www.winnebagocountyrta.org
MARCH 2018
OFFICERS/BOARD
Co-Presidents.………….… Norm Alpers & Fred Kunz
Vice-President & Program…….…,Jacqueline Bolger
Secretary ……….………………….Dr. Laura Jernigan
Treasurer ……………..…....……Dorothy Schoonover
APRIL 19 MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Machine Shed Restaurant
7475 East State Street, Rockford
8:30 am - 10:30 am
Hello Retired Teachers of Winnebago County! After a somewhat challenging winter, it’s good to see the sun shining more frequently and hear more and more birds singing as they slowly return to northern Illinois. Speaking of birds, 30+ members of WCRTA had a wonderful get-together at Nunzio’s Restaurant in February. After our delicious luncheon, Will Rezin of Wild Birds Unlimited led us through a fascinating presentation on identifying wild birds, how to attract birds to our yards, the different (and appropriate) styles of birdhouses and what to feed the birds. At the end of Will’s presentation, he gave each attendee a bag of birdseed and a discount coupon to Wild Birds Unlimited. Everyone had questions for Will; no one wanted to leave!!
So what’s next? On Thursday, April 19, we are meeting at the Machine Shed Restaurant, 7475 East State Street, Rockford, IL 61108, for breakfast. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Because we are ordering directly from the menu, the waitstaff will start taking orders at 8:45. Everyone will pay individually at the end of the meal; however, it is important to note that your bill will NOT automatically include tax or tip.
After breakfast, Dennis Horton from the Rockford Office of the Better Business Bureau will share an updated presentation on ID Theft and Other Electronic Scams. We have hosted Dennis in previous meetings. He is an excellent speaker, and we always leave with a wealth of new knowledge and ways to avoid being a target of scams!
In order to ensure adequate waitstaff for our morning, the Machine Shed managers would like to know how many of our members are planning to join us for breakfast by Friday, April 6. Please RSVP to Gayle Haab, either by email (ghaab74@gmail.com) or by phone (815-742-1331). Thank you for your cooperation!
Jacque Bolger, WCRTA Vice-President/Program Chair 2
SAVE THESE DATES!
May 17, 2018 - Board Meeting - ROE, Loves Park - 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
June 28, 2018 - Membership Meeting (Scholarship Presentation)
Wesley Willows Town Hall Center - 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
Board Meeting - 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm
July 12, 2018 - Bus Trip to Milwaukee - Members (& Guests) -
8:00 am – 8:00 pm (See flyer in this newsletter)
August 16(?), 2018 - Membership Social Meeting - McEachran Winery,
Caledonia - Time to be Determined
September 20, 2018 - Membership Meeting - Stockholm Inn - IRTA Staff
9:00 am - 11:00 am
October 18, 2018 - Board Meeting - ROE, Loves Park - 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
November 15, 2018 - Membership Meeting - Time & Venue to be decided
December 6, 2018 - Board Retreat to plan 2019 programs
We welcome guests at Board meetings and new Board Members who will bring fresh ideas to the planning table!
Message from Norm Alpers, Co-President of WCRTA, n_alpers@yahoo.com
I am completing my 24th year of retirement as an educator in the State of Illinois. That does not seem possible, but it is. I have to tell you that my retirement benefits from TRS have been good. They have remained good because of the actions of the IRTA through its leaders and the support of its membership. As you have heard, there are some concerns about continued financial support for some of the benefits, primarily insurance, by the governor and the legislature. We must remain vigilant to the planning and actions of our state government as it tries to solve those financial problems and its plans for funding TRS. One of our goals at WCRTA is to help keep you informed of those plans and actions of our state government.
In January, the WCRTA Board committed WCRTA to helping fund the Bergstrom Stateline Quiz Bowl as seen on WTVO and FOX 39. There are 28 area high school teams participating this season. We pledged $2,400 to this season of the program. We felt it was a worthy expenditure of WCRTA funds. We will be evaluating that expenditure as the season moves along. If you have never watched the Quiz Bowl, please plan to do so. The days and times that it is scheduled for broadcast are Saturdays at 6:30 pm on WTVO, Sundays at 9:30 pm on WQRF and Sundays at 8:30 am on MyNet. Check it out.
I want to again remember one of our former WCRTA board members and great friend of many of us through the years we were fortunate to know her, Toni Weber. She was a strong supporter of IRTA and WCRTA. She worked hard to help them be successes. She was a strong supporter of the Quiz Bowl and was a factor in our decision to help fund the program. She is and will continue to be missed.
