newsletter

njea.org/njrea – Volum

e 60, Num

ber 2 –June 2017

Newly elected NJREA officers Dianne Papadinec (right) and Harriett Sausa (far right) will join uncontested incumbents Judy Perkins, Joan Wright, and Walt Krichling to represent retirees for the 2017-2019 term.

Featured: 2 Viewpoint 3 Membership matters 4 Tax update 5 Election results 6 Spring luncheon 8 Political action 10 Fall luncheon 11 Around the counties 12 Final thoughts

NJREA’s 2017 election results have been tabulated, and officers for the 2017-2019 term have been determined. As the March NJREA Newsletter reported, there were two contested positions. After the spring elections, NJREA members chose Harriet (Kitty) Sausa and Dianne Papadinec for the posi-tion of secretary and treasurer, respectively.

“I am honored that my peers elected me,” Sausa states. “I aim to prove through time that respect-ing and listening to others will result in the positive things that we care so much about.”

In 2007, Sausa retired after 35 years in education from North Haledon where she taught middle school health and physical edu-cation. She currently serves as the chair of the NJREA Health Benefits Committee. She is also a member of NJEA’s Health Bene-fits Committee and is the first vice president of the Passaic County Retired Education Association (PCREA.)

Papadinec retired in 2011 from Blackwood, where she was a special education teacher and school counselor in the course of her 33 year career. She has been the Camden County Retirees’ Education Association (CCREA) treasurer for the last five years, and has served on a variety of county committees, including Government Relations, Consti-tution, Philanthropic, Literacy and Budget.

“I look forward to serving as treasurer of NJREA with a sense of commitment and excitement,” Papdinec declared. “My foremost

objective will be the continued well-being of the NJREA as we move forward with achieving our ongoing goals.”

Sausa and Papadinec join the following officers, all of whom ran unopposed for the upcoming term:• Judy Perkins, President• Walt Krichling,

First Vice President• Joan Wright,

Second Vice President

SAVE THE DATE!

Don’t miss the

Fall Luncheon 9.28.17

Details on pg. 10

NJREA elects new officers

(continued on pg. 5)

President’s Viewpoint2

NJREA Newsletter • June 2017 • njea.org/njrea

As I begin to gather my thoughts about my tenure as NJREA president, it reminds me of when I go up to my attic to get something and find an old box of pictures. The item I went up to get disappears from my mind, and I drift into the memories found in the box; the same holds true when I reflect on the last four years. Like many lives, there are happy, sad, challenging, successful, rewarding and disappointing memories, but, ultimately, it’s the people I’ve met along the way who’ve cre-ated the heartfelt memories for which I will be forever grateful.

A mere ‘thank you’ seems insufficient for the many rewards I have received from these people. The backing and encouragement that I had – on an ongoing basis – from my other officers was a source of strength that anchored the decisions we made; their help and assistance was extraor-dinary. I am proud that we always kept the needs of our members first and foremost in our minds.

Additionally, the support and advice I received from the

NJEA officers was informa-tive and encouraging. They were willing partners, work-ing to help make NJREA a strong and viable organiza-tion. Wendell, Marie, and, of course, Sean as our NJEA liaison, always made them-selves available to guide and encourage our ideas and plans to engage our members. They understand the importance of motivating the entire NJEA family to come to the defense of our earned benefits and to protect New Jersey’s strong and effective public schools.

However, none of these ideas could have been imple-mented without the support of the awesome NJEA staff. The Executive Director, all of the Division directors, and each division’s associates and administrative assistants did whatever needed to be done to facilitate and implement our plans and concepts. They are simply the finest and most competent group of people with whom I have ever worked.

But the unsung heroes of NJREA are found in the county retired education associations (CREA.) They are the worker bees and the work force that gets the jobs done. The talent of NJREA officers and executive commit-tee comes, for the most part, because of the experience and expertise they garnered from the county organizations. The NJREA Committee members, the retired members on NJEA committees, and the CREA committees are all examples of the quality of people who perform the work of our orga-nization.

That’s why I implore you: If you haven’t decided to get involved, I encourage you to do so. You’re important to the success of NJREA, the largest, if not the only, state organization that represents retirees. Our strength – and the strength that we will con-tinue to have – will only evolve from informed and involved members. I also implore you to welcome your new leadership team and give them your full support and dedication. They will need your help to try to protect what we’ve earned, and you’re the key to their success.

So, as I close the lid on the box of memories, I am proud to have had the priv-ilege to be your president. Thank you for your support and encouragement.

