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:
___Blade Runner 2049
___Darkest Hour
___Dunkirk
___Mudbound
___The Shape of Water
13. BEST COSTUME DESIGN:
___Beauty and the Beast
___Darkest Hour
___Phantom Thread
___The Shape of Water
___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
___The Shape of Water
___Star Wars: The Last Jedi
___Three Billboards Outside Ebbing….
17. BEST FILM EDITING:
___Baby Driver
___Dunkirk
___I, Tonya
___The Shape of Water
___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
___The Shape of Water
___Star Wars: The Last Jedi
22. BEST SOUND MIXING:
___Baby Driver
___Blade Runner 2049 ___Dunkirk
___The Shape of Water
___Star Wars: The Last Jedi
23. BEST VISUAL EFFECTS:
___Blade Runner 2049
___Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 ___Kong: Skull Island
___Star Wars: The Last Jedi
___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
Retired in 1994 from
Grayslake High School
Business Education
Marti Swanson: Legislative
Retired in 1992 from
Grant H. S. in Ingleside
English
Dave Dier: Data Base Manager
Retired in 2003 from
Wauconda High School
Physical Science; Chr. of Science Dept.
John Anderson: Immediate Past Pres.
Retired in 2003 from
Mundelein H. S.: Social Studies,
Speech, and Alternative Education
Meet your LCRTA Board Members for 2018-19
Connie Reidel: Scholarships
Retired in 2001 from
Zion-Benton High School
Mathematics
Jim Benton: Health/wellness and Publications
Retired in 1994 from
Lake Forest High School
Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science
Linda Davis: Hospitality Co-chair
Retired in 2010 from
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
Retired in 1994 from
District 75 Mundelein
Art
Betty Carbol: SE Council co-chair
Retired in 1998 from
Crow Island School in Winnetka
Art K-5
Anne Lindahl: SE Council co-chair
Retired in 1998 from
Sherwood Ele. School, Highland Park
Special Education
Dee Cavenaugh: Membership
Retired in 1994 from
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
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.
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