RiversideDivision 21, Area 9Volume 67, Number 26

News & HighlightsNewsletter of the California Retired Teachers Association

July 2021

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CONTACTS

President’s Letter ~ July 2021

Dear Members and Friends, this year more than ever, we would like to thank you for your support of Riverside Division 21 CalRTA. A year like no other, challenged us. With the help of Teri Hooper,your board members were able to meet by ZOOM 11 times from September 2020 thru June 2021. We especially want to thank Connie Jameson who presented her experiences with writing and publishing a book at the May 11, 2021 Zoom Meeting. Her book:Dating and Mating: Wit and Wisdom on Love and Marriage is available for purchase. We published our 70 Years Newsletter in December 2020 aswell as 3 newsletters in 2021. Teri has put together a sample of the thank you notes written by the

teachers who received teacher grants from CalRTA Division 21 through Donors Choose. We are in the process of securing dates for Board meetings and luncheons at Goeske Center for 2021-2122. We may be able to have in person Board meetings and lunches. Members have made suggestions of going out to breakfast together, visiting a museum or a garden in the fall. Please contact me if you would like to help make contact with all members this summer. Become a member at large doing something you like. This is the last newsletter until Fall. Get rested and have a good summer. President. ~ Carole ZuloagaLet us continue the traditions and make new ones.

President News Editor

Carole Zuloagacarolezuloaga@yahoo.com

(951) 966-25352970 Cheyenne RoadRiverside, CA 92506

CalRTAwww.calrta.org(916) 923-22001750 Howe Ave.

Suite 630 Sacramento, CA 95825

CalRTA Division 21 h�p://div21.calrta.orgcalrta21@gmail.com

h�ps://www.facebook.com/groups/542284809561602

CalSTRS www.calstrs.com

(800) 228-5453 P. O. Box 15275Sacramento, CA 95851

Legislative UpdateSummary of State Budget

June 14 the State Legislature passed a preliminary budget subject to change through negotiation with the Governor. CalRTA Legislative Advocate Jennifer Baker provides a summary 3-page overview focused on education and health

care: http://ow.ly/g9vl50FaVKU

KEEP THE HEAT ON! SUMMER ADVOCACYSummer 2021 has arrived and many of us are excited about returning to some normalcy. Visits with families, friends, vacations and in-person meetings are becoming a reality. Please remember that although we may be able to travel, advocacy does not take a vacation, and we are in a critical time with state and federal legislative issues. This summer we are asking our members to stay active and advocate by staying engaged with your elected officials in a variety of ways: sign up to attend your elected official’s Town Hall; schedule a virtual or in-person meeting; send postcards to President Biden and Vice-President Harris; sign the National Repeal Bill on our website; and act on the weekly Legislative Alerts. The Government Relations Committee has made it easy to advocate virtually from anywhere by acting on our weekly Legislative Alerts. The alerts specifically focus on elected officials at the state and federal level. 1. Take Action Tuesdays are dedicated to increase the number of California Representatives on H.R 82. The elected officials listed have not yet cosponsored H.R. 82.2. Wake Up Wednesdays are used for needed state issues.3. Tell A Representative Thursdays focus on contacting members of the Bi-partisan Women’s Caucus requesting they help move repeal of the WEP & GPO. The names are rotated among the women who have not yet co-sponsored H.R. 82.The most effective ways of letting elected officials know our organization’s views is through regular email communication, phone calls and a virtual or in person meeting. The information and education you can provide may be critical to the decisions they make on repealing these unfair penalties. Let’s KEEP THE HEAT ON and advocate from anywhere we may be this summer. Thank you for you continued commitment for our retirement security.

Susan Dixon President-Elect State Government Relations Committee Chair

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when they walked in and saw their new supplies. The excitement they displayed

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ed

a challenge to

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Communications and Technology ~ Sue Breyer State CTC Chair

A CHANGING OF THE GUARD: After seven years as your CalRTA state CTC Chair, Jim Sterling passed me the baton at the end of his tenure in May and will take on the role of the “truly retired” after a long stretch in this position. My name is Sue Breyer (Div.33/ Area IX), and I am assuming Jim’s role as your new State CTC Chair. Some of you already know me, and others might have heard of me or seen me in the many recorded webinars.

