AASRA N Ewsle Tter AASRA Newsletter A LETTER FROM MARY ANN

AASRA Newsletter
rehabilitation programs at Thunderbird
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recovering.
A LETTER FROM MARY ANN
rehabilitation
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AASRA • 201 E. WASHINGTON, SUITE 1795 • PHOENIX, AZ 85004Gilbert.
• Then
Tel: 602-262-5174
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A LETTER FROM MARY ANN
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A LETTER FROM MARY ANN
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recovering.
on the seniorsleuths@azag.gov
seniors tab at www.azag.gov,
and Health Southwest, I was
or call
e-mail
recovering.
602.542.2124.
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602.542.2124.
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President – Dr. Mary Murphy
Dear Friends
of AASRA:
Dear Friends
of AASRA:
Iprayers,
want
to thank
you
all
who
put
me
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allme
who
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Executive
Director
Garry
York
June.
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was
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Virginia
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Virginia
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immensely grateful. I will be staying
Membership
Carol
Morton
Treasurer ––– Sue
Sue Secrest
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immediate
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again,
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KEEP THOSE PICTURES
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went
to
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Thunderbird
I look
this
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and I was
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Sincerely,
fall.forward to seeing everyone
AND ARTICLES
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KEEPUNITS.
THOSE
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MaryAnn Parkinson
YOUR
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AND ARTICLES
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enough
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GREAT
WAY
TO SHARE
IDEAS!
(Letter receivedMaryAnn
8/30/09)Sincerely,
Parkinson
YOUR
LOCAL
UNITS.
IT’S
A
enough
tohours
have
new
drug-tPA.
Parkinson
Carol
Morton,
YOUR
LOCAL
IT’S A
This
drugtothe
must
be stroke
given
within the
first
three
block
GREAT
WAYcam642@aol.com
TOUNITS.
SHARE IDEAS!
(Letter MaryAnn
received 8/30/09)
This drug
given
withinstroke
the
GREAT
WAY TO
SHARE IDEAS!
(Letter received
8/30/09)
Carol Morton,
cam642@aol.com
first must
three be
hours
to block
damage.
SENIOR
SLEUTHS
Carol Morton, cam642@aol.com
first
three
hours
to block
damage.
SENIOR
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After
several
days,
I wasstroke
able to talk
The AZ Attorney
General’s
Office
A LETTER FROM MARY ANN
All Arizona School Retirees Association
affiliated with NRTA, a division of AARP
AASRA Newsletter
Masthead
for AASRA
Newsletter
from identity
theft to elder
abuse click
on the seniors tab at www.azag.gov,
e-mail seniorsleuths@azag.gov or call
from
identity theft to elder abuse click
602.542.2124.
on the seniors tab at www.azag.gov,
e-mail seniorsleuths@azag.gov or call
602.542.2124.
The AASRA Newsletter is published
three times a year. Articles can be sent
to:
The AASRA Newsletter is published
AASRA
three times a year. Articles can be sent
201
E.
Washington
St.
to:
FallSuite
2009
1795
AASRAMARY’S
MUSINGS
Phoenix,
AZ 85004
201 E.
Washington
St.
www.aarp.org
Suite
1795
All Arizona School Retirees Association
affiliated with NRTA, a division of AARP
Fall 2009
Phoenix, AZ 85004
President –www.aarp.org
Dr. Mary Murphy
President Elect – Steve Poe
President
– Dr.
Mary Murphy
Executive
Director
– Garry York
President
Elect
– Steve
Poe
Secretary
– Pearl
Nancarrow
Executive
Director
Garry York
Treasurer
– Sue –Secrest
Secretary
– Pearl– Nancarrow
Membership
Carol Morton
Treasurer
– Sue
Secrest
Newsletter
Editor
– Carol Morton
Membership
– Carol Morton
www.aasra.org
Newsletter Editor – Carol Morton
www.aasra.org
KEEP THOSE PICTURES
AND ARTICLES
COMING
FROM
KEEP THOSE
PICTURES
LOCAL
UNITS.FROM
IT’S A
ANDYOUR
ARTICLES
COMING
“Connect
forIT’S
Success”
Together for
GREAT
WAY
TO SHARE
IDEAS!
