at possible talks with separatists to bring peace in the violence-hit region.
"We all have to sit down and put our heads together to see if we can end this. Everyone needs to introspect," Lt Gen DS Hooda, Northern Army Commander, said.
"It is not for me to say who should do what but yes, everyone needs to discuss the issue. After all, where are the protest calendars coming from," he added.
Earlier, it was only the PDP who had come forward to discuss the problem with separatists. Senior minister Naeem Akhtar had said separatists needed to help the government to bring peace and stability in the region.
Several state parties also agreed to hold talks with separatist leaders.
The Valley has been witnessing massive protests and violence for the last 42 days. As many as 66 people have lost their lives and several have been injured during clashes with security forces.


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Asian Law Caucus brings FOIA lawsuit over Federal lobbying against TRUST Act; Jessica Karp
Rally for Citizenship" protests around the country; ,B>Tessa Levine, community organizing fellow with Mujeres Unidas y Activas, and Reverend Debbie Lee, director of the Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights
Students Headed to Immigrants' Rights Protests; a bunch of folks from the Bay Area have already flown to Washington for today's demonstrations. We caught up to two of them to tape an interiview just before they left town.
The Obama Budget – What to look for; Mattea Kramer , Research Director, National Priorities Project
The Obama Budget – how we got here; Liz Rose, Communications director for the Campaign for America's Future


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AusGamers has reviewed Dead Island: Riptide and writes:
Riptide brings absolutely nothing new to the experience of the first game. If anything, it just piles on new frustrations. It may look deadly beautiful but it is not worth your time. This is practically the exact same experience as the first game.


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FIDUCIARY S ROLE in the TERMINATION
- Alison Doyle
- 3 years ago
- Views:
1 The FIDUCIARY S ROLE in the TERMINATION of Single Employer DEFINED BENEFIT PLANS: A PRACTICAL GUIDE
2 INTRODUCTION: WHY YOU SHOULD READ THIS ARTICLE De-risking their defined benefit pension plans has become the imperative goal of most plan sponsors. While de-risking takes many forms, the gold standard is termination of the plan and transfer of its liabilities to an insurer by purchase of a buy-out annuity contract. Once the plan sponsor has decided to terminate the plan, the fiduciary is responsible for implementing the termination in compliance with ERISA and other law. The fiduciary s challenge arises from the structural tension between the fiduciary s ERISA obligations to act only in the best interests of the plan s participants, and the plan sponsor s legitimate business goals. The sponsor wants the termination to be cost-effective and swiftly executed within the sponsor s target interest-rate window. But the fiduciary s obligation under ERISA is for prudent selection of the buy-out annuity according to the Labor Department, the safest available annuity under a rigid timetable fixed by law and regulated by multiple government agencies. To resolve the tension between these competing goals, to bring the termination to a successful close as efficiently as possible, and to avoid even a perceived conflict of interest, the fiduciary must have a carefully crafted and well thought out fiduciary process. The fiduciary is personally liable for any imprudent annuity selection. But the in-house fiduciary is typically broadly indemnified by the plan sponsor. A defective fiduciary process thus can leave both the in-house fiduciary and the plan sponsor contingently exposed to plan liabilities for up to six years after the annuity purchase, and even longer in the case of fraud or concealment. Part I of this article sets forth a checklist of plan sponsor and fiduciary action. Part II expands on the fiduciary s risks and responsibilities in bringing the termination to a close. I. CHECKLISTS A. Plan Sponsor Checklist Retain annuity placement advisor to determine price point for cost effective termination Decide whether to add lump sum distribution options, and for which groups Amend plan to freeze benefits Determine appropriate funding strategy Initiate termination (entire plan, or retiree liabilities only, in spin-off termination ) B. Fiduciary Checklist (1) Create the fiduciary structure Determine identity and composition of in-house fiduciary Decide whether to retain independent fiduciary, and if so, in what role Retain annuity placement advisor and other independent experts (federal tax and securities law, ERISA, state insurance law, actuarial, insurance industry expertise) Negotiate and execute compensation, indemnification and confidentiality agreements of all outside advisors and fiduciaries Establish communication protocols between fiduciary and corporate officers (2) Select the annuity provider Initiate and schedule fiduciary deliberation of factors listed in the Labor Department s Interpretive Bulletin (IB) 95-1 for prudent selection of annuity provider, and determine meaning of safest available annuity provider standard Initiate and complete data cleanup Initiate and review annuity advisor s list of selected annuity providers Conduct request for preliminary annuity proposals Review proposals and resolve any issues with annuity providers Obtain final bids on the basis of preliminary proposals Select annuity provider (3) De-risk plan asset portfolio Devise investment strategy, including transition portfolio Initiate and complete orderly disposition of illiquid and hard-to-value assets (4) Furnish all required government filings and participant notifications Submit required Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) filings according to PBGC timetable File for IRS determination letter, including submission of required plan amendments Submit any required filings to state insurance commissioners
