action · adam brown 102nd representative kirk dillard 24th senate ... when exiting a burning...

ACTIONN E W S B U L L E T I NACTION

Fall 2012

;www.irtaonline.org

A LOOK INSIDE

IRTAPAC6

Association News2

Member Benefits3

Legislative News5

Foundation Memorials7

2012 IRTA Endorsed Candidates

The IRTAPAC Committee, along with Executive Director Jim Bachman,

developed a questionnaire to be used to evaluate candidates seeking

endorsement in the November 2012 election. The questionnaire was

mailed to 140 incumbent candidates on June 19, 2012. Forty-four

incumbent candidates completed and returned the questionnaire.

The IRTAPAC Committee met on August 15, 2012, and reviewed the

questionnaires. The Committee’s recommendations were presented to the IRTAPAC Board for final

action. A formal letter informing the candidates of their endorsement was mailed on August 24, 2012.

The following is a list of candidates approved for endorsement by the IRTAPAC:

Dan Beiser 111th Representative Pam Althoff 32nd Senate

Dan Brady 105th Representative Melinda Bush 31st Senate

Adam Brown 102nd Representative Kirk Dillard 24th Senate

John Cavaletto 107th Representative Gary Forby 59th Senate

Norine Hammond 93rd Representative Michael Frerichs 52nd Senate

Kay Hatcher 50th Representative Linda Holmes 42nd Senate

Jay Hoffman 113th Representative Mike Jacobs 36th Senate

Thaddeus Jones 29th Representative Daniel Kotowski 28th Senate

Sidney Mathias 59th Representative Terry Link 30th Senate

Bill Mitchell 101st Representative Michael Noland 22nd Senate

Donald Moffitt 74th Representative Dale Righter 55th Senate

Bob Pritchard 70th Representative Chapin Rose 51st Senate

David Reis 109th Representative John Sullivan 47th Senate

Wayne Rosenthal 95th Representative

Angelo “Skip” Saviano 77th Representative

Jil Tracy 94th Representative

Michael Tryon 66th Representative

2IRTA Action Fall 2012

Announcing IRTA Legal

Defense Fund

On May 31 retired and active state teachers won a

battle, but the war targeting teachers and state

employees is not over. Minutes after House

Republican Leader Cross gave up on passing the bill to

coerce a choice between keeping your present cost of

living adjustment (COLA) and having access to TRIP health insurance, he

promised they will be back again soon with a new attempt. Governor

Quinn has kept calling for a special session on pensions, and Speaker

Madigan called a one-day session on August 17 to deal with pensions,

particularly aimed at legislators and state employees, not teachers YET.

These continuing attacks are why IRTA has launched a campaign to

create a Legal Defense Fund to enable us to defend our pensions and

COLA in a court battle over constitutionality of such legislation. While

legal experts cite the Illinois and U.S. constitutions saying our pensions

are protected from impairment or diminishment, the legislators seem to

say, “So sue us!” And the state has a lot of lawyers. Teachers would be

forced to sue to prevent such legislation from taking effect. Teachers

cannot afford to do that individually. The cost is enormous, possibly

hundreds of thousands of dollars through the appeals process. And you

would not want to choose just any lawyer. WE ALL HAVE SKIN IN

THIS GAME, so sharing the cost broadly makes sense.

If all of our members donate $10 or more to an IRTA legal defense fund,

we can have the resources to defend ourselves. Remember, IRTA dues

are low (only $2 a month by TRS deduction) and support a very lean

staff. We rely on volunteers for our work. We do not have an account

for huge legal expenses and do not have a lawyer on staff.

Members, friends, and interested parties can make their donations by

check payable to IRTA. Please write on check memo “for Legal Defense

Fund.” Mail checks to 620 N. Walnut St., Springfield, IL 62702. Or, you

may donate online at our website (IRTAONLINE.ORG) with a credit

card. Look on the HOME page under the photo above “IRTA News”

for Legal Defense Fund. This is our updated web site. You might want

to look around to see what has changed.

Please make your donation immediately because we need to grow the

fund quickly.