YOUR
LOCAL
UNITS.
A
CarolWAY
Morton,
cam642@aol.com
service
and advocacy
GREAT
TO SHARE
IDEAS! in challenging
Carol Morton, cam642@aol.com
times!
What a summer this has been!!! We
have been saddened by MaryAnn
Parkinson’s illness. Thrilled as two of
our members won major State and
National Awards. Legislatively, we
have followed the drama of a
continuing State Budget crisis, and
more crises Nationally, with the
Economy and Health Care Reform.
Even more this year, Arizona’s
retired educators need to be
“connected”; together for friendship
and mutual support, together
serving our schools and
communities in times of drastic cutbacks, together for Advocacy - a
strong voice for retirees, senior issues
and education. We need to reach-out
and “connect” with other groups on
common concerns. (Each year, we are
so proud as Units report amazing
Community service efforts!)
At the State level, our priority is to
increase our “connection” and service
to members. District Vice-Presidents,
Officers and Committee Chairs will
gladly provide ideas, assistance or
programs to your Unit. I look
forward to visiting each Unit. (If you
haven’t sent me a date already, I hope
to hear from you.) Tell us how we
can help you succeed!
Adding to the Newsletter, we are
exploring communication by e-mail,
website, phone and/or phone
conferencing. Getting information
from & to State, Units and members
effectively is the objective.
Newsletter Chair, Carol Morton loves
local news. Legislative Chair, Sigrid
Whitman, welcomes Advocacy
contacts. We’re making an AASRA
calendar on-line. The plan is to feature
local Unit as well as State information.
Our Membership Team has been
busy all summer. They can help you
with materials and strategies to contact
schools and potential new members.
Please, each Unit should contact local
schools this year, regarding their
needs. State Budget cutbacks have
been severe, with worse ahead. Being
of assistance now, fulfills one of our
Association’s major purposes. It can
also, help reestablish relationships
with schools and future retirees.
Remember: Your AASRA Lois
Snyder Fund is available with
emergency grants for needy retired
educators. In these difficult times, be
on the lookout for crises:
emergencies, medical bills, etc.
(older members and those alone or
in poor health need monitoring.)
PLEASE help us put these funds to
good use!
Advocacy for our Retirement
System and Health Plan continues as a
MAJOR priority. ASRS Liaison,
Janet Fee, and your Legislative Team
continue to actively represent you at
meetings and at the Legislature. They
will continue to keep you informed
through Newsletters and direct
communications.
Currently, enormous concern is
focused on National Health Care
Volume 48 No. 1
Volume 48 No. 1
Legislation. Our Legislative Team
will continue to keep you updated, as
accurately and quickly as possible,
The Retirement System will be putting
out the Fall Open Enrollment
materials, soon. Also, Health Chair,
Virginia Brant has available many
excellent health related materials and
program ideas.
It looks like a BUSY year for
AASRA. We hope we are addressing
YOUR priorities. Best wishes for a
great year. Stay “Connected”!
Mary Murphy,
AASRA State President
Hi, My name is Lorene Shough,
Chairman of The Lois Snyder Fund.
It is used for educators in need of
some extra assistance when times get
rough. It is a one time only aid. Funds
can be issued up to $500, and may be
given at one time or in smaller
amounts, not to exceed $500.
We continue raising money to build
up the fund, so more may be helped.
Ask your local president, the AASRA
president, AASRA treasurer, or me for
an application, if you need to apply for
help, or if you know someone in your
unit that needs some monetary
assistance. You can call me at:
(520) 803-9423, or mail a request to:
4249 S. Sauk Ave, Sierra Vista, AZ
85650-9254.
Be thinking of creative ways to
continue raising money for the fund.
Let’s put our successful fund raising
ideas in the AASRA newsletter, so
other units can try them. May you
have a wonderful 2009 – 2010.
