MRTA October Newsletter - TRTA Local Unit Directory

Oct. 15,2014
Dickinson, Hitchcock, La Marque, Texas City, Santa
Oct, meeting
Date: l0ll5ll4
Time: 12:30 p.m.
Place: Captain's Room
Nessler Center
We reJoiced last
Jear when some
retirees
Hosts, Hostesses
October
Opal Glover
Carlotta Bedford
Millie Edwards
Victoria Grogan
Kenneth Jackson
Alex Pratt
Mable Pratt
Jolene Salisburv
November
Audrey Biggs
Amelia Adams
Audrey Griggs
Herman Harper
Pat Hayden
Vander Haynes
Charlotte Hucks
Theolia
Washington
Treasury Report
Sept. balance 52872.17
Next month
Place: Nessler
Date: Nov. 19
Program:
Book wrapping
f,nalfi receiued
an annaia raise,
but now we face
an euen bigger
,
IT
Drq2rcm
,I
-
gettirug
sustairuable
health care
Fe
The Senate Finance Committee showed surprise
when the state Legislative Budget Board informed
them that the TRS-Care has a shortfall of nearly one
billion dollars. However, as Director Tim Lee said,
the impending crisis for health care for retirees has
been no secret and can no longer be avoided.
"If nothing is done during the coming session," Director Lee said, o'TRS-Care participants could see astronomical premium increases as high as I3Ao/o".
He also noted that while there was an increase in
retirees' income last year, the increase did not
apply to all retirees.
TRS has asked the Budget Board for an increase of
nearly $900,000. This would be in addition to the 1
percent of active teacher payroll that is commonly
provided to TRS-Care during the fiscal year.
Some state senators said that they are already
being contacted by retirees who are concerned about
a possible health care cost crisis.
The Legislative Budget Board is already reviewing
several potential options. TRS is also looking at
options and is in the process of finalizing a
sustainability studv to be released in October.
Sreaker
However, there ARE benefits to being a retiree,..
When you get the TRTA
magazine The VOICE, do
you ever flip to the back
and check out the benefits
that are provided to retirees? If you're smart, you
do. If you don't, then you
might want to "smarten"
up and do that.
The benefits offered can
help you with travel plans,
or shopping plans or almost anything else you
might want to be spending
your money on.
Mr. Dallas Mullins. who
heads Member Benefits
of
TRTA is in charge of
securing all the different
benefits for retirees.
"W'e can provide low
cost, highly discounted
programs," he said. He
added that this year the
program is now offering
discounts to various restaurants and food places
throughout Texas.
The discount program
has been in effect since
1981. "W'e have been
working and negotiating
with companies over a
long period of years to
get the best possible
products at the lowest
rates," Mr. Mullins said.
Rather than being featured at the beginning of
the meeting as is usually
done, Mr. Mullins will
speak later in the meeting
to have a chance to meet
members and get some
idea of what programs
are popular and what
retirees might want to see
in the future.
Coming in
Novgmbgr'.
oo
Whot hos becom e our favo rite meeting book wropping f or children. Bring scissoFs,
tope ond wropping poper. Then wrop, visit
ond chot...
HMwzanrorfu
It
MRTA membership increases to 93
start innocemtlg enough.
Sonneone, at lunch or recess, would ask,
"What are Aou d,oing for Halloweem?"
What that nneant was "what are gou going to wear?" Read,g vwade costuvvres were
not realQ an option. Stores carried m,aslcs
and vvr,agbe vavmpire teeth but that was alL
So on Halbween night we would ev^erge
frovvr our hovvtes as howv-vvrade ghosts,
hovnegrown gApsies or hovneless travwps.
Occas[onalQ a hovnelg witch with a wavt om
wou[d. al(
her face appeared.
But the real fun was trick-or-treating
for eandg. I alwags hoped for chocolate,
TRTF'gives help to others, but
needs help to continue doing so
although cand.g corn was ok.
Two particular treats I revvrevnber. One
chiilg night a new favnilg opened up their
hovne amd sewed us hot ehocolate.
It was wonder{ul
I rennevwber
the dentist on a block vwg children ra^ up
and dowm who gave out toothbrushes, mot
candg. As am adult I realized that Halbween
was a great gauge of the econov^$. Leam
gears uneant svna!( hard candies, good gears
brought chocolate.
October
MRTA
Agenda
And, secomd,
-bg Janice Pagne
12:30 Register
Pay dues,
Refreshments
served
The name of the game for any organization is membership. And that has been a recurring theme for MRTA since
last spring when the unit began the membership contest.
Five new members have now joined since September
bringing the MRTA total to 93. They include Carlotta Bedford from La Marque ISD, Diane Martin and Olivia Cook
from Texas City ISD, Jolene Salsbury from Pearland ISD
and Carol Kovach from El Paso ISD.
Increased membership not only affects us locally - as
new members often bring in new ideas - it also affects us
on the state level. The number of voting delegates allotted
to local units at the state convention are determined bv the
membership total.
And don't forget - everyone who has brought in a new
member will be able to throw their name in the hat for a
$50 drawing in May.
Teachers are helpers. First and foremost they help their
sfudents to learn, to grow, to achieve. But sometimes
teachers need help too. And that's where the Texas Retired Teachers Foundation comes in.
The Foundation has established four charitable
programs to help educators of the past, present and future. Those programs include "A Helping Hand" for retirees who may need a small loan to solve an immediate
problem; Classroom Assistance Grants to help classroom
teachers pay for projects that will increase learning; Student Scholarships and the Legacy Campaign.
The TRTF has presented more than $170,000 to public
school teachers, students and retirees since 2008. The
next issue of The Voice magazine will be dedicated to the
Foundation, The magazine hopes to make it easier for
contributors to make donations to keep this vital program
going.
1:00 CalI to order
Pledge to flag
Program:
AMBA Beneftts
l:30 Meeting
Committee reports
MRTA Business
Announcements
2:30p.m.
Meefing is
adjourned