spring 2013 sandy relief efforts presented on may 14 at ... fileat buena vista country club....
TRANSCRIPT
storm as well as the on-going
volunteer efforts in the re-
covery process.
The ACREA business
meeting will begin at 11a.m.
at Buena Vista Country
Club. (Details inside)
Beth Schroeder Buonsan-
te, NJEA Government Rela-
tions associate director, will
update us on 2012-13 educa-
tion legislation accomplish-
ments and anticipated politi-
cal action. Your PAC dona-
tion will be welcomed!
Atlantic County survived
Hurricane Sandy but not
without significant damage
to parts of Atlantic City,
Brigantine, Margate, Vent-
nor, Tuckerton, and Little
Egg Harbor Township. Since
October 29, news coverage
has focused on local recon-
struction and state recovery.
On Tuesday, May 14, Pat-
rick Rumaker, editor of the
NJEA Reporter, will discuss
the NJEA assistance offered
to those school districts and
staff impacted by the super-
Sandy Relief efforts presented on May 14 at Buena Vista
VOLUME 13, ISSUE 1
Spring 2013
VOLUME 15 ISSUE 3
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Spring Meeting………… 1
NEA-R/RA Candidates .. 1
NJREA Endorsement ..... 2
ACREA Elections….…… 2
Government Relations … 3
Luncheon coupon……… 5
Phillies FieldTrip……… 6
Dates to Remember
ACREA Business Meetings
and Luncheons
Fall Oct. 1, 2013
Great e Bay Country Club
Winter . Dec. 3, 2013
Mays Landing Country Club
NJREA Convention
Nov. 6 –7, 2013
Taj Mahal, Atlantic City
Patrick Rumaker, our key-
note speaker in May, taught
in Gloucester County and was
president of the Washington
Township Education Associa-
tion from 1999-2003.
(left) The Buena Regional High School gym was used as a shelter during Superstorm Sandy.
(right) Discarded textbooks in dumpsters were a common sight in Monmouth County. Photos: NJEA
Vote for NEA-R, RA delegates by April 18
Karen Clarke Roger Baker
In early April, NJREA members will receive ballots to elect
delegates to the 2013 and 2014 NEA-R/NEA-RA conventions.
Karen Clarke, our membership chair, and Roger Baker,
ACREA president, are among the 51 delegate candidates.
Both Karen and Roger have represented NJREA retirees in the
past. Please consider voting for these capable candidates.
NJREA members who annually pay dues will receive state-
ments in May for membership beginning September 1 and
running through August 31, 2014. At this time, no increase
is expected in ACREA, NJREA, or NJEA dues. NEA was
the only organization to increase dues last year and, to date,
has not announced its intention for 2013-14.
In December, the ACREA voted to offer county lifetime
membership at a rate of $8 x 25 years — or $200. The op-
portunity to eliminate an annual dues bill for $8 is available
only to NJREA lifetime members. In short, retirees who opt
for this lifetime payment will never see a dues increase nor
receive future bills.
For more information: contact
Karen Clark, ACREA Membership Chair
In Memoriam
William R. Jackson
Morganza DeBaptist
The minutes from our December 11, 2012 meeting and an up-to-date treasurer’s report will be available prior to our business meeting on May 14.
If you received the email version of this newsletter, print the luncheon page and return the reservation coupon with your check to Pat Royal.
Happy Birthday to ACREA member
Helen Turner! She was 106 on April 1, 2013.
Membership renewal mailed in May
Judy Perkins, NJREA 2nd vice-president with Sean Spiller,
candidate for NJEA secretary-treasurer
~~~Vote for Sean Spiller ~~~
The NJREA has endorsed Sean Spiller for the position of
NJEA secretary-treasurer. NJEA ballots will be mailed
to you by April 23 and must be returned by May 9.
