Since 1926, the Association has dedicated itself to the betterment of all teachers who have retired from the Chicago Public Schools.  About half of the 22,000 people eligible for RTAC membership are currently members.  Why do they belong?

What Good Is RTAC?

Here are some of the things the Retired Teachers Association of Chicago does for you:

• RTAC is working to obtain legislative approval of a minimum $18,000 pension for all CPS retirees.  Many long-time retirees are below the poverty level.
  
  
• RTAC strategies help keep health insurance premiums for retirees to a minimum.
  
  
• RTAC helped add a third retiree to the pension fund’s Board of Trustees. (Many public employee pension funds have no retirees on their boards.)

• RTAC provides ID Theft insurance free to members.

• RTAC makes low cost dental insurance available to its members.
  
  
• RTAC maintains a Telephone Law Service for answers to legal questions at no cost to its members.
  
  
• RTAC holds occasional free seminars on topics of importance to retirees.
  
  
• RTAC’s efforts have helped restore and maintain the very high level of health insurance premium rebates.
  
  
• RTAC maintains highly effective legislative representation in Springfield to monitor and help shape legislation of concern to retired teachers.
  
  
• RTAC coordinates a powerful Letter-A-Month Club consisting of volunteers who communicate our needs to legislators at all levels.
  
  
• RTAC cooperates with the Pension Fund, the CPS and the CTU to formulate mutually desirable plans for legislative action.
  
  
• RTAC founded the Chicago Retired Teachers Aid Fund, a separate entity which provides help for retirees in need.  Because all administrative costs are borne by RTAC, all Aid Fund contributions go directly to beneficiaries.
  
  
• RTAC offers State of Illinois certified Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) counseling.  These volunteers offer free unbiased information regarding Medicare, Medicare supplements, long-term care and similar topics.
  
  
• RTAC’s Service Committee outreach program remembers our most senior members with birthday and holiday cards, and sends flowers to members 100 and over.

• RTAC sponsors (and subsidizes) membership luncheons in the spring and in the fall of each year.
  
  
• RTAC’s Special Events Committee sponsors group tours and trips for members in the area.

• RTAC maintains a Wall of Fame to honor those who have made outstanding contributions to the Association.
  
  

RTAC’s News Bulletin, issued quarterly, publishes:

• a wide-ranging extensive listing of current things to see and do in Chicago,
• member contributions of short articles and poetry,
• opportunities for volunteers,
• news of the pension fund’s condition, concerns and proceedings,
• news of out-of-state RTAC satellite groups,
• responses to Service Committee outreaches,
• names of new life members,
• names of contributors to RTAC and to the Aid Fund,
• names of those honored by such contributions,
• annuitant obituaries,
• reports on the semi-annual membership luncheons,
• reports on CTU retiree and legislative functions;
• reports on pertinent legislation;
• articles on avoiding scams and confidence schemes;
• some of the choicest morsels of humor and wisdom from the Internet;
• occasional tips on the use of computers and the Internet.
  

RTAC maintains an Internet web site, www.RTAC.org, which carries:

• a selection of the Internet’s cleverest jokes and cartoons
• the latest relevant news on legislation concerning retirees;
• sample letters to send Federal and State legislators on behalf of retirees;
• co-sponsorship records of legislators on relevand pending legislation;
• up-to-date information on important CPS retiree concerns;
• downloadable forms for tickets to RTAC and CTU functions;
• downloadable forms for contributions to RTAC and the Aid Fund;
• downloadable RTAC membership application form;
• a listing of paid job opportunities for retired teachers;
• links to more than 90 educational and entertainment venues in the area;
• the latest RTAC News Bulletin in color, in Acrobat Reader format.

The larger the organization, the more powerful is its voice.  If you are not a member, join RTAC now and make us even more effective!
RTAC is easy to join, just send in this membership form and your dues.