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IEA awards deadline

Do you know a member who deserves recognition? Start planning now for the awards that will be presented at the 2016 IEA Representative Assembly. Submission information is available on the IEA website.


2015 IEA award recipients from left to right: Jim Duffy, Mary Lou and Keith Hauge Retiree Award; Jennifer Erickson, Illinois' nominee for the NEA Foundation Awards for Teaching Excellence; India Jones, ESP of the Year; Amy Lewis, Bob Haisman Teacher of the Year Award; co-winners Maggie Huttlinger and Jennifer Jaroch, Bob Haisman Student of the Year Award; and Carly Spina, Reg Weaver Human and Civil Rights Award.

Mary Lou and Keith Hauge Retiree Award 
Given in honor of the late Mary Lou Hauge, first chair of the IEA Council of Retirees, and her late husband Keith, former editor of the IEA-R Informer, this award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the IEA-NEA Retired organization.

Bob Haisman Teacher of the Year Award 
This award, named in honor of former IEA President Bob Haisman, recognizes the individual contributions of a new teacher (a teacher with at least one year's experience and not more than five). 

Bob Haisman Student of the Year Award 
This award honors an undergraduate Student Program member working toward a degree in education. 

Applications for each award, as well as details regarding eligibility and qualifications, are available on the IEA website.

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New IEA Foundation

IEA is pleased to announce the formation of the IEA Foundation, a new and charitable arm of the IEA.

Money donated to the foundation will be used to:
  • Award grants to individual educators and education institutions in Illinois for charitable and educational causes;
  • Fund specific activities that improve education for students throughout, such as encouraging investment in education in economically distressed areas of the state;
  • Convene or fund conferences and seminars to develop solutions to educational problems in Illinois;
  • Provide financial resources to other organizations that address educational challenges in our state.
All donations made to the IEA Foundation are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. contributions can be made payable to the Illinois Education Foundation or the IEA Foundation and mailed to the attention of Doug Barringer, 100 E. Edwards St., Springfield, IL 62704-1999.

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ESEA agreement passes House, awaits Senate vote next week!

The U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday approved
S. 1177, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), a bipartisan bill to reauthorize the federal education law known as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). 


NEA President Lily Eskelsen Garca praised the vote, "Today, the U.S. House of Representatives took a historic step to usher in a new era in public education that will ensure every child has equal opportunity to a  highy quality education regardless of ZIP Code".


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Retired mentors volunteer to help at Student conference

Sixteen retired mentors showed up to assist at the IEA-Student Fall Conference held Nov. 20 - 21, at the Hilton Lisle/Naperville. The "Ask a Mentor Table" was a huge success, prompting 23 additional students to ask to be paired with a mentor. Sixty-nine IEA-retired members mentor and coach what will be a total number of 130 students as soon as these most recent students are paired.
 
 
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Region 8 & 9 IEA-Retired chapters host meeting

Region 8 & 9 IEA-Retired chapters host meeting to inform retirees about scams perpetuated against retirees 


Barb Gilhaus, president of the Region 9 IEA-Retired Chapter, reported that her chapter in conjunction with the Region 8 Chapter had Regina Haas of the attorney general's office as their speaker at their September meeting.

Haas talked to the group about some of the most common scams perpetrated against seniors. She highlighted the IRS scam calls, grandparents scams, prizes/sweepstakes/free gifts scams, home improvement/doorstep scams, charity scams, and mortgage/reverse mortgage scams.

She also distributed a booklet, "Every Cent Counts," for senior citizens with tips for protecting your finances. The booklet contains many useful phone numbers and sample letters to use in writing for certain situations.

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Illinois to make full December pension payment

After the November pension payment was delayed, it is good news to hear that the December payment will be made in full. Read more....

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Wealthy Governor and his friends are remaking Illinois

Unprecedented political spending helped elect a fresh-faced financier. But his ideological vision has unsettled many in the state. Read a thorough analysis of the Illinois political situation, from a paper far enough away to have good perspective. 

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Chicago pension law appeal gets skeptical Illinois Supreme Court hearing

At the center of this debate was Mayor Rahm Emanuel's 2014 plan that required city workers and laborers to increase their retirement contributions to 11 percent - a 2.5 percent increase - over five years. City hall's top lawyer on Tuesday faced skeptical Illinois Supreme Court justices weighing the constitutionality of a state law that aimed to cut benefits for retired city workers while increasing the taxpayer contributions to their pension funds.

Read more...
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Stand up for fairness
Several rallies are planned throughout the state to send a message to Gov. Rauner. Click here to find a rally near you or visit AFSCME31.org/rally.

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Where candidates should stand
on health reform

Do you have sufficient medical insurance for retirement?  Read more on how your options will be significantly influenced by political leaders' positions on how the government should pay for Medicare and health care for retirees.
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Want to have a less stressful holiday season? NEA Member Benefits can help!

Members can visit www.neamb.com/holiday to get helpful tips, advice and product solutions on holiday:   
            • Shopping and discounts,
            • Travel and hosting,   
            • Health and wellness ideas,
            • And finances and budgeting.


 
 

Save money on holiday shopping at these must-visit destinations
'Tis the season for holiday gift buying and shopping! Great shopping deals await at these spots in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. While some of us travel to see unusual sights, taste new cuisines and experience other cultures, some of us are unapologetically in it for the shopping. With holiday gifting season upon us, learn about four types of destinations that promise serious savings.
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10 states where $100 buys the most


Especially at this time of year, it's good to know where your dollar may go farthest.

 

Read more...

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Ours is not our parents' retirement!


 

A close look at how technology will change retirement goals and retirees' way of life!

 

Read more...

 

 

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The benefits of retiring abroad

 

Have you ever considered retiring abroad? Read more to find out the benefits and the factors that may help you decide this is a move worth considering.

 

 

 

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Connect with IEA

IEA Connect is an easy way to get all 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. 
 
IEA Connect is here to help. You can reach an IEA Connect specialist 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.

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