CDAA - COD Annuitants Association

03/15/2017

Had a wonderful lunch with 50+ former colleagues, which was prepared & served by COD Culinary students!
Nice to be specially welcomed back.

07/01/2016

News and Notes
College of DuPage Annuitants Association
by
Bob Sobie
July 1, 2016

State University Annuitants Association Annual Meeting
College of DuPage Annuitants Association is a chapter of the State University Annuitants Association (SUAA). SUAA held it's annual meeting June 21 & 22 in Springfield. CDAA was represented by Prudy Widlak and myself. Below you can read about the highlights of this meeting. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me. I personally want to thank Prudy for attending the meeting and keeping me up to speed with changes that have taken place in the past few years since I last attended the annual meeting.

Illinois Supreme Court Ruling
Both Eric Madiar (Madiar Government Relations) and Aaron Maduff (Maduff Law Office, who was our lawyer defending our pension at the Supreme Court) reported on the Illinois Supreme Court ruling that confirmed that pensions can not be diminished. Both reported that our pensions are protected and no changes to the law can change that fact, but a negotiated change could occur. There is very little chance of a negotiated change because the state would have to negotiate with one representative organization (union/association) and no one organization represents both those still working and those who are retired. There is a concern that the State may attempt to diminish our health care benefits. If you feel that your health care has been harmed, please contact both me and Linda Brookhart, SUAA Executive Director..

Changes at CMS
For the first time, the Illinois State Central Management Services (CMS) Division will have available an on-line service to educate us about health care provider choices during the “Open Enrollment Period”. Starting September 1, 2016 we will be able to view this new tool at MyBenifits.Illinois.gov. More information will be coming from CMS as we get closer to the “Open Enrollment Period” this fall.

SURS
Andrew Matthews (COO of SURS) reported that he expects that the State of Illinois will fund SURS 100% this fiscal year. He also reported that SURS has been averaging a return on investments of 7.25% annually, even in these trying times. By the way, if you have any neighbors who believe our pensions are “too generous”, please tell them that 55% of SURS Annuitants receive a pension of $32,472/year or less! Also 79% of us who receive a SURS pension live (and spend their pension) in Illinois. I suggest that you also remind them that many SURS pension recipients do not receive Social Security nor Medicare benefits!

SUAA Foundation
The SUAA Foundation is developing an emergency fund to help SUAA members who have fallen on hard times. The fund is intended to help individuals who suffer a personal catastrophic incidence such as health issues, home fire, weather related emergencies (i.e. tornadoes, flooding, etc). More information will be made available when appropriate.

On a personal note
It has been reported that the SUAA Annual meetings have been unfriendly affairs for the past few years. I personally found this meeting to be friendly, productive, and helpful. I would like to thank all who made this meeting successful.

Welcome President Dr. Ann Rondeau
Dr. Ann Rondeau officially became the sixth President of the College of DuPage today, July 1, 2016. CDAA welcomes her to the College of DuPage family and wishes her a very successful Presidency. CDAA Officers and Board of Directors will be meeting with Dr. Rondeau on July 20, 2016.

Electronic Pay Stubs From SURS
Starting today, July 1, 2016 all SURS members who have a valid email address on file and receive their annuity via direct deposit will receive an electronic notification when payment has been issued. You can view this information on the SURS Member Website,

Oscar Swan Lunch
For the sixth year in a row Val Follmann arranged for CDAA members to have a special luncheon at Oscar Swan in Geneva Illinois. This very lovely Bed & Breakfast and banquet facility provided us with a wonderful homemade lunch. 37 CDAA members attended this lunch yesterday, Thursday June 30, 2016. Thank You again Val for a very special afternoon.

Upcoming Events
July 20 – CDAA Board of Directors Meeting, Glen Ellyn
August 11 – CDAA Annual Summer Picnic, Glen Ellyn

06/11/2016

News and Notes
College of DuPage Annuitants Association
by
Bob Sobie
June 9, 2016

College Of DuPage's New President To Meet With CDAA Officers & Directors

Dr. Ann Rondeau will become the sixth President of the College of DuPage July 1, 2016. The Officers and Directors of CDAA have arranged to meet with her on July 20. We have no prepared agenda at this point except to get to know each other and to express that CDAA is looking forward to working with the college's new administration to promote the mission of the College. We have also invited President Rondeau to our Annual CDAA Picnic to be held on campus August 11, 2016.

Vice President Spencer Resigns

CDAA Vice President Pat Spencer resigned on June 2, 2016 citing personal commitments. Pat will be missed by all of us. If you are interested in serving as either an Officer or Director of CDAA please contact me at [email protected].

SUAA Annual Meeting

The SUAA Annual meeting will be held in Springfield on June 21 & 22, 2016. Representing the College of DuPage Annuitants Association will be Prudy Widlak and myself. I am also serving as the Chair of the Nominating Committee at this event. I will report to you about this meeting soon after it concludes.

No More Paper Pay Stubs From SURS

Starting this July all SURS members who have a valid email address on file and receive their annuity via direct deposit will receive an electronic notification when payment has been issued. If you have any questions please call SURS at 800 275-7877

Oscar Swan Lunch

Please join us for a relaxing buffet lunch and social gathering at the beautiful Oscar Swan Country Inn in Geneva on Thursday, June 30, 2016 from 11:30 am. to 2 pm. The owner, Nina, makes sure that her food is prepared fresh daily. She will be preparing an all-you-can-eat buffet for us. For more information please contact Val Follmann. RSVP required.