FACEBOOK Did you know that 30% of our CalRTA Divisions have a Facebook page or group (or both)? And some Divisions have really “upped their game” in sharing the good news of CalRTA with the social media masses. The state CalRTA Facebook pagehttps://www.facebook.com/CTCORIENTATION/TRAINING

All recordings, slides and handouts can be accessed here: https://calrta.org/2021annualconvention/

BUDGET

CalRTA Treasurer’s ReportJune 8, 2021

ALTURA: Balance as of 5/31/2021Checking $15,996.46 Savings $3,002.22 Expenses $ 1.00 Monthly Fee

CREDITS: Dues $798.72

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: Balance $263,037.94Scholarship $8,569.94

UBS: Balance $453,339.09Available $90,485Barb Ryon,Treasurer

Special Thanks to Contributers

Teri Hooper, Barb Ryon, Connie Jameson, Sue Breyer,Dave Deville, Susan Dixon,

Joyce and Bob Rittman, Michelle Stoops,Carole Zuloaga

Survivor Benefits Information Reporting a DeathCalifornia State Teachers Retirement System P.O. Box 15275 Sacramento, CA 95851-0275 phone 1- 800-228-5453 or 1-916-414-1099 www.calstrs.com

Contact CalSTRS as soon as possible to notify us of the death of a member. CalSTRS will need the following information: Deceased person's name and Social Security number or CalSTRS Client ID, Date of death. The name, address and telephone number of a contact person.

Survivor Benefit Application ProcessingA caseworker will contact the benefit recipient to complete the application for survivor benefits by letter. The contact information of the caseworker will also be provided. A copy of the death certificate must be sent to CalSTRS. Additional information or documentation may be requested.

Payment of BenefitsCalSTRS generally pays survivor benefits to beneficiaries or your estate within 45 days of receiving all of the requested information. Payment may be delayed if documentation, such as the following, is missing or not received in a timely manner:

• Declaration of domestic partnership• Death certificate• Marriage certificate• Recipient Designation form with names and address(es) of your recipient(s)Any payments issued after your death are due back to CalSTRS and will be deducted from benefits paid to your beneficiaries if not returned. If you have no surviving spouse or partner, eligible dependent children or dependent parents, any remaining Defined Benefit and Defined Benefit Supplement contributions and in interest in your account will be paid to your one-time death benefit recipient. If you did not name a recipient, CalSTRS will make payment to your estate. The survivor's death benefit now is $6.372.00

***It would be a good idea to make a copy of this information and place it in your will or trust so that your beneficiary/beneficiaries will know how to access your information and benefit***

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CALRTA VIRTUAL CONVENTION:

CalRTA’s first ever virtual Convention & Delegate Assembly proved to be a tremendous success, with over 500 registered and at least 300 in attendance over May 12-14. Technology may have been an initial challenge for attendees, but by the 3rd day, CalRTA members were veterans in navigating the virtual convention venue, moving from one event to another, accessing handouts and other materials, voting in a virtual setting, and they did it all from the comfort of their living rooms (maybe even in their jammies and slippers). Based on feedback, 90% of respondents were Satisfied or Very Satisfied with the virtual convention overall; and over 90% found registration and navigation of the site to be easy. Clearly we have come a LONG way with our technology skills in the past 14 months! All recordings, slides and handouts can be accessed here: https://calrta.org/2021annualconvention/

VIDEO TUTORIALS

As CalRTA Divisions transition from using the CalRTA Virtual Scheduling resource to setting up their own Zoom accounts and conducting membership and Board meetings, don’t forget that there are easy-to-access video tutorials available on the CalRTA YouTube site. Just go to https://www.youtube.com/user/CalRTA/videosor click on the YouTube icon at the top right corner of the CalRTA home page or your Division’s webpage. Then click “Videos” and scroll through the many selections. Help is just a click away! Have you ever tried the “Snipping Tool” on your PC or Screenshot on your Mac to copy and paste an image you’ve found.? CLICK HERE for the snipping tool and CLICK HERE for Mac screenshots!

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Government Relations Committee- Joyce and Bob Rittman

The GRC meeting on May 26 included a presentation by STRS. The speakers stated that STRS has consistently exceeded their goal of 7% return on their investments - their strategy is to diversify their portfolio and to invest for the long term. Their portfolio increased from $158.2 billion in 2011 to $299.8 billion in April of 2021. The speakers said that STRS is aware of the calls for divestment that seem like good ideas (to the uninformed). However, divestment is extremely complex, and STRS prefers to engage offending entities. Divestment not only denies STRS a chance to remedy a perceived problem in concert with other large investors who are also working for change, but divestment increases STRS risk by decreasing diversification, and leaves a large gap that might be filled by large state run agencies that do not share STRS values. A video recording of the presentation will soon be available on the CalRTA website. You will find it well- worth watching. Other GRC business - Advocacy Day is March 23, 2022 in Sacramento. CalSTRS death benefit has no timeline for claiming the benefit, contrary to misinformation currently floating around. CA SB 457 has passed the Senate and has been sent to the CA Assembly. This bill is extremely dangerous to CalSTRS, threatening our retiree benefits, and must be stopped in the Assembly. Please respond to the Legislative Alerts to stop the Assembly Committee from granting a hearing to SB 457. The Committee chair has told CalRTA that phone calls on this are extremely effective and important. The CalSTRS SBMA is the fund that gives quarterly payments to retirees whose initial retirement amount has fallen below 85% purchasing power. The fund currently has funds in excess of that needed to make the payments to retirees for the next 85 years. CalSTRS is recommending the CA legislature disburse the excess funds through a one-time increase to those who retired before 1999, with larger amounts going to those who retired the earliest

The CalRTA Board of directors voted at their recent meeting to support the CalSTRS action. That was the recommendation the GRC made to the CalRTA Board.

