President's Letter - October 2015

Dear Allen County Retired Educators,

Our second of four annual meetings will he held on Thursday, October 29th at Biaggi's Restaurant at Jefferson Pointe. We will begin our meeting promptly at 11:00 AM, so come at 10:45 AM to check in, pay for your lunch, and get your new 2015-16 Membership Directory.

Please make your reservation with Mary Jo Purvis at: 471-5952 or mpurvis1@frontier.com. It would be a great help if you would contact her by October 22nd. If you need special dietary changes, please talk to the wait staff that day. Selections from a limited menu will be available.

The meal cost will be $15.00 payable when you arrive. If you are a 2015 retired teacher or administrator, and you are a first time attendee, your meal is FREE. Members who bring a non-member retiree, will get a TWO-FOR-ONE deal for lunch. Let Mary Jo know when you make your reservation.

The program for this meeting will be John Jacobson, EdD, Dean of the School of Education at Ball State University. He will define Immersion Learning as it is integrated into the BSU curriculum and provide information on implementation. If you attended our June 2015 meeting, we hear from Abby Savage on how she was using this program.

Our new 2015-2016 Membership Directory will be available at this meeting. It is free to all paid members, or it can be sent to you for an additional $2.00 mailing fee. On pages 3 and 4 of the book is the annual information for submitting Volunteer Hours for 2015. This information is so important to submit to our legislators to lobby for COLA. Send your total hours to Arlene Konley by December 1 at:

8206 Covenant Lane
Fort Wayne, IN 46835

or akonley@gmail.com or 260-316-7587. We want to again make AREA the top volunteer chapter in Indiana!

[CLICK HERE to download a copy of the Volunteer Hours form for printing.]

Scholarship information will be available from Nancy Sprague, Committee Chair, at the meeting. If you have a family member who is a college sophomore or junior with an education major this academic year, they are eligible to apply in early 2016. The applicant must be related to a retired educator. Let's have a winner from our Area 2.

If you have not yet paid your 2015-16 AREA dues of $10.00, contact Pam George at: 471-5952 or pamgeorgeph@comcast.net. She also has IRTA membership brochures. We need your support.

Next Meeting: Wednesday, April 20, 2016 at Rack and Helen's, New Haven.
Great program on Fort Wayne Honor Flights.

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Superintendent Ritz in Fort Wayne

Vic’s Statehouse Notes #230 – September 30, 2015

Dear Friends,

All public school advocates in Northeastern Indiana are invited to hear a presentation by State Superintendent Glenda Ritz followed by a panel discussion of leading educators this Saturday (Oct. 3) at 2pm in Fort Wayne.

The panel will discuss solving the teacher shortage. We are delighted that Superintendent Ritz will be available to discuss the commission she has formed to investigate this topic and to brief the group on other current issues in Indiana schools.

We hope you and your friends who support public education will come!

This regional ICPE meeting co-sponsored by the Northeast Indiana Friends of Public Education will be on Saturday, October 3, 2015, at 2 pm (EDT) in the Ivy Tech Coliseum Campus Auditorium, 3800 N. Anthony Blvd., Fort Wayne.

Speakers

After the presentation by State Superintendent Ritz, a panel of experts will discuss the teacher shortage:

• Rep. Melanie Wright, Yorktown (Sen. Kruse and Rep. GiaQuinta were invited but were unable to accept)

• Kathy Carr, Director of Human Resources, Fort Wayne Community Schools

• Karin Huttsell, Teacher, Northwest Allen and Blue Ribbon panel member on the teacher shortage

• Dr. Joe Nichols, Professor, IPFW

Jenny Sanders of the Northeast Indiana Friends of Public Education will moderate the panel. Marilyn Shank, board vice president of the Indiana Coalition for Public Education, will serve as chair of the meeting.

We thank State Superintendent Ritz and all the panel members for accepting our invitation to Saturday’s meeting.

I hope you can support public education in Indiana by coming to our Fort Wayne meeting. Bring a friend who is also ready to join the battle to restore public education to a high priority in Indiana!

If you can’t come to Fort Wayne, please consider coming to one of three subsequent meetings around Indiana:

October 13, 7pm (EDT), Bloomington City Hall

October 20, 6:30 (CDT), Evansville Central Library

October 21, 7pm (EDT), New Albany Schools Service Center Auditorium


Thanks for your advocacy for public education!

Best wishes,

Vic Smith


“Vic’s Statehouse Notes” and ICPE received one of three Excellence in Media Awards presented by Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, an organization of over 85,000 women educators in seventeen countries. The award was presented on July 30, 2014 during the Delta Kappa Gamma International Convention held in Indianapolis. Thank you Delta Kappa Gamma!


ICPE has worked since 2011 to promote public education in the Statehouse and oppose the privatization of schools. We need your membership to help support ICPE lobbying efforts. As of July 1st, the start of our new membership year, it is time for all ICPE members to renew their membership.

Our lobbyist Joel Hand continues to represent ICPE during the interim study committee meetings in September and October. Our work in support of public education in the Statehouse goes on. We welcome additional members and additional donations. We need your help and the help of your colleagues who support public education! Please pass the word!

Go to www.icpe2011.com for membership and renewal information and for full information on ICPE efforts on behalf of public education. Thanks!


