Quality of Life Committee Policy Rules

Purpose:  • To promote quality physical, social, and economic well-being for retired school personnel.  • To provide information on available services to address problems involving health and wellness, welfare, personal and financial safety and quality of life. • To promote information regarding retirement transitions. 

Responsibilities: • Share relevant quality of life information and/or programs with state, regional, and local membership through various NCRSP communication channels. • Monitor developments in Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, sharing critical information with members through regional and local leadership. • Gather information concerning elderly safety and health issues. • Study proposed legislative initiatives in the General Assembly that will impact the quality of life of senior citizens, keeping members informed of the details of these initiatives and the Committee’s assessment of them. • Work with other agencies on issues affecting the elderly (i.e. AARP, Alliance for Retired Americans, and NC Coalition on Aging). 

Strategic Goals 2024-2026 and Annual Report of Accomplishments 2025-26     • Goal Area 1 Continue with the monthly Wednesday Workshops and track participation numbers  Accomplishment Participation numbers recorded monthly. (See chart)                                                                                                    • Goal Area 2 Share the Wednesday Workshop Zoom link with multiple leadership groups to expand participation  Accomplishment Shared via Constant Contact by staff.                                                                                                                                 • Goal Area 3 Announce the next Wednesday Workshop topic at the close of the current month’s Zoom presentation to promote participation  Accomplishment Topics announced monthly by the meeting host and shared via Constant Contact by staff.                                                                                                                • Goal Area 4 Prepare monthly articles on quality of life topics to distribute to regional leadership for print/digital use in their local units  Accomplishment Emailed articles to committee members including annual updates on Go365 and Silver Sneakers. (See Go365 flier)                                                                          • Goal Area 5 Prepare an article for each edition of the Panorama  Accomplishment Article promoting Wednesday Workshops published in the fall Panorama. (See Panorama)                                                                                              • Goal Area 6 Review and update the Quality of Life webpage quarterly   Accomplishment Wednesday Workshop recordings uploaded monthly by webmaster. (See webpage)                                                                                                • Goal Area 7 Represent Quality of Life on the NCRSP Executive Board  Accomplishment Co-chairs present for majority of Executive Board meetings. (See Board Minutes)                                                                                                           • New Goal Area 8 Build member knowledge of NEA Member Benefits Accomplishment - Dr. Ren Bryan was appointed as Co-Chair with a focus on Member Benefits. Through coordination with Member Benefits Representative Kim Lindsey printed copies of the NEA Member Benefits flyer are available to local units for spring recruitment through the NCRSP office. These flyers are printed at a nominal cost by the Elon University print shop. The flyer is also available in a PDF format for digital use.  In addition, Kim Lindsey presented a Wednesday Workshop in November 2025 and is scheduled to present updates on changes in Member Benefits on May 13, 2026.                                                      • New Goal Area 9 Strengthen relationship with NCAE as parent organization Accomplishment Hosted two Zoom sessions to educate NCRSP members on the candidates for NCAE 2026 election cycle. First one held as a Wednesday Workshop in January, and the second one hosted the three candidates for NCAE Vice-President in March. (See schedule below and recordings available on the NCRSP website) 

Wednesday Workshops for 2025-2026  

March 12, 2025 2:00 pm  30/97 ( Convention 101: conducting business using Parliamentary Procedure and writing New Business Items for submission at the convention.  Presenters: Roger Harris, NCRSP Parliamentarian  & Sheri Strickland Mulling, Chair of the NBI Committee 

April 9, 2025 10:30 am  37/32 NCRSP Legislative Program 2025 Presenter: Colleen Lanier,  NCRSP Legislative Chairperson 

May 14, 2025 10:30 am  15/20 Walk With Ease: A Walking Program from the Arthritis Foundation  Presenter: Nick Turkas, MS Arthritis Foundation, Senior Director, Patient Education/Community Connections 

June 11, 2025 10:30 am  14/20 An Overview of the Master Gardener Program as a Volunteer  Presenter: Amy Bridges, one of NCRSP Region 2 Directors, who was  featured on pages 24-25 in the NEA TODAY for NEA-RETIRED members. 

July 9, 2025 10:30 am   AI 101: The Basics I Need to Know  Presenter: Ayra Sundbom Ed.D  Visiting Assistant Professor of Education and Director of Instructional Technology at NC Wesleyan University  RESCHEDULED  Due to technical problems with Zoom code 

August 13, 2025 2:00 pm  62/13 AI 101: The Basics I Need to Know  Presenter: Ayra Sundbom Ed.D  Assistant Professor of Education and Director of Instructional Technology at NC Wesleyan University 

September 10, 2025 10:00 am  21/17 Emergency Preparedness: Do you have an emergency kit?  Presenter: Blake Swix    She/Her External Affairs Specialist   N.C. Emergency Management 

October 8, 2025 10:00 am    /40 Making the Most of Your Supplemental Benefits  Presenter: Sarah Combs, Executive Assistant,  Pierce Insurance Group, sarah@pierceins.com 

November 12, 2025 2:00 pm  50/34 NEA Member Benefits, an overview of benefits   Presenter: Kimberly Lindsey, NEA Member Benefits  KLindsey@neamb.com 

December 10, 2025 10:00 am 39/14 Scams & Frauds: Staying Safe Thru the Holidays  Presenter: Luke Perrin, Outreach with NC Dept. of Justice 

January 14, 2026 10:00 am  45/ Meet the NCAE Candidates  • President: Christina Cole christinamcole13@gmail.com, 919-628-5584  (running as a team with Reilly Finnegan) • Vice-President: Reilly Finnegan Reillybfinnegan@gmail.com, 336-420-2092  (running as a team with Christina Cole) • Vice-President: Matthew Poston  (submitted statement) Schoolpal76@aol.com, 336-970-7807 

February 11, 2026 1:00 pm  34/ Meet the NCRSP Candidates  • President: Tama R. Bouncer • Vice-President: Sandra Hatley • Treasurer: Gretchen Lampe (incumbent) • Secretary:  Julia Yamaoka Thorn (incumbent) 

March 11, 2026 2:00 pm  Convention March 25-26  18/ Convention 101: conducting business using Parliamentary Procedure and writing New Business Items for submission at the convention.  Presenters: by Roger Harris, NCRSP Parliamentarian And Sheri Strickland Mulling, Chair of the NBI Committee 

March 11, 2026 4:30 pm  Special Zoom Meet the Candidates for NCAE Vice-President 2026 • Vice-President: Reilly Finnegan Reillybfinnegan@gmail.com, 336-420-2092  (running as a team with Christina Cole) • Vice-President: Brian Link brianjlink@gmail.com • Vice-President: Matthew Poston  Schoolpal76@aol.com, 336-970-7807 

April 8, 2026 2:00 pm Specific Title to be determined  Presenter: Colleen Lanier, NCRSP Legislative Chairperson 

May 13, 2026 10:00 am NEA Member Benefits, an update to changes in Member Benefits   Presenter: Kimberly Lindsey, NEA Member Benefits  KLindsey@neamb.com June 10, 2026