WHO WE ARE:
Leadership Teams - Please join us...

2010--2011 SKAGIT-ISLAND-SAN JUAN BOARD

Kathy Reim, Website & Newsletter & Legislative 360-856-4676 kreim@earthlink.net Joanne Jones, Newsletter & Website 360-293-8343, jcicchettijones@hotmail.com Barbara Landrock, Treasurer & Grants 360-856-2190 bland3@hotmail.com Eloise Stendal, Communications 360-757-2785 Stendal@comcast.net Reidar & Millie Ytgard, Outreach 360-766-5063,rmytgard@wavecable,com Jo Duckworth, Historian 360-757-6500 Robert Pickering, Retirement Planning 360-299-0741, rpickering@valleyint.com

Robert Warnecke, Legislative 360-336-3960, BBWarnecke@aol.com Harriet Smith, Membership 360-856-6521, hrsmith_80@hotmail.com Joyce Scoll, Secretary & Health 360-293-1140, joybobs@verizon.net Leon &Bonnie Greene 360-855-0918 Barbara Robinson, Legislative 360-424-8245, babsann09@comcast.net Diane Visten, Legislative 360-387-1348, dvisten@wavecable.com Sharon Whiting, Directory 826-3506

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A Gift for a Particular Purpose

I love the dictionary. One of the grants we awarded recently was to help a teacher buy dictionaries for her classroom. We all remember the money we spent out of our own pockets to make our jobs easier and help our students succeed.

That has not changed. By offering grants, we give active teachers that extra little help and send a message of confidence and support. In light of all the negative publicity our hard-working colleagues get, this is both an economic and emotional gift. It makes a difference for kids.

We raise the money for grants through fund raising and from your generous, direct donations.

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Frequently Asked Questions
about the Washington State School Retirees Association

1. Why should I have to spend money to belong to this group? ($60.00 per year)

You shouldn't. However, you have invested your resources and life's work into your pension system. Someone needs to be in Olympia checking on how decisions are being made about your money.
The folks from the Washington State Department of Retirement are nice people and do an admirable job with what they are instructed to do. They are paid by the Washington State Legislature and are government employees. It is their job to make the system look good. If this is not clear, let's talk.

2. Why have we had so little influence on the system?

We were the good kids who followed the rules, remember? Do we have trouble with the idea of power? Political power comes in money or votes. As retirees we will never have money. We could have voting power, but we have to recognize and accept it is needed. Notice the media only uses "power" as an adjective when talking about certain labor or citizen groups. They never seem to say the," Powerful Washington State Legislature" or the," Powerful Boeing Company." Interesting, huh? What if we started thinking about a balance of power? Would you hate to see us be the, "Powerful WSSRA?" Why?

3. Why should I join WSSRA and not the Washington Education Association-Retired?

Both groups have common missions and work together. Some of us have or do belong to both. There is some difference as to who can be invited to join WEA-R, and you can do the research. It makes sense to me, however, to belong to at least one. Otherwise, who is watching out for your best interests? I support both groups. I am stunned that everyone does not belong to at least one.

4. So what difference does is all really make?

I am tired. I worked hard to earn my retirement. I am not an activist.
Well, it is not just about us. It is about a covenant we have had as a culture to support children and our elderly citizens. It is really difficult to ask people who spent their years in service to our society to stand on the steps in Olympia and ask that their needs be met when they are in their eighties and beyond. The majority of those who need our voices are women. If we don't do it, then who will?

5. Isn't this really selfish? Don't retirees have a good life?

You are not paying attention. Some do. Many don't. Most of the dear people I have met in my efforts with pension reform have been proud people. They quietly lean over and tell me to work hard on retirement efforts so others can live in dignity. We are not asking for more than our share. We are asking for a just return on our contributions.

6. Will any of this ever really make a difference?

If I meet with a legislator and represent 16,000 citizens I might be heard. If I represent 56,000, I will be far stronger. The number of actives and retirees in the Washington State Retirement System far exceeds this. Do your part. If you are not a member of a retiree organization, the people making decisions assume you like how things are done.
Your apathy serves the system.

7. I don't want to join a group and don't have time or interest in belonging to an organization.

Just give us your money. We have lobbyists in Olympia. The real mission of WSSRA is to look after pensions- your pension and mine. We all need each other to make this message loud and clear in Olympia where our future is determined.

We are not asleep at the wheel. At least not any more!