The summer months were a busy time on the pension front. On the last day before the Legislature’s summer recess,

NJEA and NJREA leaders, as well as a cadre of members patrolling the Statehouse, suc-cessfully lobbied the Senate and Assembly to pass a resolution calling on the governor to make the entire budgeted FY 2016 pension payment of $1.3 billion by July 15.

This proposed early payment would allow the money – while still far short of what should have been a $3.1 billion state contribution – to earn interest and strength-en the system. It would also ensure the full budgeted amount was securely in the system well before the end of the fiscal year.

Because this was a resolution – not a bill – Gov. Christie was free to ignore it, which he did.

However, the passage of the resolution and the press conference that followed it generated considerable media coverage and cast a spotlight on the governor’s continued mismanagement of the pension system.

COLA lawsuit marches on On July 31, the Supreme Court of

New Jersey granted certification in Berg v. Christie, the long-running lawsuit challeng-ing Chapter 78’s freeze of the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for current and future retired public employees in the state pension system. In granting certification, the court has agreed to decide definitively whether the COLAs that were stripped from the public employee pensions are a non-forfeitable contractual right under the New Jersey Con-stitution.

The court will likely schedule oral argu-ments in this case in the fall, and may not issue a final decision until early next year.

This case has been proceeding through the court system for over four years. NJEA/NJREA remains committed to fighting for the restoration of the COLA. For a complete timeline of this lawsuit, be sure to check out page 22 in the September issue of the Review.

Appeal planned for pension ruling

Prior to Ch. 78’s passage in 2011, a series of court rulings had determined that public employees – including NJEA/NJREA

members – had a contractual right to the pension benefits they had earned. However, the courts also found public employees did not have a contractual right to the fund-ing of the system.

To correct that, Ch. 78 granted public employees, including NJEA members, a contractual right to the fund-ing. This provision of the law, however, was ruled unconsti-tutional by the state Supreme

Court because it ran afoul of the constitu-tion’s debt limitation clause.

Not all of the state’s top justices agreed with this logic. In his dissent, Justice Barry Albin, joined by Chief Justice Stuart Rabner, noted that federal contract law should have been considered.

NJREA – NEW JERSEY RETIREES’ EDUCATION ASSOCIATION

Vol. 58, No. 3 • 180 W. State St., P.O. Box 1211, Trenton, NJ 08607-1211 • September 2015

v Do you ache when you rake? Try these tips to avoid the hurt when you hoe. (p.2)

v Are you taking advantage of all the tax breaks you can? Check out these three tax rebate programs available to seniors. (p. 3)

v Meet the 2015 NJREA scholarship winners and discover ways in which they plan to change the world. (p. 8)

v Think an early bird special draws a crowd? The annual NJREA Convention has it beat! Find out how you can attend. (p. 10)

v NJREA pays tribute to a long-time advocate. Read more about her amazing story inside. (p. 12)

Spotlight articles

President’s message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Financial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Politics & policies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

County news . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Scholarships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

NJREA Convention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Member benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Features

Pension rollercoaster continues

SAVE

THE D

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NJREA

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n

Septe

mber 2

4

(continued on pg. 4)

As the “Daytime Face of NJEA”, NJREA members came in droves throughout the summer to advocate on behalf of active and retired members’ rights.

If nothing else has become apparent in the last six years, it is that the decisions we make at the ballot box can have a

deleterious effect on us, our families, and our profession for years to come. Though our pension problem began almost 20 years ago, the situation has grown worse, not better – despite assurances to the contrary.

I don’t need to go through the history of what has happened to our profession and the promises made when we began working. At one point or another, we all probably heard the refrain, “you will never be rich in education, but you will have a secure and honorable retirement.” How naïve we were – and easy targets.

Like good soldiers, we went about our jobs and never asked the hard political questions. We listened to the words we wanted to hear and never challenged the decisions that supported or didn’t support those words. Because of this, we unfortunately and unknowingly were complicit in the situation we find ourselves in today. If we are to turn this disastrous situation around, we must get involved and verify or dis-pel the sound bites that bombard us.

Members call the NJREA frequently to convey their fears, concerns and frustrations with the current hostile environment that portrays school employees as greedy and self-serving. And while I share those feelings, I find it astounding to hear that our members still don’t want to take action to change this

perception. When a suggestion is made that retirees need to become more involved in the politics of our state – and country, for that

matter – members actually say, “We don’t get involved in that political stuff!”

Here’s the hard truth: You can’t have it both ways. If you collect a state pension, you are entrenched in the political process whether you want to be or not. It’s up to you to decide if you are willing to watch

your retirement diminish, or if you want to exercise some influence on

how decisions are made.

We can no longer afford to wait and see what happens and have less than two months to begin to try to effectuate change. This will not be a one-shot solution; we must use due diligence to evaluate and separate the truth from the lies. Moreover, we cannot blindly vote based on political designation; we must cast our ballots based on the voting records of those running for office and that’s precisely what NJEA’s Political Action Committee (PAC) did when choosing which Assembly candidates to endorse this fall.

One of the perks of getting older is that through life experiences, we also get wiser. Let’s use this collective wisdom to take collec-tive action against those who use us for target practice. I’m confident that through united action, we can turn this around.

Rake without acheW

ith fall upon us, it’s again time to rake leaves, give the lawn a final

mowing, and – if you’re not careful – suffer from pain. Believe it or not, simple outdoor chores such as raking and picking up leaves can have serious health consequences. The physical actions associated with these chores can cause upper or lower-back strain, neck strain, and pain in the shoulders.

Using tools poorly matched to your body type can also lead to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, a problem of the median nerve which runs from the forearm to the hand. By using correct posture and wrist position, ergonomically-designed tools, and taking frequent breaks, you can avoid the stresses that cause CTS.

Follow these other tips to remain safe and pain-free this fall:

• When mowing, always use your entire bodyweight to push the mower instead of just your arms and back.

• When raking leaves, make sure you stretch before and after. Keep your back straight and upright, avoiding twisting and over extending your reach to mini-mize stresses on your back.