1
AASRA
AASRANewsletter
Newsletter
AASRA
AASRANewsletter
Newsletter
2009 SCHLORSHIPS AWARDED
2009 SCHOLARSHIP
RECIPIENTS
University of Arizona
Northern Arizona University
Maria Haag is a senior in college
who yearns to be a special education
teacher. She loves children, especially
those with special needs, and knowing
that one day she will guide their
learning process helps her get through
an intense school schedule. She is the
oldest of eleven children some
biological, as well as some adopted
and others that are foster children with
emotional/ behavioral problems.
These siblings have given her an
interest in working with special needs
students.
She will have her Bachelor’s Degree
in May and have a teaching certificate,
having completed her student
teaching, and is in a non-certificated
program working toward a Master’s
degree.
Arizona State University
(No photo)
Lindsey McClintock is a senior
Early Childhood Education major
planning to receive her degree and
begin teaching in the fall of 2010. She
plans to stay in Arizona and teach preschool or Kindergarten.
She received the ASU Medallion
Scholarship as a freshman. A
scholarship she continues to maintain
and credits the programs associated
with the scholarship for her success.
It has allowed her to meet many
people, participate in fulfilling
community service projects and have
great educational experiences.
2
Michaela Izzo is a senior whose
goal is to become a first grade teacher.
She hopes to inspire children to learn
as much as they can and strive to do
the best they can in school.
She takes part in many
extracurricular activities that range
from playing club soccer to rebuilding
homes in Louisiana with United Way.
Michaela is involved in three
different clubs; The Student Alumni
Association where she is a student
advocate, The Student Union
Advisory Council where she is a
student advocate, and The United Way
Students in action club where she has
been the Event Director but is now
secretary. She was one of the five
original founders of the club United
Way Students in Action that tries to
bring a sense of helping their
community and fighting for diverse
student organizations. Michaela is a
member of the University of Arizona’s
Women’s Club Soccer team, and
participated in the national
championship game where they
finished second place in the nation this
past season.
AASRA SCHOLARSHIP
FOUNDATION
The AASRA Scholarship
Foundation awarded one $1,500
scholarship to a student at each of the
three state universities for the 20092010 school year. The scholarship at
Arizona State University was
awarded in memory of Dr. Lorenzo
Lisonbee. We are grateful to his
family and friends for contributing
more than enough to fund the
scholarship in his memory.
The state of the economy is affecting
the Scholarship Foundation much
like it is other charitable
organizations. Donations are down
and our savings accounts are
receiving pathetic interest rates. The
goal is to fund the three scholarships
from donations given during the
current year and to hopefully have a
little left over to add to savings. The
long-range goal would be to fund the
scholarships from interest alone, but
until that is a reality, your donations
are crucial!
Bill Sullivan,
Scholarship Foundation, Chair
SCHOLARSHIP FUNDRAISING
The generosity of the convention
attendees added $704 to the AASRA
Scholarship Foundation funds. Last
year $768 was raised at the
convention.
Local units and individuals donated
Thirty-eight (38) varied items. Such
as: pictures, dishes, heaters, afghans,
Diamondback tickets, etc. Three of
the higher value items were pulled and
auctioned by Steve Poe at the
banquet.
The gigantic basket of Arizona
goodies landed in the hands of Larry
Morton. The Pena print went to
Bruce Boss, Mary Murphy's
grandson. Nancy Frank nabbed the
Christo’s Restorante gift certificate.
30+ convention attendees won the
other 35 raffle items. The Foundation
Board thanks everyone for the
donations.
The Foundation has forms available
for donations and others to honor or
memorialize an individual or group.
They are two new brochures that can
be used to let others know about the
Foundation and to make a donation.
You can call 602-262-5174 to request
the forms or brochures or just ask your
president to request some for your
unit.
AnnJi Craig-Wooten,
Scholarship Foundation
MATSON ASSURES RETIREES
OF FUND'S SOUNDNESS
ASRS benefit recipients may rest
assured that their benefits now and in
the future are safe, but that any
permanent benefit increases may be
some time off, according to ASRS
Director Paul Matson, who addressed
the state AASRA convention in its
closing session June 3.
