Illinois Retired Teachers Association
Henry/Stark General Meeting
November 13, 2019
The Henry/Stark Unit of the Illinois Retired Teachers Association met on November 13, 2019 at the Toulon First Congregational Church. After the pledge, Linnea Gustafson gave the blessing. Our members enjoyed the meal that was prepared by the Congregational Culinary Crew. After the meal, everyone present was able to win a raffle prize, thanks to the generosity of Sue Sagmoen, owner of Heartfelt.
The Mystery Woman was our own talented member, Cleta Riggins. Cleta gave a reading that explained the origins of many words and sayings that are still heard in conversations in today’s world. Some of these sayings and words were ; saved by the bell, dead ringer, raining cats and dogs, bringing home the bacon, sit around and chew the fat, dirt poor, holding a wake, don’t throw out the baby with the bath water, and threshold, to name a few.
Pam gave the secretary’s report for the Sept. 11, 2019 meeting. There were two thank you letters for our $100 donation to the IRTA Legal Defense Fund last month, and for the Barnes and Noble silent auction gift donated in support of 2019 IRTAPAC which netted $125. Linnea Gustafson made the motion, seconded by Karen Griffiths to accept the secretary’s report. Motion carried. Julie gave the treasurer’s report. Balance as of Sept 11, 2019 was $4,511.74, total receipts were $795, and expenditures were $1,899.92. Balance as of November 13, 2019 was $3,406.82. Raffle made $130.Sue Busenbark made the motion, seconded by Pat Welti to accept the treasure’s report. Motion carried. President Killelea gave the results of the survey taken in September. Members were asked to vote on changing times and locations of the meetings or keep the same format. The consensus was to continue with the same planning that the board does now. Pam made the motion to donate $100 to the IRTA Foundation in memory of Jim Bachman’s wife. Cleta Riggins seconded the motion. Motion carried. President Sue read a few comments from Jocie Saline on the IRTA Convention. IRTA membership has grown to 38,670.The officers for 2020 will remain the same. Jan McElvain made the motion to accept the officers. Motion was seconded by Karen Larson. Motion carried. Members can expect a meeting schedule for 2020 sometime in February. Steve Morrison made the motion seconded by Karen Ramsey to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried.
Minutes submitted by Pam Sprout, Secretary
Illinois Retired Teachers Association
Henry/Stark General Meeting
September 11, 2019
The Henry/Stark Unit of the Illinois Retired Teachers Association was welcomed to the Sept 11, 2019 meeting held in the Bishop Hill Old Colony School. Roger Hawk gave the blessing after the pledge. Lunch was prepared by the Filling Station and, as always, was excellent food.
Storyteller, Brian “Fox” Ellis portrayed John Deere, an American inventor and manufacturer of some of the most recognizable agriculture equipment in the world. Deere’s work ethic began in his childhood at the age of ten. After his marriage to Demarius Lamb, he moved from his birth state of Vermont to Grand Detour, Illinois on the Rock River and created the stainless-steel plow that could cut through the roots of prairie grasses. After starting that blacksmith business, he moved to Moline, Illinois so that he could transport goods and raw materials on the Mississippi River. Deere turned the business over to his son, Charles, in 1858, and became involved in politics. He invested in the community by building churches, and hospitals as well as funding the founding of Knox College. He was active in the Moline community throughout his life, even serving as mayor for two years.
The business meeting followed with the secretary’s report. Thank you notes from Madison Wancket, one of the $500 award recipients, and the IRTA Political Action Committee for our donation, were acknowledged. Pat Welti made the motion to accept the secretary’s report. Jean Mann seconded the motion. The motion carried. Julie gave the treasurer’s report. Balance as of July 10, 2019, was $4,171.74, receipts were $595, Expenditures were $255. Balance as of Sept 11, 2019 was $4,511.74. The raffle made $200. One half of the raffle proceeds will be donated to the IRTA Legal Defense Fund. Karen Griffiths made the motion, seconded by Mary Hawk, to accept the treasurer’s report. Motion carried.
