Illinois State Annuitants Association Newsletter T E S TA U N S I V I E O R N S I I L T L Y I A N N N O U I I T T I A A N C T S A S S O Volume 7 Number 1 ISUAA Fall 2012 ISUAA—serving annuitants and survivors since 1971 President’s message Our thanks go to Campus Recreation for sponsoring this newsletter. The new Student Fitness Center has been a fabulous success, serving a phenomenal number of students while also providing inside fitness opportunities for a large number of Illinois State faculty, staff, and of course our member- ship. If you wish to maintain your health and fitness, or wish to enhance it, please consider paying President Bowman at fall luncheon 2 the fitness center a visit. If you have not seen the new facility, consider stopping in and asking for a tour. Survivor’s advocacy workshop a success 2 Illinois State experienced a large wave of individu- als retiring before the end of June. The State Universi- Madrigal Singers headline ISUAA Holiday Luncheon 2 ties Retirement System (SURS) experienced the same wave statewide. While many were avoiding the decrease Legislative report 3 in the money purchase formula that went into effect in Impact of proposed July, many also retired because of uncertainty about state COLA reduction 4 pensions and benefits. Perhaps many accepted the com- Health insurance contracts mon myth that once you have retired, your pension and extended 4 benefits are guaranteed for life. Like all myths, this is not true. In fact, these individuals retired even though Senate Annuitants’ pool 5 Bill 1313, which imposed retiree health insurance pre- Leaving Normal 5 miums, was passed before the end of the May legislative Helping hamper 5 session, and Senate Bill 1673, which would have forced a choice between keeping some form of health insurance 2012–2013 directory 5 benefits or a 3 percent cost of living adjustment (COLA) Annuitant participation in in retirement, was up for a vote during the May legislative Founders Day Convocation 6 session. Many retirees do not belong to the Illinois State Help prevent dues increase 7 University Annuitants Association (ISUAA) and the State Universities Annuitants Association (SUAA) because they mistakenly believe that their pensions and benefits are secure, protected by University club spring 2013 events 7 Article 13 of the Illinois Constitution. Please correct this misinformation and tell them that they need our help now more than ever before. It is clear that there will be further attempts to reduce Legislative committee your COLA. meets with legislators 7 State directors were faced with a vote on a dues increase at the fall SUAA meeting. SUAA How time flies 8 has been running budget deficits of around $20,000 for the past several years, and the deficit has SUAA dues increase 9 increased significantly this year. See SUAA dues increase on page 9. If you are an Illinois resident and you receive this newsletter before the November election, please exercise your right to vote for the candidate of your choice. It is also very important that you vote on Constitutional Amendment 49 on pension reform. SUAA strongly opposes this amendment. We are again delighted to be able to provide the Madrigal Singers as entertainment at the Holiday Luncheon. We hope you will be able to attend as this promises to again be a very enjoy- able event. I look forward to seeing you there! Larry Alferink, ISUAA President Stadium. This project is expected to be completed by next August, in time for the football season. The economy, combined with the University’s reputation, has contributed to hiring an outstanding class of new faculty members, helping to ensure a bright future for the University. Survivor’s advocacy workshop a success The Survivor Advocacy Team held a workshop September 20. Sev- eral members attended and learned how to work their way through the maze of State Universities Retirement System (SURS) paper- work that needs to be completed by the surviving spouse when an annuitant dies. Team members are also available if you know a sur- Not just for students viving spouse who needs assistance with this paperwork at these dif- ficult times. Please suggest that they contact Mary Liverman. Con- Campus Recreation is offering another exciting semester of activi- sider attending a future workshop to help in your own preparation. ties. In addition to the many recreational opportunities included in a membership to the Student Fitness Center, Campus Recreation offers recreational basketball for faculty, staff, and annuitants of Illi- nois State University. Games are held at Horton Field House from 11:45 a.m.