Finally I want to reach out to our recent retirees, specifically from 2014 to the present. Your membership dues are the only source of income for WCRTA. That is not the only reason we need you to continue your membership, but it is important. We also need your membership for the new ideas you have about what we can and should be doing to support those still teaching, just beginning their teaching careers, and those who will begin teaching under some reformed pension system yet to be finalized. So, renew your memberships if you have not done so already and become active in the organization and make yourself known to us because we need you.
Check out the membership program for April 19. It is described in this newsletter. It is important stuff, especially for those of us who are not totally comfortable about our use of computers in this world that we live in.
News from Fred Kunz, Co-President of WCRTA, djfk7@aol.com
Scholarships and Grants
The Blanche Martin Foundation is looking for high school and college students from Winnebago enrolled in elementary education. Scholarships range from $2000 - $4000. Applications are due April 15, 2018 to the Regional Superintendent, 300 Heart Blvd, Loves Park, IL 61111. You may get the application at http://www.winnebagocountyrta.org/scholarship-application.html.
2018 IRTAF Excellence in Education for Teachers
Over $36,000 in grant money is available statewide for special projects (maximum $750). We need to have a number of awards from Winnebago County. Contact IRTA at 1-800-726-4782 or www.irtaonline.org. Also, I can be contacted at djfk7@aol.com for an application or questions about the grants.
Area 1 Conference
Please plan on attending the Area I Conference on May 17 in Oglesby at Illinois Valley Community College or May 18 in Dixon at the Northwest Center to get the latest on IRTA Programs and activities. WCRTA has always had a good attendance.
Legislative Review—March 2018 by John Carleton, Legislative Chair
Things are stirring in the statehouse again so House Bill 3080 will allow retirees to return to substitute teaching for up to 120 days without affecting their pensions. This bill has passed the House and is now awaiting action in the Senate. It is almost identical to the legislation brought forth by the IRTA and sponsored by Senator Manar, SB 3045. This increases the amount of days from 100 to 120 and will work to help eliminate the teacher shortage facing Illinois. In addition, there are three other bills that have been introduced that will help to address the teacher shortage. The first would let aspiring teachers from other states get refunds on their application fees after teaching for a year. Another would let paraprofessionals, like a teacher's aide, renew his or her license for free. Lastly, military officers and their spouses would be able to get temporary licenses for up to three years while waiting for approval from the state's Department on Professional Regulation. 4
Senator Manar moved a bill out of the State Government Committee for the IRTA. Senate Bill 3046 will allow TRS annuitants who have opted out of the Teachers Retirement Insurance Program to opt back in during the benefits choice period. The Senate pensions committee has also been meeting, but none of the bills heard in that committee affect retired teachers.
The governor’s proposal to shift hundreds of millions of dollars of state pension costs to schools and universities has taken a hit. Rep. Dave McSweeney is sponsoring House Resolution 27 which declares “the opinion of the Illinois House of Representatives that the proposed educational pension cost shift from the State of Illinois to local school districts, community colleges, and institutions of higher education is financially wrong.” The Resolution now has nearly 70 House sponsors. While both the House and Senate will be in session on and off over the next month, they are both not present at the same time until April 10.
The primary elections are on Tuesday, March 20, and they usually go begging for voters. People don't seem to realize how critical they are. WCRTA and IRTA encourage you to get informed and vote! The website www.BallotReady.org has a lot of information about the state and federal candidates running in the primary. Their info on local candidates is pretty scarce, but the state and federal is pretty complete. WCRTA is looking into how we can be more active and work with the Rockford League of Women Voters in this regard. (This article uses information from the IRTA Website and other sources)
Member Benefits
Endorsed Benefits Overview. IRTA has two types of member benefits--Endorsed and Informative Benefits. In an effort to improve the quality of benefits available to IRTA members, the IRTA board agreed to endorse products. These products were selected because they provide superior benefits and competitive premium rates. These products have been heavily negotiated on behalf of retired school educators, and the IRTA board believes that they are the finest available anywhere. Informative benefits are products that are available to IRTA members as a service.
Join IRTA for Complete Information
Available endorsed benefits include Annuity Policy, Credit Card, Dental and Vision Insurance, Flexible Choice Cancer, Heart Attack & Stroke Policy, Liberty Mutual, Life Line Screening, Life Policy, Long-Term Care, and Medical Air Services Association.
Available Informative Benefits include American Hearing Benefits, Apple Products, Dell Computers, Flower Discounts, Globus Vacations, Hearing Plan Discount Benefit, La Quinta Inn & Suites Discount, MediPendant, myAMBAdining.com, myAMBAdiscounts, Orlando Employee Discounts, Rental Car Discounts, Road Scholar, Term Life Express, Vacations By Rail, and Veterinary Pet Insurance.
