What Is MAR MAR was started by a small group of Public Sector retirees in 1981. While talking over coffee one day, this group of friends realized that there was no organization established in Maine to look out for their rights as Public Retirees…...and that was a scary thought! They realized that there is strength in numbers. A single person may not be heard amidst all the noise in Augusta….but the combination of thousands of Public Sector Retirees in Maine creates a strong voice that simply can’t be ignored. So the group came up with the plan to establish an association of retirees that had just one purpose - taking care of the needs of public retirees in Maine…..MAR. After just it’s first year, MAR acquired 1,900 members….. Now MAR has 15,000 members….with a potential to grow to over 30,000 Public Retiree members in Maine. Who Can Join MAR? Anyone who receives a monthly check from the Maine State Retirement System is eligible to join MAR as a full member. This includes retired state employees, retired teachers, retired local and county public service employees, and beneficiaries of these public service retirees. MAR has now opened membership to include Associate Members, and that would include anyone currently or previously working as a public service (state, local/municipal, and/or teacher) employee in Maine, or any persons retired from public service employment in any other US state who currently owns property within Maine and considers Maine as a primary or secondary residence. Current government employees can now join MAR as an Associate Member to help protect their future rights and benefits, and then move to a Full MAR Member upon retirement. MAR is a broad-based organization - firemen, teachers, legislators, public work crews, accountants, lawyers, clerical support staff, administroators...MAR represents all retired public service workers equally and strongly. MAR exists as an independent non-profit organization to protect retiree rights and benefits. Return to Top What MAR Does for You MAR sponsors legislation which will be of benefit to retirees. MAR supports legislation to protect the interest of retirees under Maine State Retirement System. MAR opposes legislation that would adversely affect retirees. MAR assists retirees with problems involving state or federal agencies. MAR contacts our Congressional delegates in Federal legislation that would affect our membership. MAR hosts an annual and regional meetings of members to discuss their legislative programs and pension issues MAR sponsors Northeast Delta Dental for Members MAR has free and/or low cost insurance coverage opportunities for Members MAR has free Notary Public Services for Members MAR has free faxing services for Members MAR continuously expands it benefits for members If you are a current or retired Teacher, State, County, or Local government worker, the Maine Association of Retirees can be your best source to protect your rights and benefits. You’ve worked hard for your retirement ... now it’s time for you to relax and enjoy it. Now it’s time to let MAR work for you. For a small fee of only $1.25 per month look at all the benefits you get when you become a MAR member…most members have the fee automatically deducted right from their retirement check…it’s easy and affordable. Membership may also be paid annually by check, if desired. Associate members (see defintition above) pay $1.00 monthly/$12.00 annually. Associate members can not hold officer positions or vote, but are encouraged to provide input at meetings and are eligible for many benefits. For only $1.25 per month your MAR membership provides: A Strong Advocate, exclusively looking out for your rights in the Statehouse Assistance with Retirement System questions The Opportunity to join the Delta Dental Group Plan FREE $1,000 accidental death & dismemberment insurance through The Hartford FREE retirement financial advising by Atlantic Investment Advisors Low association rates for home and auto insurance by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company Free or reduced cost for hearing services. AFLAC Cancer Protection Plus insurance at excellent association rates Assistance with “red tape” in Augusta A Quarterly Newsletter, keeping members informed of activities and legislative news in Augusta and Washington. An Email Alert System – keeping you posted of important events in Augusta and Washington DC. A dynamic website with updates and links for Retirees Informative Annual meting; Regional meetings; & Candidate Forums Annual drawings for four “hostelships” to Elderhostel programs each year A "Volunteer of the Year" with a cash gift and plaque A toll-free phone “hotline” to MAR offices for members who reside in the U.S. Return to Top MAR’s Mission & Goals MAR has one overarching mission - to protect the retirement fund and advocate for the rights of Public Sector Retirees in Maine. Retired State Employees, Retired Teacher and Retired Local Public District employees are who we serve. To accomplish this mission, the Executive Committee and Officers of MAR have set the following Goals and Objectives for the organization: Goal 1 Recruit and retain 25,000 members by 2021 by: Organizing and operating an aggressive recruitment and marketing campaign Goal 2 Attain dominance over senior legislative issues by 2010 by: Creating, organizing and running an annual "senior caucus" bringing together all senior groups Creating and operating a legislative lobbying communication network Secure a seat on the MSRS Board Goal 3 Attain public and member recognition of MAR as the leader on senior issues in Maine by 2010 by: Expanding and refining its Web site Developing and implementing a broad based media and public information campaign Goal 4 Offer wide range of member services by 2010 by: Identifying and contracting with several more vendors of products and services important to the senior market. Goal 5 Become a primary source of retirement advice to its members by 2010 by: Recruiting and hiring a retirement advisor Goal 6 Become a more responsive, results oriented