Well the name tells a lot. This is my blog, but I certainly can't have a blog without you. So this is really our Texas retired teacher blog. I don't think Blogger would mind if we change this ; just between us.
Second this is about retired teachers in the state of Texas, so we'll look at some issues that effect Texas retired teachers, like the cost of living adjustment. ( This retired teacher blog, of course, includes retired administrators. Your input is much valued.) We'll also just discuss some issues that effect retirees in general such as maintaining our health, traveling, hobbies, and the good and bad of retirement. Of course I also hope we'll have some visitors who are just thinking about retirement or maybe only dreaming about it. After all, all of us retirees were once just dreaming and thinking about retirement.
Third, I can't help adding a little nostalgia topic now and then. Elvis Ike and Marylin may even make an occasional appearance. I will tell you that my next two topics will be:
The Retirement Box
Those All Important Health numbers
I'm told that all first blogs should be mercifully short, so,
dear hearts and gentle people, ( Anyone remember that song?) I'll close for now. Please comment below and especially share ideas to make this post an enlightening and enjoyable experience for us all.
5 comments:
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JUST TESTING TO SEE IF THIS IS WORKING.
This is great Rich. I don't think you are really retired or won't be once the word gets out. This is a wonderful addition to TRTA District IV.
Who will you become in retirement?
In your working life, you long and plan for the day when you can retire. A carefree time when you can live a life of leisure and travel, play golf and do all the things you’ve never been able to do when you were working and/or raising your families. Just ask any 40-year-old about plans for the future and that person will brag how they plan to retire at 50!
Now that the day is approaching, why are you apprehensive?
Perhaps it’s because often your identity—who you are—is connected to your job title. It is your self worth. When you retire, you may lose your identity. One of the most common questions strangers ask is what do you do? When you answer, “I’m retired.” The response usually is “oh!” It doesn’t matter how much money you’ve accumulated; how many awards you’ve won or what you’ve accomplished in your profession. You are now retired and that seems to equate with “old—finished.”
But wait—you are a work in progress. Just because you’re retired doesn’t mean your life is over. It doesn’t mean you have accomplished all that you were put on earth to do. In fact, it is the opposite.
Retirement is a time when you can do all those things that you never had time to do. It is a time to fulfill your dreams and become the person YOU want to BE. Who are you?
In every stage of your life, you became the person you wanted or needed to be. You changed, evolved and grew to fit the phase of your life that you were in. You have grown from child, student, professional, spouse, parent, property owner, supervisor, grandparent and many other things as you travelled life’s journey.
Now, you are starting one of the most exciting periods of your life! You may be retiring from your job, but you are not retiring from life! It is a time when you are starting out fresh as you find out Who is the real YOU!
Be patient and discover the direction you are going to take on this new adventure. Don’t be in a rush. Are there things you have always wanted to do? Is there a talent you have neglected? Find your voice, your path and follow your heart. Find out what you know and how you can use your knowledge. Have a plan of action. Be open to change and willing to explore. This is a new opportunity to change—to grow. Sign up for a course at a community college or a class on the Internet. Be of service in the community. Remember there is only one person with your life story. Who you will be is up to you!
The easiest way to follow your dreams is to have a mentor—or a support group that will guide you along life’s path. Mentors know YOU and what you are capable of achieving; they are your cheerleaders and encouragers.
This is where membership in the Texas Retired Teachers Association comes in. TRTA is a support group made up of more than 70,000 TRS retirees in Texas. Its objectives include promoting the professional, economic, intellectual, social, and healthy well-being of retired school personnel; and encouraging retired school personnel to give voluntarily of their time, talents, training, and experience in the furtherance of education and civic endeavors in the community, the state, and the nation.
To put it in simple terms, the members have all experienced retirement and many have been successful in fulfilling the dreams of what they want to accomplish in their lives.
Rich, I don't think you are retired. You are a wonderful additon to District IV. This is from our recent Katy brochure.
Who will you become in retirement?
In your working life, you long and plan for the day when you can retire. A carefree time when you can live a life of leisure and travel, play golf and do all the things you’ve never been able to do when you were working and/or raising your families. Just ask any 40-year-old about plans for the future and that person will brag how they plan to retire at 50!
Now that the day is approaching, why are you apprehensive?
Perhaps it’s because often your identity—who you are—is connected to your job title. It is your self worth. When you retire, you may lose your identity. One of the most common questions strangers ask is what do you do? When you answer, “I’m retired.” The response usually is “oh!” It doesn’t matter how much money you’ve accumulated; how many awards you’ve won or what you’ve accomplished in your profession. You are now retired and that seems to equate with “old—finished.”
But wait—you are a work in progress. Just because you’re retired doesn’t mean your life is over. It doesn’t mean you have accomplished all that you were put on earth to do. In fact, it is the opposite.
Retirement is a time when you can do all those things that you never had time to do. It is a time to fulfill your dreams and become the person YOU want to BE. Who are you?
In every stage of your life, you became the person you wanted or needed to be. You changed, evolved and grew to fit the phase of your life that you were in. You have grown from child, student, professional, spouse, parent, property owner, supervisor, grandparent and many other things as you travelled life’s journey.
Now, you are starting one of the most exciting periods of your life! You may be retiring from your job, but you are not retiring from life! It is a time when you are starting out fresh as you find out Who is the real YOU!
Be patient and discover the direction you are going to take on this new adventure. Don’t be in a rush. Are there things you have always wanted to do? Is there a talent you have neglected? Find your voice, your path and follow your heart. Find out what you know and how you can use your knowledge. Have a plan of action. Be open to change and willing to explore. This is a new opportunity to change—to grow. Sign up for a course at a community college or a class on the Internet. Be of service in the community. Remember there is only one person with your life story. Who you will be is up to you!
The easiest way to follow your dreams is to have a mentor—or a support group that will guide you along life’s path. Mentors know YOU and what you are capable of achieving; they are your cheerleaders and encouragers.
This is where membership in the Texas Retired Teachers Association comes in. TRTA is a support group made up of more than 70,000 TRS retirees in Texas. Its objectives include promoting the professional, economic, intellectual, social, and healthy well-being of retired school personnel; and encouraging retired school personnel to give voluntarily of their time, talents, training, and experience in the furtherance of education and civic endeavors in the community, the state, and the nation.
To put it in simple terms, the members have all experienced retirement and many have been successful in fulfilling the dreams of what they want to accomplish in their lives.
The problem started, not in 2001, but in 1996 when the total contribution rate was reduced to 12.4% (6.4% by teachers, 6.0% by Texas). Now, an increase to 14% total will will take years to restore the pension fund to actuarially soundness, and even more because of gradually increasing life spans, and even more to begin adding back in adjustments for inflation. My guess is about total 15.5% to 16%.
Can we go back to the early 80's when the state contributed 8.5% and TRS members contributed more than now. NOT ALL AT ONCE, for sure this year. But, it needs to be done.
-zzyp-
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