Two New ATRSBoard Members

INTERLINKARKANSAS RETIRED TEACHERS ASSOCIATION

Lloyd Black and Charles B. Dyer, Sr. havebeen elected to the ATRS Board of Trustees.Mr. Black won a six year term to Position # 9and Mr. Dyer won a two year stint to fill theunexpired term for Position # 11.

Mr. Black retired in 1993. He has servedas a local ARTA President, an Area VIAssociate Director and Director, and ARTAState President in 2002-03. Mr. Black alsoserves as ARTA Legislative CommitteeChairperson on the National Retired TeachersAssociation (NRTA) Pension Round Table.He was also the first ARTA member appointedto the State and Public School Life and HealthInsurance Board where he currently serves.

Mr. Dyer graduated from Henderson StateCollege with a Bachelor’s Degree and theUniversity of Arkansas with a M.Ed. inEducational Administration. Mr. Dyer haspreviously served on the Board of Trustees forthe Arkansas Teacher Retirement Systembeginning in 1979. During this tenure, heserved as Chairman of Board and Chairman ofInvestment Committee for fifteen (15) years.In all, Mr. Dyer has served twenty-seven (27)years on the ATRS Board. He has also beenSuperintendent of the Alma School Districtsince 1968.

Lloyd Black Charles Dyer, Sr.

ARTA Annual ConventionSeptember 28, 2010

Immanuel Baptist Church • Little RockReservation form on page 9 of Interlink

Volume 52, Number 2 Parkview Towers • 1200 Commerce • Little Rock, AR 72202 • (501) 375-2958 Summer 2010

Pre-65 (NME) 2010 2011 Change inTotal Cost Total Cost Premiums

Retiree Only $527.62 $457.42 (-$70.20)

Retiree & NME Spouse 1,213.72 1,152.01 (-$61.71)

Retiree & Child(ren) 939.28 768.28 (-$171.00)

Retiree & NME Sp. & Ch. 1,900.80 1,159.82 (-$740.98)

Retiree & ME Sp. 609.70 596.84 (-$12.86)

Retiree & ME Sp. & Ch. 1,004.01 907.71 (-$96.30)

Medicare Eligible (ME) 2010 2011 Change inTotal Cost Total Cost Premiums

Retiree Only $41.44 $41.44 Same

Retiree & NME Spouse 674.34 568.37 (-$105.97)

Retiree & Child(ren) 421.17 421.17 Same

Retiree & NME Sp. & Ch. 1,054.07 877.42 (-$176.65)

Retiree & ME Sp. 170.59 170.59 Same

Retiree & ME Sp. & Ch. 550.32 550.32 Same

EBD’s State and Public School Life and Health Insurance Boardapproved a new “Blended” health insurance approach for the 2011 planyear. The blending (or merging) of the Non-Medicare retirees with the“Active” public school group along with the allocation of $18 millionfrom the reserve fund will reduce rates for the pre-65 group and hold theother groups relatively stable.

The rates are preliminary and subject to change, but they show a substantial decrease for Non-Medicare retirees. The rates for Medicare eligible retirees will generally remain the same due to a motion made byMr. Lloyd Black, ARTA representative on the Board.

The preliminary health insurance rates for 2011 are listed below.

New Health InsuranceRates for 2011

Be Informed! Be Involved!It seems like only yesterday that I began my duties as

president of ARTA and now I am saying farewell. I haveconsistently encouraged you to be informed and beinvolved. I can assure you that I have been informedabout the many activities that affect our retirement system,and I have been very involved with many wonderful peopleacross the state. There are many county organizationsactively involved in the affairs of ARTA.

Mother Teresa was one of the greatest examples of one who gave her all to oth-ers. She once said, “We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in theocean, but the ocean would be less because of the missing drop. We can do nogreat things, only small things with love.” Those of you who have given so muchof your time for ARTA and all retired teachers are those “drops” who made thisorganization function. Thank you for your efforts.

I would like to express my thanks to the ARTA Board of Directors for theirhard work, leadership, and support to all of us this past year. I will always beindebted to Steve Singleton, Executive Director; Sharon Johnson, ActivitiesDirector; and Mary Huie, Office Manager for their guidance and support thatthey provided to me as well as to ARTA. Also, I would like to thank Lloyd Blackfor his hard work in helping to get legislation and insurance reform passed thisyear. It takes devoted workers to give of their time and efforts.

Best wishes to Wallace Aspinwall, President-Elect, and Les Upton,Vice-President, who will assume the leadership duties of our organization.

Remember to Be Informed and Be Enthusiastically Involved!

Charles King, ARTA President

Page 2 ARTA INTERLINK

IMPORTANTTELEPHONE NUMBERS

Arkansas Retired Teachers AssociationInside Pulaski County: (501)375-2958

Toll Free (Nationwide): 1-888-929-0955Fax: (501)376-0955

E-mail: ARKRTA@aol.com

Arkansas Teacher Retirement SystemRetirement Benefits and Checks

Inside Pulaski County: (501)682-1517Toll Free (Nationwide): 1-800-666-2877

E-mail: Info@ATRS.state.ar.us

Employee Benefits Office(Health and Life Insurance)

Inside Pulaski County: (501)682-9656Toll Free (Nationwide): 1-877-815-1017

Long Term Care InsuranceAnnuities

Dental InsuranceMedicare Products

Mary Alice Hughes1-800-577-8613

maryalicehughes@sbcglobal.net

Matt Hughes1-800-798-7442

ltcpro@suddenlink.net

Delta Dental Insurance1-800-462-5410

Website: deltadentalar.com

New ARTA WEBSITEhttp://artanow.com

Arkansas Retired Teachers AssociationParkview Towers, 1200 Commerce Street

Little Rock, AR 72202Telephone: (501) 375-2958

Charles King . . . . . . . . . . . . Pres i dentWallace Aspinwall . . . President-ElectLes Upton . . . . . . . . . Vice PresidentPaulette Parker . . . . . . . . . . SecretarySteve Singleton . . .Executive DirectorSharon Johnson . . .Activities DirectorMary Huie . . . . . . . . .Office Man ag er

INTERLINK

Message from the cÜxá|wxÇà

RetiredTeachersNeeded

NAEP is seeking motivated individuals to proctor assess-ment sessions with 4th, 8th and 12th grade students inschools for the National Assessment of EducationalProgress. Applicants must be available January 24–March4, 2011. You will be provided paid training, paid timeand mileage reimbursement for local driving and weeklypaychecks. This is a part-time, temporary position. Toapply, go to www.westat.com/jobs and insert 3260BR inthe space provided.