Matson addressed three main issues
during his remarks: whether current
assets are sufficient to meet needs, the
implications of the "funded status",
and the guarantee that retirees will
continue to get their checks all the
time and on time. Matson answered
the first and third issues with a
resounding "Yes," and elaborated on
the status of the fund.
The depressed investment market
will make it necessary to raise the
contribution rates of current
employees still paying into the system
by about 3% over the next decade.
This increase will be phased in over
the next several years, beginning with
a .5% increase July 1, 2010 for a few
years, then another .4% increase, .3%,
and .2% in following years.
Matson pointed out that permanent
benefit increases (PBIs) have always
come from excess earnings, never
from current contributions, and since
the past several years have not seen
excess earnings, any PBI's will be
some time off. Regarding health care,
he praised the continued relationship
with PacifiCare, United Health
Systems, saying they presented the
best overall package of all bidders.
Premiums will go up 8.5%, but
Matson said that no other plans were
available that would not have resulted
in raise of premiums.
Jim Grosbach,
District 3-A Vice President
STATE OFFICERS
Incoming State Officers,
Pearl Nancarrow, Sec., Sue Secrest,
Treas., Steve Poe, Pres. Elect and
Dr. Mary Murphy, President
2009 CONVENTION NEWS FROM YOU
!
Jana Boomersbach, a
well known Arizona
author, journalist and speaker
presented a review of her latest book,
“Bones in the Desert”. This is the true
story of the murder of Loretta
Bowersock, Loretta and her daughter,
Terri, successfully operated “Design
and Consign” stores in the
Valley. After what appeared to be a
memorable Alaskan cruise in
November of 2004, Loretta
disappeared shortly before Christmas.
For 13 months, Terri, relatives,
friends, police, and many psychics
searched for Loretta. It wasn’t until
Mary Ann Morgan’s keen psychic
insights led to Loretta’s body in a
shallow grave on acreage in a remote
desert area surrounded with an
abandoned blue motel, blue car, and a
blue merry-go-round.
Loretta’s home and diary revealed
many signs of abuse, cheating,
stealing, and forgery, all of which led
to the arrest of Taw Banderly. He was
Loretta’s live in boyfriend for 18
years. After her mother’s tragic death,
Terri founded “Doves” Shelter for
abused women. Often women believe
that a bad man is better than no man.
“Bones in the Desert” is an
intriguing story filled with tragic love,
buried secrets, and a living nightmare.
Jana Boomersbach’s compelling
narration held the attention of the
Convention audience.
Terry Goddard with Out-going President,
MaryAnn Parkinson
2009 CONVENTION MEMORIAL
DISPLAY
We are sending a heartfelt “thank
you” to everyone who helped with
or took part in the June 2009
Memorial Service at the State
Convention. Without your help in
getting information about our
members who have passed away, we
would not have a meaningful and
memorable service.
We continue to depend on every
member to send obituary information
and the name of the State Unit where
the deceased was a member. We
would also like the name and address
of a family survivor so that we could
express our condolences to the family
in a timely manner. Thank you for
your continued support.
Donna Jankovsky and
JoanCollinsworth,
Your Spiritual Leaders
TERRY GODDARD’S GOAL IS
TO PROTECT US!
Attorney General Terry Goddard,
Key Note Speaker at the convention,
humorously shared his time with us.
Ever bright and helpful, he discussed
the proposed Arizona Budget and the
details of one of his major goals, the
protection of seniors.
The tentative Arizona budget for 2010
includes zero cuts for the legislature
or for the governor, yet teachers will
make $10,000 less and have 10+ more
students. The Attorney General’s
budget will suffer the greatest cuts of
all.
He offered tips for seniors regarding
various types of fraud. His website,
www.azag.gov includes detailed
helpful information. For example
Arizona has no requirement for
charities to register or be regulated.
However, he does not recommend
decreasing charitable activity, just to
be informed. He is a fine example of
one who has dedicated much hard
work and extra time to the well being
of the citizens of Arizona. We thank
you, Terry. You care!
