Retired Teachers’ Week to be Celebrated November 6-12, 2016

*CalRTA Members Donate $55 Million Worth of Time to Local Communities*

Newly retired teachers, husband and wife, Randy Tiffany (Glendale schools) and Kerry Tiffany (Durfee School) were welcomed to CalRTA #71 by President Rosemarie Hernandez (L) and Secretary Robin Graney (R) at a reception for new retirees at SGV Airport, El Monte.     (photo credit to PATTI HAHN)

The California Retired Teachers’ Association (CalRTA) has good reason to celebrate Retired Teachers’ Week November 6-12. This organization has been going strong for over 86 years! CalRTA was founded in 1929 (CRTA then) through the efforts of Laura Settle, a “little old lady from Pasadena” who demonstrated the power of one by taking action with five or six fellow teachers to organize teacher retirees. Now the state organization numbers over 42,000 members!

Although retired from teaching, members of CalRTA never stop caring about California’s education and its teachers. They volunteer in the classroom to help the students. They mentor new classroom teachers. According to information from the state CalRTA, this past year CalRTA members contributed more than 2 million hours of volunteer service to schools and communities with only 17 percent of the membership reporting their hours. That number translates to $55 million! Besides that, retired teachers, such as local CalRTA #71 (SGV), donate classroom teacher grants and also award scholarships to prospective teachers.

Of equal importance is that CalRTA members, like other public employees in California, give back to their communities, to the state, and to the country economically through pension spending. Expenditures stemming from state and local pensions supported more than 375,000 jobs and $10.9 billion in federal, state, and local tax revenues!

Membership in the local California Retired Teachers’ Association #71 (SGV) totals nearly 500 members from Arcadia, Sierra Madre, Monrovia, Duarte, El Monte, Temple City, and other valley cities. CalRTA #71 (SGV) recently welcomed new retirees at a cordial reception at the SGV Airport, El Monte. Membership is open to all retired educators, as well as to any others interested in joining this active group. CalRTA’s motto is “Your Partner in Pension Protection.”

For more information, please call Marietta Watkins at (323) 258-9615 or Patricia Dietrich at (626) 446-8437.