For more information e-mailNAEPrecruit@westat.comor call 1-888-237-8036.

“If you ever think you’re too small to be effective,

you’ve never been in bed with a mosquito.”– ANITA RODDICK

Nature and Nurture!June 3, 2010, and it is already a hot summer day, in the

high 90’s. I believe summer doesn’t officially arrive untilJune 22. I know it’s hot because I just finished mowing theyard. Actually, I’m smarter than that…I knew it was hotbefore I mowed the yard.

Summer is o.k., but spring is my favorite time of theyear. It means you have survived the winter cold and

things will soon begin to renew themselves with new growth. This year I have been working on pruning our trees. When we moved to

Conway three years ago, I pulled an acorn with a 10” sprout and two maple leaveson it out of the front flower bed. My wife thought I was crazy, because I replant-ed it in the middle of the back yard. Now you have to imagine a 10” sprout stick-ing out of the ground for the entire summer as I mowed around it. Even Ithought it was a real pain to mow around all year. This spring it really took off.In fact it took off too much. It looked like I had a three foot bush in the middleof the yard. I got inspired to prune my special little acorn bush…I mean mapletree. It is the only tree I have ever pruned sitting down.

It was so dense on the interior I couldn’t tell which branch was growing whichway. I had to take each individual branch, pull it free of all the other branchesand start pruning. One by one the branches began to appear as individual limbs.After ten minutes, I could see enough to decide which limbs needed to be takenout completely. I’m no Master Gardener, but I know enough to know it nowlooks like a small tree.

As I sat on my back porch after mowing, I was trying to think of a topic forthis Interlink column. About that time my mind drifted away and I was admir-ing my little “tree”. I wondered what it would look like in 60 years. (I will not behere to see it unless Willard Scott is still working for Schmuckers on the TodayShow.) You know my little “tree” gave me a thought.

I thought about the acorn that was planted many years ago when ARTA wasfounded. ARTA is now over 60 years old. It probably started out as a smallgroup. It has not only survived over the years, but it has thrived. We have had atremendous number of leaders supporting each other over the years. I have metmany of these special people. They are the ones who do the work in each of thelocal units, year after year waiting for new growth in their local. They are the spe-cial people who plan and carry out our AREA meetings year after year. And final-ly, it is the people who accept the responsibility to hold state office in ARTA. Ihave had the pleasure of working with Charles King, Helen Holloway and KayShaddock our past three presidents. Each one is a unique and special person intheir own right, who accepted the challenge to lead ARTA. On a personal note, Iwant to thank you Charles, Helen and Kay. Your contributions will continue tosupport our future growth.

Each year our membership is pruned a little. Without new growth we willeventually die out. Are you helping to prepare for the new growth in your local?If not, your challenge is to go out and recruit the leaders for tomorrow. Get theminvolved and support their involvement! As Charles King has advocated all year,“be involved and be informed.” Thanks Charles for a great year!

Steve Singleton, Executive Director

ARTA INTERLINK Page 3

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Arkansas: Patricia Hayes; Baxter:Patricia A. Cheatham; Benton: Sheryl L.Epley, Grady Nichols, Sandra Nichols,Frederick Nuttleman and DeborahDianne Wilson; Calhoun: Patsy J.Henderson; Carroll: Larry L. Wicker;Clark: Linda D. Bullard and Susan L.Ehrgood; Clay: Carolyn J. Webster;Cleburne: Deborah A. Johnson andMarlyn K. McCloud; Craighead:Glenda Eldridge and Linda Hawkins;Crawford: Linda J. Pendergrass;Crittenden: Linda F. Owens; Cross:Joyce A. Andrews, Peggy Allene Burnettand Sharon F. Midkiff; Drew: Nancy B.Early, Sandra R. Funderburg, Joyce E.Hopkins, Judy C. Lassiter, Willie E.Parker and Elgenia S. Ross; Faulkner:Hervey R. Galloway and VirginiaSpurrier; Garland: Susan D. Hunter,Deloris Massey and Sara K. Riley;Greene: Rona Waits; Jackson: JudithK. Felts; Jefferson: Debra A. Hinkleand Rita Sewald; Johnson: Rutha L.Freeman; Lawrence: Constance Davis;Miller: Lyndal L. Yother; Mississippi:Helen J. Davis and Bernice Jenkins;Monroe: Douglas O. Caldwell;Ouachita: Clayton C. Genn; Pike:LaDonna G. Parker; Poinsett: JohnBrown and Kaye Brown; Polk: MargieE. Walston; Pope: Veirlone G. Beck;Pulaski: Katty Crownover, RandallCrownover, Bettye Harris, Joan M.Jones, Charles Danny Knight, Mary E.McFadden, Linda K. Parsons, Ross E.Stanley, Lucille G. Traylor, CarolWilliams and Stan Williams; Saline:Susan K. Allbritton, Phillip Bryan,Loveda A. Duvall, Betty C. Gault andCarol D. Perry; Searcy: Janis A. Harnessand David W. Timby; Sebastian:Laronda K. Jacobs; Sevier: Lynda J.Beltrani and Tony Beltrani; Union:Mary N. Frachiseur; Washington:Cheryl Ann Anderson, Barbara K. Frost,Linda I. Fulton, Carol J. Gales, Gail A.Lumpkin, Jim Newman and Charles A.Smith; White: Debra K. Anselmi, JudyElaine Fowler, Melba D. Land, ColleenMassengale and Juanita J. Stanley; Out-Of-State: Joyce I. (Jean) Lacaze andCharolette K. Phillips.

