• The Executive Board met this afternoon and elected Diane Stokes as President to complete the term of Charlie Hogan. Diane will serve until the next in person meeting of the Subchapter, scheduled for April 2021 (pandemic restrictions permitting). The Executive Board now consists of:

Diane Stokes, President
Mary Bennett, Vice-President
Tony Zappia, Recording Secretary
Jesse Wilson, Secretary-Treasurer
MacArthur Diggs, Board member
John Metz, Board member
Ron Smolin, Board member

• Council 31 has encouraged us not to hold an in person meeting until appropriate under medical directives for our age group. We will have Zoom meetings on our regular meeting schedule (Third Wednesday of a month, 12 Noon). The next meeting will be Wednesday, July 15. Any member wishing to get assistance with Zoom should leave a message at our Voice Mail number 224-366-7339.

• The Executive Board will soon appoint a replacement for Charlie Hogan as Chapter Executive Board Representative

Responsibility of position is to attend meetings (typically in Springfield) and engage in ideas with Chapter Executive Board members and report back to sub chapter on any/all pertinent information, initiatives and requests.

Any member wishing to be considered for this position should leave a message at our Voice Mail number 224-366-7339, as soon as possible since the Executive Board needs to move quickly to fill this position.

• Council 31 and our Subchapter will be engaged in various activities in support of the Constitutional amendment on the Fair Tax, to be voted on in the November election. Further details will be provided. Additional explanatory materials about the Fair Tax are now available on our “Fair Tax Materials” page.

• Some new material in memory of Charlie Hogan can now be found here.

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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic mandated lockdown, we have no scheduled in person meetings.

We anticipate a virtual (ZOOM) meeting to remember president Charlie Hogan within the next few weeks. If you would like to attend, please indicate this in a message to our voicemail number (224-366-7330). Leave your name and call back number and we will contact you with details.

We will attempt to relay by email all messages from AFSCME or Council 31.

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I am saddened to report to you that Charlie Hogan, President of the subchapter for the past ten years, has died. At this time there are no public services planned. Cremation and visitation (virtual) will be handled by Cooney Funeral Home. We will update this site if any further information becomes available. You may use our “Contact Us” page to make any comments that will be directed to his family.

At the time of his death Charlie was in the process of preparing material for distribution to all of our members. You may view that material by clicking here.

We will also be using this website to inform you of the latest information about the Covid-19 pandemic. You may view this on our Pandemic Information page (click here or on the menu above).  All members are advised to follow the directives of Governor Pritzker and state health officials and stay in your residence with appropriate social distancing.

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Because of the serious health crisis now occurring in our state and country, there will be no meeting of the subchapter this month.

In view of the amount of misinformation widely available from Facebook, Twitter, etc. members are advised to go directly to the website of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) for the most accurate information on how to deal with this serious threat. Information about Covid-19 (coronavirus) is also regularly updated at AFSCME home page.

Addition, March 18, 2020
A letter from Maria Britton-Sipe, Retiree Coordinator For AFSCME Council 31:

Important Update for Chapter 31 Retirees

As we know, Covid-19 can be dangerous for older adults but people can protect themselves and others from respiratory illness with a few, simple preventive measures. Please read AFSCME’s guidance on how to stay healthy here.

In addition, the CDC is recommending postponing or canceling gatherings of more than 10 people for organizations that serve higher risk populations. Higher risk populations include those over 60 years old as well as those with chronic health conditions. Given this guidance, all AFSCME Retiree Chapters and Subchapters have postponed meetings until the CDC lifts this recommendation.

Finally, we want to assure retirees that we have been in communication with all public sector retirement systems, and pension payment will continue to be paid out as usual. All public sector retirement systems in Illinois are, however, responding to Covid-19 by either closing their offices to the public or limiting the services being provided. If you have any questions or concerns related to your benefits, we strongly urge you to first call their offices instead of visiting at this time.

Thank you and stay safe.

Maria Britton-Sipe
Retiree Coordinator

Minutes from February 19, 2020 meeting can be viewed here.

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AFSCME Retirees Subchapter 161 will meet at Hackney’s Restaurant on Lake, 1514 E Lake Street, Glenview, on Wednesday, February 19 at 11:30 AM (Socializing and ordering of food to begin at 11:00). The program will a laboratory session on the use of smart phones. Members are encouraged to bring their fully charged cell phones to the meeting.

