Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/68725
the commitment continues. . . So you've decided to retire this year? Congratulations! - Rich Phillips, president, DSEA- Retired T his is a big decision for most folks and I'm sure that you've taken a lot of time to think about it including your cur- rent and future financial situation, your plans for after retirement, how it will affect your family, and lots more. After you retire, you'll have lots more time with your family, to trav- el, to relax and do things when you want to do them. However, your commitment to education never seems to stop. It's in our blood. We hope that you will continue that DSEA commitment through NEA/DSEA-Retired. There's a lot that our organization offers, includ- ing the following: • Continued NEA and DSEA dis- counts that you enjoyed as an active educational employee • Continued home, car, boat and other insurance discounts • Some companies/providers require that you maintain Association membership in order to meet the eligibility requirements for their products/discounts • Continued involvement through workshops, member benefit fairs, socialization, and more. Your membership in NEA/DSEA does NOT auto- matically transfer to NEA/DSEA-Retired We have found that some mem- bers think that it does. In order to join NEA/DSEA- Retired, you must complete a regis- tration form, and one is included on this page with this article for your use. As you can see on the form, you can pay your dues annually or you can have it deducted from your pension each month. The dues for a 1-year membership is $80 ($30 NEA-Retired, $13 DSEA and $37 DSEA-Retired). Many locals have seen the value of having their retirees continue with DSEA-Retired and have given them a year's membership as their retirement gift. What a super idea! The purposes of DSEA-Retired are: www.dsea.org NEA/DSEA-Retired (a Unified Association) We are a unified Association: you must belong to NEA-R, DSEA-R and DSEA. Choose one of the following two options for your membership: ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP – PENSION DEDUCTION** (Annual membership year: September 1, 2012 through August 31, 2013) OPTION #1 NEA-Retired $30.00 + DSEA-Retired $37.00 DSEA Total + $13.00 = $80.00 Based on my selection of pension deduction payment option, I authorize the State Pension Office to deduct from my pension and pay to the association my retired association membership dues as may be determined from time to time as indicated above for the current membership year and each membership year thereafter. I understand that I may revoke this authorization as of September I of any calendar year by giving written notice to that effect to DSEA on or before August 31 of that year. ** PLEASE NOTE THAT THE PENSION DEDUCTION OPTION IS NOT VALID UNLESS YOU ARE RECEIVING A PENSION CHECK FROM THE STATE OF DELAWARE PENSION OFFICE. NOTE: Pension deduction amount will be determined by dividing the number of months remaining in the membership year. ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP – CASH PAYMENT Annual membership year: September 1, 2012 through August 31, 2013 OPTION #2 NEA-Retired $30.00 + DSEA-Retired $37.00 DSEA Total + $13.00 = $80.00 _________________________________ Member Name (Print) PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING REGARDLESS OF YOUR SELECTION! XXX-XX-__ __ __ __ Last 4 Digits of Social Security Number City, State, ZIP (Print) __________________ Date ___________________________________ __________________________________ ___________________ Street Address (Print) Phone Number _____________________________ E-Mail Address ______________________ ________________________________ District Retired From Member Signature X Please check the box next to one of the two options listed above. X Complete information above. X If choosing the annual membership option, please make check payable to DSEA, not DSEA-Retired. X Return the form to DSEA-Retired as indicated below. We will return a photocopy to you if you choose the pension deduction option. QUESTIONS? Call Debbie Weaver at 1-866-734-5834 (toll free) RETURN FORM TO: DSEA-Retired, Attn. Debbie Weaver, 136 E. Water Street, Dover, DE 19901 • To continue the commitment made when you were a DSEA mem- ber • To lobby for pension increases (Did you know that they are NOT guaranteed each year?). DSEA- Retired currently has two members serving on the State Pension Advisory Board • To lobby for benefits for pen- sioners (Did you know that health insurance benefits are NOT guaran- teed each year, but must be deliber- ately included in the state's budg- et?) DSEA-Retired has four mem- bers who attend the State Employee Benefit Committee meetings to observe the committee's actions on our benefits • To examine legislation that might be proposed involving pen- sioners; DSEA-Retired leadership team and members lobby legislators concerning issues of pension inter- est • To continue the socialization that existed prior to your retire- ment, and to increase your circle of friends • And last, but not least, to make our organization stronger than ever Please join NEA/DSEA-Retired today! DSEA Retired is the only Delaware retired state-employee organization affiliated with NEA, DSEA and NEA-Retired. We are an active group of 1,100+ retirees who are working to make retirement of Delaware state educational employ- ees better! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact DSEA- Retired President Rich Phillips at 302-834-9245 or email him at retengteach05@comcast.net. Please also check out our web page at www.dsea-r.org. May/June 2012 DSEA ACTION! 15