Chapter 15 Members Visit Legislators

Transcription

1 Members Visit Legislators Report on CSR Lobby Day April 8-9, 2014 Sacramento By Aleta Zak, fields. He understands that retirees worked hard for the pensions they receive and they deserve to keep them. Next day I arrived at the Capitol and joined the group of about 90 royal blue-clad CSR members for a visit to the California State Assembly chambers. The official CSR photographer snapped some group photos and then we were off to scheduled meetings with our Legislators. CSR members converged at the Sacramento Arden Hilton Hotel on Tuesday, April 8, for an afternoon of training prior to Lobby Day in the Capitol. After a briefing by CSR Legislative Director Ted Toppin, members tried some roleplaying excercises. I played the "Leader" of one group in a simulation. We learned to stick to a couple of main points and always stick to the primary message of preserving our pensions and health President Cynthia and John Ericson at 2014 Lobby Day insurance. My colleagues for the first After a delicious dinner, we meeting with Senator Jim Nielsen's listened to Assembly Member Rob staff included four members of Bonta, D-Alameda, who shared his Chapter 14 based in Chico, and one inspiring life story. Mr. Bonta is from Chapter 8, based in Eureka. the first Filipino American to be Past CSR President and current elected to the California State Board Member Susan Sears is very Legislature. His parents were experienced at lobbying, and I was farmworker activists who worked glad she was in my group of with Cesar Chavez fighting for constituents from the 4th Senate better working conditions in the District. We didn't make it inside

2 mentioned that CalPERS pensions contribute $30 billion to California's economy and generate 118,000 jobs statewide. Also, I said retirees contribute a great deal to their communities through volunteer work. We left the meeting confident that we could look forward to future opportunities to express the concerns of California State Retirees. Chapter 14 members invited the Senator to their picnic on June 21 in Paradise. I took a business card and sent Mr. Lewis an thanking him for his time shortly after the meeting ended. My iphone was working overtime that day. More Lobby Day Photos from 2014 the front door for our scheduled meeting, but Shawn Lewis, a Senate Fellow for Senator Nielsen, assured us that meeting in the Capitol hallway is a common practice and that he would be glad to listen to our concerns. Our next meeting was at the office of Assembly Member Dan Logue, representing the 3rd District. We met with a staff intern, Rebecca Flaig (rhymes with fly) who asked if we were interested in any current bills in the Legislature. We mentioned SB 1234, which would create a parallel defined benefit retirement fund for private sector So we each introduced ourselves workers in California. This bill and traded off on speaking about was mentioned at the training the need to protect our pensions session on Tuesday as something and health insurance. I told Mr. that would benefit all employees Lewis my CalPERS pension is very by ensuring a secure future for important to me because it had retirees outside of the CalPERS allowed me to retire early so I can care for my elderly mother. I system. The logic is that many

3 workers don't have any retirement Megan D'Angelo. beyond Social Security, and that everyone deserves to have the same Overall it was a good experience benefits as the public sector. and I am glad for the chance to participate and remind our Another subject discussed at this representatives that CSR is here meeting included increasing the to stay and that we are willing to CalPERS death benefit--currently work with them to make sure our $2,000--to an amount more future will stay secure in comparable to that of CalSTRS, retirement. I made some new which is $6,000. Susan Sears friends from Chapter 14 and have mentioned that CSR is examining tentatively planned to attend possible ways to combine health their chapter picnic. And I picked benefits with dental, vision, up a new line--a truthful one, audiology, and the death benefit from Susan Sears: "State workers in one package. are the glue that holds California together." ### CSR Members Attend 32nd Annual NAACP Prayer Breakfast By Franklin Weinstein CSR members from Chapters 2, 15 and 165 were privileged to attend the 32nd Annual NAACP Prayer Breakfast held at the Sacramento Red Lion on April 18th. member Aleta Zak at 2014 CSR Lobby Day. I snagged two business cards from Assembly Member Logue's staff, the Legislative Director Vance Jarrard and the appointment scheduler, Following the invocation by Pastor Jimmy Hurd, members were welcomed by Tyrone Netters, President of the Sacramento NAACP chapter. Ja'net Wallace-Miller led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. She then sang the National Anthem

4 and led participants in a stirring version of the Negro National Anthem. We are a broad based group and, as retirees, we share things in common. Primarily, we need to protect our pensions and health benefits. And it was clear from many of the presentations and speeches today that we have a potential ally in the Sacramento NAACP. In many cases, we share common goals. From what I understand, our participation at last year's event resulted in some new members joining CSR. It was also clear that some of our CSR participants are well known by the Sacramento NAACP chapter as other participants and dignitaries greeted CSR members at our table. CSR members at the 32nd Annual NAACP Prayer Breakfast (Maria Cardenas and Frank Weinstein represented Chapter 15). We enjoyed a dance presentation by the Praise Dance Ministry. I was especially impressed by two speakers, California Black Chamber of Commerce President, Aubry Stone, and Act-So Finalist, JayLynn Ivory. I thought Mr. Stone's remarks when he was presented with an Honoree Award were inclusive and insightful. JayLynn's singing was great, but I especially liked her poetry about what it is to be a young black woman. There were More CSR members at the NAACP Prayer Breakfast. plenty of dignitaries present, including Assembly I'm hoping CSR continues to reach out to other candidate Jim Cooper, Assemblyman, Dr. Richard groups that have an interest in helping us protect Pan and Mayor Kevin Johnson sent a our pensions and health benefits. I think we all representative. And the food was good, too. really enjoyed ourselves. I was happy CSR made an appearance at this event. ###

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