WEA-Retired Information

This comes to us from Kit Raney, the President of WEA-Retired. I'm already a life member of the Retired branch, and I'd happily endorse it for anyone at any stage of the profession--it's never to early to think about the next chapter.

You may have read or heard about the benefits of joining WEA-Retired/NEA-Retired while you are still an active member. There are many reasons to join before you retire and become a pre-retired member, which are detailed below. There is also a $50 reason to join WEA-Retired/NEA-Retired before Sept. 1 of this year because on Sept. 1, lifetime dues will be increasing from $350 to $400.

By joining WEA-Retired/NEA-Retired now, while you’re still an active association member, you’ll become a pre-retired member and receive publications from NEA-Retired and WEA-Retired. You will also be protected from any future NEA-Retired or WEA-Retired dues increases. And, when you do retire, your membership will move seamlessly to that of an active member of NEA-Retired and WEA-Retired. WEA-Retired is the only retired organization that is affiliated with WEA and NEA.

• Membership in WEA-Retired\NEA-Retired keeps you a part of the largest profession/union advocating for public education and the welfare of its workforce.
  
• You will always be eligible to use WEA/NEA member benefits.
  
• You will have opportunities to work in partnership with WEA and NEA members to improve retirement benefits for both retirees and active members.
  
• WEA-Retired and NEA- Retired members can help with your planning for your retirement.
  
• As a WEA-Retired member you will continue to receive NEA’s NEA Today, WEA’s We 2.0, NEA-Retired’s This Active Life and WEA-Retired’s WE...Too. Thus, you will be able to keep up on the issues of concern to your colleagues and remain an informed education voter.
  
• Your retired membership will allow you to remain active in governance as long as you are not an administrator at the time of your retirement. You can continue to contribute actively to your profession locally and at state and national levels.
  
• You will have friends at state and national levels to network with about your education and retiree interests.
  
• If you choose to substitute when you retire, you will continue to be covered by the NEA liability insurance you now have as long as you maintain “continuous” membership. Becoming a pre-retired member ensures no lapse in membership.
  
• You will remain one of the 3.2 million NEA\WEA voices advocating for students, public schools, and the welfare of retirees.

Retire from your position, not your profession. For $350 you become a lifetime member of NEA-Retired and WEA-Retired. It’s very easy to join. You can join using your credit card by going to www.washingtonea.org/retired/join. You can also join by check for the full amount or by making 10 payments of $35. Some districts will do payroll deduction for the 10 payments. For a membership form and/or more information, please call Stacia Bilsland at 360-482-2431 or contact her at sbilsland@washingtonea.org. Join before Sept. 1 and SAVE as lifetime dues will be increasing to $400 on that date. Pay $350 prior to Sept. 1 or begin making the 10 payments of $35 before Sept. 1 and avoid the dues increase.