Luncheon Entertainment

Deterding Elementary Choir The Outstanding Deterding Choir to

Perform at our Holiday LuncheonOur December 11th Holiday Luncheon program will present the San Juan Unified School District's Deterding Elementary Choir under the direction of George Dozet. Deterding is an Arts-Focus School where Mr. Dozet has taught since 1999. He received the California Music Educators Association's Peripole General Music Educator award in 2011 for excellence in general classroom music education. Mr. Dozet is on the Board of Directors and Teaching Staff of the non-profit Richards Institute of Education and Research which sponsors the Education Through Music program. He has extensive experience teaching vocal music to children and adults. Directing choirs and encouraging people to sing are his passions in life

The Deterding Choir is 160 children strong. They have sung throughout the county for numerous events. Mr. Dozet plans to join our ranks as "Wonderfully Retired" in 6 years.

President

Sandy Edwards

944–2897

1st Vice-President

Gaye Wood

530–268–2524

2nd Vice-President

Membership

Susan Hammond

Secretary

Marti Gohring

709–1346

Treasurer

Judy Croce

Resource Services

position open

Insurance

Don Houser

962–1359

Calendar

Board Meeting

January 5, 2016

General Membership Meetings/Luncheons

December 11, 2015

http://div75.calrta.org

EXPRESS CALIFORNIA RETIRED TEACHERS ASSOCIATION

Sacramento Northeast Division 75 November/December 2015

RSVP by Monday, December 4, 2015*** Reservations postmarked after December 4th will be $30.00 ***

(no phone orders) Entree Number

Name ____________________________________________________ ___________

Name ____________________________________________________ ___________

contact email:_______________________________________________ NEW MEMBER or FIRST TIME ATTENDEE to this meeting? Please check here: ____ Make Checks to: CalRTA Division 75 Mail reservations to: $28.00 per entree CalRTA Division #75 5917 Via Casitas Carmichael, CA 95608 Amount Enclosed:_________

The 52% Increase in Medicare Part B Premiums has been

Reduced but not Eliminated

At the October luncheon we learned that Medicare Part B participants who do not receive Social Security could see their premiums increase from the current $104.90 monthly rate to approximately $159.30. Ouch!

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) have testified that the rates for Medicare Part B (physicians, surgeons, home health care, durable medical equipment, etc.) need to be increased for 2016.

But a quirk in the law ties any increase in Medicare premiums to a dollar increase in an individual’s Social Security benefits. Primarily because the cost of gasoline is down for the year, the Consumer Price Index (“CPI”) is not expected to increase. So, with no increase in CPI, there will be no increase in Cost of Living Adjustment (“COLA”) for the approximately 70% of Medicare Part B participants who receive Social Security benefits. And since the “Hold Harmless” provisions of Medicare prevent any increase in premiums to Social Security recipients if there is no increase in COLA, the law says the premiums for Part B must be raised enough on everyone else to offset the difference.

Hence, the decision was made by CMS to raise the premiums on the remaining 30% of participants from $104.90/month to $159.30/month.

In addition to the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) of Social Security which reduces a teachers Social Security earnings by 50%, and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) which precludes a teacher from receiving one half of the Social Security monthly income of a deceased spouse, now teachers and other public employees are being penalized yet again by having to make Medicare “solvent”.

CalRTA has been in the forefront of this fight, letting Senators and Representatives know of the injustice being done to teachers with this premium increase. Fortunately, the recently passed (October 30, 2015) budget deal will soften, but not completely eliminate this premium increase for those who don’t have Medicare Part B deducted from their Social Security income. Instead of premiums increasing from $104.90 to $159.30, teachers and others not receiving Social Security will see their Medicare Part B premiums rise to $120.00 a month in 2016.

Also all Medicare enrollees will see an annual deductible increase to $167.00 from the current $147.00. Without the budget deal, it would have been $233.00.

The efforts of CalRTA members who called Medicare as well as their elected Representatives and Senators to inform them of this unfair treatment have helped protect millions of Medicare beneficiaries from a 52% increase in monthly premiums. Thank you! Donald F. Houser, CLU, ChFC, FLMI

See the insert page for additional information on this subject from the Alliance of Retired Americans.

Do You Know?

We need your email address

for updating immediate

information you may need to

know between Newsletter

issues.

Thank you so much!!!