Message from the Xåxvâà|äx W|ÜxvàÉÜ

April 3-10, 2011 Cherry Blossom Festival inWashington, D.C. by Bus includes GroundMotorcoach Transportation, 8 days/ 7 nights lodging,Twelve meals, Breakfast Daily, Four Dinners, One Lunchat the Biltmore Mansion, Watts Bar Belle Dinner Cruise, Tourof the Biltmore Mansion, Yorktown Battlefield and Visitor Center, YorktownVictory Center, Riverwalk Landing, Colonial Williamsburg, HistoricJamestown, Evening Guided Tour of National Monuments in DC, ArlingtonCemetery Tram Tour, Tomb of Unknown Soldier, Iwo Jima Memorial,Smithsonian Institution (museums), Virginia’s Natural Bridge, Tour of SecretCity, Taxes and Baggage Handling. Deposit of $350 is due NOW.

April 18-28, 2011 England, Scotland, Ireland includes air fare, transfers,hotel accommodations, private tour bus, lots of excursions and meals.Highlights include Stonehenge, Salisbury, Bath, Newport, Cardiff, Pembroke-Rosslare.Cross St. George’s Channel by ferry, Waterford, Kilkenny, Kildare,Guided tour of the Irish National Stud, Dublin Orientation drive, TrinityCollege, Belfast, Belfast-Stranraer, Cross the North Channel by Stena Line’shigh-speed service, Edinburgh Guided sightseeing, Edinburgh Castle Floors,Duke and Duchess of Roxburghe’s stately home Jedburgh, York, Stratford-upon-Avon: Take pictures of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, visit Shakespeare’sbirthplace. If interested, an excursion to St. Andrews in Scotland can beincluded. Limited Space Available. Deposit of $600 is due NOW. WORK-ING TO FILL SECOND BUS AS FIRST BUS IS ALREADY FULL.

May 21-June 2, 2011 BACK BY DEMAND Princess Cruise to Alaskaincluding Land Tour includes round air fare to Vancouver and fromAnchorage plus the train ride from Whittier through the Alaskan Wildernessto Mt. McKinley, Denali, and Fairbanks. Ports of call include Ketchikan,Juneau, and Skagway with cruising the College Fjords. Deposit of $600 dueNOW.

June 14-23, 2011 Bus Trip to America’s National Parks includes air fare toSalt Lake City, UT and from Rapid City, SD, ten days, nine nights, transfers,hotel accommodations, private tour bus, lots of excursions and meals. IncludesSalt Lake City, UT; Jackson, WY; Grand Teton National Park; YellowstoneNational Park; Mammoth Hot Springs & Yellowstone Lake; Cody; WY; LittleBighorn Battlefield; Sheridan, WY; Deadwood, SD; Rapid City, SD; MountRushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, etc. Deposit of $600 is due NOW.

July 17-23, 2011 Bus Trip to Mackinaw Island includes seven day, six nights,private tour bus from Little Rock, hotel accommodations, lots of excursions, 6breakfasts, and 4 dinners. Includes ferryboat ride to Mackinac Island, horseand carriage ride tour of the island, Sault Sainte Marie, Mackinaw City,Colonial Michilimackinac, and Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum plusmuch more. Deposit of $250 is due NOW.

September 9-19, 2011 Bus Trip to Cape Cod includes eleven days, tennights, private tour bus from Little Rock, hotel accommodations, lots ofexcursions and meals. Includes Hershey, PA, Plymouth Rock, Hyannis Port,Martha’s Vineyard, Sandwich, etc. Deposit of $250 due NOW.

October 3-15, 2011 Western Mediterranean Cruise includes round trip air-fare from Little Rock, 12 night cruise featuring Barcelona, Spain; MonteCarlo, Monaco; Livorno (Florence) Italy; Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy;Cruising Strait of Messina; Messina, Italy; Nafplion, Greece; Katakolon,Greece; Kerkira (Corfu), Greece; Dubrovnik, Croatia; and Venice, Italy.Deposit of $600 due NOW.

November 2011 South Africa including safari will include air fare to CapeTown and from Johannesburg, transfers, private tour bus, flights to and fromVictoria Falls, lots of excursions and meals. Tour includes: Wineland Area,Cape Town, Arniston, Knysna, Durban, Zululand, Swaziland, Kruger NationalPark, Mpumalanga, and Johannesburg. (This is the trip originally scheduledfor November 2010) Deposit of $1000 due NOW.

Travel Suggestions Welcome!

Page 4 ARTA INTERLINK

2010-2011 ARTA TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIESThe current 2010 and 2011 travel schedule is listed below. If you are interest-ed in any of the trips, please call our office, 501-375-2958 or 1-888-929-0955, as soon as you see the trip listed in the Interlink. Our travel agency,Sue Smith Vacations in North Little Rock, AR, has added a section devoted toARTA on their web site, http://www.vacation-valet.com/arta. Please check theweb site often as we add trips and adjust prices. If you see a trip you are reallyinterested in taking, please make every effort to arrange your schedule to makethe trip as the trip may not be offered again. Travel is limited to ARTA mem-bers and their guests.

August 9-20, 2010 Baltic Cruise on Princess’ Star Princess includes roundtrip flight to and from Copenhagen, Denmark plus transfers. Ports of Callinclude: Stockholm, Sweden; Helsinki, Finland; St. Petersburg, Russia;Tallinn, Estonia; Gdansk (Gdynia), Poland; Berlin (Warnemunde), Germany;Helsingborg, Sweden; and Copenhagen, Denmark. A complete itinerary isavailable. Cancellations are possible. SOLD OUT WITH WAITING LIST.Call to get your name on the list.