Janet Herbert & Mary Strebe, Westside
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AASRA
AASRANewsletter
Newsletter
EXCELLENCE AWARD
NRTA With Our Youth!
AASRA
AASRANewsletter
Newsletter
AASRA NATIONAL & STATE
HONOREES
ANDRUS AWARD FOR
COMMMUNITY SERVICE
Nancy
Frank
a member of AASRA’s Westside
Unit, was one of only three
nationwide award winners given in
the Individual Category as part of the
2009 NRTA With Our Youth! Awards.
Nancy was nominated for her
commitment to service and
community through intergenerational
volunteer work.
Upon retiring after 35 years of
teaching Nancy Frank began
volunteering with OASIS, a national
education and service organization.
For the past 19 years Frank has tutored
1-3 students in reading weekly as part
of an OASIS program that engages
older adults in intergenerational
activities. After logging in at least
three to four hours per week for 19
years, that means she has donated over
3,000 volunteer hours directly
working with students. She also has
taken on a major role in recruiting and
training new volunteers for this
program as well as writing a monthly
newsletter for tutors.
PRESIDENTIAL AWARD
WINNERS
Carol Morton, Newsletter Editor
and Sue Secrest, Treasurer sharing a
moment after receiving the
President’s Award from Out-going
President, MaryAnn Parkinson.
6
Millicent Kasun,
Arizona AARP Andrus Award Winner
Millicent Kasun, a retired educator
from Bisbee, Arizona, has been
selected by AARP to receive the
Arizona 2009 AARP Andrus Award
for Community Service. The Andrus
Award, the association’s most
prestigious and visible award for
community service, symbolizes the
belief that individuals have the power
and ability to make a difference in the
lives of others.
AARP Arizona selected Millie for
the nearly 60 years of dedicated
teaching and volunteer service she has
given to her community. She retired in
1989 after teaching in Bisbee for 38
years. After retirement, she joined
several community service
organizations and assumed leadership
roles in each.
2009 AASRA AWARDS
Each year units nominate individuals
for an award. This nomination is based
on what the individual has done since
joining AASRA either in community
outreach or to further the advancement
of AASRA.
Don Ritchey and Katie Elgar are
co-chairs of the Awards Committee
but have an outside panel make the
selections.
MERITORIOUS AWARD
The Meritorious award is given to an
individual who promotes and
strengthens the status and
advancement of AASRA. Examples of
activities of our meritorious award
nominees are:
volunteering to work within their
unit, developing contribulopes, State
Newsletters, grant writing, fund
raising, read-a-thons, membership
recruitment for unit, creating
membership directories, and
organizing the state office.
The nominees were:
Edris Godwin, Millicent Kasun and
Carol Morton. Carol Morton,
Newsletter editor and member of the
East Valley Unit, was announced as
the winner.
OUTREACH AWARD
Some examples of activities that our
three Outreach nominees are involved
in are: tutoring, volunteering in church
and schools, presenting programs on
identity theft, working with OASIS,
collecting books for detention centers,
teaching classes to juvenile detainees,
wrapping books to raise funds for
charity, starting a program for
collecting underwear and socks for
school nurses to distribute, working
with Helping Hands, being a docent at
Karchner Caverns, animal sanctuary
programs and Junior Achievement
programs.
The nominees were: Peggy Carr,
Debbie Duncan and Nancy Frank.
OUTREACH AWARD WINNER
LOIS SNYDER
CHALLENGE
At the June 2008 convention, all
local units were once again given a
challenge to raise money to build up
the Lois Snyder fund for 2008-2009.
The challenge was to see which local
unit could
raise the
most
money for
the Lois
Snyder
Fund. The
amount
collected
by each unit was divided by the unit’s
total membership to determine the
amount (per member) that each unit
raised.
The final tally for this year’s challenge
was $2,176.80, a gain of more than
$200 over what we collected last year.
This year’s winner was Cochise with
$6.25 per member donated. Way to go
Cochise! Last year’s winner of the
challenge was Tri-Point with $4.82
per member donated. We are proud
of both years’ winners.
