GTCREA NEWS. March 2017 GTCREA BOARD OF DIRESTORS

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1 .. GTCREA NEWS March 2017 Photo courtesy of Greg Lebrick, GTC Marketing Specialist-Creative GTCREA BOARD OF DIRESTORS 1 ST row: C. Gacek-Treasurer, E. Knudson-President, M. Meyer-Secretary and D. Dosemagen-Vice President. 2 nd row: W. Qureshi, S. Stills, J. Stills, J. Haley-Renaud, and B. Marcella. Message from the President, While the major campaigns for state and national offices took place last year there is still another very important race taking place this year and that is for the State Superintendent of Public Education. The race now is between the current Superintendent, Tony Evers and former Beloit School District Superintendent, Lowell Holtz. They have very distinct differences of philosophy, so it's imperative you familiarize yourself with each of their positions and make sure you vote in this important upcoming election on April 4, As we have seen in the last November election, your vote matters. Elections last November were won and lost by very slim margins. Make sure your voice is heard! Ed Knudson, GTCREA President 1

2 WISCONSIN RETIREMENT SYSTEM TRUST FUNDS INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE Preliminary Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) Investment Performance* Calendar year 2017 as of January 31, 2017 Core Trust Fund: 1.6% (Benchmark: 1.7%) Variable Trust Fund: 2.5% (Benchmark: 2.4%) *Preliminary returns are estimated returns, subject to final portfolio and benchmark valuation. Preliminary Value of WRS Assets under Management as of January 31, 2017 Core Trust Fund: $90.8 billion Variable Trust Fund: $7.0 billion Total: $97.8 billion It is anticipated that adjustments for the ETF funds will be announced in early March, Visit if you would like more information regarding the Core/Value Funds; the State of Wisconsin Investment Board (SWIB) Information on WRS Performance; and the SWIB s Benchmarks. Important ETF Phone Number Change ETF has discontinued the toll-free number, The telephone number is still active and maintained by a different organization, which has no association with ETF. For information about your WRS benefits, contact ETF s Member Communications Center tollfree at , 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The discontinued telephone number was a part of an interactive voice response telephone service for members to request WRS forms and benefit materials. This service was stopped due to decreased usage, as more members access resources on line. Unfortunately, the telephone number may appear on some ETF forms until they are updated or reprinted. LEGISLATION The ETF monitors state and federal legislation that may affect the Wisconsin Retirement System pension, insurance and other benefit programs. They also assist legislators, government officials and other stakeholders by providing information on ETF-administered WRS benefit programs, developing legislation and policy proposals and helping with constituent inquiries. Visit for information. In the Government Relations section, you will find: 2

3 Proposed Wisconsin legislation and laws affecting the WRS and ETF Federal issues and legislation WRS fact sheets, studies and reports National trends and research DID YOU KNOW GATEWAY TECHNICAL COLLEGE NEWS GOVERNOR WALKER RELEASED THE NEW STATE BUDGET - In a recent message on February 9, 2017 from President Bryan Albrecht, he shared the following statement on the Governor s budget: Governor Walker has delivered a bold agenda to make college more affordable. We celebrate the important aspect that education is a cornerstone of the state budget agenda. Investments in student financial aid, general state aid for technical colleges and workforce training grants all demonstrate the important role Gateway plays in building a local workforce. We recognize the need to increase student access through K12 dual credit pathways and university transfer programs. Our goal is to always put students first and deliver success through performance based outcomes. You will hear of a tuition freeze for technical colleges and a number of other proposals that impact our local budgeting. Our budget development team and the executive leadership council have been developing strategies to assure that we are able to deliver on our commitment of a high-quality experience for every student that chooses Gateway. Our effort now is to monitor the legislative debate over the proposals and position our college to be proactive in supporting the goal of making college more affordable. GTCREA MEMBERSHIP MEETING & SPECIAL PROGRAM June 7, 2017 The GTCREA Board meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 7, 2017 at the Racine County Building, Washington Ave., (Hwy. 20) in Sturtevant, WI at 9:30 a.m. The meeting agenda includes a visit from Chris Gluck, who will provide an update on new WREA benefits being offered with the Association Member Benefits Advisors (AMBA). These benefits are available for staff or retirees, who have a current WREA membership. Also, a special Medicare Workshop will be offered at 10:00 a.m. by Barbara Tiedt, Racine County, Elderly Benefit Specialist to provide the status of any changes to the Medicare benefits for anyone anticipating retiring in Please save this date on your calendar to attend the GTCREA board meeting on June 7, More details will be provided prior to the meeting. GTCREA & WREA Membership Dues New Membership Year On October 1, 2016, the new fiscal year began (October 1, 2016 September 30, 3

