Dr. Jim Mahoney had perhaps one of the most unusual and challenging terms of any President of the Association.  When he took the reins of CalRTA in 2019 his goal was simple:  “Let’s do what we do, only better.” Little did he know that “better” would take on a whole new meaning in less than 6 months.

During the fall of 2019 our state and nation became involved in the worldwide pandemic that was COVID-19. Travel, meetings and large gatherings became severely restricted and most were cancelled. The Association was forced to adopt new ways and methods of communicating and governing. Within a very short time the Board, Committees and Divisions adapted to a virtual format and our operations continued.

One objective Jim worked to advance was the formation of a coalition of educator groups with the purpose of discussing and promoting issues of concern to retired teachers. Along with our Political Advocate Jennifer Baker, CalRTA took the lead in the development of The Retired Educators, a group of seven professional organizations that help advocate for and secure retiree benefits.

The ascendency of CalRTA’s Government Relations Committee was one of the highlights of his term. This group gained state and national recognition as the primary force in the repeal of WEP/GPO. The national network created and legislative strategies developed were instrumental in raising these issues to national prominence.

A top concern of all CalRTA Divisions has been membership. This effort began to be refined and formalized during Dr. Mahoney’s term. Pre-Retirement Workshops and Webinars went from single Division events to Area-wide affairs. The state committee became active in support of these activities and participation multiplied.

The most challenging event to ever face CalRTA came at the beginning of his second  year. The Association suffered the unexpected death of its President-Elect Rich Gipson which left the organization without one of its vital officers. Once again the organization was forced to blaze new trails and adopt new procedures to ensure it continued its primary mission.

The term that best describe Dr. Mahoney’s tenure is “Transitional.” In less than two years the Association had to adapt to a new era of technology. He was the first president to conduct board meetings, committee meetings, Divisions and their boards online. He also coordinated and conducted a statewide leadership training, state convention and Delegate Assembly virtually.

While sometimes chaotic, Dr. Jim Mahoney’s time as President illustrated the Association’s resiliency and ability to adapt and serve the needs of its members.