Spiller is a 15-year anatomy and physiology teacher
and president of the Wayne Education Association. He
has extensive involvement in the Passaic County Educa-
tion Association as well as on NJEA and NEA legislative
committees. He will advocate for more community sup-
port for our public schools and professional and support
staffs He is very eager to assist NJEA staff in this en-
deavor.
If elected, Spiller will be the NJEA leadership liaison
to the NJREA and will travel to our county organizations
to learn more about our issues in order to support and
advocate on behalf of retirees.
ACREA elections
will take place at
May meeting
Roberta Woessner, chair of the ACREA nominating commit-
tee, has offered the names of two members as candidates for
our vice-president and recording secretary positions.
Gene McCann, a former teacher and retired NJEA Region 3
UniServ office consultant, is running for the vice-president
position.
Barbara “Bobbie” Gorman, a retired teacher from the At-
lantic County Special Services district and past president of
the its education association, is running for the recording sec-
retary job.
As stated in our constitution, nominations from the floor
will be accepted during the business meeting on May 14.
Both positions have two-year terms. ACREA Updates
Peri Pantazes, Government Relations
Legislative District Contact Information
LD 1: Sen. Jeff Van Drew: 21 N. Main Street, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210 609-465-0700 [email protected]
FAX 609-465-4578
Assemblyman Robert Andrzejcak and Assemblyman Nelson Albano: 1028 East Landis Avenue, Vineland, NJ 08360 856-696-7109 [email protected] FAX : 856-765-0897 / 856-696-7109 [email protected] FAX : 856-696-7159
LD 2: Sen. James Whelan: 511 Tilton Road, Northfield, NJ 08225 609-383-1388 [email protected] FAX : 609-383-1497
Assemblyman John Amodeo and Assemblyman Chris Brown: 1801 Zion Road, Suite 1, Northfield, NJ 08225 609–677-8266 [email protected]/[email protected] FAX: 609-677-8853
LD 8: Sen. Dawn Marie Addiego 32A North Main St., Medford, NJ 08055 609-654-1498 [email protected]
FAX: 609-654-4518
Assemblyman Christopher J. Brown and Assemblyman Scott Rudder: 32A North Main St., Medford, NJ 08055
609-654-1498 [email protected]/[email protected] FAX: 609-654-4518
LD 9: Sen. Christopher Connors: 620 W. Lacey Road, Forked River, NJ 08731 609-693-6700 [email protected]
FAX: 609-693-2469
Assemblywoman DiAnne Gove and Assemblyman Brian Rumpf: 620 W. Lacey Road, Forked River, NJ 08731
609-693-6700 [email protected] / [email protected] FAX: 609-693-2469
Important Dates
School Board /Budget
** Hammonton only
Tuesday April 16
Primary Elections
Tuesday, June 4
General and School
Board Elections
Tuesday, Nov. 5
If you will be out of town,
request a Vote-by Mail ballot.
As I sit here writing this piece, we are ex-
pecting snow. I can’t wait until Spring!
Unfortunately, that will bring a torrent of
political commercials once again because
all of the NJ legislature as well as the gov-
ernor’s positions are up for election.
The NJ Democrats have chosen Barbara
Buono as their candidate to run against
Governor Christie. This will be an up hill
battle for Buono since Christie enjoys a 75
percent approval rating at this time.
As popular as Christie is, we must not
forget that he is the person who made us
lose our COLAs. His pension reform also
removed retirement health benefits for
teachers and ESP staff with fewer than 20
years in the pension systems at the time the
law was enacted. He raised the amount ac-
tives have to pay for their health benefits,
essentially overriding contract negations.
Under Christie, no new jobs were
created. In fact, last year, more than one-
third of the public school superintendents
retired and more will do so in 2013 because
of the salary caps imposed on them.
In some cases, the governor has tied the
hands of school districts and municipalities
with his two percent budget cap. While this
year’s state budget includes additional fund-
ing for all school districts, some of this
money will have a minimal impact on dis-
tricts still struggling to make repairs after
Hurricane Sandy.
