www.winnebagocountyrta.org February 2021
Dear WCRTA Members
I hope our first newsletter of 2021 finds you healthy and off to a good start of a new year! We are all glad to put 2020 behind us, and we certainly hope President’s Report
that 2021 will be a better year! The Winnebago County Retired Teachers Association Board has tried to communicate with our general membership through our website (winnebagocountyrta.org), Member Planet, and newsletters. We hosted several “How to Zoom” workshops in 2020 and hope continue with more workshops this year.
We planned meetings and events for 2021; however, due to the status of COVID, we still do not plan to meet in person until further notice. The board continues to meet through Zoom. We have arranged a Zoom presentation for you featuring an overview of Midway Village. This presentation is scheduled for March 11 at 11:00 a.m. Lonna Converso, Director of Marketing at Midway Village will share what Midway Village has to offer through a short slide show presentation. The entire Zoom presentation will only last about 20 minutes. If you are interested in attending, please email me your current email address to ghaab74@gmail.com so I can send you the link for the Zoom meeting.
Please check the status of your membership and pay your dues if you have not already done so. Information is included in this newsletter about membership. It is important to be a current and active member of both our local (WCRTA) and state (IRTA) associations and stay abreast of the benefits they provide.
We are fortunate our pension is still intact, our COLA was applied, our health care insurance remains in place, and we are still here to enjoy all the benefits that life offers. With your membership in IRTA and WCRTA, you are making an effort to hold onto the promises given to you years ago when you began your teaching career. The strength to hold onto what we have is enhanced by your membership because the old adage, “strength in numbers,” is still true.
--Gayle Haab, WCRTA President, ghaab74@gmail.com
Legislative Update for February 2021
The 102nd General Assembly began with the election of Rep. Chris Welch (D-Westchester) as the 70th Speaker of the House, ending the leadership of Rep. Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) who has served as Speaker nearly continuously since 1983. That said, due to the on-going Covid pandemic, they have cancelled most sessions and will meet infrequently in the near future to adopt rules and address other procedural matters for the new General Assembly.
Even with this relatively quiet time in Springfield, it never hurts to remind ourselves that it was IRTA through their lawsuit, Heaton vs. Quinn back in 2015, that preserved the pensions that are sustaining us during this pandemic. I am sure all of us appreciate the 3% COLA in our checks this February and the support you provide to WCRTA/IRTA through your membership is what makes things like that yearly increase still happen. So, while there is not much going on now, your continued participation helps retired teachers to receive benefits for which we all worked for many years.
Since there’s not much current legislative news, this is probably a good time to remind you that you can always get the latest legislative information from the WCRTA website: http://www.winnebagocountyrta.org/. Just go to the tab at the top of the home page that says Pension/Legislative News where you can click and see the latest updates from IRTA. Don’t like what you read there or want to compliment your local legislator for supporting us? Then go to the More . . . tab and you can find all the information you need to contact your local legislator. Or you can go to the other valuable sources of information about legislation and programs through WCRTA and IRTA. After you read this, why not go to your computer/smart phone and check out our/your website so you know what’s there when you need it.
--Dr. John Carleton, Legislative Chair
Does WCRTA Have Your Updated Email Address?
During these times when we can’t have in-person membership meetings, it is more important than ever that WCRTA has your up-dated email address. This helps us in two ways. It allows us do get ahold of you should there be a last-minute program opportunity or to inform you of a relevant issue. It also helps to keep labor and costs down by saving the labor of printing/putting together a paper newsletter and having to pay the postage costs for hundreds of mailings. We can even send you a quick survey about a current topic. Don’t use your computer that much? Our contact program, Member Planet, can also send you the same information in an email as a text to your smartphone. So, if you also provide us with your cell phone number, we can text you. We promise not to fill your inbox with a lot of stuff, only what’s important to retired teachers. Stay in touch! Be sure we have your most current contact information. And, of course, if you chose not to use email or texts, be sure we have your latest USPS mailing address. To update your information, email the Davisons at davison61072@yahoo.com. Your updated information will help us serve you better!