The NJREA Newsletter is a quarterly publication for the members of the New Jersey Retirees’ Education Association, Inc. (an affiliate of NJEA). Issues are published in September, December, March, and June.

President – Pat Provnick

First VP – Judy Perkins

Second VP – Walter Krichling

Secretary – Joan Wright

Treasurer – Carol Kadi

Past President – Rosemarie Jankowski

NJEA DA – Rosemarie Jankowski, Joanne Palladino, T. Charles Taylor

DA Alternate – Barbara James, Susan Jaysnovitch, Martha Liebman

Editor – Miriam Reichenbach

Editor Emeritus – Leon Arasim

Editorial Board – Linda Bruno, Michael Johnson, Mary Lou Lucas, Karen McClellan, Alexandra Protopapas, Susan Shrott, Loretta Vogel, & Susan Whelan.

NJEA staff contact – Christy Kanaby

Graphic designer – Nora J. Lenahan

NJEA/NJREA staff – Cathy Raffaele

Contributing writers – Beth Schroeder Buonsante & Phil Lomonico.

Newsletter deadlineMaterials and color photos (do not fold) for the September 2017 NJREA Newsletter must be received by July 14. Send only materials that will be current when the newsletter is received in mid-September.

Mail materials to: NJREA Editorial BoardPO Box 1211Trenton, NJ 08607-1211

Letters to the Editor:All correspondence should include the writer’s full name, address and phone number. Letters may be edited for the purposes of clarity and space.

Send correspondence to:Miriam ReichenbachNJREA Editorial BoardPO Box 1211Trenton, NJ 08607-1211or email at Miriam_50@comcast.net

Questions? Call 609-599-4594, ext. 2300

Please recycle this magazine.

I am proud to have had the privilege to be your president.

Sifting through the boxPat Provnick is the president of NJREA and is a retired teacher from Camden County. Contact her at pprovnick@njea.org

New Jersey Retirees’ Education Association org. 1920

$ave money with Member Benefit$

NJREA Newsletter • June 2017 • njea.org/njrea

12Membership matters 3

NJREA members can get an immediate return on their dues investment and save on major purchases through Buyer’s Edge, Inc. This member-exclusive opportun- ity allows retirees to take advantage of consistent savings on items they need (and want!)

Looking to purchase new appliances or TVs? Shop first, choose the one that you want, and take note of the exact make and model numbers. Then call the num-ber below to get the lowest delivered price. Just be sure to always provide your NJEA group number, 3386.

Need more details? Visit www.buy-ersedgeinc.com and log in to access the dozens of ways you can save money. The user name is 3386, and the password is NJEA.

Check out the new, expanded Buyer’s Edge, Inc. list of benefits:Appliances & TV’s .............. 800-377-3700Audio Equipment ............... 800-543-0911Cars (New & Used) ............. 800-543-8381Contact Lenses ................... 866-234-1393 (code NJEA)Diamonds, Jewelry, Watches ........................... 800-635-9136Exercise Equipment ........... 800-541-9905Furniture & Mattresses ....... 800-631-0286Hearing Aids ....................... 800-410-4865Kitchen Cabinets & Countertops ..................... 800-327-3599Lighting ............................... 800-510-6348Luggage .............................. 800-543-8237Mortgage Financing ........... 800-971-7721Moving Service ................... 800-356-7771Pet Insurance ...................... 877-738-7874 (code BuyersEdge)Real Estate .......................... 800-232-6766Solar Energy ........................ 800-558-1920Travel – Full Service ............ 800-634-8538

Have you noticed that njea.org has a new look? Well, that’s not all! There are new and improved features throughout th website. They include:

Greater personalization Sign in to unlock your “My NJEA

dashboard,” which includes your ben-efits of membership, your documents and downloads, and other personalized information. Your membership card is available right on the profile page, so you can use your phone to access your membership card – especially useful when

you’re using it to access your member benefits discounts.

Easier sign-in Forgot your password? No problem!

With the new “Lost Password” link on the sign-in page, you can enter your PIN or the email address on file with NJEA and a link will be sent so you can reset your password. When signing in, if you check the box that reads “Your device? Stay signed in,” you’ll remain signed in every time you visit the site.

Union membership is one of the best investments a retiree can make, especially in the current political climate. As a mem-ber of NJREA, you have access to a variety of resources that help you make the most of your retirement, as well as offer peace of mind knowing there are people work-ing on your behalf to protect it.

Current NJREA annual members were sent a letter last month that includes a membership renewal form for the 2017-18 fiscal year. Please complete the form and enclose a check for your dues no later than August 1 to ensure the benefits of NJREA membership continue uninter-rupted. Remember: Your dues payment covers membership in NJREA, NJEA, NEA, and your county retired education association (CREA.)