3 Furnish all required notices to participants and beneficiaries (notice of intent to terminate [NOIT]; 204(h) notice of plan freeze, notice of plan benefits, etc.) (5) Implement lump sum or other design amendments Ensure that all benefit elections observe requirements of Internal Revenue Code and ERISA (6) Extra steps for spin-off termination Determine responsibilities for splitting assets between ongoing plan for active participants and terminated spinoff plan for retired participants II. THE FIDUCIARY S ROLE IN A PLAN TERMINATION The ERISA Framework and Its Challenge The decision to terminate the plan is made by the plan sponsor. The plan sponsor s decision to terminate is a settlor act. This means it is not governed by ERISA s fiduciary obligations and is not subject to fiduciary review. The decision may thus be made solely on the basis of financial and other business considerations. In practice, the plan sponsor will decide to terminate its plan only after obtaining information about buyouts and monitoring their pricing either from an annuity advisor or from commercial databases and other information sources. The plan sponsor may decide to terminate the entire plan, or instead only the retiree liabilities in a spinoff-termination. In addition, the sponsor may decide to add a lump sum option, possibly including a lump sum for retirees in pay status. A high lump sum take rate before the termination will of course reduce the size of the annuity purchase. Moreover, the 2006 Pension Protection Act (PPA) allows lump sums to be valued using corporate bond interest rates, rather than the Treasury bond rate formerly required, making lump sums relatively less costly to the plan. Like any other benefit design change, adding a lump sum is a settlor decision and therefore may be made solely for the purpose of reducing the cost of the termination. Even though it is a settlor decision by the plan sponsor to add a lump sum, it does add pressure to the fiduciary s task. The decision gives participants a one-time choice between a lump sum and an annuity, contingent on the long-term financial health of the issuer. Any such election is a potential invitation to later litigation by regretful participants. The fiduciary may have to take extra care to ensure that participant communications could in no way be viewed as encouraging the selection of one over the other, or as misstating or concealing relevant facts, and that elections are safeguarded with adequate information for informed participant choice. Once these settlor decisions have been made, the fiduciary must implement them. One head, two hats. ERISA s well known two hat doctrine allows an agent or employee of the plan sponsor to act as plan fiduciary. But when acting in its fiduciary capacity, the employee must act solely in the interests of plan participants. While incidental benefit to the sponsor is not prohibited, the fiduciary s deliberations may not take the plan sponsor s interests into account, but only those of the plan s participants and beneficiaries. We have noted that in the case of a plan termination, potential tension exists between the plan sponsor s interests in a cost-effective annuity and the participants interests in the safest available annuity. When such potentially divergent interests exist, the fiduciary has the duty to ensure that its decision is not conflicted, and indeed is not even perceived as conflicted. Ensuring loyalty, independence, prudence and care. Several means have evolved by which the potentially conflicted fiduciary can establish that its decision was not influenced by the interests of the plan sponsor. These include (1) an intensive and independent investigation and decision-making process; (2) retention of an independent fiduciary; and (3) establishment of protocols governing communications between the fiduciary and the sponsor s financial decision makers. The first of these an intensive and independent investigation is absolutely necessary, and its importance cannot be overstated. Both prongs are key. The fiduciary s intensive investigation must include thorough deliberations of all issues with the assistance of qualified experts. The fiduciary must make its decision independently of any influence of the plan sponsor s business interests. The good news for the fiduciary is that the fiduciary process to create an intensive and independent investigation needed to show non-conflicted decision making is also the process needed to show the fiduciary met its ERISA duties of prudence and care.