Some readers have asked about my background in Indiana public schools. Thanks for asking! Here is a brief bio:

I am a lifelong Hoosier and began teaching in 1969. I served as a social studies teacher, curriculum developer, state research and evaluation consultant, state social studies consultant, district social studies supervisor, assistant principal, principal, educational association staff member, and adjunct university professor. I worked for Garrett-Keyser-Butler Schools, the Indiana University Social Studies Development Center, the Indiana Department of Education, the Indianapolis Public Schools, IUPUI, and the Indiana Urban Schools Association, from which I retired as Associate Director in 2009. I hold three degrees: B.A. in Ed., Ball State University, 1969; M.S. in Ed., Indiana University, 1972; and Ed.D., Indiana University, 1977, along with a Teacher’s Life License and a Superintendent’s License, 1998. In 2013 I was honored to receive a Distinguished Alumni Award from the IU School of Education, and in 2014 I was honored to be named to the Teacher Education Hall of Fame by the Association for Teacher Education – Indiana.

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IRTA Letter to Gov Pence

August 3, 2015

Dear IRTA members:

After reading the Indianapolis Star on Saturday morning, August 1, 2015 I ask that you join me in emailing, or writing, Governor Pence on what he should do with the $210 million dollar surplus that he has sole discretion on how to spend. He mentioned many areas where the money could be used, but not once mentioned that the Pension Stabilization Fund was even in consideration. If you did not write the first time I sent this message out, I ask you to do so now. If you previously wrote the governor, I don’t think it would hurt to do it again.

In 2013 he used all $66 million to pay off prison construction loans and none into the Pension Stabilization Fund. If Governor Pence this year would use half of the surplus amount ($100 million) and pay it toward the PSF, the legislature could then grant a COLA and/or a “13th Check” to retired educators in 2016 without increasing the liability on the pre-1996 Retirement Fund. I will give you bulleted points that you may want to use in your personal emails or letters to the Governor:

• Paying down Pension Stabilization Fund helps long term fiscal health of state and bond ratings
• Legislature would have the opportunity to give a COLA without further burden to pre-1996 unfunded liability
• Over 14,000 retired educators make less than $1,000/month in their pension
• Over 7 years without a cost of living increase
• Retired Educators have lost 16% purchasing power since 2008
• Less spending, less tax revenue

Please remember to write in a polite and positive manner in your own words. Share any hardships that you have experienced due to lack of a pension increase in last 7 years.
Thank you for your support.

Tom Mellish
Executive Director

The Honorable Mike Pence
Office of the Governor
200 W. Washington St., Rm. 206
Indianapolis, IN 46204

or email at http://www.in.gov/gov/2333.htm

Telephone - 317-232-4567

President's Letter, July 2015

Dear Allen County Retired Educators,

Our first of four yearly meetings will be Tuesday, August 18, 2015 a the Lodge at Coyote Creek (formerly Elks Club) at 4935 Hillegas Rd. We will begin our meeting promptly at 11:00 AM. Come at 10:45 to check in an pay your dues!

Please make your reservation with Mary Jo Purvis. It would be a great help if you could contact her by August 12th. If you have special dietary needs, please talk to the wait staff that day. The luncheon will be a delicious buffet with salads and rolls at our places upon arrival.

At our October 2014 meeting, the Lodge at Coyote Creek realized that our service was not what was expected. They were newly opened, and the staff was not coordinated. As an apology, the owners want to offer us all free lunch for this meeting! Instead of paying for your lunch, the AREA board would like to ask you to make a donation to the IRTA Foundation. It is a wonderful opportunity to help many others. If you are writing a donation check, make it payable to Indiana Retired Teachers Foundation. As always, new 2015 retirees will be our guests that day -- make them welcome.

The program for our August meeting will be a presentation by Liz Hincks, Education Coordinator for the Little River Wetlands project at Eagle Marsh. She has a great program to share with us about this important resource in Allen County. Our meeting will conclude with our annual Necrology Service.

Mark your calendars now for the remaining three AREA meetings:

• Thursday, October 29, 2015 at Biaggi's Restaurant
• Wednesday, April 20, 2016 at Rack and Helen's Restaurant
• Tuesday, June 14th at Pine Valley Country Club

Every effort has been made to reserve fine food at a venue that can hold all our members comfortably.

MEMBERSHIP: All members will receive a 2015-16 Directory at the October 29th meeting, or it can be mailed to you by adding $2.00 to your membership dues of $10.00. Please note on this form if any information is a change. Checks payable to AREA. Pay at the August 18th meeting or mail to: Pam George, 6316 Tree Top Trail, Fort Wayne, IN 46845

Click HERE to download a membership form.

AREA Awards - Updated

Allen County Retired Educators will receive four awards at the IRTA Representative Assembly on June 17.

The four awards are:

• A Certificate for Outstanding Performance in Associate and/or Regular Membership Growth

• An Award for Website

• To Steve Keim: A Certificate in Recognition of Your Outstanding Community Service Activities in 2014

• To Carol Buttell: The AMBA Clock Award for Area 2 as One of the Eight Top Volunteers Statewide Due to Your Community Service Activities in Indiana

Congratulations to Steve Keim, Carol Buttell, and AREA for these honors!

[UPDATE: An earlier version of this post indicated that we would receive an award for Newsletter, Participation instead of our web site, which was incorrect.]

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June 16 AREA Meeting

Our last meeting of the 2014-2015 year is upon us already! Your next newsletter and meeting will be very ably handled by our incoming president, Barb Kanning. I have enjoyed serving as your president and I thank you for your attendance at meetings and willingness to help. Tuesday, June 16, we will meet at

Catablu Grille
6372 W. Jefferson Blvd
Fort Wayne.

Please come by 10:45 so we can start promptly at 11:00.

