Involvement Issue - LCRTA NEWSLETTER Spring, 2018.pdf · Semi-annual Newsletter. Jim Benton,...

Semi-annual Newsletter. Jim Benton, Editor. Volume 41 Issue 1 Spring 2018 Jim Benton, 461 Rockland Avenue, Lake Bluff, IL 60044 ([email protected]) (847) 234-5279.

“At the crossroads of information

and involvement for retired teachers.”

CONTACT INFORMATION:

IRTA Mailing Address: IRTA, 828 South Second Street

Springfield, IL 62702, e-mail: [email protected],

phone: 1 (800) 728-4782. Web: www.irtaonline.org

TRS (Teachers’ Retirement System): P.O. Box 19253, Spring-

field, IL 62702-9253, email:

[email protected] is www.trs.state.il.us.

Phone: 1 (800) 877-7896

LCRTA (Lake County Retired Teachers Association)

LCRTA, Box 8107, Gurnee, IL 60031

Our website is: www.lcrta.com

Involvement Issue

Inside this spring newsletter are

many opportunities to serve not only the IRTA and the LCRTA, but to make monetary contributions and to re-new membership. Both make a significant differ-

ence to the continued influence and power that we as organized retired educators have—not just in Lake County (LCRTA), but also throughout the state (IRTA). You’ll read about why member-

ship is so vitally important to main-tain the influence we all have with lawmakers in Springfield. Where your money goes and what the dollars are used for is well-explained. I can think of no better

way to secure your future financial security than to support both state

(IRTA) and local (LCRTA) organiza-tions! So peruse the contents of this is-sue carefully for groups that depend

on your support to continue the work of protecting your pensions. Read on. Jim Benton, Editor

Important Notice: The LCRTA meets on the second Tuesday of every

month (except January and October). Lambs Farm is the

place; the time is 11:45 am; the cost is $16.00 for the buf-

fet luncheon; and for those who want a noon-time bracer

there is a cash bar. No reservations are required, and we

encourage you to bring a friend (retired teacher?) and

meet new friends. The programs are interesting and var-

ied; see “2018 Luncheon Programs” below for a listing of

the monthly topics. Plan to attend. Thank you!

Wear it with pride!

2018 Luncheon Programs for the LCRTA

January 9: no meeting.

February 13: Lake County Candidates and Legislation

March 13: Rebecca Hunter: “Putting Sears Houses on the

Map: The Mail Order Phenomenon.”

April 10: Larry Pfeiffer: TRS Update

May 8: Nicole Stocker:”Hollywood on the Prairie”

June 12: Richard Lanyon: “Draining Chicago”

July 10: Sanjay Kumar “Common computer Security”

August 14: James Carr “The I and M Canal”

September 11: Panel of Political Candidates

October 9: Luncheon at Dover Straits. Entertainment TBA

November 13: Pamela Brooks, “Lk. County Honor Flights”

December 11: Returning by popular demand: The Barring=

ton Madrigal Singers directed by Brandon Pemberton

Although there is no evidence that P.T. Barnum ever said, “There is a sucker born every minute,” I certainly felt

as if it were true long after I saw the movie, The Greatest Showman, with my grandchildren (1st , 4th , and 6t th

graders) when I did some research about his other quotes. He certainly was no Hugh Jackman (sigh!), and the script

was definitely not historically accurate. My grandchildren loved the show (except for the kissing) and the modern

show tunes, and they came away with many questions we later discussed concerning its themes regarding the

“moral” attitudes of the rich vs. the poor, the treatment of poor children and “freaks of nature,” and racial bigotry.

Unfortunately, they decided that although many of these themes have improved that they still exist today, but in

different contexts. Barnum’s original quote (unlike the movie’s version’s – “No one ever made a difference by be-

ing like everyone else”), “Everyone is special and nobody is like anyone else. That’s the point of my show,” could

be universally changed to “That’s the point of education.” We, as retired educators, have always known this. How-

ever, do we also resemble the other aforementioned quote in how we are protecting our pensions? We cannot be

“suckers” and assume that they are protected. Each retiree must take an active part,

however small, to help assure that our pensions are safe. So, how can we do this?

tive, and FUN (www.LCRTA.com)! We have wonderful Board Members and a lot going for us, but we also need

you there!

fighting for us! Keep up with important information (www.irtaonline.org) such as the 2017 Convention Keynote

Address by Attorney John Fitzgerald. You need to know what Gov. Rauner is trying to do with our pensions. Be-

sides legislative representation, advocacy and updates, there are “Member Benefits, Quarterly IRTA Action News

Bulletins, and Members-Only Websites.”

ized by members of the Illinois Retired Teachers Association to benefit the entire retired educator community

through political contributions to state candidates” and now (after Convention By-Law changes) to federal candi-

dates, as well.

outpouring of support from our membership has been fantastic for the fund, and it continues to grow. The amount

needed will be large, especially if repeated legal battles must be fought. So, we thank everyone who has contributed

and ask those who have not to do so. This money is in a dedicated fund and cannot be used for any other purpose.”

th Anniversary), we will be able to give a $1,500 scholarship for 2018.

