Retired teachers have not only spent decades helping future generations, but they continue to make a difference in the lives of others long after leaving their teaching careers. In 2023, CalRTA members statewide donated more than $40 million worth of time to their local communities. Members of local CalRTA Division 33, which serves Hemet, San Jacinto, Menifee, Nuview and Romoland, volunteered nearly 12,000 hours in the same year, with a value of over $437,000.  Retired teachers can often be seen volunteering their time and skills in community centers, libraries, schools, and local organizations. Their time enriches the lives of both children and adults, and their pensions uplift their local communities. Because retirees spend their benefit checks in their local community, their spending ripples through the economy as one person’s spending becomes another person’s income.

CalRTA members are part of that pool of retirees whose pension checks help stimulate and boost California’s economy. Members statewide also donated more than $750,000 in grants, scholarships and donations last year.  Division 33 also offers 11 $1000 scholarships annually to seniors planning to enter the teaching profession and awards 16 $100 “no strings attached” teacher grants to local teachers to use in their classrooms.

CalRTA highlights retired teachers’ contributions by celebrating Retired Teachers Week during the first week of each November. This year’s event, November 3-9, marks the 26th year the celebration has been held during the organization’s 95-year history. In 1929, as the country entered the Great Depression, a small group of teachers banded together to fight for retirement security. In addition to helping California’s educators, early CalRTA leaders went on to form other retiree organizations. One such leader was Ethel Percy Andrus who formed AARP.

“Our early leaders showed us what dedication, compassion and determination can accomplish,” noted Susan Dixon, CalRTA State President. “Today we’re trying to live up to their example as we continue our fight for retirement security while also giving back to our local communities and protecting public education.”

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Founded in 1929 and the oldest and largest group of retired teachers in the nation, the California Retired Teachers Association (CalRTA) had a lot to celebrate at this year’s Annual Convention and Delegate Assembly in Sacramento from June 7-9.  Four local retired teachers from Division 33 – Co-Presidents Ron and Sue Breyer, Vice President Tom Green, and Member at Large Jason Chrest – served as delegates at the convention, which combined education, official association business, and a special 95^th birthday celebration. Though much has changed in California since CalRTA was formed in 1929, the focus on retirement security remains firmly in place.

Convention participants conducted organization business at the Delegate Assembly and attended a variety of “breakout” sessions on such topics as Medicare and Medicaid services, emergency preparedness, the six pillars of brain health, seniors and safe driving, and protecting yourself from scams and financial fraud.  In addition, attendees heard messages of encouragement and support from such dignitaries as Dan Doonan, Executive Director of the National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS); Chris Ailman, Chief Investment Officer for CalSTRS since 2000; and Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, former Lieutenant Governor of Maryland and advisor on retirement for the Department of Labor.

Within California, CalRTA is seen as the go-to organization on retiree issues. Our sponsored legislation has improved retirement security and repeatedly put money directly in retirees’ pockets … from our bill in 1947 that raised monthly benefits from $60 to $100 … to our bill just two years ago that helped nearly 46,000 of our oldest retirees see more money in their SBMA checks.

            The pensions retired teachers receive is part of their overall compensation package while still working in the classroom. In addition to providing security for retirees, pensions have a tremendous positive economic impact on California, according to the report “Pensionomics 2023” by the National Institute on Retirement Security.  “Several Federal Reserve studies demonstrate that the decline of pensions and rise of 401(k)s increased wealth inequality and, conversely, adding pensions and Social Security to the household balance sheet reduces wealth inequality by race, gender and income,” NIRS Executive Director Dan Doonan explained.

CalRTA also supports public education and current teachers with scholarships and state and local teacher grants. Last year CalRTA and its 83 Divisions donated more than $750,000 in grants, scholarships and materials to schools. That was in addition to the $39 million worth of volunteer time.

            Locally, Division 33 offers 16 $100 grants each year to area teachers and matches state CalRTA $100 grants with a crisp $100 bill from Division 33. Local teachers looking for grant opportunities should watch for announcements on the CalRTA state website (www.calrta.org) and our local Division’s website (www.div33.calrta.org).

            “We cared about our students and our communities while we worked as educators,” said CalRTA State President Susan Dixon. “That caring doesn’t stop at retirement.”

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