Illinois Retired

Teachers Association 620 North Walnut Street

Springfield, IL 62702

800.728.4782

217.523.8488

fax: 217.523.8493

e-mail: [email protected]

web: www.irtaonline.org

EXECUTIVE

OFFICERSPRESIDENT

Gary Elmen, Naperville

VICE PRESIDENT

Bob Pinkerton, Jacksonville

TREASURER

Shirley Dodds, Godfrey

SECRETARY

Doris Heaton, Benton

PAST PRESIDENT

Phil Robbins, Godfrey

PROFESSIONAL

STAFFEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

James Bachman

MEMBERSHIP FIELD REP.

Charles Chrisman

COMPTROLLER

Maureen Shaner

MEMBER SERVICES

Tricia Klim

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Susan Goetz

RECEPTIONIST

Stephanie Tucker

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Kay Caruso

REACHING OUT

IRTA

ASSOCIATION NEWS

Gary Elmen

Continued on page 6

3 IRTA ActionFall 2012

FOUNDATION NEWSMEMBER BENEFITS

TEST YOUR “FIRE-SMARTS”

Are you fire smart? Take this brief quiz to find out.

A recent national survey conducted by Liberty Mutual in association with the International Association of

Firefighters revealed that Americans hold many misconceptions about fire safety. Take this brief True-or-

False Quiz to test your own “fire-smarts.” And remember, there are no trick questions.

QUESTIONS

1. True or False: When exiting a burning building, you should leave all doors open for firefighters to

enter.

2. True or False: Power strips protect against electrical fires.

3. True or False: It’s safe to run a space heater 24/7.

ANSWERS

1. False: Closing doors behind you as you escape slows the spread of smoke and flames.

2. False: Power strips protect against power surges, not fires, and if overloaded, can in fact cause

electrical fires.

3. False: Space heaters are designed only for short-term operation. Always turn them off when you exit

the room for an extended period, especially at night when you go to bed.

Visit www.BeFireSmart.com to learn more fire safety tips. To learn more about Liberty Mutual auto and

home insurance or get a free, no-obligation

quote, call Mark Bernhagen at

(630)836-1025, ext. 56414 or email

[email protected].

Coverage underwritten and provided by Liberty Mutual

Insurance Company and its affiliates, 175 Berkeley Street, Boston,

MA 02116. ©2012 Liberty Mutual Group. All rights reserved.

Life Line ScreeningCall 1-866-964-5845 and mention Priority Code CSMS-005, or go to www.lifelinescreening.com/

memberbenefits to find the next screening event in your neighborhood!


MEMBER BENEFITS

BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE

ILLINOIS RETIRED TEACHERS ASSOCIATION

Membership with IRTA has many benefits! Your membership gives you access to the following:

Dental & Vision Plans

Long Term Care / Home Health Care

First Diagnosis Cancer Policy

Final Expense Whole Life Policy

Long Term Care Annuity

Tax-Deferred Annuity

Medical Air Services Association (MASA)

Dental & Vision Plans

Astrum Hearing Solutions

Identity Theft Solutions

To learn more about your IRTA benefits, please contact

Association Member Benefits Advisors (AMBA) at 1.800.258.7041

or visit www.irtaonline.org and log into the member area.

Travel the World with Collette Vacations

and SAVE! Join Collette and other IRTA members for a “webinar” to learn more about travel and the savings you will

receive as an IRTA member. Collette, one of the most respected tour operators in the industry, offers

guided travel experiences that span all seven continents. Travel as an individual or form a group!

IRTA selected Collette because their tours strive to connect travelers with the authentic destinations. We,

like our friends at Collette, believe that travel should deliver a deeper appreciation of the world we

inhabit and its cultures.

Learn more and have your questions answered during the “webinar” - all from the comfort of your home -

on November 9 at 1:30 CST. Here is the link to register for the “webinar”:

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/773176050 .


MEMBER BENEFITS/I CARELEGISLATIVE NEWS

Vote "NO" on

November 6, 2012,

on House Joint

Resolution

Constitutional

Amendment #49

This amendment is a proposed addition of Article

XIII, Section 5, to the Illinois Constitution, Pension

Protection Clause. HJRCA0049 (Amendment #49)

is a Constitutional Amendment that will require the

Illinois Legislature to approve ANY “pension

benefit increase” by a three-fifths vote. The word-

ing seems to be very ambiguous and open to

interpretation, which could lead to considerable

litigation if passed. This amendment will not affect

your current pension payments.