September 11-19, 2010 Fall Bus Trip to Niagara Falls includes ninedays, eight nights from Little Rock, private bus tour, hotel accommodations,excursions, eight breakfasts, and six dinners. Excursions include tour ofKentucky Derby Museum, Niagara Falls, Welland Shipping Canal, and beauti-ful Victoria Park. Also includes Toronto’s majestic castle estate Casa Loma,boat ride on the ”Maid of the Mist”, Horseshoe Falls, Niagara on the Lake,Erie Maritime Museum and President Taft National Historic site. A completeitinerary is available. Cancellations are possible. TWO BUSES WITHWAITING LIST. Call to get your name on the list.

NEW October 7-17, 2010 Canada New England Cruise on PrincessCruiseline’s Crown Princess will include air fare to New York City and fromQuebec, Canada, and all transfers. Ports of Call include: Newport, RhodeIsland; Boston, Massachusetts; Bar Harbor, Maine; Saint John, NewBrunswick; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Sydney, Nova Scotia; Corner Brook,Newfoundland; and Quebec City, Canada. Deposit of $600 is due NOW. Acomplete itinerary is available.

October 6-18, 2010 Holy Land Tour on the Pacific Princess includes air fareto Athens, Greece, and from Rome, Italy. The 12-night cruise includesSantorini, Greece; Patmos, Greece; Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey;Nazareth/Galilee (Haifa), Israel; Port Said (Cairo/Giza), Egypt; Alexandria,Egypt; Sorrento/Capri, Italy; and Rome, Italy. There are overnight optionaltours in Israel and Egypt. A complete itinerary is available. Deposit of $600is due NOW.

NEW November 14-20, 2010 San Antonio by Bus includes seven days andsix nights, accommodations, tips to bus driver and guides, four dinners, sixbreakfasts, and excursions: Guided tour of San Antonio (San FernandoCathedral, the King William Historical District, and El Mercado, an area pat-terned after an authentic Mexican market; Institute of Texas Cultures; andEvening Cruise on the famous River Walk); Fredericksburg (Jewel of the TexasHill Country), National Museum of the Pacific War, including the GeorgeBush Gallery; Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park with guided tourof the LBJ Ranch and see the “Texas White House”; San Antonio MissionsNational Historical Park (“Queen of the Missions” – Mission San Jose); IMAXTheatre at San Antonio Rivercenter to see “ALAMO .. The Price of Freedom”;The ALAMO buildings and ground, and the Bob Bullock Texas State HistoryMuseum in Austin, TX. This is a very inexpensive bus trip. Deposit of $250is due NOW.

2011 Schedule

January 23-30, 2011 Eastern Caribbean Cruise on the Ruby Princess for 7-nights includes round trip air fare to and from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Portsinclude Princess Cays, Bahamas; St. Maartens, Netherlands Antilles; St.Thomas, US Virgin Islands; and Grand Turk. Deposit of $350 is due NOW.

February 25-March 5, 2011 Hawaiian Island Cruise round trip air fare withall transfers from Little Rock, pre-cruise night at the Marriott Waikiki, tour ofHonolulu plus Pearl Harbor, seven day cruise on the Norwegian Cruise Line’sPride of America. Ports include: Honolulu, Oahu; Kahului, Maui; Hilo,Hawaii; Kona, Hawaii; and Nawiliwili, Kauai. Deposit of $600 is due NOW.

ARTA INTERLINK Page 5

Australia/New Zealand Travelers included, front row, left to right: Marjorine Click, Jeanene Godwin, Martha Durham, JanetHardin, Margie Heflin, Marta Lou Chandler, Rachel Safley, Roger Safley, GlobusTour Guide Steve McHardy, Sharon Messer; second row, left to right: Sharon Johnson, Sherra Hamilton, Jan West, Diane Dingler, Jean Hill, Carolyn Abbott, Nancy PriceFrances Wittenberg; third row, left to right: Terry Johnson, Max Hamilton, Harold West, Eldon Dingler, Robert Hill, ToneyAbbott, Joe Pat Attaway, Paul Holt, and Tom Messer.

Our trip in March to New Zealand and Australia was truly atrip of a lifetime. The beauty of the New Zealand countrysidecannot be matched; and Australia’s Aborigines, School of the Air,and Royal Flying Doctor Service made us realize how fortunatewe are to live in the USA. We toured Auckland and enjoyedsailing with dinner onboard the sailboat in Auckland Harbor.We saw the glow worms from our boat in Waitomo Cave. InRotorua we enjoyed a Maori Hangi dinner and concert. Wevisited the Agridome to see the sheep, cruised from MilfordSound to the Tasmania Sea, saw waterfalls larger than NiagaraFalls, and toured Queenstown which is a beautiful town sur-rounded by the Southern Alps and Lake Wakatipu. Our eveningcruise was on Lake Wakatipu aboard the Vintage Steamship TSSEarnslaw. At Walter Peak we were served dinner at the Colonel’sHomestead plus given a demonstration of shearing a lamb in thebarn. In Christ Church we visited Willow Bank Wildlife,Lyllelton Harbor, and the International Antarctic Center wherewe dressed in insulated boots and coats and were put in a cham-ber that made strong winds and below zero temperatures—a trueexperience of being in Antarctica. The Alps and Mt. Cook wasabsolutely breathtaking. We got to eat a wonderful Fergburger,the Arkansas version of the hubcap hamburger, plus we learnedto indulge in Hokey-Pokey Ice Cream. One room schoolhouseswere found through New Zealand. If the enrollment wentbelow six the school was closed. After grade six, students livingin remote areas were sent to boarding schools. In New Zealandwe toured both the North and South Islands.