“Teacher of Excellence” grants.

–

“Educators vote!” You can find this out at our monthly meetings!

Here’s another Barnum quote that I found – “To me there is no picture so beautiful as smiling, bright-eyed, happy

children; no music so sweet as their clear and ringing laughter.” I think “children” can also refer to us!

Wendy Wiegers, President LCRTA

1. BEST PICURE:

___ Call Me By Your Name

___ Darkest Hour ___ Dunkirk

___ Get Out

___ Lady Bird

___ Phantom Thread ___ The Post

___ The Shape of Water

___ The Billboards Outside Outside Ebbing MO

2. BEST DIRECTOR:

___ Christopher Nolan (Dunkirk)

___ Jordan Peele (Get Out)

___ Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird) ___ Paul Thomas Anderson (Phantom Thread)

___ Guillermo Del Toro (The Shape of Water)

3. BEST ACTOR: ___ Tim. Chalamet (Call Me By Your Name)

___ Daniel Day Lewis (Phantom Thread)

___ Daniel Kalunuuya (Get Out)

___ Gary Oldman (Darkest Hour) ___ Denzel Washington (Roman J, Israel, Esq.

4. BEST ACTRESS:

___ Sally Hawkins (The Shape of Water) ___ Frances McDormand (Three Billboards

Outside Ebbing, Missouri)

___ Margo Robbie (I, Tonya)

___Saoirse Rona, (Lady Bird) ___Meryl Streep (The Post)

5. BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: ___ Willem DaFoe (The Florida Project)

___ Woody Harrelson (Three Billboards...)

___ Richard Jenkins (The Shape of Water)

___ Christopher Plummer (All the Money in….) ___Sam Rockwell (Three Billboards Outside….)

6. BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:

___ Mary J. Blige (Mudbound) ___ Allison Janney (I, Tonja)

___ Leslie Manville (Phabtom Thread)

___ Laurie Metcalf (Lady Bird)

___ Octavia Spencer (The Shape of Water)

7. BEST A DAPTED SCREENPLAY:

___Call Me By Your Name

___The Disaster Artist ___Logan

___Molly’s Game

___Mudbound

8. BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:

___ The Big Stick

___ Get Out

___ Lady Bird ___ The Shape of Water

___Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, MO

9. BEST MAKE-UP AND HAIR: ___Darkest Hour

___Victoria and Abdul

___Wonder

10. BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE

FILM:

___A Fantastic Woman (Chile)

___The Insult (Lebanon)

___Loveless (Russia)

___On Body and Soul (Hungary)

___The Square (Sweden)

11. BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN:

___Beauty and the Beast

___Blade Runner 2049

___Darkest Hour

___Dunkirk

___The Shape of Water

12. BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY:


___Darkest Hour

___Dunkirk

___Mudbound


13. BEST COSTUME DESIGN:

___Beauty and the Beast

___Darkest Hour

___Phantom Thread


___Victoria and Abdul

14. BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE:

___Abacus: Small Enough to Jail

___Faces Places

___Icarus

___Last Men on Aleppo

___Strong Island

15. BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT:

___Edith + Eddie

___Heaven is a Traffic Jam on the 405

___Heroin(e)

___Knife Skills

___Traffic Stop

16. BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC SCORE:

___Dunkirk

___Phantom Thread


___Star Wars: The Last Jedi

___Three Billboards Outside Ebbing….

17. BEST FILM EDITING:

___Baby Driver

___Dunkirk

___I, Tonya


___Three Billboards Outside Ebbing….

Oscar Night is(was) Sunday, March 4, 2018, on ABC, Channel 7, 7:00 pm

Academy Award Nominees for Motion Pictures of 2017

18. BEST ORIGINAL SONG:

___”Mighty River” (Mudhound)

___”Mystery of Love” (Call Me by Your Name) ___”Remember Me” (Coco)

___”Stand up for Something” (Marshall)

___”This is Me” (The Greatest Showman)

19. BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM:

___Dear Basketball

___Garden Party

___Lou ___Negative Space

___Revolving Rhymes

20. BEST LIVE-ACTION SHORT FILM: ___DeKalb Elementary

___The Eleven O’Clock

___My Nephew Emmett

___The Silent Child ___Watu Vote All of Us

21. BEST SOUND EDITING:

___Baby Driver ___Blade Runner 2049

___Dunkirk



22. BEST SOUND MIXING:

___Baby Driver

___Blade Runner 2049 ___Dunkirk



23. BEST VISUAL EFFECTS:


___Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 ___Kong: Skull Island


___War for the Planet of the Apes

24. BEST ANIMATED FEATURE:

___The Boss Baby

___The Breadwinner

___Coco ___Ferdinand

___Loving Vincent

7.