4 Showing how the fiduciary can build this process, for the purpose of ensuring that the fiduciary has met its duties of loyalty, independence, prudence and care, is the task of this article. Process may be scaled to size. A practical question exists about how complex an apparatus is advisable to establish the fiduciary s independence and undivided loyalty. In the termination of a small or medium plan, where a safe annuity can be obtained with normal degrees of fiduciary prudence and care, less process may be thought necessary. But in a large termination involving billions or tens of billions of dollars of liability, the annuity purchase puts more pressure on the capacity of any one insurer, is more open to challenge, and may well be harder to defend as adequately safe given the size of the transferred liabilities relative to insurance industry capacity. Some experts estimate that the capacity of the leading insurers is currently perhaps not more than $80 billion. When interest rates and asset values converge to make terminations more attractive, and multiple sponsors compete for annuities, these very large terminations will put pressure on industry capacity and any annuity selection will be closely scrutinized for its adequacy by participants and perhaps the Labor Department. And as a reality of today s legal environment, the acts of large plan sponsors are more likely to be the target of class action lawsuits. In such a mega-termination, the fiduciary may want to create a robust process using extensive measures to demonstrate that the decision met the highest possible standards of prudence, care and independence from the business interests of the plan sponsor. (1) CREATE THE FIDUCIARY STRUCTURE The in-house fiduciary. The first step is to decide the identity of the in-house fiduciary. A large or complex defined benefit plan may have two fiduciaries: the plan administrator (typically a committee) and an investment committee, generally comprised of the sponsor s financial officers. It must be decided which of the two is the acting fiduciary that is, the ultimate decision maker with respect to selection of the buy-out annuity. If instead it is decided that an independent fiduciary will be the acting fiduciary (as discussed below), it should be decided which of the in-house fiduciaries will be responsible for selecting the independent fiduciary. Selecting the independent fiduciary is itself a fiduciary decision. Each fiduciary s compensation should be reviewed to ensure that it provides no incentives direct or indirect for effectuating the termination, or meeting any price point or deadline. Such incentives might well be viewed as tainting the fiduciary s independence to a degree not salvageable even by careful process. Independent experts. To fulfill its duties of loyalty, prudence and care, the fiduciary needs to tap expertise in several areas. In IB 95-1, the Labor Department takes the position that the fiduciary implementing a termination need not hire outside experts to the extent the fiduciary has the requisite expertise. This is rare. Typically, the fiduciary will at the least retain an annuity advisor. Additional independent expertise may be needed in ERISA, tax law, securities law, state insurance law, actuarial practice, and the economics and structure of the insurance industry. The fiduciary should build in the time necessary to negotiate its advisors agreements for compensation, indemnification and confidentiality all key in a transaction with high dollar exposure and high employee sensitivity. Independent fiduciary. When the in-house fiduciary is potentially conflicted with respect to a transaction, the Labor Department favors hiring an independent fiduciary to make or advise on the decision. In IB-95-1, the Labor Department takes the position that an independent fiduciary may be required for termination of an overfunded plan where the possibility of reversion exists. In today s economic climate, such cases are vanishingly rare. But the same tension exists even in termination of an underfunded plan. The potential conflict between the plan sponsor s interest in minimizing top-up funding contributions and participants interests in a safe annuity is governed by the duty of loyalty, as is recognized by IB Therefore, selecting an independent fiduciary may be desired in all cases. An independent fiduciary can serve in many kinds of capacities as advisory fiduciary, acting fiduciary, or co-acting fiduciary. In some cases, the annuity advisor may be willing to acknowledge fiduciary status in an advisory capacity much like an investment advisor. Alternatively, an independent fiduciary may be retained as the acting fiduciary. General Motors, for example, has stated that the selection of Prudential as its buy-out annuity provider was made by an independent third-party fiduciary. Another commonly used model is to have the independent fiduciary act as a co-decision maker, with effective veto power over the decisions of the acting in-house fiduciary.