Winnebago County Retired Teachers Association
Blanche J. Martin Scholarship for Elementary Education Certification
General Information
Eligibility
Application Procedure--Each applicant must complete an application from the Winnebago County Retired Teachers Association (WCRTA) Blanche J. Martin Scholarship Committee. Applications are available at www.scholarshipsni.com or upon request from the Regional Office of Education 4, 300 Heart Boulevard, Loves Park, IL 61111-7516
Notice to Annual Members
With the New Year here, it is now time to renew membership for 2021. Please remember that IRTA dues do not pay for WCRTA membership. Our unit must collect its own dues. To continue membership for the 2021 year, dues must be paid by March 31, 2021.
There are two types of membership in WCRTA: Life membership is $100. Annual membership is $10 per year. Please complete the form below and mail it along with your dues check to WCRTA Treasurer, Dorothy Schoonover, 4143 Catalpa Woods Dr., Rockford, IL 61101.
Have a happier, healthier New Year and thank you for being a member of WCRTA.
MEMBERSHIP FORM
Last Name:________________________________ ___First name:______________________________
Street Address:_________________________________________________ Apt. #______________
City:______________________________ State:_________ Zip Code:_________
Email:__________________________________________________PH:______________
School Attendance Center retired from:____________________________________________________
Year Retired: _______ Membership desired: Annual: ($10/yr.)___ Life: ($100 for life)____(Indicate by “X)
IRTA membership: Yes or No (Please circle)
News from IRTA
1099-R Form
The 1099R forms were to be mailed by January 31, 2021. A duplicate copy of the 1099-R form may be obtained by contacting the TRS Call Center.
3% COLA
The 3% Cost of Living Allowance was paid on the February 1 check. It is first effective January 1st following either your first retirement anniversary or your 61st birthday, whichever is later.
TRS Trustee Election
Terms are expiring for two Active Trustees and one Annuitant Trustee. Petitions were due by January 29, 2021, and voting, if necessary, will occur from April 1 through May 3. Electronic voting for the nominated candidates will be available April 1 through 10 a.m. on May 3. To vote by electronic ballot, please ensure we have your valid email address on file. Paper ballots will only be mailed if we do not have your email address or you request a paper ballot.
Member Account Access
Annuitants may log into their Member Account Access and find Verification letters, benefit reports, and statements regarding their retirement account.
TRS Contact Information
The following contact information was provided:
Email – members@trsil.org Member Services--877-927-5877
Email updates list – members@trsil.org Web page--WWW.trsil.org
Information and the application for the 2021 Illinois Retired Teachers Association Scholarship Program is now available on the IRTA website under Foundation Information and an application can also be obtained by contacting Fran Pettersen at narfp@sbcglobal.net or 708-302-2129. This $1,500 scholarship is available to students who are a junior or senior in college and have been accepted into an accredited Teacher Certification Program. The applicant must be a resident of Illinois but may attend a school in any state. Also, an applicant must have and maintain a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
Driver’s License Offices Reopening
Many area Driver’s License Offices are reopening after having shut down in December because of the increase in the number of coronavirus cases. People only have to visit an office in person to renew their license if it has been suspended, if the license has been expired for more than year, or if they have to pass a written or road test. Secretary of State, Jesse White, has extended the expiration dates for driver’s licenses and ID cards to June 1, 2021, so that those who have to visit an office may wait for warmer weather. The offices are marked off for social distancing so there is not the usual amount of waiting space inside buildings, and lines may get long outside. Those qualifying for online renewal will receive a letter with a unique pin number about 90 days before the expiration date and are encouraged to renew online. Drivers can also renew license plate stickers online. Drivers over 75 whose licenses expired in 2020 should have received a letter stating that their expiration dates were moved to the corresponding month in 2021. The deadline for getting a REAL ID to use for domestic travel purposes was extended to Oct.1, 2021. With conditions still in a state of flux because of the virus, it is best to check online for the most up-to-date information at www.cyberdriveillinois.com.
Beware of Stimulus Payment and Corona Vaccine Scams
With the second round of stimulus checks in process of being delivered and the Corona virus vaccine being administered to first line defenders and those living in group settings, once again scams regarding them are on the rise. Here are some warnings, gathered from a variety of sources, that you should take note of:
Second Round Stimulus Scams
Be aware of offers to help you get the stimulus check quicker, especially if there is a “fee” involved. You do not need to apply or pay anything to get your stimulus funds. (Always be wary of anyone asking for an online payment to be made in gift cards, prepaid debit cards, etc.) Also, at this time you will see offers and ads for “cash advance” loans with high interest rates.