Wendy Wiegers: President

IRTA Area II Foundation Board; Re-

tired in 2008 from Little Fort Elemen-

tary, Waukegan Vocal Music

Bob Kohler: Vice President and NW

Council chair; Retired in 2007 from

Grant High School where he was a

Guidance Counselor

Cathy Dier: Assoc. Vice President,

Program Chair, Retired in 1999 from

Lincoln Middle School, Dist. 81

U.S. History and Government

Debby Lawson: Secretary

Retired in 2012 from

Forrestal School, North Chicago

Third Grade

Ray Reidel: Treasurer


Grayslake High School

Business Education

Marti Swanson: Legislative


Grant H. S. in Ingleside

English

Dave Dier: Data Base Manager


Wauconda High School

Physical Science; Chr. of Science Dept.

John Anderson: Immediate Past Pres.


Mundelein H. S.: Social Studies,

Speech, and Alternative Education

Meet your LCRTA Board Members for 2018-19

Connie Reidel: Scholarships


Zion-Benton High School

Mathematics

Jim Benton: Health/wellness and Publications


Lake Forest High School

Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science

Linda Davis: Hospitality Co-chair


Novak-King School, North Chicago

Language Arts

Hillary Sylvester: Hospitality Co-chair

Retired in 2013

Novak-King School and N. Chicago H.S.

Sixth grade

Allan Meyer: Publicity & Public Relations


District 75 Mundelein

Art

Betty Carbol: SE Council co-chair


Crow Island School in Winnetka

Art K-5

Anne Lindahl: SE Council co-chair


Sherwood Ele. School, Highland Park

Special Education

Dee Cavenaugh: Membership


Deerfield Elementary (Dist. 109)

First Grade

Officers & Area Representatives for the IRTA:

President: David Davison, Rockton

Vice President: Roger Hampton, Dunlap

Treasurer: Shirley Dodds, Godfrey

Secretary: Doris Heaton, Benton

Area 2 Representative: Bob Kaplan, Schaumburg

Area 4 Representative: Donna Sargent, Rushville

Area 6 Representative: Bill Funkhouser, Godfrey

NEWS AND NOTICES

1. A Local Scholarship from the LCRTA (Lake County Retired Teachers Association)

This scholarship will be awarded to a high school senior to recognize ability and achievement, contri-

bution to the community, and a desire to pursue a career in education. One scholarship of $1500 will be

awarded in the spring to a senior planning to major in Education. The money will be given after comple-

tion of one semester of college education. Send your contribution check to LCRTA, P.O. Box 8107,

Gurnee, IL 60031. Mark the memo line on your check “LCRTA Scholarship.” Please see our website

for more information and an application form at www.lcrta.com

2. A State Foundation / Scholarship from the IRTA (Illinois Retired Teachers Association)

In 1985, after identifying a large number of former educators who were experiencing financial diffi-

culties because of low pensions and inflation, the IRTA established the Illinois Retired Teachers Asso-

ciation Foundation, Inc. The initial purpose of the Foundation was to build an endowment to provide

assistance to retired educators. Since that time, the Foundation has assisted retired educators with living

expenses, provided scholarships to aspiring teachers, worked to protect the rights of the elderly, and pro-

vided grants to educators. Send your contribution check to LCRTA, P.O. Box 8107, Gurnee, IL

60031. Mark the memo line on your check “IRTA Foundation.”

3. If you have any changes in your address, e-mail, or phone number, please contact Dave Dier at (847)

526-5599 or his e-mail at [email protected]. There will be a new Directory printed in the spring of

2019, so if you have any up-dates or changes, let Dave know about them Thanks.

4. Organizations depend on the three “M’s” for their existence.”Membership, Money, and Momentum.”

Membership: No organization can exist without a body of dedicated members who can be relied

upon to carry out the mission and business of the group. Maintaining a minimum “base” mem-

bership, therefore, is a prerequisite for maintaining the group’s health and continued influence.

As older members either expire or relocate, the task, therefore, is to recruit new blood from the

ranks of newly retired teachers—a task that is particularly difficult because lists of retiring teach-

ers are jealously guarded hence difficult to come by.

Money: Obviously dues are charged to support the organization for postage, speakers’ fees,

scholarships, awards, prizes, printing costs, etc.

Momentum: It’s probably a factor in most organizations that as the business of the group is

“settled in” and running smoothly (momentum), complacency creeps in, and the high-level of

productivity inevitably begins to taper off. The membership leaders need to encourage members

for their efforts and contributions—and continue to seek new idea and approaches.

