California Retired Teachers Association
    East Bay - Division 2      


May 9—Day of the Teacher 


   CalSTRS

   CalRTA

     Area 4

     East Bay

     
  Legislation Information
    Find Your State Legislator
    Find Your Congressional Rep
    Search: State Bills
    Search: Congressional Bills
    California Governor
    White House


  Resource Services
    Member Benefits
    Help for Seniors


   Leisure Pursuits
    Art Daily News
    Genealogy   
Sports
    Travel

     Google    Mapquest      Yahoo


  Membership
    Why Join?
    Watch the Videos 
    Download Application Form (pdf)  


    Newsletters
   May - June  2012 (pdf)
   Mar - Apr  2012 (pdf) 
   Jan - Feb  2012 (pdf)
   Nov - Dec  2011 (pdf)
   
         
  Reports and Alerts
  Members Only Downloads
    Log in and click DOWNLOADS.
    Access CalRTA State Budget, Bylaw
    Amendments, and many more...
  Legislative Hotline
    Log in and click LEGISLATIVE
    HOTLINE. CalRTA actively works on
    state and federal legislation of
    interest to California educators.
  WEP/GPO: Power Point Presentation
  CALSTRS Benefits Us
  CalRTA Member Legislation Survey
    This is a Legislation Priority Survey.
    Your input is very important. Log in
    and click on TAKE A SURVEY.
  What is Single Payer?
    A national health insurance agency
    in which a single public agency
    organizes health financing, but delivery
    of care remains largely private.
  Kaiser Family Foundation
    Healthcare Reform Source
  Hot News From CalRTA
    » Health Proponent Offers Lifeline For
    Health Care Help
    » CalRTA Creates Special Task Force
    For WEP/GPO Repeal Efforts
    Learn more...
  POINT OF VIEW 

  Tell Nancy Pelosi: Draw a line...
    CREDO action
    May 7, 2012
    Tell Nancy Pelosi: Draw a line
    on cuts to Social Security,
    Medicare and Medicaid benefits
  Europe's economy is crisis of...
    By Robert Reich
    May 6, 2012
    Europe's economy is crisis of
    austerity, not debt
  How Wealth Reduces Compassion
    By Daisy Grewal
    April 10, 2012
    How Wealth Reduces Compassion
    As riches grow, empathy for others
    seems to decline
  Eight Civics Lessons from...
    By Diane Ravitch
    March 14, 2011
    Eight Civics Lessons from
    Governor Walker


  BLOGS
  
  Plan Perspective: Jack's Blog
    By Jack Ehnes, CalSTRS CEO
    Jack blogs about issues regarding
    public pensions and the CalSTRS
    Fund.
  4ssfairness' Blog
    Nationwide volunteer group of public
    workers organized to repeal the
    GPO/WEP.

 
  CalRTA Facebook


  Photos
     April Luncheon
     EB Scholarship Event
     May Luncheon

  Screen Tips
  To enlarge images and texts
     MAC and PC:  Press    Ctrl  +
  To decrease images and texts
     MAC and PC:  Press    Ctrl  -
  To open a pdf file
      Download a free Adobe Reader
      from the Internet.
      Click here to download
  To find a link
      A mouse over where the mouse
      cursor changes to a pointing
      finger motif indicates a link (text
      or image) which is clickable.
      An active link text is blue and
      underlined in the same blue link
      color.




LaQuita Cole, President

Welcome to Division 2
In 1931 our division became the second to affiliate with CalRTA. Now, we have about 730 members with most of them living in the Oakland area.  

Who is CalRTA?
The California Retired Teachers Association was founded in 1929 in Pasadena. Our state association has grown to 50,000 members. With an active legislation advocacy progam we have become the dominant authoritative force working at the federal, state, and local levels to protect and enhance our retirement benefits.
For more information about what we do to support retired teachers and public education move your mouse to the upper left column and click the links to CalRTA Web Site and Area 4.

At the area and division level, as indicated by the Help for Seniors link, we are committed to assisting our fellow retirees.
 
What Do We Do in Divison 2?
   
We do enjoy retirement! Locally, we have events such as luncheon meetings and day trips to provide opportunities for fellowship and just having fun.  


We also have opportunities to take part in the political affairs that affect retired teachers and California schools. Postcard writing campaigns, visiting our local legislators, and even demonstrating are some of the activities that we have taken part in.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
 
 
Classroom Superheroes
 
NEA
April 30, 2012
Watch the video ⇒
 
How to Destroy Education While Making a Trillion Dollars
 
By Robert Freeman
April 29, 2012
Read more ⇒
 
Inbox
 
» Day of the Teacher--A Closer Look...
By Barry Gantt
May 9, 2012
Read more ⇒
 
» Senator Barbara Boxer's reply to John Lowrey's letter regarding the WEP/GPO.
John Lowrey (Division 91) is the Area 4 Legislation Rep at the State Level.
April 3, 2012
Read more ⇒
 
National Education Association
Federal Legislative Updates
 
News Updates from Capitol Hill that change regularly. Read information on developments in the federal government that affect children and public education.
Read more ⇒
 
CalRTA Responds – New Pension Attacks
 
» From: Debbie Pate-Newberry
CalRTA Director of Communications
April 30, 2012
Read more ⇒
» CalSTRS responds: Letters to the editor, Tuesday, May 1, 2012
By Ed Derman
Deputy CEO of CalSTRS
Daily news
Los Angeles
Read more ⇒

 
 
What You Need To Know About ALEC
Bridging Differences–Education Week's blogs
 
By Diane Ravitch
May 1, 2012
Read more ⇒

Five Tax Fallacies Invented by the 1%
We hear these claims often, even though they're extremely false...
 