Consider paying dues online at njea.org and selecting the option for automatic renewal for the 2018-19 fiscal year. Retir-ees who avail themselves of this oppor-tunity will be informed in advance of the dues rate for our next membership year and will avoid a lapse in their mem-bership.

Lifetime membership Your membership renewal form also

lists dues for lifetime membership. If you are a recent retiree, you might want to consider lifetime membership and avoid the annual renewal process; lifetime mem-bership may be paid in five installments. Interested retirees may contact the NJEA Membership division at 609-599-4561, ext. 4123, to set up a payment schedule.

Membership mailingsThe September issue of the NJREA

Newsletter and the NJEA Review will be bundled together and mailed in early September to NJREA members who have renewed their memberships by the August 1 deadline. Membership cards will be mailed shortly thereafter.

Be certain your membership profile is up to date, so you receive important emails about legislative issues that may impact you, as well as information about-the upcoming gubernatorial and legisla-tive elections in New Jersey.

Any retiree with questions regarding membership may email njrea@njea.org

Stay protected:

Renew your membership

Visit the new njea.org

NJREA Newsletter • June 2017 • njea.org/njrea

Tax update4

NJREA Budget 2017-18The proposed budget was approved by the Executive Board and Delegate Council on April 27, 2017.

Administrative ExpensesAccountant fees .................................. $ 8,000Bank fees ................................................... 200Equipment purchase ................................ 500Equipment rental/repair .......................... 500Insurance ................................................... 500Office supplies .......................................... 600Payroll service ........................................ 1,000Postage and shipping ........................... 1,000State of NJ non-profit filing fee ................ 30Total ................................................... $ 12,330

Conferences, Meetings, & WorkshopsCPC ...................................................... $ 1,000Delegate Council ................................. 30,000Executive Committee .......................... 15,000Leadership Training ............................... 8,000NEA-R Conference ................................ 5,000NEA-R Convention .............................. 32,000NJREA Convention .............................. 34,000Total .................................................. $125,000

Program ExpensesElections ..................................................... $ 0Gifts ......................................................... 2,500Membership promotion ........................ 1,000Newsletter ............................................ 80,000Reserves................................................ 10,000Speakers’ Bureau ...................................... 500Total ................................................... $ 94,000

Salaries, Taxes, ReimbursementsPresident ........................................... $ 10,000First Vice President ................................ 4,000Second Vice President .......................... 4,000Secretary ................................................. 4,000Treasurer ................................................ 4,000Payroll taxes (paid by NJREA) .............. 8,000Officer reimbursement ........................ 15,000Total ................................................... $ 49,000

CommitteesAction Team ........................................ $ 4,000Affiliations ............................................... 1,000Audit .......................................................... 600Budget ....................................................... 600Constitution............................................ 2,000Editorial .................................................. 2,000Elections ................................................. 1,000Government Relations ........................ 14,500Health Benefits ...................................... 1,000Member Benefits ................................... 1,500Membership ........................................... 6,000Planning .................................................. 3,600Policy .......................................................... 500Total ................................................... $ 38,300

Total Expenses .......................... $318,630

IncomeAnticipated Opening Balance .............................................. $ 28,777Dues .................................................... 258,853Interest .................................................. 10,000Income from luncheons ...................... 20,000Miscellaneous ....................................... 1,000Total Revenue .......................... $318,630

39% – Meetings, Conferences, & Workshops

30% – Program Expenses

12% –

Committees

15% – Taxes, Reimbursements.

& Salaries

4% – Administrative Expenses

Within the legislation that increased the gas tax by twenty-three cents a gal-lon last November, there were adjustments made for taxes in other areas. As a result, beginning in 2017, certain retirees may be able to exclude an additional amount of retirement and pension income from their New Jersey income taxes. By 2020, the amount of retirement and pen-sion income that may be

excluded from New Jersey income taxes will increase five-fold.

For those retirees who qualify – as some age and income restrictions do apply – the exclusion amount will increase over a five-year phase-in period. The phase-in schedule is listed below.

It ís important to note that no changes have been made to the federal income tax provisions for

public employee pensions as a result of this law.

To learn more about whether or not you qual-ify for the exclusion, visit http://www.state.nj.us/trea-sury/taxation/njit7.shtml or contact the Division of Taxation at 609-292-6400. Individuals with specific questions regarding their personal taxes should seek guidance from a tax pro-fessional.

