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A Message from the GCREA President 2016-2017 Issue 3
The Voice
Gloucester County Retired Educators Association
February 2017
Denise McDermott, President & Newsletter 728 Quest Ct., Mantua, NJ 08051 (856) 468-2621 [email protected]
Candy Zachowski, 1st Vice President & Senior Services (856) 228-6854 [email protected]
Arnetta Johnson, 2nd Vice President (609) 254-6566 [email protected]
Linda Calandra, Recording Secretary, Newsletter & Constitution Review (856) 468-4144 [email protected]
Rita Hale, Corresponding Secretary & Necrology (856) 589-2344 [email protected]
Pat Clark, Treasurer & Budget (856) 889-7295 [email protected]
Linda Behm, Government Relations (856) 371-8602 [email protected]
Barbara Ryder-Haase, Government Relations (856)904-6870 [email protected]
Jackie Gould, Membership (856) 464-0837 [email protected]
Doris Eith, Membership, GCEA Liaison, Trustee, Newsletter, Audit (856) 848-7589 [email protected]
Eileen Shanahan, Trustee & Public Relations [email protected]
Bob Blistan, Trustee (856)981-9693 [email protected]
Carol Friedrich, NJREA Executive Committee & Historian (856)299-0060 [email protected]
Trudy Randazzo, Nominations [email protected]
Sandy Cowgill, Member Benefits, (856)423-1983 [email protected]
Diane Camiolo, Past President (856)881-7999 [email protected]
Gail Herman, Sunshine (856)358-0647
GCREA Officers and
Committee Chairs
2016-17
Page 1 The Voice
Happy New Year! I sincerely hope that 2017 brings you all
the things that you are looking for in retirement! Thank you
to everyone who attended our Holiday Luncheon at
Nicolosi’s. The Madrigal Singers from Gateway once again
gave an excellent performance, and the food and comraderie
were wonderful as always! Thank you for your generosity in
donating toys for the Ronald McDonald House and food
for the Feed My Sheep food bank! Both agencies were extremely thankful.
We certainly have our work cut out for us here at GCREA. You will soon
be receiving ballots for the NJREA elections. Those ballots are due by 3/31.
You will also receive ballots for the NJEA elections which will be due by
4/15. You can sign up at njea.org to vote for the NJEA elections online.
Remember that GCREA has endorsed the Blistan, Spiller, Beatty ticket.
NJEA has endorsed Ambassador Phil Murphy for the June Democratic
Gubernatorial Primary. A Town Hall Meeting will be held in South Jersey so
that we can meet him. I will let you know when that is scheduled. You can
see a video clip of Ambassador Murphy speaking at the NJEA Convention at
njea.org. I think you will be impressed!
Included in the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) legislation that raised the
gasoline tax by $0.23 was state tax relief for senior citizens living on Social
Security and other retirement income and an elimination of the estate tax.
While raising the retirement benefit threshold may seem like good news for
retirees, the loss of revenue is a reason for serious concern. Unfortunately,
this deal - combined with decades of pension underfunding - makes a
bankrupt pension fund more likely. Estimates show that by 2021, the tax
cuts in this proposal will reduce state revenue by $1.4 billion a year. Currently
the legislature has not addressed how it will make up this shortfall.
This newsletter edition is packed full of information and opportunities for
travel and making a difference in the life of those less fortunate. A new page
highlighting volunteer opportunities has been added. Please let me know if
you have taken advantage of any of these opportunities as I’d like to
acknowledge your efforts!
I hope to see you at the Laura Maltman Health & Wellness Luncheon!
Denise McDermott
President
Page 2 The Voice
NJREA is known as the daytime face of NJEA and with good reason. While active teachers are busy with classroom activities, retirees have more flexible time to contact their representatives, giving voice to concerns. Statewide, there are still several issues, one of which is school funding. Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto’s proposal is supported by NJEA. ACR-2 supports the current school funding formula as outlined by The School Funding Reform Act of 2008 (SFRA) which has been consistently underfunded by nearly $1 billion every year. Now is the time to take action while hearings to discuss school funding are being held. Contact your representatives urging them to support ACR-2.
Barbara Haase Government Relations Co-chair
Never have we seen such a tumultuous beginning of a Presidential term. Never has a Vice President had to cast a tie-breaking vote to install Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education. She is intent on destroying public education as we know it. Even worse is the fact that she "paid" her way to the top and she has absolutely NO experience in the public schools. As friends of public education we must keep the pressure on. The key to change is to get folks to both register and VOTE! Consider kindly mentioning the importance of voting to those out-of-state internet friends. In this November election it was just 2 votes per precinct in Michigan that got Trump elected. Every vote does count! We will not be defeated. We will remember in the next election cycle.
