Are Your Ducks in a Row? - CalRTA

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California Retired Teachers Association
VOLUME 32 | ISSUE 1 | SUMMER 2016
Are Your Ducks in a Row?
Preparing for the long life you want! page 22
CalRTA's New
Educational Foundation
page 10
Members Celebrate Unity
at Annual Convention
page 14
California Retired Teachers Association: Your partner in pension protection
SUMMER
2016
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California Retired Teachers Association
CALIFORNIA RETIRED TEACHERS
ASSOCIATION
State Officers
President
Ken Hewitt
President-Elect
Irene Wetzel
Secretary
Jesse Perry
Treasurer
Peter Paolino
Immediate Past-President
Vacant
Area Directors
Area I – Betty Silva
Area II – Georgianna Light
Area III – Chuck Denonn
Area IV – Pat Seaman
Area V – Richard Benitez
Area VI – Carol Luhring | Jim Mahoney
FEATURES
03
President’s Message
04
Government Relations Updates
06
Your PAC Contribution Supports Public Education
08
Pension Watch
10
Educational Foundation
11
7 Backyard Cleaning Tips
12
The Scoop
14
Members Celebrate Unity at Annual Convention
18
CalRTA Recognizes Outstanding Volunteers
20
Laura E. Settle Scholarship Foundation Report
22
Are Your Ducks in a Row?
Area VII – Vacant
Area VIII – Barbara Gera
Area IX – Ron Breyer
Area X – Judy Smith
Area XI – Kathy O’Leary
Area XII – Marianne Wurnitsch
State Committee Chairs
Budget & Finance – John Gera
CalRTA’s mission is to protect and advocate for retired and active
educators’ pensions and other retirement benefits and to support education in
our communities.
Objectives
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Bylaws – Harlan McWhorter
Communications & Technology –
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Jim Sterling
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Government Relations – Lynn Lindsey
Membership Recruitment &
Resources – Steve Click
Nominations & Elections – Vacant
CalRTA Business Office
Editor
Angelique Hill, CAE, IOM
Managing Editor
Debbie Pate-Newberry
Design
Carrie Dennis Design
Printing
BURKS Printing & Promotions
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To promote, protect and advocate for the interests of retired public
California educators,
To safeguard the State Teachers’ Retirement System,
To study and promote or oppose state and national legislation
affecting the interests of retired educators, and
To promote and safeguard public education systems.
Website Addresses
California Retired Teachers Association | www.calrta.org
State Teachers’ Retirement System | www.calstrs.com
Medicare | www.medicare.gov
Send address changes to the Business Office
800 Howe Avenue, Suite 370 | Sacramento, CA 95825 | 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. | 916-923-2200 | E-mail: [email protected]
CalRTA CONTACT (ISSN O885-0267) is published five times per year by California Retired Teachers Association. Annual
subscription is $4.50 paid by membership dues of $54 annually. Periodical postage paid at Sacramento, CA, and at additional
mailing offices. Copyright 2016 CalRTA. All rights reserved.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: CalRTA Contact | 800 Howe Avenue, Suite 370 | Sacramento, CA 95825
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Contact | www.calrta.org
Unsolicited submissions for CalRTA Contact become the property of CalRTA, and can only be returned if accompanied by a self-addressed envelope containing sufficient postage.
PRESIDENT ’S MESSAGE
We Have Superpowers …
The 2016 Annual Convention & Delegate Assembly held in May is getting great evaluations and reviews. Thank you to everyone who helped make it so good. And thank you
for your frank and honest evaluations, which will be a basis for next year’s Convention
planning committee.
The Division Presidents and leaders were considering their “superpowers” at a roundtable workshop. I am convinced that these powers are not to be taken lightly, so I share
them with you all.
Knowledge is power. And who are we teachers, if not knowledge-brokers? Part of our
life’s calling involved learning and teaching the facts. Knowledge is the key to careful
thinking and decision-making. I taught that, didn’t you? Remember the bumper sticker,
“If you think Education is expensive, watch the cost of Ignorance.” Even today we still
search through a lot of baloney in the desire for accuracy.
Ken Hewitt
CalRTA President
Knowledge is a superpower.
And there is an enemy of public education who trades in deception, not fact. We are going to defeat those evil superpowers because we are dedicated to the truth that public
education is an important foundation to a strong democracy.
What makes life worthwhile? Love. Caring. And teachers do more than teach lessons.
They teach children. What makes education more than learning is caring. Today’s retired teacher still cares. It is one of our permanent superpowers. We care about how all
the children are doing. We care about how the schools are doing. We care about how
today’s teachers are doing in the classroom.
Retired teachers care.
CalRTA has scholarship programs all over the state. We give cash grants to local classrooms. We give cash grants to teachers on Facebook. CalRTA has a new 501 (c) 3 Educational Foundation by which we plan to give tens of thousands of dollars to California
schools. (See article on page 10.)
CalRTA cares.
CalRTA has a
new 501 (c) 3
Educational
Foundation by
which we plan
to give tens
of thousands
of dollars to
California
schools.
And last but not least, we have the power to stick with it. I call it dedication. We do not
surrender to the evil superpower of greed, nor to those who have stripped us of our Social Security benefit, nor to anyone who thinks we will stand idly by while voting rights
are denied to qualified citizens, or health care to needy seniors. We do not win every
battle of the superpowers, but we will not quit just because we are behind.
