News and Notes
New! 4/7/22
4/14/2022
A message from HCAA President Carole Bomba . . . .
We are sad to share the news that Harper College Sociology Professor, Local 1600 Legislative Chair, and HCAA friend Sean Noonan passed away on April 7th, 2022. He devoted much of his time and energy fighting for the rights and pensions of those in the field of education. He will be missed. Obituary link.
4/7/22 Action needed ASAP
ISSUE:
H.R.82, the “Social Security Fairness Act of 2021,” was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and referred to the House Ways and Means Committee on 1/4/21. If enacted, it would remove the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) in the Social Security Act.
The bill has significant bi-partisan support and over 265 co-sponsors. However, it has not been discharged from the Ways and Means Committee.
A companion (identical) bill S.1302 was introduced in the U.S. Senate on 4/22/21.
CONCERNS:
Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP): If you earn even a small pension from a government job (e.g., at an Illinois university) that wasn’t covered by Social Security (FICA), your monthly benefit earned from Social Security-covered employment is reduced.* This affects approximately 2 million Social Security beneficiaries nationwide and 99,640 in Illinois as of Dec. 2020. 5.8% of retired Illinois Social Security beneficiaries had their benefits reduced. The reduction in benefits is disproportionately larger for lower earners. (*Exception: There is no benefit reduction for those who worked 30 or more years in Social Security-covered employment).
Government Pension Offset (GPO): If you receive a pension from a government job (e.g., at an Illinois university) that wasn’t covered by Social Security (FICA), your Social Security spouse or widow/widower benefits may be reduced or eliminated entirely. 723,970 people were affected by the GPO nationwide as of Dec. 2021. Approximately 83% were women. 47,669 were Illinois residents.
WHAT TO DO:
Phone or email Senator Durbin. Ask him to co-sponsor S.1302, the “Social Security Fairness Act,” and to advocate that the companion bill, H.R.82, be discharged from the House Ways and Means Committee.
Phone or email your U.S. Congressperson. Find your Congressperson by visiting the Illinois State Board of Elections website. IL Congressman Rodney Davis sponsored this bill. All but 2 IL Representatives are co-sponsors. Check whether your Congressperson is a co-sponsor at H.R.82. If so, thank them for co-sponsoring H.R.82, the “Social Security Fairness Act.” Ask your Congressperson to advocate that the Ways and Means Committee discharge H.R.82 in order to bring it to the House floor for a vote.
You can use the information under “Concerns” above to advocate for the bill as well as your personal reasons for supporting it.
TIMING:
This may be the best opportunity in decades for the WEP and GPO to be repealed!
Contact Senator Durbin, Tammy Duckworth and your Congressperson now!
- May 4, 2022, Wednesday, 11:30 AM to 1:15 PM, Feed My Starving Children Volunteer Opportunity, at 740 Wiley Farm Court, Schaumburg, IL.
- May 9th, 2022, at 2:00 PM via ZOOM Board meeting. An invite will be sent via email on 5/8/22.
- June 16, 2022, Normal, IL, SUAA Delegates Meeting.
- New way to advise HCAA of your change of email is posted on the left side of the web page.
- Harper College has been good to HCAA over the years. It is our pleasure to give back by making a one-time $1,000 donation to the Harper College Student Emergency Relief Fund on the group’s behalf. Our donation is being matched by the college. If you want to send an individual donation, go to: https://www.harpercollege.edu/foundation/donations/support-harper-students.php
A Warm Welcome to New 2022 Retirees!
| Julie Ellefson-Kuehn | Professor Math and Science | |
| Ping Feng | Custodian Operations Services | |
| Brad Grossman | Assistant Professor Career and Technical Programs | |
| Darryl Knight | Executive Director Facilities Management | |
| Sunil Koswatta | Professor Mathematics and Science | |
| Sandra Kreiling | Associate Professor Mathematics and Science | 07/31/2022 |
| Sam Levenson | Associate Professor Mathematics and Science | |
| Don Malzahn | Operational Data Store Administrator Infrastructure Services | |
| Elizabeth Pagenkopf | Assistant Professor Health Careers | |
| William Pankey | Professor Resources for Learning | 07/31/2022 |
| Nancy Savard | Operations Services Manager Operation Services |
A Warm Welcome to New 2021 Retirees!
| Name | Title Dept/Division | Retirement Date |
|---|---|---|
| Vicki Atkinson | Dean Student Development | 10/01/2021 |
| Roxanne Boersma | Project Manager Client Systems | 06/04/2021 |
| Kathy Bruce | Interim Associate Provost, Acsdemics Interdisciplinary Student Success | 06/30/2021 |
| Diane Carter-Zubko | Workforce Career Coordinator Career and Technical Programs | 07/01/2021 |
| Helen Chase | Accounts Payable Clerk Accounting Services | 12/31/2021 |
| Diana Cincinello | Professor Career and Technical Programs | 07/31/2021 |
| Dee Collins | Supervisor Mailroom Mailroom | 10/01/2021 |
| Rose D’Agostini | Academic Division Operations, Manager Career & Technical Programs | 05/31/2021 |
| Jan Elbert | Senior Graphic Designer Marketing Services | 12/31/2021 |
| Nancy Desruisseaux | Senior Records Clerk Registrar’s Office | 12/31/2021 |
| James Forssander | HVAC Mechanic Operator Utilities | 01/29/2021 |
| Linda Hoeck | Career Skills Institute Program Coordinator | TBA |
| Gregory Horeni | Associate Professor Health Careers | 05/22/2021 |
| Cathy Kapocius | Administrative Assistant Resources for Learning | 08/27/2021 |
| Jennifer Jennings | Coordinator, Lab Math and Science | 08/31/2021 |
| Joan Naumes | Administrative Assistant Business and Social Science | 03/05/2021 |
| Lin Novak | Administrative Assistant Student Development | 01/08/2021 |
| Pamela Russel | Administrative Assistant Center for Student Development | TBA |
| Donna Sculley | Laboratory Assistant Career and Technical | TBA |
| Kathy Shine | Community Support Assistant Marketing | 10/01/2021 |
| Roger Spayer | Chief Human Resources Officer Human Resources, | 12/31/21 |
| Thomas Stauch | Professor Liberal Arts | 07/31/2021 |
| Janice Thomas | Testing Center Coordinator Assessment Center | 08/31/2021 |
| Carol Traficanto | Data and Reporting Assistant Adult Educational Development | 12/31/2021 |
| Susanne Zeger | Student Support Assistant Computer Information Systems (CIS) | 01/08/2021 |
| Greg Zurek | Facilities Management and Engineering Document Associate Facilities Management | 08/31/2021 |
For prior years go to the Retirees Archive page.
Our Purpose, Your Benefit…
To promote the individual and collective interests and welfare of Harper College annuitants (retirees) and their survivors, and employees through:
- Early notification and perceived effects on HCAA members of proposed changes to State law
- Relevant updates to HCAA members on healthcare/Medicare coverage
- Discussions with and service to Harper College
- Improved communications between Harper and its retirees
- Scheduled social events for members
- Discussion/participation with other IL annuitant and state organizations
- Active communication with legislators on relevant concerns
- Workshops/ presentations on relevant topics
- Harper parking stickers
- Reduced admission to select Harper events
Membership is open to all Harper College retirees, active employees, spouses, or surviving spouses. When you join HCAA, you also become a member of SUAA.