5 Communications protocol. The fiduciary should create a protocol governing communications between the plan sponsor s corporate and financial personnel and their advisors, and the fiduciary and its advisors. Rules governing the content and means of communication will help create a record that the fiduciary s deliberations were independent of the plan sponsor s business interests. This may be especially advisable where the in-house fiduciary, rather than an independent fiduciary, is the acting fiduciary responsible for selecting the buy-out annuity. Maintaining perceived independence is helpful for both fiduciary and non-fiduciary personnel alike. The fiduciary cannot show it met its duties of prudence, care and loyalty untainted by conflict unless it can show deliberations were independent. And if the sponsor s non-fiduciary business decision makers are viewed as controlling the process, they may be viewed as de facto ERISA fiduciaries. As perceived or de facto fiduciaries, their decisions are subject to challenge for ERISA fiduciary breach, and they themselves are subject to personal liability for resulting damages. The case law abounds with such examples. Some show obvious control, such as a memo sent from a company officer directing the fiduciary on how to act. But more subtle examples involve individuals who were held to be the acting fiduciary merely because they briefed the fiduciary committee or participated in its deliberations with no voting role. The protocol will depend on what kind of fiduciary structure the in-house fiduciary has decided to create. The fiduciary committee typically contains financial personnel closely involved with the sponsor s business interests. At a minimum, rules should govern the content of communications between these individuals and the sponsor s non-fiduciary business decision makers about the termination and annuity selection. In a very large termination where the in-house fiduciary may have decided to create a particularly robust process, more thought will be needed. The plan sponsor s business decision makers almost certainly decided to terminate the plan only after conducting their own investigation with the assistance of an outside annuity advisor and consulting their own counsel. These same decision makers will probably keep an eye on the process to ensure the termination remains cost-effective. The in-house fiduciary desiring to show maximum independence may have decided to retain its own parallel, but independent, set of advisors and counsel. The fiduciary must plan for how to coordinate and manage communications between these overlapping sets of advisors. Decision-making record. Longstanding case law has established that the fiduciary is not permitted to rely blindly on the advice of its independent experts. To show that it evaluated the experts advice, and reached its opinions independently, the fiduciary should have a system for keeping records of deliberations leading to those decisions. (2) SELECT THE ANNUITY PROVIDER Selecting the annuity provider is the fiduciary s most important decision in implementing the termination. Applicable standard. In IB-95-1, the Labor Department takes the position that the fiduciary must select the safest available annuity, unless the participants interests would clearly be served otherwise. Only two examples are named of acceptable annuities that are not the safest available : where the safest annuity provider is unable to process claims, and where the safest annuity is only marginally safer and disproportionally more expensive, and the participants benefit from the price difference in the form of enhanced annuities. The safest available standard turns on the objective safety of the annuity, rather than ERISA s longstanding concern for procedural soundness. For this reason, the standard has been rejected by the only two federal courts of appeal to consider it, in favor of the general process-oriented standard of care, prudence and loyalty governing other ERISA fiduciary decisions. Nonetheless, the procedural steps outlined in IB 95-1 have been embraced by the case law as consistent with the fiduciary s ERISA duties, and should be followed. IB 95-1 states that, in selecting the annuity, the fiduciary is not permitted to rely solely on ratings by insurance ratings services. Rather the fiduciary must evaluate the soundness of the annuity on the basis of at least six factors: (1) quality and diversification of annuity provider s investment portfolio; (2) size of insurer relative to proposed contract; (3) level of insurer s capital and surplus; (4) annuity provider s exposure to liability from its other lines of business; (5) structure of the annuity contract and guarantees supporting the annuities, such as the use of separate accounts; (6) availability of additional protection through state guarantee agencies. In addition to safety and soundness of the annuity, the fiduciary must also take into account the ability of the provider to process claims.