Upcoming Events

June 21 & 22 – SUAA Annual Meeting, Springfield
June 30 – Oscar Swan Luncheon, Geneva
July 20 – CDAA Board of Directors Meeting, Glen Ellyn
August 11 – CDAA Annual Summer Picnic, Glen Ellyn

05/11/2016

Colleagues,

It is truly an honor to be able to send you my first communication as President of the College of DuPage Annuitants Association (CDAA). I am following in the footsteps of many great past Presidents, if I am able to shine half as brightly as my predecessors then I will truly be successful. This is just the first of a number of letters I plan to send out during my two years as President. I hope you will find these letters helpful.

The CDAA Annual Meeting was both social and informative. It was held May 6th at Reserve 22 at the Glen Ellyn Village Links. Approximately 57 CDAA Members attended, the discussion was lively, the food was great, the setting could not have been better. I want to personally thank Kim Pack for putting on a great show as our Social Chair. I think most attendees especially appreciated the two guest speakers from the C/D HR department and their presentation about our benefits.

After my election I shared with the crowd the four goals I have set for my time as President. I would like to share them with you now.

GOAL #1: – Repair CDAA's relationship with the College Of DuPage. As you probably know CDAA has had an outstanding relationship with the College since its inception in 1987. C/D Presidents McAninch, Murphy, and Chand accepted us into their open arms and embraced us as a part of the College, officially recognized by the College of DuPage Board of Trustees! Unfortunately, that relationship deteriorated with the Presidency of Dr. Breuder {along with many other relationships the College once enjoyed}. I hope to meet with incoming College of DuPage President Rondeau soon after she takes office in July to express the importance of our organization and how we can help the College and its employees in the future.

GOAL #2: – Grow our membership. We do enjoy a vibrant membership, but our numbers are dwindling. We need to have a strong membership that is active to survive whatever comes next. We can grow our organization in two ways. Every member {Yes, this means you} should ask your fellow colleagues if they are members of CDAA. If not, ask why? We can also bring into our organization currently working employees of the College, after all they are also annuitants. Becoming a member is simple, please direct individuals to http://suaa.org/joinnow.php. At this URL they will find both an on-line membership form as well as a printable/mail in membership form. Please, express to your colleagues that by joining SUAA and indicating the College of DuPage Chapter on the form, they will automatically become a member of CDAA.

GOAL #3: – Improve communication with our members. This letter is just the start of my attempt to improve our communications as an organization. Soon your Board will be meeting in earnest to talk about all communications methods including, but not limited to, our Web Site, E-Mail List, Breakfast Gatherings, Social Activities, etc.

GOAL #4: – Start a trend to be a one-term President. I am not looking to get out of my commitment early, it's what I think is best for this organization going forward. As you may know a CDAA President serves a two year term. She/he may be elected to a second two-year term, if desired. After that, she/he serves as Immediate Past President. In the case of Steve Mansfield for example that meant 4 years as President and 4 years as Immediate Past President. 8 YEARS!!! I think that is just a little to long for a retiree's organization. The possibility of 8 years certainly does not encourage anyone to serve as President. I think its time for a change.

Please mark your calendars for the following events:

June 21 & 22 – SUAA Annual Meeting, Springfield [CDAA sends three voting members to this meeting]
June 30 – Oscar Swan Luncheon, Geneva
July 20 – CDAA Board of Directors Meeting, Glen Ellyn
August 11 – CDAA Picnic, Glen Ellyn

Information on the above will be sent to you once details are available.

Thank you and have a wonderful beginning of Summer,

Bob Sobie
President, College of DuPage Annuitants Association
[email protected]

12/18/2015

College of DuPage is governed by a seven-member Board of Trustees, all of whom are elected from within the district for six-year terms. A student representative, appointed annually, is a non-voting member of the Board.

11/24/2015

Honored for their accomplishments are Marco Benassi, Jolene Kremer, George Macht, Heather Miller, Mariam Pare, Ted Raspiller, Tony Venezia and Eileen Ward.

10/22/2015

[Illinois Senate Republican Minority Leader Christine] "Radogno said lawmakers likely will consider hiking the state income tax or taxing retirement income, rather than increasing the state sales tax or instituting a tax on services.
Illinois is one of the few states, which doesn't tax retirement income, she noted. Any plan would have to avoid encouraging retirees to join others who've moved because it's cheaper to live in another state with lower taxes, she said.”

La Grange business and community leaders are keeping a close eye on Springfield while mapping out strategies to move the local economy forward, speakers said at a luncheon.

07/08/2015

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/surs/~3/yft976K8DMU/surs-benefit-payments-will-be-made-time

Benefit payments to SURS members are not affected by the state budget impasse. Payments will be made on time, without delay.

05/15/2015

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/ct-harris-tax-retirement-income-0515-biz-20150515-column.html

There is a simple solution to Illinois' pension mess that too few people are talking about: Tax retirement income.

09/22/2014

This works with your retiree "[email protected]" email address.

Microsoft offers Office 365 for Windows or Mac for free for students and teachers. (A valid .edu email address is required.) That's the best deal we could find by $70. It includes Microsoft Word,...

03/26/2014

Great Lecture series event.

Isabel Wilkerson. Hear Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and New York Times “Top Ten Book of the Year” bestselling author Isabel Wilkerson, who has spent 15 years interviewing more than 1,200 people to write the current “One Book One Chicago” selection: The Warmth of Other Suns. This epic work of na...