Gayle Haab, Member Benefits & Reservations
MARCH 2018
OFFICERS/BOARD
Co-Presidents.………….… Norm Alpers & Fred Kunz
Vice-President & Program…….…,Jacqueline Bolger
Secretary ……….………………….Dr. Laura Jernigan
Treasurer ……………..…....……Dorothy Schoonover
APRIL 19 MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Machine Shed Restaurant
7475 East State Street, Rockford
8:30 am - 10:30 am
Hello Retired Teachers of Winnebago County! After a somewhat challenging winter, it’s good to see the sun shining more frequently and hear more and more birds singing as they slowly return to northern Illinois. Speaking of birds, 30+ members of WCRTA had a wonderful get-together at Nunzio’s Restaurant in February. After our delicious luncheon, Will Rezin of Wild Birds Unlimited led us through a fascinating presentation on identifying wild birds, how to attract birds to our yards, the different (and appropriate) styles of birdhouses and what to feed the birds. At the end of Will’s presentation, he gave each attendee a bag of birdseed and a discount coupon to Wild Birds Unlimited. Everyone had questions for Will; no one wanted to leave!!
So what’s next? On Thursday, April 19, we are meeting at the Machine Shed Restaurant, 7475 East State Street, Rockford, IL 61108, for breakfast. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Because we are ordering directly from the menu, the waitstaff will start taking orders at 8:45. Everyone will pay individually at the end of the meal; however, it is important to note that your bill will NOT automatically include tax or tip.
After breakfast, Dennis Horton from the Rockford Office of the Better Business Bureau will share an updated presentation on ID Theft and Other Electronic Scams. We have hosted Dennis in previous meetings. He is an excellent speaker, and we always leave with a wealth of new knowledge and ways to avoid being a target of scams!
In order to ensure adequate waitstaff for our morning, the Machine Shed managers would like to know how many of our members are planning to join us for breakfast by Friday, April 6. Please RSVP to Gayle Haab, either by email (ghaab74@gmail.com) or by phone (815-742-1331). Thank you for your cooperation!
Jacque Bolger, WCRTA Vice-President/Program Chair 2
SAVE THESE DATES!
May 17, 2018 - Board Meeting - ROE, Loves Park - 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
June 28, 2018 - Membership Meeting (Scholarship Presentation)
Wesley Willows Town Hall Center - 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
Board Meeting - 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm
July 12, 2018 - Bus Trip to Milwaukee - Members (& Guests) -
8:00 am – 8:00 pm (See flyer in this newsletter)
August 16(?), 2018 - Membership Social Meeting - McEachran Winery,
Caledonia - Time to be Determined
September 20, 2018 - Membership Meeting - Stockholm Inn - IRTA Staff
9:00 am - 11:00 am
October 18, 2018 - Board Meeting - ROE, Loves Park - 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
November 15, 2018 - Membership Meeting - Time & Venue to be decided
December 6, 2018 - Board Retreat to plan 2019 programs
We welcome guests at Board meetings and new Board Members who will bring fresh ideas to the planning table!
Message from Norm Alpers, Co-President of WCRTA, n_alpers@yahoo.com
I am completing my 24th year of retirement as an educator in the State of Illinois. That does not seem possible, but it is. I have to tell you that my retirement benefits from TRS have been good. They have remained good because of the actions of the IRTA through its leaders and the support of its membership. As you have heard, there are some concerns about continued financial support for some of the benefits, primarily insurance, by the governor and the legislature. We must remain vigilant to the planning and actions of our state government as it tries to solve those financial problems and its plans for funding TRS. One of our goals at WCRTA is to help keep you informed of those plans and actions of our state government.
In January, the WCRTA Board committed WCRTA to helping fund the Bergstrom Stateline Quiz Bowl as seen on WTVO and FOX 39. There are 28 area high school teams participating this season. We pledged $2,400 to this season of the program. We felt it was a worthy expenditure of WCRTA funds. We will be evaluating that expenditure as the season moves along. If you have never watched the Quiz Bowl, please plan to do so. The days and times that it is scheduled for broadcast are Saturdays at 6:30 pm on WTVO, Sundays at 9:30 pm on WQRF and Sundays at 8:30 am on MyNet. Check it out.
I want to again remember one of our former WCRTA board members and great friend of many of us through the years we were fortunate to know her, Toni Weber. She was a strong supporter of IRTA and WCRTA. She worked hard to help them be successes. She was a strong supporter of the Quiz Bowl and was a factor in our decision to help fund the program. She is and will continue to be missed.
