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MCRT2 - TIDINGS

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Volume 24 Number 4
May, 2015

Madison County Retired Teachers #2

Illinois Retired Teachers Association Unit 74 Area 6 Region 15

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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
As I write this article, the dogwoods, tulips, and
redbuds are in full bloom. Spring always is a time of
renewal and a time of looking forward to new and
better things.
I would like to thank all of you who attended the March
meeting and brought gifts for Oasis. Marcy Jacobs
went away with a lot of useful items as well as a
generous check from our group. As teachers you were
always concerned about students and families in need
and you still show that compassionate nature. This
was also demonstrated at our October meeting when
you gave so generously to help the pupils of the Unity
Lutheran School in East St. Louis. Even though we are
not a social service organization, we discussed at our
last executive board meeting how we might use some
of our resources to help those in our area who are in
need.
This is a time of anxiety for retired teachers in the
state of Illinois. We are anxiously waiting to see if the
Illinois Supreme Court will decide to uphold the
protection of our benefits as is stated in the
Constitution of the State of Illinois. Please be prayerful
about this. We do not want to see the gradual
dismantling of a great teachers retirement system.
If you have not already done so, I would urge you to
read the message from President Bob Pinkerton in the
spring issue of IRTA Action. Along with some very
valuable information on a number of things, he
mentions something that the governor has proposed
that would jeopardize the stability of TRS and would
reduce the benefits of retirees. It would devastate our
TRIP insurance program in less than a year. It is an
encouragement to younger teachers to opt out of TRS
and to enroll in a 401K plan. Without their
contributions TRIP and TRS would be severely
weakened. It would also take these teachers out of a
solid system and put them into a program that has no
real guarantee of financial security.
Just as I did last year I wish you a safe, joyful, and

relaxing summer. Yet do not get so relaxed that you

do not keep up with what is going on concerning our
retirement benefits. Do not hesitate to contact your
state senators, representatives and the governor if you
see something being proposed that is not consistent
with sound principles.
I look forward to seeing each of you at our meeting on
Tuesday, June 2. I believe that our executive board
made a wise decision to move the June meeting to the
first Tuesday. This makes it possible for most of you to
attend before you get involved in your summer
activities

Charles Finley, President

Our Next Meeting

Date: Tuesday, June 2, 2015
(Note: This is the first Tuesday of the month)

Place: N. O. Nelson Complex

Program:
"Betsy Ross"
Portrayed By Barbara Kay

Registration:
Meeting:
Lunch:

10:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m

11:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m.
11:30 a.m. 12:30 a.m.

Cost: $16.00
Please call or e-mail reservations by
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Call or e-mail Joyce at 259-8774
joycetappy@sbcglobal.net
or
Call Charlotte Heeren at 377-8931

Minutes of the Last Meeting

MCTRA2 met at St. Pauls United
Methodist Church in Rosewood
Heights, East Alton, IL on March 10,
2015. Approximately 35 members
attended. The meeting was called to order by
President Charles Finley at 11:00 a.m. He
thanked St. Pauls Methodist Church for the use of
their facilities and the ladies of the church for
preparing the meal. The Pledge of Allegiance was
given.
Lori Uhe lead a minute of silence in memory of the
following members and other teachers who had died
during the period of March 2014-March 2015: Peggy
Trogdon, Patty Lichfield, Rudy Papa, Nancy Haag,
Esther Twarog, Velma Lawton, Bill Powell, Bill
Determan, Barbara VanDoren, Ed Knies, Jeff Welker,
Anita Hoover, Ida May Howard, and Herman
Edwards.

Tidings: Vickie Klopmeier-no

report
Programs & Meetings: Donnie
Calvin/Jodi Henderson-The June 2, 2015
meeting will be held at N. O. Nelson
Complex starting at 11:00 a.m. A buffet will be
served by Bella Milano. The cost is $16.00. The
program will be presented by Barbara Kay portraying
Betsy Ross. They are working on the programs for
the October and December meetings.
Retirement Education/Activities: Walter
Ahlemeyer, Donnie Calvin, Lucille Stevenson.
Donnie reported that we will be taking a bus to
Stages to see Anything Goes. The date will be in
July or August. Walter is working on getting the
tickets and the bus.
Member Benefits: Lucille Stevenson-no report
NEW BUSINESS:

The minutes of December 2, 2014, were approved as

printed in the TIDINGS. Treasurer Joyce Tappy gave
the treasurers report. It was approved as printed
and will be filed for audit.

Dale Dickerson, Chairperson of the Finance

Committee, presented the budget for 2015. A motion
was made by the committee and seconded by Lori
Uhe to accept the budget. The motion passed. The
50/50 drawing of $30.00 was won by Becky Beal.

The following are the committee reports:

Charles Finley gave the invocation.

Budget/Finance: Dale Dickerson-no report

The buffet was enjoyed by everyone present. The

free meal was won by Joan L. Gusewelle. The
following members won the shamrocks: Patti
Penelton, Joan L. Gusewelle, Becky Beal, and
Barbara Panfile.