The IRTA Convention will be Oct. 14 1nd 15 in Springfield. The next meeting will be held November 13, at the First Congregational Church in Toulon. Any ideas for programs will be accepted. Carol Bender made the motion, seconded by Phyllis Dotson, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried.
Minutes submitted by
Secretary Pam Sprout
Illinois Retired Teachers Association
Henry/Stark General Meeting
July 10, 2019
The Henry/Stark Unit of the Illinois Retired Teachers Association met at St. Luke’s Medical Center for a 10:00 brunch prepared by the hospital’s dietary department. After the pledge, Roger Hawk gave the blessing. After the meal, President Sue read a thank you note from Jordan Frances, one of the recipients receiving our $500 award. Nicole Lewis from Geneseo attended the brunch and told us she plans to be en elementary teacher. She is to be commended for taking online college classes while still in high school which puts her a year ahead in college. Nicole was accompanied by her mother
Our program was presented by the IRTA President, Roger Hampton, IRTA Vice President, John Flaherty, and AMBA Representative, Cheryl Setser.
President Hampton gave a power point presentation outlining how IRTA is working for us. IRTA is our “watchdog” representing retired educators in the General Assembly on issues affecting us. IRTAPAC assists in combating new and urgent threats to our pension benefits. Roger encouraged all of us to donate $1 a month to IRTAPAC through pension deduction. IRTAF provides financial assistance for retired educators, awards Excellence in Education grants to current educators, and has scholarships for future teachers. Roger had a handout that provided many facts about the purpose of all of these important associations.
John Flaherty tracks legislative activities in Springfield. Gov.Pritzker has passed a$15 minimum wage bill, passed a bill for infrastructure, added a $.19 gas tax bill, added casinos and video gaming and legalized marijuana. However, when the governor attempted to cut our funding by $576 million, IRTA gladly presented Gov. Pritzker with the questionnaire he had completed prior to IRTA endorsing him in the election. That questionnaire proved to be the key for reversing the shortening of our funds. He ended his update by describing politics; poly meaning many and tics, blood sucking parasites. LOL.
Cheryl Setser explained all the member benefits of AMBA that includes health insurance benefits, travel discounts, auto and home insurance, and specialty discounts.
Pam read the minutes of the May 15 meeting. Pres. Sue made the motion, seconded by Beth, to accept the minutes . Motion carried. Julie gave the treasure’s report. Balance as of July 10, 2019 was $4171.74. Total receipts were $638.00, total expenditures were $2348.45. Sue made the motion, seconded by Cleta to accepted the treasure’s report. Motion carried. The raffle made $160. One half of the raffle will go to the foundation and for the upcoming convention.
Jocie Saline attended the leadership meeting in June. Everything was discussed in the July HSRTA meeting so she had no report.
Next meeting will be at the Colony School in Bishop Hill on Sept 11, 2019. Pres. Sue made the motion, seconded by Karen Griffiths, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried.
Minutes submitted by
Secretary Pam Sprout
Illinois Retired Teachers Association
Henry/Stark General Meeting
May 15, 2019
The Henry/Stark Unit of the Illinois Retired Teachers Association Met at noon, May 15, 2019, at the St. Luke’s Medical Center. Following the pledge and blessing by Roger Hawk, we had a meal prepared by the hospital dietary department.
Laura Luciano presented our program on the Silver Sneakers Fitness program that is available to our members at the YMCA. This program is designed for all ages. Exercises will increase muscular strength, plus a range of activities for daily living. The Y also offers other fitness programs for members and as well as the public.
IRTA Region 8 director, Gail Wright, gave some updates on legislation in Springfield. Bill 3046 gives retirees that have opted out of TRIP or TRAIL insurance can now re-enroll in either. Legislation on Social Security Fairness Act has not passed but IRTA lobbyists are lobbying for its passage. HB 2700 will change so that over-payment of insurance premiums will go back seven years instead of 6 months. Under-payment of insurance premiums will still go back 7 years. Area Leadership Conference will be June 18 and 19 at IVCC and Rock Island. The IRTA 2019 Convention will be held at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield on October 14 and 15. The keynote speaker will be the judge who has previously ruled on our pensions. Gail also highlighted how the IRTA Foundation serves retired educators by providing financial assistance when low pensions and rising inflation prevent them from meeting financial obligation. This fall the Foundation will award $36,500 for special projects through the Excellence in Education Grants for Teachers.