Finally I want to reach out to our recent retirees, specifically from 2014 to the present. Your membership dues are the only source of income for WCRTA. That is not the only reason we need you to continue your membership, but it is important. We also need your membership for the new ideas you have about what we can and should be doing to support those still teaching, just beginning their teaching careers, and those who will begin teaching under some reformed pension system yet to be finalized. So, renew your memberships if you have not done so already and become active in the organization and make yourself known to us because we need you.
Check out the membership program for April 19. It is described in this newsletter. It is important stuff, especially for those of us who are not totally comfortable about our use of computers in this world that we live in.
News from Fred Kunz, Co-President of WCRTA, djfk7@aol.com
Scholarships and Grants
The Blanche Martin Foundation is looking for high school and college students from Winnebago enrolled in elementary education. Scholarships range from $2000 - $4000. Applications are due April 15, 2018 to the Regional Superintendent, 300 Heart Blvd, Loves Park, IL 61111. You may get the application at http://www.winnebagocountyrta.org/scholarship-application.html.
2018 IRTAF Excellence in Education for Teachers
Over $36,000 in grant money is available statewide for special projects (maximum $750). We need to have a number of awards from Winnebago County. Contact IRTA at 1-800-726-4782 or www.irtaonline.org. Also, I can be contacted at djfk7@aol.com for an application or questions about the grants.
Area 1 Conference
Please plan on attending the Area I Conference on May 17 in Oglesby at Illinois Valley Community College or May 18 in Dixon at the Northwest Center to get the latest on IRTA Programs and activities. WCRTA has always had a good attendance.
Legislative Review—March 2018 by John Carleton, Legislative Chair
Things are stirring in the statehouse again so House Bill 3080 will allow retirees to return to substitute teaching for up to 120 days without affecting their pensions. This bill has passed the House and is now awaiting action in the Senate. It is almost identical to the legislation brought forth by the IRTA and sponsored by Senator Manar, SB 3045. This increases the amount of days from 100 to 120 and will work to help eliminate the teacher shortage facing Illinois. In addition, there are three other bills that have been introduced that will help to address the teacher shortage. The first would let aspiring teachers from other states get refunds on their application fees after teaching for a year. Another would let paraprofessionals, like a teacher's aide, renew his or her license for free. Lastly, military officers and their spouses would be able to get temporary licenses for up to three years while waiting for approval from the state's Department on Professional Regulation. 4
Senator Manar moved a bill out of the State Government Committee for the IRTA. Senate Bill 3046 will allow TRS annuitants who have opted out of the Teachers Retirement Insurance Program to opt back in during the benefits choice period. The Senate pensions committee has also been meeting, but none of the bills heard in that committee affect retired teachers.
The governor’s proposal to shift hundreds of millions of dollars of state pension costs to schools and universities has taken a hit. Rep. Dave McSweeney is sponsoring House Resolution 27 which declares “the opinion of the Illinois House of Representatives that the proposed educational pension cost shift from the State of Illinois to local school districts, community colleges, and institutions of higher education is financially wrong.” The Resolution now has nearly 70 House sponsors. While both the House and Senate will be in session on and off over the next month, they are both not present at the same time until April 10.
The primary elections are on Tuesday, March 20, and they usually go begging for voters. People don't seem to realize how critical they are. WCRTA and IRTA encourage you to get informed and vote! The website www.BallotReady.org has a lot of information about the state and federal candidates running in the primary. Their info on local candidates is pretty scarce, but the state and federal is pretty complete. WCRTA is looking into how we can be more active and work with the Rockford League of Women Voters in this regard. (This article uses information from the IRTA Website and other sources)
Member Benefits
Endorsed Benefits Overview. IRTA has two types of member benefits--Endorsed and Informative Benefits. In an effort to improve the quality of benefits available to IRTA members, the IRTA board agreed to endorse products. These products were selected because they provide superior benefits and competitive premium rates. These products have been heavily negotiated on behalf of retired school educators, and the IRTA board believes that they are the finest available anywhere. Informative benefits are products that are available to IRTA members as a service.
Join IRTA for Complete Information
Available endorsed benefits include Annuity Policy, Credit Card, Dental and Vision Insurance, Flexible Choice Cancer, Heart Attack & Stroke Policy, Liberty Mutual, Life Line Screening, Life Policy, Long-Term Care, and Medical Air Services Association.
Available Informative Benefits include American Hearing Benefits, Apple Products, Dell Computers, Flower Discounts, Globus Vacations, Hearing Plan Discount Benefit, La Quinta Inn & Suites Discount, MediPendant, myAMBAdining.com, myAMBAdiscounts, Orlando Employee Discounts, Rental Car Discounts, Road Scholar, Term Life Express, Vacations By Rail, and Veterinary Pet Insurance.
Gayle Haab, Member Benefits & Reservations