Minutes from January 15, 2020 meeting can be viewed here.

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AFSCME Retirees Subchapter 161 will meet at Hackney’s Restaurant on Lake, 1514 E Lake Street, Glenview, on Wednesday, January 15 at 11:30 AM (Socializing to begin at 11:00).

Our guest speaker will be Ralph Martire, Executive Director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability (www.ctbaonline.org/about/ctba-staff). The agenda for the meeting is posted below. Members are encouraged to bring guests. If you will be attending please leave a message at our voicemail number (224-366-7339).

Click here to view minutes of December meeting.

AFSCME Retirees S/C 161 Meeting Jan 15th, 2019
Agenda

11 AM to 11:30: Members order luncheon, socialize; minutes of December meeting distributed.

Please order meal (and ‘early’ coffee) prior to Pledge of Allegiance and request regular coffee/meal to be served only at Luncheon break. No ordering except before Pledge or at luncheon break. If you come late, please order in the hallway and do so quietly.

11:30: Call to Order, Pledge of Allegiance

Introduction of Ralph Martire, Executive Director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability

• Talk by Ralph Martire: THE FAIR TAX
  
• Questions and discussion led by Mr. Martire
  
• Discussion of best actions by Subchapter 161.
  

Business meeting suspended

Luncheon break and socializing

Meeting Called Back to Order

• Minutes of December meeting by Secretary Tony Zappia
  
• Report by Treasurer Jesse Wilson

Old Business

New Business

• Diane Stokes: Upcoming speakers, solicitation of suggestions for future speakers
  
• Dave Rolston: 161 work plan goals
  
• Vice-President Mary Bennett: Upcoming meetings of 161 Allies
  
• Discussion of seating arrangement for future meeting
  
• Discussion of seating arrangement for future meeting
  
• Other topics by members

Meeting adjourned

Waiters to settle bills

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Dear member:

The AFSCME Retirees Subchapter 161 will meet at Hackney’s Restaurant on Lake, 1514 E Lake Street, Glenview, on Wednesday, December 18 at 11:30 AM.

We expect to have an appropriate agenda for the last meeting of the year.

Sincerely,
John Metz, Chairman
Communications Committee

Click here to view minutes of November’s meeting.

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Dear member:

The AFSCME 161 Retirees will meet at Hackney’s Restaurant on Lake, 1514 E Lake Street, Glenview, on Wednesday, November 20 at 11:30 AM.

Our speaker will be Bill Esler on the topic of attending theater for free. If you plan to attend please leave your name on our Voicemail at: 224-366-7339.

Sincerely,
John Metz, Chairman
Communications Committee

Click here to see minutes of October meeting.

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There will be a community meeting about the Fair Tax on:
Monday, November 11, 2019
6:00 pm
The budget and Graduated Income Tax
Current Events Discussion Group
Sulzer Regionals Library
4455 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL

This event is free and open to the public
Questions? Contact Forward Chicago: (773) 633-8312

Co-sponsors: League of Women Voters Northside Unit, Forward Chicago, 40^thAldermanic Ward, 47^th Aldermanic Ward, Sulzer Regional Library

If you can attend (friends or family members are also welcome) please call our voicemail number (224-366-7339) and leave your name. Please take as many pictures as you’d like and email them to afscmeretirees161@gmail.com or text them to 224-366-7339.

The delegates at AFSCME Illinois Retirees Chapter 31 resolved “to stand in support of the Fair Tax to reduce taxes on low and middle-income families while raising taxes on the wealthiest Illinoisans.” 

For further details on this resolution, click on this link and go to Resolution 13, pages 21 and 22: Seventeenth Biennial AFSCME Illinois Retirees Chapter 31 Convention, October 16-17, 2019, Resolutions

Also, nationally, AFSCME Retirees urges members to call or text Congress about making prescription drugs more affordable.

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from Chaya Rubenstein:

Massive Protest Monday

North Lake Shore Retired Teachers Association Newsletter

Illinois Firearms Restraining Order

from Ron Smolin (report on Council 31 Retirees Convention:

Medicare and Social Security

Convention Resolutions