6 For a number of these factors, their weight and impact on the fiduciary s decision will depend on the size of the termination. Size of insurer relative to proposed contract. For a very large termination, involving billions of dollars, insurance industry capacity may be a significant concern. The fiduciary in this case might want to consider possible ways of spreading the risk among multiple insurers. Possible options include purchase of commercial longevity insurance and creation of a syndicate of multiple insurers, each of whom would insure a piece of the contract. None of these is mentioned in IB 95-1, but may be viewed as related to the fiduciary s duty under IB 95-1 to evaluate insurer capacity relative to plan size. Structure of the annuity. A separate account allows assets dedicated to the annuity contract to be walled off from claimants to the insurer s general account. It is typically structured so that the insurer s general account guarantees the benefit payments under the contract. A separate account may be unavailable for a small plan, and is generally more costly than a regular annuity contract. State guarantee associations. For a very large termination, the existence of state guarantee associations may not be a significant factor. The protection offered by guaranty associations flows solely from their legal authority to make assessments on their member insurers; claimants have no recourse to the general funds of the state. In most (or possibly all) states, the dollar amount of assessments is capped at 1% or 2% of annual premiums written or received in the state. Insolvency of a large insurer would significantly impair the ability of the guaranty association to meet its obligations. Moreover, in some states, statutory dollar caps may limit the guaranty fund s liability, or its liability for any one insurer or any one contract. Can cost be a factor? As a practical matter, most annuity advisors will include annuity cost as a factor in evaluating preliminary and final bids. When is the fiduciary permitted to consider an annuity s cost? At least one federal court of appeals has said that cost is a permitted factor but only after the fiduciary has first determined that the annuity providers are comparable. IB 95-1 states that there may be more than one safest available annuity. While not entirely clear, it may be inferred that the Labor Department acknowledges that a group of equally acceptable annuity providers may exist and that, within this group, cost can be a tie-breaker. Data cleanup. Participant census and benefit data must be updated before the request for preliminary bids is submitted to potential annuity providers. Without good data, an accurate cost estimate is impossible. Accurate census data also is required to prepare the Notices of Plan Benefits that must be provided to each plan participant as part of the PBGC plan termination procedure. This task should be started as soon as possible, since old data may be stored on outdated systems and media, making cleanup costly and time consuming. Request for preliminary proposals. When insurers submit their final annuity bids in response to the fiduciary s request for proposal (RFP), the fiduciary typically has a window of only a few hours to accept. Therefore, a prior request for preliminary proposals is essential. Insurers nonbinding preliminary proposals allow the annuity advisor to narrow its field of intensive evaluation to that subset of insurers who respond to the preliminary request. On the basis of this intensive evaluation which typically takes weeks the fiduciary can make a determination of likely annuity providers, and can make any needed changes in the final request for bids. Request for final bids and selection of annuity provider. When final bids are solicited, the fiduciary, with the assistance of its annuity advisor, will select the annuity provider and subsequently transfer assets as a single premium to pay for the contract. (3) DE-RISK PLAN ASSET PORTFOLIO The plan s investment portfolio will probably need to be transitioned to lower risk, more liquid assets in anticipation of the pending annuity purchase. If the plan has a written investment policy, the fiduciary should amend it accordingly. The fiduciary should initiate and complete orderly disposition of illiquid and hard-to-value assets. Some of these may be difficult to transfer to a third-party buyer at an acceptable price. If an asset s book value exceeds its fair market value, the plan sponsor may purchase the asset directly from the plan without triggering the otherwise prohibited transaction penalties that would apply provided that the sponsor follows the terms of PTE The sponsor is permitted to take a deduction for the deemed contribution equal to the excess of the asset s book value over its fair market value.
