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Posts tagged ‘CEA-Retired’

Sep 10

Retired Teachers Urged to Speak Up and Vote

CEA Retired President Gloria Brown told retired teachers, “This is an extremely important election.”

“Today is a very special day—not only because we’re here together in an air conditioned space instead of in a hot and humid classroom,” CEA President Jeff Leake told members of CEA-Retired, who had gathered for their annual fall conference on an especially hot and stifling September 6. “Today is a particularly special day for us to commemorate because, 40 years ago on the first day of school, only 36 of Bridgeport’s 1,247 teachers showed up for work.”

Leake continued, “Let us remember today what those striking Bridgeport teachers did for this union and teachers across the state. They stood strong, supported by our members from across the state. They were stronger together, and they did not give up.” Read more

May 10

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Retired Teachers Applaud Legislative Funding, Ready to Stay Active and Engaged

CEA Executive Director Donald Williams thanked CEA-Retired members for reaching out to their legislators in such great numbers.

“Those of you who went to retired lobby day, who reached out to your legislators, I can’t thank you enough,” CEA Executive Director Donald Williams told members of CEA-Retired gathered for their annual spring meeting this morning. “You made a tremendous difference and had a big impact on the legislature this year.”

In the budget that passed the Connecticut General Assembly late last night, legislators designated $16 million for the Retired Teachers’ Health Insurance Fund—contributing their full share for the first time in many years. While the state is supposed to contribute one-third of the fund’s actuarially required amount and retired teachers and active teachers each contribute one-third, the state has not been funding its share recently—putting the fund on the precipice of bankruptcy.

“Full state funding for the Retired Teachers’ Health Insurance Fund has been one of our top priorities in recent years,” Williams said. “Thank you for your great work.” Read more

Apr 4

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Retired Teachers Meet Face to Face With Legislators to Discuss Policy Issues

“I always tell my colleagues, ‘Never go up against retired teachers,” Representative Matthew Lesser told a crowd of retired educators today. “You guys are smart and have a lot of time on your hands!”

In the biggest turnout ever for Retired Teachers’ Lobby Day, more than 200 retired Connecticut educators converged on the Legislative Office Building this morning to meet with Lesser and dozens of other elected officials about issues important to retired educators and public education.

Rep. Matthew Lesser addresses over 200 retired educators at Retired Teachers’ Lobby Day.

The event, a joint effort of CEA-Retired, the Association of Retired Teachers of Connecticut (ARTC), and AFT Connecticut, brought longtime educators and legislators face to face to discuss issues important to both retired and active teachers. Read more

Jul 28

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CEA-Retired Member’s Work Highlighted by NEA

NEA Today is featuring retired educators who are still making a difference—and one of those highlighted is Connecticut’s own Jon-Paul Roden. A former CEA-Retired president, Roden was recently elected to his second term on the NEA-Retired Executive Council.

Read about Roden’s continuing contributions to the teaching profession below.

Jon-Paul Roden
Computer Science Teacher, Vernon, Connecticut

When Jon-Paul Roden started teaching in 1965, he needed to take on a second job to help supplement his income. This side job, along with others, made him eligible for Social Security benefits when he retired in 2000. His colleagues who didn’t take outside work and had only teaching pensions were left without a Social Security benefit, and most importantly, the Medicare Part B coverage. Read more

Mar 31

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Retired Teachers Meet Face to Face With Legislators to Discuss Policy Issues

CEA-Retired Legislative Committee Co-Chairs Myles Cohen and Karen O’Connell.

“I find it’s important to stay involved in our Association and pay it forward,” said John Battista, one of nearly 200 retired Connecticut educators who converged on the Legislative Office Building this week for Retired Teachers Lobby Day. The event, a joint effort of CEA-Retired, the Association of Retired Teachers of Connecticut (ARTC), and AFT Connecticut, brought longtime educators and their elected officials face to face to discuss issues important to both retired and active teachers.

