[Mid-October 2005 special pension issue of Substance, Page One] By Lotty Blumenthal

The retired teachers Association of Chicago (RTAC) held its annual fall luncheon on September 29, 2005, on the fourth floor Grand Ballroom of the Palmer House. Greetings were given by Executive Director Robert F. Bures to the 79th annual event, which was also a business meeting. He asked everyone not to forget to vote in the upcoming election for Pension Board Trustees.

The Invocation was made by Nathaniel Blackman, an RTAC Director. The Music Director Selma Stewart-White had the audience rise and sing “God Bless America.”

Richard Lockhart, RTAC lobbyist, spoke saying that the Illinois General Assembly was not in session yet, but soon would be. He stated that the organization was still prioritizing some of the same items for pensioners which were the center of Lobbying focus in the Spring: (a) pension increases for those with very low pensions, (b) an additional retiree member on the Pension Board, and (c) a retiree teacher-pensioner on the Board of Education.

Patricia (“Pat”) Knazze, active teacher (Hearst Elementary) and current President of The Pension Board of Trustees, explained the structure of the meetings of the trustees. Knazze noted for Substance that since she became the president of the fund, she has worked with the majority of trustees to streamline the operations of the trustees by establishing committees to deal with routine matters in a professional way. She also discussed the actions taken by the trustees and the frequency of meetings of the Pension Board.

Knazze noted that the meetings are open meetings and any member may attend to watch the proceedings. Retiree Lou Pyster has been an observer for years, she noted. Many of those at the luncheon praised Knazze’s presentation, noting that because of her experience and keen understanding, she made the workings of the Pension Board easy to understand. Knazze also told Substance that she is particularly proud of the way in which the pension board has expanded opportunities for women and minority financial advisors and managers since she became board president.

Those who wish to learn more about the current operations of the fund and who have Internet access can get a great deal of information from the fund’s website (www.ctpf.org). The fund’s website lists all of the meetings of the fund’s committee’s as well as announcements of all upcoming meetings of the 12-member board of trustees of the fund. The next meeting of the trustees of the fund is on Thursday, October 20, at 9:00 a.m. at the fund’s offices at 203 N. LaSalle St. The agenda for that meeting lists reports from all of the committees of the fund.

Kevin Huber, Pension Fund Executive Director since 2005, explained there were no reductions in funding in the last legislative session. He explained the conservatism of the fund’s investments, the majorities needed to change an investment, and the current solvency of the fund. This Chicago Teachers Pension Fund is also the only pension fund in the State to win an award for investing in funds operated by diversity staffs. It is also the most solvent state public employee pension fund, Huber noted.

Since this was also an RTAC business meeting, handouts and statistics were on each table so members could see them when reports were presented by the Treasurer and Aid fund President. Because of the illness of Marshall Knox (of the nominating committee), Nancy A. Makowski, a director, read the nominations for new directors to be elected. One of them was retiree Dick Tryba, longtime Jones Commercial High School CTU Delegate and teacher. A recently retired teacher from Steinmetz High School was also nominated.

Throughout the program, numbers on programs were drawn by Marion C. Hoffing. Holders of the number were given gift certificates for stores and hotels. The RTAC group is endorsing three men for positions as Retiree Trustees in the upcoming (October) Pension Board Election. Strangely, one of RTAC’s own directors, Mary Sharon Reilly (a former Teacher Trustee and Pension Board President) is running as an “independent” with no specific group endorsement. Another Director is also running without endorsement, but was not a former Pension Board President. The meeting ended on time at 2:30 p.m. �