CRCEA has had plenty on its plate during the last year plus.  Many local associations are facing issues: from the release of retiree pension information, to reducing subsidies, to the outright loss of affordable health care options.

While CRCEA stands ready and willing to support any local association, there are sometimes limits to what can be accomplished.  Any association should be able to look to us for help, and CRCEA will meet with you and provide all that can be provided.  It’s a real simple equation – without the 20 local member associations, CRCEA fails to exist.  CRCEA is strong and respected because of you, the local association and the local association member.

Too many of our associations are hovering around a 50% member/retiree ratio.  That needs to improve.  I don’t have the magic answer, but maybe some of you do.  There are a couple associations with a large percentage of retirees.  What are they doing right?  Our Membership Committee Chair is continuing to look at different ways to increase your local membership.  I know it will continue to be a topic of discussion.

Time to Think:  November 2012 is not that far away.  That is when there will be an election for the CRCEA officers for the next 2 year term.  Per our bylaws, there are “term limits”, and the current officers (President, Vice-President, Treasurer) are all “termed out”, so, each member should give some thought to whether he or she might have something to contribute to the CRCEA organization.  Yes, so many of you are active in your local association, but becoming a CRCEA officer give you a much broader view of what is going on state-wide in the ’37 Act arena.  I encourage each of you reading this to give it some thought.

Lastly, I would encourage as many of you as can to attend our semi-annual conferences.  There are educational and informational sessions, including legislative updates and discussions from other counties about what is happening.  Contact your local association for info, or search out the information on this website.

Looking out for each other,

Skip Murphy