We are CalRTA … superpower of retirement. Y
Ken Hewitt, CalRTA President
SUMMER 2016
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GOVERNMENT RELATIONS UPDATES
By David L. Walrath, Legislative Advocate, and Lynn Lindsey, Government Relations Committee Chair
H.R. 711
The House Ways and Means Committee Subcommittee on Social Security heard the CalRTAsupported H.R. 711 on March 22, 2016. The hearing was the first action on a bill to reform either
the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) or the Government Pension Offset (GPO). House
Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) is the sponsor of H.R. 711, which will provide
retirees subject to the WEP with relief from their Social Security benefit cut caused by the WEP.
The bill would restore up to 50 percent of the benefit cut amount.
DAVID L. WALRATH
Legislative Advocate
While the full Ways and Means Committee has not yet acted on the legislation, CalRTA hopes
more legislative action can occur this year. With a strong record of 2016 action, the proposal
could move forward more quickly in 2017. The following are California co-sponsors for H.R. 711:
Co-sponsor
Date Co-sponsored
Rep. Lowenthal, Alan S. [D-CA-47]
05/01/2015
Rep. Nunes, Devin [R-CA-22]
06/02/2015
Rep. McNerney, Jerry [D-CA-9]
06/11/2015
Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-51]
07/20/2015
Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-3]
07/29/2015
Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-33]
10/09/2015
Rep. Knight, Stephen [R-CA-25]
12/18/2015
LYNN LINDSEY
Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-5]
03/15/2016
Government Relations
Committee Chair
Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]
05/17/2016
WEP and GPO Campaign
CalRTA will be asking every member to send a postcard urging WEP and GPO repeal to both
of the major party candidates for President of the United States, once they are officially nominated. The addresses will be available on the CalRTA website, along with messages that can
be used on the postcards. We need every member to write to make sure the candidates know
we will be judging them on the actions to repeal the WEP and GPO.
Lobby Day 2017
Save the date! The CalRTA Lobby Day in
Washington, D.C., will be on Wednesday,
April 26, 2017, and in local district Congressional Offices the same day. More information
will be provided when we are closer to 2017.
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Contact | www.calrta.org
The May Revision
contains $10 million for one-time
investment for grants to California
postsecondary institutions ...
Advocacy Day 2016 Results
CalRTA Advocacy Day had two priorities. The first was to
continue the appropriation to reach full funding for California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) benefits,
and the second was to encourage the state to enact legislation to help recruit and retain new teachers. In his May Revision, Governor Jerry Brown continued the full-funding appropriations for CalSTRS and also included funding for new
efforts for beginning teacher recruitment and retention.
The May Revision contains $10 million for one-time investment for grants to California postsecondary institutions to
improve upon or develop four-year integrated teacher credential programs. The May Revision also includes $2.5 million for the California Center for Teaching Careers.
Both of these results show that CalRTA advocacy has results.
CalRTA Priorities Survey
This fall, CalRTA will have its biennial Legislative Priorities
Survey. The survey will ask for your help in determining our
priorities for healthcare and supporting public education
and benefits, including federal issues affecting Medicare
and Social Security. Please be ready to complete the survey
and help us adopt the priorities and action plan you want.
WEP/GPO Updates
CalRTA works closely with the group “Social Security
Fairness.” Sign up for their newsletter and alerts at
www.ssfairness.com.
Friends of CalRTA
CalRTA does not endorse candidates, but the Association does recognize those leaders who are
working toward the same retirement security and
public education goals as CalRTA. For 2016 the
CalRTA Board of Directors has recognized:
State Senator Richard Pan who, as a pediatrician and former educator, works to promote education and health for California.
Assembly Member Susan Bonilla is a former
teacher, and she knows our issues. From preschool
to nutrition, to teacher training, she works to support safety and quality for California education.
Susan Davis is a former Board of Education
member in San Diego. As a representative of the
53rd District, her key issues have been education,
military families and veterans.
Attorney General Kamala Harris has worked
for the right to a quality education in a safe environment by improving attendance and working to
eliminate gang activity.
Special recognition to retiring Senator Barbara
Boxer who, since 1993, has been an advocate for
safety and education for children. She authored
legislation to establish the first federal afterschool programs. She also has a long history of
working for the safety, environment and education of our nation. Y
SUMMER 2016
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Education Founda
Your PAC Contribution Supports
Public Education
T
his November voters will decide whether or not
to extend the Prop. 30 education funding they approved in 2012. The “Tax Extension to Fund Education and Healthcare Initiative” would extend
for 12 years the personal income tax increase for the wealthy
included in Prop. 30. The quarter-cent sales tax increase enacted by Prop. 30 would expire as planned at the end of 2016.
raising funds to help with the Prop. 30 extension campaign.
We hope you’ll contribute to this important cause.
And a quick reminder about our PAC … CalRTA has long
been politically active, but we have never been partisan.
Our PAC is devoted to issues, not candidates.
Who makes the decision to spend PAC money?
Prop. 30 has been critical in helping schools recover from
the devastating cuts suffered during the recent recession.
With Prop. 30 funds, schools have been able to restore services, purchase supplies and hire more teachers. But those
funds are now at risk.
Without the Prop. 30 extension it’s estimated that
schools will lose nearly $5 billion in funding in the first
year alone!
CalRTA is joining the fight to pass this Prop. 30 extension,
but we need your help.
CalRTA’s PAC is funded by voluntary contributions from
CalRTA members and other supporters. This summer we’re
Why wait for the mail?
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Contact | www.calrta.org
The PAC Board makes that decision as a separate
legal entity. The PAC Board comprises the following CalRTA Board members: President Ken Hewitt,
President-Elect Irene Wetzel, Treasurer Peter Paolino, Area VI Co-Director Carol Luhring and Area X
Director Judy Smith.
What campaigns has the PAC supported?
The PAC has supported Prop. 45 to allow the Insurance Commissioner to regulate health insurance premiums (failed November 2014).
The PAC funded an independent expenditure campaign supporting Prop. 30 for education funding
(passed November 2012).
Does the PAC support candidates?
No. The PAC was created to support or oppose ballot
propositions. Because CalRTA does not endorse candidates for office, the PAC was not formed to provide
contributions to candidates.
Please mail your PAC contribution to:
CalRTA-PAC
Dept 34121
P.O. Box 39000
San Francisco, CA 94139-0001 Y
ation
PENSION WATCH
Teacher Pensions Highlighted in The New
York Times
In early June the New York Times ran an article, “For Many
Women, Adequate Pensions Are Still a Far Reach,” which
featured Kentucky Retired Teacher’s Association member
Bert Baldwin and new research on the challenges women
face in retirement.
The article is important because it contrasts the retirement
readiness of women with pensions compared to those
without. It also properly positions the benefit levels of retired educators.
The article says, “For Ms. Baldwin, her teacher’s pension affords her a comfortable middleclass life. It’s not a huge amount,
about $2,100 monthly, but more
than if she had been forced to
rely on her late husband’s pension from his job as a railroad
engineer.”
a landmark 2011 law
freezing cost-of-living
adjustments for retired
(Samantha Marcus, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
In early June, New Jersey's Supreme Court upheld a landmark 2011 law freezing cost-of-living adjustments for retired government workers, a decision that will slowly erode
the value of pensions paid to 800,000 current and former
public employees.
The 6-1 ruling is a major legal victory for Gov. Chris
Christie’s administration, which warned that restoring
the annual increases would hurl a pension system already
underfunded by $59 billion closer to insolvency.
Contact | www.calrta.org
Public workers sued, arguing before the court in March
that their cost-of-living adjustments have the same protections as the pensions themselves and cannot be reduced,
while a lawyer for the state said
COLAs fall outside that “nonforfeitable,” or absolute, right.
government workers ...
N.J. Supreme Court Hands Christie Big
Win on Pensions
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The lawsuit filed by a group of retired prosecutors hinged
on whether the legal promise not to reduce workers’ pensions includes cost-of-living adjustments. Christie and
state lawmakers suspended the regular increases in 2011
as part of a sweeping overhaul of employee benefits that
also raised the retirement age and required workers to pay
more for their pensions and health care.
In early June, New Jersey’s
Supreme Court upheld
You can circulate the article
on social media and by email
by using this link: http://nyti.
ms/1P9UYbu. The article also can be read and printed at
this link.
8
“State taxpayers have won another huge victory,” Christie
said. “One that spares them from the burden of unaffordable benefit increases for public employee unions.”
Assistant Deputy Attorney
General Jean P. Reilly agued
if there’s any ambiguity in the
language of the 1997 law, which
granted a non-forfeitable right to the “benefits program,” it
should be interpreted narrowly and in the state’s favor.
Writing for the majority, Justice Jaynee LaVecchia agreed,
finding “In this instance, proof of unequivocal intent to create a non-forfeitable right to yet-unreceived COLAs is lacking. Although both plaintiff retirees and the state advance
plausible arguments on that question, the lack of such unmistakable legislative intent dooms the plaintiffs’ position.”
The COLA suspension was part of a broader law requiring
public employees and the state to pay more into the pension system. The overhaul was undertaken to reduce the
state’s massive pension debt by $140 billion over 30 years
and preserve the fund. Freezing cost-of-living adjustments
was projected to save more than $70 billion of that total.
state COLAs, swamping the state with billions of dollars in
new liabilities and intensifying the pension fund’s financial
distress. The bigger checks to retirees would have moved
up the timeline for insolvency, which for one fund could be
as soon as 2024.
Moody’s Investors Service has warned the $59 billion in
unfunded liabilities could rise by a third if the state and
local governments were forced to restore retirees’ cost-ofliving increases.
With this ruling, it could be decades before many public
workers’ COLAs can be restored. Under the law, they won’t
receive increases until the individual pension plans that
make up the pension fund are much healthier, which the
statute defines as at least 80 percent funded.
In his dissent, Justice Barry Albin wrote that in drafting the
law the Legislature could have, but didn’t explicitly exclude
COLAs from the contractual right. Public workers made life
decisions based on what seemed a plainly written promise
that they would receive regular adjustments, he added.
“Many public employees may not have retired or may have
deferred their retirement had COLAs not been guaranteed
as part of their pension benefits program,” Albin said. “Although the Legislature had the right to suspend COLAs for
those public employees whose pension benefits had not
vested and who had yet to retire, it did not have the right to
do so for those public employees who retired expecting that
the state would keep its word.”
Wendell Steinhauer, president of the New Jersey Education Association, the state’s largest public union, called the
freeze “theft, plain and simple.”
“I am outraged that the court has condoned the actions of
Governor Christie and the New Jersey Legislature taking
away the COLAs that our members have earned over the
course of their careers,” he said.
