3.8 KiB
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Don Naylor, CAE
EXECUTIVECOMMITTEE
President
Teny M.Weidner (EIU) 44 Heather Drive Charleston, n, 61920 (217) 345-5320 tmweidner@eiu.edu
Past-President
David Hilquist (OCC) 1 Cayuga Court Hawthorne Woods,IL 60047 (847) 823-2214 dhilqUis@oakton.edu
Treasurer
Katharine KraJ (UIUC) 23 Long Grove Drive Monticello,IL 61856 (217) 782-2849 kral@monlicellopro.net
Membe'-at-Large: Burton Witthuhn (WIU) 1106Bayberry Lane Macomb,IL 61455 (309) 833-1939 tacsezaemsn.con
Member-at-Large: AlanVoelker(NIU) 1505Margaret Lane DeKalb, IL 60115 815'756-7447 avoelker@niu.edu
Member...at-Large
Rance Thomas (LCC) 2480Wedgwood Drive West Florissant, MO 63033 (314) 921-7364 rthomas257@aol.com
Member-at-Large
JanetCook (ISU) 17438 EastWalden Road Hudson,IL 61748 (309) 726-1664 jmcook@ilslu.edu
STATE UNIVERSITIES ANNUITANTS ASSOCIATION AND FOUNDATION
Servingretirees, spouses and SUNivors from the pUblicUniversfties and CommunityCollegesof Illinois
30B5 Stevenson Drive· Suite 301. Springfield, IL 62703 Telephone (217) 585-2370' (888) 547-8473· Fax (217) 585-2372 a-mail: suaa@suaa.org·website:WWN.su88.oro
February 14, 2007
Dear Colleagues,
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 problem. The qovemor's recent push to sell the lottery system for an estimated $10 billion is clear evidence of the problem. Rumors suggest that SURS will see yet a third year of underfunding.
SUAA took action several years ago to address challenges to the current system of funding your pensions commonly referred to as defined benefits plans. After several years of preparation SUAA created SUAACTION, a political involvement committee to become politically active. In the past it was possible to successfully advocate legislatively through lobbying. This is no longer the case since politics in Illinois has become a pay to play game.
To address these challenges to both active and retired SURS members, SUAA in 2005 established SUAACTION. SUAACTION will serve as the political advocacy ann of SUAA. Through SUAACTION, SUM will maintain a permanent political presence in Springfield in addition to lobbying in the traditional manner. If successful our move will send a clear signal to those wanting to continue to underfund your retirement system and reduce or eliminate hard earned benefits.
SUAACTION will focus its activities in four major areas: (1) securing full funding for SURS 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 SURS assets; (3) preserving the health benefits we now enjoy; (4) expanding efforts to eliminate Social Security penalties, the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO).
The SUAACTION political advocacy program wilt be expensive, and dues cannot be used for political purposes since SUAA is a non-profit, bi-partisan organization. SUAACTION has recommended that its activities be financed by voluntary contributions. Will you 'Volunteer?
If SUAACTIQN is to be successful, it needs your support. If you have not yet contributed to SUAACTION, please do so now by using the form below. If you have already made a contribution, we thank you for your support. Additional contributions are always welcome
Thank you in advance for helping us move forward.
SUAACTION CONTRIBUTION
Please send directly to: SUAA
(Make check payable to SUAACTIONj
3085 Stevenson Drive, Suite 301
Springfield, lL 62703
Enclosed is my voluntary contribution to protect my retirement benefits.
I am eontributing: $3o_, $25_, $20_, $15_, $10_, other amount __
Please print your name and address here: