The Retired Teachers Association of Chicago

Since 1926, this Association has dedicated itself to the betterment of all teachers who have retired from the Chicago Public Schools.

The
RETIRED TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
of Chicago
111 N. Wabash Ave. Suite 2010
Chicago IL 60602-2949
Phone: 312-750-1522 Fax: 312-750-1502

John A. Butterfield,
President

Arlene Crandall,
Executive Director

News, Opinions, Resources, Archives & Forms

Legislation and Advocacy

Workshops, Calendar of Meetings, Events, Activities and Opportunities

(Mouse over these options to see the drop down menus-more details are here.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Remember, RTAC is YOUR independent voice for pension protection and enhancement. We are NOT part of the Chicago Public Schools nor the Chicago Teachers Union. We work with but are NOT a part of the Chicago Teachers Pension Fund.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Quotes to live by:

*The best teachers are those who show you where to look, but don't tell you what to see!!!*

*When you talk, you're only repeating something you already know...but when you LISTEN, you may learn something new!!!*

*If you think you are the smartest person in a room, you are in the wrong room.*

(Anon)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Read about and contribute to our 'Legal Defense Fund' here.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Photos from our 93rd Annual Fall Luncheon are here.
Reserve Monday, May 18, 2020 for our 94th Annual Spring Luncheon.
Details to follow.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please go to our Guestbook and leave your comments and suggestions.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To contact the Webmaster: Click here.

See a history of RTAC's actions and involvement for the benefit of ALL retirees here.

BEWARE OF THE RE-EMPLOYMENT LIMIT
If you decide to return to work within the Chicago Public School system, there are VERY STRICT limits as to how many days you may work. Going over by as little as ONE DAY can jeopardize YOUR ENTIRE PENSION.
It is YOUR responsibility to keep accurate track of the time/days you work for CPS!
For more information see this CTPF website page.

HELP RTAC HELP YOU!!!
PLEASE join our RTAC-ALERT Network. Members get the FASTEST UPDATES on pending legislation, often on the same day that events occur. Just click on RTAC-ALERT Network and give your name, e-mail address and zip code (this is to verify your RTAC membership). THE ONLY OBLIGATION IS YOUR PROMISE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH LEGISLATORS, if requested, on behalf of retired Chicago Public School teachers. The Alert Network's fast and massive responses have already earned the respect of legislators throughout the state, and constitute our first line of defense. Join NOW! Your help is urgently needed!

Remember too that EVERY contribution to RTAC COPE will help gain our objectives! Like it or not, MONEY TALKS – and, unfortunately, so does the absence of it!

Legislation That Needs Your Support if You Receive Social Security
Federal GPO-WEP Social Security Fairness legislation - January 2019 - New Legislation Introduced to Remove the Social Security Offset! Details here.
Where do the Presidential candidates stand on GPO/WEP? See this
Last update 9/21/19

If you have an IRA, there are rules you should be aware of.
Read this
Last Update 8/17/17

Know a Fellow Retiree in Financial Difficulties?
Check the Aid Fund website - crtaf.org.

Fun things are here.
(If a frog double parked, would it be toad?)
Humorous (but true??) Cartoons are here.
Check your birth year for interesting information here.
(Enter your birth year, click the question mark and then sit back and watch.)

Useful household products are here.
(Are there other uses for Preparation H?)

PROPER E-MAIL PROTOCOL AND VIRUS AWARENESS
SEE THIS ARTICLE ON PROPER E-MAIL SECURITY AND PROTOCOL.
DO NOT OPEN ANY ATTACHMENTS UNLESS YOU ARE CONFIDENT YOU KNOW WHO REALLY SENT IT!

Defined Benefits vs. Defined Contributions
Currently we have a defined benefit retirement plan where we are guaranteed our benefits for life. If some legislators get their way, new employees will work under a defined contributions retirement plan where the benefits are based entirely on how much was contributed.
Read an analysis of Public Pensions by the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability -- here.
If you would like to see how much you would have needed to contribute to a retirement fund to enjoy your current pension, click here and enter some data. Be aware that the projected total you have in your account when you retire must last for life - i.e. if your retirement account has $1,000,000 in it when you retire and you expect to live another 20 years, you can only withdraw $50,000 per year and the balance will continue to decrease until your account is completely depleted and you have nothing left to live on.

Looking for something to do?
Check out our EVENTS page.
The EVENTS page lists events of interest to all CPS teachers, active as well as retired.
The Events page contains direct links to over 100 area entertainment venues!
You might also like to check our VOLUNTEER, JOBS and OTHER OPPORTUNITIES pages.

For information and updates from the Chicago Teachers Pension Fund, click here.
Click here to see a list of delinquent Charter Schools.