A ruling overturning the freeze could have forced the state
to reimburse retirees for their losses since 2011 and to rein-
The full contribution recommended by actuaries — well
above what the state actually pays — for this year would immediately jump from $4.4 billion to $5.7 billion. And for the
governor to stick to his current payment schedule next year
he would need to kick in $400 million more than planned
and $1 billion more than the state is to pay in this year.
Moody’s lead analyst for New Jersey, Baye Larsen, weighed
in, saying the decision “eliminates a major threat to the
state’s fiscal stability, which is already challenged by narrow reserves and large, rapidly growing pension costs.”
The ruling marked the second major state Supreme Court
decision on the 2011 pension reform law and victory for
the Christie administration in as many years. In June 2015,
the high court ruled a piece of the law requiring Christie
to gradually increase annual payments into the system
couldn’t be enforced.
In both cases, the court invalidated what public workers
believed to be contractual obligations binding the state to
make annual contributions or pay out COLAs.
“Based on this decision, all public employees should be
gravely concerned that their remaining pension benefits
have any legal protections left,” said Charles Ouslander,
a retired prosecutor and plaintiff in the case. “In addition,
given the court’s past decision ... that upheld underfunding
of the pension system, despite another contractual obligation, pensioners are now only left with the obligation to pay
increased contributions with nothing in return.” Y
SUMMER 2016
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Educational Foundation
CalRTA Launches New Educational
Foundation
What is your legacy?
CalRTA is continuing our history of philanthropy with
the launch of a new foundation targeted at helping teachers and California’s public education system. CalRTA’s
Educational Foundation is designed to provide financial assistance via grants for:
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Professional development for teachers
Classroom efforts focused on innovation and enrichment
To fund these grants, members of the Foundation’s
Board will research existing programs, especially opportunities from large corporations such as Apple. They will
also develop a member outreach campaign highlighting
ways CalRTA members can offer support via estate planning. And because the CalRTA Educational Foundation
is a 501 (c) (3), contributions are tax-deductible.
CalRTA leaders will provide updates at the Fall Area
Workshops, and look for more information in CalRTA
Contact, the e-newsletter Connections, and Division
newsletters. Because this program is so new, please
don’t hesitate to contact the CalRTA Business Office
with questions and suggestions.
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California Retired Teachers Association
EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
CalRTA never stops caring …
About teachers
About students
About public education
You can help!
Online
www.calrta.org
has a link for your electronic
contribution
By mail
Send a check made out to
CalRTA Educational Foundation
to 800 Howe Avenue, Suite 370
Sacramento, CA 95825
CalRTA’s Educational Foundation is a 501(c)(3) so all
contributions are tax-deductible. Y
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Contact | www.calrta.org
7 Backyard Cleaning Tips
I
s it time to give your home and outdoor space a
clean up now that warmer temperatures are here?
Here’s how!
1. Be an inspector. Take a close look at balconies, porches, railings and outdoor furniture to see if there are any
missing or rusted nails or fasteners. Also check for splinters, buckled or loose boards, and uneven stair treads.
2.Say so long to slick surfaces. Keep your driveways,
walkways and garden paths clear of leaves, branches and
other debris.
3. Give your lawn a once-over. One misstep on uneven surfaces and you could lose your balance. Check for hazards
such as roots, fallen branches, rocks or bumpy ground.
4.Don’t try to be Mr. or Ms. Fix-It. If your mower or
trimmer breaks, take it to a professional repair shop.
And throw away broken garden tools.
5. Keep it handy. If you have to dig around the shed or
garden, or reach up to high shelves, accidents are more
likely to happen. Keep frequently used yard equipment
within easy reach.
6. Get slip-resistant. Add abrasive strips or rubber stair
treads, and use deck paint that has a rough texture.
7.Install outdoor lights. Put in the ones that are
motion-sensitive. Don’t neglect the porch, pathway,
driveway and backyard. Y
SUMMER 2016
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THE SCOOP
News for California’s Retired Teachers
Teacher Grants Touch Many
Below are two of the many thank-you notes CalRTA and
its Divisions have received from grateful teachers receiving grants. The first note is from a teacher receiving a grant
from Division 32 – Butte County and the second is a State
Teacher Grant recipient:
ne of my 10th grade girls was getting
a poor grade in PE because she didn’t
have PE clothes. She lives in two separate households, living part-time with
her mom and part-time with her dad. It has been
hectic for her to transition so frequently. With the
grant money I was able to get her the Oroville HS PE
clothes that she is keeping at school.
Another student that I was able to help this year is a
senior. She has been truly homeless for the last three
years, and last year she had a baby. She was on campus for the mandatory senior meeting, and I asked if
she was going on the senior trip.
She said no, because she didn’t have the money to go
on the trip. I asked her if I could get her trip paid for,
could she get a baby sitter and go on the trip. She was
thrilled!! Within an hour her sister agreed to babysit,
we got her permission slips together, I drove her home
to get her mom to sign them, we turned them in immediately, and she was on the senior bus the following
morning headed to Santa Cruz for the senior trip!!
Another senior has some lost books. OHS policy
states that a senior cannot go to the graduation ceremony unless all outstanding books/bills are paid.
This senior girl has also been homeless for the last
year. She lost her books when she and her mom were
evicted from their apartment for unpaid rent. Going
to the graduation ceremony means a great deal to
these youngsters, and sometimes the financial state
of their parents can have a very sad impact on them.
