A recent communication from VEA reports good news from VRS. As of July 7, 2007, the trust fund was valued at $58.7 billion. In the last twelve months, the fund earned a 20.7% return. In 2006, the teacher portion of the fund was 76% funded, but the current level of funding is 80.3%.

We trust that you received your increased health credit in your August 1 VRS check or deposit. If you have not yet thanked your legislators for voting for this increase, now would be a good time to do this and to tell them how much this means to you. You might also remind them that there are full-time school employees such as custodians who do not receive any health credit and prevail upon their generosity and kind hearts to include these very necessary and hard working school personnel in this benefit.

Many thanks to all of you who participated in the June primaries in your localities. Your presence and efforts were valuable not only for this particular election, but for the relationships you are building with your legislators. It is important for us to continue to educate them about the issues that affect us as retired teachers and as individuals and to work for those who support our issues.

We hope that you are planning to join us at the legislative workshop in Blackstone on Monday, October 8, for information and inspiration.

Nelson Taylor and Bea Morris
Legislative Co-Chairs
August 8, 2007