A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION Kentucky Retired Teachers Association Serving Retired Teachers Since 1957 VOLUME XLVI, NUMBER 2 LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY DECEMBER 2011 Beginning on August 26, 2011, in Jeff erson County, the KRTA traveling team visited all 14 districts presenting topics that are vital to all teacher retirees. Fall Workshops 2011 Eastern District was the site of the last workshop on September 23, 2011. President Cook’s theme for this year, as well as the Fall Workshops, focuses on the importance of volunteering. Membership is certainly the lifeblood of the organization. Our numbers send out a message to legislators that the objectives of KRTA are strongly supported. Th e individuals who step forward and accept the leadership positions at the state, district and local levels are volunteers drawn from our continually growing membership. Volunteers step up each year to accept program challenges established by their local and civic organizations. How many historical societies, Meals on Edwin S. Cook, III Wheels, sesquicentennial committees, Relay for Life groups, Neighborhood KRTA President Watch groups, Boy Scout Troops, Cub Scout Troops, Girl Scout Troops, Sunday School classes, Church choirs, to name a few, would be non-existent without our volunteers? One of President Cook’s eff orts is to educate KRTA members of the importance of the N. O. Kimbler Scholarship Fund. N. O. Kimbler was born in Greenup County, Kentucky. He started teaching in 1912 in a two-room country school and rose to become State President of KEA in 1938. He saw the great need for Kentucky teachers to be rewarded in their retirement years for the meager salaries they received and devoted his life to bringing the Kentucky Teachers’ Retirement System to fruition. Changes in Legaline Services His experience included fi ve years of teaching in Alabama, two years of service in WWI, two years as a High Coming January 1, 2012 (Continued on page 3) See page 5 for details. KY IN THIS ISSUE . Humana . 13 , , 572 Legislative. 13 STD Fall Workshop Introduction . 1 PERSONALLY SPEAKING Business Partners Attending Workshops . 15 POSTAGE . Legislators Attending Workshops . 16 P A I A D P S From the Executive Director . 2 PRSRT . PERMIT U KRTA Distric Presidents . 17 LOUISVILLE KRTA: Does It Have Value? 2012 KY GENERAL ASSEMBLY: KRTA GUIDE Social Security & Pension Watch . 11 2012 LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT . 2 . 14 MISCELLANEOUS INFO Volunteers—KRTA’s Foundation! FOR YOUR HEALTH & SAFETY Supplies Over Seas . .17 Brain Health & Engaging Your Brain. 3 KRTA History—55 Years . .18 KRTA PARTNERS Fixing A New Generation Gap . 18 North American Life Plans Remembering the “Pink Lady” . .18 Are You Taking . From Your Retirement Account 4 Christmas at the Gas Station . .19 Hear In America KRTA Members Donate . .in Need . 20 PUBLICATION AROUND THE STATE Hearing Loss Linked to Dementia . 4 Liberty Mutual Monroe, Paducah-McCracken, Taylor, Edmonson Whitley, Adair Counties. 21 5 Tips to Prevent Home Heating Fires . .4 QUARTERLY Campbell, Casey Counties . 22 A National Health Administrators FOR YOUR INFORMATION Recent Reports Point to Long Term Care Solution .5 . 23 Legaline KRTA Membership Pin Order Form . .23 QUIPS, QUOTES & PUZZLES . Changes in the Legaline. 5 23 2011 FALL WORKSHOPS REPORTS/PHOTOS DECEASED RETIRED TEACHERS . 24 Kentucky Retired Teachers Association Teachers Retired Kentucky KRTA & AARP Working Together . 6 Health & Insurance . 6 Membership . 7 KTRS. 8 Louisville, Kentucky 40291-3234 Kentucky Louisville, 7505 Bardstown Road Bardstown 7505 PAGE 2 KRTA NEWS DECEMBER 2011 PERSONALLY SPEAKING . Social Security News & Pension Watch Social Security News (Brett Guthrie, Ed Whitfi eld and John Th is past June the Coalition to Preserve Yarmuth) have signed on as co-sponsors Retirement Security (CPRS) sponsored a of HR 1332. Th ese Representatives (Ben KRTA: 2011 briefi ng on Capitol Hill for congressional Chandler, Geoff Davis and Hal Rogers), staff from the 13 states that would be most however, have not signed on as co- affected by mandatory Social Security sponsors of HR 1332. You can contact these three representatives through a Bob Wagoner 55 and Going Strong coverage for new state and local public employees. link on our website (www.krta.org). As we turn the page on the calendar at Also, Senators Mitch McConnell and Executive Director the end of December to begin a new Approximately 70 staff ers attended, and Rand Paul should be contacted about year, KRTA is 55 years old and going CPRS received very favorable feedback. fi ling and sponsoring a similar bill in the strong. As you read the articles in Prior to the briefi ng, CPRS leaders were Senate. Th ey can be contacted through this issue of the KRTA News or check able to secure bipartisan participation our website, too. the information on the website, www.krta.org, it is obvious that this Association