Our first day in Australia included a catamaran ride fromCairns to Green Island to see The Great Barrier Reef in the

Coral Sea which is a part of the Pacific Ocean. Then on to theOutbacks in Alice Springs to see the Old Telegraph Station,Royal Flying Doctor Service, and School of the Air. The OldTelegraph Station contained a secret satellite listening stationthat people in the area are not really sure of its purpose and whatwent on within its walls. Children were taken from their moth-ers and put in institutions to bring them up “civilized.” Theycalled this the STOLEN GENERATION. The Royal FlyingDoctor Service takes medical personnel to the remote areas andis equipped for 24 hour service and can even do transplants.The School of the Air employs ten teachers who teach 130 kidsin remote homesteads on the radio and internet. The OUT-BACK BARBEQUE featured a meal with a typical campfire fare,fascinating tales of the outback, aboriginal folklore, and a lessonin astronomy. Then came the ABORIGINAL DREAMTIMETOUR where we actually went into the bushes to visit theAboriginies. The Aboriginie women proudly displayed their art-work and we watched them paint. Many of our travelers pur-chased artwork from the women. We ate damper bread cookedin an iron pan over a campfire and kangaroo tail with flies every-where; however, we looked quite comical in our face nets. On toAyers Rock to see the the two rock structures called the Olgas—Kata-Tjuta and Ayers Rock. There is no town in Ayers Rock—itis just a resort of hotels. The changing of colors on the rock atsunset with a champagne toast was dampened by a rain shower.

From Ayers Rock we flew to Sydney. Sightseeing began witha cruise on Sydney Harbor, an Opera House Tour, Bondi Beachfor lunch, and the Blue Mountains for a wilderness experience.We had twelve flights on this trip; and we saw everything wewent to Australia and New Zealand to see, even the TasmanianDevil. This was truly one of those trips of a lifetime!!

Summary of Diary Written by Martha Durham

Trip of a Lifetime

Page 6 ARTA INTERLINK

Webinar For Job SeekersIf you have a friend or family member looking for a job,

there are free resources from AARP designed specifically forthe talents and needs of the 50+ job-seeker. Drawing onexpertise of authors and career specialists, AARP hosts free,quarterly webinars designed to help with a variety of job-seeking tasks. A webinar combines a conference call with aspecial website to view presentation materials on topics suchas refreshing your resume, networking and increasing yourvisibility in the competitive job market.

To learn more visit: http://bit.ly/AARP_Job_Webinars.

Mr. George Hopkins, ATRS Executive Director, was thefeatured speaker at the six area meetings in May. The areameetings began on May 4 at Western Sizzlin in Clinton withArea II. Jackye Adams is the Area II Director and was assist-ed by co-directors Jesse Davis, Anna Floyd, and Les Upton.On May 5, Area III met at St. Bernard’s Auditorium inJonesboro. Bettye Gipson is the Area III Director and wasassisted by co-directors Peggy Houston, Lois Croom andLinda Scott. Central Presbyterian Church in Fort Smithhosted the Area I meeting on May 6. Linda Riley is theArea I Director and was assisted by co-directors LarrySchiffner, Judy Higginbottom, and Sue Wilson. Area IVmet at the Church of Christ Family Center in Glenwood onMay 11. Judith Wright is Area IV Director and was assistedby co-directors Katherine Daniel, Phil Klopfenstein and LetaBoswell. St. Vincent Infirmary was the site of the Area VImeeting on May 12. James Bradford is Area VI Directorand was assisted by Bernie Beeson and Dorisene Hill. PineBluff ’s Trinity Lutheran Church hosted the Area V meetingon May 13. Lura Campbell is Area V Director and wasassisted by Madeline Lucke, Levenis Penix, and CarolynFendley. Steve Singleton gave an update on the status ofARTA and health care. Sharon Johnson worked with theunit presidents on completing reports and gave a report onthe travel opportunities, and Lloyd Black gave a legislativeupdate at some of the meetings. We appreciate all of thework the area directors do for our organization. It is theirhard work that makes these meetings so successful.

ATRS Executive Director isFeatured Speaker at Area Meetings Don’t Be Scammed:

What You Need to KnowAbout the

$250 Prescription Drug RebateIf you reach the Part D prescription drug coverage gap

– also known as the donut hole – and are not eligible forMedicare Extra Help, you will receive a one-time, tax-freecheck for $250. This rebate is one of the benefits of therecently passed Health Care Reform law. The first checkswere mailed in mid-June and checks will be mailedmonthly after people have entered the coverage gap.

To help fight fraud and protect beneficiaries frompotential scams, Medicare is reminding seniors there areno forms to fill out to receive this benefit. Medicare willautomatically send a check. The envelope will have theUS Department of Health and Human Services symbolon it and will say “Medicare Part D.” Beneficiaries don’tneed to provide any personal information. They don’tneed to provide any personal information like Medicare,Social Security or bank account numbers to get therebate check. They are reminded not to give any person-al information to anyone who calls about the $250 rebatecheck.

People with Medicare should call 1-800-MEDICARE(1-800-633-4227)

to report any suspected fraud or scamsor with any questions.

Pensions Are an Efficient Useof Taxpayer Funds

“A key feature of group pension plans is their poolednature—meaning that all of the pension contributions for allworkers are put together in the same pot. This pooling isimportant because it makes pension plans a good value forthe money. By pooling and professionally managing assets,pensions are able to achieve “economies of scale.” (This isthe same reason why shopping at a warehouse club savesconsumers money—buying in bulk lowers the price.)Research has found that a group pension can achievea target retirement benefit at about half the cost of individual retirement accounts. So not only do grouppensions do the retirement job more effectively than individ-ual savings plans, but to provide any given amount of retire-ment income, they’re a lot less expensive to boot – a fact thatpolicymakers and taxpayers alike can take solace in.”

(Source-National Institute on Retirement Security)For more information on the importance of strong

pension plans visit: (www.nirsonline.org).

If you have taken any ARTA trips recently that you wantto share with us, please send your articles to the ARTAoffice. We will be putting some of these in the Interlink andposting them on the http://artanow.com web site for you toenjoy. Thanks to Martha Durham for her article on theARTA Australia and New Zealand trip published in this edition.