organization by 2010 by: Maintaining full time office hours Relocating office to Augusta Goal 7 Become a constituent balanced organization by 2010 by: Restructuring its By-Laws to assure committee and organization governance by major constituent groups. Return to Top MAR Classes and Programs A part of the MAR “growth plan” is to expand the offering of classes, programs and special events for all MAR members and for “pre-retirees” who may be considering their retirement options. The “Retirement Readiness Seminar” is a program that is being developed by MAR staff. This program will be offered several times a year for all Public Sector “pre-retirees” in Maine. Return to Top Email Alert System Legislative action and public policy initiatives can happen very quickly in Augusta & Washington ---- so to keep it’s members informed of up-to-the-minute “need to know” news from Augusta and Washington, MAR is developing an “E-Mail Alert System.” The e-mail alert system is designed to keep all MAR members who, have email addresses or access to email, informed of actions that they may need to take to help protect their retirement security. When critical legislative or policy events take place or are scheduled to occur, the staff at MAR will send out “Call to Action” email alerts to all it’s “on-line” members. The “Call to Action” alert will provide MAR members with vital information about the upcoming legislative action or public policy initiative AND it will also provide instructions for MAR members on how to most effectively “take action” to help influence the outcome of those critical legislative and public policy debates. The “Call to Action” email will provide sample letters and sample emails that members may want to send to their State Representatives, State Senators, the Governor, or the Federal Congressional Delegation including addresses, phone numbers and email addresses of these “key” contacts. MAR staff and Officers may also need MAR members to physically appear at a forum, Legislative Committee session or at a Rally – to demonstrate the strength (and size) of MAR members’ commitment to a particular public policy issue. In those cases, the “Call to Action” email alert system will provide specific information about dates and times when MAR members attendance may be needed. BUT ….for the email “Call to Action” alert system to work --- WE NEED YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS!!! MAR maintains a confidential membership data base – we pledge that your email address (as well as all other membership information you provide) will be held confidential and WILL NOT EVER be given to a 3rd party for use. To send us your email address – just click here (mgorten@roadrunner.com) Also, if you know of other fellow MAR members who have email address - please send them a note to ask them to please give us their email address too ---- we can have tremendous strength and influence –BUT – we must be able to mobilize quickly and target our efforts effectively – the “MAR Email Alert System” is an essential tool for MAR to be able to effect Public Policy – and therefore to PROTECT your retirement. Return to Top MAR History “IT ALL STARTED OVER COFFEE” When we came to a milestone such as our 20th Anniversary in 2001, it was helpful to look over the past so we can determine our future: Some notes from the first edition of the MAR newsletter make the point: Our first Annual Meeting had 250 attendees, elected officers and heard that we had about 1900 members. Our legislative program called for proper representation on the Retirement System's Board of Directors, cost-of-living adjustments to pensions similar to those given State employees. A constitutional amendment to protect the Retirement Fund from further raids by legislative budget writers. And, here's a direct quote from the first newsletter dated March, 1981. "Because of the time and expense in traveling to Augusta, we are planning regional meetings in your area. We are also following closely the developments in the classification suite to make retirement allowances exempt from State Income Tax.” So, you can see the wisdom of that ancient Greek Philosopher who said: "The more things change, the more they remain the same." Twenty plus years ago, when some friends and colleagues of Jack Leet got together over coffee, they realized that as soon as they retired from their State jobs they were, to put it gently, "out to pasture." That was no place any of them wanted to be! And, so they came up with the plan to establish an Association of Retirees that had just one purpose - take care of the needs of public retirees! Those attending the Association's first meeting were: Margaret L. Arber, Howard L. Bowen, George H. Chick, Lawrence F. Cote, George A. Davala, Temp Chairman; Esther M. Dudley, Ruth E. Felton, Fred L. Kenney, Carl Kirkpatrick, John 'Jack' B. Leet, Theodore E. Lewin, Philip J. Macy, Eva Oliver, Clarence E. Partridge, Saunders L. Patterson, O. Lionel Pomroy, Hazel H. Raynes, Donald M. Simpson, Robert S. Waterson, Ronald W. Gullifer (Honorary Charter Members, deceased). And of those, four are still alive and well: Lawrence Cote, Esther Dudley, Carl Kirkpatrick, and Hazel Raynes. We, the 15,000 members of today's MAR salute our founders and thank them all for a job well done! Return to Top How to Volunteer to help MAR MAR always welcomes members who want to volunteer to assist the organization in achieving its mission. Call Florence Hoover at the MAR Office to ask about opportunities to assist the organization – at the MAR office in Farmingdale, at the Legislature in Augusta, or in your own Region of state. MAR volunteers provide many essential services for the organization …plus its fun! Office/clerical assistance Mailing newsletters Recruiting MAR members Assisting with Regional/Annual meetings Conducting information session or Retirement Readiness Classes Staffing the MAR “booth” at various events Preparing articles for the newsletter Meeting with and “lobbying” lawmakers Promoting MAR with your local news outlets And much, much more….. Return to Top