mountain echoes - calrta
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MOUNTAIN ECHOES Mountain Echoes
CalRTA San Jacinto Mountain Division 33: 140 E. Stetson Ave., UPS Box 284, Hemet, CA 92543-7139
CalRTA: Your partner in pension protection December
2020
Division 33 Board
Officers: 2020-22
• President: Gayle Mattson
• V.P. - Comm/Tech: Sue Breyer
• Co-Secretaries:
Elizabeth Midyett
Marilyn Shook
• Treasurer:
Frank Siebke
• Scholarship Co-Chairs:
Denise Dawson & Sandy Kasper
• Ways & Means Co-Chairs:
Hilda Guilin & Melinda Melrose • Luncheons:
Molly Morton
• Members At Large:
Tim Mathos, Linda Cooke, Fran Franke, Carol Brock, Jim Cheney
Board Meetings
Held on the 2nd Tuesdays, 11:00 a.m. via Zoom (until further notice)
September 8: Zoom
November 10: Zoom
January 12
March 9
May 11
June (TBA)
CONTACTS
Area IX Director Ron Breyer
(951) 252-7101
President Gayle Mattson
(951) 929-5592
V. P., News Editor Sue Breyer
(951) 288-1462
CalRTA
www.calrta.org
(916) 923-2200
1750 Howe Ave,
Suite 630
Sacramento, CA 95825
CalRTA Division 33
http://div33.calrta.org
CalSTRS
www.calstrs.com
(800) 228-5453
P. O. Box 15275
Sacramento, CA 95851
CalRTA’s mission is to protect and advocate for retired and active edu-cators’ pensions and other retire-ment benefits, and to support pub-lic education in our communities.
Come celebrate the holidays with your CalRTA Division 33 friends and colleagues at our Zoom meeting on Tuesday, Decem-ber 8th, 11:30 am to 1:00 pm. It’s easy. It’s fun. And it’s the perfect time to gather and share a bit of “comfort and joy,” even if we must do so in a virtual environment. Plan to meet on Zoom between 11:30 and 11:55 for an informal time of “meet and greet” before our meeting begins at noon. We’ll enjoy some holiday music, conduct a little business, select our three December $100 Teacher Grant winners, and close with something fun for everyone! Even if you’ve never “Zoomed” before, we hope you’ll give it a try! All you have to do is...
Click HERE to receive a Zoom
REGISTRATION link. Once you click on the blue link above, you will complete a brief form with your name and email address. You click the box that says “I am not a robot” and then click REGISTER. You will instantly receive a message confirming your regis-tration. You will also receive a confirmation email in your IN BOX with all the information you need to join the meeting. When you are ready to “Zoom” with us on December 8th, open your email and click the blue link that says “Click Here to Join.” You will be admitted to the meeting. If you wish to call into the meeting by phone, please email Sue Breyer at [email protected] or call her at (951) 288-1462 and she will provide you with the phone number and Meeting ID. See you then!
JOIN US FOR OUR DECEMBER 8th HOLIDAY CELEBRATION ON ZOOM!
This is our second new-monthly issue to keep in touch with members and friends. First, congratulations to our Area IX Director, Ron Breyer, who was selected to serve as our CalRTA President-Elect! I worked with Ron when he was President of the Hemet Teachers Association and later when he was President of Division 33. His life-long service to students, teachers, and retirees is com-mendable! Division 33 is fortu-nate for both Ron and Sue’s membership! Second, we’ve reached 262
co-signers of the 290 needed for a floor vote on HR 141 to eliminate the WEP-GPO penal-ties in the Social Security Act. For full information please click on the following link: calrta.org/wep-gpo. While the congressional session ends in January, increasing co-signers is an important foundation for the next session.
Please attend our virtual holiday meeting December 8th even if you’ve never Zoomed before! Email Sue Breyer at [email protected] for easy tips, or call her at (951) 288-1462 for directions how you can listen by phone. We want all members near and far to join us for this special event! The chat time is 11:30 to 11:55 and the meeting be-gins at noon. We all need some holiday cheer, so this will be fun-filled, feature high
school musicians, award teach-er grants, and of course, in-clude prizes! I’m looking for-ward to seeing you! Two quick reminders: A) Please continue to donate to our Scholarship Fund this holi-day season. B) Our new direc-tory is in the mail for active members. If you didn’t attend a luncheon last year but want a directory, call me at 951-929-5592, or send me an email at [email protected]. Best wishes this holiday season and please stay safe as we look forward to 2021!
— Gayle
From our President
Page 2 MOUNTAIN ECHOES December 2020
Looking back at my teaching career, I
understand what a privilege it was to be
there for all the young people I taught
and counseled, and with whom I shared
and spent a great deal of my life. I’m
sure you, too, have stories to tell of ex-
pressions of gratitude from your former
students. Here are two of mine.
Robert was in my Japanese language class in 1986, he
was one of the students who visited Japan with me, and is
now a high school science teacher in Los Angeles. Robert
and some of my other students were honored by Los An-
geles Mayor Tom Bradley for their academic achieve-
ments and fundraising efforts toward their trip to Japan.
Robert writes: “The trip to Japan was life changing. Your
dedication to us was incredible. You always have and al-
ways will be an inspiration to me. Thank you for allowing
this kid to believe in dreams. Your student, “Robert.”
Rene writes: “Hello, Mr. Mathos. I don't know if you re-
member me. I am Rene. I was in your 9th, 10th and 11th
grade Japanese class at Bell High School. I graduated
from Bell in 2000. I just want to thank you for pushing
me and motivating me to do my best. I know at the time I
was not appreciative of your actions, but I thank you for
your dedication and commitment to your students. I know
my mom really thanks you for your efforts at the time. I
really want to thank you once again for that. Your teach-
ing really helped me in college and life. I now have two
bachelor degrees in science, one in molecular biology
and the other in nursing. I don't want to take up any
more of your time. Thank you once again. It was long
overdue.”