New tax law benefits retirees

Filer Type Joint Individual Separate

Previous $ 20,000 15,000 10,000

2017 $ 40,000 30,000 20,000

2018 $ 60,000 45,000 30,000

2019 $80,000 60,000 40,000

2020 $ 100,000 75,000 50,000

Pat Provnick, in her final term as NJREA president, knows the power of the orga-nization’s reach and credits its ongoing efforts to commu-nicate and motivate retirees.

“Our members depend on the NJREA leadership to keep them informed so that together we can work to secure the benefits we’ve earned and defend the pro-fession we love,” Provnick said. “They know that we must be vigilant in order to be successful, and I confident that our newly elected offi-cers will remain so.”

NJREA Newsletter • June 2017 • njea.org/njrea

NJREA elects new officers

(continued from pg. 1)

Election results 5

Earlier this spring, NJEA/NJREA members elected state and county representatives to the NJEA Executive Committee, NJEA Delegate Assembly (and Alternates), and NEA Represen-tative Assembly in some coun-ties and units, as well as some county association offices. Mem-bers also had the opportunity to elect a new NJEA president and NJEA secretary-treasurer, both of which were contested officer positions. After the votes were tabulat-ed, NJREA-endorsed candidates Marie Blistan, the current NJEA vice president, was elected president, and Steve Beatty (pictured), the current NJEA Government Relations chair, NJEA Delegate Assem-

bly member, and Somerset County Education Associ-ation (SCEA) president, was elected secretary- treasurer.

“I look forward to working with Sean and Steve as we face current and future challenges,” Blistan said. “We will fight to see Chapter 78 repealed, make sure our

members’ pensions and retirement health benefits are secure, protect collective bargaining, end privatization, demand full funding of our public schools and community colleges, and fight for social justice for families in the communities we serve.”

Blistan and Beatty join current NJEA Secretary-Treasurer Sean Spiller, who ran unopposed for the position of NJEA Vice President. All three will represent the association for the 2017-2019 term, while Beatty will replace Spiller as NJEA officer liaison to NJREA.

“I’m humbled and excited to have been elected as NJEA secretary-treasur-er and to have the opportunity to work with Marie and Sean on behalf of all of our members,” Beatty said. “Thank you, NJEA and NJREA. Time to get to work!”

For complete results, visit njea.org/new-leadership-elected-njea/ to view the arti-cle. Results are provided by county; a link to the results for uncontested offices is also provided.

NJREA-endorsed candidates victorious

The following officers will join the elected delegates – Judy Perkins, Walt Krichling, Joan Wright, and Carol Kadi – in representing NJREA at the NEA-R/NEA-RA.

Delegates elected to the NEA-R/NEA-RA:Joanne PalladinoBarbara JamesWarren GessmannRoger Baker

Susan JaysnovitchDavid BradyRobert MyersSusan MaurerRonald BurdAmy ScottCarol Shields William BradyMarge GessmannLinda YoungGloria CookTheresa KennedyElizabeth Levine

Ethnic-Minority Concerns Delegates elected to NEA-R/NEA-RA:Robert CarrHenry VarrianoBetty Meeks-Manning Thomas ArlottoMinnie MozeeClementine BrownArlene Pepe

A complete list of results is available on the NJREA webpage at njea.org/njrea

Rosemarie Jankowski

Joanne Palladino

Roger Baker

The NJREA members pictured at right have been elected as delegates to the NJEA Delegate Assembly:

The following NJREA members have been elected as alternates to the NJEA Delegate Assembly:Barbara JamesSusan JaysnovitchGloria Cook

NEA-R/NEA-RA & NJEA DA results

Retired members from across the state traveled to the Not-tingham Ballroom in Hamil-ton on April 27 for the annual Spring Luncheon. Eager to learn more about the guber-natorial election, the latest pension and benefits news, and what retirees can do to help advocate for their issues, NJREA members again packed the room.

NJREA First Vice Pres-ident Judy Perkins – in her capacity as acting NJREA pres-ident in Pat Provnick’s absence – called the Delegate Council meeting to order. She then reminded the crowd that the date marked the annual Take Your Child to Work Day and kicked off the agenda by intro-ducing the children of NJEA staff members Beth Schroeder Buonsante and Ginger Gold-Schnitzer to lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

Perkins then turned the meeting over to NJEA Research staff members Sarah Favinger and Sarah Geiger, who began the popular Member Informa-

tion Session, providing attend-ees with the latest updates on pensions and health benefits,

while lay-ing to rest any rumors circulating about each. F a v i n g e r also pro-vided some insight into the gover-

nor’s proposal to use lottery funds to offset public employ-ee pension costs.

