Retirement Resources

NEA Member Benefits: Find out if your pension is portable or whether you should buy long-term care insurance. This section of the NEA Member Benefits Web site is designed especially for folks who are retired, nearing retirement, or just thinking about it. You'll find helpful articles, calculators, and more.

Links and Organizations

• Health, Wellness, and Aging
• Lifestyle, Leisure, and Travel
• Financial and Legal Planning
• Volunteering
• Politics and Advocacy

Health, Wellness and Aging

Aging Well Village: This is a wellness site for mature adults seeking healthy lifestyled. It offers articles on nutrition, fitness, healing, medications, safety, and more.

Alzheimer's Association: This Web site provides comprehensive information on Alzheimer's disease for patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. Locate local a Alzheimer's Association chapter, request informational materials, or get questions about the disease answered via e-mail.

Benefits Checkup: Created by the National Council on the Aging, this Web site uses an online questionnaire to identify federal and state assistance programs for older Americans.

Mayo Clinic : The Mayo Clinic senior health site contains information on many health issues facing seniors today. Includes information on aging, healthy living, and advice on making informed health care decisions.

National Council On Aging: Founded in 1950, the Council is the nation's first association of organizations and professionals dedicated to promoting the dignity, self-determination, well being, and contributions of older persons. The Council's 2008 conference will be held March 27-30 in Washington, D.C.

NIH Senior Health : The National Institute of Health's senior health site offers easy to read and understand health information for seniors and their family members. The site was developed by the National Institute on Aging and the National Library of Medicine.

Senior Health: About.com's comprehensive guide to senior health covers a host of illnesses and issues and also offers a free e-mail newsletter.

Lifestyle, Leisure, and Travel

Budget Travel Magazine: The online portal for Budget Travel magazine is a great resource for information on affordable travel. You can forget about seeing links to $200 a night hotel rooms here.  Check out the "Real Deals" section, which is updated daily, for huge savings on travel packages to locations in every corner of the globe.

Grandtimes Magazine: Here's a weekly Internet magazine for active older adults.

Retirement Living Information Center: The Center focuses on housing issues for older Americans, including information on retirement communities, senior housing, state taxes, and assisted living.

RetiredTeachers.net: Find a place to connect online with other retired educators across the country.

SeniorNet: This national nonprofit organization provides adults age 55 and older with information and instruction about computer technology.

Third Age: Check out articles on money matters, technology, travel, relationships, and more or sign up to receive daily news via e-mail.

Walking Adventures International: This company brings active people together for great walks, sightseeing excursions, and cultural experiences worldwide.

Politics and Advocacy

Alliance For Retired Americans: The Alliance is a new and unique national organization that mobilizes millions of older and retired citizens to make their voices heard for public policies that support older Americans and their families. Learn more about why NEA-Retired President Jim Sproul encourages members to join the Alliance.

National Council on Teacher Retirement: This independent organization is dedicated to safeguarding the integrity of public retirement systems for teachers.

Volunteering

Administration on Aging: The Administration on Aging is a branch of the US Department of Health and Human Services. The AoA's volunteering page is quite robust and contains all the information you need to start making a difference in your community.

America's Promise: America's Promise, founded by Secretary of State Collin Powell, seeks to engage all Americans in building the character and competence of our nation's youth.

Senior Corps: This network of programs taps the experience, skills, and talents of older citizens to meet community challenges. Programs include Foster Grandparents and Senior Companions.

VolunteerMatch.com: Search this database of thousands of volunteer opportunities to find the one that's perfect for you.

Youth Service America: This alliance of more than 300 organizations is dedicated to improving opportunities for young people.

Financial and Legal Planning

California State Teachers' Retirement System: You'll find retirement information, forms, publications, and tools including a retirement calculator.

CCH Financial Calculators: This page contains dozens of easy to use, free, financial calculators.  Many of them include a graph so you can see exactly how you can make your investments grow.

Five Wishes Document: Create a legal document that lets your loved ones know how you want to be treated if you are seriously ill and unable to speak for yourself.

Quicken.com: You'll discover a variety of retirement, investment, and savings calculators to help plan your future.

Social Security Administration: The official Web site of the Social Security Administration includes information about social security benefits, budget, planning and financing, international programs, and regulations.

U.S. Government Retirement and Insurance Publications: You'll find information about Benefits Administration publications for Federal agencies and employees.