• Stand as straight as possible and keep your head up as you rake or mow. Adopt a scissors-like position, placing one leg in front of the other and then reversing your foot position to minimize additional strain to one side of the body. Alternate your dominant hand every so often and rake the leaves to the side of you. Always bend at the knees, not the waist, espe-cially when picking up leaves.

• Rest every 10-15 minutes and stay hydrat-ed. If you feel soreness or stiffness in your back, use ice to soothe the area and if pain persists, see your doctor.

The Association of NJ Chiropractors (ANJC) is one of

the largest associations of chiropractic physicians

in the nation, with almost 2,000 members, taking

care of nearly one million patients, statewide. Part of

ANJC’s mission is to become a trusted, relied upon

information resource to the public regarding the benefits

of chiropractic care. For more information, visit www.njchiropractors.com.

It’s time to wise up

The NJREA Newsletter is a quarterly publication for the members of the New

Jersey Retirees’ Education Association, Inc. (affiliate of NJEA). Issues are

published in September, December, March, and June.

President – Pat Provnick

First VP – Judy Perkins

Second VP – Walter Krichling

Secretary – Joan Wright

Treasurer – Carol Kadi

Past President – Rosemarie Jankowski

NJEA DA – Rosemarie Jankowski,

Joanne Palladino, T. Charles Taylor

DA Alternate – Barbara James, Susan

Jaysnovitch, Martha Liebman

Editor – Miriam Reichenbach

Editorial Board – Linda Bruno, Michael

Johnson, Mary Lou Lucas, Karen

McClellan, Susan Shrott, & Loretta

Vogel.

NJEA staff – Christy Kanaby, Nora J.

Lenahan, & Cathy Raffaele.

Contributing writers – Kathy

Coulibaly, Julie Giordano-Plotkin,

Dan Goldman, Phil Lomonico, &

Patrick Rumaker.

Newsletter deadline

Materials and color photos (do not fold) for the December 2015

NJREA Newsletter must be received by October 15. Send only materials

that will be current when the newsletter is received in mid-Decmber.

Mail materials to: NJREA Editorial Board

PO Box 1211, Trenton, NJ 08607-1211

Questions? Call 609-599-4594, ext. 2300

Send Letters to the Editor to:Miriam Reichenbach

c/o NJREA Editorial Board, PO Box 1211, Trenton, NJ 08607-1211

or email to: miriam_50@comcast.net

Have questions for NJREA? Email us at njrea@njea.org.

Provnick

2 – President’s message NJREA Newsletter • September 2015

The New Jersey Division of Taxation operates several property tax relief programs for senior citizens and other

property owners that may be of benefit to NJREA members.

The first program is known as the Senior Freeze program. In this program, the state freezes a property owner’s future tax payment at a level set on the eligibility date and reimburses any subsequent increases in the homeowner’s annual property tax bill. Last year, Senior Freeze checks averaged nearly $1,200. Applications are currently being accepted for reimbursement of 2014 taxes, and the usual June application dead-line has been extended to October 15.

• In order to be eligible, applicants must meet all the following requirements:

• Applicant or his/her spouse must be at least 65 years old or receive Social Secu-rity disability benefits;

• Residency in NJ for at least 10 years;

• Owned and lived in his/her current home for at least three years;

• Paid your current property taxes in full; and

• Gross income cannot exceed $84,289 for 2013 and $70,000 for 2014.

NOTE: Applicants with a 2014 income over $70,000 but less than $85,553 can establish their eligibility for future reim-bursements by filing an application by the due date. Once received, the Division of Taxation will mail out applications for con-sideration in 2015.

If you believe you are eligible but did not receive an application in the mail, you may download applications at http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/ptr/claim.shtml or call the Senior Freeze Hotline at 800-882-6597.

The second property tax relief program is the Homestead Rebate, now known as the Homestead Benefit Program. Once a popular and widely available tax credit or rebate, its availability has been greatly restricted for the

last several years under the Christie adminis-tration. Eligibility is limited to homeowners (not renters) who paid property taxes, owned and occupied the home as their principal residence as of October 1 of the tax year, and met the following gross income requirements for the tax year:

• $150,000 for homeowners aged 65 or older, or blind or disabled on Dec. 31.

• $75,000 for homeowners under 65 and not blind or disabled on Dec. 31.

The application is simply part of the NJ-1040 Income Tax form. Eligible home-owners who do not file an NJ-1040 may apply online or by phone at 877-658-2972.

Finally, some homeowners and tenants who pay property tax directly or through their rent may be eligible for a property tax deduction or credit via their New Jersey 1040 Income Tax return. The NJ-1040 and its instructions will guide you through the application for the deduction or credit.

Resident homeowners or tenants who do not file an NJ-1040 because they are below the income thresholds ($10,000 single or married filing separately/$20,000 married filing jointly) may apply for the property tax credit only if they are 65 or older, or blind or disabled. However, in order to be considered, interested seniors will need to file an NJ-1040-H, available at http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/pdf/current/1040h.pdf

Pension fund update

September 2015 • NJREA Newsletter Financial – 3

Tax relief programs for retirees

Total Pension Fund Asset Allocation

$79.15 billion

Market value, unaudited, as of 5/31/15. May not reflect the actual performance of some alternative investments through the period noted, due to lags in reporting under industry standards.

ASSET ALLOCATION 5/31/15 (in billions)

Market Value Asset

($ billions) Allocation

Global Growth $ 46.3 58%

Income 17.1 22%

Real Return 5.0 6%

Liquidity 6.7 9%

Risk Mitigation/

Capital Preservation 3.3 4%

Other 0.7 1%

Total $79.1 100.00%

The starting point for a successful return on investment is asset allocation, or how

investments are diversified among stocks, bonds, cash and other investments. The Division of Investment strives for an allocation mix that will maximize returns at a prudent level of risk. Totals reflect values as of 5/31/15. Figures are unaudited and subject to change.