“We are keeping an eye on it, but are not altogether sure it will solve the pension crisis,” Favinger stated.

Buonsante, associate director of Government Rela-tions, outlined the various upcoming legislative issues, including the passage of the annual state budget and the underfunding of hundreds of public schools throughout the state. Buonsante also remind-ed attendees that NJEA is still seeking retired educators to serve on local school districts’ Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) stakeholder teams.

“Our retirees know what works for our students and are valuable resources in helping districts make sound educa-tional decisions,” Buonsante said. “If you are interested, please contact my colleague, Sean Hadley, at NJEA Head-quarters.”

Taking care of businessAt the conclusion of

the Member Information Session, Per-kins called on her fellow officers to address vari-ous business items. Walt

Krichling, second vice presi-dent, thanked the members of the NJREA Planning Com-mittee for their tireless work and spoke of plans for the upcoming NJREA Conven-tion in November.

NJREA Treasurer Carol Kadi reviewed the details of the proposed NJREA bud-get for the 2017-2018 fiscal year, which was unanimous-ly approved by the Delegate Council.

A campaign commitment

The keynote speaker for the event was Democratic gubernatorial candidate – and NJEA PAC-endorsed candidate – Ambassador

Spring Luncheon6

NJREA Newsletter • June 2017 • njea.org/njrea

Springing into action

NJREA Second Vice President Walt Krichling gives attendees a preview of the upcoming NJREA Convention in Atlantic City this November.

The NJREA Spring Luncheon is a great place for retirees to meet friends and make connections.

Joe Macaluso (above) and Martin Shorofsky make separate, pertinent benefits clarification inquiries during the Spring Luncheon’s Member Information Session.

Members of the NJREA Delegate Council listen to various agenda items, like the proposed 2017-2018 NJREA budget, before casting their votes.

Phil Murphy. He regaled the attendees with stories from the campaign trail before turning to the serious issues that both active and retired public school employees face. Murphy reiterated his dismay

with the Chapter 78 law, say-ing it was not something he would have signed as governor, and vowed he would work to get public employee pensions

back on track, making proper funding a priority.

However, it was Murphy’s comment about the vilifica-tion of all teachers and school employees that got the largest reaction from the crowd. He lamented the governor’s ongo-ing quest to demon-ize public employ-ees and made clear that, should he be elected governor,

the name-calling and blame game would stop.

“It’s time to put educa-tional decisions back into the hands of the experts,” Murphy declared. “And that’s everyone in this room.”

Spring Luncheon 7

NJREA Newsletter • June 2017 • njea.org/njrea

The NJREA Spring Luncheon gave retirees the opportunity to learn about the latest legislative issues, as well as ways they can work to support PAC-endorsed candidates.

Ambassador Phil Murphy, NJEA PAC-endorsed candidate for governor, addressed the crowd and provided an overview of his vision to work with active and retired public school employees.

It’s that time of year again! Mark your calendars for Nov. 8 and 9, and plan to attend the 2017 NJREA Conven-tion. Each year, hundreds of NJREA members converge on Atlantic City to attend this member-exclusive event. They know the NJREA Con-vention is a sure-fire opportu-nity to discover how retirees can remain informed, stay active, and stand united in the face on any challenge.

The 2017 NJREA Conven-tion again will be held at the Resorts Casino Hotel, located at 1133 Boardwalk Avenue in Atlantic City. NJREA mem-bers can attend for just $75/night plus applicable taxes. To book your room and take advantage of this opportuni-ty, call 888-797-7700, identify

yourself as an NJREA mem-ber, and mention this code: VNJR17. Reservations will be accepted until October 27.

Look for more details about program specifics and

menu options in your Septem-ber NJREA Newsletter or visit the “Retired Members” page at njea.org/njrea this fall.

Convention: A sure bet

The NJREA Convention is the perfect place to discover ways to remain formed, stay active, and stand united.

NJEA Vice President Marie Blistan chats with NJREA member Anne Doyle before lunch.

Political Action8

NJREA Newsletter • June 2017 • njea.org/njrea

Each year, NJREA makes a special push in the spring to remind members about the importance of the NJEA Polit-ical Action Committee (NJEA PAC). Since dues dollars can-not be used to make direct campaign contributions, PAC is our vehicle for donating funds to candidates who work

to protect our profession, pub-lic education, and its active and retired employees.

PAC is also our way to bring about change in Tren-ton when we feel it is time to send new decision makers to the Statehouse. With the gov-ernorship and all 120 seats of the Legislature up for election

this year, we will need a robust NJEA PAC to put resources behind the candidates we endorse.