Linda Behm Government Relations Co-Chair
Holiday Toy Drive A toy drive was hosted by Linda Calandra in December to benefit the Ronald McDonald House of South Jersey, Camden. With the out-pouring generosity of three organizations, including the Gloucester County Retired Educators Association, Linda was able to collect almost three carloads of toys. The toys were delivered to the House with the assistance of two of her “elves”,
Denise McDermott and Candy Zachowski, GCREA’s President and 1st Vice-President respectively. Greeted by Ann “Teddy” Thomas, RMD’s President and Executive Director, and Dorothy Luca, assistant, Denise and Candy were given a tour of the RMD House. Linda wishes to extend a very warm thank you to all who were able to donate toys and time. Teddy expressed in a note, “Thank you for helping our charity offer Hope, Help, and Home to these families with sick children.” Dorothy wrote, “Thank you so much…for all of the toys!!! You are going to make MANY kids smile this Christmas!!”
GCREA Government Relations
NJREA President Pat Provnick was injured in a fall and is in rehabilita-
tion after surgery. She broke her femur in several places and her wrist!
Cards can be sent to:
St Lawrence Rehab Center
Room 212B
2381 Lawrenceville Road
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648-2015
Trips! Trips! Trips!
Are you bored? Need a little fun? Have itchy feet and need someplace to go? The following trips are
available through Community Tours & Travel (formerly known as SCUCS). GCREA has used this tour group
before with success. What are you waiting for? Round up your friends and have some fun!
Click on the link below for a complete listing of trips. There’s something for everyone! Day trips, multi-day
trips, NYC trips, air tours, cruises, river cruises – you name it, they have it!
Community Tours & Travel Click on the button “Tours”. Happy travels!
Jackie Gould Trips Coordinator
The following trip is available from Camden County:
Brooklyn Pizza Tour
This trip will be taking place on Tuesday, April 11, 2017. The tour includes a visit to Brooklyn Bridge Park in
DUMBO, Red Hook., Sunset Park, Bay Bridge, Bath Beach, Bensonhurst, Brighton Beach and a walk along
the famous Coney Island Boardwalk. In between, we’ll visit famous Brooklyn movie locations like Saturday
Night Fever, Goodfellas, Scent of a Woman, Annie Hall and more. The price of $109 per person includes the
4 ½ hour guided bus tour as well as stops at 2 different pizzerias in Brooklyn: Grimaldi’s under the Brooklyn
Bridge and L&B Spumoni Gardens in Bensonhurst. Everyone will receive 2 slices of pizza and a soda at each
location. We will end our trip at the famous bakery, Villabate’s to allow you to purchase some take home
goodies. If you are interested in this trip, respond with either a check made out to Diana Byers-Lindner, a
phone call or an email to save your seat by February 28, 2017. Final Payment is due on March 7, 2017.
Please put the name of the Tour on the check also. Diana Byers-Lindner’s email is: [email protected] and
her cell phone is 856-343-5865. Her address is 16 Snowfield Drive, Glassboro, NJ 08028.
The following trip is available from Cumberland County:
National Parks of America—September 21—October 2, 2017. Includes air from Philadelphia, Air Taxes
and Fees/Surcharges, Hotel Transfers, 16 meals (10 breakfasts, 6 dinners). Double $4,299, Single $5,649.
Contact Bonnie @856-451-6380 for more information.
Page 3 The Voice
Membership Update
Great news! GCREA has 917 members. If you have friends, neighbors or family members who are not members, please encourage them to join. Contact [email protected] for membership information.
Jackie Gould
Membership Chairperson
Hey GCREA members, you don't want to miss this years Health and Wellness Luncheon Event!!! Deborah Heart & Lung Hospital will be in attendance bringing to us a very Fantastic and Informative program!!! They will be offering us free diagnostic medical screenings for Blood Pressure, Blood Glucose, Pulmonary Lung Function, Body Fat Analysis and Balance Screening. So....informative! In addition, we will have a very qualified and informed speaker to explore the topic of "Diabetes!" WOW!!! Please hurry and reserve a seat for you and another member!
Oops! Did I forget to mention the 3 delicious hot entrée luncheons that will be served??? See you at
Nicolosi's!
Arnetta Johnson
2nd Vice-President
Page 4 The Voice
Holiday Social
Volunteer Opportunities
Are you ready to get involved? Have you been waiting for a cause you believe in? Did you hate what No
Child Left Behind did to your district? Would you like to have a say in how teachers are evaluated and
how children are judged? Then we have an opportunity for you! The new Every Student Succeeds Act,
which replaces NCLB, has provisions for each and every school to have a “Local Shareholder
Engagement Group” which can affect how student progress is measured and how teachers are evaluated.
