Presidents MessageIf you are one of over 77,000 state retirees and surviving spouses who qualify to receive benefits from the State Employees Retirement System (SERS), you worked hard for the retirement benefits you have earned and now receive. If you are not already a member, the Retired State Employees Association (RSEA) would like to invite you to join us to help support and protect the welfare and benefits of these retirees, spouses and survivors. RSEA is an independent volunteer driven, not-for profit organization of retired State of Illinois employees and their spouses. We are not affiliated with any other retiree groups or unions and have been promoting the interests of retired state employees, their spouses and survivors since 1976. Since that time, we have grown to become a community of about 9,000 strong. Now in our 50th year, our sole mission and purpose remain to promote and protect the pension, and other retirement benefits, our members earned. For only $1.50 a month, which can be deducted from your pension, or you can pay $18 annually by check or card, RSEA is a bargain in helping protect your retirement benefits and staying informed. You pay less to belong to RSEA than any other retiree group and this is the only retiree group you need to belong to. There is power in numbers and the more members we have, the stronger we are. We use that strength to protect the rights and benefits of State retirees, their spouses and survivors by maintaining reputable and effective representation at the State Capitol. We continue to research proposed changes to the retirement programs for state retirees and to point out to legislators and others the benefits and shortcomings of these proposals. We vigorously oppose legislation that would diminish state pensions and insurance benefits, tax retirement income, or divert pension funds from their sole purpose of providing benefits to SERS members. Over the years we have been able to achieve a number of major legislative victories. The most significant have included passage of legislation:
If need be, we are ready and able to challenge in court any legislation that is signed into law that diminishes or reduces our retirement and pension benefits. In 2014-15 we successfully joined other state retirees in taking two lawsuits all the way to the Illinois Supreme Court concerning limiting the 3% increase we receive in our pensions each year and charging us for our health insurance if we worked 20 or more years for the State of Illinois. Your membership means increased influence at the State Capitol. This permits us to continue to protect and improve your pension and retirement benefits. This includes, if necessary, mobilizing our membership to send emails to lawmakers and appear at legislative hearings in the State Capitol. Other member benefits include receiving a newsletter, The Reporter, eleven times a year, access to a robust website and informative membership meetings with guest speakers on a variety of subjects of interest to our members. Videos of these membership meetings are also available to view later on You Tube and Facebook. Each year in December, our members come together to celebrate the holidays with a luncheon party in Springfield. Now, more than ever, state retirees, or their surviving spouses, must unite to make sure we are heard. Your paid membership helps the RSEA Board to help you. If you are not a member, I encourage you to join. If you already are a member, thank you for supporting our efforts to protect your rights and benefits as a state retiree or surviving spouse. Rick Carlson
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