Holiday Event

Upcoming Christmas Lights Tour to San Francisco is scheduled for Dec. 7, 2015. Many of our members have registered for this great tour!

Travel Corner News November 2015

*In January we have 18 leaving Sacramento for 7 to 14 days for a wonderful Winter Getaway to the Caribbean on Celebrity Cruises.

River Cruise *There is room for a few more members on a Tauck River Cruise scheduled for Sept. 8-Sept. 24, 2016. It sails from Budapest to Amsterdam on the Danube, Moselle and Rhine Rivers. Tauck has no

single supplement for solo travelers on this trip and is all inclusive. Marti will be leading the group from Sacramento. For information call Marti Gohring at 916-709-1346.

We plan to do two events a year. One day trip and one longer trip either domestically or internationally. Some ideas are a trip to Costa Rica, a roundtrip cruise from San Francisco to Hawaii, tour of New Orleans or Ireland. Please sign up on the interest sheets at the Christmas luncheon for any of these. For our day trip next

What to do if your wallet or purse – or identity – is stolen

We’ve all heard horror stories about fraud that is committed using your name, address, date of birth, Social Security and/or Medicare numbers, and banking/credit card accounts. If they have your name and account number – even if they don’t have your actual credit or debit card in hand – they can quickly manufacture a replica and make gasoline and/or electronics purchases using your money before you even notice the loss. And when a thief has your driver’s license, your Medicare card, and access to your finances, they can drain your accounts and ruin your credit for years.

How do I know all of this? Because my wallet was stolen from me in broad daylight several months ago. Fortunately, I was able to access a list of all my credit, debit and bank account numbers and the phone numbers to cancel them immediately after this happened so I didn’t lose more than the cash I was carrying. Even so, 5 attempts were made within 24 hours of the theft to open fraudulent accounts using my name, Social Security number and date of birth.

How can you protect yourself against the theft of your wallet or purse or identity? ❖ Preparations you should take before there is a loss

➢ When you are Online . Create a different password of a least 10 upper & lower case letters, numbers and symbols for each and every online site and account you use. Use a password manager such as Dashlane, 1Password, LastPass or PasswordBox to keep track of all of these unique passwords.

➢ When you are Out and About. ▪ Create a list or photocopy of your accounts. Document the contents of your wallet and phone numbers of the

issuing agencies in a secure and easily accessible location. (Having to hunt for the accounts and numbers to call is additional stress that you won’t need at that point!).

▪ Open a Credit Monitoring Account. Use a company such as LifeLock or even one of the credit reporting agencies – Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion – that you can call to cancel your accounts and set fraud alerts.

▪ Only carry what you will need each day. Do not carry your extra credit cards, Social Security or Medicare card, birth certificate, or passport in your wallet or purse except when necessary.

▪ Take note of your surroundings. Do not be embarrassed to ask for a grocery clerk to accompany you to your car. Believe that thieves are always watching for “snatch and grab” opportunities. If, in a public place, you put your purse, packages and/or other valuables in the trunk of your car, be sure to drive away.

❖ Actions you should take If your wallet or purse or identity has been stolen ➢ Call and cancel your credit cards, debit cards and checking accounts immediately! Request new ones. ➢ File a police report ASAP in the jurisdiction where it was stolen – the Sacramento Police or the Sacramento Sheriff, for

example. This establishes your diligence with the credit reporting agencies & is the first step towards an investigation (if there ever is one). More importantly, filing a crime report is necessary in obtaining an ongoing fraud alert on your credit.

➢ Place a Fraud Alert / Credit Freeze on your file.. Call LifeLock and/or one of the three major national credit reporting agencies immediately to place a 90 day Fraud Alert and or a Credit Freeze on your name, date of birth and Social Security numbers. Your report to one credit reporting agency will automatically be transmitted to the other two. The credit reporting agencies are: Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 / Experian (formerly known as TRW): 1-800-301-7195 / TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289.

➢ File an Identity Theft Victims’ Complaint and Affidavit with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – www.ftc.gov/complaint or call them at 1-877-438-4338. Keep a copy of your completed Identity Theft Affidavit.

➢ Attach your FTC Affidavit to your police report. This creates an Identity Theft Report which is entered into Consumer Sentinel – a national database. Alert the credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) to your police report number and your FTC Affidavit reference number which will be made available to thousands of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies worldwide. This will help you deal with credit reporting companies, debt collectors, and businesses that opened accounts in your name.

