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, March-April 2021:
So, we have a new President in Washington, D.C. Let’s hope he and Harris (hooray for her!) can bring the country together and get some things done.
Talking about voting, ARSCE has a Board election coming up quickly. You’ll find your ballots tucked inside this issue. Please vote and make sure your ballot is posted no later than Wednesday, March 10th, 2021.
Some good news for a change–Lou Walter has recovered enough from his serious car accident to begin attending SCERS (Seattle City Employees’ Retirement System) Board meetings via Zoom. Welcome back Lou!
SCERS is hosting their Board meetings through their website. Go to seattle.gov/retirement and check out what they are discussing monthly.
There has been a request from Mayor Durkan, through Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, SCERS Board of Administration Chair, to investigate divestment from fossil fuel stocks. It is my understanding that the Board is looking into what other systems are doing and will report back with their recommendations. There have not been any bills in the State Legislature concerning letting the State Retirement System handle our funds yet, but it is still quite early in the session. We will be keeping an eye on Olympia and the issues most important to ARSCE members.
As I mentioned in my last article, SCERSis still sending out letters for the Self-Service Portal. They hope to have all current members notified by the end of February. They have started sending packets on the new Portal to new employees, also. They have about 25% signing up. If you received your notice and did not sign up early, you may have to notify the system because the PIN number only lasts for a short time. The SCERS system is still doing well and has maintained and even improved their funding level.
So, we need to sign up for the vaccine and still maintain our healthy and safe habits; mask, distance, and wash your hands. Be well.
John
Contact Mr. Masterjohn at president@arsce.org