RESERVATIONS: Please make your reservation with Mary Jo Purvis by Tuesday, June 9: 493-4263 or mpurvis1@frontier.com. The cost if $15.00, which can be paid at the meeting. You will have a choice of several meals. If you have special dietary needs, speak with your meal server to substitute within our budget.

FREE LUNCH for 2014 Retired Educators who have not attended any prior AREA meeting. TWO-FOR-ONE deal for MEMBERS who bring a non-member retired principal or teacher. Be sure to inform Mary Jo with your reservation.

PROGRAM: Abigail Savage will speak on the topic "Using BSU Immersive Learning." After studying education in the "immersive way" at Ball State, Abby taught a year in Germany and this past year in Bluffton.

EYEGLASSES: Bring old eyeglasses for Ed DeLong to collect to take to Lion's Club!

THE IRTA REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY will be held Wednesday, June 17, 2015 at Primo South in Indianapolis. Please consider attending! We are allowed 23 delegates. To be a voting delegate, you must be a member of IRTA, but you may attend the meeting without being a member. AREA will pay the $25.00 cost for breakfast and lunch. Carol Buttell will be driving. AREA will be receiving three awards! Please contact Carol by May 27 if you can attend (260-489-55413) or cbuttell@frontier.com.

IRTA MEMBERSHIP - Have you joined? IRTA needs you! Contact Pam George (260-471-5952) or pamgeorgeph@comcast.net

HOPING TO SEE YOU JUNE 16 AT CATABLU!

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Final Legislative Bulletin for 2015

THANK YOU TO OUR MANY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF RETIRED EDUCATORS!! WE DID MANAGE TO GET SOME HELP FROM THE 2015 LEGISLATIVE SESSION, ONLY BECAUSE YOU DID AS WE ASKED—YOU EMAILED AND WROTE UNTIL WE COULDN’T BE IGNORED!

This is a summary of what has happened in the past weeks—sometimes dripping like molasses, and sometimes striking like lightning.

• After our COLA bill was heard in the Senate Pensions and Labor, but not voted on, we were quite concerned.

• We planned our strategy from there by visiting several times with senators that we knew were friendly toward our cause.

• We also asked you to write to all your legislators.

• We visited one-on-one with some senators that weren’t especially friendly, but we tried to get our point across that a COLA was needed.

• Many of you came to the brunch and talked directly to your legislators or sent them notes if they didn’t attend.

• Everyone kept telling us that we had to see what the April forecast of the state’s economy would look like.

• When it came out the week after the brunch as a negative report, that is, the state would be collecting less money than had been hoped.

• At that point, we knew that a COLA was not possible, given the report and the mindset of the Appropriations Committee.

• Nancy testified at the Conference Committee of the House and Senate Budget Conference on April 17. Since we knew the COLA was dead, I made the case for a 13th check.

• Last week we made the rounds again, asking our friends in both the House and Senate to try to move others in our favor.

• Monday, we were told that we were out of the budget. We talked, and talked to any who would listen. Our friends in the legislature were also working behind the scenes.

• Steve was on the phone, dictating various message to Debbie and Julie in the office so they could send them out immediately.

• I was also sending out emails.

• On Tuesday we still thought it was gone. We talked to legislators as they came and went from their caucus.

• In the afternoon, we heard that we were in!

• By midnight on Tuesday, the budget bill had been printed, and it does have money for a 13th check. (A stipend. but they still want to call it a 13th check.) It will be just the same amounts and for the same teaching experience as past bills have been written.

• This may give you some idea of how chaotic these last days of a session can be. However, the session is over now, and it is time for thank you notes to many people.

1. The first thank you that you may want to send is to Steve Beebe. Without his advice and expertise, I feel sure that we would have lost everything. You can send them to our IRTA office and the staff can forward them on to him.

2. Next, please thank our friends in the House! They stayed with their unanimous vote for us, and really held on for us to get something.

Thank:
Chairman Tim Brown, House Ways and Means

Representative Jeff Thompson

Representative Woody Burton

Representative Marin Carbaugh

Representative Robert Cherry

Representative Douglas Gutwein

And your representative, whomever it might be. The House voted out the original bill unanimously.



Finally, thank these senators. If the Senate hadn’t agreed to the 13th check, all the other time and work would have been for nothing.

Thank:
Senator Kenley
Senator Tallian
Senator Walker
Senator Becker
Senator Leising
Senator Rogers

All can be sent to
The Honorable ________
200 W. Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204

If you know their home address, it will be fine to send it there.

Once more, thank you to you and all the people you asked to help. Without you, we could not have done this.

Your lobbying team

IRTA Representative Assembly

Dear AREA Members:

This is a reminder that the IRTA Representative Assembly will be Wednesday, June 17, at Primo South, Indianapolis. Please consider going as a delegate. We can take many. I will be driving and if we need more drivers, AREA will pay for the fuel. Being in attendance gives you a great idea of what IRTA is doing and accomplishing. Coffee, juice, rolls and doughnuts, etc. are available when we get there.

The meeting business is mostly completed by lunchtime and we leave for home soon after lunch. Our AREA incoming president, Barb Kanning, is not able to attend because of a commitment to another conference. I will be attending as AREA president. As last year, "ushers" are needed; we don't need to pay for meals for those who usher. In doing this last year, we found the job to be almost a "no job." IRTA now has 10 areas in the state; one usher stands at each area's section of seats to help members who can't locate their section. AREA members who live north will leave my house at 5:45 A.M. and we will pick up at Comfort Inn at Coventry at 6:00.

