Helen S. Hobson

1971-1973

The term of President Hobson was a “Whirl in the Rapids of legislation marking AB 543 for our super good retirement law, not only for retired teachers, but for future retirees. On October 29, Governor Reagan officiated at a signing of AB 543.

Thus, it came about in a year of stringency in state finances, when the legislature balked at voting new funds, when the governor declared that he would not approve the expenditures for any new program, we and the teachers who follow us into retirement, became the recipients of a sound retirement fun with some adjustment for cost of living.

Too much credit cannot be given to Dr. Gillingham and the State Legislative Committee as well as to all the loyal CRTA members whose letters, telegrams, and personal calls made possible the passage of AB 543.

By July, 1973, membership had reached and passed 31,000. A new division, South Shores, sponsored by San Diego-Imperial in the Chula Vista area, came to be Number 60. The Laura Settle Loan and Scholarship Fund had one or more loans in every public college and university in the state, and outright Scholarship grants have been given to the schools making the best use of the loan funds. Rapport with the State Teachers Retirement Board reached a high point and the communication with the CTA has grown. State and division bylaws have been revised. A statement of Policies and Procedures for State Officers and committee chairman has been in the making. Financings were in the good hands of Business Consultant Walter Hemmerling and Marie McKenzie, Office Manager.

Left to right: Julius Hammer, President of the CalSTRS Board; Kenneth Forry, member; Michael Thome, Chief Executive Officer CalSTRS; Wesley Hulse, Actuarial Consultant CalSTRS; Leighton Case. Governor Ronald Reagan (seated) and James Dwight in rear.