NOTE: All reports and financial statements are posted on the Division of Investments’ website at http://www.nj.gov/treasury/doinvest/index.shtml.

The pension fund’s investments return for the 2015 calendar year to date was 4.13 percent, exceeding the plan’s benchmark by 124 basis points. Investment returns for the 2015 fiscal year to date was 4.57 percent, exceeding the plan’s benchmark by 73 basis points.

Liquidity 9%

Risk Mitigation 4%

Real Return 6% Income 22%

Global Growth 58%

Other 1%

State Investment Council meeting

The next meeting of the State Investment Council (SIC) is scheduled for 10 a.m.

on Wednesday, Sept. 23. Meetings are open to the public and normally held at the War Memorial, George Washington Ballroom in Trenton. Please be advised that dates and locations are subject to change.

The 125-member political action com-mittee of the 200,000 member New Jer-sey Education Association (NJEA) voted

in August to endorse 54 Assembly candidates for election to the New Jersey Legislature this November.

“Now, more than ever, NJEA and NJREA members understand the vital importance of electing pro-public education candidates,” said NJEA President Wendell Steinhauer. “We have seen the impact of short-sighted policies such as the increased emphasis on standard-ized testing and the failure to fully fund pub-lic employee pensions. Those are the wrong choices for New Jersey and they threaten to undermine our great public schools, which are among the best in the nation.

“Our members are very clear: it’s time for the Legislature to make responsible deci-sions about the future of our state.”

NJEA PAC, a committee composed of both active and retired members, voted on the recommendations of local interview teams from each legislative district. Those endorsements are:

LD 1 Robert Andrzejczak

LD 2 Vince Mazzeo and Colin Bell

LD 3 John Burzichelli and Adam Taliaferro

LD 4 Paul Moriarty and Gabriela Mosquera

LD 5 Screening pending

LD 6 Lou Greenwald and Pamela Lampitt

LD 7 Herb Conaway and Troy Singleton

LD 8 No endorsement

LD 9 No endorsement

LD 10 No endorsement

LD 11 Eric Houghtaling and Joann Downey

LD 12 No endorsement

LD 13 Thomas Herman

LD 14 Wayne DeAngelo and Daniel Benson

LD 15 Reed Gusciora and Elizabeth Maher Muoio

LD 16 Maureen Vella and Andrew Zwicker

LD 17 Joe Danielsen

LD 18 Patrick Diegnan, Jr. and Nancy Pinkin

LD 19 Craig Coughlin and John Wisniewski

LD 20 Annette Quijano and Jamel Holley

LD 21 Jill Anne Lazare and David Barnett

LD 22 Jerry Green and James Kennedy

LD 23 No endorsement

LD 24 No endorsement

LD 25 Richard Corcoran III

LD 26 No endorsement

LD 27 Mila Jasey and John McKeon

LD 28 Cleopatra Tucker and Ralph Caputo

LD 29 L. Grace Spencer and Eliana Pintor Marin

LD 30 Screening pending

LD 31 Nicholas Chiaravalloti and Angela McKnight

LD 32 Vincent Prieto and Angelica Jimenez

LD 33 Raj Mukherji and Annette Chaparro

LD 34 Sheila Oliver and Thomas Giblin

LD 35 Shavonda Sumter and Benjie Wimberly

LD 36 Gary Schaer and Marlene Caride

LD 37 Valerie Vainieri Huttle

LD 38 Timothy Eustace and Joe Lagana

LD 39 No endorsement

LD 40 Christine Ordway

NJEA PAC announces endorsements

4 – President’s Message NJREA Newsletter • September 20154 – Politics & policies NJREA Newsletter • September 2015

YES! I want to help support legislators

who uphold secure pensions and

health benefits for retired public school employees.

Name __________________________

Street __________________________

City ___________________________

State ________ Zip code __________

Email __________________________

Retired from____________________ Co.

Enclosed is my tax-free contribution for $_____________.

Make checks payable to “NJEA PAC.”

Contributions to NJEA PAC are not charitable donations

for federal income tax purposes.

Complete and return to:NJEA, c/o Beneficial Bank

PO Box 13661, Philadelphia, PA 19101-3661

“I conclude that the contractual rights of public workers, guaranteed by Ch. 78, have been substantially impaired in violation of the federal Constitution,” Albin wrote. “I would give public work-ers the relief to which they are entitled and send the matter back to the political branches to comply with the law of their making.”

Recognizing the federal implications of the contract clauses of Ch. 78, attor-neys for NJEA and other public employee unions are preparing an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold the con-tractual right to pension funding under the law.

Governor ignores revenue options

On Aug. 10, Christie vetoed S-3100, which would have required state pension contributions to be made quarterly rather than annually, and S-3107, which would have deposited $300 million into the pen-sion fund on July 15. The source of these funds was unanticipated revenue carried over from the FY 2015 budget.

According to S-3107, “The appro-priation in FY 2015 ensures that the $300 million is invested immediately, rather than at the end of June 2016. Doing so allows for the earning of investment returns in FY 2016 on the appropriated amount.”

NJEA President Wendell Steinhauer said that Christie’s veto of these two bills defied common sense.

“Gov. Christie owes New Jersey’s tax-payers an explanation for why he refuses to take even the smallest steps to stabilize the system and lower the long-term cost of fixing the problem the state has created for itself,” Steinhauer said.

Pension rollercoaster continues

(continued from pg. 1)

September 2015 • NJREA Newsletter President’s Message – 5September 2015 • NJREA Newsletter Editorial – 5

by Michael Johnson

As you know, all 121 seats of the NJ Assembly are up for election this November. Of the incumbents, some

have voted in favor of a budget that would provide a full payment into the pension sys-tems; some support the state making a full payment but have demurred, claiming the state doesn’t have the money to spare; and then there are those who have labelled public employees – active and retired – as bloated, overpaid parasites feeding at the public trough.

With our pensions literally on the line, never before has the importance of our votes counted as they will this November. And while there are some candidates that we’d rather see out of office, we must cast our ballots for NJEA PAC-endorsed candidates.