RETIRED TEACHERS' WEEK ... Sunrise Mall Walk

DIVISION #75 celebrated RETIRED TEACHERS' WEEK with a Mall Walk at Sunrise Mall on Wednesday, November 4, 2015. Supporting our division were Area 3 Co-Chair Marcie Launey, Div. #75 President Sandy Edwards, Div. #75 members Jeanie Campbell, Georgene Cooper, Jeane Dunham, Susan Hammond, Don Houser, Kathy Houser, and Grace Thomas. Mall Walker co-ordinat

Connie Collins warmly greeted our group and helped us set up our display table. We walked the mall, distributed membership information to numerous walkers, discussed current division projects and served delicious treats. We answered questions and connected with many people. A great time was had by all! COME JOIN US NEXT YEAR! Kathy Houser, Communications Chair

CALLING ALL SWEETHEARTS I have four names for the Sweethearts Presentation in February, 2016. If you are ninety years young and a member of CalRTA, Division #75, ( or you know someone that fits that description), please contact Kathy Houser. My phone number is 962-1359. We want to honor all our Sweethearts with lunch, an introduction to the membership and a place in our Sweethearts' Storybook! Thank you.

➢ Contact the Office of the Inspector General at Social Security – www.ssa.gov/oig - or 1-800-269-0271 to report the theft of your Social Security number. Monitor your account for suspicious activity.

➢ Contact the IRS Identity Protection Unit - http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Identity-Protection or 1-800-908-4490, ext. 245. This year alone, the identities of more than 300,000 taxpayers were compromised with attempts made on more than 600,000 more. If your tax info was taken, you will need to file Form 14039 and make a police report.

➢ Contact your health insurer and/or Medicare to report that your identity was stolen. Medical identity theft – in which someone fraudulently uses data to bill for medical services affected 2.3 million adult patients in 2014 and is one of the fastest growing aspects of identity theft. Don’t let a theft steal your packages or your identity. Be Vigilant! Donald F Houser, Insurance Chair – December 2015

Gale Hooper needs to hear from you if you know someone who needs:

A Card A Cheery Note

Caring Remembrance 916.988.6880

In Memoriam Charles Bidgood Ruth Miquel

Alma Shertzer

Type to enter text

PlePlease bring a new, unwrapped toy for Christmas Promise

Deterding Elementary Choir Menu

1. Top Sirlion with Red Wine Port reduction, au gratin potatoes, seasonal vegetable2. Vegetarian: Butternut Squash Ravioli with small House Salad

*****registration form is on the cover page***** Mail to: CalRTA Division 75 - 5917 Via Casitas - Carmichael, CA 95608

Holiday Luncheon Friday, December 11, 2013

Northridge Country Club Ballroom7600 Madison Ave. Fair Oaks, 95628

10:00 am Social Time with open bar11:00 am Entertainment

12:00 noon LunchJitney transport from parking lot

SPOTLIGHT ON A MEMBER This month the spotlight is on enthusiastic and friendly Carolyn Dicks. Carolyn was born in Marysville, CA. She grew up always knowing that she wanted to be a teacher. She attended Yuba College and Chico State to earn her teaching credential. She taught in Rio Linda and Oakland school districts for 34 years and loved every minute of it. She taught grades Kindergarten - third grade and tried to make learning fun for students. One of her favorite classroom sayings was, "Let the fun begin!" Carolyn is so proud of her family and extended family. She has two daughters, Lori and Judi, and two grandsons, Trevor and Chase. In addition Carolyn is "Grandma" to the neighbors across the street and has two more grandchildren, Everett and Kendra. Carolyn retired twenty years ago and her friend, Pat Boyd, took her to a CalRTA, Division #75, meeting and the rest is history. She has been a loyal member and supporter ever since. She loves to travel and she and daughter, Judi, are taking a California Coastal Cruise in November and she cruises once again in January, 2016 to the Caribbean. As a member of Christ Community Church, Carolyn participates in an organization called, "Downtown Ministries". This organization assists the homeless with low cost housing, furniture, clothing, groceries, and any household items that they might need to set up permanent housing. Carolyn collects gently used items as well as purchases new items and then delivers them to the organization's warehouse facility. Our Spotlight Member, Carolyn Dicks, leads a full and happy life in retirement. She is intelligent, interesting and loves to laugh! We thank her for sharing her life with us. Congratulations Carolyn on being our first, Division #75, Spotlight Member of the month.

