In this Email:


  • A Message from the VRTA President
  • Communication is the Key to Success
  • Today’s Interest Rates
  • VRTA Action
  • Important VRTA Dates to Remember

May 2023

President’s Message


            The VRTA Spring Delegate Assembly was planned with a clear vision of VRTA’s goals.  Our vision is that all retired school personnel will be safe, productive, informed, and financially secure in retirement.  The two-day event featured excellent speakers that presented valuable information to those attending the April 18-19, 2023, Assembly. Attendance is increasing and soon we will be back to pre-pandemic numbers.  The members that attend the assembly share information with their local units and districts.  Sharing information is what makes VRTA’s mission a success.

            Lily Liu, AARP Historian Emerita, was our luncheon guest speaker.  She gave a memorable presentation that told the history of AARP and NRTA.  Her slide show is posted on the website, vrta.org.  VRTA presented Ms. Liu with an Honorarium check to thank her for traveling and speaking at our Assembly.  Lily immediately declined the check and donated the funds to support VRTA programs.  Lily’s storytelling skills and dedication to caregiving are impressive.

            VRTA Benefits/Advisor, James M. DuBrueler, Jr.’s presentation was packed with information intended to inform members of various benefits.  He or a member of his staff can be scheduled to present a program for your unit or district meeting.  There is a VRTA Benefits link on our website, vrta.org.

            Bea Morris, Legislative Committee Chair; and Bonnie Atwood, Lobbyist; continue to keep us current on the latest issues that affect education, retirees, and our daily lives.  Their session’s participants consisted of a panel of high school and college students that answered questions and expressed their feelings concerning today’s violence in our schools and communities.  These young people were quite vocal and impressed all of us that attended the Spring Delegate Assembly.

            Virginia Retirement System Director, Patricia S. Bishop, delivered a VRS Update that included a VRS Overview, VRS News Update, 2023 Legislative and Budget Items, Investment Update, Security and Your Accounts, and Your Benefits in Retirement.  A complete copy of her report is posted at the end of the home page on the website, vrta.org.  

            Those attending the Spring Delegate Assembly received valuable information and had the opportunity to socialize and have fun.  Thanks to Jim Dau, AARP/VRTA State Director and Joyce Williams, AARP State President for sponsoring the Reception on Tuesday night.  This gave us an opportunity to visit with old friends and make new ones.  

The Door Prize Patrol, Rose Ann Burgess, and Judy McConville did an amazing job collecting prizes from units and districts.  Thank you for your dedication to a successful Spring Delegate Assembly.  These ladies are again asking units and districts to donate items from their region for the Fall Conference.  

The number of banners on display was impressive, and thanks to the Marketplace participants.

 Teacher Appreciation Week was officially celebrated May 8-12.  I hope that time was spent recognizing the value of retired teachers as well as those still on the job.  VRTA donates to VA News and sponsored the May 8 edition.

 Make plans to attend the VRTA Fall Conference on September 26-27, 2023, and the Spring Delegate Assembly on April 16-17, 2024.  The deadline for submitting information for the VRTA Fall Newsletter is Friday, August 11, 2023.

Jean Marrow

VRTA President


Jean Marrow

VRTA President

Phone: 804-350-7719  

Email: marrow.j@aol.com

VRTA Benefits

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VRTA ACTION


The 2023 VRTA Delegate Assembly passed two motions proposed by the Legislative Committee.  The first was to sponsor an ad in the Capitol Connections magazine thanking legislators who are leaving their positions at the end of this year.  Capitol Connections is a quarterly magazine that provides nonpartisan articles about people who contribute to the legislative scene and activities related to state government.  It is read by legislators, lobbyists, and others influential in the legislative process.  The summer issue will have an article highlighting the career of each legislator who is not returning at the end of the year.  Some have devoted over 40 years to representing Virginians and some as few as two terms; however, all of them accepted the responsibility of making decisions that affect people across the state for years to come.  The inordinate number leaving this year emphasizes the institutional memory and leadership that will be missing in the coming session.  Whether we agree with their politics or not, these citizen legislators deserve to be thanked for their service. A number of individuals and entities will be placing thank-you ads in this issue of the magazine.  Many of these legislators have worked with VRTA over the years on issues that were important to our members, and we should join other groups in publicly thanking them.  And we hope that our ad will inspire individuals and local units to thank the legislators with whom they have worked over the years.  Writing a thank-you note or letter causes one to reflect on the positive, something so needed in this period of negativity.


The second motion was that VRTA ask a legislator to sponsor a bill requiring a JLARC study of the difficulty of recruiting and retaining teachers.  Such studies include research on causes, forecasts, solutions, costs, etc., and may include analysis of documents, interviews, etc.   The news is filled with stories about the difficulties of teaching today, and often this anecdotal evidence is very persuasive; however, to pass legislation that will remedy the dire need for more good teachers, current, scientific information on the problem in Virginia is necessary.  Other studies have been done by various groups and states, but JLARC has special influence in Richmond.  The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission is the oversight arm of the General Assembly itself; therefore, reports by this commission command special attention. It is comprised of nine members of the House and five members of the Senate, has a full-time staff, and makes regular reports during the study.  Their study may include a comparison with other states, but it will be a study of the situation in Virginia.


VRTA’s continued legislative action over the years has been very helpful to active as well as retired teachers.  I hope that this continued action will be useful in recruiting new VRTA members.




Bea Morris 


VRTA Legislative Chairperson


Email: beam1340@verizon.net


Important VRTA Dates to Remember


Friday, August 11, 2023: deadline for submitting information for the VRTA Fall Newsletter

September 26-27, 2023: VRTA Fall Conference on

April 16-17, 2024: Spring Delegate Assembly