CCASR Centre County Association of School Retirees Newsletter A Chapter of the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees (PASR) March 2015 CCASR Spring General Membership Meeting Wednesday, April 15, 2015 11:30 AM social, meal at noon New Hope Lutheran Church 119 Cobblestone Drive, Spring Mills, PA 16875 President s Report Bob Watson I encourage you to join us at our Spring General Meeting on April 15. Hopefully we will be blessed with a warm spring day. Our speaker will be John Boogert, Executive Editor of the Centre Daily Times. This will be an opportunity for him to share his vision for the paper and for you to ask questions. If you are able, consider contributing to the CCASR Scholarship Fund and to the SSMHF funds. Just check the appropriate spaces on the Spring Luncheon Reservation form. DUES and MEMBERSHIP CCASR and PASR memberships run from July 1 to June 30. We are in the process of altering our dues collection process so annual members are not confused by paying twice. Therefore there is no line on the registration form for the spring banquet. Those who still owe dues for 2014-2015 will be receiving a separate letter with this mailing. Dues for 2015-2016 can be paid when you receive the fall newsletter in August. If you have any questions concerning membership please contact Ruth Ann Myers, assistant treasurer, or Ruth Rishel, membership chair. Community Service Patti Michaels BOOK COLLECTION: To help children boost reading enjoyment and maintain their literacy skills over the summer, we will collect new books for children in grades K through 4. Please bring the books to our spring luncheon for us to donate to Mid State Literacy Council, who will distribute the books. OPERATION: MILITARY KIDS: We are continuing to collect Labels for Education to help OMK provide program supplies for children of military families. The labels being collected are: Post, Campbell s, Pepperidge Farm, Glad, Emerald, Bic, Dannon, People, and Pop-Secret. You can bring the UPC labels to our events or mail them to: OMK State Office, 115 Agricultural Sciences and Industries Program, University Park, PA 16802. Once again, we provided support to OMK by giving them a gift card to purchase items for their annual fall family camp in the Seven Mountains. Winter Warmth: Thanks to your generous donations, we gave 116 items to children served by Centre County Children and Youth Services for holiday distribution. Thank you so much for always supporting all of our community service endeavors! Our careers were dedicated to helping others, and the volunteer efforts of CCASR continue that tradition and are greatly appreciated by all. Education Support Lew Rodrick In October, the committee sent information to the Bald Eagle Area School District Superintendent about the minigrant program, the Loretta Woodson Awards, and the annual scholarship awards. In January, 2015, we sent a follow-up letter requesting the name of the scholarship recipient.
Via a telephone conversation with Jeffrey Miles, Superintendent, we were informed that the names of the Woodson Award recipients will be sent to us later in March, as we had requested. At this time, there have been no applicants for the mini-grant and Mr. Miles said he would encourage applications. As a reminder, the committee continues to encourage CCASR members to contribute to our scholarship endowment fund and to consider establishing a bequest in your estate planning for either the scholarship funding or any special program that might be close to your heart. During the past several years, we have received more than $14,000 from bequests and greatly appreciate those gifts. Lastly, please consider volunteering to serve on the Educational Support Committee. We need additional members, especially recent retirees, as we are aging quickly. Legislation Vacant The proposal to remove future retirees from your PSERS retirement system (a defined benefit plan) and place them in 401-K type defined contribution plan will not help reduce the unfunded liability problem that exists. Alaska, Michigan, and West Virginia faced increased costs after switching from a defined benefit pension plan to individual defined contribution accounts. The claim that this switch will not affect you is false. If new hires stop contributing to PSERS, the fund will eventually go broke. The first thing to go would be the $100 per month that is available for helping pay for HOPS. Please write, email, or call your legislator and urge them to support conducting public hearings on any proposal dealing