Yahoo Finance: The Yahoo Finance post-retirement section has great information on how to best protect all your investments.  Includes information about IRAs, 401(k)s and tax havens, among others.

NEA-Retired Program Meetings

NEA-Retired meetings are open to all our members. They allow us to shape NEA-Retired policy, help other members better understand the benefits and services available to them, and provide training and information on important issues. There are two kinds of NEA-Retired program meetings:

• NEA-Retired Regional Conferences
• NEA-Retired Annual Meeting

2008 NEA-Retired Annual Meeting, June 27-29

"Celebrating 25 Years of Dedicated Service in the NEA Family"
It's our silver anniversary and we'll kick off with a reception Friday June 27 to honor those who help make NEA-Retired successful. Our Annual Meeting will be held at the J.W. Marriott Hotel, 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C., (202) 393-2000 or 1-(800) 228-9290. The hotel is two blocks from the White House, four blocks from the National Mall, and a 10 minute ride from the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

The NEA-Retired Annual Meeting is open to all NEA-Retired elected delegates and all NEA-Retired members. Members may bring a guest.

ALL ATTENDEES must register online by June 6, 2008. This is required to ensure that adequate seating and conference materials are available. Name badges will be required to enter the annual meeting.

The first conference session begins at 3 p.m., June 27 and the last ends the evening of June 29.

Outreach to Teach
Arrive by June 26 if you plan to participate with Student Program members in our annual school beautification project.

Voting/Elections
We will host an orientation for new delegates and a review of election procedures at 2 p.m., June 27.

NEA-Retired members elected from their State Association as delegates to the NEA Representative Assembly are official delegates to the NEA-Retired Annual Meeting and have full voting rights.

All NEA-Retired members and pre-Retired subscribers are welcome and encouraged to attend the conference (as non-delegates). Non-delegates are not eligible to vote for NEA-Retired officers but may vote on NEA-Retired New Business.

Awards
During our Annual Meeting, we'll recognize

• Membership Growth
• Best Newsletters
• Best Web sites
• Distinguished Service ( You may type directly on the form.)
• Jack Kinnaman Scholarship to worthy NEA Student members.

Banquet/Tickets
Our June 28 banquet begins with a 6:30 p.m. cocktail reception followed by dinner at 7:00 p.m. We'll have entertainment by the jazz combo Steve Wolf & Swing Speak.  NEA-Retired will also invite NEA Student members to an intergenerational dance after the banquet, so plan to stay and party until midnight! Cost: $65.

You may purchase banquet tickets online when you register for the annual meeting.  They will not be sold on site. You can pick up tickets at the Annual Meeting registration desk.

Questions?
Contact NEA-Retired at (202) 822-7149.

NEA-Retired 2007 Annual Meeting Review

Attendance Grows
Philadelphia hosted our largest meeting ever with more than 470 participants. We were delighted to see our attendance grow but experienced challenges dealing with the volume. You can help us by registering and making hotel reservations as early as possible.

Out Reach to Teach
This was the 12th year NEA-Retired and Student Program members joined Education Support Professionals, Higher Education Faculty and other Active members to paint, clean, repair, landscape, decorate, and more. More than 350 volunteers donned orange shirts and went to work refurbishing Gotwals Elementary in Norristown, Pa. Here's some of the media coverage we received: 

Award Winners

• The 2007 Distinguished Service  award was presented to Janet Agnew of South Carolina.
• NEA-Retired Jack Kinnaman Scholarship Awards  were presented to Tracey L. Werkheiser from Midway (Ky.) College and Jenny Mevis of Manchester (Ind.) College. Each received a scholarship of $1,200.
• Largest increase in retired members was awarded to New Jersey Education Association and the runner up was the Alabama Education Association
• Largest percentage increase in retired members was awarded to the New Jersey Education Association and the runner up was the Idaho Education Association
• The established state retired newsletter award was presented to the North Carolina Retired School Personnel, Panorama and the runner up was the Indiana State Teachers Association-Retired, The Chalkboard.
• The beginning state retired newsletter award was presented to the Georgia Association of Educators-Retired, In The Know and the runner up was the Nebraska State Education Association, NSEA-Retired Advocate.
• The local retired newsletter award was presented to the Fairfax Education Association (VA), FEA-Retired and the runner up was the Bergen County Retired Educators Association (NJ), BCREA News.
• The Spotlight award was presented to the Washington Education Association, WE and the runner up was The South Carolina Education Association-Retired, Emphasis.
• The Web site award was presented to the Tennessee Retired Teachers Association and the runner up was the Alabama Education Retirees Association.

