| IN THIS ISSUE: SUMMARY OF IRO SERMA SURVEY – 2019 DELIVERABLES – MAINTAIN YOUR UBS ACCOUNT – SERMA QUESTION ABOUT REIMBURSEMENT – ASK IRO MAILBOX – COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR SALE THROUGH 6/9 – 1st ROUND INTEL INVOLVED PAYOUT REPORT POSTED – DONATION MATCHING HITS Q2 CAP ON MAY 8 – SITE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES – SITE SOCIAL EVENTS – NOTE: Please do not reply to News Flash – use links provided WELCOME NEW RETIREES! |
IMPORTANT RETIREE DATES:
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FROM THE BOARD
Your Board continues to work on the input from the last IRO survey. Check out our current priorities here. We plan to have another survey late this year, to get input to set priorities for future years.
SUMMARY OF IRO SERMA SURVEY The IRO Health and Benefits team conducted a survey in April to understand and improve the SERMA experience. Click here to learn more about the survey results and next steps.  |
HEALTH & BENEFITS – Gail Womack and Joya Chatterjee, Co-Chairs
MAINTAIN YOUR UBS ACCOUNT – IF YOU HAVE ONE
UBS has extended availability of UBS One Source to Intel employees and retirees indefinitely. Click here for more information.
| SERMA QUESTION ABOUT REIMBURSEMENT This month, the IRO mailbox received a question about SERMA reimbursement: Can I use SERMA for coverage through a Health Care Sharing Ministry/Group Share Costs/Discount Program/Limited Benefit Plan? We are sharing Intel’s answer here: No SERMA is a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (an “HRA”). It is a tax favored health plan subject to the IRS rules for reimbursement of “qualified medical expenses.” CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) no longer certifies HCSMs (Health Care Sharing Ministries). Specifically, qualified medical expenses from your HRA include “amounts paid for health insurance premiums.” Coverage or services that are not considered health insurance are not eligible. See IRS publication 969.Click here to read an article containing stories of patients enrolled in Aliera, which operates Trinity Healthshare. The Insurance Commissioner of Washington State has alleged that Aliera was selling health insurance illegally and engaging in deceptive business practices. |
DISCOUNTS – Deborah Wright, Chairperson
COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR SALE THROUGH JUNE 9 Intel Retirees are eligible for the sale taking place May 17 to June 9 at the Columbia Sportswear stores in Portland, Oregon and Richmond, California. The sale is at the store only, it is not being offered online. You must bring with you: flyer (available here), your Intel badge, and Photo ID.
IF YOU DO NOT HAVE AN INTEL BADGE |
COMMUNICATION – Debbie Watson, Chairperson
| ASK IRO Mailbox Question: In Q2, the Intel Foundation quarterly cap was reached by mid-quarter. How can I make sure my donations are matched? Answer: The simplest and surest way to get a donation matched is to make the donation through the Benevity tool early in the quarter. The donation and matching process happens immediately. Retirees donating  directly to a cause require additional time to get a receipt and must comply with the 30-day window for submission. Those retirees may want to consider donating at the end of one quarter and requesting reimbursement at the beginning of the next quarter. |
VOLUNTEERING AND DONATIONS (BENEVITY) – Ben Manny & Annette Bachmeier, Co-chairs
FIRST ROUND INTEL INVOLVED PAYOUT REPORT POSTED
The first round of Intel Involved checks for 2018 reported hours have been mailed out. Check out the posted payout report announcement to be sure your cause is listed and find out what to do if it is not listed.
DONATION MATCHING PROGRAM HITS Q2 CAP ON MAY 8 Starting this year, the Intel Foundation has set quarterly caps to better manage its Donation Matching Program budget. This is fully explained in the posted guidelines.NOTE: the Q4 campaign ends on December 13 NOT December 31st. Donations made using Benevity to a cause are matched at the time of the donation. Match requests for donations made directly to a cause that are pending approval when a budget cap is hit remain pending and will be reviewed at the start of the next quarter’s campaign. This point will be added to the FAQ. |
SITE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
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ARIZONA: Q2 ’19 Education: After-school STEM-Robotics @ Phoenix Community Kids June 15, 2019; 9:00a.m. – 1:00p.m. We need volunteer role models to support afterschool STEM-Robotics at Phoenix Baptist Church serving community kids. The support request is for 9:00-1:00pm, on June 15th. Training will be provided to volunteers and no prior experience necessary. |
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ARIZONA: Serve dinner to local homeless at Andre House downtown Phoenix June 22, 2019 3:00 – 7:00p.m. VERY IMPORTANT: to reserve your spot, please sign up. Click this link, create an account, click the event on June 22nd, and register for the Intel group. For any questions, contact Deanna Johnson. |
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FOLSOM: Become a guide to the Universe — April 1 to Sept 30 at the Community Observatory, Placerville – Fri/Sat/Sun: 8:00-10:30 p.m. – Become a guide to the universe! Docents needed having a passion for astronomy to share their knowledge to ensure visitor experience is both educational and rewarding. |
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OREGON: Hillsboro Tuesday Night Market needs volunteers June 11 – August 27, 2019 – Every Tuesday night through the summer. We have two shifts available: between 2:00p.m. and 5:00p.m. for set up; and between 8:00p.m. and 10:00p.m. for tear down. |
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OREGON: Pick it Up Portland with SOLVE Friday, June 14 and Saturday, June 15 at 11 locations across the city. All events run from 10 AM – 1 PM. Please come dressed for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. |
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OREGON: Re-pack Food in The Perishable Repack Room at OR Food Bank June 20, 2019 – 6:00 – 8:30p.m. Repack donations of frozen food so that less fortunate families can get food from their local food banks across Oregon. We work in a room kept at 50 degrees and to keep your hands warm and cozy, we provide liners for your food-safe gloves. |
UPCOMING SITE SOCIAL EVENTS
Visit individual site calendars to view details of social activities in your area.
| ARIZONA – Save the date for AZ Annual Dinner: Nov. 14, 2019; 6-9:00p.m. at Embassy Suites, Tempe, AZ |
BAY AREA – Aug. 15 – Lunch – 11:30a.m.-1:30p.m. at Gravity Public House, 66 S. 1st Downtown San Jose, 95113 | FOLSOM – June 12 – Happy Hour, 4:30p.m. at Dad’s Kitchen, 8928 Sunset Ave., Fair Oaks – RSVP June 19 – Breakfast, 9:30a.m. at Mimosa House, 2023 Vine Street #102, El Dorado Hills, CA |
| MASSACHUSETTS –URGENT: MA Site Coordinator needed. Annual dinner initial planning needs to happen NOW, if there is to be a dinner. If you are willing to be your site’s representative, contact Barb Frank via the IRO Mailbox. |
NEW MEXICO – June 19 – Lunch 11:30a.m. at Namaste – in Rio Rancho Aug. 15 – lunch and optional bowling – 11:30a.m. at Santa Ana Star Casino in Bernalillo 11:30a.m. |
OREGON/WASHINGTON – June 11 –Lunch – 1:00pm. at Golden Valley Brewery, 1520 NW Bethany Blvd, Beaverton, OR, RSVP to Susan McElfish by June 8 |