STATE UNIVERSITIES ANNUITANTS ASSOCIATION AND FOUNDATION Serving retirees, spouses and survivors from the public Universities S andCommunityCoffegesofflinois U A z A 3085 Stevenson Drive·Suite 301·Springfield, IL 62703 Telephone (217) 585-2370· (888) 547-8473·Fax (217) 585-2372 e-mail: suaa @ suaa.org · website: EXECUDVE DIAECTOR February 14, 2007 Don Naylor, CAE Dear Colleagues, EXECUTIVE CQMMITTEE State universities and community college retirees and employees face increasing threats to their pension and health benefits. The State of Illinois continues to face a structural deficit President: problem. The govemor's recent push to sell the lottery system for an estimated $10 billion is Terry M. Weidner (EIU) ciear evidence of the problem. Rumors suggest that SURS will see yet a third year of 44 Heather Drive underfunding. Chareston, IL 61920 (217) 345-5320 SUAA took action several years ago to address challenges to the current system of funding tmweidner @ eiu.edu Past-President: David Hilquist (OCC) politically active. In the past it was possible to successfully advocate legislatively through 1 Cayuga Coun aweh Aeid ol Aed e awooaq sey sioul ui sonlod aouis aseo aui jahuol ou si siul buiqgol Hawthome Woods, IL 60047 To address these challenges to both active and retired SURS members, SUAA in 2005 (847) 823-2214 established SUAACTION. SUAACTION will serve as the political advocacy am of SUAA. Treasurer: addition to lobbying in the traditional manner. If successful our move will send a clear signal Katharine Kral (UlUC) to those wanting to continue to underfund your retirement system and reduce or eliminate 23 Long Grove Drive hard earned benefits. Monticello, IL 61856 SUAACTION will focus its activities in four major areas: (1) securing full funding for SURS (217) 782-2849 kral @ monticellopro.ret in accordance with the 1995 pension law and oppose all efforts to further erode our pension benefits; (2) promoting the highest ethical and professional standards in the management of Member-at-Large: SURS assets; (3) preserving the health benefits we now enjoy: (4) expanding efforts to Burton Withuhn (WIU) eliminate Social Secunty penalties, the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and 1106 Bayberry Lane Government Pension Offset(GPO). Macomb, IL. 61455 (309) 833-1939 The SUAACTION political advocacy program will be expensive, and dues cannot be used <13jose22@msn.com> recommended that its activities be financed by voluntary contributions. Will you volunteer? Member-at-Large: Alan Voelker (NIU) If SUAACTlON is to be successful, it needs your support. If you have not yet contributed to 1505 Margaret Lane SUAACTiON, please do so now by using the form below. If you have already made a DeKalb, IL 60115 815/756-7447 avoelker@ niu.edu Thank you in advance for helping us move forward. Member-at-Large: SUAACTON CONTRIBUTION Rance Thomas (LCC) Please send directly to: SUAA (Make check payable to SUAACTION) 2480WedgwoodDniveWest Florissant, MO 63033 3085 Stevenson Drive, Suite 301 (314) 921-7364 Springfield, IL 62703 Mernber-at-Large: Enclosed is my voluntary contribution to protect my retirement benefits. Janet Cook (ISU) 17438 East Walden Road I am eontributing: $30*, $25*, $20*, $15*, $10\_. other amount Hudson, IL 61748 (309) 726-1664 Please print your name and address here: jmcook @ ilslu.edu