Highlights

CELEBRATING BARBARA GORDON'S 23 YEARS OF SERVICE

WEBSITE RENOVATION: MEMBER FORMS MOVE TO MYSBCERS

PRE RETIREMENT WORKSHOP RECAP

MYSBCERS REGISTRATION PROCESS

CELEBRATING BARBARA GORDON'S 23 YEARS OF SERVICE

After 23 years of service, it is with bittersweet happiness to announce the retirement of Barbara Gordon, who has been an integral part of the SBCERS Member Services team.

Barbara has been a valued member of SBCERS since November 25, 2002, serving as a steady, dependable, and compassionate presence to both colleagues and members. She has become the Member Services Division’s primary resource for processing Domestic Relations Orders and is the division’s most senior team member. Throughout her tenure, Barbara also dedicated her time to the community as a Red Cross Disaster Action Team Member and Mass Care Shelter Worker, supporting Santa Barbara County families during natural disasters. Her commitment to service will continue into retirement, where she plans to remain active as a Catholic Christian Doctrine teacher and a devoted blood donor.

As we wish Barbara all the best in the next chapter of her life, we invite you to join us in celebrating her career. Her retirement is not only a time to reflect on her many achievements but also to express our deepest gratitude for her hard work and friendship.

Congratulations, Barbara!

WEBSITE RENOVATION: MEMBER FORMS MOVE TO MYSBCERS

Beginning in April, SBCERS will be implementing an update on how members access their forms. To enhance security, improve convenience, and streamline the way documents are managed, all member forms currently available on the SBCERS.org website will be relocated to the MySBCERS Member Portal. This change will apply to forms for Active and Deferred Members, Retired Members, insurance-related documents, and all Disability application forms.

By housing these documents within the secure MySBCERS portal, members will benefit from a more personalized and protected experience. If you have not yet created a MySBCERS account, you will need to register online to access any forms beginning in April. The registration process is simple, and step‑by‑step instructions can be found in the following section of this newsletter to help guide you through getting started.

SBCERS is here to support you during this transition. If you have questions about accessing forms or need assistance with your MySBCERS account, please do not hesitate to reach out to our office via email at info@sbcers.org or via phone at 1-877-568-2940.

PRE-RETIREMENT WORKSHOP RECAP

Since October 2025, SBCERS has delivered seven Pre‑Retirement Workshops, including three virtual sessions and four in‑person workshops. The in‑person sessions were hosted at the North County Board of Supervisors Hearing Room and the SBCERS Goleta Board Room, welcoming a total of 139 active members.

The virtual Pre‑Retirement Workshop for Active and Deferred Members reached more than 350 participants. Each session provided comprehensive guidance on SBCERS retirement benefits, reciprocity, service purchase options, and opportunities to remain engaged with SBCERS before and through retirement.

If you have attended a Pre‑Retirement Workshop in the past, we appreciate your participation and invite you to share your feedback as we continue to enhance our formats and educational offerings. If your department is interested in hosting an in‑person workshop or if you would like to be notified about future Pre‑Retirement Workshops, please contact Miranda Nillo at mnillo@sbcers.org.

MYSBCERS REGISTRATION PROCESS

Have you registered for your MySBCERS portal account yet? Your MySBCERS portal provides a secure and convenient way to review your retirement information. In the Message Center, members can safely submit personal documentation and communicate with staff, while also accessing helpful tools such as the retirement benefit calculator, demographic and beneficiary updates, and member forms. In recent years, the portal has also been enhanced to support additional services, including updating Health Insurance forms during Open Enrollment and receiving ballots for Board of Retirement elections. As SBCERS continues to expand and improve portal features, we encourage all members to register for an account as soon as possible. For the most effective user experience, register using a personal desktop device. Below are the steps to help you activate your MySBCERS account:

1. Head to https://mysbcers.org/ and click on Enroll
2. On the enrollment page, click on Request an Enrollment PIN
3. Fill out the required fields, once SBCERS has received your successful request, we will e-mail your PIN to the e-mail we have on file.
4. In the event that you do not have an e-mail on file, SBCERS will mail you a PIN to the address we have on file. Please note that this will take 5-7 business days to receive in the mail.
5. Once you have received your PIN, head to Enroll and enter the PIN along with the required fields. Please do not use your work email for your account.
6. Upon successful registration, you will set up two-factor authentication and be able to navigate your member portal.
7. For active and deferred members, you will be able to view your Annual Member Statement, service credit, and current contributions. For retired members, you will be able to access your 1099-R statements.

If you have difficulties registering for a PIN or an account, please do not hesitate to reach out to our office via email at info@sbcers.org or via phone at 1-877-568-2940.