Please let me know ASAP (by Saturday night, May 2) if you can attend and if you are OK with being an usher. We will be able to make reservations later, but I need to inform the IRTA office now if we can help usher, how many, and names. Call me at 489-5413 or e-mail cbuttell@frontier.com It could be that enough people have already offered to usher.

Thanks! Carol

Big news from AREA member Mary Lou Morris. Her son, State Representative Bob Morris, informed her that we WILL have a 13th check; it is in the budget!

Urgent Help Needed

From Your Indiana Retired Teachers Association Lobbying Team

WE URGENTLY NEED THE HELP OF EVERY MEMBER AND FRIEND OF RETIRED EDUCATORS!

Dear Member,

We have worked very hard to try to get a COLA for our retirees during the current legislative session. THE HOUSE BUDGET HAS A COLA IN IT! Because the Senate Appropriations Committee REFUSED to put ANYTHING for retirees into their budget, we are now faced with trying to get enough support to get a “13th check” or “stipend” that could be included in the budget when the House and Senate meet in conference to reconcile the two bills. We have only a few days to make our point. We have not had a COLA for seven years now, but at least an increased “13th check” would be helpful to those 14,000 retired teachers who get $1,000 or LESS in the monthly pension.

Please---contact your senator and your representative to ask them to support an increased “13th check!” Even if you’ve contacted them before, please do so again. We need a tidal wave of messages!

Remind them of what local business you can no longer support because you have lost 13% of your purchasing power.
Ask your children, your friends, and your neighbors to contact them.

Senators can be reached in the following ways:
S__@in.gov (Put their Senate district number in the blank after “S.”) OR

The Honorable _____________ (Or home address if known.)
200 W. Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Representatives can be reached by
H__@in.gov (put their House district number in the blank after the “H.”) OR

The Honorable ______________ (Or home address if known.)
200 W. Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204

To find your legislators: Go to the web site “Indiana General Assembly.” Scroll down to the tab at the bottom of the screen that says, “Find your legislator.” Put in your address and it will tell you. OR call our toll-free number: 1-800-454-9333 and ask us to help you find it.

Click HERE TO FIND YOUR LEGISLATOR.

Thank you for your help!
Nancy Tolson, Tom Mellish, Steve Beebe

April 16 AREA Meeting

Dear Allen County Retired Educators:

April is around the corner! It’s time to get together with our AREA friends! The date for this is Thursday, April 16, 2015, at Ziano’s Restaurant, 10520 Maysville Road.

Please check in so that the meeting can start at 11:00 A.M. promptly.

RESERVATIONS: Please make your reservation with Mary Jo Purvis at least one week before the meeting: 493-4263 or mpurvis1@frontier.com

The cost is $15.00, which can be paid at the meeting.

THE MENU: breadsticks; choice of house or Caesar salad; choice of lasagna, fettucine alfredo with chicken or shrimp, spaghetti and meatballs, chicken marsala, tilapia and angel hair pasta; choice of coffee, tea, or soft drink. Anyone who has special dietary needs should speak with your meal server to substitute within our budget.

FREE lunch to 2014 Retired Educators who have not attended any prior AREA meetings. TWO-FOR-ONE deal for Members who bring a non-member retired principal or teacher. Be sure to inform Mary Jo with your reservation.

PROGRAM: Scheduled speaker could not attend. Speaker will be AREA’s own Pam George, membership chairman. She will present a Power Point about her three week mission trip to Kenya, Africa last fall. Her trip provided a variety of wonderful experiences.

EYEGLASSES: Ed DeLong will be collecting old eyeglasses for Lion’s Club, as at all meetings!

THE IRTA REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY will be held Wednesday, June 17, 2015, at Primo South in Indianapolis. Please consider attending. It is very informative and costs you nothing! More information later, but put it on your calendar!

IRTA MEMBERSHIP – Have you joined? IRTA needs you! Contact Pam George.

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Legislative Bulletin #8

After the chaos of the past week, the legislators have gone home until Tuesday.  We are still meeting and talking, but our chance of getting a COLA faded this week when we were told that HB 1481 would not be heard.

Sad to say, one legislator stands between us and a COLA!

 

HOWEVER: it isn’t over until the last gavel bangs and they go home for the summer.  We do know that there are House members who still want us to get some help.  Therefore, we are talking to them to say that if all we can get is the so-called, “13^th check,” it needs to be larger, but even more importantly, it needs to help those on the lower end who get so little in their monthly pension.

 

As you talk to legislators over the next week or two, please remind them that our latest figures from INPRS show that over 14,000 retired teachers get less than $1,000 monthly.  That isn’t a pension to allow for many luxuries!

 

We still feel that many of the members of the House truly want to get something done, be it a COLA or the “13^th check.”   We will be working with some friends in the Senate in the coming days to see what can be done.

 

Perhaps it is simply from the tension and stress that has been evident over the past days that makes me feel pessimistic, but I have to tell you that I do not see a COLA in the future until and unless there is no longer a “Super Majority” in the legislature.  I hope I am wrong, but Tom is going to have battles to fight next year and longer, so all we can do is help him in any way he asks.

 

I do want to tell you that I feel very good about one thing—I asked you to contact Senator Long, and according to his administrative assistant, he got “lots” of letters and emails.

Thank you for doing your part!  And please do not feel that it didn’t matter.  It does matter; it is simply that the system is rigged against us for the time being.

 

Please continue to write and email, and if one of your legislators tells you he or she is for the COLA or for some form of help, especially if it is a Republican, ask them to please speak for us in their caucus.  That is where most of the decisions are made!  We are actively trying to find some voices in that caucus who will support us.  We have a few, but need more to speak up to those who control it. 