The business meeting followed the program. President Sue reminded us that retirees need to belong to the IRTA as well as the local unit. Pam acknowledge the thank you email from Mike Schmidt after being invited to our March meeting so that he could introduce Doug Strand who was on the ballot to be a TRS board trustee. Doug did win that position. The minutes were read by Pam Sprout and approved. Julie DeSplinter read the treasures report. March balance was $5,541.69. Total receipts were $1,131.00, expenditures were $820.50. Balance as of May 15, 2019 was $5,852.19. Treasure’s report was approved as read. It was discovered that tickets had been sold for the raffle that did not have numbers, which President Sue described as a “ticket explosion. However, our raffle made $193. One half of the raffle money will go to the IRTA Foundation. Sue read the names of the four high school seniors receiving the $500 awards. These students are planning to become educators. Students are Madison Wancket and Nicole Lewis, both from Geneseo, Brooklynn Carpenter from Annawan and Jordan Frances from Woodhull. They will be invited to attend the July meeting to be presented their checks. After the raffle, Roger said that he has made up a silent auction item from Barnes and Noble for the convention. Roger announced that there was an unexpected $1.5 billion in income taxes that will be used to help fund teachers’ pensions.
President Sue made the motion, seconded by Pam to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried. Next meeting will be a 10:00 brunch at St. Luke’s medical Center on July 10, 2019.
Minutes submitted by Secretary
Pam Sprout
Illinois Retired Teachers Association
Henry/Stark General Meeting
March 13, 2019
The Henry/Stark Unit of the Illinois Retired Teachers Association met at noon March 13, 2019 at the Annawan Community Center. After reciting the pledge and blessing by Roger Hawk, we enjoyed the meal prepared by the United Methodist Church of Annawan.
Following the meal, President Sue Killelea introduced Michael Schmidt, the chairman of the state IRTA Membership Committee. Mr. Schmidt then introduced Douglas Strand, whom the 13-member state board voted to endorse or recommend as a retired teacher, to run for a seat on the board. There is another IRTA member, running for the same seat on the board, who was not endorsed. Doug Strand is very qualified to serve on the state board. Besides being a teacher, he has served and continues to serve on many boards providing financial services. He has exemplary leadership qualities. Ballots will arrive to members via email or paper ballot. Only two names will appear on the ballot. Voting will be April 1 to April 30. Mike Schmidt did inform us that Illinois TRS has the 82nd largest retirement fund in the world.
Next on the program was Mike DeWalt, a Caterpillar retiree, who presented information about the importance of streetcars in Kewanee, and interurban travel between Kewanee and Galva from 1901 to 1935. The interurban route to Galva ended in 1932. He showed routes that were travelled, as well as old photos of the times.
The business meeting followed the program. Pam acknowledged two thank you notes for our donations to the IRTA Foundation and IRTA PAC. The minutes of the November 14, 2018 were approved as read. Julie read the treasure’s report. Balance as of Nov. 14, 2018 was $4,900. Total receipts were $1715. Total expenditures were $1073.31. Balance as of March 13, 2019 was $5541.69. The treasure’s report was approved. The raffle was $130. One half of the raffle will go to the IRTA legal defense fund. Sue Busenbark explained the requirements for the $500 awards that are given to students that will be pursuing a career in teaching. Carol Cole made the motion, seconded by Roger Hawk to increase the number of students receiving awards to 4.
Sue Busenbark conducted a memorial service by lighting a single pillar candle and reading the names of the twenty members who have passed away since our March 2018 meeting. Memories of our deceased members were shared.
Following the raffle, Sue Killelea made the motion, seconded by Linnea, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried.
