InTouch #242 – September 2026

From Print to Inbox: 36 Years of InTouch

This newsletter, which has been arriving in your inbox on the first of every month since 2022 (or since you became a member), is one of the Association’s longest-running communications initiatives. Its first edition was created in April 1990—and, of course, it wasn’t an email. It was a printed newspaper, formatted on a Macintosh computer, then a cutting-edge tool for designing and editing publications. 

Take a look back at that first edition here, which featured this header:

Published quarterly in both English and Spanish, the newsletter was the result of the editorial and coordination work of Joseph Hinshaw, along with six other contributors based in Washington, D.C., Bogotá, and Santiago de Chile. 

More than three decades later, much—if not almost everything—in the world has changed, but not AJBID’s commitment to keeping you informed in a timely and responsible manner about important matters such as health insurance, taxes, and pension benefits. In January 2022, we began distributing the newsletter monthly and expanded our coverage to include inspiring stories about our members. Along the way, we discovered that many have embarked on extraordinary journeys around the world, competed in sporting events, written all kinds of books, collaborated with other institutions, transformed their gardens, and started farming. Sharing these stories has strengthened communication and renewed connections among our members.

We also report on the work of those who have volunteered to take on different roles within our Association. Through their efforts, you can learn how your interests are being protected and stay informed about Bank policies that affect you. 

The Communications Committee, in its efforts to track the newsletter's performance, has monitored the level of member engagement with InTouch over the past five years. This is measured by the email open rate for each monthly edition. The graph below summarizes the findings for both the English edition, shown in light blue, and the Spanish edition, shown in dark blue.

The newsletter is sent to 1,676 members. The open rate—the percentage of recipients who open the email—has shown a steady upward trend in both the English edition (InTouch) and the Spanish edition (EnContacto). As the graph shows, the average open rate jumped from 62% to above 70% following a new communications strategy adopted in June 2025. It is worth noting that the number of members engaged with the newsletter has increased from about 800 in 2022 to more than 1,100 today. This strategy seeks to build audience trust while enhancing the relevance and effectiveness of our content.

These results also motivate us to keep improving. We want InTouch to continue evolving alongside our readers, and that’s why we want to hear your ideas, feedback, and suggestions. They are essential to helping us create valuable content that responds to your needs and strengthens our sense of community. If you would like to share any material or experience, or suggest a topic related to our coverage, email us at retirees@iadb.org. You can also access additional newsletter metrics (in English) through this link.

UPCOMING

September 15: Join Us for the SRP Open House

We are pleased to invite you to a hybrid event with Luciana Barbosa, SRP Executive Secretary, who will present the pension funds’ financial statements and the new Digital Certificate of Eligibility. The meeting will take place on Tuesday, September 15, at the Bank’s Plaza, with AJBID President Fernando Quevedo also joining the discussion.

Agenda



• 2:00 p.m. – 2025 Annual Reports and 2026 updates
  Presenters: Luciana Barbosa, SRP Executive Secretary, and Carol Chan, SRP Head of Investments.

• 3:00 p.m. – Digital Certificate of Eligibility (DCE)
  Presenter: Luis Francisco Pérez Restrepo, DCE Project Leader.

• 3:30 p.m. – The Role of the IDB Retirees Association 
  Presenters: Fernando Quevedo and David Rogers, President and Vice President of the IDB Retirees Association.

🕒 Time: 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

📍 Location: Felipe Herrera 3



From your Sofa: “The Art of Thinking: Philosophy for the 21st Century” 🪔 – Part II

Following the successful gathering on August 12, which brought together around 50 members, we will meet virtually once again to watch and discuss the second part of the BBVA talk by philosopher and professor José Carlos Ruiz. In this session, he explores the challenges of identity, critical thinking, and happiness in today’s world.



📆 Date: Tuesday, September 22 | 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

💬 Language: Spanish

💻 Via Zoom



If you would like to participate but were unable to attend Part I, you can watch it below:

PAST

Movie Outing: SIX: The Musical Live! 🎼

Nine of our members met on August 16 in Fairfax, Virginia, to enjoy SIX, a musical filmed live on stage in England, featuring the six wives of Henry VIII reimagined as pop stars who tell the stories of their turbulent relationships with the king while competing to determine who suffered the most. The fast-paced production, backed by an all-female band, had our group dancing in their seats and leaving the theater in high spirits.

September 30: Pension Certificate of Eligibility Deadline

Have you completed your Pension Certificate of Eligibility? Remember, the deadline is September 30, and the SRP Executive Secretariat has launched a mobile app that allows you to go through the process in just three simple steps:

1. Create your account and verify your identity using a valid form of identification.
2. An SRP representative will validate your identity through a one-time video call.
3. Once validated, you can complete your annual certification in just a few minutes.

Several Association members have already used this new paperless option and described it as “easy” and “quick.” However, you can still use whichever method works best for you: by email at vpf/srp@iadb.org, by mail, or in person at the SRP offices after calling 202-623-3560.

Download the app for your device and share your experience with us at retirees@iadb.org.

DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID

DOWNLOAD FOR iPHONE

Following the recent earthquake in Colombia, the Inter-American Development Bank has announced this fundraising campaign to support a non-governmental organization providing emergency assistance to affected communities on the ground.

With a magnitude of 7.4, this has been the deadliest earthquake in the country this century. According to official figures, more than 300 people have died and hundreds remain missing, while economic losses have reached $9 billion. The need for assistance is real and urgent, especially since the earthquake struck western Colombia, causing widespread devastation in areas such as Chocó, which already face high levels of poverty and precarious living conditions.



Together for Colombia is an initiative led by the Bank in collaboration with its Associations, the Executive Directors' Office for Colombia and Peru, the Credit Union, and the Community Relations Program. If you're able, please consider donating—any amount can make a difference. Donations can be made through the following options:

• Credit Union Account: # 0200079462 (ABA Routing Number: 254074183, Last Name Initials: CON)
• Venmo: By scanning the QR code or sending your donation to @Todosconcolombia
• Zelle: By scanning the QR code through your financial institution’s app or using the email jguz@iadb.org.

Information that Saves Lives!

Unfortunately, Venezuela, Peru, and Colombia have all experienced destructive earthquakes over the past three months. While the extent of the damage has varied, the advice remains the same: since there's no way to predict when the ground will shake, it's worth being prepared at home. 

Check out this guide from the American Red Cross, which provides practical information on what to do—and what not to do—during and after an earthquake. You will find informational videos, including one designed specifically for children, on how to protect yourself and your family.

Health Program Resource Map

In case you missed it, you can download this resource map provided by the IDB's Human Resources Department to help you identify the right point of contact for questions related to your health insurance.

This updated guide can save you time and avoid confusion by directing your concerns to the appropriate office. You'll find contact information for health-related assistance, whether you are in the US or abroad, so we encourage you to keep this resource handy for future reference.

HEALTH & WELL-BEING

BIDtirees: Get on Your Bike and Ride with Us

For the past eight years, BIDtirees members have been getting together four times a week to cycle around Washington, D.C., the United States, and the world—and you can join them for any of their rides and activities.

Here’s how it works:

• Mondays: Short, easy rides under 30 miles in Washington, D.C.
• Tuesdays and Thursdays: Mid-distance rides of around 40 miles through Maryland and Virginia.
• Saturdays: More challenging rides of over 60 miles in Maryland and Virginia.

BIDtirees has 20 members who often grab a coffee or share a meal after a ride, whenever time allows. “Many colleagues who are interested in joining worry that they’ll be left behind, but we work more like a team. We’re not competitive, and we always look out for each other. Sometimes we ride at a slower pace or set meeting points along the way so everyone can regroup,” said Javier León, who helps coordinate the group, which even has its own cycling kit.

Spouses of retired colleagues are also welcome, and riders can use electric bikes. For Javier León and the group, it’s about maintaining an active network of colleagues and friends with whom they can explore places they might not otherwise discover on their own. There is no membership fee.

The club organizes more demanding rides and social outings on paved and gravel routes through a WhatsApp group. Javier told us that sometimes an outing consists of just four laps around Hains Point in D.C.—the perfect excuse to go somewhere afterward to catch up.



BIDtirees has also organized cycling trips through North Carolina, Bryce, and Skyline in Virginia. And as you read this, some members are exploring cycling routes in Slovenia. In the past, they have traveled to Spain and Italy multiple times as part of the international cycling trips BIDtirees carefully plans each year.

How can you become part of BIDtirees? Email Javier at jleonastete@outlook.com. If you don’t live in the D.C. metro area but would like to embrace life on two wheels, it’s still worth it to reach out to him for recommendations and advice.

America at 250: The Promise, the Struggle, the Legacy

By André Medici

We are delighted to present the latest book by our member André Medici, in which he offers a thoughtful historical analysis of the American experience over the past two and a half centuries.

The author explores the nation’s founding ideals, defining struggles, economic and institutional development, and enduring influence on democracy and innovation, as well as its role in global leadership. Written from the perspective of an immigrant who has lived and worked in the United States for more than three decades, the book combines historical research with personal reflections on the values and institutions that have shaped the country and its place in the world.

André has had a distinguished career in multilateral organizations in Washington, D.C., where he worked as a senior health economist and social development specialist at the IDB. He has also held several positions in Brazil, including at public institutions such as the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, and has taught at universities.

We are delighted to welcome the following new members who joined the Association in August:

• María Isabel Puente Pérez, Venezuela 
• Alfredo José Romero Fuentes, Venezuela

Our heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the following individuals who have passed away:

Deceased member:

• José Luis Padilla-Altamirano

Deceased spouse:

• John Martin Page Jr., husband of Elizabeth (Betty) Rice



Association of Retirees of the Inter-American Development Bank

1300 New York Avenue, N.W. Stop SW-0424 Washington, D.C. 20577.

Phone number (202) 623-3035 and WhatsApp number (202) 674-7599.

Ricardo Quiroga, Editor-in-chief (erwquiroga@gmail.com)

Aníbal Pedrique, Communications Specialist (anpedrique@gmail.com)

A publication of the Communications Committee, IDB Retirees Association