If you think your personal information may have been compromised, you can go to the website identityTheft.govfor help in developing a recovery plan. You can check the IRS Get My Payment page to keep track of the status of your payment*. *Up to $600 per individual, including dependent children under age 17, if you earned less than $75,000 ($150,000 for those married filing jointly) in 2019. Payments phase out if you earned more than that, stopping completely for those with adjusted gross incomes of $87,500 or more ($174,000 for married couples).
Corona Virus Vaccine Scams
State and federal officials want the public to stay vigilant about COVID-19 scams related to vaccines, treatments, test kits, and clinical trials. Here are five points the public should understand:
This information is from an online article by Katherine Skiba, AARP, updated Dec. 15, 2020.
COVID-19 Vaccine
To register for a COVID-19 vaccination, log onto: https://www.wchd.org/covid-19/vaccine
Step 1: Register to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
Complete this form to get on the list for a COVID-19 vaccine. You will be asked to provide:
All your information is confidential and will only be shared as appropriate. You will receive an email once your registration is successfully completed.
WINNEBAGO COUNTY Non-Profit Org.
RETIRED TEACHERS ASSOCIATION U.S. POSTAGE
c/o Sharon Vinson, Editor …… P A I D
11966 Tresemer Road Permit #4466
Roscoe, IL 61073-7708 Rockford, IL
I hope our first newsletter of 2021 finds you healthy and off to a good start of a new year! We are all glad to put 2020 behind us, and we certainly hope President’s Report
that 2021 will be a better year! The Winnebago County Retired Teachers Association Board has tried to communicate with our general membership through our website (winnebagocountyrta.org), Member Planet, and newsletters. We hosted several “How to Zoom” workshops in 2020 and hope continue with more workshops this year.
We planned meetings and events for 2021; however, due to the status of COVID, we still do not plan to meet in person until further notice. The board continues to meet through Zoom. We have arranged a Zoom presentation for you featuring an overview of Midway Village. This presentation is scheduled for March 11 at 11:00 a.m. Lonna Converso, Director of Marketing at Midway Village will share what Midway Village has to offer through a short slide show presentation. The entire Zoom presentation will only last about 20 minutes. If you are interested in attending, please email me your current email address to ghaab74@gmail.com so I can send you the link for the Zoom meeting.
Please check the status of your membership and pay your dues if you have not already done so. Information is included in this newsletter about membership. It is important to be a current and active member of both our local (WCRTA) and state (IRTA) associations and stay abreast of the benefits they provide.
We are fortunate our pension is still intact, our COLA was applied, our health care insurance remains in place, and we are still here to enjoy all the benefits that life offers. With your membership in IRTA and WCRTA, you are making an effort to hold onto the promises given to you years ago when you began your teaching career. The strength to hold onto what we have is enhanced by your membership because the old adage, “strength in numbers,” is still true.
--Gayle Haab, WCRTA President, ghaab74@gmail.com
Legislative Update for February 2021
The 102nd General Assembly began with the election of Rep. Chris Welch (D-Westchester) as the 70th Speaker of the House, ending the leadership of Rep. Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) who has served as Speaker nearly continuously since 1983. That said, due to the on-going Covid pandemic, they have cancelled most sessions and will meet infrequently in the near future to adopt rules and address other procedural matters for the new General Assembly.
Even with this relatively quiet time in Springfield, it never hurts to remind ourselves that it was IRTA through their lawsuit, Heaton vs. Quinn back in 2015, that preserved the pensions that are sustaining us during this pandemic. I am sure all of us appreciate the 3% COLA in our checks this February and the support you provide to WCRTA/IRTA through your membership is what makes things like that yearly increase still happen. So, while there is not much going on now, your continued participation helps retired teachers to receive benefits for which we all worked for many years.
Since there’s not much current legislative news, this is probably a good time to remind you that you can always get the latest legislative information from the WCRTA website: http://www.winnebagocountyrta.org/. Just go to the tab at the top of the home page that says Pension/Legislative News where you can click and see the latest updates from IRTA. Don’t like what you read there or want to compliment your local legislator for supporting us? Then go to the More . . . tab and you can find all the information you need to contact your local legislator. Or you can go to the other valuable sources of information about legislation and programs through WCRTA and IRTA. After you read this, why not go to your computer/smart phone and check out our/your website so you know what’s there when you need it.
--Dr. John Carleton, Legislative Chair
Does WCRTA Have Your Updated Email Address?
