The SCRTA News
Stark County Retired Teachers Association, Inc.
Affiliated with O.R.T.A. & N.R.T.A
Deborah Cain - President Carole J. Eaton, Newsletter - Editor
February 2017 Vol. XXXlll No. 1.
A Message From the President
"One mark of a great educator is the ability to
lead students out to new places where even
the educator has never been."
~ Thomas Groome
Hope everyone is surviving another Ohio winter! We certainly hope that Spring is right around the corner, as we look forward to flowers and sunshine. Do wish all our members will be able to join us for the March 10th Luncheon at Tozzi's. Always great to connect with old friends and to make new friends. Stay well!
Deborah Cain, President, SCRTA
"One mark of a great educator is the ability to
lead students out to new places where even
the educator has never been."
~ Thomas Groome
Hope everyone is surviving another Ohio winter! We certainly hope that Spring is right around the corner, as we look forward to flowers and sunshine. Do wish all our members will be able to join us for the March 10th Luncheon at Tozzi's. Always great to connect with old friends and to make new friends. Stay well!
Deborah Cain, President, SCRTA
ORTA Trustees Report
Have you signed up to receive the automatic STRS eUPDATES? To sign up, visit www.strsoh.org. Click on the black box that says SUBSCRIBE, and tell them you want to receive the eUPDATES. You will receive information following each Board meeting and any additional information needs to be disseminated.
The MetLife Auto and Home Insurance benefit will be ending, effective December 31, 1916. Anyone who currently has a policy can keep it as long as they pay the premiums. Negotiations are in process with another auto and home insurance provider to offer discounts for ORTA members. It is expected to be in place before
the end of the year, if not sooner.
AMBA (Association Member Benefits Advisors) has added three new benefits: Nationwide Pet Insurance, Orlando Employee Discounts, and Cruise and Vacation Benefits (a division of Tour Aid Travel). For more information, go to https://www.myambabenefits.info.
Lewistine C. Holloway, ORTA Trustee
Have you signed up to receive the automatic STRS eUPDATES? To sign up, visit www.strsoh.org. Click on the black box that says SUBSCRIBE, and tell them you want to receive the eUPDATES. You will receive information following each Board meeting and any additional information needs to be disseminated.
The MetLife Auto and Home Insurance benefit will be ending, effective December 31, 1916. Anyone who currently has a policy can keep it as long as they pay the premiums. Negotiations are in process with another auto and home insurance provider to offer discounts for ORTA members. It is expected to be in place before
the end of the year, if not sooner.
AMBA (Association Member Benefits Advisors) has added three new benefits: Nationwide Pet Insurance, Orlando Employee Discounts, and Cruise and Vacation Benefits (a division of Tour Aid Travel). For more information, go to https://www.myambabenefits.info.
Lewistine C. Holloway, ORTA Trustee
Legislative Report
POP5: You recently received a mailing from an organization named Protect Our Pensions (POP5) asking you to consider paying a membership fee to join that group. It is important to know that in shared communications, both ORTA and OEA jointly believe there is nothing POP5 is seeking to accomplish that is not already being done for you by them and other allies. There is an established coalition of organizations that shares the goal of improving the funding status of all the pension systems and preserving retiree healthcare benefits. ORTA and OEA, along with other organizations, are actively engaged in the current discussions taking place at STRS regarding the above-mentioned proposed changes. POP 5 is not a member of the HPA (Health and Pension Advocates) and to date has not asked to become part of it. You already have organizations constantly monitoring and advocating for STRS and the other public pension systems on your behalf. It is important to have this information when making your decision whether to join the new group.
STRS: While no action is taking place in the legislature, our immediate focus needs to be on STRS. I attended the annual two-day STRS Board Planning Meeting on January 26-27. At this time, NO DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE, but changes are coming for both the pension fund and healthcare. Votes on each are currently scheduled for the March meeting. Changes will impact both contributing members (actives) and retirees. Discussion continues following a timeline for action established last summer. Of concern to retirees is what might happen with the COLA.