IRTA's position is to vote "NO" on November 6,

2012, on HJRCA0049 (Amendment #49). Encour-

age your family, friends, and neighbors to vote

"NO" for this proposal as well. Please continue to

call, visit, and email your legislators and ask them to

protect your pension and not pass this amendment.

Don’t Forget to Vote on

November 6, 2012!

Voting Makes a

Difference!

As an IRTA Member,you should:

Visit IRTA’s new and improved

website at irtaonline.org!

Create your members-only

website section profile.

Register with Voter Voice.

IRTA’s online grassroots advocacy

tool.

Give us your address and e-mail

updates.


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Thank you.

IRTAPAC

The IRTAPAC continues to grow, but we need your help. Donate to

our IRTA Political Action Committee and protect the status of

retired teachers by donating just $1.00 per month through pension

deduction. IRTA will continue to fight for retired educators’

benefits as we have for over 50 years. Help Us in Our Fight! Mail

the IRTAPAC donation form on this page to IRTA, 620 N. Walnut St.,

Springfield, IL 62702.

Announcing IRTA Legal Defense FundContinued from page 2

I want to thank you all for responding to our Executive Director

and calling and emailing legislators prior to the votes and over the

summer recess. It makes a difference, for sure! Surprisingly, some

who receive Voter Voice emails from IRTA do not click on the

response link at the end, so do not miss that. It is VITAL.

So many of you have established email connections with various

groups during this long battle. I want to thank you all for your

commitment. While I am sure to have missed someone, we owe

special gratitude to several devoted members for their ongoing

blogs, articulate letters, and insightful analysis which augment IRTA

efforts: Glen Brown, John Dillon, Bob Lyons, Bob Haisman, Robert

Zahniser, and Roger Sanders.

Lastly, IRTA needs a ready pool of volunteers, spread across the

state, to assist candidates we are backing for the General Assembly

in the November elections. Every unit legislative chair received a

message from me in July asking them to help by getting 5 volunteers

from their unit. We have over 90 units so this would amount to

400-500 volunteers. A Task Force of experienced leaders (Ed

Rosenthal, Judy Ilgen, and Sara Kaufman) is helping with follow-up

contact of the unit legislative chairs. You can help. Tell your

legislative chair or unit president you are willing to put in some

hours to elect legislators who back IRTA.

So, you have two tasks. Please write that check today to

IRTA for the Legal Defense Fund, and volunteer some

hours to help elect candidates we support. Best wishes for a

secure retirement!

Gary Elmen, President IRTA


Joliet Area RTA in memoryof:

Maria ContosLake Co RTA in memory of:

William BanisterFred BeckerGeorge BurnhamVincent DellamorteDaniel DeRocheDonald DoerleConnie DovekasDonald EbertKatharine EverwineVincene GardnerLawrence HanzelJacquelyn HeynMable HolleJane JohnsonWalter KermanMuriel KlingeRosemary LarsenEmil LatinioJackie LolmaughSpencer LoomisMary Alice NicolaMarion OmiatekMargaret PekarVirginia PhillipsJames PruntyGeorge RosenblitShirlee TrippFrances Troha

Massac Co RTA in memoryof:

Pearl MollerRichland Co RTA in memoryof:

Joan Marie CunninghamTazewell Co RTA in memoryof:

Shirley KentWabash-Edwards RTA inmemory of:

Catherine HeaterMildred HenagerJohn KeenerMary Margaret

KnackmusWilliamson Co RTA inmemory of:

Romelle KaeserOther Memorials:Diana Gudauskas in memoryof:

Doris Jean GudauskasDorothy Cusac in memoryof:

Marjorie KunkleSheri Blickman in memory of:

Dee Snapp

April 2012 Elgin Area RTAMemorial Correction:Janet Poyner

Iroquois Co RTA in memoryof:

Betty BaxterLorraine Schriefer

Jefferson Co RTA in memoryof:

Dorothea HaymanMadison Co 2 RTA in memoryof:

Betty SteinerMcHenry Co RTA in memoryof:

John FaustRichard Magnani

Randolph Co RTA in memoryof:

Barbara GillespieJohn Marlin

Springfield Ret Teachers Clubin memory of:

Florence BucklesHelen Dunn

Wayne Co RTA in memory of:Marjorie BraddockCarroll HilliardVersil Withrow

White Co RTA in memory of:Naomi Wageneck

Whiteside Co RTA in memoryof:

