SENATE MEMORIAL 70

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2019

INTRODUCED BY

Mimi Stewart

A MEMORIAL

RECOGNIZING THE NEW MEXICO ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATIONAL RETIREES; DECLARING FEBRUARY 22, 2019 "NEW MEXICO ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATIONAL RETIREES DAY" IN THE SENATE.

     WHEREAS, the New Mexico association of educational retirees is an inclusive organization that promotes the professional, economic, intellectual, social and physical well-being of its members, encourages volunteer opportunities in the community and provides advocacy for improved retirement benefits for all educational retirees; and

     WHEREAS, the New Mexico association of educational retirees has twenty-six units statewide and a growing membership of more than six thousand one hundred retirees; and

     WHEREAS, the New Mexico association of educational retirees began its community service program in 2008 and offers retired educators the opportunity to volunteer in schools, libraries, gardens, offices, churches, prison programs and animal shelters as well as to provide transportation to social services and care for family members; and

     WHEREAS, the community service program assists individuals and entities that cannot provide the quantity or quality of services required to meet the needs of the retiree population; and

     WHEREAS, in 2008, retired educators in the community service program volunteered forty-five thousand nine hundred fifteen and one-half hours, calculated by the United States bureau of labor statistics at nineteen dollars fifty-two cents ($19.52) per hour for a monetary value of eight hundred ninety-six thousand two hundred seventy dollars fifty-six cents ($896,270.56); and

     WHEREAS, in 2018, retired educators volunteered three hundred ten thousand seven hundred forty-two hours, calculated by the United States bureau of labor statistics at twenty-four dollars sixty-nine cents ($24.69) per hour for a monetary value of seven million six hundred seventy-two thousand two hundred forty-four dollars sixty-seven cents ($7,672,244.67); and

     WHEREAS, the New Mexico association of educational retirees additionally monitors legislation that affects educational retirees and has an established "adopt a legislator" program to communicate with legislators about issues that affect educational retirees; and

     WHEREAS, the New Mexico association of educational retirees provides support for the interests of retirees by having an association representative serve on the educational retirement board, the board of the retiree health care authority and other statewide committees; 

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico association of educational retirees be recognized for its representation and advocacy on behalf of the educational retirees in New Mexico and for its contributions to the residents of New Mexico through its volunteer services; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that February 22, 2019 be declared "New Mexico Association of Educational Retirees Day" in the senate; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the president of the New Mexico association of educational retirees.

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