by Kathy Houser, Communications Chair

VOLUNTEER HOURS CHALLENGE Start counting all those volunteer hours! Last year, while every other division was talking about a drop in the number of volunteer forms turned in, yours truly was bragging about Division #75 setting a record for hours totaled and the amount of money we saved the state of California. We will begin collecting volunteer sheets at the December 11, 2015, Div. #75 General Meeting, at Northridge Country Club. At the May, 2015 State Convention, David Walrath, stated that NOW was the time increase our collection. He said that the legislature pays the most attention during an election year and that the Volunteer Hours represent retired teachers' continuing commitment to serve their local communities even after retirement.

More importantly these volunteer hours represent VOTES and tell legislators that CalRTA is a "VOICE TO BE HEARD"! COME ON DIVISION #75, "WE CAN DO IT!" Let those legislators know how important you are to the state of California!

Kathy Houser Communications Chair

Mini-Grants: We Assist Active Teachers A response from a Mini-Grant recipient:Dear California Retired Teachers Association,Thank you so much for your generous donation to my classroom and students. We are honored that you would recognize our need for increased forcus on health, fitness, and dance. Physical Education is often over looked for funding. This additional equipment will help make our students more well rounded. I strive to help develop our students into overall healthy citizens I share your vision of focusing on student’s success and your generosity is incredible. This donation will benefit many students in many different grade and ability levels. They will be able to create and perform many dances to music with your donation. Thank you. I will be sending more pictures soon once my students start using the new iPod.

Thank you all, Megan Pat Carper, Mini-grants

See insert page for entire letter.Pat Carper has many more thank you letters and pictures from appreciative teachers and their students. As Mini-Grants are awarded

to teachers at the school staff meetings, a roar of gratitude is heard from their fellow

colleagues. Take a look at the binder at our next luncheon.

Happy teachers receiving Mini-grants

presented by Marti Gohring at Pasadena Elementary

Smiling teacher faces receive Mini-grants at El Camino

presented by Georgene and Marci. Look for the grants we

funded for them.

The.American River College students appreciate your generous purchase of Table Centerpiece Raffle Tickets at the October CalRTA Luncheon.  You contributed three hundred forty four dollars toward one of their fifteen hundred scholarships.  The Retired Teachers Scholarship Foundation (RTSF)

Board thank you for making this possible.  Other tax deductible donations and bequests can be made to RTSF for these needy students at any time.

Thanks,Dick Houk

THE RETIRED TEACHERS SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION, INC.

The Retired Teachers Scholarship Foundation Established by CalRTA Division 75

Please remember that memorials, birthdays, honorariums, outstanding service can be honored with donations to the Scholarship Foundation. All donations are acknowledged in writing. If you feel you would like to do something

special today write us a check! Make checks payable to: The Retired Teachers Scholarship Foundation

Donor’s Name _________________________________________________ Date _________________ Address __________________________________________________________________________ Enclosed is my contribution to the above scholarship fund in the amount of $ _______________ In Honor of: Name __________________________________________________________ __ As a Memorial __ Special Recognition __ As a Bequest __ Birthday __Other

Please send an acknowledgement of this contribution to: Name: ___________________________________________________________________ Address: _________________________________________________________________ __ Person being honored __ Next of Kin Recipient or next of kin will be notified. Amounts are not disclosed. Mail to: RTSF, Inc.

PO Box 1451 Thank You!Fair Oaks, CA 95628

WANTED Needed Resource Person for Div. 75 Curious Mind? Watch for articles that pertain to members. Ex. Did you get your flu shot? Mature Drivers Class. Health Fairs, etc.. The Membership Chair receives information from the State Membership Chair and Resource person. CalRTA has resource information on its website. There is also a Resource Handbook on the web site.

Like research? This position is for you. Nancy Orr

WANTED NeededNewsletter Editor for Div. 75

Have fun meeting fabulous members in Div. 75 and other Divisions members in Area 3. Gather articles from comittees, edit and publish the 5 yearly issues of the EXPRESS newsletter, (a templete is already set). Attend board meetings… Help brainstorm with current and future issues. Please contact: Sandy Edwards or Jeanie Campbell

CalRTA’s Major Goal: To be the dominant authoritative voice for all retired teachers. CalRTA’s Core Purpose: To enhance and protect the benefits of retired teachers.

