Volume 28, Number 2

Blue Water Chapter December 2016 Mary Ecker, Editor Michigan Association of Retired School Personnel [email protected]

From our President out” (fully funded) over roughly the next 20 years. Legislative activity is likely to Merry Christmas continue in the 2017 legislative sessions Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in the Michigan House and Senate if these to all MARSP Blue Water chapter bills do not pass the Senate (week of 12/5) members. All the officers and executive and the House (week of 12/12) followed committee greatly appreciate your by Gov. Snyder’s signature. The cost of membership and support. this proposed conversion is estimated at Blue Water attendance and least 500 MILLION dollars per year for at participation in meetings least the next 5 years. Some estimates Blue Water attendance for the fall are as high as $1.3 billion dollars for the September, October and November first year close out costs. No one is sure chapter meetings was very good. Thanks how to fit this major cost into the budget. for making the extra effort to attend our MARSP and other educational groups are meetings! Please ask a friend to attend strongly opposed to this proposed our spring meetings beginning on April 24, legislation. The “hybrid” retirement 2017. We encourage Blue Water system began in 2012 and is funded at members to invite a friend who doesn’t over 100%. Current public school retiree normally attend meetings. Helen and I pensions are protected by the Michigan would like to see recent retirees and not State Constitution. The current health so recent retirees who are currently not insurance premium subsidy is not members. Current members who mandated by the Michigan State normally do not attend meetings are Constitution. invited to renew old friendships by Please contact your legislators and/or attending our three 2017 meetings in April, Governor Snyder and tell them you are May, and June. opposed to the close out of the defined URGENT!! 2016 “lame duck” Nov, benefits system. Dec, session and 2017 legislative Sharon Linehan and I met with Dan sessions in Michigan House and Lauwers, (R), House District 81, to voice Senate SB102, SB1177, and SB1178 are MARSP’s opposition to SB102, SB1177, being considered in the Senate during the and SB1178 as well as other proposals to “lame duck” session to make it mandatory close out the defined benefits system. for new public school employees to Current pensions of current retired public choose a 401K type (defined contribution) school personnel will not be directly instead of the current hybrid or 100% impacted. defined benefit system. The current defined benefit system would be “closed (President’s letter continued on next page)

President’s letter, continued Reducing the number of participants in the current retirement system will likely reduce the investment return of our pension system in the longer term by forcing more investments in fixed return investments. I met with Senator Phil Pavlov, (R), Senate

District 25, to voice MARSP’s opposition to SB102, SB1177, and SB1178. These bills will probably be voted on in the Senate during the week of December 5, 2016 and sent to the house if they pass the week of December 12, 2016.

New Michigan House Representatives for the Blue Water area District 32 and District 83 The Blue Water area will be represented by two new house representatives: in District 32, Representative elect, Pamela Hornberger (R) and in District 83, Representative elect, (R). We will invite Pamela and Shane to our April legislative meeting. We look forward to meeting them.

Representative Andrea LaFontaine (R), District 32, is term limited. We would like to thank Andrea for her service and wish her success in the future.

Representative (R), District 83, is also term limited. We would also thank Paul for his service and continuing membership in the Blue Water chapter of MARSP.

Don Armstrong, President [email protected] 810 765-5670

SC4 Scholarship Money! Apply Soon! Our Blue Water chapter awards up to three scholarships of $500 each year to deserving student who is enrolling in classes for the next school year. These funds are paid to the college in the student’s name for tuition, fees and/or books. The Scholarship Committee consists of Helen Wheeler, chair, Don Armstrong and Sharon Linehan.

Who can apply? Any student of the St. Clair Community College service area.

Selection criteria? 1. Scholastic performance. 2. Need. 3. Written references from at least three persons. If in high school, two from teachers and one personal.

Procedure for applying? Complete the application before March 22 and return it with the written references to the Financial Aid Office.

The committee will evaluate all applications and the top candidates selected will be asked to come in for a personal interview before recipient(s) are chosen. The Blue Water Association of Retired School Personnel reserves the right to grant this award as it sees fit. Any member of Blue Water MARSP can encourage their children, grandchildren, neighbors, and friends to apply. We hope you will think about candidates and remind them to look for the Blue Water MARSP scholarship in the SC4 listing.

Why Renew your MARSP Membership?

MARSP will be sending out the 2017-2018 renewal forms in late winter. The membership year runs from July 1 to June 30 so this is a good time to think about what MARSP does for us.

 MARSP is the ONLY organization representing ALL and ONLY retired Michigan public school employees. They are not splitting their concerns between the working and the retired.  MARSP has a full time lobbyist at the  Because MARSP is the retiree group with the most members MARSP has a member appointed by the Governor to the MPSERS Board. Your membership COUNTS toward better representation!  MARSP has the Vanguard newsletter to keep us informed about our retirement benefits and concerns

Isn’t $43 ($35 for state and $8 for local) a fair price to make sure our retirement concerns are heard?

Tell your friends about MARSP. Help them join the group that cares.

Easy renewal with a credit card starting after January 9th Call MARSP at 888-960-4022 7:30 am to 4:30 pm M – F, closed 11:30 to noon

INK in these dates

for our Spring meetings

MONDAY, April 24 Legislative Town Hall starts at 10 a.m. We plan to invite politicians from our neighboring counties so both sides of the political aisle are represented.

WEDNESDAY, May 24, 9:30 a.m. Our 2015 Annual Area 21 Meeting will be held at RESA on Range Rd. Our Scholarship recipients will also be presented at this meeting.

TUESDAY, June 13, 10:00 Speaker from AmeriCorps program. Please note June meeting changed to SECOND Tuesday at 10. There will not be a noon potluck

The Area meeting will be at RESA on Range Rd. Other meetings Salvation Army Citadel, 20th and Court Streets, Port Huron.

3742 Loton Dr, Fort Gratiot, Mi 48059

From ALL your friends at Blue Water Association of Retired School Personnel –

We hope your holidays are filled with laughter, love, and peace.