with the state retirement systems and not to support a switch to a defined contribution system. Also, if able consider contributing to the PASR L-PEC fund. Member Benefits & Services Mary Noll By using the strength of its large membership, PASR has negotiated attractive group rates on a number of products and services. PASR members can read about these benefits in the February 2015 of the PASR newsletter on pages 4 and 5. Information concerning auto, home, and liability insurance; banking and financial planning; Apple and Dell computer purchases; dental insurance; an emergency response system provider; final expense life insurance; guaranteed universal life insurance; hearing aid services; legal assistance; long-term care insurance; pet insurance; travel services; vision insurance; and wholesale club discounts. Utilizing these discounts can more than pay for membership in PASR. More info is available on the PASR web site www.pasr.org. When purchasing products or services be sure to ask if a senior citizen discount is available. You have earned that right many times over. Membership Ruth Rishel Our chapter is participating in the 2015 All Aboard campaign to recruit new and returning members for PASR. Materials have been prepared, packaged, and mailed. We have some dedicated members who came together to prepare the mailing of approximately 700 letters. If you are not a PASR member please consider joining. The future of your retirement system (PSERS) is in jeopardy. The more members we have, the greater the clout we have with legislators. SSMHF Pat Antolosky Thank you to all who contributed last year to the local and state SSMHF! Your contributions help this committee serve our members who are confined to home, hospital or nursing facility with meeting their needs, financial assistance in special circumstances, and through state dues payment upon request. If you or a member you know could benefit from these services, please contact Pat for application information. We will have gifts for our confined members available at the April luncheon. Please plan to take one or two to deliver during a visit to our members who can no longer get to our meetings. If you know of members who should be included on our visitation list, please contact Pat 355-2776 or antolosky@yahoo.com. Retirement Planning Vickie Gates Our chapter leaders have been considering sponsoring a Retirement Planning Fair in the fall. No specific details have yet been developed. Our goal would be to provide a variety of agencies and services that would offer information for those who have already retired or are planning their retirement. In our thinking, there would be some short information sessions and others would staff tables where information can be shared. If planning is to continue we will need several chapter members to volunteer their assistance. If YOU are interested please contact Vickie Gates at vidagates@comcast.net or 355-0445.
RECREO Norma Zaccagni Come to CCASR's last Tuesday lunch on March 31! We will have lunch at Jim's Italian Cuisine (204 E. Cherry Lane) in Bellefonte at 11:30 A.M. After lunch we will tour the Bellefonte Museum (133 N. Allegheny St.). A brief introduction will be given and then we can tour the museum at our leisure. Please email Norma Zaccagni at nlzaccagni@gmail.com or call her at 355-2119 if you plan to attend. Look forward to seeing you on March 31 st. Public Relations Sharon Conaway The local news that used to be included in the PASR Newsletter can now be found on PASR s website. Once you sign in to the website, you will click on Member Publications and scroll down the page until you see 2015 January News Chapters. If you do not see it there, you should go back to the home page of PASR and e-mail pasr@pasr.org asking where you might find it. For a list of CCASR activities for 2015, please go to www.orgsites.com/pa/centre-chapter-pasr. This is the chapter s website. There is no log in for this site. CCASR 2015 Calendar April 15 CCASR Spring Luncheon Meeting April 27 Region 5 General Membership Meeting May 26 Last Tuesday Luncheon, 11:30 am, TBA June 3 CCASR Executive Board, 10 am Sunset West June 30 Last Tuesday Luncheon, 11:30 am, TBA August 12 Annual CCASR Picnic August 19 CCASR Executive Board, 10 am Sunset West September 29 Last Tuesday Luncheon, 11:30 am, TBA October 14 CCASR Fall Luncheon Meeting October 26 Region 5 General Membership Meeting December 9 CCASR Executive Board, 10 am Sunset West LOCAL LEGISLATOR CONTACT INFORMATION Senator Jake Corman 236 Match Factory Place Bellefonte, PA 16823 355-0477 jcorman@pasen.gov Rep. Scott Conklin 301 S. Allen Street Suite 102 State College, PA 16801 238-5477 sconklin@pahouse.net Rep. Kerry Benninghoff 140 W. High Street Bellefonte, PA 16823 355-1300 kbenning@pahousegop.com
