Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/827301
| wyoea.org 15 WEA-Retired Update Vicki Swenson WEA-Retired President It's summertime: time to Recuperate, Rejuvenate, Reacquaint ourselves with friends and family and Reactivate hobbies/interests. And, for some of you, it's also time to RETIRE! WEA-Retired extends our heartfelt congratulations to you who have reached this well-deserved time in your life! Thank you! for the important part you've played in so many young lives. WEA staffer Judy Trohkimoinen and I attended the NEA-Retired Organizing Conference in Dallas in March. Judy and I found the conference extremely interesting and fruitful. We learned much from the speakers, other NEA staff and State Retired Presidents. This conference helped facilitate NEA Retired and staff liaisons to get on the same page and work together to advance the goals of NEA. Judy and I took every opportunity to get together to discuss what we were learning and where WEA-R should be going. The valuable and enjoyable byproduct of this conference was that Judy and I got to know each other better. All in all, it was an extremely beneficial three days! We had a VERY productive WEA-R Annual Meeting in April. We made specific plans for moving forward in growing WEA-R statewide. One important aspect of this goal is to organize small groups around the state, thus developing an active and viable WEA-R. I am very pleased to tell you that we have a full contingent of enthused WEA-R board members comprised of new and returning members: Chuck Custis--Big Horn; Ed Mosher & Julie Tucker--Cheyenne, Don Mack--Guernsey; Carol Harper- -Lander, Karen Bard--Laramie; Emma Applehans--Riverton; Linda Merrell & Marge Keine- -Rock Springs. Ann Custis-- Sheridan. Our officers are Sally Mack, Secretary—Guernsey; Jack Patrick, Vice-President--Saratoga; and Vicki Swenson, President-- Gillette. You will find our contact information on the WEA-R homepage. Please contact any of us with questions and ideas on how WEA-R can become involved in your community. Using funds from the NEA Organizing Grant we received for this year, WEA-R provided a retirement seminar April 1st in Gillette for Campbell County and Crook County educators. We did a second retirement seminar in Casper on April 6th. Four presenters at each event provided valuable information on the Wyoming Retirement System, Social Security, Investments, Wills and Trusts, and Medicare. Both seminars were well attended and exceptionally well received. If you have not joined WEA- Retired Life, please consider doing so now by visiting WEA's website (www.wyoea.org). Under the Join Us tab, click on the Forms & Resources tab and scroll down to WEA Retired Life. This brochure tells you about retired life and explains the options for payment. Retired Life is a one-time payment of $300, and you have the options of paying by check, credit card, Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), or money order. EFT gives you the option to pay in 2 to 6 monthly payments. However, EFT runs from October to July of each membership year. So keep in mind that your final payment needs to be withdrawn by the first week of July of that membership year. If you have any question about this process, please contact Linda Bottom, WEA's Membership Specialist at lbottom@wyoea. org or 800-442-2395 ext. 102. Please note that if you have NEA Life Insurance, California Casualty Insurance, etc., you must have joined NEA Retired Life before September 1st in order to continue your coverage. And again, congratulations to our new-to-retirement members! Remember: though you are retiring from your position, you need not retire from our profession! Now more than ever, WEA and WEA-R need your experience and dedication to Wyoming education. Whether we are active or retired educators, we must band together to stay strong, stay active and stay the course for quality education in Wyoming. Best wishes WEA for an enjoyable, well-deserved summer break! "Alone we can do little; together we can do so much." Helen Keller SUMMER 2017