Your Retirement Advocate Since 1973
We are ARSCE – Association of Retired Seattle City Employees, with an emphasis on retired folks and their families and friends. We are the advocate for members of the Seattle Employee Retirement System, keeping an eye on actions at the local and state level which might affect us. And, we encourage retirees and active employees to keep in touch through our bi-monthly ARSCE News, and our quarterly luncheons. The News covers City Retirement System issues, and includes columns and articles by active and retired employees featuring everything from travel experiences to other employee get-togethers, to books and films, and to a variety of other items of interest to retirees. Please join us for our quarterly luncheons – a great chance to meet up with old friends and associates – and enjoy the ARSCE News, our bi-monthly publication. The News will keep you current on City Retirement System issues, and also includes columns and articles by active and retired employees featuring everything from travel experiences to other employee get-togethers, to books and films, and to a variety of other items of interest to retirees.
We maintain this website to provide users with information about ARSCE. You’ll find the ARSCE event calendar, information about membership and the luncheons, names and contact information for the officers, and a lot of documentation, including our Bylaws, past issues of the ARSCE News, and link stop other information sources of interest to retirees.
Enjoy this website, and if you are a current or retired City of Seattle employee, we hope you are a member or that you will consider becoming a member.
ARSCE President John Masterjohn’s message, July-August 2021:
Well, it seems that when I said this may be my last column as your president, I was right! As of July 1st, Mr. Mike Nagan has agreed to a one-year term and then we will see what happens after that. We have a large group of candidates to choose from.
Now, just because I am no longer your president, I am still on the Board for the next three years. I will try and keep you apprised of my adventures, as boring as they may be.
I want to thank all of you for your support–especially my two editors. First, my wife Karen Meadows who does the initial proofread; correcting spelling, punctuation, and tries to make sense of what I have written. Then my last editor, Lee Sattler, who does such a great job of putting out the ARSCE News and making sure that what I am saying is within the boundaries of ARSCE. Thanks to both of you.
Now enough about that and something about the Seattle City Employees’ Retirement System (SCERS). As I mentioned in my previous article, we had put in a request for SCERS to record their Board meetings and put them out so that our members could have a chance to hear their meetings and see the Board at their convenience, instead of only being available at 10:00 am. We did hear back from Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, Board of Administration Chair. She said she would see what she could do to make SCERS meetings more accessible and transparent. Also, we received a letter from Jeff Davis, SCERS Executive Director, who also acknowledged our requests and concerns. I am not including Mr. Davis’ letter in this edition.
SCERS is having a trustee election. The two candidates are Sherry Crawford and Amy Woo. It is my understanding, at this time, that ballots will be sent out soon and instructions for voting online will be sent out soon as well.
There were 47 retirements and withdrawals in the month of March and 48 in the month of April.
Good news–the estimated funding level of the retirement fund is 76.4% as of the 4th quarter of 2020. Councilmember Mosqueda stated that her staff will continue to gather information on what City peers are doing in terms of divestment. Mr. Davis replied that the conversations on ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance strategies), climate change, and divestment have been productive and informative. Going forward, conversations will be broader and have less of a focus on divestment and rather on how do we look at climate change and the impact it can have on the SCERS portfolio.
An update on Mr. Lou Walter–he is having some ongoing medical issues and was back in the hospital, so send positive thoughts his way.
Well, as I said in my last article, thanks for putting up with me for these last 10 years or so–it has been a blast!
Your president,
John
Contact Mr. Masterjohn at president@arsce.org