Part of the Cultural Programs offered by PPSREA are book reviews. Four of these are scheduled for the 2007-2008 chapter year, two in the Fall and two in the Spring. The book Rise & Shine by Anna Quindien was reviewed by Philomena O'Hanlon on October 17. The event was held at Barnes & Noble, 18th & Walnut Streets in Philadelphia. On November 21 Rosina Capanigro reviewed Dispatches from the Edge by Anderson Cooper at the same venue. There are no further book reviews scheduled at this time.

Community Service Committee - Steven Korsin, Chairman

Our purpose is to plan activities which meet the needs for improving and extending benefits for our retirees and to encourage our members to volunteer their time and energy for the benefits of their community.

By volunteering you not only help others, but you are also helping yourself by completing the Volunteer Survey Form which is sent out to all members in our newsletter in the Spring. The information submitted on those forms is used to calculate the number of volunteer hours served by our members. This data is then sent to PASR Headquarters to demonstrate to our State Legislators and other interested parties that we retirees provide a valuable service to the communities of this Commonwealth. Information such as this is important when our Legislative Committee members go to our State Legislators to influence legislation of importance to school retirees, including the issue of a cost of living adjustment (COLA).

You are encouraged to view the list of places seeking volunteers and offer your service to help others. Click here for more information on volunteerism.

 

Cultural Committee - Rita Borsari, Chairperson

The Cultural Committee has planned 10 events for the 2007-2008 membership year at the rate of one each month from October through June with two in the month of December. The events are basically interesting daytime visits to various sites and institutions within the city at minimal cost to participants. Click here for a detailed list of planned events for this year.

The Fitness program is interested in helping our members keep healthy and well so their retirement is productive. If you are a PPSREA Life Member and exercise regularly at a facility you may be eligible for a stipend. More information will be forthcoming in future issues of the PPSREA News Bulletin.

 

L/PEC - (Legislative/Political Education Committee) James Qualter, Chairperson

In the last L/PEC Committee meeting, we suggested that we would not do a mass mailing this year. However, we did agree to increase L/PEC gifts from the monies collected for L/PEC Regions. In order for bills to pass in the legislature for the benefit of retirees (especially to receive a COLA), we must get involved with the Legislative Agenda of PASR. Please make your pledge as a gift to help us do this work. For more information on what L/PEC is all about, click here.

Member Benefits & Services Committee - Leonard Kaltz, Chairperson

The purpose of this committee is to promote the well being of retired school employees by helping them to obtain various services and/or products they need at discounted prices obtained through PASR's Endorsed Services program. The committee works to avoid financial and personal problems by reviewing and recommending the endorsements generated by the State's MBS Committee and making those endorsements known to the members of PPSREA. Click here for more information on PASR's Endorsed Services Program.

Membership Committee - Ellen Labb & Audrey Womack

We are always seeking new members! If you have friends, acquaintances or just people that you meet when you are out and about, please ask them if they worked in the Philadelphia Public Schools in any capacity and ask them to Join PPSREA.

We are a service oriented organization that offers many advantages to members. The annual dues are only $10 - It's the best bargain in town! Click here for a printable application blank for unified membership in PPSREA and PASR. - Do you know someone who will be 100 or 90 years old in 2008? If so, call our office at 213-400-6132 and give us the name, address and phone number of those persons. And if you are a Life Member of PPSREA, please plan on attending our general membership meeting on October 25, 2007. We will be presenting each of our Life Members with a special "Life Membership Pin."

Nonagenarians Committee - Ellen Labb, Chairperson

We are looking for anyone who will be 90 or 100 years of age in 2007. Please call our office at 215-400-6132 and leave your name and date of birth. It is always a pleasure to honor those who have served our children in the schools in any capacity and are now enjoying the retired years. .Please let us know of retirees we can honor this year.

 

Pre-Retirement Committee - Martin Labb, Chairperson

This committee plans and implements the Pre-Retirement Seminars held in the Spring of each year. Some of the subjects covered at the seminars include an introduction to the State Retirement System (PSERS), Elder Law, Social Security and Health Insurance. If you know of someone who will be retiring soon -- even in the next two or three years - encourage them to attend one of our seminars. It is never too soon to make important decisions about retirement.

Public Relations Committee - Hazel Robbins, Chairperson

This Committee is responsible for news releases addressing our various activities. In addition, a summary of our events is submitted to the PASR's State Newsletter four times a year.

RECREO Committee - James Qualter, Chairman

This committee serves as the local contact for the RECREO trips that are planned by PASR's State RECREO committee. Click here for a listing of the RECREO trips that are planned for 2007.

 

Scholarship Committee - Gloria L. Johnson, Chairman

Each year, the Philadelphia Public School Retired Employees Association (PPSREA) provides a $1,000 scholarship to a student from each of the 13 regional offices, and one student from a Vocational/Technical High School. The scholarship is to assist those students to further their post high school education. Recipients of the scholarship must be graduates of a Philadelphia Public High School or Vocational/Technical High School. They may major in any area, academic or technical. This award is re-newable for an additional year, providing the scholarship recipient maintains a 2.75 grade point average and carries no fewer than 12 credits. Scholarship renewal requests may be sent to Ms. Gloria L. Johnson, Chairperson, PPSREA Scholarship Committee, 440 N. Broad Street, 2nd Floor, Room 223, Philadelphia, PA, 19130. Information and guidelines for the scholarships are sent to all Regional Superintendents, Principals and Guidance Counselors in mid-March each year. Interested Senior High School and Vocational/Technical High School students should contact their Guidance Counselor.

 

The motto of PPSREA is "Service To Our Members." It is the responsibility of the Social Service Committee to implement that motto by providing services to the membership, especially those who are not always able to function independently. Some of the activities we engage in are: 1) Once a year (December) small gifts are purchased and distributed to some of our folks who are in nursing homes. The visits themselves are often more important than the gifts; 2) Our policy is to assist our less fortunate members to remain in their homes as long as possible. Sometimes a minor home repair or safety installation is all that is needed to make life easier or safer for a member; 3) Some of our members who have been retired for a long time are on very limited pensions. The committee reviews these situations and offers assistance in a dignified, confidential manner, especially if there is a medical emergency or limited care what would assist the elderly in recuperating from illness or injury; 4) Our Committee sponsors the Principal Players, a group of members who visit nursing homes an entertain with a lively musical program; 5) Through the leadership of our president we are trying to better inform the membership of recent deaths of members.

The funding for the Social Service Committee activities is provided through a budget approved by the PPSREA Board of Directors. You can assist us by calling the PPSREA office at 215-400-8750 for information about activities mentioned above or to request service for members you know are in need.