Centralia area Afscme Retirees Subchapter 85

10/07/2026

Our next meeting is Tuesday, October 13th at 11:30 at the Centralia Elks Lodge, 235 N Locust in Centralia. Park in the back and take the elevator down. Hope to see you there!

10/04/2026

Vicki Spears and I went to visit Sharon Heitkamp yesterday. She’s pretty bruised up but all in all she’s pretty lucky. If anybody wants to send her a card, here is her address:

Sharon Heitkamp
SSM - Good Samaritan Hospital
1 Good Samaritan Way
Room 3104
Mt. Vernon IL 62864

10/01/2026

Our Vice President, Sharon Heitkamp, was in a serious auto accident on September 23rd and was helicoptered to St Louis where she received treatment. Today she is being transferred to Rehab at Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt Vernon for further treatment. Hopefully she’ll be as good as new soon. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

09/02/2026

Our September meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 8th at 11:30 at the Centralia Elks Lodge, 235 N Locust in Centralia. Hope to see you there!

08/04/2026

Our next Retirees meeting is Tuesday, August 11. 2026, at 11:30 at the Centralia Elks Lodge, 235 N. Locust in Centralia. Hope to see you there!

07/14/2026

As Maria discussed at our meeting, we need to increase pressure against the WISeR pilot project that has brought in AI to approve out-patient procedures for those covered under traditional Medicare in six states.

H.R. 5940: Seniors Deserve SMARTER Care Act of 2025 now has 42 cosponsors. In addition, Joint Resolution of Disapproval to Repeal WISeR (S.J. Res. 192/ H.J. Res. 187) was introduced and both of our IL Senators have signed on. While 20 Senators have signed on to support S.J. Res 192, we now need to put pressure on members of the House to support H.J. Res 187.

We need to call Rep. Mike Bost and ask that he sign on to H.J. Res 187 and as a co-sponsor to H.R. 5940.

How to Take Action:
You can call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to Representative Mike Bost.

Your message: My name is [X], I am an AFSCME retiree from [City, State]. Please co-sponsor H.J. Res 187 and H.R. 5940 to end the CMS from using AI and prior authorization to deny or delay care in traditional Medicare.

Let’s try making these calls every Thursday for the next few weeks

07/14/2026

07/14/2026

We had 65 people attending our AFSCME Retiree meeting today. Maria Britton-Sipe, AFSCME Illinois Retiree Coordinator gave a very informative presentation.

07/07/2026

Maria Britton-Sipe, Retiree Coordinator for AFSCME Illinois will be attending our July meeting on Tuesday, July 14, 2026 at 11:30 at the Centralia Elks Lodge,
235 N. Locust in Centralia. Use the rear parking lot and take the elevator down to the meeting room. Maria will discuss issues and will be available to answer questions. You won’t want to miss this meeting!

06/03/2026

Our next meeting is Tuesday, June 9th at 11:30 at the Centralia Elks Lodge. Hope to see you there!