The grant money from CalRTA helped to pay for her
lost books and give her a ticket to the graduation ceremony that she worked for years to earn!!
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Contact | www.calrta.org
Sara Wood (far
left) and Marcia
Mautner (far right)
of Division 60 –
South Shores present
teacher Gabriela De
La Torre with her
$100 grant check.
Thank you so much for making a difference in the
lives of these students! The memories that these
seniors will now have will positively highlight their
senior year for a lifetime!
Patty Bauer, OHS Counselor
hank you so much for the donation to our
school library. We serve 1,800 students
with over 700 entering the library daily.
The joy of new books and the interest
expressed by students is so gratifying and just plain
fun to see. The impact of your donation is extensive
and will thrill our students.
Our students frequently have requests for specific
materials that they would like to have access to. The
book requests far exceed our budget, so we are very
excited to utilize your funds to purchase books students have specifically requested. I placed the order
early this week and just received all, with the exception of the not yet released new Harry Potter and the
Cursed Child title. We’ll have the new books on display the first day of school in August.
Thank you again for offering this program. We are so
happy to be able to use the funds for items students
really want.
Linda Elliott, Teacher-Librarian
Pleasant Valley High School
At the May Convention State Senator Richard Pan
received a “Friend of CalRTA” award for his work to
promote good health and education in the state. Though
Senator Pan wasn’t available for the award presentation
photo-op, Division 5 – State Capital members Paula
Weiss ( far left) and Pat Geyer (far right) met with
the Senator’s staff Darin Walsh, with whom CalRTA
members have worked for many years.
Board meetings are always better with food! Enjoying their
meal are members of Division 20 – San Joaquin.
SUMMER 2016
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Members Celebrate Unity
at Annual Convention
E
ducational sessions, making new friends, conducting official association business, networking ... ask any of the CalRTA members who traveled to Sacramento to attend this year’s CalRTA
Convention & Delegate Assembly why they participated and
you’ll probably hear one of those answers.
Activities began Friday with state committee meetings. Anyone arriving
early for the convention, which officially started Saturday, were welcome to
sit in on these meetings and see their fellow members in action. Friday afternoon Division leaders gathered for the “Presidents Leadership Session.”
This “nuts and bolts” how-to session has become a staple at the convention
and provides critical information for new Division leaders.
Friday evening participants had the choice to venture out on their own or to
participate in the planned entertainment and dessert reception.
Saturday morning was all about learning. Participants learned membership
recruitment and retention strategies, the latest insurance news, technology tips, and had a chance to review the bylaws amendments and proposed
budget prior to the Delegate Assembly.
Getting ready for their first
educational workshops are
(l to r) Linda Franson and
Susan Karl Dixon.
After lunch State President Ken Hewitt welcomed attendees to the Delegate Assembly. Participants then heard reports about the Bylaws amendments and proposed budget.
Following the Delegate Assembly, members met in their Area caucuses to
vote. In addition elections were held in the odd-numbered Areas for Area
Director and Nominations and Elections Representatives. Areas I, II, III, IV
and XII also welcomed their Northern Region Board member for the Laura
E. Settle Scholarship Foundation. (See sidebar with results.)
Saturday evening included the Annual Banquet and Awards Presentation
led by Mistress of Ceremonies Betty Silva. CalRTA Past President Polly Bacich installed the newly elected Directors, LES Representative, and Nominations and Elections Representatives. Past President Betty Soennichsen
presented the Ruth Q. de Prida Award to Charlotte and Russell Peck. State
Communications Committee Representative Ann Hansen presented the
Ed Ely Outstanding Communications Award to Gini Pedersen. (See details
on pages 18 and 19)
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Contact | www.calrta.org
(l to r) State President-Elect
Irene Wetzel and Past
President Eva Hain.
See many more photos
on the CalRTA Flickr page:
www.flickr.com/photos/calrta/sets/
In addition to official Association business and award presentations, the convention is also a time for members to
hear industry updates and learn new tools and techniques
to use in their local Divisions. Topics of educational sessions offered Sunday included advocacy, diversity and
leadership development.
Sunday’s Closing Luncheon wrapped up the convention.
State Government Relations Chair Lynn Lindsey presented
the “Friend of CalRTA” Awards (see list on page 5). Guest
speaker Jim Finnerty, an award-winning producer of shows
such as “The Heartland,” gave members a sneak peek of his
latest show for KVIE, the local PBS station, which is focused
on teachers and education.
Past President Polly Bacich congratulates newly sworn in
members of the State Nominations and Elections Committee.
Join us next year Wednesday, May 17, to Friday, May 19, at
the Los Angeles Airport Hilton.
(l to r) From
local Division
75 – Sacramento
Northeast Marti
Gohring and
Sandra Edwards
get ready to
welcome delegates
to Sacramento.
The Host Committee had their smiles
(and local information) ready to help attendees
enjoy their time in Sacramento.
The singing group Vibrance (including member Bonnie Flint –
far left) provides entertainment during Saturday’s banquet.
(l to r) Representing
Division 19 – San Fernando
Valley are (l to r) Marilyn
Fabre and Rose Horkin,
who has been a member of
CalRTA for 33 years!