Units donating to the 2008-2009
challenge were: Cochise, East Valley,
Huachuca, Phoenix/Scottsdale, Pima
County, Pinal County, Saguaro, San
Pedro, Tri-Point, and Westside.
Each unit should still have a
personalized Lois Snyder Can, to use
at their meetings through 2009-2010
and we look forward to next year’s
winners.
AASRA NEWS
Below is a list of the AASRA units
across the state and the number of
hours spent in volunteer service in
2008 in our communities:
AASRA Unit
Hours
Cochise (Bisbee)…….…...1,986
Copper Center (Globe)..…. 9,851
Pima County……….….…27,517
Phoenix/Scottsdale…….…..6,676
East Valley…………….…15,052
Pinal County………….……5,813
(Casa Grande)
Graham/Greenlee……….….4,921
(Safford)
Saguaro (Avondale)……….11,169
Huachuca (Sierra Vista)…...10,648
Tri-Point (Wickenburg)……11,272
Kachina (Sedona)
6,113
Westside (Phoenix)………...74,780
Lost Dutchman……………... 2,126
(Apache Junction)
Mohave (Kingman)…………10,825
Total
198,749
Ann Stephens,
Community Participation
SPREADING THE WORD
Lorene Shough,
Lois Snyder Fund Chair
VOLUNTEER HOURS
Debbie Duncan, East Valley
UNIT OF DISTINCTION
AWARDS
Out of the 25 Goals for Highest
Distinction, the Unit Winners are as
follows:
Highest Distinction
Westside - 25 goals
East Valley - 24 goals
Huachuca - 24 goals
Distinction
Pima - 21 goals
Katie Elgar, Awards Chair
For 2008, AASRA Members
reported close to 200,000 hours of
time to volunteer activity.
Based on the current U.S. Bureau of
Labor and Statistics hourly rate of
$20.25, the 2008 total number for
reported hours by the organization was
worth over $4 million.
AASRA members gave of their time
to various community outreach
programs at schools, food banks,
churches and hospitals. AASRA
members are also actively involved in
community justice programs, or with
serving in local Rotary, Lions and
Elks Clubs and those in need.”
Dr. Jeffrey J. Smith, Superintendent,
Baltz Elementary School District,
Garry York & Carol Morton
Around the valley and state the
school year has begun for students and
everyone involved in the education
process. AASRA has been present at
Back To School Benefit Fairs and
Rallies in Fowler, Baltz, and Murphy
Districts. Katie Elgar, Garry York,
Sue Secrest, Carol Morton and
Bonnie Ford represented us. It has
been a great opportunity to make
teachers, particularly those close to or
already retired, aware of the benefits
of membership in our organization.
To create interest in our table, we
decided to donate a $25 Wal-Mart
gift card to be raffled off at the end of
the day. The entry form provided us
with the names of individuals and
their projected retirement date. We
can contact them as they near
retirement. The gift card winners
were: Fowler District Jill Borge and
Murphy District’s winner was
Azetta Harper"!
Bonnie Ford,
Membership Co-Chair
Did You Know..?
Your membership with AASRA
gives you access to many valuable
benefits!
AASRA endorses the following
member benefits:
• Long Term Care / Home Health
Care Insurance
• First Diagnosis Cancer Insurance
• Medicare Supplement Insurance
Plans
• Final Expense Whole Life Policy
• Tax-Deferred Annuity
• Medical Air Services Association
(MASA)
• Astrum Hearing Solutions
• Government Employee Travel
Opportunities (GETO)
• Vacations-to-Go Cruises
• LaQuinta Inn & Suites Discount
• Hertz, Avis, & Budget Car Rental
Discounts
• AMBA TravelPERXIdentity
• Theft Protection
• Dell Computer Discount
• Apple Electronic Products
Discount
• 1-800-Flowers Discount
• Barnes & Noble Online Discount
To learn more about any of the
endorsed benefits, please call AMBA
at 1.800.258.7041.
You can also request a speaker for
your local meetings by calling
Jeanie Coffey, AMBA National
Director of Association Relations, at
800.258.7041 ext. 2242.
