MI-SERA

Chair Talk

March 2025

By Cheryl Streberger

Dear Lansing SERA members, it has come to my attention that the Lansing SERA executive board voted on March 5, 2025, to sever the relationship between your chapter and the SERA Coordinating Council.

The Lansing chapter was the second SERA chapter to join the Coordinating Council in 1975; the Jackson chapter was the first. So, the relationship has lasted many years. If this relationship ends it could not only cause havoc within the chapter but will diminish the strength SERA has within the State of Michigan, but it could be a negative move to current and future retirees.

The Lansing executive board does not see the value being part of the SERA Coordinating Council. The Coordinating Council has had many successes, it is because of the efforts of SERA that we were able to obtain pension increases or benefit improvements at least twelve times since 1974. That in 2011 SERA opposed the Pension Tax and was instrumental in eliminating the pension tax for retirees born before 1946. SERA also worked for 10 years to get the Pension Tax repealed. SERA was also instrumental in keeping Emergency Room co-pays at $50.00 for Medicare Eligible retirees when it was raised to $200 for active and non-Medicare retirees. SERA was also responsible for entering into an agreement with The Hantz Group.

If the Lansing SERA severs the relationship with SERA Coordinating Council anyone who participated in the benefit package offered by the Hantz Group your discounts will disappear and you will have to pay full cost. The chapter will also lose new members recruited and paid for by the Hantz Group, anyone wishing to join your chapter will not get the “First Year Free” they will have paid themselves.

So, I hope when this is presented to you for consideration you will see that our history and accomplishments are greater than an executive board who are disgruntled with the SERA Coordinating Council. We have much more work to do as an organization and we must stand together. We will be stronger together.

Editor’s note: Cheryl Streberger is Chair of the Michigan SERA Coordinating Council. She may be reached at cstreberger@yahoo.com or 517/515-9815.


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March 2025 By Cheryl Streberger Dear Lansing SERA members, it has come to my attention that the Lansing SERA executive board voted on March 5, 2025, to sever the relationship between your chapter and the SERA Coordinating Council. The Lansing chapter was the second SERA chapter to join the Coordinating Council in 1975; the Jackson chapter was the first. So, the relationship has lasted many years. If this relationship ends it could not only cause havoc within the chapter but will diminish the strength SERA has within the State of Michigan, but it could be a negative move to current and future retirees. The Lansing executive board does not see the value being part of the SERA Coordinating Council. The Coordinating Council has had many successes, it is because of the efforts of SERA that we were able to obtain pension increases or benefit improvements at least twelve times since 1974. That in 2011 SERA opposed the Pension Tax and was instrumental in eliminating the pension tax for retirees born before 1946. SERA also worked for 10 years to get the Pension Tax repealed. SERA was also instrumental in keeping Emergency Room co-pays at $50.00 for Medicare Eligible retirees when it was raised to $200 for active and non-Medicare retirees. SERA was also responsible for entering into an agreement with The Hantz Group. If the Lansing SERA severs the relationship with SERA Coordinating Council anyone who participated in the benefit package offered by the Hantz Group your discounts will disappear and you will have to pay full cost. The chapter will also lose new members recruited and paid for by the Hantz Group, anyone wishing to join your chapter will not get the “First Year Free” they will have paid themselves. So, I hope when this is presented to you for consideration you will see that our history and accomplishments are greater than an executive board who are disgruntled with the SERA Coordinating Council. We have much more work to do as an organization and we must stand together. We will be stronger together. Editor’s note: Cheryl Streberger is Chair of the Michigan SERA Coordinating Council. She may be reached at cstreberger@yahoo.com or 517/515-9815.
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