4 2017). This means that our membership dues for both your GTCREA and WREA dues were due by September 30, To check if your membership dues are current, or if you have previously submitted dues for multiple years, please contact Dave Dosemagen at or The Membership Form is included in this newsletter and can also be found on the GTCREA website ( The completed form with your check should be forwarded to David Dosemagen, th St., Kenosha, WI COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE GTCREA NEWS - Members are welcome to share items of interest for the GTCREA News. Please submit any items for our quarterly newsletter to Mary Meyer, Communications Committee Chairperson at marymeyer720@gmail.com or mail to 6916 McHenry Street, Burlington, WI GTCREA Website - The GTCREA website ( includes copies of the GTCREA News and a calendar of events. This calendar provides dates for both the Board of Directors and General Membership meetings and program activities. Please remember that the GTCREA Board meetings, which our open to any member, are held on the third Wednesday of each month at 10:00 a.m. in the Bioscience Center on Gateway s Kenosha Campus. (Any changes in meeting times or locations will be posted on the GTCREA website.) Mary Meyer, Newsletter & Committee Chairperson marymeyer720@gmail.com 4

5 MEMBERSHIP FORM Make GTCREA & WREA your choice, join today! Return for with your check payable to GTCREA to: th St., Kenosha, WI Renewal New Member Circle one: Miss, Ms., Mrs., Mr., Dr. Name: Address: City: State: Zip: Telephone #: The dues structure effective October 1, 2016 for the membership year follows; please check the amount enclosed. Regular Membership (Any retired teachers, administrator and school personnel.) 1 Year 3 Years GTCREA $10.00 $ WREA $50.00 $ Associate Membership (Spouses of regular members, other annuitants in the Wisconsin Retirement System, current (non-retired) teachers and friends of education.) 1 Year 3 Years GTCREA $ $ WREA $ $ Membership year runs Oct. 1 Sept. 30 GTCREA Life Membership One payment of $ enclosed. WREA Life Membership One payment of $ enclosed. TOTAL ENCLOSED $ 100% of GTCREA s total expenses are allocated to member services. Dues to membership organizations like GTCREA & the WREA are not tax-deductible. 5

6 CALENDAR OF EVENTS GTCREA Board Meetings & General Membership Meetings (Meeting schedule & locations subject to change as programs are identified.) DATE LOCATION January 18, 2017, 10:00 a.m. Board Meeting, Kenosha Campus February 15, 2017, 10:00 a.m. Board Meeting, Kenosha Campus March 15, 2017, 10:00 a.m. Board Meeting, Kenosha Campus April 19, 2017, 10:00 a.m. Board Meeting, Kenosha Campus May 17, 2017, 10:00 a.m. Board Meeting, Kenosha Campus June 7, 2017, GTCREA General Agenda includes: WREA membership benefits Membership Meeting, 9:30 a.m. through AMBA and a Medicare Workshop by Barbara Tiedt, Elderly Benefit Specialist at 10:00 a.m. Location: Racine County Bldg., Washington Ave., (Hwy. 20) Sturtevant, WI July 19, 2017 No Board Meeting will be held in July, August 16, 2017, 10:00 a.m. Board Meeting, Kenosha Campus September 20, 2017, 10:00 a.m. Board Meeting, Kenosha Campus October 18, 2017, 5:00 p.m. Board Meeting, Kenosha Campus Madrigrano Conference Room October 18, WRS Retirement Pension Fund Retirement 6:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m. Planning Meeting, Roger Byers, Former WRS Benefit Specialist November 15, :00 a.m. Board Meeting, Kenosha Campus December 20, :00 a.m. Board Meeting, Kenosha Campus 6