Retirees have shown time and time again that they understand the value of PAC. Last year, NJREA contribu-tions totaled nearly $140,000, setting an all-time record for

donations by a single group in a single year span. This year, we hope to surpass that amount and set a new record of $150,000.

By now, you should have received a letter from NJREA President Pat Provnick and NJEA President Wendell Steinhauer asking for contri-butions. In order to ensure that NJEA PAC has the resources it needs to support candidates who will secure our pensions and health benefits, we can’t ignore the request for all of us to do our part and again contribute whatever we can. County REAs have also been organizing PAC drives as part of their spring luncheons to help reach our goal.

The time is right to make a difference in the Legislature. Please contribute what you can to NJEA PAC and help NJREA surpass its contribu-tion goals. Simply fill out the PAC form found in this news-letter or send your donation to NJEA PAC, c/o Beneficial Bank, PO Box 13661, Phila-delphia, PA 19101-3661.

Packing the PAC

Voters went to the polls on April 25th and passed school budgets in 85 percent of the school districts where elec-tions took place. That’s great news for the handful of dis-tricts in New Jersey that have chosen not to move elections to November and continue the practice of allowing resi-dents to have a voice in the budget process.

Initial reports show that budgets passed in 11 of the 13 districts that have opted to continue the practice of April school elections. All results are preliminary and will not become official until

all mail-in ballots are in and the elections have been cer-tified by county clerks. The process could take up to a month, and as of press time, had yet to be completed.

Additionally, thanks to the hard work of both retired and active members, board candidates endorsed by the Education Association of Pas-saic and supported by NJEA were successfully elected in Passaic City.

The remaining New Jersey school districts will hold their school elections – inclusive of the election of board candidates – in

November, but many will not put their budgets out to the voters. Under the 2011 law allowing school boards to move their elections from April to November, the bud-get vote requirement was eliminated – as long as the budget remains under the statutory two percent rev-enue cap. The law is clear, however, that any portion of a school budget proposal that exceeds the cap must be put on the November ballot as a separate question and voted upon by the local com-munity.

Voters show continuing support

As the month of June rolls in, so do myriad new legislative proposals out of Trenton aimed at balancing the annual state budget.

This year, Gov. Christie pro-posed making a pension payment of $2.5 billion for the 2018 fiscal year. While a step in the right direction, this amount represents half of the actuarially required contribution the state should be making; it also still fails to follow the governor’s own law which would have required a full pension payment under this budget.

However, the 2018 fiscal year marks the first year that the state will make quarterly pension payments, as required by legislation passed last December. Therefore, if the Legisla-ture passes the budget inclusive of the $2.5 billion pension contribution, the state must make a $625 million payment into the pension fund on Sept. 30 and Dec. 31, as well as on March 31 and June 30 in 2018.

Additionally, the governor’s pro-posed budget calls for transferring the proceeds of the lottery system into the public employees’ pension systems for the next 30 years. The unconfirmed theory is that the value of the lottery proceeds as an asset – valued at approx-imately $13 billion – will decrease the state’s unfunded liability by roughly the same amount. Under this propos-al, the pension fund would also receive the annual revenues, which are slightly over $1 billion from the lottery.

Many wonder how the state can do this if the lottery funds are consti-tutionally dedicated. To justify the use, the governor is making the argument that since lottery funds are dedicated to education and state institutions, the pension systems that support public employees who work in education and state institutions meet the require-ments of this constitutional provision. NJEA/NJREA will be monitoring this proposal closely. Be sure to visit njea.org throughout the month of June to stay up to date on the outcome.

Hitting the lottery?

Last October, NJEA PAC made the unprecedented move of endorsing a candidate for gov-ernor in the Democratic Prima-ry. One of the advantages of an early endorsement is the oppor-tunity for members to connect with an endorsed candidate to find out how their issues align with a candidate’s position. With this in mind, NJREA leadership invited Ambassador Phil Mur-phy, NJEA’s endorsed candidate for governor, to three town hall meetings throughout the state to give members the opportunity to meet Murphy and ask him their questions.

Sue Maurer, NJREA’s Government Relations Chair, was one of the organizers of the town hall meetings. “Our members need to meet our endorsed candidate. They need the face-to-face contact and the ability to voice their concerns and get answers from the candidate. Meetings such as this one give them that opportu-nity,” Maurer said.

The first town hall event was held on March 29 in Paterson, where more than 200 NJREA members attended to meet with Murphy. He criticized Gov. Chris-tie for the tone of his administration, noting the event was held on the same date that two Bridgegate co-conspirators were sentenced to federal prison. Murphy went on to promise a different tone and a better working relationship with NJEA and NJREA.

