For years, Dorothy Moser, Marian Garrard and Arlene Pavey were teacher-leaders in CTA and NEA. Moser and Garrard were members of United Teachers Los Angeles, and Pavey was a member of the Garden Grove Education Association.
When they retired, it was only natural that they would join and become leaders in the retired teachers organization. Moser is now president, Garrard is vice president and Pavey is secretary-treasurer of CTA/NEA-Retired, the only retiree organization affiliated with CTA and NEA.
[As a point of clarification, another organization, which goes by the name California Retired Teachers Association (CRTA), is not affiliated with CTA or NEA. In fact, the group is largely retired administrators who are not only allowed to join, but also allowed to hold office.]
Retired members elect delegates from each region of the state to represent retirees' interests on CTA's governing body, the State Council of Education. Retired members may also form local chapters, drawing members from an area corresponding to a CTA chapter, a UniServ unit or a Service Center Council area.
Membership in CTA/NEA-Retired is "unified" with NEA-Retired - when you join one, you automatically join both. NEA-Retired serves 120,000 members nationwide and is led by retirees. CTA/NEA-Retired sends delegates to the annual NEA Representative Assembly each summer.
As the end of the traditional school year approaches, those on the verge of retirement should start thinking about joining CTA/NEA-R, says Moser.
As chapters start thinking about appreciation gifts for their new retirees, she urges them to consider how much sense a gift of membership in CTA/NEA-R makes.
The benefits of membership begin as soon as retirement begins. Members are eligible for legal services in the event, for example, there are problems with retirement status. The consultation regarding retirement rights is provided through the CTA Group Legal Services program.
Retired members are also eligible to continue to participate in the many economic benefits available to active members, including life, automobile and homeowners' insurance; a no-fee, low-rate credit card; and entertainment, travel and purchasing discounts.
CTA/NEA-Retired monitors all STRS meetings, presenting the views of its members to the STRS Board of Directors. Working with NEA, CTA/NEA-Retired maintains a constant vigil over federal legislation that may affect retirement benefits. Retired members are kept informed through special publications focusing on retiree needs and interests.
Active CTA members are eligible to become "pre-retired subscribers" during the time prior to actual retirement. By paying life membership dues of $220, they become eligible to receive the benefits and services of CTA/NEA-Retired immediately upon retirement. In addition to ensuring a smooth transition to retired membership status upon retirement, such a decision allows them to pay for a lifetime of membership at a time when their income may be greater. No further payment of CTA/NEA-R dues is necessary.
If you wish to wait until you actually retired, you can still pay a one-time fee of $220 for a lifetime membership, or you can pay annual dues of $27. Or you can have a monthly amount ($2.25) deducted from your STRS pension check.
"When my mother decided she was ready to retire, I made sure she knew of the benefits of CTA/NEA-Retired, and that she joined her retired colleagues as a member," says CTA Vice President David A. Sanchez, who serves as CTA liaison to CTA/NEA-R. "Membership in CTA/NEA-R is a great way to stay informed of issues important to retirees."
For a membership brochure or more information, contact CTA Research and Finance at (650) 552-5355.