7 (4) FURNISH ALL REQUIRED GOVERNMENT FILINGS AND PARTICIPANT NOTIFICATIONS The termination is subject to multiple notice, filing and other requirements imposed by the PBGC and Internal Revenue Service, and, in some cases, the state insurance commissioner. PBGC Requirements Commence search for missing participants. If a participant or beneficiary cannot be found after a diligent search, the plan must either purchase an annuity from a private insurer in that person s name and provide information on the missing person and insurer to the PBGC, or transfer the value of the person s benefit to the PBGC s Missing Participants Program Notice of Intent to Terminate provided to affected parties at least 60 but not more than 90 days before proposed termination date Standard Termination Notice (Form 500) filed with PBGC no later than 180 days after proposed termination date Notice of Plan Benefits furnished to participants, specifying the amount and form of each participant s plan benefits, no later than Standard Termination Notice filed with PBGC Notice of Annuity Information furnished to affected parties at least 45 days before the asset distribution date Asset Distribution Date completed by later of (i) 180 days after the expiration of the PBGC s 60-day review period for the Standard Termination Notice, or (ii) 120 days after the plan receives a favorable determination letter from the IRS provided the determination letter was requested by the time the PBGC Form 500 was filed Notice of Annuity Contract furnished to participants and beneficiaries receiving benefits in the form of an annuity within 30 days after plan assets are distributed Post Distribution Certification (PBGC Form 501) filed with PBGC within 30 days after the last distribution date for any affected party IRS Requirements Notice of benefit freeze [204(h) Notice] provided to participants within IRS s required window before the effective date of the amendment Notice to Interested Parties posted no more than 24 days and no less than 10 days before the filing with the IRS of an application for a determination letter Determination Letter Request (IRS Form 5310) filed with IRS no later than Form 500 filed with PBGC; IRS will generally respond with a favorable determination within 270 days State Insurance Commissioner Requirements Establishment of a separate account with an insurer (if that is what the fiduciary decides to do) may require state insurance commissioner filings In some cases, the insurance contract must be reviewed by the state before it can be executed (5) IMPLEMENT LUMP SUM OR OTHER DESIGN AMENDMENTS If the plan sponsor offers a pre-termination lump sum payment option, participants elections to receive it must be administered in accordance with IRS requirements. Until recently, IRS spokespersons took the position that their own regulations prohibit offering a lump sum to retirees in pay status. But Ford Motor Company made headlines recently by announcing that it has decided to offer lump sums to retirees currently receiving annuity payments. General Motors made a similar announcement, stating that it would offer lump sums to some retirees in pay status in connection with a contemplated spin-off termination of retiree liabilities. The fiduciary must ensure that participants elections satisfy the IRS s rules and timetables. (6) EXTRA STEPS FOR SPIN-OFF TERMINATION The plan sponsor may be unwilling to terminate its plan for active employees, or to undertake the cost of terminating the entire plan. In this case, the plan sponsor may initiate a so-called spin-off termination. This requires division of the plan into two plans, one for active participants and terminated vested participants not in pay status, and the other for retirees. The retiree plan is then put through the termination according to the steps outlined above. The IRS, the Labor Department and the PBGC blessed the idea of a spin-off termination back in the 1980s, so this is familiar ground for the regulators. In splitting the assets between the two plans, a decision has to be made as to both the amount and composition of the assets allocated between the two. The decision as to the amount of assets allocated between the two plans is largely
8 driven by statute, and is not a fiduciary decision. The courts uniformly have held that a plan spin-off is an acceptable exercise of the settlor power, immune from fiduciary review, as long as the ERISA and Code rules are followed regarding the amounts allocated in the spin-off [Internal Revenue Code section 414(l)]. Who is responsible for deciding which investments go to which plan is a more difficult question. This decision must of course be made, and there are reasons for preferring that more liquid assets be allocated to the retiree plan scheduled for termination. There are strong arguments for the position that this decision too is settlor, but the fiduciary should of course make this determination. CONCLUSION: GETTING STARTED If the plan sponsor intends to terminate its plan at some point in the future, the sponsor needs to get informed early in the process. The sponsor should begin researching the pension risk transfer (PRT) market, available products and providers, and pricing. As soon as practical once the plan sponsor s decision is underway, and certainly before taking significant steps to implement it, the fiduciary should begin constructing the well-considered fiduciary