 

As we know more, we will keep you updated.

 

Nancy

Update to Legislative Update

This is an update to Legislative Update #7

March 26, 2015

            CALL TO ACTION!                                             CALL TO ACTION!

Members, we are now at the point where we need to make it known how many are watching what the Senate will do with HB 1481, the COLA bill. It was heard yesterday in the Pensions and Labor Committee. We testified for it; however, the chairman did not take a vote on it, but we hope that it will be reassigned to the Appropriations Committee for further discussion. We are in the process of trying to talk to each member on that committee.

NOW, IT IS TIME FOR EACH OF YOU TO HELP US BY CONTACTING THE PRESIDENT PRO-TEM OF THE SENATE, SENATOR DAVID LONG.

Letters and emails should be short, polite, and firm: Use only one or two of these bullet points:

• There is money in the INPRS budget for a COLA because the actuaries have put in a 1 % assumption that we would be getting a COLA.
• This assumption has been there each year, even the last six when we did not get a COLA.
• Even though the school corporations pay this extra 1%, it has been put toward the unfunded liability, one that was created by former administrations—not by teachers or school corporations.
• Inflation over the last six plus years has taken away about 13 % of our purchasing power.
• We spend this money in our communities and pay taxes on it, as do the business people from whom we purchase food, medicine, etc. (Put in places where you spend much of your money.)
• A COLA in this biennium will only set back the final pay-off of the unfunded liability a few months further than as if we got nothing.
• There are 12,936 Indiana retired teachers from the pre-’96 fund who get $1000 or less in their monthly pension. They deserve some help as inflation eats away at these small amounts.

And PLEASE, find five to ten others that will also write to the Senator. We must let the Republican caucus in the Senate know that we are strong and determined. We are not asking for much, and the members of the House acknowledge that. It is time that the Senate does also!
Letters should be addressed to:

The Honorable David Long
200 W. Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204

emails should go to: Senator.Long@iga.in.gov

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Legislative Update #7

March 24, 2015

Hello:

We wanted to update you on what is going on in the legislature this week. Movement is beginning again on Bills in the Senate. Senator Boots, chair of Pensions and Labor committee, has scheduled HB1481 to be heard tomorrow (Wednesday, March 25) at 9:00 A.M. At this time we have heard various rumors such as: it will be heard with no action; heard and voted on; heard and amended from a COLA to a 13th check…. Nancy will testify on behalf of the bill moving forward with the COLA, but will support the 13th check if it is amended and ask for the amount of the checks to be raised, since they have not been for many years.

Steve, Nancy, and I have been meeting with Senators on the Pensions and Labor committee and Senate Appropriations on behalf of the COLA in HB1481. We have been sharing the information that the 1% COLA formula will cost less than the assumption INPRS established when presenting the 1% COLA for the biennium. That savings can be used to pay down the pre-96 unfunded liability, while still giving a very modest increase on our base pensions. We are attaching a letter that Nancy and Steve put together that was mailed to all senators and senators on the Pensions and Labor Committee also received an email copy.

Final decisions on bills with cost factors and their effect on the general fund will not be finalized until the April Revenue Forecast is received. We are confident that the last two weeks of the session will be very busy. Once we see the how HB1481 stands after the committee hearing, we will be targeting the Senate Appropriation Committee members with meetings.

You will receive another update later this week after we see what shape HB1481 is in after the hearing. If you talk, see, or write to your senators, please encourage them to support HB1481.

Thank you for your continued work on the committee and the support of our legislative agenda.

Sincerely,

Nancy, Tom and Steve

Change of Speaker for April 16

We have a change in the speaker for our AREA April 16, 2015 meeting. Dr. Jacobson, Dean of Ball State University Teachers College, was to speak. I received a phone call, and he has to attend a conference on Research in Chicago that day. He does want to speak at one of our meetings, but we will have to wait until next year because we are already booked for our June 16 meeting. One of the former students in the Ball State Teachers College Immersive Learning program, Abigail Savage, will be speaking at our June 16 meeting, as scheduled. Abby often presents with Dr. Jacobson.

Never fear!! We have a great program for April 16! Our own Pam George will be presenting a Power Point on her three week mission trip to Kenya last fall. She had some wonderful experiences. Thanks, Pam. We won't have to wait until next year to hear about your trip!

Members, the next AREA Newsletter about our April 16 meeting will be arriving in your mailbox soon! Make sure that the date is on your calendar! Try to bring a non-member or a member who has not attended in awhile!

Carol Buttell, President

Legislative News

Legislative News!!

A bill to give a COLA for the next two years passed the House on third reading on Wednesday afternoon. It passed 94 to 0!

It will now go to the Senate, where Senator Boots is the sponsor and Senator Tallian is the second sponsor. Please write to them to express your appreciation for their sponsorship.

If you have not yet thanked the House members who sponsored and worked on our bills, please do so now.

Senator Boots: Senator.Boots@iga.in.gov
Senator Tallian: s4@iga.in.gov

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2015 Legislative Bulletin #5

Indiana Retired Teachers Association Legislative Bulletin Five

Exciting news!
The House Ways and Means Committee met on Wednesday, February 18. They heard HB 1481 which allows for a two-year COLA. Two amendments were offered and both passed and were added to the bill.

These amendments changed the bill so that it reads a Defined Benefit is still the default option, but teachers will be able to choose the defined Contribution if they want to. It also was changed so that it reads that teachers would make the choice, not the school corporation. The bill passed the Ways and Means Committee unanimously!

