In this Email:

• A Message from the VRTA President
• Today’s Interest Rates
• Types of Insurance Agencies
• Making our Case 
• Important VRTA Dates to Remember

Septemer 2022

A Message from the VRTA President

The VRTA Fall Conference

The VRTA Fall Conference will be held October 17-19, 2022, at DoubleTree in Midlothian, Virginia.  It will include some of the suggestions expressed on the evaluation forms from the Spring Delegate Assembly.  Among the front runners as suggestions were the need for door prizes and the desire to mingle.  Expect door prizes on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Joyce Williams, AARP State Director, is planning a reception on Tuesday evening from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.  Members can mingle with old friends and meet new members.

By now, you have seen or received a copy of the Fall 2022 edition of the VRTA Newsletter.  September 30, 2022, is the deadline to return the Registration form.  DoubleTree reservations must be made by September 17, 2022.  Both, the registration form, and hotel information, can be found in the Fall Newsletter.  The newsletter can be found on the website, vrta.org.  

October 17, 2022, the first night of the Conference, begins with the Executive Committee Meeting from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the Chesterfield Room.  Members of the Committee are President, President-elect, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Immediate Past President.  The Parliamentarian is a non-voting member.

Tuesday, October 18^th, activities begin with the Board of Directors Meeting in Parlor EF from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.  The Board of Directors consists of the President, the President-elect, the Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, all past VRTA Presidents, District Presidents, and VRTA committee chairpersons.  All members of the Board of Directors must be members of the VRTA. 

Senator Jennifer McClellan will be our guest speaker for the Luncheon on Tuesday.  Virginia Senator McClellan has served the 9^th District since 2017.

The VRTA Conference centers on the well-being of the members.  There will be informative presentations designed to enlighten.  

VRTA Agent of Record, Jim DuBrueler, and staff will be on board to introduce new benefits including the recent addition of Home and Auto Insurance.  Take advantage of the availability of the staff for meetings and programs.

The two speakers for the Legislative Session on Tuesday will be Chad Stewart with Government Relations at VEA and Senator George Barker, who carried the Senate bill on nursing home reform.  These two speakers are directly involved with two area of emphasis, education, and the well-being of the elderly.  These two areas are embodied in VRTA’s Mission Statement, “to be the voice, resource, and connection for all retired school personnel.”  

Wednesday, October 19^th, the VRS will present the latest facts and updates of the Virginia Retirement System.  VRS administers pension plans and other benefits for Virginia’s public sector employees.  

Following the Business Session, Phyllis Eastridge, VRTA’s Chaplain, will conduct a Memorial Ceremony dedicated to honoring our deceased members.  

To conclude the Fall Conference, there will be a drawing for door prizes.  Plan to attend the conference, stay informed, and enjoy the event.

Jean Marrow

VRTA President

Phone: 804-350-7719  

Email: marrow.j@aol.com

VRTA Benefits

Offered through Creekside Insurance Advisors, Inc.

Call Us Today!! (540) 722-2529

Toll-Free (800) 467 5425

Email: savenow@creeksideadvisors.net

Insurance Agency Types

Captive

vs.

Semi-Independent

vs.

Independent

Please explain the different types of insurance agencies: Most insurance agencies fit into one of three categories; captive, semi-independent and independent.

Captive insurance agencies typically only offer coverage through a single insurance company. These agencies will sometimes offer sub-standard coverage through other companies, but are required to give their primary company first choice for each and every opportunity.

Semi-Independent insurance agencies in many cases will call themselves “independent” however the difference lies in the percentage of policies they will place with a single insurance company. Semi-independents are able to appoint with any insurance companies they choose, but are required (or voluntarily choose) to place a specific volume or percentage with a single company. This is why many “so-called independent” insurance agencies write an overwhelmingly majority percentage of policies with a single company.

Independent insurance agencies are truly independent and will place policies where it makes the most sense for each individual or commercial client. Truly independent agencies may place business somewhat equally among 6, 8, 10 or even 20 or more different companies. Advanced technology subscriptions allow for independent agencies to more easily shop among multiple companies all at the same time. With this convenience, data entry times are drastically reduced allowing for easier methods of finding client value.

How do I know if an agency is truly independent? Just ask. Simply ask if they lead with any one company with most of their policies or if they always shop among dozens of companies all-at-once. Creekside Insurance Advisors Inc. is truly independent and utilizes product-specific, quote engine technology to shop home, auto, Medicare products, life insurance, long term care insurance and annuities.