Mark Your Calendars for May 12! STRS Executive Director Mike Nehf is scheduled to present the program for the May 12 SCRTA meeting. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to hear from him firsthand what the changes are and why they were necessary.
STRS Board Elections: This is the year when both retiree seats on the STRS Board are to be elected. Incumbent Robert Stein has opted to run for re-election but Jim McGreevy has opted not to. Rita Walters is seeking one of the two seats. Rita is committed to serving STRS members. She has attended every STRS Board meeting the past 31⁄2 years. The filing deadline is 2/24. If there are only two legitimately filed candidates, they will be declared elected by acclamation and no election will be held. Otherwise the election will occur during the month of April. I will let you know at the March meeting.
State Budget: In Ohio, this is when the two-year budget is prepared by the Legislature. They are awaiting the Governor’s proposal so they can begin their work. Once again, State Senator Scott Oelslager has been named Senate Finance Chair, a powerful position which carries tremendous responsibility. This is a time of waiting to learn what bills will be introduced at both the State and Federal levels and how they will impact retirees.
Carol Kinsey, Legislative Chair
Welfare Committee:
The Welfare Committee would appreciate help in identifying members who are celebrating special occasions, are receiving special recognition or honors, or the loss of a member. Doris Regas and Jeanette Richards are co-chairs of this committee. They are asking for your help being notified of these members or their families. These ladies may be reached at the following cell phone numbers: Doris Regas @ 330-704-1012 and/or Jeanette Richards @ 330-806-1406. They wish to thank you in advance for your help!
FYI: There is a new scam in our area. Residents are being called and told there is a warrant for their arrest. They are told they must immediately send money to avoid incarceration. Take the information given and contact law enforcement close to you, but do NOT send money!!!
Publications Committee:
In order to help defray the cost of returned newsletters from members who have moved or who are temporarily away, we are asking each member to determine their preference for receiving information that is currently available quarterly in the newsletter and always on the website. Please download the following file and mail to Linda Ashby.
| scrta_newsletter_options.pdf |
Peg Dunn, 330-232-0837 Sharon Duffie
Community Services:
“I’ve seen and met angels wearing the disguise of ordinary people living ordinary lives.” ~ Tracy Chapman.
Our angels were busy once again in 2016. First, the Cookie Caper was a success due to the following volunteer angels who packaged, wrapped and delivered 95 cookie containers, lotions and word books to 25 area senior care facilities: Shirley Harper, Pat and Mike Mashchak, Marion Mazzarella, Linda Ashby, Karen Schaaf, Emory Hall, Sharon and Paul Hobe, Linda Peterson, Kathy Costin, Joyce Haidet, Donna Baer, Debora Smith, Carol Rhodes, Lewistine Holloway, Lori Myer, Kathy Green, Marguerite Engelhardt and Mary Stewart. Thank you so much for volunteering to help make others’ lives a little happier.
Also, thank you to Donna Baer, Joyce Haidet and Debbie Smith who addressed and signed 95 Christmas cards and envelopes for the treats delivered. A BIG Thank You to members who baked and brought in all the beautiful cookies. The containers were really full and colorful! If I missed anyone, sorry and thank you! Let me know and I’ll include your names in a future newsletter.
The following member angels also reported a total of 5,251.3 hours of volunteer work in 2016: Linda Ashby, Donna Baer, Barbara Bartchy, Julia Besenyodi, Carole Eaton, Joyce Guilliam, Paul Hobe, Doris Karras, Julie Martin, Lori Myer Miday, Yvonne Miesel, Blanche Moore, Mary Myers, Arlene Nussbaum, Carol Rhodes, Irene Rodriguez, Rick Rodriguez, Karen Schaaf, Mary Stewart, Dana Vargo and Nancy Whitaker. Thank you for your service. Our volunteer hours translate into $119,903.90 worth of economic impact to Stark County according to the Points of Light Volunteer Calculator! Amazing!
Finally, at the December luncheon meeting our membership contributed $123 to be sent to Calvary Mission School and P.A.L. (Preparation for Adult Living). Also, 40 paper and food items were delivered to the Salvation Army, and 31 Pairs of eyeglasses were donated to the Lions Club. Thank you for your generosity.
Volunteer Hours:Remember to keep track of your volunteer hours for 2017.
Mary Stewart, Community Service Chair
“I’ve seen and met angels wearing the disguise of ordinary people living ordinary lives.” ~ Tracy Chapman.
Our angels were busy once again in 2016. First, the Cookie Caper was a success due to the following volunteer angels who packaged, wrapped and delivered 95 cookie containers, lotions and word books to 25 area senior care facilities: Shirley Harper, Pat and Mike Mashchak, Marion Mazzarella, Linda Ashby, Karen Schaaf, Emory Hall, Sharon and Paul Hobe, Linda Peterson, Kathy Costin, Joyce Haidet, Donna Baer, Debora Smith, Carol Rhodes, Lewistine Holloway, Lori Myer, Kathy Green, Marguerite Engelhardt and Mary Stewart. Thank you so much for volunteering to help make others’ lives a little happier.
Also, thank you to Donna Baer, Joyce Haidet and Debbie Smith who addressed and signed 95 Christmas cards and envelopes for the treats delivered. A BIG Thank You to members who baked and brought in all the beautiful cookies. The containers were really full and colorful! If I missed anyone, sorry and thank you! Let me know and I’ll include your names in a future newsletter.
The following member angels also reported a total of 5,251.3 hours of volunteer work in 2016: Linda Ashby, Donna Baer, Barbara Bartchy, Julia Besenyodi, Carole Eaton, Joyce Guilliam, Paul Hobe, Doris Karras, Julie Martin, Lori Myer Miday, Yvonne Miesel, Blanche Moore, Mary Myers, Arlene Nussbaum, Carol Rhodes, Irene Rodriguez, Rick Rodriguez, Karen Schaaf, Mary Stewart, Dana Vargo and Nancy Whitaker. Thank you for your service. Our volunteer hours translate into $119,903.90 worth of economic impact to Stark County according to the Points of Light Volunteer Calculator! Amazing!
Finally, at the December luncheon meeting our membership contributed $123 to be sent to Calvary Mission School and P.A.L. (Preparation for Adult Living). Also, 40 paper and food items were delivered to the Salvation Army, and 31 Pairs of eyeglasses were donated to the Lions Club. Thank you for your generosity.
Volunteer Hours:Remember to keep track of your volunteer hours for 2017.
Mary Stewart, Community Service Chair
Management Board Meeting:
The Board will meet on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 at the Stark County Educational Service Center, 2100 - 38th Street NW, Canton, Ohio.
Social Time is 9:00 a.m., meeting begins promptly at 9:30 a.m.
Membership Report:
1. If you know of any retirees who now have more time and might be interested in joining SCRTA/ORTA, please forward their names and addresses to the membership committee. Information will be sent to them.
2. We would like to encourage everyone to go ahead and pay their dues for 2017 as early as possible to save the cost and time of sending out reminders. Your dues are vital to keep this organization viable. If you haven't paid your dues yet, please do that soon. SCRTA/ORTA dues help keep us informed about legislation affecting our STRS pensions and health care.
2. We would like to encourage everyone to go ahead and pay their dues for 2017 as early as possible to save the cost and time of sending out reminders. Your dues are vital to keep this organization viable. If you haven't paid your dues yet, please do that soon. SCRTA/ORTA dues help keep us informed about legislation affecting our STRS pensions and health care.
Membership Report Co-Chairs: Paul & Sharon Hobe (330-875-9398)
Let's continue our Patron Donations. Your generosity has helped keep our finances on an even keel. Perhaps you might consider donating once each year.
Barbara Bartchy,Director
Barbara Bartchy,Director
Stark County Retired Teachers Association* Canton, Ohio * USA
Copyright ©2017. www.SCRTA.net. All rights reserved.
This website is maintained by the Website Committee.
[email protected]
Copyright ©2017. www.SCRTA.net. All rights reserved.
This website is maintained by the Website Committee.
[email protected]
