On October 6th we will return to the beautiful Mill River Country Club in Stratford for our fall meeting which will focus on Health Insurance issues. Walt Ciplinski and Jane Wilson of the Retired Teacher Health Insurance Advocates (RTHIA) will be our speakers. Also present will be Lisa Bosco of the Association Member Benefits Advisors (AMBA). Our November meeting honors our veterans. Captain Daniel Geraghty, Trumbull High School teacher/Army Vet/Airborne Ranger, 911 survivor and author will be our presenter. 

December will see the return of the Trumbull High School Chamber Singers, under the direction of Chris Waske, entertaining us with sounds of the holiday season. Check back here for details. 

If you are aware of any educators who do not belong to GBRTA, please invite them to join our organization. Remind them that, as retirees, we have no union representation so we depend upon GBRTA and the Association of Retired Teachers of Connecticut (ARTC), our umbrella organization, to address our needs. 

In the last legislative session ARTC was instrumental in achieving the 50% pension exemption on the state income tax. I am sure you were pleased with the savings you realized when you filed your CT state income tax form! ARTC also successfully lobbied for doubling the health insurance subsidy for retired teachers who are not eligible for Medicare. 

If we do not have your email address, please send it to Ann Block - postage is becoming prohibitive and emails will assist us in cutting mailing expenses. 

In closing, I have spoken with several teachers this summer and they are thrilled to be returning to in-person teaching instead of Zoom and hybrid instruction. As you might have heard, distance learning has taken a toll on both teaching and learning. Please wish our returning colleagues a safe, healthy and happy school year. 

My best to all of you,