Travel Articles Welcome

Memorials and Donations

In Memoriam

Clark County RTA in memory ofNanette Jackson, Beverly Romesburg,Naomi Fisher Thomas, MildredReynolds Welch and Nickol D.Williams; Columbia County RTA inmemory of Jean C. Byrd, Arzell Garner,Dorothy Khorramy, Dr. Delwin Ross,Bunice Bradley Short and John H.Taylor; Conway County RTA in mem-ory of Marie Jones and Marjorie Kirk;Drew County RTA in memory ofRobert Deal, Paula Denson and Mary

The thoughtfulness and generosity of individuals and local units have resulted in the following amounts being mailed directly to the ARTAoffice during the months of November, December, January, February, March and April: $950.00 in memorials. Add to that, $459.98 forthe months of November, December, January, February and March contributed by the Continuing Members (above and beyond their regularmonthly dues)or Individual Member donations and this brings a total of $1,409.98 in Memorials and Donations for the six month period.Your gifts to ARTA, for whatever reason, are a meaningful and substantive part of the association’s annual budget.

Lou Walker; Fort Smith RTA in memo-ry of Bertha Cattaneo, Paula SandersCherry, L.V. Hays, Patricia LumbertMartin and John Taylor; GreeneCounty RTA in memory of JamesBlackburn, Helen Goehring, EileenKeller, Mary Alice Swindel and EmmaNell Witt; Johnson County RTA inmemory of Betty Kendall and AnnalisaPeden; Little Rock Retired Teachers inmemory of Sue Bass, Mary Carroll,Neldeane Moore, Don Umfleet and

Kaye Yokem; Logan County RTA inmemory of Virginia W. James and V.Ernestine Parker; Madison CountyRTA in memory of Louise Toliver;Miller County RTA in memory ofChristine Nash Hill; Poinsett CountyRTA in memory of Verna Criss; PrairieCounty RTA in memory of LouiseRobison; Searcy County RTA in memo-ry of Bernell Mathis and Bernell Smith;South Pulaski County RTA in memory

of Margaret Driscoll and LaverneSebastian; South Sebastian County RTAin memory of Jessie Harkreader; Tommyand Lura Campbell in memory ofDeLois Braton; Ms. Wyleen Crider inmemory of Kenneth Ring; Dr. and Mrs.Jack Harrington in memory of Jean C.Byrd; Leon Wigginton in memory ofSharon Forrester, Truett Goatcher,Linnie Hickman, Frank Sanders, DeweySnowden and Clara Williams.

NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 2009 - JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH AND APRIL 2010

“These immortal dead who live again in minds made better by their presence”

ARKANSAS: Yvonne Armstrong,Rebecca S. Conrad, Holly C. Hudspeth;ASHLEY: Mamie D. Radford, Vera R.Smith; BAXTER: Lula B. Loving;BENTON: Darroll D. Caskey,Douglas L. Clardy, Bobby G. Clark,Susan J. Craig, Glenn A. Duffy, Jane G.Fergus, David H. Herman, Geneva G.Thrash, Rosalie Wall, John A. White;BRADLEY: Mary G. Darnell, CleanthaC. Williams; CHICOT: Martha J.Cain, Osker Z. Dunbar, Alberta C.Watts; CLARK: William R. Bell,Louise C. Hoover, Betty L. McElyea,Beverly Romesburg, Willie Stitt, NaomiR. Thomas, Mildred O. Welch; CLAY:Edna V. Cooper, Alma L. Curtis, MaryA. McLeskey, Linda K. Waldron; CLE-BURNE: Lavena S. Hearst, Alfred C.Langer, Catherine E. Maples, Louise M.Perry, Billy W. Tiner; CLEVELAND:Clarence Dupree, Arys L. Gavin, GlennW. Pairsh; COLUMBIA: Jennie B.Pate, Delwin T. Ross; CONWAY:Quentin T. Halbrook, Helen M.Moore, Arlie Walls; CRAIGHEAD: JillR. Acre, Melba M. Aston, Georgia E.Bishop, Jeanette R. Bush, Lois E. Finch,Jenanne M. Martin, Coyann R.McSwain, Ruth C. Medlock, Elmer L.Moore, Linda D. Norris, Susan K.Smith, Zoetta M. Smith, Georgia C.Terrell, Zelma L. Wilson, Alice G.Wyatt; CRAWFORD: Russell W.Blaylock, Daylon S. Cawthon; CRIT-TENDEN: Delma S. Brookins, OscarL. Dawson; CROSS: Linnie Hickman,Laura Shaver, Carvil, L. Trammel, IdaL. Whittenton; DALLAS: Tracy L.Gray, Marilyn M. Nowlin, Sue R. Price;DESHA: Bobby N. Smith; DREW:Robert L. Deal, Dorothy R. Horton;FAULKNER: Sue F. Alread, Sue E.Bass, Bobbye S. Crowder, Floyd L.Dunn, Gene R. Finn, Arletha M.

