Newsletter #2



Harvest Time

Volume XXVIII, Number 2 News of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Unit of the N.C. Retired School Personnel April/May 2012

President’s Message

Have you FLIPPED? For 180 of you, the answer is “no.” FLIPPED means switching your NCRSP dues from payroll deduction to bank draft. Thanks to those of you who flipped your method of payment or pay by check. You do not have to do anything now.

If you are on payroll deduction and have not “FLIPPED,” I request that you take 5 minutes and fill it out the form that is in this newsletter and mail it to the address printed at the bottom. You may choose to have your dues taken out in one lump sum or in 10 installments. Either choice insures that you will keep the $7,500 AD&D insurance benefit. Feel free to call me at 336 682 0390 or our Treasurer Gwyn Andrews at 924-8772 if you have any questions.

NCAE and NCRSP plan to end payroll deduction this September. The legislature threatened to do whatever it takes to end our ability to pay dues by payroll deduction. The legislature took this retaliatory action against us because they do not like our advocacy for public education and our health and retirement benefits. They hope that we will lose members and become less effective in our lobbying efforts. NCAE believes that even if we are successful in our lawsuit that the legislature will take action that will correct any legal error they made. Therefore, we need all our payroll deduction members to fill out the form ASAP and FLIP! I ask that you do your part in keeping the organization strong by doing this today. Also, help us recruit the many retirees who are not members. As the Nike commercial says, “Just Do It!”

Also, please make your voice heard by voting on May 8th in the primary. There is also a constitutional vote called “Amendment One.” I plan to vote against “Amendment One” because I do not think we should include discrimination in our constitution.

I look forward to seeing you at the May meeting. We will have good entertainment and food. So, please mark your calendar for May 9th.

Ron McKinney, President

682-0390

WS/FCRSP CALENDAR 2011-12

Wednesday, May 9, 2012, 11:30 a.m.

Membership Banquet Meeting

Sundance Plaza Hotel

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Retired School Personnel Minutes for 3/14/12

The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Retired School Personnel met Wednesday, March 14, 2012, at noon at Sundance Plaza Hotel.  President Ron McKinney called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance.  JoAnne Goetz gave the invocation.

President McKinney introduced Chris Gentry, from the Family Support Network, who asked that RSP members become "Surrogate Parent Volunteers."  They would represent students who have no parents to accompany them at IEP meetings.  This is not a huge commitment because there are few meetings when they are needed.  Retired educators can do this, but active school employees can not.

Members enjoyed the lunch buffet, after which we enjoyed the day's program.  Mrs. Nancy Hall spoke on the North Carolina Senior Tar Heel Legislature, an advocacy for seniors.  Mrs. Hall shared a video that highlighted seniors and their priorities, as well as a new program, Project CARE.  Mrs. Hall gave out information about the organization and she asked for our input on senior needs.

Treasurer Gwen Andrews moved approval of the financial report which was in the latest newsletter.  JoAnne Goetz seconded and the motion carried.  Mrs. Andrews thanked us for our support during her surgery and when her sister passed away.  Mrs. Andrews reported that seventy-nine reservations were made for the meeting and seventy people attended.

Nancy Lenk, from NCAE UniServ, spoke briefly on the bank draft campaign.  She also updated us on NCAE's lawsuit/restraining order. 

    Two guests and one new member, Jackie Gibson, were recognized.

    Legislative Chairman Bob Severs reminded us that we need to educate all members constantly about our pension plan and state health plan.  Changes are taking place to save money.  Mr. Severs highlighted points in his and President McKinney's articles in the latest newsletter.

    Necrology Chairman Donna Staley reported no deaths since our last meeting.

Peggy Hawkins reported on the Pen Pal Project.  She reminded us to continue writing to our pen pals and to have lunch with them.  There will be no more large group events until May when we have lunch with our pen pals at Golden Corral.  We will have more information on that later.  We will give money for books to be ordered for our pen pals' summer reading, as we have done in past years.

Community Participation Chairman Kathryn Mansfield reported that her report is in the latest newsletter.

Gwen Andrews reported that all high schools have been contacted about our scholarships.  We want to give two scholarships, $1000 each, this year, but we need more money to do so.  We have $1700 now and we need $2000.

President McKinney invited members to "run for offices" in our RSP unit.  He will continue as president if no one steps up.  Mr. McKinney reminded us that the NCRSP Convention is March 21-22, 2012, in Winston-Salem at the Marriott Hotel.  He asked for more volunteers and reminded those already signed up of their duties. 

