Division 33 of the California Retired Teachers Association (CalRTA) celebrated its 70th Anniversary on April 14 with a festive luncheon at the Seven Hills Members Club in Hemet, where more than 50 retired educators, community members and supporters gathered to honor the Division’s legacy. The event highlighted Division 33’s long-standing commitment to protecting educator pensions, strengthening retirement security, and supporting public schools, priorities shared by the statewide California Retired Teachers Association, founded in 1929 and now representing more than 31,000 members across 76 Divisions.
A central feature of the celebration was the recognition of Division 33’s past presidents and Board members, as well as its “longevity” members, retirees who have maintained CalRTA membership for 20 years or more. The Division now has over 80 such members, with fifteen honored in person at the luncheon, including centenarian Margaret Bagby, Rosemary Sears and Virginia Sisk, all with over three decades of service. Their decades of dedication reflect CalRTA’s enduring mission: safeguarding earned benefits, advocating for fair retirement policies, and uplifting public education throughout California.
Guests enjoyed a catered meal from Emilio’s Mexican Restaurant before being treated to a vibrant performance by West Valley High School’s Ballet Folklórico dancers and Mariachi ensemble under the direction of teachers Oscar Rivas and Maria Leon-Batres. Their colorful presentation added a joyful cultural highlight and underscored the strong connection between retired educators and the students whose futures they continue to support.
Serving Hemet, San Jacinto, Menifee, Romoland, and Nuview, Division 33 remains one of CalRTA’s most active Divisions. In addition to its advocacy work, it provides sixteen $100 teacher grants each year and offers fifteen $1000 scholarships to qualifying local high school graduates.
As Division 33 marks this milestone year, its members reaffirm their dedication to the mission that has guided CalRTA since its inception in 1929: protecting hard-earned pensions and benefits, supporting public education, promoting health care and healthy living and ensuring that the voices of retired educators remain strong across the state.