Communication: Charlotte Heeren/Joyce Tappy-no

report
Foundation/Information: Linda Brazier reported
that the Label Campaign has raised about $200,000.
The deadline for scholarships for 2015 was March 7.
The Excellence in Education Grants will be given to
recipients in central Illinois this year. The IRTA will
be moving into a new building in May when the
elevator will be fixed. Ten annuitants are receiving
help of between $200.00 - $500.00 monthly. Papers
of information concerning the programs of IRTA were
on a table in the back of the room. Anyone who
wants to go on a trip with the President of IRTA may
get more information from Linda or the IRTA website.
Health/Insurance/Legislation: Lori Uhe stated that
all members need to check their billing statements for
errors. A pension hearing was set for March 11,
2015, and will be streamed live at
www.Newlivestream.com/blueroomstream/

events/3845430.
Membership: Mary May reported that no TIDINGS
had been returned. She will be sending TIDINGS in
the summer to newly retired teachers. Please let
Mary May, Joyce Tappy, or Linda Brazier know of
any changes in mailing address, email, or phone
numbers.

The program was given by Marcy Jacobs, Client

Service Coordinator for Oasis Womens Center.
Members had brought personal items for women and
children of the center. Every day three women die
from abuse.
The next executive board meeting will be held at
Eden United Church of Christ, Edwardsville, on May
12, 2015, starting at 9:30 a.m.
Respectfully submitted by,

Joan L Gusewelle, Secretary

,

Treasurer's Report - March 31, 2015

Checking Balance
Money Market CD

$4,086.87
$2,497.76

Joyce Tappy, Treasurer

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IRTA / State of Illinois News

The annual conference of Area 6 of the Illinois Retired Teachers Association was held May
6th at Southwest Area College's PSOP Center in Belleville and May 7th at the Civic Center
in Carbondale. This conference was to inform and educate unit leaders about IRTA. We
had six members attend. At our June meeting, they will share some of what they learned.
One of the tasks facing the IRTA is studying Governor Rauner's proposed 2016 budget.
He has already put forth proposals to cut many programs. One that IRTA is particularly
concerned with is cutting state funding to TRIP.
This program is essential to many retired teachers. TRIP is funded by premuims paid by
retirees, contributions by school districts, contributions by active members, and
contributions by the state. The state's contribution matches the active teacher
contribution. The governor's proposed budget would take between $95 and $100 million
out of the $500 million approximate total.
Without the state funding, individual premiums will rise drastically, putting many teachers
in financial crisis. Please contact your state representative and senators to let them know
how cuts to TRIP funding will affect you. You may write them the old fashioned way to let
them know. See page 4 of your MCRT2 yearbook for a list of your legislators. You may
also use VoterVOICE. Directions for this are on page 5 of your directory. How you show
your support for your fellow teachers is not important. What is important is that we support
each other and find ways to let your voices be heard and your concerns be known.

Memorials have been sent by the MCRTA#2 to the

IRTA Foundation in honor of

Velma Lawton, Bill Powell, Herman Edwards,

Anita Hoover, and Evelyn Dodds.

TIDINGS - May, 2015

Vickie Klopmeier
6209 N. State Route 159
Edwardsville, IL 62025

Madison County Retired Teachers #2

President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Past President

Officers
Charles Finley
Mary May
Joan L. Gusewelle
Joyce Tappy
Ann Jacox
Committee Chairs
Dale Dickerson
Charlotte Heeren, Joyce Tappy

Budget / Finance
Communications
IRTA Foundation /
Info. Services Area 6
Health Ins./Legislative
Membership
"Tidings"
Programs & Meetings
Retirement Ed./Activities
Member Benefits

Linda Brazier
Lori Uhe
Mary May
Vickie Klopmeier
Donnie Calvin, Jodi Henderson
Walter Ahlemeyer
Lucille Stevenson

Information Sources
IL Teacher Ret. System
1-800-877-7896
IRTA
1-800-728-4782
State and Local Info. Lori
1-618-656-1752

MCRT2 Calendar
May 6/7

Area 6 Conference
PSOP, Belleville (6th)
Civic Center, C'dale (7th)

May 12

Ex. Bd. Mtg. 9:30 a.m.

Eden U.C.C., Edwardsville

June 2

MCRT 2 Mtg. 11a.m.

N.O. Nelson, Edwardsville
Program: Barbara Kay
as Betsy Ross

Please note that this meeting is the first

Tuesday of the month instead of the second.

Aug 15(Sat.) Stages trip

"Anything Goes"
Meet at Alton Square at noon
Leave Alton Square -12:30
Lunch at Brios (1:30)
Show (4pm) Bus returns (7pm)

Pay at the June meeting

Sept 8

Ex. Bd. Mtg. 9:30 a.m.

Eden U.C.C., Edwardsville