In its present form, the bill allows a one per cent COLA for September, 2015, and a 1.7 per cent for 2016. The figures and/or the language could be changed at several points in the process still to come.

We are grateful to Chairman Tim Brown for his support for this bill. He spoke to the committee about the seven years without a COLA, and the actuarial suppositions that are included with the INPRS estimates each year.

After Nancy testified on behalf of the bill, Chairman Brown asked Nancy if this was her last time to testify. He then thanked her for her service and the whole committee and audience members applauded.

To do right away:

1. Thank Representative Tim Brown, H41@in.gov for his support and recognition of Nancy.
2. Thank Representative Woody Burton, H58@in.gov for carrying the COLA bill and for his willingness to work on a compromise for the Defined Benefit issue.
3. Thank Representative David Niezgodski, H7@in.gov for his work on reaching a compromise and for his continued support for our issues.

Watch for news of HB 1481 passing the House.

Get ready to write your Senator in early March to URGE him or her to support the bill when it is heard in the Senate Committees.

Nancy and Tom

ISTEP & Accountability Call to Action

Colleagues,

By working together on this, we CAN and WILL make a difference for our children, our colleagues, our communities, and our state.

Step 1: Find your legislators at https://iga.in.gov/legislative/find-legislators/

Step 2: Email your legislators and tell them to suspend the A-F Accountability Model until the new test and accountability metrics are firmly established. This can be done through another Executive Order by Governor Pence or through SB 566 (https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2015/bills/senate/566) authored by Sen. Ryan Mishler and Sen. Luke Kenley while co-authored by Sen. Ed Charbonneau, Sen. Douglas Eckerty, Sen. Patricia Miller, Sen. Scott Schneider, Sen. Dennis Kruse, and Sen. Rodric Bray.

I was recently reminded of the wise words of Chicago Mayor, Rahm Emanuel. Mayor Emanuel said "You never let a serious crisis go to waste. And what I mean by that it's an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before." With that in mind, I believe the current state of the ISTEP+ examination, uncertainty over next year's assessment, and the undetermined direction of the future A-F metrics, we have an opportunity that we may not have thought we previously had.

In Indiana, this crisis provides a great opportunity for Governor Pence to work with Superintendent Ritz and the State Board to mend that relationship as they consider solutions to the testing issues and accountability. Continuing down this pathway will result in an increase in D and F schools from this year's testing with the more rigorous test. Further, 3-4 times as many schools will face state and federal sanctions and be burdened with a significant increase in paperwork and mandatory meetings to address these letter grades. Once a school is branded with a D or F, it takes at least a 2 year period to demonstrate improvement by earning a C or higher. None of these results will be favorable for our state or our economy.

Please act swiftly to complete step 2 while the conditions are optimal and we have a true opportunity to impact change that will greatly benefit our children.

A few recent media stories that may also provide some context include:

Indiana is a Mess http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2015/02/10/its-a-mess-in-indiana/

North Montgomery Superintendent, Colleen Moran, shared with me a link 1/19/15 from the District Administrator Daily Newsletter about Arizona considering the suspension of letter grades for 1-2 years due to a new more rigorous test. http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2015/01/14/arizona-may-suspend-school-letter-grades/21758295/

http://www.indystar.com/story/news/education/2015/02/12/istep-freezing-problems-return/23290657/

http://www.indystar.com/story/opinion/columnists/matthew-tully/2015/02/11/tully-gops-glenda-ritz-power-grab-making-things-worse/23247427/

Thank you in advance.

Jeff

Dr. Jeffrey K. Butts, Superintendent
M.S.D. of Wayne Township
Indianapolis, IN 46241

2015 Legislative Bulletin #4

LEGISLATIVE BULLETIN NUMBER FOUR

There isn’t a lot to report for this week except for one good thing that happened late last week:

The Appropriations Committee met to consider SB 492. This is the bill that had a clause making a Defined Contribution the default option for new hires for the state.
Senator Karen Tallian proposed an amendment that, among other items, dropped the DC clause. The amendment was accepted, and the clause is no longer part of the bill.
The bill passed the Senate yesterday and will now go to the House. We will watch to be sure no other amendments are added back in that would refer to a DC.

I have to give you the credit for the way this went. We were surprised at the ease in which they adopted Senator Tallian’s amendment, and we feel it may have been because they were hearing from all of you that we were opposed to the DC clause.
Please thank Senator Tallian: s4@iga.in.gov
And Senator Boots for allowing the amendment: s23@iga.in.gov
At any rate, if you wrote about SB 492. Thank you, and please keep up the good work.

What needs to happen now is a note to Representative Cherry to say we hope they will hear and pass his bill, HB 1493, in the Ways and Means Committee. This must happen within two weeks. A note to Chairman Brown of the Ways and Means Committee would also be appropriate.
HB 1493 is the hybrid bill that gives both a permanent increase and a one-time increase. We feel it has the best chance of becoming law, as its fiscal impact will be lower than the traditional COLA, but it still increases your monthly pension.

There is still a long way to go, but we are hoping to make the case for this bill. Representative Cherry: h53@iga.in.gov Representative Brown: h4@iga.in.gov

If any of your representatives are on the Ways and Means Committee, please write to them also. You should have the list of those names from Legislative Bulletin Two.

As always, we can’t do it without your support. THANK YOU FOR THE HELP!