“Where has the name-calling and vilifying gotten us? Nowhere,” Murphy declared. “I’m thrilled to be with NJEA and NJREA. As my late mother said,

you’re known by the company you keep. And I am thrilled by the company I am keeping!”

Murphy cautioned that, even though he supports public education and public school employees, the state faces many serious issues.

“We’ve got big challenges, Murphy said. “We’ve got to undo the carnage from the Christie Administration over the past seven years and the pension crisis that has been brewing since the 90s.”

Murphy went on to answer questions on vouchers, charter schools, high-stakes testing, Chapter 78, the COLA, college affordability, and comprehensive criminal justice reform, among other issues. He thanked the retirees for their time and attention, and promised that they would have a voice in his administration.

“As active and retired members, your input matters,” Murphy said.

NJREA hosts candidate town hall

Political Action 9

Members attended the town hall meeting in Paterson to hear Ambassador Phil Murphy discuss his outlook on issues that are in the forefront of retirees’ minds.

Fall Luncheon10

Are you looking to make the most of your NJREA member-ship? Want to find out how you can help elect a new, pro-labor, pro-education gov-ernor? Then mark your cal-endars and join NJREA for its annual Fall Meeting on Thursday, September 28.

This popular member event will again be held at the Nottingham Ballroom in Hamilton. Please be advised that this luncheon will not be advertised in the Septem-ber NJREA Newsletter. Any members wishing to attend

this event must use the attached coupon and send their reservations in before the September 18 deadline.

The day’s activities will begin at 10 a.m. with the Delegate Council meeting, where officers and represent- atives attend to the business of the organization. Any mem-ber wishing to bring forward business to the Delegate Council should indicate his/her intention in the speaker’s book upon arrival.

Attendees are also wel-come to choose to arrive in time for the “Member Infor-mation Session” beginning at 11 a.m. Members are urged to attend this session to hear important updates on pen-sions, health benefits, and the latest news affecting our union and its members. There is also time provided for questions.

Reserve your spot now The cost of the fall

luncheon remains at $30 per person, which includes breakfast, lunch, and all taxes and gratuities. Members still have the option to come for breakfast only, for a cost of just $5. Reminder: As per long-standing NJREA policy, any individuals who are eligi-ble for NJREA membership and have elected not to join are not permitted to attend as guests.

Please remember that attendees will no longer be allowed to reserve tables upon arrival. Any member wishing to sit with his/her county should indicate this inten-tion on the coupon form. Reserved seating requests will be honored only if received on or before the registration deadline.

To register, send this cou-pon along with your check (payable to NJREA) to Joan Wright, NJREA Second Vice President, by September 18.

Be sure to include your meal choice of Chicken Francaise, Pasta Primavera, or Garden Salad with Shrimp accompanied by a side of soup.

Turn over a new leaf and advocate!

Fall Luncheon agenda: 9:30 am Breakfast 10:00 am Delegate Council meeting 11:00 am Member Information Session 12:00 pm Lunch 2:00 pm Delegate Council reconvenes (if necessary)

The NJREA Fall Luncheon is a time for active and retired members to brainstorm on ways to join forces in addressing education and public employee issues. Pictured (left to right) are: NJEA Vice President Marie Blistan, NJEA Secretary-Treasurer Sean Spiller, and NJREA President Pat Provnick posed with Barbara James at last year’s event.

At the NJREA Fall Luncheon, retirees learn the latest tips and tools to advocate, communicate, and educate others about retired and active public education employee issues

10 NJREA Newsletter • June 2017 • njea.org/njrea

The Nottingham Ballroom is located at 200 Mercer Street, Hamilton, NJ 08690. For specific directions, visit the NJREA webpage at njea.org/njrea or call Cathy Raffaele at 609-599-4561, ext. 2300.

READ ACROSS AMERICA 2017 – NJREA member Thomas Kroncke continued his long-standing tradition of reading to students during the 2017 Read Across America celebration. Kroncke is pictured with his daughter, Lisa Kirch, a fourth grade teacher at the Dater School in Ramsey.

For questions, call your county REA. For trip information, check the county newsletter.

1939 classroom in Hightstown, New Jersey.Photo from Shorpy.com

October 17 – Voter registration deadline (for November 7 general elections)

October 31 – Vote-by-Mail ballot applications due by mail to county clerk for general elections

November 6 – Deadline for in-person Vote-by-Mail ballot applications for general elections (by 3 p.m.)