Manley, Mary B. Mobley, Betty J.Siewert, John M. Thompson, Zula V.Turney, Ruth Wilcox; FRANKLIN:Frances J. Montgomery; FULTON:Walter C. Green; GARLAND: MorrisJ. Barentine, Walter L. Carmack, Lois T.Dennington, Laverne M. Eddinger,Dorothee L. Griffin, Jimmy H.Hembree Jr., Mary S. House, RichardD. Jacoby, Marie I. Jones, Mary B.Keck, Marjorie E. Kirk, Rodney B.McWilliams, John M. Messer, Louise E.Scott, Bettie R. Tapp; GRANT: GlendaS. Austin, Larry D. Fultz Sr., Kay F.Gillis; GREENE: Dorothy Babb, JamesA. Blackburn, Helen B. Goehring,Joanne Johnson, Eileen J. Keller, MonraC. Riggs; HEMPSTEAD: Herbert J.Bedford, Dorothy D. Black, Clyde A.Mosier; HOT SPRING: Syble Bailey,Magalene L. Miles; INDEPEND-ENCE: Evans C. Floyd, Don R.Fowler, Kuscuita O. Scott; JACKSON:Lillie M. Jackson, Theda H. Smith;JEFFERSON: James M. Armstrong,Susie M. Collins, Geraldine B. Cox,Huey L. Davis Jr., Barbara M. Horton,Bessie J. Jordan, Ruby G. Owen, MelvinL. Phillips, Richard D. Steward Jr., R.D.Wright; JOHNSON: David C. Davis,Betty J. Kendall, Annalisa Peden, EileenT. Pitts, Marie J. Selby; LAWRENCE:Barbara J. Archer, Kenneth P. Ring,Linda C. Wilson; LEE: Llewellis E.Coleman; LINCOLN: Peggy J. Carter;LITTLE RIVER: Wilmer D.Dangerfield; LOGAN: J.W. Butler;LONOKE: Charlotte A. Alley, Jo. A.Autry, Frieda K. Elcan, Gladys L.Marshall, Jimmie S. Walmsley; MADI-SON: Eldon Hestand, Newell M.Stepp, Katherine L. Toliver; MILLER:Paula F. Denson, Linda F. McCoy, FayC. Wormington; MISSISSIPPI: RubyN. Huntzicker, Raymond A. Johnson,

Lorene K. Katz, Inez H. Nolan, JamesL. Thomas, Willie M. Van Horn;MONROE: Fred A. Abram Jr., JamesN. Robinson, Dewey W. Snowden;MONTGOMERY: Hazel B. Lokey;NEVADA: Nannette W. Jackson;NEWTON: Betty J. Cowell, LouisGregoire; OUACHITA: Mildred E.Dewoody; PERRY: Billy F. Jones,Dorothy E. Nosal, Esther Rainey;PHILLIPS: Gene K. Bradford, HettieL. Huff, Rubye L. Hunter, Freddy J.Jackson, Elizabeth P. Wolf; PIKE: OlaL. Cantrell, Grace A. Riley; POIN-SETT: Verna G. Criss, Robert H.Medley, Nettie B. Ramsey, Raven A.Woodard; POLK: Eva S. Furr, SandraL. Woods; POPE: Heartsill R. Bartlett,Donald E. Barton, Danny E. Davis,Jimmy L. Lackey, Susan G. Schubert,Tommye B. West; PULASKI: CharlesR. Alexander, Betty J. Allen, Trena I.Blankenship, Della F. Brown, Judith M.Brown, Nancy E. Burnett, Jean C. Byrd,Patsy R. Campbell, Mary F. Carroll,Paul M. Christensen II, Lillian O.Clark, Katie J. Cogbill, Margaret K.Driscoll, Sammye G. Foley, Sandra F.Goldberg, Kathy Gray, Katherine C.Hackmann, Marvelle S. Harmon,Evelyn H. Jackson, Vivian J. Jackson,Nova B. Jones, Catherine Lewis, MiriamA. Mattax, Lillie M. McKnight, HelenL. Moody, Edna N. Moore, Clarence E.Morris, Senora D. Muldrew, ElizabethA. Red, Shirley A. Scales, Wanda L.Sebastian, Geneva S. Shells, BernellSmith, Fletcher W. Srygley, Opal M. St.Clair, Nellie M. Steenburgen, Martin O.Swint, Freeman, D. Thomas, Donald L.Umfleet, Rosemary M. White, Dana R.Williams; RANDOLPH: Betty L.Hisaw; SALINE: Diana G. Bard, EthelG. Burton, George D. Humphries,

Frances B. McKnight, Clifford R. Phifer,Mavis J. Smith, Edmund A. Stoddard;SEBASTIAN: Paula A. Cherry, Lue V.Gordon, Cindy J. Grubb, Frances A.Headley, Maudie L. Pinkerton, Bolin D.Stewart, Mary M. Thompson, MarianWalbe Sr., Gordon A. Yearty; SEVIER:Virgil E. Cawood; SHARP: Barbara K.Stauffer, Audrey J. Thompson; ST.FRANCIS: Emily J. Billingsley, Iris K.Catlett, Evelyn C. Halbert, James L.Laws; STONE: Lorene Bagby, MarthaA. Winningham; UNION: Vera L.Allen, Minnie M. Rhoades, James D.Short; VAN BUREN: Lyle J. Hoisager,Lorea H. Jones, Pauline Lunsford;WASHINGTON: Winifred M. Bell,Melvin Daniels, Roland E. Davis, JohnE. Fox, Gloria D. McPherson, SamuelR. Myers, Joe J. Slaven, Russell J. Spicer,Hattie F. Yokem; WHITE: FloellaBoone, Marilyn L. Brewer, David L.Burnley, Billy F. Powell, Wanda L.Southerland; WOODRUFF: Mattie L.Hefner; YELL: Virginia W. James, PaulR. Newton, Gladys Sachse; OUT-OF-STATE: John D. Bieber, Esther B.Bottoms, Bill C. Byers, Marilyn V. Carll,Sandra E. Chailland, Gloria T. Clohecy,Dolores J. Coale, Nancy C. Cook,Charlene P. Davis, Ruth E. Dethrow,Clois M. Dunn, William G. Gillespie,Dale G. Gould, Jewell A. Gray, Mary L.Homyk, Elizabeth G. Jasen, Dorothy A.Johnson, Leon Jones, Madge Kizzia,James O. Martin, Julian W. Mettetal,Florene W. Moore, James R. Pratt,Gilbert Riffe, Michael B. Riley, Mary L.Roark, Ruth E. Shores, Gladys S. Smith,Naomi Spears, Wilma L. Stobaugh,Carol L. Sumpter, Daniel D. Thrower,Mary L. Walker, Zuddie J. Waller, AnitaH. Williams, Nickol S. Williams,Margary E. Winters.