Minutes submitted by Pam Sprout
Henry/Stark General Meeting
November 13, 2019
The Henry/Stark Unit of the Illinois Retired Teachers Association met on November 13, 2019 at the Toulon First Congregational Church. After the pledge, Linnea Gustafson gave the blessing. Our members enjoyed the meal that was prepared by the Congregational Culinary Crew. After the meal, everyone present was able to win a raffle prize, thanks to the generosity of Sue Sagmoen, owner of Heartfelt.
The Mystery Woman was our own talented member, Cleta Riggins. Cleta gave a reading that explained the origins of many words and sayings that are still heard in conversations in today’s world. Some of these sayings and words were ; saved by the bell, dead ringer, raining cats and dogs, bringing home the bacon, sit around and chew the fat, dirt poor, holding a wake, don’t throw out the baby with the bath water, and threshold, to name a few.
Pam gave the secretary’s report for the Sept. 11, 2019 meeting. There were two thank you letters for our $100 donation to the IRTA Legal Defense Fund last month, and for the Barnes and Noble silent auction gift donated in support of 2019 IRTAPAC which netted $125. Linnea Gustafson made the motion, seconded by Karen Griffiths to accept the secretary’s report. Motion carried. Julie gave the treasurer’s report. Balance as of Sept 11, 2019 was $4,511.74, total receipts were $795, and expenditures were $1,899.92. Balance as of November 13, 2019 was $3,406.82. Raffle made $130.Sue Busenbark made the motion, seconded by Pat Welti to accept the treasure’s report. Motion carried. President Killelea gave the results of the survey taken in September. Members were asked to vote on changing times and locations of the meetings or keep the same format. The consensus was to continue with the same planning that the board does now. Pam made the motion to donate $100 to the IRTA Foundation in memory of Jim Bachman’s wife. Cleta Riggins seconded the motion. Motion carried. President Sue read a few comments from Jocie Saline on the IRTA Convention. IRTA membership has grown to 38,670.The officers for 2020 will remain the same. Jan McElvain made the motion to accept the officers. Motion was seconded by Karen Larson. Motion carried. Members can expect a meeting schedule for 2020 sometime in February. Steve Morrison made the motion seconded by Karen Ramsey to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried.
Minutes submitted by Pam Sprout, Secretary
Illinois Retired Teachers Association
Henry/Stark General Meeting
September 11, 2019
The Henry/Stark Unit of the Illinois Retired Teachers Association was welcomed to the Sept 11, 2019 meeting held in the Bishop Hill Old Colony School. Roger Hawk gave the blessing after the pledge. Lunch was prepared by the Filling Station and, as always, was excellent food.
Storyteller, Brian “Fox” Ellis portrayed John Deere, an American inventor and manufacturer of some of the most recognizable agriculture equipment in the world. Deere’s work ethic began in his childhood at the age of ten. After his marriage to Demarius Lamb, he moved from his birth state of Vermont to Grand Detour, Illinois on the Rock River and created the stainless-steel plow that could cut through the roots of prairie grasses. After starting that blacksmith business, he moved to Moline, Illinois so that he could transport goods and raw materials on the Mississippi River. Deere turned the business over to his son, Charles, in 1858, and became involved in politics. He invested in the community by building churches, and hospitals as well as funding the founding of Knox College. He was active in the Moline community throughout his life, even serving as mayor for two years.
The business meeting followed with the secretary’s report. Thank you notes from Madison Wancket, one of the $500 award recipients, and the IRTA Political Action Committee for our donation, were acknowledged. Pat Welti made the motion to accept the secretary’s report. Jean Mann seconded the motion. The motion carried. Julie gave the treasurer’s report. Balance as of July 10, 2019, was $4,171.74, receipts were $595, Expenditures were $255. Balance as of Sept 11, 2019 was $4,511.74. The raffle made $200. One half of the raffle proceeds will be donated to the IRTA Legal Defense Fund. Karen Griffiths made the motion, seconded by Mary Hawk, to accept the treasurer’s report. Motion carried.