Site Map and Links

What is RTAC all about, and what good is it to you? Click on Orientation.
What CTU and RTAC events are coming up? Need more information about a Scene listing? Click on Events.
Want a listing of some of the resources available to RTAC members? Click on Resources.
How do we seek our legislative objectives? Click on Advocacy.
What are our current legislative priorities? Click on Pending Bills.
Check on Illinois Legislative activity and bills pending: Click on Legislation status - Illinois.
Check on U. S. Congressional activity and bills pending: Click on Legislation status - Federal.
Want to know more about YOUR legislators and candidates? For more information than you dreamed possible, click on Legislators.
Can’t think of anything to say to legislators? Click on Samples page for suggestions.
Looking for a paid job for a retired teacher? Looking to volunteer your time? Click on Jobs.
Is your school having a Class Reunion? Tell us about it! Click on Reunions.
Want to see what interests and/or amuses us on the web? Try Just for fun AND FOR PETE”S SAKE, if you find a good one send it to the webmaster!
Have a question for the RTAC office? To send them an e-mail, click on E-mail Office.
Want to get a copy of the Illinois Legislative flow chart, or ask a question of the Editor, or join the RTAC Alert Network, or have a suggestion about this web site? Send the an e-mail.
Homesick? Want to see what the CTU is up to now? Click on CTU.
Retired and want to keep your certificate active? See the ISBE Retired Educator's page here.
Check out what the National Education Association says about Social Security Offsets. Click on NEA. (Email your Congressman while you are there.)

Latest SITE update: November 26, 2019
Last Advocacy page update: October 12, 2015
Last Archives page update: January 28, 2019
Last Committee Meetings page update: October 29, 2019
Last CTPF information page update: October 31, 2018
Last Events & Activities page update: November 14, 2019
Last Forms page update: February 9, 2019
Last Home page update: November 26, 2019
Last Jobs page update: November 26, 2018
Last Just for fun page update: December 10, 2013
Last Legislation Update page update: July 15, 2016
Last Orientation page update: February 14, 2014
Last Other Opportunities page update: November 14, 2019
Last Pending Bills page update: June 1, 2019
Last Resources page update: October 25, 2019
Last Reunions page update: November 26, 2019
Last Samples page update: June 12, 2015
Last Volunteer page update: November 14, 2019
Last Workshop & Seminar page update: October 25, 2019

See our FUN page for more.

Visitor guestbook, hit counter and random image display compliments of phpjunkyard.com
since 1/1/10

A more detailed listing of the pages available.

News, Opinions, Resources, Archives & Forms	Legislation and Advocacy	Workshops, Events, Activities and Opportunities
News Bulletins Go Green The latest News Bulletin is available through this link as are many of the past News Bulletins. Updated 12/6/18 The Archives of past legislation, stories and posts are here.	Legislation Update & Pending Bills Illinois Federal RTAC supported legislation Find your legislators HERE (Enter your 9 digit zip, 'Find Address' then 'Confirm Address') The 2019 legislative calendars are available for both the House and Senate. Updated 10/31/2019	Workshops & Seminars Updated 10/25/19 Scheduled Board & Committee Meetings (Most are open to the public but space is limited.) Updated 10/21/19 Events & Activities Reserve Monday, May 18,2020 for our 94th Spring Luncheon - Details to follow. Spring 2020 workshops & seminars will be listed here. Updated 11/14/19
Opinions and Editorials supporting RTAC's position on Pension matters are here.	Become a 'Pension Fund Ambassador' (here) and print letters to your legislators about the economic impact of your pension (here).	Help Wanted Westat is Seeking Field Study Staff to Administer a NAEP Study People's Resource Center Needs a MOS Coordinator Updated 11/26/19
The CTPF website is here, recent CTPF actions and information is here and the CTU website is here. Alert Network For more information about the Alert Network, click here or join the E-mail Alert Network	Find Your State and Federal Legislators here Illinois Senators by district Illinois Senators by name Illinois Representatives by district Illinois Representatives by name Updated 1/10/19 Photos of visits to legislators Updated 3/4/17	Volunteer Opportunities Updated 10/23/19 Other Volunteer Opportunities Dessert With Santa 2019 Mental Health First Aid Instructor Certification Chicago Architecture Biennial Needs Volunteers Updated 11/14/19
Fraud Alert/Identity Theft Updated 5/13/14 Resources Updated 2/15/18	How to Write Your Legislator + + + + + + + Sample Letters (and the addresses of media outlets) Updated 6/12/15	A list of businesses and services that provide Senior discounts. Updated 6/1/15
RTAC forms Legal Defense Donations Nomination for the Armstrong Award Bylaws and Conflict of Interest Form Updated 2/9/19	Advocacy See Photos of RTAC members meeting with their legislators and at other activities. Read a summary of the presentations at the AARP:NRTA conference in Washington D.C. Updated 3/4/17	Reunions Morgan Park Reunion Picnic Saturday, August 15, 2020 Updated 9/26/19

NOTE: You need Adobe Reader to read any .pdf format file.
If you don’t already have it, click the above link and download it to your computer. It’s free, and it’s harmless.