Contrary to popular belief, endorsement is not a popularity poll. Rather, it’s a demo-cratic process in which questionnaires are given to all candidates for response; candidate interviews are held by each county screening committee; and candidate’s voting records are examined – all before a recommendation is sent to the NJEA PAC Operating Committee, which is comprised of both active and retired members, for endorsement. Endorsements are

gained only by a majority vote of the Operat-ing Committee, and each local screening committee needs to be ready to respond to questions to defend its decision.

I’m sure you’re asking yourself, “If others are involved in the political process, then why should I be?” It’s simple: we can never forget the last six years. In short, what the governor and Legislature giveth, the governor and Leg-islature can taketh away. We need to only look at the suspension of our COLAs, the threat of the pension system’s financial collapse, and the “it’s the unions’ fault” rhetoric being lev-eled at us as proof.

You and I are at an age where we went through the Nixon wage freeze, years of $100 - $150 raises, and the enactment of an $18,500 starting salary which resulted in no funds

available for the top of the guide. Through it all, our local negotiations teams were assured that the one thing we did have was the promise of a comfortable retirement.

In short, because state politics are affect-ing you, you must turn the tables and affect state politics. This November, don’t vote as a Democrat, a Republican, an Independent, a Green Party supporter, or a Libertarian. Instead, vote as a former school employee who expects politicians to keep their promises; vote as a retiree watching his/her bank balances take a hit; and vote as an NJREA member who has faith in our PAC Operating Committee. Your retirement is counting on you.

Editorials and opinion articles do not necessarily

represent the opinions of NJREA / NJEA.

As educators, we have often heard how many in the general public think

that summer is simply a time for rest and relaxation. We know, of course, that for most active educators, summer is often the time for professional development, tutoring, building and worksite prepara-tion, lesson planning, and much more.

Additionally, for both active and retired members, summer is a time for union activism.

As part of the NEA Representative Assembly, our NJREA/NEA-Retired members were busy meeting and strategizing on ways to enhance communication with members, solicit greater participation from all retirees (regardless from which state they hail), and initiating successful legislative action.

Representative Assembly delegates then spent days on new business items and policy positions for the NEA, helping to steer the direction of our association for years to come.

With the pro-verbial “no rest for the weary,” members were right back to work at the NJEA 2015 Jack Bertolino Summer Leadership Conference. There, NJREA and NJEA leaders spent time com-municating with active members and encouraging the transition from NJEA membership to NJREA membership upon retirement.

It’s quite a list, isn’t it? But all of this effort was in preparation for the work that continues now. We know that the fight for our pensions, our COLA, and public educa-tion itself is going to take as many involved educators as possible. We know it will take unprecedented organizing, educating, and agitating.

So as always, we put the work in dur-ing the summer, so we can have a success-ful school year. I’m proud to have you on the team.

Turning the tables

A busy summer

Sean M. SpillerNJEA Secretary-Treasurer

I want to contribute to NJEA’s Hipp

Foundation for Excellence in Education.YES!Name ______________________________________

Street ______________________________________

City _______________________________________

State ___________ Zip code ____________________

Email ______________________________________

Retired from ________________________________ Co.

Enclosed is my tax-free contribution for $__________.

Checks must be made payable to “NJEA Hipp Foundation.”

Complete & return to: NJEA, c/o Beneficial Bank

PO Box 13661, Philadelphia, PA 19101-3661

Atlantic

Oct. 6 – Fall luncheon/meeting at the Greate Bay Country Club in Somers Point.

Dec. 1 – Winter luncheon/meeting at the Mays Landing Country Club in Mays Landing. Cost for each event is $27. To attend either, call Linda Young at 609-226-6202.

Burlington

Oct. 15 – Fall luncheon/meeting at O’Connor’s American Bar and Grill in East-ampton. NJEA President Wendell Steinhauer is the guest speaker. Cost is $25. To attend, call Lisa Donatiello at 856-296-7321.

Camden

Oct. 23 – Fall luncheon/meeting at the Tavis-tock Country Club in Haddonfield. NJEA Vice President Marie Blistan is the guest speaker. Cost is $25. To RSVP, call Dottie Williams at 856-234-2045.

Essex

Oct. 14 – Fall meeting/luncheon at the Hanover Manor in East Hanover. NJEA Vice President Marie Blistan is the guest speaker. Cost is $25. To attend, call Beverly Johnson-Showers at 862-955-4133.

Gloucester

Oct. 6 – Fall meeting/luncheon at Nicolosi Catering in Woodbury. Cost is $25. Addition-al details can be found in the Sept. GCREA newsletter. To attend, call Candy Zachowski at 856-228-6854.

Dec. 3 – Annual Holiday Social at the GCEA office. Cost is $10. To RSVP, call Arnetta Johnson at 609-254-6566.

Hudson

Oct. 14 – Luncheon/meeting at La Reggia’s Restaurant in Secaucus. Cost is $35 for members, $40 for non-members. NJREA

representatives will be the guest speakers. To attend, call Arlene Brown at 732-493-0662

Dec. 2 – Annual Holiday Party at the Chandelier Restaurant in Bayonne. Cost for members and non-members is $35 and $40, respectively. To attend, call Maureen O’Neill at 201-795-1645.

Hunterdon

Oct. 6 – Fall meeting/luncheon. Current issues/events will be the topics of discussion.

Dec. 1 – Winter meeting/holiday brunch. Both events will be held at the Flemington-Raritan Diner in Flemington. To attend either, call Joyce Kucyn at 908-479-6656.

Mercer

Oct. 21 – Fall meeting/luncheon at the Mercer Oaks Country Club in West Windsor. NJEA staff will be the scheduled presenters. Cost is $25. To attend, call Pat Durastanti at 609-737-7992.

Monmouth

Oct. 20 – Fall meeting/luncheon at Jumping Brook Country Club in Neptune. Bob Bobik, NJEA Research, will be the guest speaker.