5. This past February 1st (2018), when all of us over 61 got a compounded 3% increase from TRS, let’s

remember that it was your IRTA that brought the lawsuit that made that possible: Doris Heaton v. Pat

Quinn: “Crisis is no excuse to violate the Constitution.” The IRTA’s own Doris Heaton and Pamela

Keller were plaintiffs in this challenge to Senate Bill 1 which would have reduced automatic annuity

increases (AAIs), placed caps on pensionable salaries, increased the retirement age, and made other

changes that diminished pensions. The Court unanimously ruled that Senate Bill 1 was unconstitutional.

Deaths: (Aug 1, 2017 to Dec. 31, 2017 )

“Membership, Membership, Membership”

No doubt you have all heard the real estate maxim: “Location, Location, Location!” How true! Or-

ganizations depend on the three “M’s” for their existence.”Membership, Money, and Momentum.”

Let’s take Membership: No organization can exist without a body of dedicated members

who can be relied upon to carry out the mission and objectives of the group. Maintaining a mini-

mum “base” membership, therefore, is a prerequisite for maintaining the group’s health and contin-

ued influence. As older members expire or relocate, the task, therefore, is to recruit new blood

from the ranks of newly retired teachers—a task that is particularly difficult because lists of retir-

ing teachers are jealously guarded, hence difficult to come by.

*If the color of the address label on this newsletter is yellow,

then you need to renew your membership in the LCRTA.

If you know of a retired teacher who is not a member, then we encourage you to bring this person

to one of our monthly meetings. W meet on the second Tuesday of every month (except January) at

Lambs Farm in Libertyville starting at 11:45 am. The cost is $16.00 per person, buffet style. Once

a year (in October), we meet at a larger venue with table service and special entertainment.

Doris Almers; Wauconda; October, 2017

John Baker; Highland Park; August, 2017

John Brawders; Rice Lake, Wisconsin; August, 2017

Patricia Corra;; Vernon Hills; October, 2017

Robert Deen; Libertyville; August, 2017

Geraldine Devitt; Waukegan; October, 2017

Michael Fiorito; Libertyville; October, 2017

Wil Hemeyer; Zion; November. 2017

Mildred Jelovsek, Waukegan; October, 2017

Julienne Renaud; Mundelein; September, 2017

Sally Richman; Larado, Texas; October, 2017

Thomas Scott; Arlington Heights; October, 2017

Harriet Spiesman; Tucson, Arizona; July, 2017

David Woolf; Waukegan; June, 2017

Joan Young; Highland Park; October, 2017

Larry Zanco; Waukegan; November, 2017

ATTENTION!

If there is a change in your E-mail address, or if you

now have one for the first time, please contact our

data base manager as soon as possible at

[email protected]

Thank you.

LCRTA Membership Form (or a Renewal)* In the Lake County Retired Teachers Association for the calendar year 2018 (please print all information)

Name__________________________________________

Address________________________________________

City_____________________State______ZIP_________

Year Retired______ from District Number___________

E-mail address__________________________________

Phone__________________________________________

Cell Phone______________________________________

Active Membership per year: $20.00 or Life $150_____

Associate Membership Per Year $20 or Life $75 _____

(Assoc. memberships are for spouses of members only.)

Send check and this form to:

LCRTA, P.O. Box 8107 Gurnee, IL 60031

Any questions? Dee Cavenaugh, Membership chair,

[email protected] or (847) 541-1903

Lake County Retired Teachers P.O. Box 8107 Gurnee, IL 60031

NON PROFIT ORG.

U. S. POSTAGE

PAID

GURNEE, IL

PERMIT NO. 341

LCRTA Spring, 2018 Newsletter

The

State Organization: IRTA To join the state organization (IRTA) call the Springfield office at 1 (800) 728-4782.

1. Serves as a “watchdog” on the state legislature and monitors the progress, or lack of, on

those bills that directly affect retired teachers.

2. Represented in the General Assembly by the Executive Director and a lobbyist.

3. Offers a wide range of member benefits.

4. Makes available the services and vast resources of the IRTA office in Springfield: research,

data, statistics, and information.

5. Keeps members topically informed through the IRTA’s Action Bulletin.

6. Offers financial assistance through the IRTA Foundation.

7. Allows access to a password-protected website (www.irtaonline.org).

8. Puts members in direct contact with other retired teachers through the 93 local Units

throughout the state of Illinois.

9. Keeps members up-to-date and well-informed through its website: www.irtaonline.org

10. Allows for instantaneous messaging to your legislstors on issues that affect teachers

through the use of Voter Voice.

Involvement Issue - LCRTA NEWSLETTER Spring, 2018.pdf · Semi-annual Newsletter. Jim Benton,...

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