on “Dear Colleague” letters in both Pension News is working on topics and issues that aff ect you, either directly or indirectly in the House and Senate, so regardless of retirement. whether an offi ce had somebody at the The National Institute on Retirement In this diffi cult economic environment, we must be ready to defend and protect the briefing, every member of Congress Security (NIRS) has challenged claims benefi ts promised to Kentucky’s retired and active educators. We understand that in the targeted population received a that pension funding concerns are at times the Governor and the General Assembly have diffi cult choices to make. message about mandatory Social Security driving businesses out of certain states. However, we must make it clear that the decisions must not be on the backs of the coverage. An article in the May-June issue of Chief persons who have given their time and talents to the state and earned a retirement Concerning the Windfall Elimination Executive magazine stated, “that, in (which they contributed to while working) and health benefi ts as a part of their total Provision (WEP) and Government addition to other budget problems such compensation for that service. Pension Off set (GPO), HR 1332 currently as rising health care costs and declining Under Attack has 121 co-sponsors in the House of tax revenues, states are now facing Representatives. HR 1332 would repeal Once we were part of a much needed, honored and respected profession – now, it what experts suggest is a $3 trillion- the WEP and the GPO Social Security seems, if you are to believe the new breed of politicians, we are the problem, not the plus shortfall in assets needed to cover penalties. A recent visit to Washington, solution. According to many of them, our pensions are too generous and our health promises made to government workers D.C. by KRTA volunteers who met with insurance benefi ts are undeserved. To hear them, we and other public employees and retirees.” (Funding projections representatives of each of Kentucky’s are the fi nancial ruination of the nation’s local, state and federal governments. can be calculated in multiple ways, federal legislators were told not to expect and members of the public pension Th e new breed of politicians want us to forget the fact that speculative investors, any movement on these issues before the community generally assert that total Hedge funds and our banks with their exotic fi nancial pyramid investment schemes 2012 presidential election. These two long-term shortfalls are about one-fourth actually collapsed the world and national economy which in turn has led to budget provisions are impacting hundreds of that amount.) problems at the national, state and local levels. Kentucky’s retired educators. To-date a At the federal level, public pension funds are under attack by those who are companion bill has not been fi led in the “Th e crushing debt load is hurting states’ “concerned about the need for taxpayer bailouts because pension benefi ts are not Senate. competitiveness as America’s business (Continued on page 10) Currently, these Kentucky Representatives (Continued on page 20) across our beautiful commonwealth. with Eric Farris of Buckman & Farris, During the 75 minute breaks, I mean P.S.C., to consider necessary changes PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE . 15 minute breaks, I was warmed by the to our Legaline service. Th e Legaline many stories that were shared with me service provides members of KRTA with concerning school and classroom events legal advice as well as locating reputable that took place during our teaching attorneys for our members’ needs. Th e Volunteers—KRTA’s Foundation careers. We all had our “Johnny’s”, but committee’s recommendations were we all had the many that have become submitted to the Executive Council via Happy Thanksgiving! I do hope the quite successful and have positively telephone conference on October 25 Thanksgiving season brings much contributed to society. Additionally, I and were approved. Th e Legaline service happiness and enjoyment, as you, your had those precious moments during and charges are listed on page 5. family and friends gather to thank God, aft er supper each evening to listen to the Our fall workshops were attended by many for all the many prayers he has answered. many volunteers that traveled with me. local state Senators and Representatives. Volunteers continue to be KRTA’s We appreciate those who volunteered Each took the opportunity to express foundation. Our accumulated hours to be workshop participants and share his/her support for Kentucky’s retired impress our legislators. They realize with us information we need for the teachers’ Defined Benefit Program, our wealth to the many we serve. Please encouragement of our sister and brother as well as the recently passed HB 540 acquire the ‘KRTA Volunteer Program retirees to join KRTA. Th ey would tell (Shared Responsibility) Health Program.