The Commitment Never Fades

NEA Retired President, Jim Sproul

Most of the public seems to think that when our careers end, we head out to pasture. It reminds me of how many folks think we got into education to take summers off.

You'll find no better rebuttal to these fables than this month's gathering of Active and Retired members in New Orleans. Active and retired delegates from your state will come together for the NEA Representative Assembly and the NEA-Retired Annual Meeting. Over the course of two weeks, we'll work to build a stronger Association and support public education. We'll debate new business items on such issues as health care and pensions and help refurbish a local school as part of the Outreach to Teach program that links up Retired and Student members. And, as always, we'll be raising funds to support the NEA Fund for Children and Public Education.

This issue of This Active Life suggests some ways you can help make a difference on our vital issues. For example, NEA members have helped to build a strong base of support for repealing the unfair Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision (see 'News Briefs'). We now have a majority of members of the House of Representatives as co-sponsors. Please continue to push your members of Congress, especially in the Senate, to support NEA-backed repeal bills (H.R. 594 in the House and S. 349 in the Senate).

Also, this month's Cover Story illustrates the wonderful work of some of our members who are caring for a parent or loved one. Please take the time to offer encouragement and assistance to those performing this labor of love, or consider helping out with a local agency or group offering hospice or respite services.

Then take that summer break. You've earned it.

Note: Thanks for supporting the NEA Fund for Children and Public Education. We raised more than $8,100 at the NEA-Retired regional meetings this spring.

--NEA-Retired President Jim Sproul