Enjoy your summer, but do keep up your advocacy!

Joyce and Bob

Membership

CalRTA Membership Leaders Emphasize Membership Drive Statewide

As new membership numbers continue to fail to match or exceed membership loss the emphasis in strengthening the effectiveness of the Membership Recruitment and Retention Committee, also known by its initials MRRC, must intensify and expand its influence throughout the organization. AREA IX is seeking members interested in learning more about recruitment practices, politics and promotion are asked to contact your Area Chair to discuss the possibilities. Its time to increase the number of individuals active in MRRC at the grass roots level and beyond. If you are interested in exploring new experiences in CalRTA’s MRRC contact Michelle Stoops at CalRTADivision62@gmail.com or call 760-865-0878.

Dues Deduction

On June 8, 2021, the Riverside CalRTA Board approved a trial Dues Deduction Policy to encourage membership renewal. The policy will be in effect from August 1, 2021 through August 1, 2022. When a Cash member renews with Dues Deduction during the period of the year, once it is confirmed by Johanna, our treasurer Barb Ryon will send a reimbursement check to the member for the full amount of $66.

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Thank you for Renewing your Membership

Welcome- New Members

Monica Blanchette, Shirley Cooke, Arlan Gaynor, Dean Howard, John Irving, Michelle Johnson, Marjorie Kertz, Catherine McCarty, Anne Reyes, Anne Stalder, Elizabeth Stralka, David Torbert, Richard Zelner, David Deville, Virginia Price,

Patricia Brown, Melvin Burns, Armando Hernandez, Linda Laudermilk, Vera Miller, Marilyn Sequoia, Martha Smith, Paul Bleier, Kathleen Kaplan, Cynthia Smith

Thinking of You Melva CookeTeri Hooper

April 2021 - Ann Fedorchak, Dondra Thomas, Jesus Caballero,Maria Bleemers, Thomas Allen, Vita Chimienti,

John Corona, Robert Larson, David Deville May 2021 - Paul Bleier, Kathleen Kaplan, Cynthia Smith,

David Kertz, Marcella Mathe, Debra Anton, Janet Alexander

Cheer and Cour�esyLaurene Pot�ardowski-Call Laurene at- (951) 780-9215

Family and Friends will miss you.

Beverly Stockwell - Joined CalRTA June 1, 1994 Rose Marion Tillman - Joined CalRTA March 18, 2010

Meet Dave Deville

Dave Deville retired from Alvord U.S.D. after 20 years combined Maintenance & Operations and Teaching (mostly 4th grade). Most of his teaching was at Collett Elementary in La Sierra, Ca. Before Alvord he spent years in Construction industry (tract homes) throughout So. Cal in the 70s and 80s and enjoyed Maintenance & Operations Construction at Loma Linda University. Dave served with the California Conservation Corps on a fire crew and did some "Voice Talent" work in radio.In retirement he volunteers with "Youth Support and Education " groups such as Big Brothers, Boys to Men, and docent work with a local Nature Center. Dave DeVille went to Colton High School 1978. San Bernardino Valley College 1980 (A.A. Lib Arts).University of Redlands 1995 (B.S. Buss.& Mgt.) Chapman University 1997 (Credential) 2003 (M.S. Curr. and Development).

There are two things to aim at in life: first, to get what you want;and after that to enjoy it. Only the wisest of people achieve the second. - Logan Pearsall Smith

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PERMIT NO. 821RIVERSIDE, CA

California Retired Teachers AssociationRiverside Division 212970 Cheyenne RoadRiverside, CA 92506

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RiversideDivision 21, Area 9Volume 64, Number 23

VolunteerOpportunity

I authorize CalSTRS to deduct my Association dues and the deduction to continue unlessI notify the CalRTA business office in writing.

https://calrta.org/join-us/

Lindsey Hammel (she/her) Manager of School and Volunteer Docent Programs

UCR ARTS3824 Main StreetRiverside, CA 92501 lindsey.hammel@ucr.edu 205.356.1784 (cell)

UCR ARTS: California Museum of Photography

virtualucrarts.ucr.edu@ucrarts #ucrartsdowntown