Contact the CalRTA Business Office if you’d like a
copy of the approved budget or go to www.calrta.org
and in the Members Only section (you have to log in
to access the information) click on Downloads and
look for CalRTA 2016-17 Budget.
continued on page 16
SUMMER 2016
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Members Celebrate Unity at Annual Convention
continued from page 15
Prior to the beginning of the convention, the State
program committees meet. Here the Government Relations
Committee reviews the upcoming November election and
ballot initiatives.
Tim Lee, Executive
Director of the Texas
Retired Teachers
Association, gives an
animated explanation
of the work to repeal the
Social Security penalties
(WEP/GPO).
Area XI Director Kathy O’Leary and
Area V Director Richard Benitez.
From local Area III are (l to r) Marcie Launey,
Pat Boyd, Paula Weiss and Cheryl Sewell.
(l to r) Enjoying a quick break between workshops are
Emma Blanks Jenkins, Danellen Joseph,
and Eva Elissie Caldwell.
Always nice to see
old friends! (l)
Judy Eikenberry
Strobel of EJS
Insurance and
Lenore Shively,
Division 87 Mother Lode
Our thanks to the following
Preferred Benefit Providers for their
support of this year's meeting:
State President Ken Hewitt addresses
the Delegate Assembly.
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California Casualty ~ Auto & Home Insurance
E.J.S. Insurance Services, Inc.
EPIC Hearing Healthcare
Hillcrest Retirement Community
PlanMember Services
Delegate Assembly Election
and Voting Results
Here are the various election and voting results from
the May 20 Delegate Assembly:
Members travel from all over the state to attend the
Annual Convention and Delegate Assembly!
Area Directors
Area I Director – Betty Silva
Area III Director – Chuck Denonn
Area V Director – Rich Benitez
Area VII Director - Vacant
Area IX Director – Ron Breyer
Area XI Director – Kathy O’Leary
LES Scholarship Foundation Board Northern Seat - Carol Kalamaras
Nominations and Elections Committee
Division leaders learned "how to" tips at the
President's Leadership Session Friday afternoon.
Area I – Sue Ann Joy
Area III – Bonnie Flint
Area V – Chris Tsuji
Area VII – Danellen Joseph
Area IX – Jeannette Goar
Area XI – Patty Bender
Bylaw Amendments
President Elect
Irene Wetzel honors
Rick Light who was
recognized as the
Retired Administrator
of the year from ACSA.
Amendment I | Passed
Changes the duties of the Immediate Past President
Amendment II | Passed
Obligates the CalRTA Board to submit a balanced
budget to the Delegate Assembly
Amendment III | Passed
Requires the Budget and Finance Committee to
include a contingency fund in the annual budget
Amendment IV | Passed
Clarifies how the vacancy in the position of
Co-Director of an Area is filled.
Add your smile to the photo during next year's event,
Wednesday, May 17 to Friday, May 19, at
the Los Angeles Airport Hilton.
Amendment V | Passed
Changes the cut-off for determining delegate
allotment for Divisions from March 31 to December 31.
The proposed budget was also adopted. Y
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CalRTA Recognizes
Outstanding Volunteers
Charlotte and Russell Peck Receive Ruth
Q. de Prida Award
Charlotte Peck was well qualified to be a teacher. She had
three credentials – an elementary credential and two secondary credentials. She taught elementary for one year,
middle school for two years, and then moved up to high
school where she taught for 30 years.
She served her teachers’ association in several capacities including Chair of the Bargaining Committee and Association
President. Her community service includes children’s teacher
at church, local museum member, local beautification committee chair, Girl Scout leader, high school math club advisor,
math tutor, Cuban missile crisis air spotter, and many others.
For CalRTA she served as Dividion 38 - Stanislaus County’s
Secretary, Special Projects Chair, Membership Co-chair,
and Area VI Membership Co-Chair.
That’s a lot. And this year we have a bonus, because we also
have her spouse as a co-recipient. Russell Peck also had three
credentials – elementary and two secondary. He taught elementary for 20 years and was an administrator for 22 years.
His community service includes Sunday school, church
youth leader, National Ski Patrol, local museum board member, local service club member and officer, and much more.
For CalRTA he has served as Division President, long-time
member of the Division Board of Directors, Division Membership Co-Chair, and Area Membership Co-Chair. Together these two have worked hard to increase their Division membership, and were so successful they won awards
for their increases three years in a row. They also traveled
long distances around their Area providing consultation, in-
formation and support while mentoring countless others in
their efforts to also increase membership.
Charlotte and Russell have indeed served with distinction,
dedication and devotion as educators, community leaders,
and CalRTA members. They are an example for us all.
Ruth Q. de Prida Award
The Ruth Q. de Prida Award was established at the
CalRTA convention in 1984. The award is named in
honor of CalRTA member Ruth de Prida who, for
more than 50 years, lobbied for children’s hospitals,
schools, teachers and retired teachers. The award is
presented to a CalRTA member for exceptional service: one who is an educator and community leader; one who has served the State of California with
distinction, dedication and devotion; one who has
served CalRTA with diligence in many elective, appointive and voluntary capacities; and one who has
furthered the cause of CalRTA by being an example
for other members of readiness to serve. It is intended to be presented to a member who is not presently
in the State leadership. The award is presented annually at the CalRTA convention.