Your legislative team

2015 Legislative Bulletin #3

LEGISLATIVE BULLETIN NUMBER 3, 2015

IMPORTANT:

Today we testified about SB 492 in the Senate Pensions and Labor Committee. It is a large bill with many parts to it. We testified that we were favorable to most of them, but we were against the part that will make new state hires to PERF automatically default to a Defined Contribution plan instead of the Defined Benefit unless they choose the DB.

(Why does this matter to us? Historically, when the Legislature votes on language that affects PERF, they eventually make it apply to TRF also.)

I know this may sound confusing. IT IS. I felt that some of the committee members probably didn’t understand its implications. But as you have heard from us over the past many months, we must take a stand against a Defined Contribution that takes away the safety of a secure pension in retirement and may, in certain circumstances, leave much less money available for retirement.

To do immediately:

Write to the list below, and in your own words, tell them that our position is that a Defined Benefit is less costly and better for retirees then a Defined Contribution. Then ask them to amend SB 492 by taking out the language that puts new state hires into the DC unless they choose the DB.

Second, tell them that the you feel that the Legislature should instruct INPRS to do an in-depth actuarial study to determine the total cost to the state if they were to move from the DB to the DC as the default option for the newly hired PERF and TRF employees.

I am attaching a page of talking points that you can look at if this still seems confusing. We also have a list of talking points on our website under Legislative Resources.

If you can’t write to all, please use the first group the Republican members.

Senate Appropriations Committee:

Republicans

Chair Luke Kenley s20@in.gov
Ryan Mishler s9@in.gov
Phillip Boots s23@in.gov
Ed Charbonneau s5@in.gov
Douglas Eckerty s26@in.gov
Brandt Hershman s7@in.gov
Pat Miller s32@in.gov
Brent Waltz s36@in.gov
Carlin Yoder s12@in.gov

Democrats

Karen Tallian s4@in.gov
Earline Rogers s3@in.gov
Mark Stoops s40@in.gov
Greg Taylor s33@in.gov

Why the Indiana Retired Teachers Association must oppose a move from Defined Benefits to Defined Contributions (DB vs. DC.)

1. With a 401 k, benefits cease when the balance is depleted, leaving a possibility of many needing state welfare assistance to live.

2. Without a retirement benefit, many will leave for higher paying jobs in the private sector. As teachers, we are concerned, as are you, in having the best and brightest people in the classrooms of Indiana.

3. There will still be a need for continued maintenance of the original DB plan. Also, a need for administration of both plans—more costly than managing one plan.

4. The cost of DB plan would climb since no new members would be entering the plan.

5. Taking it out of the hands of experts and giving it to the amateur means less money earned. This would have an impact on the community because there is the strong possibility of less money spent there.

6. Leakage—the loss of money into the plan through borrowing and not being paid back, or just the loss of interest money, even when a loan is repaid. Again, this would lead to people depending more on welfare programs or living with hardship.

7. DB assists employers in promoting an orderly turnover.

8. Timing is critical. An employee who retires just at a down-turn could lose much of his or her retirement income.

9. Stability for the community and the state! In a down-turn, the public pension is a stabilizing influence. If everyone has lost his or her income, the resulting comeback could be much worse. In an economic down-turn, those with a pension still get the monthly check to spend in the community, thus making it less dangerous for the local businesses to stay open.

10. Those who spend their careers in service to their communities and to their state deserve the chance to Retire with Dignity with the expectation that their retirement will last their lifetime.

Excerpts from:
House Committee on Pensions and Investments. Texas House of Representatives, Interim Report 2000: A report to the House of Representatives 77th Texas Legislature
Legislator’s Guide to Nebraska Retirement Systems, December, 1998
Opdyke, Jeff, The Wall Street Journal, “State Worker’s Pension Plans Spark Debate,” May 5, 2000

2015 Legislative Bulletin #2

Legislative Bulletin Number Two, 2015

• First, I want share with you that we have formed a coalition of stakeholders who receive public pensions. Our board voted to join this coalition, and we are working together on the pension bills for this legislative session. Some of the members are AFSCME, ISTA, AFT and your association. We have held several meetings to decide how we would combat the push in this session to move newly hired public employees (including teachers) from the Defined Benefit (pension) to the Defined Contribution (401K) method of providing retirement income.

• Second, we have also had meetings with some of the ISTAR officers to find ways in which we could work together to finally get a COLA for our retirees. I attended a second meeting with the ISTAR president and a staff member today. We are united in looking for any way that we can find to persuade the leaders in the legislature that it is time for a COLA!

• In numbers there is strength, and we are estimating that among these groups, we may have as many as 200,000 voices. That number includes you. SEE OUR LEGISLATIVE TAB ON THE WEB SITE FOR TALKING POINTS ABOUT THE DB/DC ISSUE. www.retiredteachers.org

• I testified at the House Employment, Pension and Labor Committee Wednesday on two of the bills that will affect our pensions.

• Bill 1493 is authored by Representative Cherry. The summary from the General Assembly web site follows:

• House bill 1481 had language in it that made it difficult for us to support. However, it was amended twice during the committee meeting, and we now support it. I am not going to put the summary here because the amendments that changed it have not yet been published. They may go on later today, but since they change the bill, we won’t have the correct summary at this time.

• Both bills passed out of this committee and will be sent to the House Ways and Means Committee.

Things to do immediately:

1. Send thank you notes to the author and co-authors of HB 1493 at 200 W. Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204
2. This time the hand-written note is preferable to the email.