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AASRA
AASRANewsletter
Newsletter
AASRA
AASRANewsletter
Newsletter
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
The Medicare Advantage HMO had
ARIZONA STATE RETIREMENT
SYSTEM
ASRS Health Committee
I served on the Health Committee to
evaluate the four insurance companies
proposals to provide retiree medical
insurance for 2010. The Health
Committee met seven times during the
spring.
At the Board meeting on May 16th,
the Board of Trustees awarded the
contract for the ASRS retiree medical
benefits program to be effective
January 1, 2010 to PacifCare, a
United Healthcare Company.
If you would like to view the
benefits and rates for this, plan go the
ASRS web site at
http://www.azasrs.gov
The open enrollment period will
start in October. Before it begins
you should get a packet with the
information that you will need. The
packet should be sent out during the
next week or two.
ASRS Funds
During the last few months, ASRS
funds have been increasing in value.
They are not at their highs but there
has been good progress. The
Investment Committee of ASRS
continues to monitor the funds.
Beginning in January 2009, the
Director and Chief Investment Officer
monitor the funds to insure that there
were sufficient liquidity investments
to meet its cash flow requirements.
This monitoring was preemptive in
case the market continued to fall.
ASRS Web site
ASRS has developed a new website.
It is http://www.azasrs.gov. It has a
section at the top of the page for
retirees. Please check it out. In
addition, if you check under other
links, you will find our AASRA
website.
Janet Fee, ASRS Liaison
4
Did you know it costs $400,000 a year
for mailing the monthly advice of
direct deposit? All you have to do is
sign up on the ASRS website:
human services (such as the
care-giving funds, funds for
children and families, and funds for
grandparents bringing up
grandchildren).
• Working for anti-voucher
legislation in education, and for
more funding for education.
LEGISLATIVE CONSULTANT
and print a copy each month or just
check for changes! It would save a
considerable amount paid out for
mailing.
LEGISLATIVE TEAM FOR
2009-2010
The Legislative Team for 2009-2010
includes: Sigrid Whitman, Chair;
Virginia Brant, Don Ritchie and
Mary Anne Vath. Janet Fee has
acquired many duties, including being
our liaison for the ASRS and helping
Executive Director Garry York. East
Valley President, Don Ritchie has
taken her place on the Legislative
team. Ritchie also serves on the AARP
Advocacy Steering Committee and has
lobbied for many years.
AASRA LEGISLATIVE
PRIORITIES FOR 2009-2010
• Visit with as many of the legislators
as possible.
• Maintain our reporting system
with all units. For those that don't
have legislative contacts, we will use
the Presidents as our contacts.
The Legislative Team will split up
the units for regular reporting.
• Work on any items that have to do
with the Arizona State Retirement
System (ASRS), such as: the PBI
(nothing will be done about that
this year, but we will be monitoring
it); our health insurance; and the
Return to Work issue.
Also, anything else that we might
do to help strengthen our Defined
Benefit plan. Any TABOR-like
issues that might come up again in
the Legislature.
• Working against budget cuts for
Our Legislative Consultant is still
John Moody, who will continue to
send his weekly reports to the
Legislative Team and keep us advised
as things are breaking at the
Legislature.
Sigrid Whitman,
Legislative Team Chair
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
REPORT
Family health issues have limited
my travel. I want to thank Janet Fee
for becoming Assistant Executive
Director. We have worked together
and she is aware of the process for
taking care of correspondence coming
to the state office. She is a great
person to work with and we seem to
accomplish a lot in a short time.
We are pleased that several new
members have joined AASRA this
summer. However, with those passing
away and members turning 90 years
old we still need new replacements to
maintain our membership and grow.
I want to thank Janet for
representing us at the Executive
Directors Conference in Chicago in
August.
It continues to be a great pleasure
for me to work with so many
wonderful friends and leaders around
this state. I miss contact with all the
national leaders that I have become
friends with from other states.
Please keep your Unit minutes
and newsletters coming to the state
office for the historian and State
President Murphy to keep her
abreast of happenings around the
state.