Battista, a former physical education teacher in Westbrook, said, “I wasn’t an advocate early in my career, but over time I developed a passion for the issues critical to active and retired teachers. Teachers are the most important part of our economy. I want to see our profession lifted up to where it should be. ” Read more

Sep 20

National Teacher of the Year Thanks Retired Educators

CEA Retired President Gloria Brown.

CEA-Retired President Gloria Brown.

The nearly 200 retired teachers gathered this morning for the CEA-Retired Fall Issues Conference were reminded of why they went into teaching and everything they love about it still.

“We will always care about public education,” said CEA-Retired President Gloria Brown. “Our organization provides many opportunities for retired members to continue to be active in public education.”
Read more

Jun 30

CEA-Retired Members Hard at Work in D.C.

CEA-Retired members Mary Beth Lang, CEA-Retired President Gloria Brown, Bob Brown, and Vice President William Murray have joined retired colleagues from around the country.

CEA-Retired members Mary Beth Lang, CEA-Retired President Gloria Brown, Bob Brown, and Vice President William Murray have joined retired colleagues from around the country.

CEA-Retired members are in Washington, D.C., this week, busy meeting with other retired teachers from around the country at the NEA-Retired Annual Meeting taking place yesterday and today.

NEA President Lily Eskelsen García addressed the retirees yesterday, reminding them that their voices are important as the country faces state and national elections in November. She encouraged retired members to talk to their friends and neighbors and make sure candidates’ positions on education are known to members’ “circle of influence.”

CEA-Retired President Gloria Brown and Vice President Bill Murray were presented with the first place award for best website for retired members earlier today. This is the third year CEA-Retired has won this award—placing it in the NEA-Retired Award Hall of Fame. CEA-Retired also entered the hall of fame last year for the CEA Advisor after the publication took top honors for reporting retiree news three years in a row. Read more

May 26

CEA-Retired Members Elect Officers, Show Commitment to Education

CEA-Retired Officers

At their Spring Business Meeting, CEA-Retired members elected Karen DiMenna secretary and reelected Gloria Brown president, Bill Murray vice president, and Ina Smernoff treasurer.

CEA members’ commitment to students and their teaching colleagues doesn’t stop with retirement. Hundreds of retired teachers demonstrated that truth today with their active engagement at the CEA-Retired Spring Business Meeting.

“It’s important to remember our organization relies on the hard work of volunteers like you,” CEA-Retired President Gloria Brown told the members gathered at the Aquaturf in Southington. “Thank you for all you do.”

In uncontested races, CEA-Retired members reelected Gloria Brown president, Bill Murray vice president, and Ina Smernoff treasurer. Karen DiMenna was elected secretary of CEA-Retired as current secretary Pat Foley chose not to run for reelection.
Read more

Apr 6

Retirees Converge on the State Capitol: Ask Legislators for their Support

SONY DSC

State Representative Joe Gresko, a cosponsor of SB 380, spoke with Retired Stratford teacher Lynnette Baroni.

“It’s important to talk to us and express your views.”

That was the message Sen. Paul Formica gave to nearly 100 retired teachers who converged on the State Capitol today for Retired Teachers’ Lobby Day.

The event, organized by CEA-Retired, AFT Connecticut, and the Association of Retired Teachers of Connecticut gave retirees the opportunity to meet face-to-face with their elected representatives to discuss issues of importance to students and active and retired teachers. Read more

Sep 30

CEA-R Fall Conference Expands Retirees’ Horizons

CEA-Retired President Gloria Brown

CEA-Retired President Gloria Brown told retirees at a fall conference today, “Teachers are lifelong learners.”

Expand your Horizons: Learn more. Travel more. Volunteer more. That was the theme of today’s CEA-Retired Fall Issues Conference at the Aqua Turf in Southington. More than 200 CEA-R members learned about new programs that can help them remain active, continue learning, and make a difference.

“Teachers are lifelong learners, and today’s conference introduced retired teachers to a number of different organizations that can help make a difference in their lives and allow them to remain intellectually stimulated and socially involved,” said CEA-R President Gloria Brown.

Learn more

Many retired teachers search for opportunities for intellectual development, cultural stimulation, and social interaction, and in Connecticut there are many opportunities for retirees to do just that. Read more

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