CRCEA Committees

Committee Chair: Rhonda Biesemeier
Click here to contact Rhonda

The Benefits Committee is a standing committee of CRCEA established by Article VII, Section 1 of the Bylaws and is responsible for all CRCEA benefits activities. The president, with the approval of the Executive Committee, appoints the chairperson. The Benefits Committee operates under the chairperson assigned to oversee the committee.

The Benefits Committee is responsible for:

1.  Maintaining a list of each member association’s benefits
2.  Establishing a contact in each member association to provide benefit information
3.  Helping member associations obtain new benefits for their retirees
4.  Working toward unifying retiree benefits among 1937 Act counties
5.  Developing new benefits for retirees

Committee Chair:  David Muir  (Los Angeles)
Click here to contact David

The Bylaws Committee is a standing committee of CRCEA established by Article VII, Section 1, of the Bylaws, responsible for updating and maintaining these documents. The committee operates under the officer assigned to oversee the committee. The president, with the approval of the Executive Committee appoints the chairperson.

The Bylaws Committee is responsible for:

1. Updating and maintaining the CRCEA Bylaws and Operation Manuals
2. Working with the Board and the other committees in developing the necessary changes to these documents to meet their needs
3. Reviewing these documents annually
4. Notifying the Executive Committee, Secretary, and Executive Secretary in writing not less than 60 days preceding any Regular or Annual Meeting of any proposed changes, accompanied by an explanatory statement of the changes, if bylaws are involved.
5. Publishing revised updates of these documents annually.

Click here to download the bylaws.

NOTE: The secretary and/or executive secretary is to notify the member associations of the bylaw and policy changes 30 days before the Regular and/or Annual Meeting.

Committee Chair:  Virginia Adams (San Bernardino)
Click here to contact Virginia

The Communications Committee is a standing committee of CRCEA established by Article VII, Section 1, of the bylaws, responsible for the overall communication of CRCEA. The committee operates under the chairperson assigned to oversee the committee. The president, with the approval of the executive committee, appoints the chairperson.

The Communications Committee is responsible for:

1. Developing an effective communication network between CRCEA delegates, member associations, affiliate members, and other organizations
2. Improving communication in all areas by whatever means is most efficient for the circumstances. Such means may include:
   1. Intercom newsletter
   2. News bulletins
   3. Direct communication via telephone/email/fax/regular mail
   4. Work with the Conference Committee to provide speakers to explain CRCEA’s mission to individual associations whenever requested
   5. Provide immediate response to inquiries, either personally or by referral to appropriate officer/committee, and follow-up on all referrals to make sure each inquiry was satisfactorily handled
   6. Notify the executive committee/president of any concerns received through contacts with associations/individuals
3. Developing and maintaining CRCEA’s informational database (website)
4. Working with Intercom Editor to produce and keep improving the newsletter by:
   1. Having all committees write articles each issue
   2. Helping obtain news articles from member associations and affiliate members
   3. Helping obtain articles of interest from other sources
   4. Making suggestions for improvements

Committee Chair: Mike Sloan  (Contra Costa)
Click here to email Mike

The Conference Committee is a standing committee of CRCEA established by Article VII, Section 1, of the Bylaws, responsible for all conference activities. The committee operates under the chairperson assigned to oversee the committee. The president appoints the chairperson, with the approval of the Executive Committee. CRCEA conferences are the forum for maintaining our organization, and they must be planned with care and diligence to fulfill our mission.

The Conference Committee is responsible for:

1. Determining duties and authority for the conference agenda
2. Developing and maintaining the CRCEA Conference Manual that provides the Host County with the necessary information to know:
   1. What facilities are required to meet the conference needs
   2. How many hotel, meeting, banquet, and hospitality rooms are needed
   3. How to confirm room rates, select menus, establish food prices, determine setup, and meeting room changes
   4. How to understand and negotiate the facility contract
   5. What committees are needed
   6. Set up and do the necessary registration, hospitality time, banquet and entertainment
   7. How to prepare the letter of invitation, conference announcement, and a registration form
   8. The conference timing schedule when all these events should take place
   9. To obtain and make the necessary arrangements for the conference welcoming speaker
3. Establishing a conference sub-committee that would meet and work with the host county in the planning stage to:
   1. Go over the manual with them.
   2. Be available to answer questions during the planning process
   3. Help them make the necessary arrangements if requested
   4. Get any new information required to keep the manual up to date after the conference

