There comes a time (sound
familiar?) when we, collectively or alone, must act to better
ourselves and our fellow men. In this instance the fellow men
are our retired brethren
We as members of the
Philadelphia Public School Retired Employees Association can
have a positive impact upon the welfare of these retirees who
are not in as good financial shape as some who have recently
retired. I'm speaking of support personnel such as custodial
workers, cafeteria workers, secretaries, and aides of all description,
without whom our schools would not function
Getting to the point,
many of these non-professionals retired from their school systems
years ago at basic pensions. Since then inflation has taken
its toll and now there is a dire need to help these folks so
that they may live above a poverty level.
It has been seven years
since a cost of living increase has been received by these individuals.
It is now that we should make every effort to see what we can
do to help them in these difficult times. This is why we are
suggesting an effort we are calling "Each One Reach
One."
If each member of our
Association at both the local and state level would sign up
one nonmember as a new member , our many voices would be better
heard by our State Legislators. Surely we all know of one retiree
who does not belong to PASR and PPSREA.
This is not a clarion
call to march, if we may use a metaphor, to the gate of the
Castle (Harrisburg), but rather a subtle show of strength that
we should be heard.
Again, we submit to
you the credo: "Each One Reach One." It
is not difficult!
Respectfully,
Barbara Barnett
Director