Dec. 8 – Holiday meeting/luncheon at the Shadowbrook in Shrewsbury. The MCREA annual toy drive will be conducted. Cost for each event is $28. To attend either, call Sue Shrott at 732-995-7754.

Morris

Oct. 7 – Fall meeting/luncheon at the Zeris Inn in Mountain Lakes. Cost is $26.

Dec. 9 – Holiday meeting/luncheon at the Hanover Manor in East Hanover. Cost is $28. To attend either event, call Nancy Condit at 973-335-0990.

(continued on pg. 7)

NJREA/NJEA Calendar

September

18 – NJEA Executive Committee

19 – NJEA Delegate Assembly Mtg.

21 – NJREA Planning Committee Mtg.

24 – NJREA Fall Luncheon

26 – NJEA Regional Health & Safety Conference - South

October

16 – NJEA Executive Committee Mtg.

16-17 – NJEA Urban Education Symposium

23-24 – NJEA Jim George Collective Bargaining Summit

24 – NJEA Family Involvement Conference

27 – NJREA Executive Committee Mtg.

NJREA Planning Committee Mtg.

November

3 – NJREA Planning Committee Mtg.

4 – NJEA Executive Committee Mtg.

4-5 – NJREA Convention

5-6 – NJEA Convention

6 – NJREA Planning Committee Mtg.

7 – NJEA Delegate Assembly Mtg.

14 – NJEA Family Involvement Conference

December

11-12 – NJEA Winter Leadership Conference - Central

14 – NJEA Executive Committee Mtg.

6 – President’s Message NJREA Newsletter • September 20156 – County news NJREA Newsletter • September 2015

Around the countiesFor questions, call your county REA.

For trip information, check the county newsletter.

Show your NJREA pride

Want to show your union pride and donate to a good cause? Purchase an NJREA polo shirt! Shirts

will be offered for sale at the upcoming Fall Luncheon and NJREA Convention. All proceeds will benefit the NJREA Scholarship Fund and the purchase is tax deductible. Each light blue shirt will sell for $25 and is emblazoned with the NJREA logo. Available shirt sizes will range from small to 3X (men’s sizes only.) No mail orders will be taken.

2015-16 County Officers

Atlantic – Roger Baker rmbaker1@juno.com

Bergen – Camille Coppa JLCCMC@optimum.net

Burlington – John Dioszeghy dioszeghy@yahoo.com

Camden – Diana Byers-Linder dbyers06@yahoo.com

Cape May – John Ward a5jwjw@yahoo.com

Cumberland – Charlie Moses ccreapres@gmail.com

Essex – Terry Trigg-Scales ttscales@gmail.com

Gloucester – Diane Camiolo dcamiolo@comcast.net

Hudson – William DeRosa bumonbch@aol.com

Hunterdon – Doreen Bleck doreenbleck@gmail.com

Mercer – Cindy Braddock mcrea.president@gmail.com

Middlesex – Susan Jaysnovitch teachtheinternet@aol.com

Monmouth – Kathy Hodecker compteacher@hotmail.com

Morris – Sue Vigilante swvigilante@gmail.com

Ocean – Rae Saulino rsaulino175@verizon.net

Passaic – Susan Deile sjadf@aol.com

Salem – Pamela McNamee LT829@aol.com

Somerset – Carol Shields carol_screa@yahoo.com

Sussex – Marie Kovacs kovmar76@gmail.com

Union – Herb Levitt hlevitt19@gmail.com

Warren – Vickie Rhinehart vpearlie7@yahoo.com

September 2015 • NJREA Newsletter Leadership – 7

Ocean

Oct. 16 – Fall meeting/luncheon at the TR Hotel in Toms River.

Dec. 10 – Holiday meeting/luncheon at the Clarion Hotel in Toms River. Cost for each event is $25. To attend either, call Janice Sovinee at 732-477-1711.

Passaic

Sept. 16 – Fall meeting/luncheon.

Dec. 10 – Holiday luncheon/meeting. Both events will be held at the Brownstone House in Paterson. To attend, call Kitty Sausa at 201-445-7577.

Somerset

Oct. 7 – Fall meeting/luncheon. Fran Pfeffer, NJEA Government Relations staff, will be the guest speaker.

Dec.2 – Winter luncheon/meeting. Cost for each event is $25 and both will be held at Pheasants Landing in Hillsborough. To attend either, call Diane Lebbing at 908-359-2870.

Sussex

Sept. 21 – Fall meeting/luncheon. Reserva-tion coupon can be found in the August SCREA newsletter.

Dec. 7 – Holiday meeting/luncheon. Reser-vation coupon will be in the Oct. SCREA newsletter. Both meetings will be held at the Lafayette House in Lafayette and each will cost $26. To attend either, call Linda Adams at 973-714-1646.

Union

Oct. 13 – Meeting/luncheon at The Westwood in Garwood. Cost is $25. Musician and sing-er Leonardo will provide the entertainment.

NJRE-Central Florida

Nov. 10 – Fall meeting/luncheon at Chesa-peake Bay Grille at Arlington Ridge Golf Club. The latest news on NJREA members’ pensions and health benefits will be dis-cussed. To attend, call Steve Mockus at 352-638-2609.

Interested in getting more involved in NJREA? Need advice on issues affecting retirees? Your NJREA officers and execu-

tive committee members are here to help.

NJREA Office: 609-599-4561, ext. 2352

President – Patricia Provnick pprovnick@njea.org

First Vice President – Judy Perkins jperkins@njea.org

Second Vice President – Walt Krichling wkrichling@njea.org

Secretary – Joan Wright jwright@njea.org

Treasurer – Carol Kadi ckadi@njea.org

NJEA DA Rep. – Roe Jankowski roe-jankowski@comcast.net

NJEA DA Rep. – T. Charles Taylor tctaylor2428@aol.com

NJEA DA Rep. – Joanne Palladino Jmplea4@hotmail.com

DA Alternates – Barbara James, Susan Jaysnovitch, and Martha Liebman

NJREA Executive Committee

Around the counties (continued from pg. 6)

Aug scholarship

Brick resident Nina Van

DeVaarst, a graduate of Brick Township High School, is the 2015 recipient of the Fred E. Aug two-year commu-nity college schol-arship. Nina plans to attend Ocean County College this fall and intends to eventually embark on a career to assist children with disabilities.