The IRTA Convention will be Oct. 14 1nd 15 in Springfield. The next meeting will be held November 13, at the First Congregational Church in Toulon. Any ideas for programs will be accepted. Carol Bender made the motion, seconded by Phyllis Dotson, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried.
Minutes submitted by
Secretary Pam Sprout
Illinois Retired Teachers Association
Henry/Stark General Meeting
July 10, 2019
The Henry/Stark Unit of the Illinois Retired Teachers Association met at St. Luke’s Medical Center for a 10:00 brunch prepared by the hospital’s dietary department. After the pledge, Roger Hawk gave the blessing. After the meal, President Sue read a thank you note from Jordan Frances, one of the recipients receiving our $500 award. Nicole Lewis from Geneseo attended the brunch and told us she plans to be en elementary teacher. She is to be commended for taking online college classes while still in high school which puts her a year ahead in college. Nicole was accompanied by her mother
Our program was presented by the IRTA President, Roger Hampton, IRTA Vice President, John Flaherty, and AMBA Representative, Cheryl Setser.
President Hampton gave a power point presentation outlining how IRTA is working for us. IRTA is our “watchdog” representing retired educators in the General Assembly on issues affecting us. IRTAPAC assists in combating new and urgent threats to our pension benefits. Roger encouraged all of us to donate $1 a month to IRTAPAC through pension deduction. IRTAF provides financial assistance for retired educators, awards Excellence in Education grants to current educators, and has scholarships for future teachers. Roger had a handout that provided many facts about the purpose of all of these important associations.
John Flaherty tracks legislative activities in Springfield. Gov.Pritzker has passed a$15 minimum wage bill, passed a bill for infrastructure, added a $.19 gas tax bill, added casinos and video gaming and legalized marijuana. However, when the governor attempted to cut our funding by $576 million, IRTA gladly presented Gov. Pritzker with the questionnaire he had completed prior to IRTA endorsing him in the election. That questionnaire proved to be the key for reversing the shortening of our funds. He ended his update by describing politics; poly meaning many and tics, blood sucking parasites. LOL.
Cheryl Setser explained all the member benefits of AMBA that includes health insurance benefits, travel discounts, auto and home insurance, and specialty discounts.
Pam read the minutes of the May 15 meeting. Pres. Sue made the motion, seconded by Beth, to accept the minutes . Motion carried. Julie gave the treasure’s report. Balance as of July 10, 2019 was $4171.74. Total receipts were $638.00, total expenditures were $2348.45. Sue made the motion, seconded by Cleta to accepted the treasure’s report. Motion carried. The raffle made $160. One half of the raffle will go to the foundation and for the upcoming convention.
Jocie Saline attended the leadership meeting in June. Everything was discussed in the July HSRTA meeting so she had no report.
Next meeting will be at the Colony School in Bishop Hill on Sept 11, 2019. Pres. Sue made the motion, seconded by Karen Griffiths, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried.
Minutes submitted by
Secretary Pam Sprout
Illinois Retired Teachers Association
Henry/Stark General Meeting
May 15, 2019
The Henry/Stark Unit of the Illinois Retired Teachers Association Met at noon, May 15, 2019, at the St. Luke’s Medical Center. Following the pledge and blessing by Roger Hawk, we had a meal prepared by the hospital dietary department.
Laura Luciano presented our program on the Silver Sneakers Fitness program that is available to our members at the YMCA. This program is designed for all ages. Exercises will increase muscular strength, plus a range of activities for daily living. The Y also offers other fitness programs for members and as well as the public.
IRTA Region 8 director, Gail Wright, gave some updates on legislation in Springfield. Bill 3046 gives retirees that have opted out of TRIP or TRAIL insurance can now re-enroll in either. Legislation on Social Security Fairness Act has not passed but IRTA lobbyists are lobbying for its passage. HB 2700 will change so that over-payment of insurance premiums will go back seven years instead of 6 months. Under-payment of insurance premiums will still go back 7 years. Area Leadership Conference will be June 18 and 19 at IVCC and Rock Island. The IRTA 2019 Convention will be held at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield on October 14 and 15. The keynote speaker will be the judge who has previously ruled on our pensions. Gail also highlighted how the IRTA Foundation serves retired educators by providing financial assistance when low pensions and rising inflation prevent them from meeting financial obligation. This fall the Foundation will award $36,500 for special projects through the Excellence in Education Grants for Teachers.