process needed to bring about a successful, efficient termination immune from legal challenge. About Ivins, Phillips & Barker Ivins, Phillips & Barker is the leading law firm in the United States exclusively engaged in the practice of federal income taxation and employee compensation and benefits. Ivins, Phillips & Barker has particular expertise in the termination of defined benefit plans, and advised General Motors on the plan qualification aspects of their retiree lump sum option and plan termination. About CAMRADATA and Its PRT Database The CAMRADATA pension risk transfer (PRT) database is the first one of its kind. It provides plan sponsors and their advisors free, comprehensive information about the U.S. PRT market, participating insurance providers, and available products. CAMRADATA also conducts PRT education workshops and provides buyout price monitoring services on a customized planspecific basis. To subscribe to the PRT database, go to: For additional information, please contact: Authors Kevin P. O Brien is a partner with Ivins, Phillips & Barker, Washington, D.C. His practice has concentrated in employee compensation and benefits for over 35 years, including innovative defined benefit plan design, flexible benefits, ERISA fiduciary matters and executive compensation. Before joining the firm, Kevin worked in the Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration at the Labor Department soon after ERISA was enacted. Rosina B. Barker is a partner with Ivins, Phillips & Barker, Washington, D.C. She devotes her practice exclusively to employee benefits and compensation. She devotes significant time to cash balance and other qualified defined benefit plans with complex or novel designs. Rosina was on the Tax Staff of the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee from 1985 through 1990, where she had primary staff responsibility for all pension issues considered by the Committee Asset International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. No reproduction or redistribution without prior authorization. For information, call (203) or
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Product Details
Novelty socks designed to look like a pair of football boots. When worn, this pair of Silly Socks makes it look as if the wearer has a pair of shoes on their feet. The level of detail is amazing, with the design on each cotton sock creating a very convincing effect, especially from a distance. This gift line makes for a great gag and can be merchandised in lots of different ranges, from jokes to wardrobe essentials and beyond! UK size 5-11.
- Football boot socks
- Part of the Silly Socks range
- Novelty design on cotton socks
- Fantastic gift line
- UK size 5-11
- EU size 37-45
- US size 5.5-11.5
Pack of 6
|Age Recommendation
|Volume Per Carton
|Delivery Restriction
|Display Size
|W9 x H35 x D1cm


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They Went To The Motherland Y'all
Kenya Moore
Kenya Moore and Porsha Williams, two stars of the hit reality show "Real Housewives Of Atlanta" have raided Africa and come away with boyfriends (ooo bring me one LOL). Moore has been quiet about the identity of her Nubian prince (Is it Prince Akeem of Zemunda from "Coming To America" haha). However, Williams is dating the rich son of an African head of state, who according to reports, bought her a Rolls Royce.
Porsha Williams
Williams, who recently divorce former NFL football star, Kordell Stewart, walked away from their divorce with nothing, nada, zilch. She was allowed to keep her car, a Mercedes, clothes and other personal effects, but he retained two mansions, land, a Porsche, Mercedes, his pension and cash. Williams was accused of cheating on Kordell, who has been hit with gay rumors for years, after texts and photos were released to the public, illustrating inappropriate sexual relations.


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Despite being linked to model Selita Ebanks, Kanye West says he's hopelessly in love with another girl. The rapper was overheard chatting to hotelier Andre Balazs about his infatuation for the unnamed girl at a party for L'Wren Scott at hot new restaurant The Lambs Club at the Chatwal Hotel. He told Balazs, an expert on charming gorgeous women, "She's beautiful, half-Asian. Man, I don't know what to do." Guests at Thursday night's dinner included Daphne Guinness and her French philosopher boyfriend, Bernard-Henri Lévy, plus supermodel Lara Stone, Jade Jagger and Jimmy Fallon. The dinner was followed by dancing, during which Scott's other half, Mick Jagger, wowed guests by wiggling on the dance floor to disco tunes before hanging out with NBC and "Saturday Night Live" godfather Lorne Michaels and Fallon. But while West left alone, it was Balazs who had the last laugh, chatting up two attractive women at the bar.
Kanye West's secret love
By PageSix.com Staff
September 19, 2010 | 4:00am


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Upper Macungie Township planners have recommended conditional approval for subdivision and site development plans to expand Derr's Market in Fogelsville.
According to plans reviewed by the panel last week, the market at the southwest corner of Main and Nursery streets will nearly triple in size, with frontage increasing from 32 feet to 90 feet. Despite the increase, the presentation indicated operations at the store will remain much the same.