Texas Retired Teachers Association has busy slate for March and April

Even though we can’t meet in person right now, we’re still an active organization. The months of March and April are a busy time for TRTA members, especially since the Texas Legislature is in session.

Red Letter Campaign Happening Soon Preparations are being made NOW for the Red Letter Envelope Event at the Texas Capitol April 5- April 8, 2021. Each member, at large and from the local unit, will receive a mylar mailer in the mail in early March. BE ON THE LOOK OUT! Inside will be all you need for the Red Letter Campaign: • 2 pieces of paper with a red border for you to write a note to your Representative and your Senator • 2 red envelopes personalized for each member, addressed and ready to go to your Representative and Senator • Instructions/suggestions with letter content • Priorities issue agenda on the back of each letter. TRTA wants to inundate the State Capitol with thousands of red envelopes during Rally Week—April 5-8, 2021. Please help us make this possible! We can’t be there in person this year due to COVID restrictions, but our red letters will make our presence known. GCRTA will provide a drive thru/drop off opportunity for the collection of the letters. Details: • Complete the letters as instructed above. • Bring your letters to Abiding Word Lutheran Church (the old Boysen Grocery Store) at 1020 St. Louis Street on March 25 between 1 PM and 3 PM. You will be able to drive thru and drop them off. • If you are not able to deliver your letters during the March 25 drive thru, you may deliver them to the same location anytime until March 29 at 12:00 noon. There is a mail drop near the front door of the building. Just drop them in the slot. • GCRTA will provide the postage and mail the collected letters by March 29. Thank you for your support of the Red Letter Campaign!!

TRTF Asks for Donations to Disaster Relief Program Due to Winter Storm Uri The Texas Retired Teachers Foundation (TRTF) would like to remind everyone that there is a foundation program designated specifically to help those Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) members who have been affected by natural disasters in our state. Last week, millions of Texans suffered record-breaking low temperatures and suffered without electricity, heat, and running water due to winter storm Uri. Many homes were destroyed due to flooding from broken pipes, resulting in thousands of dollars in damage. Now, TRTF desperately needs your help once more! We already have received requests for assistance from more than 110 retirees, and our Disaster Relief Fund cannot meet the needs of everyone who has asked for help at this time. How You Can Help: Please help us provide emergency funds to retirees in need by making a donation to the TRTF Disaster Relief Program today! Your donation, no matter the amount, will help TRTF respond to requests for emergency assistance immediately and provide much-needed support to retirees. Let us know if you know of a retiree who needs help! Many may have limited access to communications services, and you may be a lifeline between TRTF and someone in need. Contact us at 1.800.880.1650 (ask for Sarah) or send an email to help@trtf.org.

Dues For 2021 - 2022 Are Due Now!! Because local units are the life blood of TRTA, it is very important to renew your membership for TRTA and GCRTA. As of March 1 dues for TRTA and GCRTA are being collected for the fiscal membership year that runs from July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022. In order to be considered an active member dues should be paid by June 30. Annual state dues remain $35 and local GCRTA dues are $5. One check made payable to GCRTA for $40 should be sent to Darvin Dieringer, GCRTA Treasurer, P. O. Box 1936, Gonzales, TX 78629. If you are a continuing member and have $2.92 taken out of your monthly annuity, then you only need to pay $5 to GCRTA for local dues. If anyone is interested in becoming a continuing member, please text Arline Rinehart Schacherl at 830-857-0134 for appropriate forms. Please encourage other retired school personnel to join because our voices are stronger when there are more of us to strengthen and support the hub of the wheel.

Books Are Needed for Children's Book Fund It's been more than a year since GCRTA has had a face-to-face meeting. The good news is that the officers and planning committee have been busy and there are several ways everyone can participate and help. First, write your red letters to your state representative and senator for the Red Letter Campaign and bring to the March 25th drive-thru. Second, pay your dues for 2021 - 2022 by June 30. Third, collect new or gently used books for children in the local schools to have as their very own. Last year because of Covid-19 closures we did not collect any books and so we need to make a real effort this year to gather some books for the Children's Book Fund. These books may be dropped off on March 25 at Abiding Word Lutheran Church parking lot when you bring your red letters. Let's all show up on March 25 to show our TRTA/ GCRTA support! We're counting on you!