Committee Chair:  Jerry Jacobs  (Alameda)
Click here to email Jerry

The Finance/Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing financial activities of CRCEA. The president, with the approval of the Executive Committee appoints the chairperson. The committee operates under the chairperson assigned to oversee the committee. The treasurer has over-all responsibility for all financial matters and records for CRCEA. The duties required to meet these responsibilities may be delegated to the Financial/Planning/Budget Committee, and/or the Executive Secretary as the Board of Directors may prescribe. 

The Finance Committee is responsible for:

ACCOUNTING

1. Accounting for CRCEA shall be on a cash basis.
2. The accounting period will be based on the calendar year ending Dec 31.
3. All purchases are to be receipted, recorded, and accounted for within 7 days of receipt.
4. All disbursements are to be made in accordance with the approved budget and/or approval of the President and/or Board of Directors,upon receipt of proper documentation.
5. Keep regular, thorough, and full accounts of all receipts and disbursements, including solvency position of CRCEA.
6. Prepare all Federal and State reports and tax returns as required by law.
7. Prepare appropriate and/or required detail financial reports of CRCEA, quarterly to the Executive Committee, and semi-annually to the Board of Directors. Said reports may include:
   1. Balance sheet
   2. Statement of Income & Expenses (Quarterly and Year to Date)
   3. Membership/Affiliate dues report (as requested)
   4. Prepare other financial reports as requested
8. Enforce the budgetary and expenditure limitations for travel, meals, and conferences as adopted by the Executive Committee, and approved by the Board of Directors
   1. A proper receipted hotel bill is required
   2. Not to exceed economy airfare when such air transportation is readily available – When the rates established by the host county for the regular and annual conferences exceed the above limits,the established rates will be considered acceptable.
   3. The host county expense allowances shall set by the Executive Committee and approved by the board of directors.

AUDITS
There shall be an audit performed annually of the Treasurer’s, and/or Executive Secretary’s, records.

1. The Executive Committee will select the auditor to perform this audit.
2. The audit is to be completed in sufficient time for the report to be available for the president and Executive Committee on March 1st, and for the membership at the first Regular Meeting (April).
3. The Finance/Planning/Budget Chairperson shall present the audit report at the Regular (April) Meeting.

Committee Chair:  Art Goulet  (Ventura)
Click here to email Art

To review the latest Legislative Report, click here.

The Legislative Committee is responsible for all CRCEA’s legislative activities. The committee operates under a chairperson assigned to oversee the committee. The president, with the approval of the Executive Committee, appoints the chairperson. The committee cannot function effectively without the active support of the member associations. To this end, it is imperative that the delegates and alternates of all member associations, and their respective officers, directors, and the legislative chairperson, recognize their responsibilities in this process.

The Legislation Committee is responsible for:

1. Serving as a conduit of information by obtaining information about legislation in progress, polling member associations for their reactions, and consolidating them into a CRCEA position to be expressed to the appropriate people in the legislature.
2. Coordinating with the Legislative Consultant at all times
3. Monitoring pending legislation and any amendments thereto, both federal and state, affecting the retirees belonging to our member associations
4. Introducing appropriate legislation requested or required by CRCEA action.
5. After reviewing pending legislation, recommend a course of action to be taken by CRCEA.
6. Meeting, when necessary, to review any matters pertaining to pending or proposed legislation.
7. Preparing written reports to the Board of Directors summarizing all pertinent current bills together with its recommendations for support, opposed or neutral, and furnish copies to all delegates prior to meeting dates.
8. Presenting written reports summarizing all pertinent current bills together with its recommendations for support, opposed or neutral, at the semi-annual CRCEA Board of Directors meetings.
9. Preparing letters to bill authors, policy committees, and others expressing CRCEA’s position.
10. Providing necessary information to member associations for letter writing campaigns.
11. In the event that the Legislative Committee is unable to reach a consensus, or in the case of a highly controversial piece of legislation, the committee shall obtain a consensus by polling the various member associations by telephone.
12. The Legislative Committee is authorized to act without consulting the membership on legislation requiring emergency action, after consultation with our legislative consultant.
13. The Legislative Committee will establish and maintain a working relationship with the professional staff of both the Assembly Public Retirement and Social Security Committee and the Senate Public Employee and Retirement Committee, and insofar as possible, the committee chairman and committee members themselves.
14. The Legislative Committee will also establish and maintain similar working relationships with other influential organizations, including, but not limited to, the State Association of County Retirement Systems (SACRS) Legislative Committee, the County State Association of Counties (CSAC), the California Taxpayers Association, and the various unions representing active county employees. However, the committee will recognize the fact that on some occasions our positions may differ sharply.
15. Working with the legislature to simplify the County Employees Retirement Law of 1937 Act to try and eliminate its complexity.

