MESSAGE FROM REAVC PRESIDENT – REDDY PAKALA
The “hazy, lazy, crazy days of summer,
those days of soda and pretzels and beer” are back with us. Schools are on summer recess. It is time for vacations, field trips, and outdoor barbecues with family and friends. I hope you all enjoy your Summer.
At the June 3, 2025, REAVC luncheon, we were proud to recognize eleven scholarship recipients and present them a grant of $1,000 each to further their educational goals. These recipients are all children, grandchildren, or great-grandchildren of a county retiree who is a member of REAVC. All eleven recipients completed their high school with exceptional school records and are either entering their journey toward their educational goals or are already enrolled in an educational institution. Many have contributed their time and skills to assist others, some have worked part-time, and all have set career goals. We wish them all success in their lives. See the article and photo later in this newsletter for more details about these hard-working students. It is undoubtedly an honor to recognize them and assist them in achieving their goals. A reminder for all REAVC members, if you have children, grandchildren, or great-grandchildren that might benefit from a $1,000 scholarship, the deadline for next year’s program is March 31, 2026. Details and entry forms can be found on our website, at reavc.org. So, get those grandkids cracking!I would also be remiss if I did not acknowledge the hard work that the Scholarship Committee puts into the program. This year, our long-term Chair, Tom McEachern, was ill. Colleen Bruns and Maryellen Benedetto, co-chairs, stepped up and did a terrific job coordinating the process with three other committee members. Thank you all.
I would also like to acknowledge Ventura County Credit Union (VCCU) for its financial support of REAVC’s scholarship program. VCCU has a long history of community involvement in Ventura County in several areas. They have supported REAVC’s scholarship program for several decades. This year, Melissa Miller, VCCU’s Community Partnerships Manager, was able to attend the June luncheon and see for herself the benefit of VCCU’s investment in our scholarship program. Thank you, Melissa, and VCCU for all that you do.
Our REAVC luncheons continue to be a popular event. We are currently holding them at the Sterling Hills Facility in Camarillo. Although we were required to raise the price, the luncheon continues to draw record attendance. The food is great, and door prizes are a bonus, but the thrill of meeting with our former colleagues and making new friends is the real prize. Our next luncheon is scheduled for September 2, 2025. A reservation form and information about the September luncheon are included in this newsletter. Remember to make a reservation, or you might find yourself on the outside looking in.
REAVC continues to wait for the California State Supreme Court to schedule a hearing date regarding the implementation of the Alameda decision by VCERA. There has been no significant new information to report, but your REAVC Board (and our Alameda Committee) will continue to monitor this and keep you informed about any events as soon as we learn about it. You can also view more information about VCERA’s current implementation plan on their website.
I also encourage you to consider volunteering to help with the REAVC Board in any capacity that feels comfortable to you. We will be looking for new Board members in the future, as well as volunteers for the scholarship committee, luncheons, or other areas. We need help. The immediate future may be full of chaos and turmoil. Retiree pensions and benefits have long been under attack from several quarters, and the future doesn’t look any different.
Ask any Board member (they are all listed on the front page of this newsletter) if you are interested in serving on the Board or a committee in any capacity. I can’t promise you any more than hard work and the satisfaction of supporting your fellow county retirees, but I have found that to be a very satisfying reward.
Enjoy your summer. Have a beer, wine, or a pretzel for me. But mostly enjoy your retirement. You worked hard and served the public well.
Dear Retirees and Friends:
REAVC’s most important issue at this time is protecting VCERA retirees from potential pension reductions for those who retired on or after January 1, 2013. VCERA insists that these reductions are required by the California Supreme Court’s Alameda decision (effective September 1, 2020). So far, after litigation filed by VCERA, the Superior and Appellate Courts have said that while VCERA MUST apply the requirements of Alameda to employees who retire ON OR AFTER September 1, 2020, they only MAY apply the required changes on or after beginning August 2020 for those who retired January 1, 2013, or later. VCERA still claims going back to those who retired on or after January 1, 2013 is required. We do not agree on what pay items need reduction or elimination, and certainly not to retirees since 2013. This is based on legal advice, union opinions, and the opinions of other 1937 Act Counties. The main focus of reductions at this point are elimination of some vacation buydown from final compensation; callback and standby pay (and similar), and for more recent retirees, removal of Flex Credit from final compensation. In fact, we do not agree that these reductions are required by law at all.
REAVC’s primary duty is to protect retirees’ pensions, especially for those already retired. We take this responsibility very seriously, first to be sure that VCERA only reduces pensions for those that retired on or after September 1, 2020, NOT those who retired on or after January 1, 2013, as they currently plan to do. Just as importantly, we want to be sure that the actions follow the true requirements of the law.
We have tried to work with VCERA, appearing at every Board meeting for more than a year, providing documents to prove our case. Seeing no opening for discussion, REAVC hired an attorney on your behalf. We have supported the ongoing litigation by the unions. In doing this, we have been working with another group, also working for all of us. That group consists of a retired CEO, a retired elected official, a retired member of County Counsel, retired department heads, and retired division heads. They have been admitted as “Friends of the Court.” They have also appeared before the VCERA Board and the courts, as needed.
Any of you who are interested in volunteering or serving as a Board member, please let any of our current Board members know. You may also leave a telephone message for us at (805) 644-7814 or write an email and send it to info@reavc.org. You can also visit our website at reavc.org. There you will find links to past newsletters, minutes of Board meetings, and information about upcoming events posted on the website. If you have questions, please feel free to contact any REAVC officer or Board member.
REAVC CALENDAR FOR 2025 – Every plan is made to be changed but failure to plan is to plan to fail. HUH? Anyway, our current calendar for 2025 can be found by clicking here. CLICK HERE!! 2025 – REAVC Calendar Just remember, the calendar is subject to change despite our best efforts.