In addition to working part time, Nina volunteers for two organizations serving children with special needs: the American Youth Football and Cheer Organization (AYF) and the New Jersey Special Olympics. As a junior demon-strator with AYF, Nina helps girls learn cheers and halftime routines by mirror-ing movements, physically assisting girls with arm motions, and even moving their wheelchairs to mimic the routine’s dance. In her role with the Special Olympics, Nina serves as a swim instructor to help children learn to swim and volunteers her time in this capacity nearly six months every year.

Nina is no stranger to the water; in high school, she was the captain of the Varsity swim team and broke two high school records in the 50 and 100 meter freestyle events. Additionally, Nina was on the spring track team, a member of the National Honor Society, and high school honor roll. In 2013, she received the Sportsmanship Award for sailing from the Shore Acres Yacht Club. An avid sailor since 2007, Nina loves living near the water and counts swimming and sailing among her favorite water sports.

NJREA extends its warmest congratu-lations to Nina as she begins her college career.

8 – President’s Message NJREA Newsletter • September 20158 – Scholarships NJREA Newsletter • September 2015

Scholarship recipient named hero

Benjamin Schragger, a graduate of Hopewell Val-ley Central High School, is

the recipient of the 2015 Isabelle M. Hickman four-year scholar-ship. A resident of Titusville, NJ, Ben will attend Rice University in Texas this fall and is majoring in both Sports Management and Business.

As a high school freshman, Benjamin spent some time at Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia (CHOP). During his stay, Ben saw firsthand some of the struggles other children faced. Inspired to help ease pediatric patients’ pain, he joined a new charity – Cards2Kids, an organization that donates sports cards to child-centered care centers. Over the years, Ben facilitated the collection of thousands of cards, solicited new sponsors, partnered with professional athletes and per-sonally delivered over a quarter million cards to children in 10 different states.

After gaining attention for his work on behalf of Cards2Kids, Ben was named its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in his senior year of high school. As CEO, his responsi-bilities include organizing packing events at local schools, collecting donations from manufacturers, and promoting the charity. Ben was also recently honored by Philadel-phia sports radio station WIP as one of their “unsung heroes.”

At Hopewell Valley Cen-tral High School, Ben not only excelled academically, but was the recipient of many awards and honors. Some of his awards and honors include Elks National Foundation Scholar, Wendy’s High School Heisman Award, a community achievement award from The Trentonian, and was ranked the state’s number one ten-

nis player in 2009.

Ben participated in a number of extra-curricular activities as well. He was the sports editor for the high school newspaper, co-chair of the Principal’s Cabinet, served on the Youth Advisory Board and in the Key Club, and was the founder and president of the Table Tennis Club. Outside of school, Ben served as a volunteer coach for the Bulldogs Baseball Camp in Pennington and was a buddy for the Angels in the Outfield program, serving disabled children.

NJREA wishes Benjamin nothing but success as he embarks on his college career.

The NJREA Scholarship Committee includes Cynthia Braddock, Kathleen Collins, Anne Flora, JoAnn Horvath (chair), Barbara James, the late Ruth Palmer, and Linda Young.

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Name _____________________________________________________________________

Street _____________________________________________________________________

City ______________________________________________________________________

State _________________________________ Zip code ___________________________

Email _____________________________________________________________________

Retired from _______________________________________________________________ Co.

Enclosed is my check for $__________, payable to “NJREA Philanthropic Fund.” Your cancelled check is your receipt.

I want to help provide scholarship aid to

outstanding New Jersey public high school graduates.YES!

Schragger Van De Vaarst

September 2015 • NJREA Newsletter President’s Message – 9September 2015 • NJREA Newsletter Scholarships – 9

Demonstrating their unwavering dedi-cation to New Jersey students after retirement, county REAs awarded

dozens of scholarships totaling thousands of dollars to deserving graduates around the state. Over the years, many public high school students have been able to take advantage of the generosity of scholarship awards presented by our county retired associations. Below are some of the winners who received scholarships for the 2015-2016 school year:

Burlington

Burlington County REA awarded Stephanie Thomas, a graduate of Burlington Township High School, the $2,000 Robert M. Oberholser Scholarship this spring. Stephanie plans to major in education at Rider University this fall.

Mercer

The Mer-cer County REA awarded both Adam Druckman, a graduate of West Windsor-Plainsboro High School, and Samara

Painter, a graduate of Hamilton High School, with a $1,000 Anna Diehl/MCREA Scholarship this spring. Adam plans to major in political science at Middlebury College this fall, while Samara will be majoring in the culinary arts at Drexel University.

Morris

MCREA awarded 13 $2,000 scholarships for the 2015-2016 school year. All recipients of the scholarships plan to or are currently majors in the field of education. First-year recipients of this award include: Stephanie Datri (Parsippany High School), Frank Magyar (Pompton Lakes High School), Shayna McMahon (Morris Knolls High School), Shayna Miller (Whippany Park High School), Kathleen Nagle (Madison High School), Zainab Naqvi (Morris Hills High School), and Hannah Pyrzynski (Dover High School).

Second-year recipients include: Michaela Kessinger (Syracuse University), Rebecca Kinsella (University of Maryland), Krista Mennella (University of Delaware), Alex Nestor (Gettysburg College), Christine Park (New York University), and Sarah Washington (Montclair State University).

Sussex

The SCREA awarded two $1,000 scholar-ships to local seniors who plan to become educators. Nicole Henningsen, a Walkill Valley Regional High School graduate, received the Fred Aug Memorial Scholar-ship award and plans to study elementary education. Christopher Loos, a High Point Regional High School graduate, received the Warren D. Cummings Philanthropic Foun-dation Scholarship award and is majoring in social studies education.