CCASR Officers & Committee Chairmen 2015 President: Bob Watson, 383-2151 rwatson@pa.net 455 Ponderosa Dr., Howard, PA 16841 President-elect: Vacant Secretary: Jane Burrows 364-9782 jobsm4@yahoo.com PO Box 37, Centre Hall, PA 16828 Treasurer: Jack Smith 349-5820 papajonhome@verizon.net, 138 Penn Street PO Box 105, Millheim, PA 16854 Immediate Past President: Vickie Gates 355-0445 vidagates@comcast.net 106 N. McAllister St., Bellefonte, PA 16823 PR Chair: Sharon Conaway 355-0459 Lnsconaway@verizon.net,103 Limestone Dr., Bellefonte, PA 16823 Community Service: Patti Michaels 466-6008 pmich2@comcast.net PO Box 92, Boalsburg, PA 16827 Educational Support: Lew Rodrick 364-9678 lxr140@gmail.com 125 Penns Court, Centre Hall, PA Legislative Chair: Vacant Legislation Assistant: Larry Conaway 355-0459 butchconaway@verizon.net L-PEC - Vacant Membership: Ruth Rishel 364-1726 ruthrshl@verizon.net 110 Oakwood Lane, Centre Hall, PA 16828 MB&S: Mary Noll 238-7922 NOLLGO1@comcast.net 134 W. Marylyn Ave., State College, PA 16801 RECREO: Norma Zaccagni, 355-2119, nlzaccagni@gmail.com, 106 Ringneck Drive, Bellefonte, PA 16823 SSMHF: Pat Antolosky 355-2776 antolosky@yahoo.com 1260 Fairview Dr., Bellefonte, PA 1682
CCASR Spring Luncheon Meeting Reservations Deadline April 1, 2015 Member Name Guest Name Please reserve lunches @ $11.00 each Menu: Turkey, mashed potatoes, noodles, gravy, stuffing, creamy slaw, green beans, applesauce, dinner roll, carrots, celery and pickles. Life members, if you wish to contribute to the chapter s operating expenses your contribution would be welcomed. $ Individual contribution to PASR s SSMHF $ In Memory/Honor of (circle one) Name & address to notify of donation: Contribution to CCASR Scholarship Fund Contribution to CCASR SSMHF Fund lunches @ $11.00 each $ $ $ Check total $ Email address if you are not receiving periodic chapter updates ********************************************************* Check here if PASR L-PEC Contribution enclosed: Please note that you MUST write a separate check for this made out to PASR/L-PEC. However, the treasurer will send all checks received to PASR to save our members the time & expense of mailing them individually. These funds are used by the PASR L-PEC committee for political education ONLY. We do not endorse or support any candidates for office. You may also send checks directly to headquarters: PASR, 878 Century Dr., Mechanicsburg, PA 17055. Note Centre County chapter --------------------------- Detach Here ------------------------- Mail all reservations and checks to Assistant Treasurer, Ruth Myers, made out to CCASR at: PO Box 353, Centre Hall, PA 16828 Directions to New Hope Lutheran Church (119 Cobblestone Court, Spring Mills, PA 16875): From the North, South, West Starting at the intersection of Routes 144&45 in Centre Hall/Old Fort travel east toward Spring Mills on 45 for 4.5 miles. Approx ½ mile after the jersey Shore State Bank (on left) turn right onto Stonefield Drive. Go one block, turn left onto Cobblestone Court. The church is straight ahead with a parking lot to the left of the church. If you enter Spring Mills, you are too far east.from the East: Travel west 8 miles from Millheim on Route 45 through Spring Mills. Turn left onto Stonefield Drive. Go one block, turn left onto Cobblestone Court. The church is straight ahead with parking on the left of the church. If you see the Jersey Shore State Bank on your right you are too far west.
We invite all members to stay current with CCASR and PASR activities by visiting their respective web sites. You will find information to answer many of the questions you might have. You can pay your PASR or CCASR dues on line as well as make contributions to SSMHF and L-PEC. Links to other sites of interest and importance to school retirees are also provided. www.orgsites.com/pa/centre-chapter-pasr/ www.pasr.org We also encourage all CCASR members to provide us with your email address, if we do not already have it, so we may include you in our periodic up-dates and send breaking news. We especially ask that our new gift members/ 2013 retirees to provide us with this information. You can send it to Bob Watson at rwatson@pa.net. We do not share addresses with anyone! Centre County Association of School Retirees Bob Watson, President 455 Ponderosa Drive Howard, PA 16841