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IRTA Scholarship The 2020 application and current guidelines for the Illinois Retired Teachers Foundation Scholarship is now available. Applications and current guidelines are posted on the Illinois Retired Teachers Association (IRTA) website at www.irtaonline.org and located under the Foundation tab. Applications can also be obtained by contacting Administrative Assistant, Susan Goetz at the IRTA office. This year, one $1,500 scholarship is available in each of the six IRTA Areas of the state. Thanks to a very generous private donation, Areas 4 & 6 will offer a second scholarship of $3,000 each. These scholarships are only available to incoming juniors or seniors in college enrolled in a certified teacher training program. The deadline to postmark applications is March 7, 2020. If you have any questions, please contact Susan Goetz at susan@irtaonline.org or call 1.800.728.4782. Sincerely, John Flaherty Foundation Chair Scholarships Deadline March 7, 2020 ******************************************************************- 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!
************************************************************ Thank you for your Membership! Not a member? Join Right Now. HI, I’M MIKE SCHMIDT THE IRTA MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE CHAIR, AND I’D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT TODAY IS FEBRUARY FIRST AND ALL OF US RETIREES KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS. YES, IT’S JUST NINE DAYS TO THE 56th ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST BEATLES APPEARANCE ON THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW! OH, NO, NO, NO, I MEAN TODAY IS THE DAY THAT IF WE ARE AT LEAST 62 YEARS OLD, THIS YEAR’S PENSION PAYMENT INCREASES BY A COMPOUNDED 3%. HOPEFULLY YOUR 3% INCREASE WILL MAKE 2020 THAT MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE THAN 2019 WAS. BUT JUST REMEMBER THAT WE WOULDN’T HAVE THAT INCREASE IN OUR BANK ACCOUNTS IF THE IRTA’S INSTITUTED LAWSUIT, HEATON VS. QUINN, HADN’T SUCCEEDED. YOUR MEMBERSHIP IN OUR ASSOCIATION MADE THAT SUCCESS POSSIBLE, SO PLEASE SHARE THE VALUE OF THE IRTA WITH YOUR RETIRED COLLEAGUES WHO AREN’T YET MEMBERS. ASK THEM TO JOIN THE ONLY STATE-WIDE ORGANIZATION THAT IS DEDICATED SOLELY TO PROTECTING THE BENEFITS OF RETIRED EDUCATORS. IT’S EASY TO DO IF YOU JUST DIRECT THEM TO OUR WEBSITE AT IRTAONLINE.ORG. THEY’LL LOVE US - YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. |
IRTA Governor Proposes to Underfund TRIP/TRAIL
Today, Governor Pritzker delivered his budget address for fiscal year 2021. The Governor's Budget Book outlines a reduction in the contribution for retired teacher health insurance (TRIP/TRAIL) of $51,244,324. At the same time fully funding health insurance for retired Chicago educators.The funding model of TRIP/TRAIL is a functional and emulatable model that should be used when structuring other retiree healthcare programs in the State. The model works because the program relies on payments from retirees, active teachers, local school districts and the State of Illinois. Those payments increase modestly year after year as the overall number of retired teachers and the cost of health care increases. The Illinois Retired Teachers Association can not support diverting funding away from the TRIP/TRAIL program to pay for other programs, like the Community College Retiree or the Chicago Retired Teachers Healthcare programs. Click the link below to log in and send your message: https://www.votervoice.net/BroadcastLinks/WN4nLisf0_xsSplD7RHifg **************************************** 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! Illinois Retired Teachers Association Political Action Committee $1/month Enrollment Illinois Retired Teachers Association Political Action Committee is a statewide, nonpartisan Political Action Committee (PAC) organized by members of the Illinois Retired Teachers Association to benefit the entire retired educator community through political contributions to state candidates. To donate using your credit card, go to the LINKS above and click on IRTA. Cursor down to Political Action Committee. On the right, click on the DONATE button. You can donate using your credit card or fill out the $1 per month TRS deduction form. You can also send a check to Illinois Retired Teachers Association PAC, 828 S. Second St., 4th Floor, Springfield, IL 62704. *************************************************** |