County REA’s commitment to children

The 2015 MCREA scholarship recipients. Top row (left to right): Kathleen Nagle, Shayna Miller, and Shayna McMahon. Middle row (left to right): Stephanie Datri, Frank Magyar, Zainab Naqvi, and Hannah Pyrzynski. Bottom row (left to right): Christine Park, Sarah Washington, Michaela Kessinger, Krista Mennella, and Alex Nestor. Not Pictured: Rebecca Kinsella.

Nicole Henningson and Christopher Loos are the recipients of the 2015 SCREA scholarships. Also pictured (l to r) are SCREA president-elect Marie Kovacs, SCREA Immediate Past President Linda Bruno, and SCREA scholarship chair Toni Soderholm.

Carmela S. De Marco, MCREA Scholarship Chair (left) and Cindy Braddock, MCREA President, congratulate Samara Painter on her award.

Adam Druckman is one of the recipients of MCREA’s 2015 Anna Diehl Scholarship award.

Fall luncheon: a must do

Are you concerned about the future of public education and its employees?

Want up-to-the minute information on issues affecting retirees? Then mark your calendars and join NJREA for its annual Fall Meeting on Thursday, September 24.

This popular member event will be held at the Scottish Rite Central Valley in Bordentown beginning at 10 a.m. Infor-mation regarding the luncheon options, cost, and coupon to attend were advertised in the June issue of the NJREA Newsletter.

The deadline is fast approaching; if you still plan to attend, be sure to clip your coupon and send it to Walt Krichling, NJREA second vice president, today. The Fall Luncheon coupon is also available to print online by visiting njea.org/njrea.

The Scottish Rite Central Valley is located at 103 Dunns Mill Road in Bor-dentown, 08505, which is conveniently accessible from major highways. For more information, contact Cathy Raffaele at 609-599-4561, ext. 2300.

Nov. 4 u 12:15 p.m. u Resorts Casino-Hotel

Please mail your reservation by Oct. 23, 2015 to: Walter Krichling

355 Saly Road • Yardley, PA 19067 • 215-262-3699 for info.

Please print:

Name: _____________________________________________________________________

Address: ____________________________________________________________________

City: ____________________________________ State: _______ Zip code: _____________

Phone: (_________) ____________________ County: ______________________________

E-mail: _____________________________________________________________________

Guest’s name(s): _______________________________________________________________

Menu: Self Guest

Broiled Maryland-style Crab Cakes ($29)

Grilled Chicken with demi glaze sauce ($29)

Total amount enclosed: $_______

I plan to attend the Member Information Session.

Please reserve _____ tickets. Make check payable to NJREA.

I prefer to sit with ___________________County

Elizabeth Allen Memorial Luncheon

Standing strong for public education

Mark your calendar for NJREA’s 2015 Convention in Atlantic City on November 4 and 5 at the Resorts

Casino-Hotel in Atlantic City. All NJREA members are encouraged to join their col-leagues for two days of advocacy, camara-derie, and fine food. The annual event will continue to support the theme “NJREA: Mov-ing Forward; Adapting to Change.”

The room rate for NJREA members is just $79 per night plus applicable taxes and fees. To reserve, call 888-797-7700, identify yourself as an NJREA member, and men-tion this code: VNJR15. Reservations will be accepted until October 22. Rooms sell out quickly, so be sure to reserve your room as soon as possible.

Wednesday’s highlights

NJREA’s popular “Member informa-tion Session” will again officially kick off this year’s con-

vention at 11 a.m. All NJREA members are welcome and encouraged to attend. This ses-sion, presented by NJEA staff, focuses on both public educa-tion and retiree issues, and there will be time for questions and answers.

The annual Elizabeth Allen Luncheon will follow the session and begin promptly

at 12:15 p.m. Join your fellow retirees as they dine on a delectable menu and discuss events. Reservations are required. A member wishing to sit with his/her county must indi-cate his/her interest on the coupon form.

Luncheon agenda:

9:30 am - 10:00 am Breakfast

10:00 am - 11:00 am Delegate Council meeting

11:00 am - 12:00 pm Member Information Session

12:00 pm - 2:00 pm Lunch

2:00 pm Delegate Council reconvenes (if necessary)

The NJREA Fall Luncheon is the place for food, friends, and, in the case of Leola Lewis, high fashion!

NJREA President Pat Provnick and NJREA Treasurer Carol Kadi (far right) join Barbara Toczko (left) and Joe Fleischman at the Vendor Fair.

Rita Lohan (left) and Loretta Holmak await the start of the NJREA Convention’s popular Member Information Session.

(continued on pg. 11)

10 – NJREA Convention NJREA Newsletter • September 2015

2015 NJREA Convention Program

All activities will take place in the Resorts Casino-Hotel

Wednesday, November 4 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Vendors’ Fair

11 a.m. – noon Member Information Session* Presenter: NJEA Staff

12:15 – 1:30 p.m. Elizabeth Allen Luncheon *

1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Delegate Council Meeting

2:30 – 3:25 p.m. Breakout Session 1 Presenter: NJEA Staff

3:35 – 4:30 p.m. Breakout Session 2 Presenter: NJEA Staff

8 – 10 p.m. NJREA Cocktail Reception

Thursday, November 5 8 – 9:30 a.m. Buffet Breakfast *

9:30 – 10:30 a.m. General Session Topic: Health Benefits Presenter: NJEA Staff

* Must make reservations in advance

The NJREA Delegate Council meeting will be held beginning at 1:30 p.m. Inter-ested members may – if they choose – come to observe the delib-erations of the Delegate Council.

If you wish to attend, be sure to indicate your intention on the luncheon registration form so that proper arrangements can be made.

The convention’s breakout sessions will focus on the latest “hot button” topics. All members are urged to attend these valuable opportuni-ties to gain some insight on the issues that affect retirees.

A Vendors’ Fair will be avail-able again this year. This popu-lar feature will be held one day only, from 10 a.m. through 2:30 p.m. Attendees can browse all the great deals and discounts NJREA/NJEA membership has to offer.

