NIEARC Members (L-R): Jan Studer, Bette Price, Mary Lee Ruch, Tama
Twenty-two North Idaho IEA members with an eye on retirement learned the ins-and-outs of their benefits at an April 9 retirement workshop sponsored by the North Idaho Education Association Retired Chapter (NIEARC).
Geared to those within five years of retirement, the half-day event at the Coeur d’Alene Best Western included presentations from the Public Employee Retirement System of Idaho or PERSI, the U.S. Social Security Administration and IEA Member Benefits Corporation. The meeting discussed the benefits of continuing the members’ involvement with IEA after their retirement.
“Predictably, teachers have a very strong public service mindset,” said IEA Regional Director Denise Cobden. “We want to make sure late career educators understand the complexities and opportunities of their entire benefit package and that they can continue to have an impact on their profession and public education after they leave the classroom by continuing their IEA membership.”
IEA Member Benefits Corporation Director Dick Chilcote presented attendees with information about their IEA benefits, such as life insurance, travel discounts and the NEA’s Medicare Supplemental Plan.
NIEARC is North Idaho’s very active IEA chapter for retired educators. Educators or former educators interested in joining one of the retired educator IEA chapters across the state should contact their regional IEA leaders, their IEA region director or their local chapter president.