ARTA INTERLINK Page 7

Page 8 ARTA INTERLINK

Miller County RTA had an opportunity to send clothingto Haiti by Darlyn Hon, a missionary/teacher who hap-pened to be visiting parents in the area, but was returning toHaiti at the end of May. She promised to see that the cloth-ing was distributed. The membership contributed fundsfrom the treasury for this project. Some members andfriends felt that they wanted to do more, therefore they con-tributed additional money for the project. Betty Shipp andElizabeth Cooney, members of the local unit, agreed to dothe shopping. They tried to get an assortment of sizes forboys and girls. This was something concrete that memberscould do and feel that they had been of assistance to a coun-try devastated by a natural disaster.

Katy Daniel, President, Miller County RTA

Miller County RTA members, Elizabeth Cooney andBetty Shipp, with Katy Daniel, MCRTA President

Miller County RTASpecial Service Project

Students, Cookies, and CCRTA

The Cleburne County Retired Teachers Associationadopted the Community School of Cleburne County astheir “Youth Project”. Members have donated money forcookies to be purchased and delivered to the school to beserved to students at snack time or as a birthday treat. Theabove photo shows students in Mrs. Spengler’s class of 2 ½to 3 year olds enjoying cookies after their nap on the day theclass was visited by Kathryn Huenefeld, Youth ProjectChairperson, Dr. Lavern Penn and Earlene Hankins. Dr.Penn, CCRTA President, commended the faculty and staffof CSoCC on the pleasant and attractive facilities. Ms.Michelle, Assistant Director, thanked the retired teachers fortheir support of the school.

Washington County Retired Teachers Associationcollects and brings to our meetings early-level children’sbooks, either new or gently used. The unit donatesthese books in January to various institutions needingbooks for a children’s library. This past January, theunit donated almost eighty books to the library at theElizabeth Richardson Center Pre-school in Fayetteville.Youth Project Chairperson Jeannine Presley, PublicInforma tion/Relations Committee ChairpersonElizabeth Floyd, Past President Beverly Cosby, andPresident Joan Wright presented the collection to thestaff at ERC. The ERC teachers gave appreciativeremarks about the donation and welcomed any addi-tional donations of children’s books in the future.

Joan Wright, WCRTA President

Washington County RTACollects Children’s Books

Social Security QuestionsQ. I was married for 18 years, and then my husband and

I were divorced. He has remarried and I have not. I’ll be 58this year. He’s 67. Can I collect Social Security on his workrecord?

A. You are eligible to collect a spousal benefit, as long asyour ex-husband is collecting Social Security, but not untilyou turn 62. At that time, you would receive a reduced benefit amount, since you’d be filing for early benefits. Ifyou wait until age 66 to file, you would get full spousal benefits.

To learn more about age and benefit amounts, go to(www.ssa.gov/retire2/retirechart.htm)

Source: Social Security Administration

ARTA INTERLINK Page 9

Panama Canal Travelers included, front row, left to right: Linda Kordsmeier,Sharon House, Georgia Berry, Barbara Anderson, Lucy Rhodes, Virginia Ballenger,Nellie Ahlf, Joan Noesser, Janet Hardin, Carol Baker; second row, left to right:Sharon Johnson, Leo Kordsmeier, Paul House, Paul Noesser, and Paul House.

From Fort Lauderdale, Florida, toSan Diego, California, our ARTA

members and guests enjoyed a cruisethrough the Panama Canal. Port stopsincluded Georgetown in the CaymanIslands; Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica;Puerto Chiapas, Mexico; Huatulco,Mexico; Acapulco, Mexico; and CaboSan Lucas, Mexico. One of the mostfascinating features of the cruise waswatching the ship enter into thePanama Canal through the three locks.We observed the locks open for theship to enter and close afterwards.Our group enjoyed various excursionswhile in port. One of the rewards ofthis 15-day cruise was 15 pounds ofextra weight to carry around.

Tour ofPanama Canal

Name(s)_________________________________________________

Phone __________________________________________________

Address _________________________________________________

County _________________________________________________

City _____________________________ State______ Zip _______

Please send me ______ tickets(s) for the noon luncheon at $20.00 each.

Enclosed is my check with a stamped, self-addressed envelope

for a quick response.

You may also call 1-888-929-0555 • (501) 375-2958 or fax (501) 376-0955

Mail your reservation before September 1 to:ARTA, 1200 Commerce, Little Rock, AR 72202

ARTA ANNUAL CONVENTIONSEPTEMBER 28, 2010

Immanuel Baptist Church, 501 N. Shackleford Road, Little Rock

Janet Hardin with her purchasedaboriginal artwork

Regular COLAAdded in July

Retirees who qualify for the COLA(Cost Of Living Adjustment) will seethe increase in their end of July payment. It will be a simple 3% timesyour base annuity from 2008. Thatwas the year everyone received a compounded 3%. This will not beaffected by the freeze on State employee raises.

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPermit No. 225Little Rock, AR

Arkansas Retired Teachers AssociationParkview Towers • 1200 Commerce Street

Little Rock, AR 72202

INTERLINKARTA CONTINUING OR LIFE MEMBERSHIP

Act 105 of 1985 authorizes the Teacher Retirement System to deduct your ARTA dues from your monthly benefit checks, if youdesire. This authorization may be canceled only by a written notice from you to the Retirement System. You may select one of thefour ARTA mem ber ship options listed below.

Complete this form and return it to: ARTA Membership, 1200 Commerce St., Little Rock, AR 72202.

I. ARTA CONTINUING MEMBERSHIP DUES II. ARTA LIFE MEMBERSHIP DUES ______I elect to have standard dues of $1.50 ______ I elect to have dues of $15 deductedper month deducted from my re tire ment from my retirement checks each month forchecks. 12 months. (Total $180)

DIRECT PAYMENT______ Annual membership ($18 check enclosed.) ______ Life membership (One-time $180 check enclosed)

Name _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Signature _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Address _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Telephone _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

City/State/Zip _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

County ______________________ Social Security Number_____________________________ Date _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

(Return this form only if you are not currently an ARTA member or if you wish to make a change.)Aboriginal Dreamtime Tour