California Retired Teachers Week Activity Ideas

Transcription

1 California Retired Teachers Week Activity Ideas Submit a Letter to the Editor or press release to your local paper Distribute the "What to Expect When You Retire" brochure to teachers at schools in your Division's community (request copies from the CalRTA Business Office) Obtain a local resolution and share copies with schools in your area As a group adopt a school (or several schools) or a park Present an oversized check for the value of your volunteer hours to your local City Council (Your local Kinko s, Staples, etc. can help with producing the check.) Plant a tree at your local library or school Dedicate a special community service project that week Look for a local radio tie-in... listeners could call in with stories of their favorite teachers If a local member taught someone famous, pitch a human-interest piece (be careful all memories are good ones that would not cause embarrassment) Pitch a feature story to a local paper on what schools used to be like in the good old days ; or if someone taught at a local school when it first opened, etc. Host a tea or barbecue for current and retired teachers Donate books to local libraries, hospitals, etc. with a sticker inside saying Donated by... Deliver cookies, etc. to local teachers with a note... something like Proudly sharing the legacy of an educated California. Distribute the CalRTA bookmarks. NOTE the bookmarks are available from the CalRTA Business office and have space to add your division s contact information. Place information on a marquee sign in your community (e.g. at schools, along roads, anywhere there is an electronic marquee sign) Hang a banner in your community (e.g. across a main street, along a fence on a well-traveled street, etc.) 1

2 Press Release November 1, 2017 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Debbie Pate-Newberry, cell ; Whether it s billions in paid tax revenues or millions in donated time Retired Teachers Never Stop Caring for California and Its Future The figures are staggering $10.9 billion in federal, state and local tax revenues; $55 million in donated time. After years, sometimes decades, in the classroom giving back to their students, California s retired teachers continue to give back to California through their pocketbooks and their passion for volunteerism. The California Retired Teachers Association today announced that its members had tallied nearly 2 million hours of volunteer service in the past year, valued at more than $55 million. In addition to their donated time, retired teachers are part of the swell of economic benefits California receives from public pensioners as they spend their pension benefit checks. According to the latest report from the National Institute on Retirement Security, Pensionomics 2014, California saw $60.3 billion in total economic benefit in 2012 from pension benefits paid out by state and local pension plans. Because retirees spend their benefit checks in their local community, their spending ripples through the economy as one person s spending becomes another person s income. In California, expenditures stemming from state and local pensions supported: 376,572 jobs that paid $20.8 billion in wages and salaries; $60.3 billion in total economic output; and $10.9 billion in federal, state and local tax revenues. Each dollar paid out in pension benefits supported $1.65 in total economic activity in California. 2

3 California Retired Teachers Week/page 2 CalRTA s 43,000 members are part of that pool of retirees whose pension checks help stimulate California s economy. Members of CalRTA also donated more than $725,000 in grants, scholarships and donations to schools and current and future teachers last year. Each year CalRTA highlights retired teachers contributions by celebrating Retired Teachers Week. This year s event November 5-11 marks the 19th year the celebration has been held. Public pensions, and the workers who receive them, have been the focus of negative attention the past few years. But there are two sides to every story. Retired teachers will continue to give back both economically and through our volunteer service, noted Irene Wetzel, president of the 88-year-old Association. Teachers never stop caring, even when we're retired. CalRTA s annual tally of volunteer hours, reported by just 12 percent of its members, shows that members donated 1,933,167 hours valued at $55,017,939. ### The California Retired Teachers Association is the state s foremost organization dedicated to the concerns of retired educators. CalRTA began in 1929 as the country entered the Great Depression. A small group of teachers banded together to fight for better pensions for colleagues who were living in poverty after a lifetime of teaching. Laura E. Settle, CalRTA s founder and president until 1945, drove the dusty highways of the state to help organize teachers in a common cause. Today, CalRTA is the state s leading organization of retired educators. Learn more online at or on Facebook. 3