Wednesday will conclude with the annu-al NJREA Cocktail Reception. Come enjoy

good food, friendship, and music with your NJREA family at this fun-filled evening.

Thursday’s activities

NJREA will mark the beginning of the second day by hosting a continental break-fast buffet from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Reservations are also required for this meal. Use the coupon below to reserve your spot today, or access the form on njea.org/njrea.

At 9:30 a.m., a health benefits ses-sion will be hosted by members of the NJEA Research staff. Convention attendees can hear the latest on retirees’ health benefits and what you can do to protect them.

From 3 to 4:30 p.m., NJREA will host an afternoon session for active NJEA members at Convention Hall in Room 404, where a panel of retirees will discuss “Get-ting Ready for Retire-ment… What You Need to Know.” If you know someone who is planning to retire, encourage him/

her to attend this worthwhile session.

Before you leave, plan to visit NJEA’s annual convention to see the exciting exhib-its, take advantage of membership-exclusive offers, and visit NJREA’s area in Convention Hall. It’s worth the trip!

September 2015 • NJREA Newsletter NJREA Convention – 11

Nov. 5 u 8 - 9:30 a.m. u Resorts Casino-Hotel

Please mail your reservation by Oct. 23, 2015 to: Walter Krichling

355 Saly Road • Yardley, PA 19067 • 215-262-3699 for info.

Please print:

Name: _____________________________________________________________________

Address: ____________________________________________________________________

City: ____________________________________ State: _______ Zip code: _____________

Phone: (_________) ____________________ County: ______________________________

E-mail: _____________________________________________________________________

Guest’s name(s): _______________________________________________________________

Please reserve ________ tickets for $20 each.Make check payable to NJREA.

Menu: Juice, fruit, eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, and pastries.

Breakfast Buffet

Preregistration required for NJREA Convention

NJREA members wishing to attend any and all

portions of the NJREA Convention on November

4 and 5 must preregister in order to gain access.

Preregistration allows the NJREA Planning Commit-

tee to ensure there are enough materials, name

badges, and chairs available to accommodate all

attendees. If you only wish to attend the Member

Information Session and Vendors’ Fair, you still

must preregister by indicating your intention on the

November 4 luncheon coupon so that a badge can

be printed for you.

Standing strong for public education(continued from pg. 10)

Ernest Scott takes a well-deserved breather from dancing at the annual NJREA Cocktail Reception.

Anne Doyle reviews the agenda for the 2014 NJREA Convention.

Ruth Palmer, former NJEA officer, NJREA president, and current

active NJREA member, passed away in June at the age of 91.

Born in Newark and a graduate of the former New-ark Teachers College – now Kean University – Palmer spent her entire career in the Newark school system. Throughout her 40-year career, she was a teacher, supervisor, and vice principal in the district.

An active union leader, Palmer served as president of the Newark Teachers Associa-tion, treasurer and vice president of NJEA, and president of both the Essex County Retired Educators’ Association (ECREA) and of NJREA. She spent many years attending the NEA-Retired and NEA-Represen-tative Assembly conferences each summer, casting her vote on national issues while never losing sight of NJEA/NJREA members’ needs.

In the decades of her activism, she bore witness to many historical events, including the fight for Collective Bargaining Rights in 1968, implementation of the groundbreaking $18,500 starting salary, and the establish-ment of premium-free post-retirement medical benefits. A tireless advocate for both active and retired members’ issues, Palmer

left a lasting impres-sion on all those she met.

“When I become NJEA president, Ruth was NJREA president,” said Michael Johnson, past NJEA president and current NJREA

Editorial Committee member. “There was never a time that she didn’t come to my office to see what was new, what needed attending to, and how she and NJREA could help.”

A current member of the NJREA Schol-arship Committee, Palmer spent her recent years working to give deserving students the financial support to pursue their college

goals. In fact, in lieu of flowers, Palmer’s fam-ily asked that donation be made to the NJREA Scholarship Fund to honor her.

“I was so fortunate to know Ruth at the height of her activism,” Johnson continued.

“She was among the men and women who helped to raise me ‘NJEA style.’ She offered her wealth of knowledge to anyone who asked and beamed with pride to watch the ‘young-uns’ like me continue to move our organization forward.”

How much can you $ave?

As an NJREA member, you are entitled to the same member benefits and opportunities to

$ave money on products and services as those offered to active NJEA members. However, as a retiree, you have one added bonus: you may have more time and opportunity in retirement to explore and take advantage of the NJEA Member Benefits program.

Here are some key voluntary benefits to

explore this fall:

Auto and Home Insurance

• Farmers Insurance – Call 888-261-8890

• California Casualty – Call 866-680-5142

Home Financing

• Wells Fargo Home Mortgage – Offers $500 gift card after closing. For more details, call 866-699-3557

Bank Services

• BankMobile – Offers totally no-fee banking and high yield savings. To learn more, visit www.bankmobile.

com/njea.html

Travel Services

• Bravo Tours – Take advantage of some great travel opportunities to places you’ve been longing to see. For more information, call Ruth at 800-222-7439 or visit www.njea.org/travel

In addition, NJEA Member Benefits offers discounts on local goods and services. To learn more, visit the member benefits page at www.njea.org/

memberbenefits and enter your membership pin and password to access the members-only page. Once there, click on “ACCESS Discounts” and search for discount offers by region and by category. Don’t forget to check out the “Leisure Time Opportunities” section for discounts on all sorts of fun events for you and your whole family.

NJREA – New Jersey Retirees’ Education Association, Inc.Affiliated with New Jersey Education Association

180 West State Street • P.O. Box 1211

Trenton, New Jersey 08607-1211

NON-PROFIT

US POSTAGE

PAID

TRENTON NJ

PERMIT NO 139

Dated material – Postmaster: Deliver between 9/9 - 9/12

12 – Member benefits NJREA Newsletter • September 2015

Remembering Ruth Palmer