By Paul Buchheit
April 30, 2012
Read more ⇒

European, US Austerity Drive is Suicidal: Nobel Economist Stiglitz
 
– Common Dreams staff
April 27, 2012
Read more ⇒

The War on Public Sector Workers
 
By Dean Baker
April 16, 2012
Read more ⇒

The Campaign to Privatize the World
 
By David Macaray
April 13, 2012
Read more ⇒

Challenging Corporate Ed Reform
And 10 hopeful signs of resistance
 
By Stan Karp
Spring 2012
Read more ⇒

Previous Articles
 
Formerly on homepage
Read ⇒
 
Becoming a Member
Membership is not restricted to retired educators. If you are currently in education or just interested in our goals, you are welcome to attend a luncheon meeting, take part in a day trip, and become a member!       
               
Social Security Fairness

CalRTA East Bay Division 2 is dedicated to informing the public about the WEP and GPO provisions of social security that adversely impact the income of thousands of retired educators and public workers in 14 states including California. CalRTA and other major associations are in a coalition working hard to get Congress to pass a bill to eliminate these unfair penalties. For more information visit the links below.
www.ssfairness.com
Unfortunate Surprise for Educators
Current Legal Situation
Help Support Repealing WEP and GOP





CalRTA Action Request: April 16, 2012—During the April 12 and 13 CalSTRS Board meeting, some of Governor Brown's appointees appeared to be trying to push the Governor's pension proposal for a risky hybrid pension plan for new CalSTRS members. CalRTA opposes this risky proposal...  Take action now  ⇒

Action Alert: The National Education Association has worked with Senators Kerry and Collins to introduce S. 2010, the WEP/GPO SS Fairness repeal legislation. Tell your Senators and Representatives to cosponsor the Social Security Fairness Act.  Take action now  ⇒

Action Alert: AARP is asking for input on ways to strengthen Social Security. So we finally have a chance to tell AARP why it needs to support us in our fight for repeal of the GPO/WEP. Write to AARP!  Take action now  ⇒

Sunday Forum: What would John do?
Jeffrey R. Lewis
March 15, 2012
Eighteen years ago this weekend, Pennsylvania lost a powerful voice and the nation's elderly lost...   Read more ⇒

FACT: Public opinion can sway votes
in Congress!               

General Luncheon Meetings
The Division meets at noon on the first Thursday of the month at the Mastick Senior Center, 1155 Santa Clara Ave., Alameda. Each meeting features a luncheon and program. 

Reservations should be made the Friday preceeding the meeting. For information about the next meeting and a reservation form see page 7 of the latest newsletter.                                                      
Board Meetings  
 
You are welcome to attend our sessions.The Board meets at l pm on the fourth Thursday of each month at the Mastick Senior Center.  

Officers and Chairs  
 
President: LaQuita Cole
2nd Vice President: Karen Ratto
Secretary: Helen Sullivan
Treasurer: Jack Mathieson
Past President: Larana (Barbara) Robinson

Newsletter: Dorothy Ausmus
Communications: Marcia Hawkins
Historian: Eunice Wright
Insurance: Willard Davis
Legislation: Joe Debro and Karen Ratto
Membership: Lorraine Andrews
Publicity: Edith Hereso and Marcia Hawkins
Resource Services: Mary Soo-Hoo
CalRTA LES Scholarship: Phyllis De la Vergne
EB Scholarship: Suzanne Mathieson
Hoffman Fund: Dianne Warner
25 Year Club: Anita Debro and Fredora Darmstadt
PAC Liaison: Wardell Hurst
Travel: Jim McVay
Programs: Harriet Hutchinson
Luncheon Reservation: Dianne Warner
Luncheon Service: Elyse Dukatz
Inspirational Reading: Joan Ellison
Webmaster: Edith Hereso
Reports and articles by these officers appear in the division newsletter - CHALK DUST.

2012 Calendar

Date                        Event
 
May 3
10 am to noon    Choir Practice
noon–2 pm    Luncheon
Program: Scholarship Awards
Presenter: EBCalRTA Scholarship
           Foundation
May 9
DAY OF THE TEACHER
May 17
10 am to noon    Choir Practice
May 18–21
CalRTA DELEGATE ASSEMBLY/
CONVENTION
May 24
1–3 pm
    Board Meeting
May 31
10 am to noon    Choir Practice
June 7
10 am to noon    Choir Practice
noon–2 pm    Luncheon
Program: EBCalRTA Spring Concert
Co-Directors: Larana Robinson and
           Lolita Morelli
June 21
1–3pm    Board Meeting
Aug 23
1–3pm    Board Meeting


Travel News

An extended trip to Spain and Portugal in 2012,
anyone? This is a trip for 15 days starting on August 26, 2012.
   
Click the link to the latest newsletter for details.


Spain...Map of Spain


                                                                  



    


Core Purpose: To enhance and protect the benefits of retired educators