–1:15 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the fall semester. The fall fee for “noon-ball,” as it is more commonly known, is $60 and can be paid on-site or at the Bob and Julie Dob- ski Welcome Center in the lobby of the Student Fitness Center. For more details or first time registration, call (309) 438-5106. Annuitant memberships to the fitness center include full access to all strength and cardio equipment, sport courts, group fitness classes, the swimming pool, the climbing wall, the running track, and more. Spouses and domestic partners may also be added to any membership. The membership rate for annuitants is $120 per semester, $80 per summer, or $320 per year. “This is a tremendous facility with plenty to do,” said Dick Payne, a retired administrative clerk in Milner Library. “I specifically enjoy walking the track and Madrigal Singers headline ISUAA using the weights. The staff are all friendly and very helpful, and I really enjoy the interaction with the different members, students Holiday Luncheon and nonstudents alike.” For more information, visit the membership The annual Illinois State Universities Retirement System (ISUAA) section of CampusRecreation.IllinoisState.edu, call (309) 438-7529, Holiday Luncheon, scheduled for 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, Decem- or stop by the Bob and Julie Dobski Welcome Center in the Stu- ber 5, in the Brown Ballroom, will again feature the Illinois State dent Fitness Center. University Madrigal Singers, directed by Karyl Carlson. A reserva- tion form for the luncheon is included in this newsletter. President Bowman featured at fall luncheon This year’s Madrigal performances, titled “Madrigala,” will be held at the Alumni Center, December 7, 8, and 9. Desserts will be Illinois State University President Al Bowman was the featured served by Biaggi’s and Kelly’s Bakery & Café, and drinks will be speaker at the Illinois State University Annuitants Association available throughout the evening. University Galleries is present- (ISUAA) fall luncheon September 5. More than 100 people attend- ing an exhibit of winter scenes to set the stage for the musical good ed the event. Bowman noted that the University continues to make cheer. Tickets are $15. The traditional Jester and Wench will serve important advances in spite of state budget issues. Student applica- as emcees for the evening. Music will include Madrigal favorites, as tions remained very strong again, resulting in total enrollment very well as a special commission for the Madrigal Singers by College of close to the overall 20,500 enrollment target. He noted that our Fine Arts alumnus Dennis Tobenski. grant support was the second highest ever. Work was completed on A number of ISUAA members have played key roles in the the new Cardinal Court project, providing apartment-style living success of the Madrigals over the years, the most notable being the for our students. Students have moved in and there was a substan- late John Ferrell, who served as director for many years. As a token tial waiting list of students who desired to live in this new facility. of appreciation for the Madrigal Singers’ performance at the Holi- Work has begun on the expansion of the east side of Hancock day Luncheon, ISUAA will make a donation to the Illinois State 2 University Foundation account in honor of his contributions to the The legislature will come back for the fall veto session for three Madrigal Singers. days at the end of November and three days early in December. As the calendar and tax year nears its end, ISUAA members Pension legislation is not expected to be considered during the fall are encouraged to consider a donation to the foundation, perhaps veto session because again it would require a three-fifths majority targeting an account, such as the John Ferrell Scholarship, that may to pass such legislation. Thus, it is expected that pension reform have special meaning to them. Beth Snyder, assistant director for will come up during the January lame duck session when only annual giving, can help you find the right account for your donation. a simple majority will be required for passage. Senate Bill 1673 Contact Snyder at (309) 438-5725. may be brought back, but at this time it is not known what modi- fications will have been made to attempt to gain more support. Legislative report You may recall, this bill would require retirees to choose between keeping their current COLA and losing state health insurance or Governor Pat Quinn called the legislature into special session accepting a reduced COLA based on simple interest and having August 17 to act on pension reform. The House was already sched- state-subsidized health insurance. Current employees would face the uled to meet to deal with removing a member for a disciplinary additional choice of allowing future pay increases to be computed in action. The legislature could have considered a stripped-down ver- their pension if they accept the reduced COLA.