By law, the governor must include in his
budget a $1.67 billion pension payment. We
must be certain he makes this contribution.
I know I can count on you to read about,
listen to, and contact our legislators (listed
below) and let them know how you feel
about the loss of your COLA and how im-
portant public schools are in your communi-
ty.
Spring brings flowers, warmer temperatures,
and a prelude to the November elections
Peri Pantazes, Government Relations
District 1 gets
new assemblyman
Robert Andrzejcak has been
sworn in to the NJ Assembly
to replace Matthew Milam
who resigned. Andrzejcak
represents Corbin City, Estelle
Manor and Weymouth in At-
lantic County, all of Cape May
County, and parts of Cumber-
land County.
Linda Young
706 Blenheim Ave.
Absecon, NJ 08201
Proud member:
Atlantic County Retired Educators Association
ACREA Officers, Chairs
2012-2013
Roger Baker – President
Gene McCann– Vice President
Maryanne Martin Recording Secretary
Bob Kickish – Treasurer
Linda Young Corresponding Secretary
Karen Clark – Membership Chair
Peri Pantazes, Natalie Fisher Government Relations
Joanne Peek Newsletter, Membership
Carol Romano - Publicity
Susan Camp - Member Benefits
Patricia Beebe - Constitution
Dennis Yob - Webmaster
Jim Goldsmith - Audit, Budget
Jerry Hoenes - Parliamentarian
Pat Royal - Events
Judy Perkins - Past President
Contact us: :
Visit our website: atlanticrea.org
Happy Birthday !! Peri Pantazes, retired teacher from the
Northfield School District and NJEA
Priority School consultant, celebrated
the 109 birthday of Dr. Seuss with the
children and staff of the Hugh J. Boyd
Elementary. School. This K-6 school,
located in Bayville, is 10 miles away
from Seaside Heights and had to be re-
located to Central Regional High School
in Toms River because of the extensive
damaged it received from Hurricane
Sandy.
“The children, teachers, ESPs, par-
ents lost their homes, cars, and almost
all possessions,” said Peri, who can not
hold back tears when she talks about the
school community.
“I witnessed their grief in the fall.
The Cat in the Hat brought laughter and
joy, at least for a day.”
Join your NJEA/NJREA colleagues for an afternoon
of Phillies baseball on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
at 1:35 p.m. The Phillies will take on their National
League East rival Atlanta Braves. Children 14 and
under who attend the game will receive an NJEA/
Phillies Growth Chart.
NJEA has a block of 250 seats in the Pavilion
Deck (sections 307-308) at $24 per ticket. To order
your tickets, visit www.phillies.com/njea. Click on
the "T" icon and enter the promotion code NJEA.
We hope to see you at Citizens Bank Park on
September 8!
Catch the Phillies with NJEA
Please place your order ASAP, but no later
than July 25.
Tickets are subject to availability!
Stay informed on education
issues at NJEA.org
Log into NJEA’s website and read the latest
information on the ESP due process rights leg-
islation, proposed changes to special education
regulations, the state’s takeover of the Camden
Public Schools, and more.
While many of us have read about these
issues in our local newspaper, NJEA’s website
provides insight that we might want to share
with neighbors and friends who question us
about school issues.
Under “Retired Member,” you also will
find links to the NJ Division of Pension and
Benefits, Social Security, Medicare, and the NJ
State Health Benefits Program.
Also check out the ACREA website:
Atlanticrea.org
Shop for bargains
on NJEA.org/
Member Benefits
As an NJREA member, you may take advantage discounts on
auto insurance, travel opportunities, eye glasses, money mar-
ket and credit card options, as well as coupons on many brand
named products.
* Go to www.njea.org/memberbenefits
* Log in using your PIN (found on your membership
card) and password (the last four digits of your Social
Security number)
* Under Consumer Savings, click ACCESS Discounts
By registering at ACCESS Discounts, you can receive two
email reminders per month. Daphne Discount says, “Give it a
try!”