Committee Chair:  Rhonda Biesemeier  (Stanislaus)
Click here to email Rhonda

The Membership Committee is a standing committee of CRCEA established by Article VII, Section 1, of the Bylaws, responsible for achieving membership goals of CRCEA. The committee operates under the officer assigned to oversee the committee. The president, with the approval of the Executive Committee, appoints the chairperson.

The Membership Committee is responsible for:

1. Maintaining current and accurate name and address records
2. Planning and developing a membership program to achieve stated goals
3. Providing a network among associations that fosters increased membership
4. Preparing and distributing statistics comparing membership achievements
5. Planning programs for conferences to promote membership drives
6. Preparing education and training programs and brochures

NOTE: The secretary, with the help of the committee, will develop a common CRCEA database.

The secretary will be responsible for the CRCEA database; maintaining current and accurate listings of the following:

1. Delegate Roster
2. Alternate Delegate Roster
3. Member Association Officer and Delegate Roster
4. Affiliate Member Roster
5. Mailing list for Intercom and other mailings
6. Legislative representatives

To view the Membership Survey (Spring 2022), click here.

Committee Chair:  Will Hoag   (Ventura)
Click here to email Will

The Nominating Committee is a standing committee of CRCEA established by Article VII, Section 1, of the Bylaws, responsible for the nomination of all officers for CRCEA. The president, with the approval of the Executive Committee, appoints the chairperson. The committee operates under the chairperson assigned to oversee the committee.

The Nominating Committee is responsible for:

1. The process for obtaining nominees for next year’s officers should start just after the spring conference.
2. Presenting the committee’s recommendations in writing to the president 45 days prior to the Annual Meeting.
3. Presenting the committee’s recommendations at the Annual Meeting.
4. Working with the Education/Training Committee to develop training and education programs for elected officers.

NOTE: The secretary and/or executive secretary will notify the member associations of the content of the Nominating Committee’s recommendations 30 days before the Annual Meeting.

Committee Chair:  George Shoemaker  (San Diego)
Click here to email George

This committee was established in 2011.

The Retirement Security Committee’s purpose, goals and accomplishments are:

PURPOSE

1. To work toward providing affordable retirement security for both the public and private sectors, for our children and grandchildren; thereby strengthening America’s economy and social fabric.
2. To provide speakers for associations to speak on the CRCEA message
3. To provide responses to counter negative press articles written via editorials, general articles, and blog sites in our membership communities

GOALS

1. To have CRCEA recognized as a major voice on pension issues both with respect to the current pension debate and future issues
2. Actively work to counter threats to our, and our children’s, retirement future, and the economy; now and into the future
3. Furthering the cause of affordable retirement security for all by working to persuade voters, government, and business decisions makers on sound pension policy.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

1. The committee has published “A Train Wreck in the Making.”  Click here to download it.
2. The committee has established a website that is a data base of important retirement security papers (www.crcearesearch.com).
3. The committee has provided associations with information on retirement security and other retirement issues.
4. The committee has, and continues to work with state and national organizations on retirement issues.

Committee Chair:  Gene Pennington (Marin County)
Click here to email Gene

This committee was established in 2019.

To read the latest report from the Technology Steering Committee, click here.