Apply for membership TODAY!
Membership Pays!
I visited one
of our elementary buildings right before school started. It
was hot! A problem with a blown transformer had shut down the
air conditioning and permanently damaged some of the window
units. I was there to do one of our usual beginning of the year
meetings where we talk about bargaining, membership, salary
schedules, and this year, the self-funded insurance plan. Hot
as it was, attendance was good, and the teachers really seemed
happy to stay and visit.
Most of the teachers in the building were already members,
but I invited anyone not currently enrolled to come on board.
As I frequently do, I reminded those I spoke with that in my
experience it actually paid to be a member. I went over the
membership/access card and talked about our extensive discount
program. I talked about our home and auto plans and how many
of our members have saved significant dollars by participating
in those programs.
I talked about the variety of ways in which we, TCTA/OEA, try
to meet the needs of our members. During insurance meetings
several years ago, it became apparent to me that many of our
teachers were not aware of the state’s language that provided
for a thirty-four day supply or 100 units on most maintenance
medication, for only one co-pay. We immediately informed our
members of the countless dollars that could be saved by accessing
the program correctly. Our office was flooded with calls for
additional information, and member after member reported savings
in excess of their dues dollars.
After the meeting, I thanked our loyal delegate for inviting
me out and wished her a good start to the year. A few days later
she gave me a call and asked me to go over what I said about
the prescriptions. We took a look at just one prescription each
of her children takes. We determined that by getting her physician
to write that prescription the way the state allows, she could
save $50 in a three month period. Since there are four three-month
periods in a year, that’s a total savings of $400 on those
two prescriptions only. Needless to say she was really excited
and anxious to check out savings on other medications. The polite
person that she is, she thanked me for helping her and ended
by saying, “By the way, can I have that name of the home
and auto discount program you mentioned?”
If you are not currently a TCTA member, I invite you
to join. If you are a member, I encourage you to check into
the many benefit plans provided through your membership. Like
I always say, it pays to be a member!
• Call the TCTA office. 749-2544.
• Come in and complete an Application form.
NEW! Wear it with pride!
TCTA will be selling shirts for $20 to raise money for the OEA Fund for Children and Public Education. Would you prefer a Polo style or a long-sleeved tee? E-mail us and let us know!
Horace Mann
Horace Mann supports education and school employees through
an array of services. Contact Nickey Lee about vehicle coverage,
protecting your home and personal belongings, and saving for
retirement and your child’s college expenses. You can
contact Nickey at 918-392-5270 or Leek3@notes.horacemann.com.
Member Advocacy
Five full-time staff members are available at the TCTA office
to assist every member in response writing, individual rights
issues and employment problems. Also available to members only
are free seminars and workshops on advocacy issues from career
protection to classroom safety.
Professional development
Every year, our award winning staff of advocates, present staff
development workshops from TRUE COLORS to the highly acclaimed
I CAN DO IT classroom management program. (See the OEA website
at www. okea.org for more workshops and more explanation.)
Every year TCTA surveys members to see what professional development
programs to offer the following year. We are already planning
professional development for the 2002-2003 school year. As soon
as the schedule has been finalized it will be placed on the
website. Members are always welcome and invited to call the
office and offer their suggestions/input.
Legal Services
The Personal Legal Services Program (PLSP), offered by OEA,
provides legal assistance outside the scope of a member’s
employment and is available to the member, spouse and dependent
children. Specific situations covered under the program include,
but are not limited to:
Financial Planning
TCTA with the assistance of Tulsa investment councilor, Dian
Peacock of NEA Valubuilders (5272 S.Lewis #206, 918-747-7138),
offers regularly scheduled financial planning seminars for financial
planning, life insurance and retirement plans. Any member may
schedule one of these seminars at their own school site! To
schedule a seminar for your school, call the TCTA office and
ask for Steve Stockley. No other association offers to bring
a planning seminar to you. We come to your building, invite
all interested teachers, bring refreshments and offer the best
in financial planning information. This is information only,
NO SALES!
Silver Dollar City Tickets
As a service to its members, TCTA makes available
* Two-day passes: $48/adult, $38/children.
* Season passes: $69/adult, $59/children.
Call TCTA and ask for Lynn, 749-2544.