During these times when we can’t have in-person membership meetings, it is more important than ever that WCRTA has your up-dated email address. This helps us in two ways. It allows us do get ahold of you should there be a last-minute program opportunity or to inform you of a relevant issue. It also helps to keep labor and costs down by saving the labor of printing/putting together a paper newsletter and having to pay the postage costs for hundreds of mailings. We can even send you a quick survey about a current topic. Don’t use your computer that much? Our contact program, Member Planet, can also send you the same information in an email as a text to your smartphone. So, if you also provide us with your cell phone number, we can text you. We promise not to fill your inbox with a lot of stuff, only what’s important to retired teachers. Stay in touch! Be sure we have your most current contact information. And, of course, if you chose not to use email or texts, be sure we have your latest USPS mailing address. To update your information, email the Davisons at davison61072@yahoo.com. Your updated information will help us serve you better!
Winnebago County Retired Teachers Association
Blanche J. Martin Scholarship for Elementary Education Certification
General Information
- The scholarship will be awarded to a college student pursuing Elementary Education certification.
- The student selected will receive a scholarship of an amount to be determined annually.
This depends upon the number of recognized honorees chosen, as the annual fund is limited.
- Applications must be received by April 15, 2021, at the Regional Office of Education 4,
300 Heart Blvd, Loves Park, IL 61111-7516. Please write Attention: Blanche J. Martin Scholarship on the application envelope. All applicants will be notified by May 15, 2021.
Eligibility
- Application is to be postmarked or received by April 15, 2021.
- In order to qualify for a Blanche J. Martin Scholarship, the applicant must be a college sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate student taking classes in an elementary education teacher certification program. Repeat applicants are accepted.
- Applicants must be from Winnebago County or having attended a school in Winnebago County.
- Students may be attending any college or university in the United States.
Application Procedure--Each applicant must complete an application from the Winnebago County Retired Teachers Association (WCRTA) Blanche J. Martin Scholarship Committee. Applications are available at www.scholarshipsni.com or upon request from the Regional Office of Education 4, 300 Heart Boulevard, Loves Park, IL 61111-7516
Notice to Annual Members
With the New Year here, it is now time to renew membership for 2021. Please remember that IRTA dues do not pay for WCRTA membership. Our unit must collect its own dues. To continue membership for the 2021 year, dues must be paid by March 31, 2021.
There are two types of membership in WCRTA: Life membership is $100. Annual membership is $10 per year. Please complete the form below and mail it along with your dues check to WCRTA Treasurer, Dorothy Schoonover, 4143 Catalpa Woods Dr., Rockford, IL 61101.
Have a happier, healthier New Year and thank you for being a member of WCRTA.
MEMBERSHIP FORM
Last Name:________________________________ ___First name:______________________________
Street Address:_________________________________________________ Apt. #______________
City:______________________________ State:_________ Zip Code:_________
Email:__________________________________________________PH:______________
School Attendance Center retired from:____________________________________________________
Year Retired: _______ Membership desired: Annual: ($10/yr.)___ Life: ($100 for life)____(Indicate by “X)
IRTA membership: Yes or No (Please circle)
News from IRTA
1099-R Form
The 1099R forms were to be mailed by January 31, 2021. A duplicate copy of the 1099-R form may be obtained by contacting the TRS Call Center.
3% COLA
The 3% Cost of Living Allowance was paid on the February 1 check. It is first effective January 1st following either your first retirement anniversary or your 61st birthday, whichever is later.
TRS Trustee Election
Terms are expiring for two Active Trustees and one Annuitant Trustee. Petitions were due by January 29, 2021, and voting, if necessary, will occur from April 1 through May 3. Electronic voting for the nominated candidates will be available April 1 through 10 a.m. on May 3. To vote by electronic ballot, please ensure we have your valid email address on file. Paper ballots will only be mailed if we do not have your email address or you request a paper ballot.
Member Account Access
Annuitants may log into their Member Account Access and find Verification letters, benefit reports, and statements regarding their retirement account.
