Executive Summary:
- TRTA’s staff is working remotely.
- The staff is still available by phone during weekdays from 8 AM to 5 PM.
- All local unit meetings are canceled through April 30.
Due to the growing impact of COVID-19, known as the coronavirus, in the Austin area, the Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) is following the Governor’s recommended public health best practices. TRTA canceled the 67th TRTA State Convention scheduled for April 6-8, 2020 in Corpus Christi over serious concerns regarding the well-being of our members and has asked all affiliated districts and local units to postpone any scheduled conferences or meetings until at least April 30.
Our staff’s primary concern is the presence of a medical office in the Trinity Office Building where TRTA is housed. One of TRTA’s tenants has an employee that tested positive for COVID-19 this week. Now, with cases multiplying in the Austin area at a rapid pace, we must extend caution to our TRTA staff members. Beginning Monday, March 23, TRTA staff will not be present at our downtown Austin office. However, our regular hours to answer phone calls will remain 8 AM to 5 PM from Monday to Friday. We are in the process of enabling all of our staff members with the ability to work remotely until this health crisis has passed.
As we make these preparations, members may experience a short delay in response times to phone calls and emails. TRTA staff members will be able to take phone calls and emails remotely by next week; however, some requests are not be able to be filled at this time, such as mailing printed materials to districts and local units that request them. This includes requests for bookplates and retirement education seminar packets.
As we continue to sort through the logistics of this change, we ask for your understanding and patience. The TRTA staff will do everything we can to continue providing exceptional service to our members. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at info@trta.org or leave us a message at 1.800. 880.1650.
Local and District Meetings Canceled Through April 30
The TRTA Board of Directors is imposing a hold on all TRTA affiliated meetings across the state through April 30. This precaution follows the guidelines set by the federal government.
This is a very fluid situation. We are all hearing updates about the progress of containment and treatment of the coronavirus. In the event, however, that you have a local meeting that you believe may need to be postponed and it is scheduled after our hold, we understand. Contact your district president and let them know if you’re canceling your meeting past April 30. If you’re a district president, please contact Brock Gregg, and let him know so that we may share this information with our Board or other interested members. If you have a district meeting that you decide should be canceled in May, you should also contact Gregg.
We should all be vigilant and work together to monitor the progress for containing COVID-19 in our communities. We can all play an active role by living our lives in a happy, healthy, and safe way. By regularly washing our hands, using hand sanitizer, and ensuring that we are getting proper medical care if we do not feel well, we can help ensure the well being of our fellow retirees. Another vital step in ensuring the virus doesn’t continue its spread is to avoid large crowds.
TRTA cares about its members and we want to do our part to keep everyone healthy. Therefore, we are asking that all districts and local units postpone their TRTA meetings through April 30 or until new information is available. If your meeting is scheduled between now and April 30, we ask that you please reschedule for a later date. If your meeting is scheduled for a date that is beyond the next April 30, we are not asking that your postpone it at this time, but may do so if it becomes necessary to ensure the well-being of TRTA members.
We are happy to help ensure this is not too detrimental to your local TRTA members. Please let us know how we may be able to assist.