November 7 – General and School Board Elections Day

Reminder: Whether you vote-by-mail or at the ballot box, remember to be on the lookout for your NJEA/NJREA PAC-endorsed candidates list.

JUNE 27-28 – NEA-Retired Annual

Conference 30 – NEA RA Annual

ConventionJULY 1-5 – NEA RA Annual

Convention, Boston MA

12 – NJEA Summer Professional Learning Institute

19 – NJEA TechStock

AUGUST 5 – NJEA Executive

Committee meeting NJEA PAC Operating

Committee meeting 5-11 – NJEA Summer

Leadership Conference

9 – NJREA Reorganization meeting

SEPTEMBER 15 – NJEA Executive

Committee meeting

Save the date

Election dates to remember

Around the counties 11

MorrisSept. 13 – “Welcome Back”

meeting/luncheon at the Birchwood Manor in Whippany. Cost is $26. To attend, contact Nancy Condit at 973-335-0990.

WarrenSept. 6 – Meeting/

luncheon at the Hawk Pointe Country Club in Washington. For more details, visit www.wcrea-njea.org To attend, contact Vicki Rhinehart at 908-319-1995.

Around the counties

NJREA Newsletter • June 2017 • njea.org/njrea

Mark your calendars for the following important dates in the upcoming November elections:

Editorial by Michael Johnson

A vote for them is a vote for you Through the years, I’ve heard criticism and arguments related to the NJEA political endorsement process. Many misconceptions still exist among our members as to how the endorsements are reached, but the process is actually a fair and democratic one.

Prior to any election, each New Jersey county has a com-mittee that screens candidates. The screening, conducted by both active and retired mem-

bers, occurs in each legislative district.

The role of the screening committee is quite simple; their purpose is to flesh out information regarding the legislative issues that impact our members, both active and retired. The screening com-mittees use a questionnaire developed by the NJEA Gov-ernment Relations division and the NJEA PAC Operating Committee. The topics of the

questionnaire focus on issues of significant importance to the members and provide background related to existent voting records of incumbents. Adequate school funding, health benefits maintenance, pension payments, tenure, and appropriate evaluation methods – to name a few – are foremost in the questioning procedure.

Each committee then votes to recommend endorse-

ments to the statewide PAC Operating Committee, pro-viding ample justification for its recommendation. These endorsements are not made haphazardly, nor without great discussion and thought. In all cases, the endorsements are made with the members’ best interests in mind.

This November, we will elect a new governor, who selects his/her choice for lieutenant governor, and all Assembly and Senate seats in the New Jersey Legislature. For the first time in NJEA history, the PAC Operating Commit-tee endorsed a gubernatorial candidate for the June primary and will continue to consider and recommend additional endorsements for the June pri-mary and November general elections, all with an eye to finding candidates who will operate in the best interests of NJEA/NJREA members.

So, rather than bristling and harrumphing and declar-ing, “Who do they think they are?” or “They can’t tell me how to vote!” consider the care and thought that went into these decisions by your peers. Casting a vote for PAC- endorsed candidates truly is a vote in your own best interests.

Editorials and opinion articles do not necessarily represent the opinions of NJREA / NJEA.

Over the last four years, I’ve had the pleasure and honor of serving as the NJEA officer liaison to our retired mem-bers.

Between meetings with the NJREA leadership team, conferences, conventions, luncheons, and more, I had the chance to engage with col-leagues who have dedicated their careers to this great pro-fession and the union activism that has made a difference in so many lives.

Even in such a challenging environment, we have collec-tively achieved many successes because of the work you con-tinue to do. You inspire me; you give me strength; and you will remain the reason why I will never stop battling for what is just and right.

What humbles me most, however, are the times when I address rooms filled with colleagues who have earned the right to take a break, relax and sit back, and yet – time and time again – they instead choose to step up and take action. I shouldn’t be sur-prised since you understand, as unfair as it is, that we all still need to engage in this fight. We need to stand tall together as we work to ensure this pro-fession is as strong for the next generation as when you retired from it. We need to ensure the students we educate have the best possible chance in life because of the quality of education here in New Jersey. We need to keep up the fight because nothing less than the future of our nation is as stake.

As I transition to the NJEA vice president position, I remain confident in our future achievements because I know I can continue to count on you. So, while I will offer my heartfelt thanks, I won’t say goodbye. Instead, I’d like to simply say ‘good work’ and let’s keep on going together!

Sean M. Spiller is the Secretary-Treasurer of NJEA & the liaison to NJREA. Contact him at sspiller@njea.org.

Final thoughts12

A message from Sean M. Spiller

It’s been an honor

NJREA Newsletter • June 2017 • njea.org/njrea