TRS Contact Information
The following contact information was provided:
Email – members@trsil.org Member Services--877-927-5877
Email updates list – members@trsil.org Web page--WWW.trsil.org
Information and the application for the 2021 Illinois Retired Teachers Association Scholarship Program is now available on the IRTA website under Foundation Information and an application can also be obtained by contacting Fran Pettersen at narfp@sbcglobal.net or 708-302-2129. This $1,500 scholarship is available to students who are a junior or senior in college and have been accepted into an accredited Teacher Certification Program. The applicant must be a resident of Illinois but may attend a school in any state. Also, an applicant must have and maintain a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
Driver’s License Offices Reopening
Many area Driver’s License Offices are reopening after having shut down in December because of the increase in the number of coronavirus cases. People only have to visit an office in person to renew their license if it has been suspended, if the license has been expired for more than year, or if they have to pass a written or road test. Secretary of State, Jesse White, has extended the expiration dates for driver’s licenses and ID cards to June 1, 2021, so that those who have to visit an office may wait for warmer weather. The offices are marked off for social distancing so there is not the usual amount of waiting space inside buildings, and lines may get long outside. Those qualifying for online renewal will receive a letter with a unique pin number about 90 days before the expiration date and are encouraged to renew online. Drivers can also renew license plate stickers online. Drivers over 75 whose licenses expired in 2020 should have received a letter stating that their expiration dates were moved to the corresponding month in 2021. The deadline for getting a REAL ID to use for domestic travel purposes was extended to Oct.1, 2021. With conditions still in a state of flux because of the virus, it is best to check online for the most up-to-date information at www.cyberdriveillinois.com.
Beware of Stimulus Payment and Corona Vaccine Scams
With the second round of stimulus checks in process of being delivered and the Corona virus vaccine being administered to first line defenders and those living in group settings, once again scams regarding them are on the rise. Here are some warnings, gathered from a variety of sources, that you should take note of:
Second Round Stimulus Scams
Be aware of offers to help you get the stimulus check quicker, especially if there is a “fee” involved. You do not need to apply or pay anything to get your stimulus funds. (Always be wary of anyone asking for an online payment to be made in gift cards, prepaid debit cards, etc.) Also, at this time you will see offers and ads for “cash advance” loans with high interest rates.
- Do not respond to any “urgent” request to verify personal information. The IRS will never call, text, or email you to verify information!
- Bogus check scam--This is for people who do not use direct deposit for their stimulus checks. When you receive your check in the mail, take care that it is real! Scammers often make up the name of agencies. If you deposit a bogus check, the scammers may call and tell you the amount is incorrect and that you need to return some of the funds. If you are to repay using gift cards or pre-paid cards, beware!
If you think your personal information may have been compromised, you can go to the website identityTheft.govfor help in developing a recovery plan. You can check the IRS Get My Payment page to keep track of the status of your payment*. *Up to $600 per individual, including dependent children under age 17, if you earned less than $75,000 ($150,000 for those married filing jointly) in 2019. Payments phase out if you earned more than that, stopping completely for those with adjusted gross incomes of $87,500 or more ($174,000 for married couples).
Corona Virus Vaccine Scams
State and federal officials want the public to stay vigilant about COVID-19 scams related to vaccines, treatments, test kits, and clinical trials. Here are five points the public should understand:
- People should turn to trusted sources—their doctor or local health department—for guidance.
- People should not buy any corona virus vaccine or treatment on the internet or from an online pharmacy.
- Doses of the vaccine will be provided to patients at no cost. Providers may charge an administration fee and have that fee reimbursed by private and public insurance companies.
- People should not respond to any solicitations about the vaccine. “Fraudsters are using telemarketing calls, text messages, social media platforms and door-to-door visits to perpetrate COVID-19 related scams.”
- People should not give cash or any other form of payment to suspicious callers, nor should they divulge personal, medical, or financial information.
This information is from an online article by Katherine Skiba, AARP, updated Dec. 15, 2020.
COVID-19 Vaccine
To register for a COVID-19 vaccination, log onto: https://www.wchd.org/covid-19/vaccine
Step 1: Register to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
Complete this form to get on the list for a COVID-19 vaccine. You will be asked to provide:
- Information about you and your medical history, including allergies and current medications.
- Contact information you check often, so you can be reached to make an appointment.
All your information is confidential and will only be shared as appropriate. You will receive an email once your registration is successfully completed.
WINNEBAGO COUNTY Non-Profit Org.
RETIRED TEACHERS ASSOCIATION U.S. POSTAGE
c/o Sharon Vinson, Editor …… P A I D
11966 Tresemer Road Permit #4466
Roscoe, IL 61073-7708 Rockford, IL
