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Membership Meeting Thursday, February 13, 2020 Thunder Bay Grille 7652 Potawatomi Trail, Rockford 11:30 am to 2:00 pm Featured speaker will be Renee Wolters, Tour Director from Van Galder Tour & Travel. Thunder Bay Grille will feature a customized menu for us with five different options ranging in price from $10-$16. The tax, tip and beverage is NOT included. You will be able to order individually from the choice of FIVE items and pay separately the day of the event. Please email Gayle Haab at ghabb74@gmail.com by February 3rd with the number of people attending from your group so she can give a headcount to the Thunder Bay Grille. Please include the names of the people attending so Gayle can prepare name tags in advance. You may also mail the form from the newsletter, if you do not have access to the internet - Gayle Haab, 3767 Doreen Drive, Roscoe, IL 61073. To access the newsletter, click on Unit Info above and cursor down to Newsletter. ******************************************************************- Join WCRTA and IRTA Application form and information can be found by clicking Unit Info above and cursing down to JOIN WCRTA and IRTA ***************************************************** We hope you will attend one, two or all the events that are open to general membership. If you are curious about what happens at our Board meetings, or you would like to join the Board, feel free to attend one of the Board Meetings. We will meet at the Regional Office of Education in Loves Park on March 19th and May 7th starting at 1:00 p.m. We welcome new Board Members who will bring fresh ideas to the planning table!
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Fred Kunz Memorial Scholarship
$1000 This is a one time award in memory of Fred Kunz. Fred taught for 47 years in the Rockford Public Schools and Peoria. He served as the WCRTA President and co-president for several terms. He will be greatly missed. The scholarship will be awarded to a high school senior who has committed to attaining a teaching degree and who has a demonstrated history of volunteerism. The scholarship application can be found under Unit Info above. The application deadline is April 15, 2020. ***************************************** To contact the Winnebago County Retired Teachers Association: Click Contact form under Unit Info above. ***************************************** TRS Position on Pension Funding Click on Pension/Legislative News above **************************************************** We need your help to continue to keep our pensions safe! Current Members and IRTAPAC Members, Please forward this message to a friend! Renew Today and Join IRTAPAC! A MESSAGE FROM IRTA LEGISLATIVE CHAIR ED WOLLET THE ILLINOIS RETIRED TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (IRTAPAC) IS OUR FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE IN THE ONGOING BATTLE TO PROTECT HEALTHCARE BENEFITS NOW THAT THE SUPREME COURT HAS RULED IN OUR FAVOR PROTECTING OUR PENSIONS. AT A PRESS CONFERENCE LAST MONTH, GOVERNOR BRUCE RAUNER MADE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT: "PRESIDENT CULLERTON AND I HAVE AGREED ON HOW TO DO THAT. EVEN SPEAKER (MICHAEL) MADIGAN'S STAFF HAS AGREED THAT IT PROBABLY WORKS. THAT'S FRONT AND CENTER NOW ON THE TABLE AFTER THE (NOVEMBER) ELECTION." THE "THAT" THE GOVERNOR IS REFERRING TO IS BRINGING BACK SOME FORM OF PRESIDENT JOHN CULLERTON'S SB 2404 BILL. ORIGINALLY, SB 2404 WOULD HAVE FORCED A CHOICE OF KEEPING YOUR COLA AND GIVING UP HEALTHCARE OR KEEPING YOUR HEALTHCARE BENEFIT BUT GIVING UP YOUR COLA. THIS MIGHT WELL BE WHAT WE SEE PROPOSED AFTER THE ELECTION, BUT THANKS TO OUR LAWSUIT AGAINST SB 1, THIS WOULD ONLY EFFECT THOSE YET TO RETIRE. CURRENT RETIREES WOULD NOT FACE THIS CHOICE. WHAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO BE VIGILANT ABOUT IS THE COST OF OUR HEALTHCARE. IT SEEMS THAT SINCE THE LEGISLATURE WAS TOLD THEY CANNOT TAKE AWAY OUR PENSION BENEFITS, THEIR NEXT LINE OF ATTACK MAY BE FOCUSED ON THE INSURANCE BENEFITS WE RECEIVE THROUGH TRIP. THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN TALK OF INCREASING PREMIUMS OR CUTTING BENEFITS BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR BELIEVES THE INSURANCE PROGRAM RETIREES RECEIVE IS A 'CADILLAC' PLAN AND HE DOESN'T BELIEVE WE DESERVE THIS KIND OF CARE. THIS IS WHERE IRTAPAC BECOMES OUR FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE. IRTAPAC FUNDS ARE USED TO HELP ELECT LEGISLATORS WHO IN TURN SUPPORT IRTA MEMBERS. $1 PER MONTH, $12 PER YEAR, DEDUCTED DIRECTLY FROM YOUR PENSION SENDS A MESSAGE TO LEGISLATORS THAT WE WILL DEFEND OUR BENEFITS. BUT TO DO ANYTHING, WE NEED YOU AND YOUR SUPPORT. 2016 IS AN ELECTION YEAR. THERE ARE CONTESTED RACES FOR SEVERAL SEATS IN THE ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY. HELPING TO ELECT STATE LEGISLATORS WHO WILL OPPOSE BUDGET BAILOUTS ON THE BACKS OF RETIREES IS THE GOAL OF IRTAPAC. OUR LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE WILL MEET ON AUGUST 4. WE WILL REVIEW QUESTIONNAIRES THAT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED BY INCUMBENT LEGISLATORS AND THEIR CHALLENGERS. WE THEN WILL SEND OUR RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE IRTA BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR FINAL APPROVAL. THEN IT BECOMES OUR JOB...THE JOB OF ALL OF US IN IRTA...TO ENSURE THOSE WHO HAVE SUPPORTED US AND OUR BENEFITS CONTINUE TO RECEIVE OUR SUPPORT IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION. YOUR IRTA LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE SET A GOAL TO DOUBLE THE IRTAPAC MEMBERSHIP. OF THE (37,000) IRTA MEMBERS, (3,800) ARE IRTAPAC MEMBERS. OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE 6500 IRTAPAC $1 PER MONTH DEDUCT CONTRIBUTORS BY DECEMBER 2017. PLEASE, JOIN YOUR FELLOW IRTA MEMBERS AND ME TODAY AND DONATE TO THE IRTAPAC. WITH YOUR HELP, WE CAN NIP THESE TYPES OF UNFAIR PROPOSALS BEFORE THEY BECOME STATE LAW. ENROLLING IN THE IRTAPAC PAYROLL DEDUCTION PROGRAM WILL HELP TO ENSURE THAT OUR LOBBYING EFFORTS WILL HAVE THE FUNDS TO DEFEND OUR PENSIONS AND INSURANCE PROGRAMS. THE POLITICAL ACTION FUNDS ARE USED TO HELP LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES THAT ARE ALIGNED WITH THE IRTA LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. CURRENTLY 213 OF OUR 1501 IRTA MEMBERS IN MCHENRY COUNTY ARE TAKING THE DUES DEDUCT FOR IRTAPAC. *************************************************** |
