Issue Highlights:
MARICOPA News from the Maricopa Community College Retirees Association
2 Renew Your Membership 2 Cast Your Ballot 3 Donate to Scholarships 4 Target $100,000 4 Governing Board April 2014
Challenges to Pensions and Healthcare Top the Annual Meeting Agenda
Meeting Speakers
With pension funds under debate nationally, proposed retirement legislation, and continuing changes in medical care, retired people are concerned about the future of their sunset years. These critical topics are the focus of the 2014 Maricopa Community Colleges Retirees Association annual meeting. All retirees are encouraged to attend this important event.
Director, Arizona State Retirement System
The MCCRA annual meeting is set for Thursday, April 17, 2014 at the Rio Salado Conference Center located at 2323 W. 14th Street in Tempe, adjacent to the District Office. A continental breakfast will be served starting at 9 a.m., where Q & A with retirement and health care representatives will begin and will continue immediately following the meeting. The formal meeting is scheduled from 10 a.m. – 12 noon. Attendees will have the opportunity to interact with experts from the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS), United Healthcare, and MCCCD’s Human Resources. Retirement information and updates on legislation relative to changes in pension funds will be provided by ASRS Executive Director, Paul Matson, and Assistant Director External Affairs, Pat Klein. Account Vice President, Dan Cadriel from United Healthcare Services will address issues relating to health care. After a welcome by MCCRA President Ann Oehmke, MCCD Chancellor, Dr. Rufus Glasper, will greet participants via video. Other presenters will include Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Dr. Sam Dosumu, and Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Felicia Ganther. Retirement Analyst, Tim Clement, will comment on human resource issues. For the first time last year, Maricopa Community College employees thinking about retirement were invited to the annual meeting. The response by employees attending was overwhelming. So again this year, potential retirees are invited to join us at the meeting. If you have former colleagues still working for one of the Maricopa Community Colleges, ask them personally to join you at the annual meeting to discuss the benefits of retirement. Future times and locations for retirement planning workshops will be available. Valuable information and handouts will aid in financial planning for a healthy, happy retirement.
See you on April 17. Please RSVP for the MCCRA Annual Meeting by April 10 to Jim Hogan: jhoganaz@msn.com.
Paul Matson
Paul Matson has served since 2003 as Chief Executive of the Arizona State Retirement System, a state agency with over 500,000 members and an investment portfolio of approximately $30 billion in its administration of the state’s largest public pension plan. Mr. Matson began at the ASRS in 1995 as Chief Investment Officer, responsible for the internal and external multi-asset-class investment management of the fund, and development of the Internal Investment Management Division of the ASRS.
Patrick M. Klein
Assistant Director, External Affairs Arizona State Retirement System
Pat has been with the Arizona State Retirement System since 2001, initially assuming responsibility for the administration, communication, development, and implementation of the ASRS retiree health insurance and long term disability (LTD) programs. In July, 2005, Pat was promoted to Assistant Director where he assumed responsibility for agency communication, employer relations, rules, legislation, and pension plan administration with continuing involvement in the retiree health care and LTD plans.
2014-15 DUES RENEWAL Maricopa Community Colleges Retirees Association Name
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Email address Membership Dues are $25 / year; dues for 2014 are valid until April 2015. Amount Enclosed $ Make check payable to MCC Retirees Association. You may pay your dues at the annual meeting on April 17, 2014 or you may mail them to:
Margaret Hogan, Treasurer MCC Retirees Association (MCCRA) 2411 W. 14th Street Tempe, AZ 85281-6942
BALLOT For the 2014-2017 MCCRA Board Please vote for the candidate in your former employee group only:
Ed Baumgart, Faculty
Sue Melohn, PSA
Vince Moran, M&O, Safety Jack Twitchell, MAT/CEC
Return Ballot before April 17, 2014. Ballot can be mailed with dues form or mailed to:
Ann Oehmke 500 W. Clarendon, E13 Phoenix, AZ 85013 Or email information to: aoehmke@cox.net
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Endowed Scholarship Fund Maricopa Community Colleges Retirees Association (MCCRA) Name
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Contributions The MCCRA Constitution states that one of the organization’s responsibilities is to maintain and promote educational, economic, and social ties with the Maricopa Community Colleges. With this in mind, the Retirees’ Board has established an endowment scholarship fund through the MCCCD Foundation in support of student scholarships. If you have questions regarding contributions to the Foundation, please call Ann Oehmke at (602) 265-9497. Thank you for your contribution! A receipt will be sent to you.
There are several ways to contribute to the MCCRA Endowed Scholarship Fund.
1. Give Online at www.mcccdf.org 2. By Check
(Please make check payable to MCCCD Foundation. Note that it is for the MCCRA Scholarship Fund.)
a) Monthly Pledge
$
b) One-time Donation
$
3. By Credit Card
(Call the Maricopa Colleges Foundation at 480-731-8400.)
a) Monthly Pledge
$
b) One-time Donation
$
Please mail this form to: MCC Foundation, 2419 W. 14th St., Tempe, AZ 85281-6942
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NON PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PHOENIX, AZ PERMIT NO. 449
2411 W. 14th Street Tempe, Arizona 85281
Scholarship: $100,000 Target
Emeritus Status
The Maricopa Community Colleges Retirees Association Scholarship fundraising campaign welcomed an infusion of money from retiree Charles B. Buzzard. Former Phoenix College employee “Buzz” Buzzard requested that existing funds be transferred from a Foundation scholarship in his name to the MCCRA endowment fund to help us achieve our campaign goal. The donation of almost $19,000 raised the endowment total to just shy of $100,000. We are very grateful to Buzz for his generosity!
The Governing Board grants Emeritus status at its monthly meetings based on nominations of recently retired faculty and executive staff.
For the first time, MCCRA has sufficient funds in our Endowment to award more than one scholarship this year. We are very excited about this prospect. We are reviewing 10 applicants now and plan to have an announcement about our recipients at the annual meeting on April 17. Your donation will help us hit the $100,000 goal. Wouldn’t it be great to reach the amount by the annual meeting this month on April 17? YOU could be the one to make that happen. To contribute any amount, simply return the enclosed form inside this newsletter with your donation or give online at www.mcccdf.org
New Governing Board Member Former state legislator Alfredo Gutierrez was recently appointed to the MCCCD Governing Board to fill the vacancy created by the passing of Ben Miranda in November 2013. An election will be held in November 2014, to choose the person who will fill the seat for the next two years, completing what was the remainder of Mr. Miranda’s original term representing District 5. 4
December 2013 Dr. Patricia Medeiros, English, Scottsdale Community College, Awarded after her death on 11/1/13. January 2014 David Weaver, Physics, Chandler-Gilbert Community College | Dr. Juan Marquez, Computer Information Systems, Mesa Community College | Jack Peterson, Sociology, Mesa Community College February 2014 Dr. Carmela Arnoldt, English, Glendale Community College | Dr. Stephen Williams, Biology, Glendale Community College
MARICOPA GOLD Maricopa Community College Retirees Association MCCRA • 2411 W. 14th Street • Tempe, AZ 852816942 Ann Oehmke, President • aoehmke@cox.net 602.265.9497 Patti N. Johnson, Newsletter Editor, patti.n.johnson@cgc.edu MCCCD Marketing, Newsletter Production carol.diego@domail.maricopa.edu Send your email address to jhoganaz@msn.com Join us on facebook www.facebook.com/maricopa.edu.retirees