4 CalRTA Retired Teachers Week 2017 Sample Letter to the Editor #1 Dear Editor, Whether it s billions in paid tax revenues or millions in donated time Retired Teachers Never Stop Caring for California and Its Future The week of November 5-11, 2017, is California s 19th annual Retired Teachers Week. As a member of the California Retired Teachers Association, I urge everyone to find a way to give back to our community. Statewide, CalRTA members logged nearly 2 million hours of service to their communities. That s worth more than $55 million in services! Anywhere you go in <insert city or community name> you are likely to find retired teacher volunteers. They tutor in the local schools, distribute food to those in need, drive seniors to appointments, and work at hospitals. Since 1998, the California Retired Teachers Association has sponsored Retired Teachers Week as a way to not only spotlight our members extensive volunteerism but to encourage others to do the same. We cared about our students and our communities while we worked as educators, and that caring doesn t stop at retirement! Join our call to give back. You ll find the effort is well worth your time. Sincerely, <local signatory> Indicate CalRTA title 4

5 CalRTA Retired Teachers Week 2017 Sample Letter to the Editor #2 Dear Editor, Retired Teachers Spur Economic Benefits While Also Donating Time What do retired teachers mean to <insert city or community name>? A lot! After years, sometimes decades, in the classroom giving back to their students, retired teachers continue to give back to local communities through their pocketbook and their passion for volunteerism. The week of November 5-11, 2017, is California s 19th annual Retired Teachers Week. According to figures from the California Retired Teachers Association, retired teachers statewide donated nearly 2 million hours of volunteer service in the past year, valued at more than $55 million. In addition to their donated time, retired teachers are part of the swell of economic benefits California receives from public pensioners as they spend their pension benefit checks. In California, expenditures stemming from state and local pensions supported 376,572 jobs and $10.9 billion in federal, state and local tax revenues. In fact, each dollar paid out in pension benefits supported $1.65 in total economic activity in California! Retired teachers will continue to give back both economically and through our volunteer service. We cared about our students and our communities while we worked as educators, and that caring doesn t stop at retirement. Sincerely, <local signatory> Indicate CalRTA title 5

6 CalRTA Retired Teachers Week 2017 Sample Letter to the Editor #3 Dear Editor, If you can read this letter, maybe you should thank a teacher. The week of November 5-11, 2017, is California Retired Teachers Week, and we all owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to those teachers who not only taught us but shaped us in our youth. Even after leaving their classroom, teachers continue to have a positive impact on their communities. Here in <insert locale>, retired teachers have tallied <insert hours> of volunteer activities ranging from <provide a few examples>. That s worth <insert dollar amount> to the community! So in addition to thanking your former teacher why not also volunteer your time to your community. Working together we can all make a difference! <local signatory> Indicate CalRTA title 6

7 CalRTA Sample Resolution California Retired Teachers Week Resolution Whereas, the California Retired Teachers Association was formed by Laura E. Settle in 1929 at the start of the Great Depression with the goal of relieving the economic hardships suffered by retired teachers and has since become a leading advocate for providing teachers with sufficient retirement income; and Whereas, California Retired Teachers Association also provides continuing support to active and future teachers, including grants, scholarships and donations of more than $725,000 a year; and Whereas, a vast majority of California s retired teachers share a commitment to improve their communities through volunteer activities; and Whereas, retired teachers led by example, including dozens of members who have given more than 4,000 hours of services; and Whereas, statewide retired teachers can be found serving their communities in a host of activities; and Whereas, here in <insert local area and pertinent volunteer activities and dollar amounts>, and Whereas, the annual dollar value of this volunteer time donated throughout the state by retired teachers reached more than $55 million during the most recent reporting period; Now, therefore, be it resolved that, in recognition of the vital role retired teachers fulfill in every community in California, and to honor their ongoing commitment to all teachers, we therefore declare the week of November 5-11, 2017, be proclaimed: California Retired Teachers Week ### 7