Door prizes were given to Eugene Perryman, Elizabeth Horton, Sylvia Flelming, Margie Bohanon, N L Shearouse and Mary Jo Brewer.  The meeting was adjourned at 2:00 p.m.

Mary Jo Brewer, Secretary

WINSTON-SALEM/FORSYTH COUNTY RETIRED SCHOOL PERSONNEL

FINANCIAL REPORT

February 1, 2012 – March 31, 2012

Checkbook Balance 1/31/12 $ 6,092.18

Membership Dues (Payroll Deduction) 496.51

Membership Dues (Cash-Pay) 53.00

NCRSP Banquet Ticket Resold 35.00

Membership Luncheon Meeting 845.00

Total $7,521.69

EXPENDITURES

Membership Luncheon Meeting $1,027.00

NCRSP Convention/Workshops 1,114.33

NCRSP Dues Payment 15.00

NEA-R/NCAE Dues payment 29.50

District #5/NCRSP Dues Payment 3.50

Postage/Mailings 151.37

Donations 113.00

Supplies/Printing Cost 167.83

Total Expenditures $2,621.53 -$2,621.53

Checking Account Balance – 3/31/12 $4,900.16

Scholarship Fund 1/31/12 $1,729.08

Interest Earned .30

Donations 328.00

Total $2,057.38

Scholarship Fund Balance 3/31/12 +$2,057.38

Total of All Funds through 3/31/12 $6,957.54

Gwen Andrews, Treasurer

(336) 924-8772

[pic]

Resident at Silas Creek Manor receives Christmas Card

LEGISLATIVE REPORT

April 2012

Status of NCEA Lawsuit

In a hearing before a Wake County judge on March 30, attorneys for the state asked the court for a dismissal of the NCAE lawsuit against the state, presenting arguments to substantiate their claim that the General Assembly acted within its constitutional limits in the passage of Senate Bill 727, No Dues Check-off for Active and Retired School Employees. Having already received a Temporary Restraining Order maintaining the status quo on dues deduction, the attorneys for NCAE asked the courtfor a preliminary injunction, insisting that the actions of legislators were in clear violation of constitutional constraints. They argued that the law is unconstitutional because it unfairly and unlawfully discriminates against NCAE, targeting that group and abridging the group’s freedom of political speech. They further allege that the legislation is unconstitutional because the General Assembly failed to consider it when it was required to do so, and then enacted it in an unconstitutional midnight session. Moreover, they claim that the radical legislation was passed in retaliation against NCAE and NCRSP for exercising their First Amendment right to lobby against anti-education legislation.

Judge Gessner, who presided over the hearing, ordered that his Temporary Restraining Order would remain intact until he makes a ruling in the matter. He hopes to make a decision by the time the General Assembly convenes for a short session in May.

NCRSP Recommendation to Retirement

System Board of Trustees

The 2011 Session of the General Assembly adopted a budget that fully funds the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System for the 2011-2013 biennium. The budget set the Annual Required Contribution (ARC) to TSERS at 7.44% for 2011-12 and at 8.33% for 2012-13. The 8.33% for 2012-13 exceeds the new ARC established by the state actuary (7.69%) to keep the system solvent. As a result of this differential, the state budget for the second year of the biennium has $63.3 million allocated from the General Fund that is in excess of the new ARC set by the actuary. The reason for the difference is not investment gains, but rather the failure of the state to increase salaries as projected. The new valuation report validates the conclusion that the primary driver of the excess is the differential between the projected ARC used by the General Assembly to establish the budget for the second year of the biennium and the ARC used by the actuary.

NCRSP is recommending to the Retirement System Board of Trustees that the additional funds be used to grant a 1.9% cost-of-living adjustment.

NCRSP Legislative Goals for 2012

NCRSP has adopted the following legislative goals and priorities for 2012 as essential to the improvement of the welfare and security of retired school personnel:

• Full funding for the State Health Plan, with no further decrease in benefits.

• An increase in the State contribution to the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System to a level consistent with the Annual Required Contribution (ARC) established by law.

• A Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) equal at least to the average salary increase granted to active employees, but no lower than the rate of inflation. (We do support the use of the $63.3 million in excess of the new ARC for a $1.9% cost-of-living adjustment.)

• Support continuation of the defined benefit pension program for school personnel and state employees, and oppose any trend toward a defined contribution program.

General Assembly Short Session

A special session of the General Assembly has been scheduled for April 27, but the official “short session” for 2012 convenes on May 16.