These are just some of the rewards in retirement that I
have received over the years. I’m sure you too have sto-
ries to tell of “out of the blue” expressions of gratitude
from your former students.
Unexpected Rewards of a Retired Teacher (part two) By Tim Mathos, Div. 33 Board member
Dear
CalRTA
Friends,
Please help us continue our long tradition of granting
scholarships to future teachers with your 100% tax-
deductible donation. You can donate by personal check
or bequest.
1.) To donate by check, make check payable to:
San Jacinto Mountain Scholarship Foundation
Mail donation to: Frank Siebke/CalRTA 140 E. Stetson Ave., UPS Box 284 Hemet, CA 92543 2.) Bequeath funds from your estate: Contact your financial advisor and share your wishes. Then email President Gayle Mattson at [email protected], and she will help with the process.
Page 3 MOUNTAIN ECHOES December 2020
BUSINESS REPORTS As of Nov. 10, 2020
By Frank Siebke, Treasurer &
Elizabeth Midyett, Secretary
CHECKING ACCOUNT: $11,547.61
SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION: $128,744.18
The full Financial Report is available HERE The November Board Minutes are HERE
SUPPORT OUR SAN JACINTO MOUNTAIN SCHOLARSHIP FOUNTION!
Division 33
Virtual “Luncheon”
October 13, 2020
Farewell to our dear member and friend
Pauline Jensen— Retired Whittier School teacher, HUSD
CAROL ECK—HEMET
Community Service
Opportunities to Support the Salvation Army During the Holidays
‘Tis the season to be thankful for our many blessings and to provide help to those
in need, and each year the Salvation Army’s iconic red kettle and bell ringers nudge
us into giving. To give back to your community, donate to one of the many red ket-
tles outside local businesses like grocery stores, Walmarts and drug stores, or
make a tax-deductible online donation. You can also “Adopt-a-Day of Bell Ringing”
or be a bell-ringer. You can always “give the gift of Christmas” this year to children in need in your local
community” by dropping off donations to your local Hemet Salvation Army Family Thrift Store & Donation
Center: 1400 W. Florida Ave., Hemet, CA 92545 (Lyon and Florida Ave.; 951-652-7375). You can even
donate airline miles, sponsor a child overseas, or donate through wills and annuities.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SCHOLARSHIP DONATION!
Virginia Sisk: In honor of her grandson, Michael Whitson Mary Reid: In honor of her Whittier School colleague, Pauline Jenson
With the recent unexpected death of Rich Gipson, CalRTA’s President-Elect, the State Board was tasked with filling the position quickly, considering our current president, Dr. Jim Mahoney, would complete his term in May 2021. The Board conducted interviews and made their selection in an executive session on November 18th. Breyer has been a member of CalRTA for 14 years, served as president or co-president of Division 33 for four years and has served as Director of Area IX for the past five years. Congratulations, Ron, on your selection! We wish you all the best!
HAVE YOU BEEN COVID TESTED?
If you are looking for a place that offers COVID-19 testing, check out these web-sites. Most testing requires a referral or
you must meet specific criteria. Contact your health provider for information.
• https://gettested.ruhealth.org/
• FIND A TESTING SITE IN CALIFORNIA
Ron Breyer to Fill CalRTA State President-Elect Position
CalRTA Enrollment Form: https://calrta.org/join-us/
• Name (same as on STRS account)_____________________________________ • Street Address: __________________________________________________ • City: ______________________________ State: ______ Zip:______________ • Phone: ( ) _________________ E-Mail: ___________________________ • District Retired From: ____________________________________________ • Social Security Number (required) ___________________________________ • Division # 33 Cut out and mail this form to address below to have $66 per year (only $5.50 per month) deducted from your CalSTRS pension when you retire…. OR CLICK HERE for form to complete and mail in. Mail to: CalRTA, 1750 Howe Avenue, Suite 630, Sacramento, CA 95825 (916) 923-2200 or (800) 523-2782 RBDIV33
Area IX Director: Ron Breyer
President: Gayle Mattson
Email: [email protected]
Website: div33.calrta.com
Facebook Page: calrta division 33
Facebook Group: CalRTA division 33
CalRTA: www.calrta.org
Division 33 “Virtual” Luncheon Meeting
To be held via Zoom December 8th
Click HERE to receive a Zoom
REGISTRATION link.
Want a change of scenery but concerned about crowds? You don’t need to leave the comfort and safety of your home to enjoy the beauties of the
holiday season. Check out these stunning, feel-good holiday videos! Be sure to view them in FULL SCREEN. Let’s begin with the … GLACIER EXPRESS
The World’s Most Magical Christmas Towns Leavenworth: Your Winter Wonderland Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi Finland... Spotlight: The Nutcracker’s Russian Dance Hanukkah: The Festival of Lights Yosemite Winter Wonders Feliz Navidad Christmas Flashmob
• Federal Legislative and Political Update:
(Click above link to register)
Review results and impact of the federal
elections: 12/10/20 @ 2:00 pm
• Recordings of previous webinars:
• Zooming with Your Smartphone
• Discovering Your Division Website
• Hosting a Zoom Meeting
• Zoom Tips for Attendees
CHECK OUT THESE CALRTA WEBINARS!
CalRTA Short Tutorials
How to Share Your
Screen in Zoom
How to Use Polls in
Zoom
How to Use Regis-
tration in Zoom
CONSIDER A VIRTUAL ESCAPE OVER THE HOLIDAYS