Scholarship Presentation June 16, 2022 WCRTA presented $1500 each in scholarship awards to future teachers at Gerry's Pizza and Italian Restaurant in Rockford. The Blanche J. Martin scholarships were given to college students pursing a degree in Elementary Education. Blanche was a retired elementary school teacher, principal, assistant superintendent of elementary education and regional superintendent of Boone and Winnebago Counties. She requested WCRTA to award these scholarship in her name. The 2022 recipients are Annah Dulaney graduate Pecatonica H.S., attending Judson University and Kylee Semenchuk graduate Harlem H.S., student Marian University. Fred Kunz Memorial scholarships were given to students planning to be teachers with an emphasis on Volunteerism. Fred taught 47 years and was an active WCRTA board Co-President. The Kunz scholarships were presented to Sarah Peterson graduate Hononegah H.S., attending University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, Lyndsie Haak graduate Guilford H.S., will attend Olivet Nazarene University and Holly Janowski graduate Hononegah H.S., starting senior year at Western Illinois University. Pictured aloe are the scholarship attendees and WCRTA officers left to right: Scholarship Chairman Michael Cannariato, Scholarship Winners: Sarah Peterson, Kylee Semenchuk, Annah Dulaney and WCRTA President Gayle Haab. *************************************** Teacher Health insurance Security Fund under attack! Click on Pension/Legislative News above, January 24th **************************************************** Donate To The Legal Defense Fund Legal action is very expensive which is the reason IRTA started the Legal Defense Fund in 2012. The outpouring of support from our membership has been fantastic for the fund and it continues to grow. The amount needed will be large, especially if repeated legal battles must be fought such as this. So, we thank everyone who has contributed and ask those who have not to do so. This money is in a dedicated fund and cannot be used for any other purpose. Here is the address for sending donations to the Legal Defense Fund. IRTA, 828 S. Second St., 4th Floor, Springfield, IL 62704 Please make your check payable to IRTA and write "Legal Defense Fund" on the check memo line. ************************************************************************* Click on Schedule of Events 2022 above to see what's planned. *************************************** *************************************** WEP/GPO Bill Click on Legislative News above for important information! *************************************** *********************************************************** 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. Due to the COVID-19 virus, board meetings have taken place via ZOOM. We welcome new Board Members who will bring fresh ideas to the planning table! Please fill out a contact form if you would like to join the board or attend a ZOOM meeting. You can find the contact form under Unit Info above. ************************************************************ 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 1 THEY’LL LOVE US - YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. |
General Membership Lunch and Program
Thursday, September 15, 2022 The Machine Shed 7475 E. State St., Rockford, IL Registration 11:30 AM, lunch at Noon Order off the menu, separate checks. Program: Dr. John Ulferts - World War II Through Veterans' Eyes ******* Please email Gayle Haab ghabb74@gmail.com or call 815-742-1331 to register for the lunch or click on Unit Info above to access the newsletter with mail in slip and further information on Dr. John Ulferts. ********************************************************* Stay informed! Update on Teacher Health Insurance Security Fund Litigation Our lawsuit challenging the underfunding of the Teacher Health Insurance Security Fund is proceeding in the Circuit Court for Sangamon County. The defendants, who include the TRS Board of Trustees, the Director of the Illinois Department of Central Management Services, State Comptroller Susana Mendoza and State Treasurer Michael Frerichs, have answered our complaint, and they responded to our requests for discovery shortly before the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Our attorneys and expert witness will carefully analyze the data they have produced about the current fiscal status of the Fund. The answer and discovery responses have pointed to one key legal dispute in this case. The defendants acknowledge that “retired teachers have a constitutionally protected right to the benefits specified in sections 6.5 and 6.6 of the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971 (5 ILCS 275/6.5, 6.6),” but they disagree that retired teachers have a constitutionally protected right “to a particular program of benefits that CMS has established under that authority at any given time.” This appears to mean that the defendants believe you have a constitutionally protected right to participate in some type of health insurance program, but not to any particular level of benefits. We strongly disagree with that argument and will continue to advocate for the full extent of your constitutional rights in this litigation. S *************************************** Trail Insurance Information: Please click on TRIP/Trail Information above. ************************************** Message from IRTA President John Flaherty Click on Pension/Legislative News Above *************************************** 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. *************************************************** |