Representative Robert Cherry-author
Representative Woody Burton
Representative Martin Carbaugh
Representative David Niezgodski

3. Send thank you notes to the author and co-authors of HB 1481
at the same address.

Representative Woody Burton-author
Representative Martin Carbaugh
Representative Timothy Harman

And to those who added amendments:
Representative Martin Carbaugh
Representative David Niezgodski

4. Send a thank you to Chairman Douglas Gutwein who heard our bills.

Address envelopes as
The Honorable ____________

Correct greeting:
Dear Representative ___________:

We will soon be asking you to contact the House Ways and Means committee members. Here are their email contacts for future reference.

Chairman Tim Brown h41@iga.in.gov
Robert Cherry h53@iga.in.gov
Michael Karickhoff h30@iga.in.gov
James Baird h44@iga.in.gov
Randy Truitt h26@iga.in.gov
Jeffrey Thompson h28@iga.in.gov
Daniel Leonard h50@iga.in.gov
Mike Braun h63@iga.in.gov
Steven Davisson h73@iga.in.gov
Todd Huston h37@iga.in.gov
Peggy Mayfield h60@iga.in.gov
Sharon Negele h13@iga.in.gov
David Ober h82@iga.in.gov
Harold Slager h15@iga.in.gov
Holli Sullivan h78@iga.in.gov
Matthew Ubelhor h62@iga.in.gov
Greg Porter h96@iga.in.gov
Ed Delaney h86@iga.in.gov
Terry Goodin h66@iga.in.gov
Sheila Klinker h27@iga.in.gov
David Niezgodski h7@iga.in.gov
Cherrish Pryor h94@iga.in.gov
Gail Riecken h77@iga.in.gov
Steve Stemler h71@iga.in.gov

Thank you for your support!
Nancy, Steve, and Tom

###

2015 Legislative Bulletin #1

INDIANA RETIRED TEACHERS ASSOCIATION LEGISLATIVE BULLETIN # 1

January 8, 2015

The Legislature met on Tuesday, January 6, to convene the 2015 session. Incoming ED, Tom Mellish and I were there about 9:30 to meet with Senator Crider. Throughout the day, we talked to many senators and representatives.

On that first day, our main purpose was to introduce Tom to as many as possible so they could begin to recognize him, and he could continue to become acquainted with more legislators. Even so, we were able to have some good conversations about upcoming legislation that affects our members, all retired educators who also benefit from anything that we achieve, and our active colleagues.

It is too early to know which of the many bill that are being proposed we will support and ask legislators to support. Within a couple of weeks, it will be much clearer, and we will have bill numbers to give you. Right now, the ones we are watching are just drafts of bills, which means they haven’t been filed and given a number. This situation changes each day, so stay tuned.

I want to continue telling you about the positive encounters on Tuesday. After our talk with Senator Crider, we were able to talk to Senators Becker, Tallian, and Waltz, as well as a few other quick introductions.

We also had some very good meetings with Representatives Gutwein, Carbaugh, Burton, Thompson, and Chairman Brown, and were able to spend a few minutes with Representative Klinker and newly elected Representative Wright. There were several quick introductions to other representatives. We were warmly received by everyone we met, and came away feeling that it was a positive day.

On the negative side, we heard that there may be a bill to do away with defined benefits in the future and move to defined contribution for newly hired teachers. Those of you who have attended our workshops this past year have heard why we are totally against this idea. We will have to be vocal about this if the bill is filed, but for now, we are waiting to see how the bills evolve.

Comments from Tom Mellish, incoming executive director:

Call it rookie optimism, but I was very pleased on the House side with our conversations with Reps. Carbaugh, Gutwein, Klinker, and Wright. Sens.Crider, Becker, Tallian, and Waltz were also positive conversations and seem very willing to support. I think we were extremely fortunate when we sat with Rep.Thompson and Chairman Brown joined us and asked questions about our bill.
I’m very impressed with Steve Beebe’s demeanor and knowledge of the legislative workings. He will be very helpful to this rookie and works extremely well with Nancy. At our coalition meeting at AFSCME the next day, members all seemed to lean to Steve to get his insight and thoughts of the legislature this year. He will be a key member in the coalition for us and helping lead the group which will be to our advantage. After day one at legislature I feel very positive we will get a bill through the House side; the battle will be the Senate side. I hope it’s more than just rookie optimism.

Things to do now:

1. Thank any of your legislators who are mentioned above for their kind support of retired educators. If you want to write a note to Representative Gutwein, Representative Carbaugh, Representative Cherry (He will author one of the bills that we would support), Chairman Brown, Senator Crider, and Senator Becker, you can send a note to any legislator at:

200 W. Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Envelopes should be addressed as “The Honorable (1st name, last name)”
Greeting should be “Dear Representative (last name)”
Or “Dear Senator ___:”

2. To find your legislators, go to web site: “Indiana General Assembly Home.” At the bottom of the screen, click on the tab “Find Your Legislator” and put in your address.

3. If possible, go to any Town Hall, Cracker Barrel, 3rd House meeting that may be held in your area. (These are some of the many names that are used to give a forum for the legislators to meet and hear from their constituents.) If you attend, introduce yourself as an interested retired educator. We hope you have heard our talking points: We haven’t had a COLA in six years and have lost purchasing power that would have been spent in local businesses (if you are specific, it is the best way to get people’s attention). Money spent in local businesses comes back to the state in more tax money.

To find out about these meetings, you can sign up at web site: http://www.iauw.org/
Also check your local paper and your legislator’s web site if there is one.

4. We are getting much support, so please start by thanking them for the “13th check,” and it is always good to listen as well as talk in polite and reasonable ways.

5. Let us know what replies, discussion comes from contacting your legislator.

With appreciation for your support,
Nancy Tolson, Executive Director