Your Retirement Advocate Since 1973
We are ARSCE – Active and Retired Seattle City Employees Association, 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, November/December, 2019:
We are back from Ireland, and still trying to catch up on our sleep–as we’re having some jet lag. We saw some great parks and gardens, wonderful churches, and a large number of castles and pubs. Some of the castles are still livable, but they’re used primarily as tourist attractions now. Most were ruins, not surprising considering some were built back in the 12th century. It is so great to see things built that long ago, and most of them are still standing.
Now the craziest thing I did was kiss the Blarney Stone, where you must lay on your back and hang out over the edge of the castle with two guys holding you. It was different. I’m not sure if it brought me any eloquence (that’s the supposed promise), but I’m sure the two cab drivers we hired had kissed it! We never walked so much as we did in Ireland–it seemed like it was always a long walk to the castles or the great bluffs we visited.
I couldn’t believe how much Ireland reminded me of Washington, except for the evergreen trees that were scarce there. The only bad thing about this trip is now Karen wants me to start building her some dry stack rock walls. That’s not going to happen–it sounds like too much work. Besides, she’s the one with Irish heritage, not me.
Now some information about the retirement system [SCERS, Seattle City Employees’ Retirement System]. In the month of July 2019, 28 members retired from the City and eight members removed their money.
The current funding status level is at 68.2%. The funding ratio increased from 2014-2018 and decreased slightly in 2019 due to new assumptions adopted from the experience study and a low year of investment returns in 2018. SCERS plans on being fully funded by 2042, so hang in there youngsters!
The annual report will be published on the SCERS website, and copies will be available to members in the SCERS reception area.
Another possible issue: there was a report from one of our members who found some mistakes on her deferred compensation plan. So, we all need to check our accounts periodically
Happy Holidays to all!
John
Contact Mr. Masterjohn at president@arsce.org