Of 500 plus BFSRA members only 100 are actively involved in social and legislative issues, the legislative committee would love to see the 100 explode to 500 plus. Statewide we have 40,000 retirees with 17,000 involved in WSSRA. That leaves 23,000 retirees sitting on the sidelines.
We need all those people in the ballgame. Every member needs to reach out to those folks both local and statewide and get them involved in local affairs and, particularly, the legislative process. Federal and State govt's are still looking for ways to cut budgets and that involves our insurances, medicare, social security , and pensions. We need all retirees to get into this ballgame NOW, rather than later.
Our 26 Sept luncheon will have Fred Yancey , our WSSRA lobbiest, speaking on our legislative issues and what each of us need to do to protect our pensions.
Jim McIntire, Wash. State Treasurer, is our 24 Oct luncheon guest speaking about pension reform and what he thinks needs to be done to stabilize pension funding.
Don't miss these two meetings as information given will help us be ready for the upcoming 2012 Legislative Session in January. Plan 1 retirees were hurt in the last session so we want to protect what we now have from further erosion and keep the Legislature from harming Plan 2 and 3.
Your Legislative committee, President Elect, with five other members who live in the 16th Legislative District will be meeting with our three 16th State Legislators on morning of September 26th in Pasco to discuss our pension dilemma and ask for their help in restoring our COLA, plus expressing other concerns and needs. In October, we will be meeting with our 8th Legislators. We are in discussion with them on a meeting date.
See you at the luncheon.
Elaine, AJ and Jim
Your BFSRA legislative committee for the 8th and 16th districts.