You can volunteer to be a community member of this group in the district where you reside. We are
excited about this new opportunity for retirees to become involved and give something back to their
communities! If this sounds exciting to you, too, sign up now. NJEA will provide training for you along
with the local coordinators. Sign up today by contacting Carol Friedrich at 856-299-0060 or
CASA/GAL volunteers are appointed by judges to watch over and advocate for abused and
neglected children, to make sure they don’t get lost in the overburdened legal and social service system or
languish in inappropriate group or foster homes. Volunteers stay with each case until it is closed and the
child is placed in a safe, permanent home. For many abused children, their CASA/GAL volunteer will be
the one constant adult presence in their lives. To become a CASA/GAL volunteer, visit
casaforchildren.org
Give Something Back is an organization that provides mentors and scholarships to help Pell Grant
eligible students go to college and graduate in four years, debt-free. Give Back scholars are lower-
income, academically driven students who have faced adversity. Many are working-class kids who live
below the poverty line. Most are first-generation college students. Some have incarcerated parents and
others are growing up in the foster system. Scholarship recipients are selected in the ninth grade in order
to prepare them for college. Scholars are held accountable. They are required to have a minimum 3.0
GPA in high school, take a college preparatory course load, and demonstrate strong character throughout
the program. Mentors are as essential to the scholars as the financial assistance provided. Each of the
scholarship recipients are paired with a qualified mentor or within a mentor group to help the student stay
on track, reach successive goals and navigate the complexities of college preparation. To become a
mentor, visit giveback.ngo for more information.
Literacy NJ-Gloucester County Program is looking for volunteers to help teach reading and literacy skills to adults. This rewarding program serves both English Language learners and Basic Literacy students. If interested, please contact: Matt Ford, Program Director [email protected] 351 High Street, Westville, NJ 08093 (609)216-7529
If you have 90 minutes, one day a week, you can make a big difference in a child's life! Kids Alley is a Christian based nonprofit that serves the children of Camden after school Monday through Thursdays. They are in need of volunteers who will help their children, K-8th grades, do homework Tues.-Thurs. Our typical volunteer helps one day a week arriving at St. Mary's Episcopal in Haddon Heights by 3:30 and leaving at the latest by 5:pm. No religious education expected. In that 90 mins, they not only tutor but can play and offer the kids some positive feedback and friendship. It's a special time for children and volunteers alike. If you are interested in making a difference you can contact Annie Powles at [email protected] or Kathy Foley at 856- 546-1098.
Page 5 The Voice
Page 6 The Voice
Treasurer’s Report
The finances since November 2016 are as follows:
Previous Balance: $17,004.29
Income: $2,061.81 Expenses: $2,727.63
Balance on hand: $16.338.47
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
March 30, 2017—GCREA Health & Wellness Workshop
April 27, 2017—NJREA Spring Luncheon
May 4, 2017—GCREA Spring Luncheon
The GCREA Executive Committee meets the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 10:00 a.m. in the GCEA
office, 190 North Evergreen Avenue, Suite 108, Woodbury.
Unified members are welcome to attend.
PLEASE HELP!!!! If you have an e-mail address but are getting this newsletter mailed to you by snail mail (U.S. Postal Service), please consider
allowing us to send you your newsletter by e-mail. The costs of printing and postage keep rising and we want to keep our dues
at the current level (especially since we don’t get COLAs)! Thanks for your consideration!!
Denise McDermott, Newsletter Editor
In Memoriam
Anna Hedenberg
Myron F. Cervenka
Deborah L. Rose
Linda K. Martins
The Gloucester County Division of Senior Services is an agency for Senior programs and services for adults over the age of 60. The Office is located at 115 Budd Blvd. in West Deptford. Presently, the Executive Director is Leona G. Mather. She may be reached by phone at (856)384-6900 or via email at [email protected]. The Office is open Monday-Friday 8:30am - 4:00pm. Here is a list of offerings on this site: Adult Protective Services Applications Caregiver Support Programs Emergency Preparedness Health Promotion Information and Assistance Nutrition Program Senior Corps Senior Quarterly Newsletter Social Events for Seniors Energy Assistance Information PAAD and Senior Gold Comparison Property Tax Reimbursement Eligibility Requirements Volunteer Tax Aide Sites Please visit the site to learn about what Gloucester County has to offer you!
Candice Zachowski 1st VP and Senior Services Coordinator
Senior Services