Non-profit OrgUS Postage

Permit No 1745Sacramento, CA

Sacramento Northeast Division 755006 Shadowood WayFair Oaks, CA 95628

Time dated material Please deliver by November 28, 2015

President’s CornerWelcome to the President’s Corner……….

CalRTA Division 75 was so pleased to have had nearly 100 in attendance on October 20th to hear Buck Busfield speak about imaginative ways for writing and creating plays for B Street Theatre. He also spoke of the project that is dear to his heart: that of developing a new theatre downtown especially for Children’s Theatre! I do hope that YOU were one of the lucky ones to have heard him in person at Northridge Country Club! What a treat!! We also had a very big business meeting where the new Board members were introduced, and our budget was passed. A big “Thank You” to Judy Croce and Linda Hansen for their diligence in giving us a very solid budget to work from this year! And then, a large part of our business was centered on impending legislation that has a decidedly BIG impact on all retired teachers. Please read the article, Page 2, to see how your Medicare Part B will be affected in 2016. It’s vitally important for all of us to keep current on matters that affect us directly, and I thank Leonard Thomas, Lloyd Gillespie and our CalRTA legislative team for all of their efforts in keeping us informed! Kathy and Don Houser entertained us again with their skit highlighting “Books for Mustard Seed School”, our charity project for this year. Please remember that this is an ongoing project, and new/gently used books are gladly accepted at every meeting. And a big “Thank You” to Kathy and Don for being so faithful in storing and delivering these much needed supplies! Pat Carper and her team have finished reading 40 mini-grant applications, and have handed out up to $300 to18 winners. We are so proud to be be able to support teachers currently teaching in public education! And thanks to Division 75’s generosity, we can do this!! Again…we cannot function without everyone’s support! Please think of whom YOU might invite to join CalRTA Division 75 this year! We are the Northeast Sacramento Chapter of a GREAT organization supporting retired (and current) educators in every way!I’m looking forward to seeing a lot of new faces at our Holiday Luncheon this year! Don’t forget that it will take place on FRIDAY, December 11th at Northridge Country Club.

Happy Thanksgiving!Sandy Edwards

President

Dear GRC Representatives,

This news was reported yesterday morning. The Senate and House of Representatives passed a budget that, among other things, resolved the Medicare B increase as follows....

From CalRTA, "And now the Senate has approved the budget ... no reason to think the President won't sign it so the huge Medicare Plan B premium increase has been avoided. There will still be an increase but it will be much smaller than 50% ... we've heard 14 - 17%."

From the Alliance of a Retired Americans, "Without the deal, some 30% of 54 million Medicare beneficiaries would have seen Part B premiums jump 52% in 2016, from a base rate $104.90 per month to $159.30. With the deal, about 16 million beneficiaries would see their Part B premiums rise 14% instead, to a new base rate of $120 per month in 2016, plus a $3-per-month."

Regards, Lynn Lindsey, State GRC Chair

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

LINDA FARRIS RITA LEHMAN LOIS VANDERLEUN 7033 La Costa Ln. 3521 Winding Creek Ln. 101 Firefly Green Ct. Citrus Heights,CA, 95621 Sacramento,CA,95864 Roseville,CA,95747 (707) 262-1665 (916) 548-7301 (916) 771-4839

ADDRESS CHANGES Felice Blakeley Kathryn Carter Janet A. Feaver 7 Margaret Ln. 8945 F.O. Blvd 3939 Walnut Ave. #234 Danville, CA 94526 Carmichael, CA 95608 Carmichael,CA 95608

(916) 944-1536 (916)339-0624

Natalie F. Katibah John C. Kirk Le Doux, Marcia 8303 Hidden Valley Cir. 183-B Snowberry Ct. Fair Oaks, CA 95628 Murphys, CA 95247

Genevieve Lehman Margaret L. Mitchiner Orchard, Harriett 345 Monroe St. 111 N. Emerson St. #844 3939 Walnut Ave Unit 175 Sacramento, CA 95825 Denver, CO 80218 Carmichael, CA 95608-7310

(916) 985-4185 (916) 978-9774

Frances B. Ridley Melissa Riley 1013 Folsom Ranch Dr, #202 4130 Prospect Dr. Folsom, CA 95630 Carmichael, CA 95608

Response letter from Mini-grant recipient, Megan Hurley at Laurel Ruff Transition School