Bob Severs, Chair

NCRSP Legislative Committee

Hospitality Report

Our next membership Banquet meeting will be on Wednesday, March 14th, 2012, at the Sundance Plaza Hotel/Conference Center, 3050 University Parkway, across from the Joel Coliseum. This is our last meeting until September. Mark your calendar and plan to join us. Please mail the reservation form in this newsletter along with a check for $13.00 per person as soon as possible in order for me to receive it by Saturday, May 5th, 2012. If it becomes necessary for you to cancel, a refund or credit will be given only if notification is received by Sunday, May 6th 2012.

Pay at Registration Reservations are made with me via telephone. If you make this kind of reservation and do not attend or cancel by Sunday, May 6th, you will be billed for the registration amount. We have to pay for the number of reservations to which we commit.

You are always welcome to attend the meetings without having lunch. Please let me know so that I can make arrangements

You may arrive as early as 11:15 a.m. to complete all business before the meeting starts at 12:00 p.m., giving you time to visit with your friends. The buffet will open at 11:40 a.m. I hope to see you on May 9th, 2012.

Gwendolyn D. Andrews - (336) 924-8772

Hospitality Chairman

Necrology Report

There were only four members entering eternal rest during this year. A memorial service at our Banquet Meeting in May will remember them.

Thanks to each of you who have kept me informed about the deaths of our members. A special thanks to Gwen Andrews for her help this year. Please continue to keep me informed of any losses through the summer as they are reported on a monthly basis.

May your summer be a health-filled and fun-filled one.

Donna L. Staley, Chair

Necrology

Scholarship Fund

Anyone who wishes to make a donation to the general scholarship fund, in honor of or in memory of someone, should make their checks payable to the WSFCRSP Scholarship Fund. The scholarship fund box with envelopes for donations is always on the registration table at our membership meetings. Cash and checks are accepted.

Please consider this fund when you are planning for your final wishes. It is a very fitting legacy for your service to the children of this county.

Florence Wiley

Scholarship Committee Chairperson

SCHOLARSHIP FUND DONATIONS

Thank You for your donations that make it possible for us to support future educators. Donations have been made as follows:

In Memory of the following family and friends:

Alice M. Roseboro

By: Mary Jo Brewer

Shelby Jean Dobson Scales

(Gwen Andrews’ Sister)

By: Mary Jo Brewer

To the General Scholarship Fund:

By: Nancy B. Broadway

Vickie H. Sprikle

Rita V. Taylor

The Scholarship Fund Box with envelopes for donations is always on the registration table at our membership luncheon meetings. We will accept checks and cash.

Florence Wiley

Scholarship Committee Chairman

Gwendolyn D. (Gwen) Andrews

Treasurer

Pen Pal Ileana with father and Mrs. Kooken at Human Relations Banquet

WS/FCRSP OFFICERS

President Ron McKinney

rbmack@

Vice-President Jo Anne Goetz

jrvgoetz@

Past President Reba J. Smith

buckdancegal@

Secretary Mary Jo Brewer

mbrewer9@triad.

Treasurer Gwendolyn Andrews

924-8772

Assistant Treasurer Stephen Danner

sadanner@triad.

Historian/Parliamentarian Walter R. Wiley, Jr.

wwileyjr@

COMMITTEE LEADERS

Budget & Finance Gwendolyn Andrews

Stephen Danner

sadanner@triad.

Legislative Robert Severs

RSevers@

Membership Ann K. Councilman

lacman8383@

Necrology Donna L. Staley

Retirement Planning/Photography John Shore

jhnjshr@triad.

Public Relations and

Community Participation Kathryn Mansfield

Mansfieldkcw@

Newsletter Dr. Lee Beall

lbeall@triad.

Hospitality Gwendolyn Andrews

Nominating Julia L. Johnson

Scholarship Florence G. Wiley

wwileyjr@

Pen Pal Coordinator Rita Taylor

rvta@

Website Evan Herreid

eherreid@wsfcs.k12.nc.us

Visit our web at web2k.wsfcs.k12.nc.us/wsfcrsp or go to state web () and click on Winston-Salem/Forsyth County.

  Reservations for May 9th, 2012 Meeting

I /We_________________________ would like to

(Name / Names)

make reservations for _______, on May 9th. 2012

(#)

Enclosed is a check for $______, which is $13.00 per person. Make check payable to WSFC RSP and mail to: Gwen Andrews

3550 Stimpson Drive

Pfafftown, NC 27040-8609

PLEASE PLAN TO JOIN US

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