Each year, the Alabama Education Retirees Association (AERA) holds ten district meetings throughout the state during the months of July and August. These meetings are required by the AERA constitution and bylaws.  The meetings are held during the summer, and this coincides with the PEEHIP Open Enrollment.

All meetings are hosted by AERA district directors, with assistance from local units. The Franklin County Education Retirees Association served as one of the local units and provided some of the door prizes for the Aug. 6 District I meeting at the Russellville First Baptist Church fellowship building.

Melba Wiegand, District I director, presided over the meeting.  She introduced AERA president, Sarah Horton, and AERA executive director Jill Jackson, as they addressed the members.

Horton gave her President’s Report and stressed the importance of increasing the AERA membership. Her statewide community service project will continue to focus on membership growth. She challenged each member to bring one new member into the association this year.

Jackson reported that AERA and its members will continue the positive momentum and political conversation regarding financial help for the retirees. She thanked those members who attended the “Retiree Rally Day,” and the big legislative noise made in Montgomery. Hopefully, the next legislative session will address the Education Retiree Trust Fund, retiree bonuses and Cost of Living Adjustment.

AERA members were commended for their volunteer hours reported for the 2023 AERA Community Service Project. The total number of community hours reported statewide was 512,875.50 hours. The value of one hour of volunteer work is equivalent to $31.80 an hour in the independent sector. This amount translates to a total dollar value of $16,309,536.30 which represents an increase of $4,158,491.85 from last year. It was reported that a facsimile check was presented at the annual meeting held May 7 in Montgomery.

A PEEHIP representative reminded members that Open Enrollment, underway since July 1, ends at midnight on Sept. 10. After this time, online Open Enrollment changes will not be accepted, and the Open Enrollment link will be closed. No paper forms postmarked after August 31 will be accepted.  If you are satisfied with your current coverage ,you do not need to do anything during Open Enrollment.

Representatives of TRS, UnitedHealthcare and AMBA gave brief presentations. The meeting closed at noon with the drawing of door prizes donated by District I local units.