Martin P. Mathiesen Award Winners
(Nominees for the Ruth Q. de Prida Award)
Judy Bain, Division 69 – East County San Diego
Gary & Shari Beck, Division 5 – State Capital
Barbara Bethel, Division 4 – San Diego
Kenneth Biery, Division 1 – Pasadena Foothill
Carolyn Burke, Division 35 – Lake County
Diane Cadei, Division 29 – Monterey County
Cathy Canaday, Division 24 – Solano County
Jennie Choy, Division 36 – San Francisco
Tom Collette, Division 22 – San Mateo County
Cathy Cyr, Division 80 – Corona-Norco
Pauline Delgado, Division 49 – Berkeley
Russell Peck accepts the Ruth Q. de Prida Award on
behalf of himself and his wife, Charlotte.
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Patricia Ford, Division 73 – El Dorado County
Marilyn Gallagher, Division 11 – Riverside
Judith Geppert, Division 27 – North Coast
Chari Goddard, Division 45 – North San Diego County
Carole Lyles, Division 13 – Pomona Valley
Barbara Mendes, Division 10 – Fresno County
Helene Nickel, Division 63 – Palomar
Russ Rackow, Division 52 – Diablo Vista
Gini Pedersen Honored With Ed Ely
Outstanding Communications Award
Once again it was difficult to single out one outstanding volunteer. All the nominees for the Ed Ely Award have fine organizational and communication skills. They exhibit the ability
to write and utilize electronic communications effectively;
market CalRTA to community organizations; and respond to
misconceptions of others regarding CalRTA and CalSTRS.
Including the qualities mentioned, Gini Pedersen has
written articles for the CalRTA
Contact magazine, conducted
workshops at several conferences, and, after developing
the redesign of our Division
and Area websites, is helping
members to manage them.
She makes technology much
easier to embrace.
Thank you for sharing all your
talents with us!
Divisions Recognized With
Membership Awards
Each year CalRTA honors Divisions that have shown
outstanding efforts in recruiting new members.
Richard A. Hoffmann Awards for Excellence in
Membership Gains
Category A – up to 299 members
Division 86 – N. San Luis Obispo County
Category B – 300 - 599 members
Division 60 - South Shores
Category C – 600 - 899 members
Division 24 - Solano County
Category D – 900 members +
Division 5 - State Capital
Lenny Escarda Award for Recruiting the Most
New Members
Division 5 – State Capital Y
CalRTA State
President Ken Hewitt
congratulates Gini
Pedersen on receiving
the Ed Ely Outstanding
Communications Award.
Ed Ely Outstanding Communications Award
The Ed Ely Communications Award was created
to honor the years of hard work and dedication of
CalRTA’s former director of communications, Ed
Ely. This award is given annually to the individual
member who does the best job of communicating
the vision and goals of CalRTA to members, legislators and the general public. The award is presented annually at the CalRTA convention.
State Membership Recruitment & Resources
Committee Chair Steve Click presents the
Lenny Escarda Award to Division 5 – State
Capital for earning the most new members.
Accepting the award is Cheryl Sewell.
SUMMER 2016
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CalRTA Laura E. Settle Scholarship
Foundation Annual Report
A
t the CalRTA Convention May 20-22, 2016, the
CalRTA Laura E. Settle Scholarship Foundation (LES Foundation) held an election for the
Northern Regional Director. We congratulate
and are pleased to continue working with Carol Kalamaras,
who was re-elected to the LES
Foundation Board of Directors!
recipients of the $750 Mabel Outler Award exhibited
excellent citizenship, exemplary academic GPA and
possess a love and talent for teaching with an emphasis
and desire to teach in the elementary grades. They were
enrolled in teacher credentialing programs as seniors or
graduates and are already
working in classrooms
as teacher assistants. We
The Mabel Outler
congratulate them on this
Scholarship Award is given
award and wish them the
very best future!
to individuals planning
The LES Board that met at the
convention included: William
(Bill) Kipp, President; Peter
Paolino, Treasurer; John Gera,
on becoming elementary
Budget & Finance Chair; GeorWe are pleased to honor all
gianna Light, Director; Carol
of our scholarship recipients
school teachers in
Kalamaras, Northern Regional
for their personal dedicaCalifornia.
Director; Adele Embry, Central
tion to teaching excellence
Regional Director; Robbie
in the State of California!
Cendejas, Southern Regional
Director and Angelique Hill, CalRTA Executive Director
Financial Report
(Non-Voting Member). Administration and accounting
The beginning fund balance on July 1, 2015, was
duties are conducted by Elaine Retz.
$2,520,979; the fund balance on March 31, 2016, was
We would like to acknowledge all of the recipients of the
$3,000 Laura E. Settle Scholarship Award for the academic year 2015–2016. Individually these future teachers
embodied outstanding citizenship, academic excellence
and a love and talent for teaching. They were enrolled in a
teacher credentialing program as seniors or graduate students and have been logging classroom hours as teacher
assistants. We congratulate them on this award and wish
them the very best future!
The Mabel Outler Scholarship Award is given to individuals planning on becoming elementary school teachers
in California. The universities and number of scholarships
given to each was stipulated by the donor, Mabel Outler,
a retired elementary school teacher from Long Beach,
a graduate of CSU, Long Beach and a former member of
CalRTA. The Mabel Outler Award was increased to $750
effective for the 2015-2016 academic year awards. The
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$2,551,726. Our investments have performed as well as
any in the market we have had to work with. Our NET
return, year to date March 31, 2016, is down (1.76%), but
we were up 4.12% in the month of March.
