IEA-Retired Summer Leadership Academy 

There's still time to register!

 


 

Tues., July 28 - 12 - 4:30 p.m.

Wed., July 29 - 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

 

Political organizing for the retired activist

 

This training is open to all retired members who are interested in training components geared to becoming more effective in the area of political organizing as retired activists!
 

Registration costs and hotel rooms for the first 30 attendees are funded through an NEA-Retired grant. Trainings will be focused on becoming retired activists in your community. Trainings are currently being planned and confirmed; additional details will be available soon. 
 

Find more information on SLA here. Interested in attending? Contact Kim Riley, IEA- Retired para pro, or call 309-662-5359 for more information.
 

  

Poll: Rauner's popularity dropping

If you own a TV set, and maybe even if you don't, you've seen Governor Rauner's advertisement on which he's spent more than $1 million in the last few weeks.

 

Though most of the coverage has centered on the ad's attacks on Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, much of the ad seems more like a campaign ad for Bruce Rauner.

 

Read more in The Rauner Report.  

NEA requests help on ESEA

 

Illinois State Senator Mark Kirk is the lead sponsor on this ESEA Amendment that NEA is supporting. To help NEA, please contact Sen. Kirk to thank him for his leadership on this Amendment, and contact Sen. Dick Durbin to ask for his support.

 

Check the NEA Education Insider to get the most updated information, and please read the email from NEA for the number to contact our Senators. The debate has started and your call is important, so please act soon.  

 

Illinois Issues: The next pension time bomb

Illinois Issues reports on the pension situation in Illinois, with a special emphasis on Tier 2 employees. 
  

Illinois has more than $100 billion in pension debt. So far, attempts to fix it have been mostly illegal.  

 

IEA-R member blogs about NEA RA 

IEA-R member and blogger Fred Klonsky describes his experience at the NEA RA. Klonsky, with the support of IEA leaders and delegates, introduced a new business item (NB11) regarding the Confederate flag. NB11 passed after floor debate.
 

For a complete summary of the event, including awards, speeches, photos, videos and more, visit the NEA RA web site 

 

Supreme Court to consider fair share challenge

 

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a challenge to the way public-sector unions finance their operations. Union officials said a ruling against them would deal a blow to organized labor.

 

The case, Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association, No. 14-915, was brought by California teachers who said being compelled to pay union fees to subsidize activities they disagreed with violated their First Amendment rights. Read NEA's commentary on the case

States face shaky financial futures; pensions at risk

 

USA Today takes a nationwide look at the pension situation, and at a new study showing that states are mounting a very uneven fiscal recovery from the Great Recession, putting many states' pension plans at risk. 

 

Alaska, the Dakotas, Nebraska and Florida are on the most solid financial footing, according to rankings of the 50 states released July 7. 

 

In Illinois, ranked No. 50, the government used funds set aside for future pensions to pay bills. When the pensions came due, Illinois tried to cut them. A judge ruled this past May that Illinois' pension cuts were unconstitutional, leaving the state with no plan to deal with a growing list of debts.

 

Retirement goals

Today's retirees are traveling, volunteering, pursuing their hobbies - and even working for money. In fact, as a retiree, you can essentially do anything. Your retirement goals are closely tied to your finances, so think carefully about what you'd like to do in retirement, and make sure to connect your goals to the money you may spend - and that which you may earn - in pursuit of these goals. Read retirement goals can greatly impact finances.

 

Wondering what you'll do with all that extra time after retirement? Here are 12 great ideas to fill your days!

Save the date

Planning is underway for the first joint conference of the Educational Support Professionals, Higher Ed and Retired programs. The conference committee is finalizing plans and registration will be launched in mid-July. The conference provides opportunities for networking and social events, with a wide variety of sessions offered. 

 

Please save the date! You won't want to miss this event! 

 

July Kiplinger's Retirement Report available

 

The FREE July issue of Kiplinger's Retirement Report is now available.

Boomer travel blogs

Most retirees love to travel after leaving the demands of the job behind. Many have a bucket list of places to go and things to do. If your thoughts are to just leave it all behind (or, if you like to travel vicariously), see what others have done by checking out the following blogs and websites.

 

Boomer Places -Travel lists several travel blogs that the writer considers the best of the best. Some are not for the casual traveler but are fun and adventuresome.

 

Travel Past 50 - Follows the adventures of two travelers who chucked it all in 2010 to travel the world. Lots of photos, tips, resources and info on destinations.

 

Life Part Two follows a professional photographer on his holidays and journeys. Great photography.

 

Want to be a gypsy? Check out Home Free Adventures written by another couple who have sold their home and downsized to two suitcases and two computers. 

Connect with IEA!

IEA Connect is a new and easy way to get all of your IEA questions answered in one spot. You can do it by phone, by email or by live chat with someone via the IEA website. 

  • Have you ever wondered how you can access discounts and deals?
  • Or how your dues dollars are spent?
  • Are you trying to find out more information about the new evaluation system or professional development resources?
  • Need to change your membership information?

IEA Connect is here to help. Now, you can reach an IEA Connect specialist 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.

 

If we don't know the answer, we'll find one for you! Connect with IEA today!
 

Have suggestions for the IEA-R insider?

   

The Retired insider is your newsletter, and we want to include what's important to you.

 

Let us know what you've found helpful, or what you didn't. And, if you have subjects or programs that interest you, please send them to us.