** Action Alert! Teachers Retirement System (TRS) Important Information ** Recently, at the Bartow area Georgia Retired Educators Association meeting, the GREA Executive Director, Mr. Bill Sloan (whom Governor Deal appointed to the Teachers Retirement System Board), told the group that what we are hearing about TRS changing is just hype. He stated that TRS is secure and does not understand why it is being kept in the news! Gee, I dont know... MAYBE because HB782 was designed to form a study committee (keep your hands off our money!) to look at moving TRS from a defined benefit to a contribution system! While this would only affect new hires moving forward, HOW will we sustain our current defined TRS without new members paying into the system!? HOW will we recruit and retain quality teachers if we offer low pay, unaffordable health insurance, and fewer retirement benefits!? MAYBE its because the Chamber of Commerce recently issued a report card on education... and the only A that Georgia received was for its fully-funded (and solvent!) Pension Plan (aka TRS!). MAYBE its because the Georgias state Employee Retirement System (ERS) was changed in 2006 from a defined benefit to a contribution system... with disastrous results! MAYBE its because the Legislature followed this EXACT same blueprint when railroading the ERS benefits! History is repeating itself, folks! If you are a retired educator.. OR if you HOPE to be a retired educator one day... PLEASE take a moment to email Mr. Bill Sloan and let him know why YOU want this issue kept in the news! T.R.A.G.I.C. will continue to inform our members on important TRS updates, and will continue to advocate to keep educators defined benefits STRONG! Call, email and write him TODAY! Dr. Bill Sloan Executive Director, GREA email: [email protected] 770-287-7721 1-800-637-2883 322 Oak St. Gainesville, Ga. 30501
Posted on: Tue, 16 Sep 2014 01:37:50 +0000