In this Email:

• Important Announcement
• A Message From the VRTA President
• VTRA Member Benefits Information
• Today’s Interest Rates
• Get Your Home and Auto Insurance Quotes
• Just the Facts, Yes Ma'am
• Will You Vote in the June Primary?

The Spring Delegate Assembly opened with a number in attendance that surpassed expectations. The usual lineup of events was different, but the quality of content was outstanding. The goal of our gathering is to always empower our members by spreading awareness about the issues that concern us. We met our goal. The outstanding presenters filled the event with beneficial and educational information that all the members could utilize.

Our array of speakers began with the Virginia Retirement System's (VRS) presentation. We met Board member, Lindsey Pantele, through a special video message; she also serves as an assistant principal in Henrico County. VRS Director, Patricia S. Bishop, and K. C. Howell, Managing Director, of Private Assets did an excellent job of explaining the latest updates, benefits, and resources. VRS is the 14th largest public pension system in the U.S., serves more than 800,000 members, retirees, and beneficiaries, and is the 42nd largest public pension in the world. The Code of Virginia requires VRS to determine the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) annually. Plan 1 COLA has a 3.56% increase while Plan 2 has an increase of 3.00% effective July 1, 2024. The increase will be in the August 1 benefit payment.

James DuBrueler, Jr., our VRTA Benefits Advisor, and his guest, Kevin Mckannan, with Glen Loch Legal PLC, had our undivided attention. Our advisor continues to remind us of the variety of benefits offered through his office. He guided us through the Creekside monthly newsletter information on to the ease of solving Medicare issues, and into a warning of a specific scam on the rise. Glen Loch introduced us to terminology such as probate, non-probate, specific beneficiary, contingent beneficiary, and advanced medical directive designee. Both Jim and Kevin are available to answer insurance and estate questions.

The Tuesday lineup ended with Breakout sessions led by in-house presenters. Louise Mont-Adams, Community Service /With our Youth Chair shared information on how and where we do volunteer work. Vice President and Membership Chair, Mable Scott, covered recruiting ideas, and keeping new members. Treasurer Weldon Martin's session provided training and information for new treasurers. Finally, Past President and Parliamentarian Ben McCartney focused on Leadership development.

Wednesday's cast of presenters began with guest speaker, Justin Brown, Senior Associate Director of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (JLARC). During Justin's 20 years with JLARC, his focus was on the Retirement System. He reported to the Legislature twice a year. He touched on the cost of higher education, and the reasons teachers are leaving the system. Among the reasons were inadequate support and salary. Slides from the presentation are on the website.

The second presenter was JessiKa Eglin, Associate State Director, Advocacy and Outreach AARP Virginia. JessiKa's session was Social Security 101. Her passion was advocating and empowering people fifty plus to choose how they live and work as they age. Both Justin's and Jessika's presentations were very enlightening and informative.

Finally, after the Business Session came the Installation Ceremony performed by Mary Jane Multispaugh and Jim Bradford. The incoming officers for 2024 through 2026 are Karen Whetzel, President; Drucella T. Pollard, President-elect; Larry Hardesty, Vice President; Weldon Martin,

Treasurer; and Janet Dye, Secretary. Karen Whetzel presented plaques to outgoing VRTA officers Jean Marrow, President; Mable Scott, Vice President; and Secretary Reba Evans. After Karen made her speech as the incoming President, and door prizes, the 2024 Spring Delegate Assembly adjourned.

The VRTA Fall Conference will be September 30, and October 1, 2024, at DoubleTree by Hilton, Richmond-Midlothian, Virginia.

Jean Marrow

VRTA President

Jean Marrow

VRTA President

Phone: 804-350-7719  

Email: marrow.j@aol.com

If you ever wonder what it means to have VRTA benefits, visit the website – vrtabenefits.org to see what benefits are available to you.

Phone (540) 722-2529

Toll-Free (800) 467 5425

Email: savenow@creeksideadvisors.net

Christian Fernandez

540-722-2529

christianf@creeksideadvisors.net

Emily Simmers

540-722-2529

emilys@creeksideadvisors.net

Gena Young

540-722-2529

genay@creeksideadvisors.net

Just the Facts, Yes Ma'am!

This is a famous quote from an old television police show. The character wanted to get just the true information without any opinions or embellishment. In today’s world, sometimes the facts are hard to find. With social media, slanted news reports, and even political candidates, the truth or the facts can become blurred. Even government agencies can sometimes be a questionable source of information. For this article, I have researched and double-checked these facts. So here are five important facts you need to know about social security.

1. Social Security is 90% funded with workers and employees payroll tax and is not part of the government general fund. The other 10% comes from a trust fund and higher income benefit taxes.
2. Members of Congress do pay into Social Security. Congress came under the Social Security umbrella in 1984.
3. The average Social Security benefit is about $21,000 a year.
4. The limit on annual earnings subject to Social Security taxes is set at $168,600. If you make more than this, the taxes will be zero on earning in excess of this cap.
5. If you wait until after 65 your benefit amount increases an extra 8% for each full year you delay up to age 70.