The business meeting followed the program. President Sue reminded us that retirees need to belong to the IRTA as well as the local unit. Pam acknowledge the thank you email from Mike Schmidt after being invited to our March meeting so that he could introduce Doug Strand who was on the ballot to be a TRS board trustee. Doug did win that position. The minutes were read by Pam Sprout and approved. Julie DeSplinter read the treasures report. March balance was $5,541.69. Total receipts were $1,131.00, expenditures were $820.50. Balance as of May 15, 2019 was $5,852.19. Treasure’s report was approved as read. It was discovered that tickets had been sold for the raffle that did not have numbers, which President Sue described as a “ticket explosion. However, our raffle made $193. One half of the raffle money will go to the IRTA Foundation. Sue read the names of the four high school seniors receiving the $500 awards. These students are planning to become educators. Students are Madison Wancket and Nicole Lewis, both from Geneseo, Brooklynn Carpenter from Annawan and Jordan Frances from Woodhull. They will be invited to attend the July meeting to be presented their checks. After the raffle, Roger said that he has made up a silent auction item from Barnes and Noble for the convention. Roger announced that there was an unexpected $1.5 billion in income taxes that will be used to help fund teachers’ pensions.
President Sue made the motion, seconded by Pam to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried. Next meeting will be a 10:00 brunch at St. Luke’s medical Center on July 10, 2019.
Minutes submitted by Secretary
Pam Sprout
Illinois Retired Teachers Association
Henry/Stark General Meeting
March 13, 2019
The Henry/Stark Unit of the Illinois Retired Teachers Association met at noon March 13, 2019 at the Annawan Community Center. After reciting the pledge and blessing by Roger Hawk, we enjoyed the meal prepared by the United Methodist Church of Annawan.
Following the meal, President Sue Killelea introduced Michael Schmidt, the chairman of the state IRTA Membership Committee. Mr. Schmidt then introduced Douglas Strand, whom the 13-member state board voted to endorse or recommend as a retired teacher, to run for a seat on the board. There is another IRTA member, running for the same seat on the board, who was not endorsed. Doug Strand is very qualified to serve on the state board. Besides being a teacher, he has served and continues to serve on many boards providing financial services. He has exemplary leadership qualities. Ballots will arrive to members via email or paper ballot. Only two names will appear on the ballot. Voting will be April 1 to April 30. Mike Schmidt did inform us that Illinois TRS has the 82nd largest retirement fund in the world.
Next on the program was Mike DeWalt, a Caterpillar retiree, who presented information about the importance of streetcars in Kewanee, and interurban travel between Kewanee and Galva from 1901 to 1935. The interurban route to Galva ended in 1932. He showed routes that were travelled, as well as old photos of the times.
The business meeting followed the program. Pam acknowledged two thank you notes for our donations to the IRTA Foundation and IRTA PAC. The minutes of the November 14, 2018 were approved as read. Julie read the treasure’s report. Balance as of Nov. 14, 2018 was $4,900. Total receipts were $1715. Total expenditures were $1073.31. Balance as of March 13, 2019 was $5541.69. The treasure’s report was approved. The raffle was $130. One half of the raffle will go to the IRTA legal defense fund. Sue Busenbark explained the requirements for the $500 awards that are given to students that will be pursuing a career in teaching. Carol Cole made the motion, seconded by Roger Hawk to increase the number of students receiving awards to 4.
Sue Busenbark conducted a memorial service by lighting a single pillar candle and reading the names of the twenty members who have passed away since our March 2018 meeting. Memories of our deceased members were shared.
Following the raffle, Sue Killelea made the motion, seconded by Linnea, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried.
Minutes submitted by Pam Sprout