Phone (540) 722-2529

Toll-Free (800) 467 5425

Email: savenow@creeksideadvisors.net

MAKING OUR CASE

Last month this column gave suggestions for being properly registered to vote and dates that are important before the November 8 election.  I hope you saved this for reference.  If not, it can be found on the VRTA website.  Now we need to prepare to make our case to the candidates as well as to legislators in January.  

Some of us may be meeting candidates whom we don’t know or with whom we are not well acquainted.  Not only do we need to get to know them, but they need to know who we are as their constituents and as VRTA members.  There will be times later to discuss specific issues in detail, but we must communicate our three main areas of interest: secure retirement and VRS, strong public education, and the well-being of the elderly, especially the care of those in nursing homes.  Whether they are new to the office or whether they are veteran legislators, we can’t assume they are knowledgeable about these issues or our position on them.

Sometimes candidates seem to believe that the way to get votes is to use scare tactics by overstating how bad things are and to convince voters that only they can save us from ruin, often by making drastic, harmful changes with long-term effects.  Or sometimes they refuse to admit that certain changes need to be made.

Let’s use a positive approach.  Thank the legislators for keeping their promise to make more investments to VRS to pay down the unfunded liability and to keep VRS a secure benefit that is a good recruitment and retention tool.  Impress upon them the importance of continuing to support and to make improvements to the system that is vital to those who have given not only their younger professional lives to teach the children in Virginia but those who, even after retirement, continue to support students in a number of ways.  Don’t miss hearing Patricia Bishop, Director of VRS, at the VRTA meeting on Wednesday morning, October 19, as she discusses the health of the retirement system.

It's painfully obvious that there are public education problems that must be addressed.  They don’t need to be recounted here.  But there is reason for a positive approach.  We must combat the notion publicized by some politicians that Virginia has a failing school system.  In a recent newsletter, Del. Ken Plum recounts the following: “According to WalletHub (WalleHub.com), a company that specializes in complex statistical analyses, Virginia had the 4^th best schools in the Nation in 2022 based on 32 key metrics they considered.  Only Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Jersey had better scores on quality and safety of schools than Virginia.  Intelligent.com used key metrics related to performance, safety, community, investment, class size, and attendance for all 50 states and ranked Virginia 5^th in academic performance and 6^th overall of the best schools in the Nation.  Scholaroo.com used 42 key indicators to compare school systems across the country, and they ranked Virginia as the 5th best among all the factors.”  In the Legislative Session at the VRTA meeting on Tuesday afternoon, October 18, Chad Stewart, from VEA Government Relations, will discuss proposals the Fund Our Schools Coalition, of which VRTA is a member, is considering for the 2023 General Assembly.  These proposals will build on Virginia’s successes, not discount the good things that are happening in our schools.

For over 20 years some have worked diligently for nursing home reform with apparently no interest by most legislators and little to no improvement in the care of vulnerable people.  We must communicate to candidates and legislators the optimism that has been generated for success in making life better for those confined to these facilities.  The AARP-led coalition formed this year for taking on this task has focused on organization, gained publicity about needed improvements, and worked with several legislators committed to this cause.  The coalition, which includes VRTA, has a new name:  Virginia Voices for Nursing Home Residents.  Also, a positive mission statement has been adopted to state our purpose and to enlist the support of other legislators.  This statement will be helpful as you discuss this issue with candidates and legislators: “Virginia Voices for Nursing Home Residents is a coalition of organizations, advocates, residents, long-term care staff, and family members advocating for quality care for nursing home residents and staff.  We seek policy reforms which promote the dignity and well-being of residents and the quality and affordability of long-term care.  The first step to achieve improvement in care is enacting state-wide staffing requirements in order to ensure that all nursing homes are providing adequate staff to meet the care and personal needs of their residents.  Staffing standards have been recommended by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for over 20 years, but the Virginia legislature has failed to require them, leaving residents and staff at risk.  This must change!”

Also, in the Legislative Session at the VRTA meeting on Tuesday afternoon, October 18, Senator George Barker, who carried the Senate bill for nursing home staffing in the last General Assembly Session, will bring us up to date on the progress he sees for success when the legislature meets in January.  Be sure not to miss an opportunity to hear and to speak with him about your concerns on this issue.   

Bea Morris 

VRTA Legislative Chairperson

Email: beam1340@verizon.net

Important VRTA Dates to Remember

October 17-19, 2022: Fall Conference at The Double Tree

April 17-19, 2023: Spring Conference at The Double Tree