RICHLAND -- The National Association of Retired and Veteran Railway Employees will hold an informational meeting Thursday in Richland.

The free program, which will include an update on pension benefits for railroad industry workers and retirees, starts at 10 a.m. at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center, 1515 George Washington Way.

August "Whitey" Westphal, past national president of the association, Tom Dwyer, current national president, and Don Cain, assistant area director in Spokane, will outline the solvency of the pension program for railroad retirees and the rights of retirees under the Railroad Retirement Act.

NARVRE was founded more than 73 years ago to protect the rights of railroad retirees as granted by the Railroad Retirement Act of 1937. Pension benefits under the act differ from benefits paid under Social Security.

Some 2,298 retirees live in the 4th Congressional District of Washington and 16,713 in the state, according to the association. For more information, call Jerry Lukins at 396-0215.