Now here are some things about Social Security that experts have predicted or speculated for the future. (not really facts!)

Many sources use this information as scare tactics toward senior citizens.

1. Social Security will reduce benefits by about 20%, an average of $4,000 a year, by 2035.
2. Congress must act now to avoid this reduction.
3. By 2035, Social Security and Medicare will no longer be able to fund themselves.

Lastly, here are some solutions that Congress has introduced to help and strengthen Social Security. Keep in mind no major reforms have been made in Social Security since the 1980’s.

1. Increase the retirement age.
2. Raise the wage cap on taxes.
3. Expand the Social Security payroll tax base.
4. Slow the growth of benefits for the top 70% of earners.

When you go to the polls to vote, it is important to keep in mind where candidates stand on Social Security. It can be fixed. We want the best solution that will benefit everyone.

Tina Whitaker

Legislative Committee

WILL YOU VOTE IN THE JUNE PRIMARY?

It seems that Virginia is in a perpetual election. One is hardly over until another one begins, and sometimes they even seem to overlap! It’s easy to have voting fatigue, but really what’s tiring is the constant campaign rhetoric. However, we should never take for granted how fortunate we are that in this country there are established, fair, and accessible methods of choosing lawmakers.  We have a responsibility not just to vote but to be informed, thinking voters.

Early voting began on May 3 for the June 18 primary to nominate candidates for the federal election on November 5. All of Virginia’s 11 U.S. House of Representatives seats will be up for election in November as well as Senator Kaine’s seat. (Senator Warner’s term will not be over until 2026.)

Senator Kaine will not be on the June primary ballot because he has no Democratic competition. He will be the Democrat running for this seat statewide. There are no federal senatorial districts. However, there are five Republicans on the primary ballot for the U.S. Senate: 

Hung Cao - a retired Navy Captain from Purcellville

Edward “Eddie” Garcia – a 22-year Army veteran and ranger from Arlington

Jonathan Emord – a constitutional lawyer from Clifton

C.L. “Chuck” Smith – a former Marine and current lawyer from Virginia Beach

Scott Parkinson – Vice President for Government Affairs at the conservative Club For Growth from Arlington

Please go to their websites for information on their backgrounds and positions on issues.

Six of the 11 Congressional districts will have contested primary elections on June 18.

U.S. House District 1 (North of the James River, south of the Potomac River, and west of the Chesapeake Bay)

Democrat

Leslie Mehta – a civil rights attorney from Chesterfield County

Herbert Jones – retired U.S. Army colonel serving as New Kent County Treasurer, from Providence Forge

(Robert Wittman will be the Republican candidate in November.)

U.S. House District 2 (Eastern shore through Virginia Beach and west to Franklin and Southampton Co.)

Democrat

Jeremiah (Jake) Denton – a civil rights and constitutional law attorney from Hampton Roads

Missy Cotter Smasal – U.S. Navy veteran and adjunct professor at ODU from Hampton Roads

U.S. House District 3 (Southeast Virginia, core of Hampton Roads region)

(There will be no primary. In November Democrat Robert (Bobby) Scott from Newport News is the incumbent who will be challenged by Republican Terry Namkung from Yorktown. Sharise Williams also declared candidacy as an Independent, but no information was available.)

U.S. House District 4 (Most of the area between Richmond and the North Carolina line)

(There will be no primary. In November Democrat Jennifer McClellan from Richmond is the incumbent who will be challenged by Republican Bill Moter from Arlington.)

U.S. House District 5 (Most of Southside Virginia including Charlottesville, Danville, and Lynchburg)

Democrat

Gloria Tinsley Witt – retired from Framatome, a global energy leader, from Lynchburg

Paul Riley – served in the Army twenty years, from Crozet

Gary Terry – graduate of West Point, served in the Army five years, and is CEO of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Danville Area 

Republican

Bob Good – incumbent who has served in Congress since 2021, from Campbell County

John McGuire – served as a Navy Seal and has served in Virginia’s House of Delegates and Senate, from Goochland County

U.S. House District 6 (West-central portion of the state including the Shenandoah Valley from Roanoke to Winchester and west to the West Virginia line)

There is no primary. In November Democrat Ken Mitchell, a retired military officer who has worked at the White House under both political parties and has a small farm in Rockingham County, is challenging incumbent Republican Ben Cline, a lawyer who lives in Botetourt County and has served in Congress since 2019. 

U.S. House District 7 (Much of central and Northern Virginia)

Democrat

Eugene Vindman – retired Army Colonel who was a whistleblower in the 2019 Trump impeachment inquiry, from Dale City

Briana Sewell – has served in the Virginia House of Delegates since 2022, from Prince William County

Elizabeth Guzman – has served in the Virginia House of Delegates, from Prince William County

Carl Bedell – a lawyer who has served in the Army, from Greene County

Cliff Heinzer – has served in the Army as a Green Beret and then as a Foreign Service Officer for the State Department for 20 years, from Stafford

Margaret Angela Franklin – serves as the Woodbridge District Supervisor and Vice-Chair of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors

Andrea Bailey – serving a second term on the Prince William Board of Supervisors, from Dumfries

Republican

Jon Myers – served 20 years in the Marines as an intelligence officer, from Stafford

Derrick Anderson – served 28 years in the Army and is an attorney, from Spotsylvania

Cameron Hamilton – served as a Navy Seal and a former Department of Homeland Security employee, from Orange County

John Prabhudoss – is a business owner and sits on the advisory board of the Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations

Maria Martin – a small business owner and published author, from Prince William County

Terriss Todd – an ordained minister and former teacher, former advisor at The Heritage Foundation and was appointed in 2020 to be the executive director o the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans within the U.S. Department of Education

U.S. House District 8 (Populous suburbs in Northern Virginia including Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church, and part of Fairfax County)

(There is no primary. In November the following will be on the ballot: Don Beyer Democrat incumbent from Alexandria; Heerak Christian Kim, Republican from Northern Virginia; Jeramy Olmack, no party affiliation from Northern Virginia; David Kennedy, Independent from Northern Virginia; Stephen Leon, Independent from Northern Virginia)

U.S. House District 9 (Southwest Virginia and parts of Alleghany Highlands and Southside Virginia)

(There is no primary. Because federal law does not require representatives to live in the district they represent, in November Morgan Griffith, Republican, who resides in Salem, which is in District 6, is running for the District 9 seat which is the same geographical area he represented before the redistricting. Democrat Karen Baker from Floyd has no Democratic challenger and will appear on the November ballot to challenge Griffith.)

U.S. House District 10 (Rappahannock, Fauquier, and Loudon Counties and parts of Fairfax and Prince William Counties) 

Democrat

Eileen Filler-Corn – former Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, from Loudon County

Suhas Subramanyam – has a law degree, currently serves in the Virginia Senate, from Ashburn

Atif Quarni – was a Marine, was a middle school teacher, and served as Virginia Secretary of Education in the former administration, from Manassas

Dan Helmer – Lt. Colonel in Army Reserve, Rhodes Scholar, currently a delegate in the Virginia House, from Clifton

Marion Devoe – has MS degree in business, author, motivational speaker, served as Chief Operations Officer for Executive Office of President George W. Bush, from Haymarket

Krystle Veda Kaul – small business owner and served as leader in defense intelligence, from Ashburn

Jennifer Boysko – currently serves as Virginia State Senator, previously worked on Capitol Hill, from Loudon County

Adrian Pokharel – military veteran, has worked for the National Security Agency and CIA, resides in Gainsville

Michelle-Ann Lopes Maldonado – lawyer currently serving in Virginia House of Delegates, named Legislative Champion by VEA, resides in Bristow

Mark Leighton – librarian and administrative faculty ember at George Mason Law Library, from Northern Virginia

David Reid – retired as a commander in the Navy Reserves, currently serving in Virginia House of Delegates, resides in Ashburn

Travis Nembhard – attorney who has worked as assistant attorney general, legislative staffer, and administrative law judge, resides in western Prince William County

Republican

Mike Clancy – was an attorney with the Department of Navy’s Office of the General Counsel, currently serves as a senior executive and lawyer with a global tech company, resides in Loudon County

Alex Isaac – retired Army Lt. Colonel, works as a member of t he MarkLogic Corporate team and supports national security programs under several intelligence and law enforcement agencies, resides in Lucketts, Loudon County

Aliscia Andrews – is a Marine Corp veteran and is a national security expert serving as Virginia’s Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, lives in Aldie

Manga Anantatmula – works for the Department of Defense and lives in Fairfax Co.

U.S. House District 11 (Most of Fairfax County)

Democrat

Ahsan Nasar – has served as a federal prosecutor and a legal specialist in cybersecurity, currently serving as a Lt. Colonel in Army Reserves as a military lawyer, resides in Springfield

Gerry Connolly – incumbent first elected in 2008, ranked as Most Effective Lawmaker of the 117^th Congress by the Center for Effective Lawmaking, resides in Mantua, Fairfax County

(There is no Republican primary. Michael Van Meter from Springfield will be the Republican candidate on the ballot in November.) 

REMEMBER:

• Anyone may vote in the primary regardless of party affiliation, but you must ask for a Democrat or a Republican ballot, not both.
• It is best to vote shortly before June 18, Election Day.
• Voting for the best candidate in the primary ensures the best candidate in the election November 5.
• Please read the interesting backgrounds, qualifications, and positions on issues found on their websites and other articles about them.
• Be sure to discuss with candidates the facts about Social Security in the article by Tina Whitaker, Legislative Co-Chair.

Bea Morris 

VRTA Legislative Chairperson

Email: beam1340@verizon.net

Important VRTA Dates to Remember

VRTA Fall Conference: Monday September 30, 2024, and Tuesday, October 1, 2024, at the Doubletree Midlothian in Richmond, Virginia. Watch for registration information for the conference and the hotel coming soon. Please note: this is a Monday and Tuesday to avoid the religious holiday on Wednesday.