Election Results

• Tom Curran was reelected as the NEA-Retired vice president.
• Sarah Borgman and Jean Dobashi were reelected to the NEA Board of Directors and Patti Lecher was elected as the alternate.
• Barbara Cunningham, Jay Kaplan, Johnny Davis, Sid Johnson, Cosmo Permission, and Steve Gorier were elected to serve on the 2007-2008 NEA Resolutions Committee for NEA-Retired.
• Janet Agnew, Grady Yancey, Cleorah Scruggs, Mary Moran, Bob Henning, and Geraldine McNeil were elected to serve as 2007-08 NEA Resolutions Committee Alternates for NEA-Retired.

Regional Conferences

NEA-Retired each spring hosts meetings for members in the eastern and western parts of the country. Our April 2008 gatherings were held in Williamsburg, Va. and Albuquerque, N.M.

NEA Publications and Professional Library

One of the benefits of NEA membership is having a wealth of information at your fingertips. Publications of interest to NEA-Retired members include:

This Active Life: Our bimonthly NEA magazine reports on people, events, and concerns directly related to our Retired members.

Healthy, Wealthy and Wise—The NEA-Retired Guide to Maintaining Financial Security: This 50-page manual guides current and potential retirees through questions about Social Security, personal retirement finances and relevant law, estate planning, home security, and health care.

Contact the NEA-Retired Office for copies of the following:

• NEA-Retired Resource Directory: This handbook for NEA-Retired members includes governance and policy documents, contacts, calendars, and more.
• NEA-Retired Member Benefits Brochure: Check out benefits exclusively for NEA-Retired members.
• NEA-Retired Progran: Find out how retired educators help protect the benefits and services that took a lifetime to obtain.

Additional NEA Publications:

Works 4 Me: This section of NEA's Web site offers inspiration and classroom tips to teachers at all experience levels. Works4Me subscribers each week receive an e-mail message with two practical classroom tips submitted by fellow teachers. Browse the Works4Me Library or submit your own tried-and-true classroom tips!

NEA Professional Library: NEA has hundreds of book and video titles available on a wide variety of education topics. NEA-Retired members are eligible for member discounts on purchases.

Key NEA-Retired Contacts

Advisory Council

Barbara Matteson, President (9/2008 - 8/2011) Tucscon, Arizona	Tom Curran,  Vice President (9/2007 - 8/2010) Raymond, Maine	Gene Craig Secretary (9/2006 - 8/2009) Libertyville, Illinois
Barbara Stockman (9/2007 - 8/2010) Grand Haven, Michigan	Martha Karlovetz (9/2008 - 8/2011) Lake Sherwood, Missouri	John Jensen (9/2007 - 8/2010) Omaha, Nebraska
Ulysses Floyd (9/2006 - 8/2009) Orlando, Florida	Arlene Pavey (9/2006 - 8/2009) Santa Ana, California	Al Beamish (9/2008 - 8/2011) Dafter, Michigan

Board of Directors

Board of Directors Alternates

Resolutions Committee

Resolutions Committee Alternates

NEA-Retired Program Staff

Please check our frequently asked questions list to find your answer before calling NEA.

NEA Interactive Media Staff
This Active Life (NEA-Retired Magazine)

All inquires, changes of address, and requests for article-related information should be directed to NEA Interactive Media, 1201 - 16th Street, N.W.,  Ste. 710, Washington, DC 20036.
 

Calendar of NEA-Retired Events and Meetings

2008

NEA Executive Committee
April 28 - 29, 2008 (Monday & Tuesday)
NEA Headquarters

NEA Board of Directors
May 2-3, 2008 (Friday & Saturday)
NEA Headquarters

NEA-Retired Advisory Council
May 3-5, 2008 (Saturday – Monday)
NEA Headquarters

NEA-Retired Advisory Council Lobby Day
May 6, 2008 (Tuesday)
NEA Headquarters

NEA Executive Committee
June 2-3, 2008 (Monday & Tuesday)
NEA Headquarters

NEA-Retired Annual Meeting
June 27-29, 2008 (Friday - Sunday)
Washington, DC

NEA Annual Meeting
June 29-July 5, 2008 (Sunday - Saturday)
Washington, DC

NEA Board of Directors
June 30-July 2, 2008 (Friday - Sunday)
Washington, DC