SPEAKER PRESENTATIONS
To access the speaker presentations, click here.
PHOTO ALBUMS
Please enjoy a photo album of the festivities by clicking here.
Please enjoy a photo album created by AMBA by clicking here.
The Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) hosted its 69th Convention in Corpus Christi April 15-17 at the American Bank Center. Approximately 740 TRTA members attended the event, enjoyed fellowship with one another, heard vital news about the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) pension fund and TRS-Care health insurance program, and received training and information on various topics and from TRTA state committees and officers.
Association Business
Elections for the 2024-2026 TRTA State Officers were also held. The following individuals will begin serving their two-year terms on July 1, 2024: Ella Gauthier, President; Frana Patterson, First Vice-President; Terri Navrkal, Second Vice-President; and Gary Schepf, Secretary/Treasurer. Congratulations to these dedicated volunteer leaders!
Three bylaws amendments passed the House of Delegates, TRTA’s business meeting.
- A proviso was removed from the bylaws that would have implemented anniversary billing for state membership dues. This change was made after a survey was completed by TRTA local chapter treasurers indicated concerns about the logistics of implementing dues based on interims of 12 months.
- The state office title of First Vice-President will now be referred to as President-Elect, and the state office title of Second Vice-President will now be referred to as Vice-President (state officers only). This amendment will go into effect with the election of state officers at the House of Delegates in 2026.
- The Membership/Volunteer Services Committee has been renamed to the Membership/Volunteer Services/Community Involvement Committee. This change applies to the committee at the state, district, and local levels.
Special Recognitions
Membership Awards for 2023-2024 were announced. At the district level, District 5 received the highest percentage increase of members, as well as the highest total increase of members. At the local level, Crosby Area RTA received the highest percentage increase, while Lubbock South Plains RTA received the highest total increase.
Current TRTA State President Marcy Cann presented the President’s Diamond Award to all local chapter presidents for their great work in the passage of Proposition 9 during the November 2023 General Election.
State Senator Juan “Chuy’” Hinojosa stopped by to greet the attendees, and presented the flag that flew over the Texas Capitol to President Cann when Proposition 9 passed as a token of his respect and appreciation for all retired Texas public education employees.
State Representative Todd Hunter also stopped by to welcome attendees to the beautiful city of Corpus Christi.
A special service award was presented to James “Dick” Nance, who received a standing ovation for his service representing retirees on the TRS Board of Trustees.
During a special evening dinner event, TRTA members Mary Ann Dolezal and Elva Garcia were recognized as the 2023 and 2024 E.L. Galyean Service Award recipients.
Important Announcements
TRS Executive Director Brian Guthrie made a special presentation during the House of Delegates, when he announced that Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick sent a letter to the TRS Board of Trustees asking that premiums be lowered for the TRS-Care Medicare Advantage plan and that a “one-time re-enrollment opportunity” for retired educators who have left the program be instated.
In his announcement, Guthrie explained that in 2017, TRS-Care was struggling and substantial changes were made to the program at the time. He described those changes as “difficult but necessary,” adding that the TRS-Care fund was insolvent and at risk of not being available in the future.
Today, however, TRS-Care is healthy and thriving, and has a positive fund balance of several billion dollars. “We are not a for profit entity,” Guthrie said, adding that TRS will be able to “take that balance and return it back to you as members” in the form of lower premiums.
This matter will be discussed by the TRS Board of Trustees in May, and a decision will be finalized at the July 2024 meeting. Guthrie said, “We intend in the July meeting to recommend to the Board of Trustees that we substantially lower premiums for the Medicare Advantage product.”
While no specific numbers have been outlined yet, these changes should apply to individuals, as well as to spouses and family members on the plan. Guthrie projected that in some cases, the reduction may be as much as fifty percent.
“Ten years from now, TRS-Care will still be healthy!” Guthrie said.
Additionally, at the May TRS meeting, the TRS staff will recommend the adoption of rules allowing an open enrollment opportunity for TRS-Care Medicare Advantage that will start in the fall of 2024 and go through all of 2025 and into the first part of 2026.
Thank You!
Overall, the 69th TRTA Convention was a productive and joyful occasion. TRTA is grateful to all of the members who attended, the volunteers from TRTA District 2 who spent months helping to organize the various events, the vendors providing goods and services in the exhibit hall, the presenters who provided valuable training and information, and the many special guests who took time out of their busy schedules to honor Texas public education retirees.
We know those who attended Opening Ceremonies especially enjoyed the presentation made by keynote speakers Eleanor “Ellie” Hamby and Sandra Hazelip, “Around the World in 80 Days and Still on the Run.” Feel free to visit their website, www.aroundtheworldat80.com, to learn more about their travel stories and receive information about their upcoming book.
Please enjoy a photo album of the festivities by clicking here.