Year to Date Income, 3/31/16:
$104,533
Year to Date Expenses, 3/31/16:
Scholarships Paid:
($49,500)
Expenses Paid:
Administrative Expense
Operating Expenses
($4,849)
($18,667)
D&O, General Liability Insururance
($769)
Total Expense
($73,785)
Net Income/Change in Net Assets
($30,748)
2015-2016 Laura E. Settle Scholarship
Award Recipients • As of 6/13/16
Cal Poly-Pomona | Maria Parker
Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo | Danielle Lynn Roberts
CSU, Bakersfield | Beatriz A. Cueto-Rivera
CSU, Channel Islands | Nancy Gomez
CSU, Chico | Nathaniel Borer
CSU, Dominguez Hills | Krizole Oro
CSU, East Bay | Brittany Schlaegel
CSU, Fresno | Yureli S. Mandujano
CSU, Fullerton | Meghann Briggs
CSU, Long Beach | Elisa Ruiz
CSU, Los Angeles | Courtney Judd
CSU, Monterey Bay | Sused Cabrera
CSU, Sacramento | Catherine Funk
CSU, San Bernardino | Jessenia Oertel
Humboldt State Univ | Shayne D. Sines
San Francisco State Univ | Jennie Ng
San Jose State University | Eunjung Oh
Sonoma State University | Heather Blair
UC, Berkeley | Shannon Jin-a Lamborn
UC, Davis | Katherine Anderson
UC, Irvine | Amanda Dorates & Juliet Mao
UC, Los Angeles | Katherine Thompson
UC, San Diego | Guadalupe Rangel-Lemus
UC, Santa Barbara | Phoenix Plotner
UC, Santa Cruz | Zachary Epperson • Natalie Herron
We’re fighting for you!
And every other educator…
ATTACK ON
PUBLIC
PENSIONS
Ask a friend to
join us!
Dues are only
$54 for an
entire year.
Membership applications are online at
www.calrta.org or call 800-523-2782.
2015-2016 Mabel Outler
Award Recipients • As of 6/13/16
CSU, Long Beach | Ellen Williams • Selene Rodriguez
• Jose Malagon • Michelle Wray
UC, Berkeley | Randal Hamati • Zoraida Serrano •
Bonnie Tong
UC, Davis | Jessica Cano-Sanchez • Lilia Cisneros •
Omar Ceja Y
SUMMER 2016
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Are Your Ducks in a Row?
Preparing for the long life you want!
Based on presentation at 2016 CalRTA Annual Convention
by Linda Fodrini-Johnson, MA, MFT, CMC • Founder of Eldercare Services
articipants at this year’s convention heard an insightful presentation by Linda Fodrini-Johnson,
MA, MFT, CMC, on issues everyone will have to
deal with at some point.
She stressed that advanced planning and conversations
NOW will ensure living and passing the way YOU choose.
Slides from her presentation, as well as other resources, are
available online at http://eldercareanswers.com/calrta/.
Highlights from Fodrini-Johnson’s presentation:
We are living longer and that is why “those ducks”
need to line up!
n Baby girls born in 2000 and beyond are expected to
live to be 100, however the over 85 group is growing
faster than any other age group! Will you live to 100?
n We are born, we live – but we don’t just die.
n Quite often we are on a journey that can include some
dependency before we leave this life.
What are the elements and tools needed for a long life?
n Knowledge of your wishes and values
n Research into options for support and or assistance
should you require or desire them
n Legal documents to direct your wishes
n Financial resources to support your designed options
n An advocate who will act on your behalf should you not
have the capacity briefly or ongoing
Who is providing care to aging family members? You!
n 52 million care for an adult who is ill or disabled.
n 34 million care for someone over 50.
n 9 million care for someone with dementia.
n 60% of family caregivers are still in the workforce.
n 78% of all care is provided by families.
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Baby girls born in 2000
and beyond are expected
to live to be 100, however
the over 85 group is
growing faster than any
other age group!
If you become the caregiver
n Don’t try to do it all yourself.
n Ask for specific help (hold a family meeting).
n Self-care becomes critical.
n Join a support group.
n Have a coach or mentor who is an expert.
n Learn to enjoy the moment!
Planning for the “what ifs” can free you to live fully!
n Look at your legal tools annually.
n Can the person you request to be your advocate still act
in that capacity?
n Do you know a professional who could help with major
decisions?
End-of-life discussions
n Know your options.
n Communicate your values to those who will make decisions for you!
n Tell your advocate where important paperwork is
stored.
n Be sure to have this conversation with your primary
care physician.
Resources
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Care manager/aging life care professionals
www.aginglifecare.org • www.VillagePlan.com
Government Programs
www.benefitscheckup.org
Family Caregiving
www.caregiver.org
Elder Law
www.NAELA.org
Area Agency on Aging
1-800-510-2020 • www.eldercare.gov
Eldercare Services
925-937-2018 • www.EldercareAnswers.com
Lead into Difficult Conversation
with Movies
During this presentation CalRTA member Gini
Pedersen shared some movies she found effective
in starting conversations with her husband about
end-of-life issues. Numerous people asked for
those titles so we thought we’d share them here:
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Finished Life (2008)
How to Die in Oregon (2011)
One True Thing (1998)
Short Stay in Switzerland (2009)
Two Weeks (2006)
Whose Life is it Anyway? (1981) Y
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California Retired Teachers Association
800 Howe Avenue, Suite 370
Sacramento, CA 95825
Your partner in pension protection
Pass It On! Please share this publication with other educators after you’ve read it.