Phil LeinbachWilliamson Co RTA inmemory of:

Helen MattoxElizabeth Noleen

Other Memorials:Linda Gustafson in memoryof:

Muriel KlingeBerenice M Sexauer inmemory of:

Muriel Klinge

Champaign Co RTA inmemory of:

Irene AndersonChristine FeltyMargaret MennerBernice MuellerByron Wise

Crawford Co RTA in memoryof:

Margaret FerrisLouise Kaley

Elgin Area RTA in memory of:Linda Reinert

Iroquois Co RTA in memoryof:

Mary Kuipers

Anonymous in memory of:Jean Gudauskas

Dan & Gaye Boland inmemory of:

Jean GudauskasJanice Buckley in memory of:

Jean GudauskasCarol Donahue in memory of:

Jean GudauskasMary Finch in memory of:

Jean GudauskasMary Joanne Henry in memoryof:

Jean GudauskasRichard & Kacie Herlihy inmemory of:

Jean GudauskasRoger Hickman in memory of:

Doris GudauskasJudy Hollingshead in memoryof:

Jean GudauskasBruce Mitchell in memory of:

Jean GudauskasTom & Carol Phillips inmemory of:

Jean GudauskasJudith Porter in memory of:

Jean GudauskasJack Sorenson in memory of:

Doris J GudauskasMary Joanne Henry in memoryof:

Muriel KlingeRonald & Joanne Hopley inmemory of:

Muriel KlingeGilda Lesser in memory of:

Muriel KlingeGeraldine Van Devander inmemory of:

Donald Van Devander

Aurora Area RTA in memoryof:

Marion Keely AndersonBlackhawk Unit RTA inmemory of:

Deceased membersChampaign Co RTA inmemory of:

Willard BergerClark Co RTA in memory of:

Neva ChidesterMavis KileHerman Koener

Fulton Co RTA in memory of:Lorraine FarrMildred R Locke

AUGUST

In Memory OfBelow, you will find a list of

names of those remembered

by memorial gifts for the

months of June - August. For

a complete list of donations to

the Foundation, please visit

the IRTA website and look

under the Foundation section.

Bond Co RTA in memory of:Elizabeth MollettJane Shank

Bunker Hill SW RTA inmemory of:

Norma HighsmithCarroll Co RTA in memoryof:

John McPhersonBruce WarnerKathleen Wright

Crawford Co RTA in memoryof:

Kathryn BloomerElgin Area RTA in memory of:

Elsie MillerHamilton Co RTA in memoryof:

Imogene MeyersJoliet Area RTA in memory of:

Arthur WaltersMcHenry Co RTA in memoryof:

Jean (Doris J) GudauskasMarcia ShurteJoseph S Szucs

Montgomery Co RTA inmemory of:

Mary FriedenbergBill Whitlock

Moultrie Co RTA in memoryof:

Dorothy DotyNW Suburban RTA inmemory of:

Norma HulettPerry Co RTA in memory of:

Clara HalsteadTazewell Co RTA in memoryof:

Geraldine SchiederOther Memorials:Marti Swanson in memory of:

Tom GarreyDick and Gail Anderson inmemory of:

Jean Gudauskas

JULY

JUNE

IRTAF AUDITFOUNDATION MEMORIALSFOUNDATION MEMORIALS

Enclosed is my tax-deductible gift to the IRTA Foundation for:

Other $ _____ $500 $100 $50 $25

Please accept my contribution and use it where it is needed most.

Please designate my contribution toward: Scholarship Program Retired Teacher Support I CARE Grants

Name ________________________________________ Street ________________________________________

City ___________________________ State _______ ZIP __________ E-mail ________________________________

Do you have information to share about your unit? Please include it with your contribution.

620 North Walnut Street Springfield, IL 62702

Illinois Retired Teachers Association Foundation

YES, I WANT TO HELP SERVE THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE

620 North Walnut Street

Springfield, IL 62702

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage

PAID

Oak Brook, IL

Permit No. 100

@a glimpseIRTA

FoundationRetired Educators, your

pensions are in jeopardy!Donations of time and money

are needed and appreciated!

action · adam brown 102nd representative kirk dillard 24th senate ... when exiting a burning...

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