Garry York,
AASRA Executive Director
HOW CAN YOU TELL IF
SOMEONE IS HAVING A
STROKE?
We have become aware of what a
stroke can do. MaryAnn Parkinson
had a stroke this summer that made
several of us stand still and take a long
look at how busy we are. I asked the
hospital, Banner Thunderbird, if we
could use their slogan: ACT F.A.S.T.
Stroke is an emergency, every
minute counts!
(F) FACE: Facial droop, Uneven
Smile
(A) ARM: Arm numbness Arm
Weakness
(S) SPEECH: Slurred Speech,
Difficulty Speaking or
Understanding
(T) TIME: Document Onset of
Symptoms
ACTION: Call 911 – DO NOT
TRANSPORT YOURSELF – TIME
IS A FACTOR ACT F.A.S.T.
KNOW THE SIGNS OF A
STROKE!
High Blood Pressure;
High Cholesterol; Heart Disease;
Diabetes; Smoking: Heavy
Alcohol Use; Obesity;
Arterial Fibrillation (Irregular
Heartbeat); and Family History of
Strokes.
ACTION CALL 911!
Virginia Brant, Health & Wellness
Did you know about the Merck
Company's medication assistance
program for those who do not have
insurance or are in the donut hole on
Medicare?
Put this address on your favorites’ list
just in case you or someone you know
needs this help. Go to
http://www.merck.com/ and click on the
Patient Assistance Program. This is a
global program not just for the U.S.
HEALTH & SAFETY
PROPERTY TAX SCAM
Are you in the
“Donut Hole
Coverage Gap?
In 2007, approximately 19 percent
of Arizonans fell into the doughnut
hole. When this happens, research
shows many people skip or skimp on
their medications, putting their health
at risk.
AARP has launched a new online
tool that can help people protect
themselves from this coverage gap
called the AARP Doughnut Hole
Calculator. This tool guides people
through their prescription drug options
to determine if, or when, they will fall
into the doughnut hole.
It allows people to view a graph of
their out-of-pocket spending by
month, helps them look up lowercost drugs for their conditions,
creates a Personal Medication
Record and allows them to print out
personalized letters to their doctors so
that they can start a conversation
about safely switching prescriptions.
Check out the AARP Doughnut
Hole Calculator available at
www.aarp.org/doughnuthole to help
you cut your drug costs and stay out of
the coverage gap.
TRUE OR FALSE?
CELL PHONE ON FEDERAL
DO NOT CALL LIST?
You may have received this e-mail
lately but it is not true!
REMINDER.... all cell phone
numbers are being released to
telemarketing companies and you may
have started to receive sales calls.
YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR
THESE CALLS! It is important to
call 888-382-1222 The National DO
NOT CALL Number and have your
phone numbers put on the list!
It only takes a few a minute of your
time and it blocks your number for
five (5) years.
ALERT!
If you received or receive an official
looking letter in the mail from the
Property Tax Review Board in a
BLUE & WHITE ENVELOPE, this is
not real!
CONTACT THE ATTORNEY
GENERALS OFFICE!
DO NOT REMIT THE $189.00.
WHAT THEY SAY THEY CAN
DO, YOU CAN DO FOR FREE.
DO NOT SEND ANY MONEY:
FORWARD THE LETTER TO THE
ARIZONA ATTORNEY
GENERAL’S OFFICE.
1275 West Washington Street
Phoenix, AZ 85007
602.542.5025
800.352.8431
Tucson
400 West Congress
Tucson, AZ 85701-13675
520.628.6504
Fax 520.628.6530
ZABASEARCH
In May of 2006 a new database was
made available to the General Public
that free of charge displays your
personal information (names,
addresses, phone numbers, birth
dates, etc.) The database is found at
www.zabasearch.com. Type your
name and see if your Name and
Information is in their database. If
you want it removed, send them an
e-mail to: info@zabasearch.com to
request it be removed. After opting
out by email, check back after a few
days to make certain your information
has been removed.
(I’ve opted out of several databases
and credit reports, but my
information was there for anyone to
steal!)
Carol Morton, Newsletter Editor
5