The following article was written by Marc Winger, ACSA Council of Retired Leaders president, and Lilibeth Pinpin, ACSA Council of Retired Leaders secretary.

The ACSA Council of Retired Leaders, working from its Keeping the Spirit Alive document, pushed forward this year on a number of key initiatives to support ACSA retirees and those nearing retirement.

Member outreach & research A comprehensive survey was conducted among all currently retired members and those aged 55+. This data is being used to refine council programming and will be administered periodically to track evolving member needs. The one big takeaway — ACSA retired members want to continue to be involved in ACSA in a variety of ways.

Strategic communications EdCal presence: The council wrote three articles detailing its activities. All were successfully published.

Direct marketing: A new annual ACSA Emeritus membership marketing package was developed for district HR personnel to distribute to retiring employees each spring.

Quarterly newsletter: A new digital publication was launched to keep 55+ ACSA members informed on benefits, news, and events. The inaugural edition debuted in March 2026, with the next scheduled for June. The newsletter also raises much-needed awareness of Emeritus Membership.

Professional development & engagement Leadership Summit: The dedicated retiree session strand will remain a fixture of the summit to ensure continued representation.

Webinar series: In response to high demand from the 2025 survey, three webinars were delivered covering CalSTRS overviews, peer Q&A panels, and financial planning with Partners4Purpose. These offerings will expand during the 2026-27 term.

Coaching: Newsletters are actively promoting opportunities for retirees to remain professionally involved through ACSA’s coaching initiatives.

The council will continue its active role of raising awareness of resources, events and other opportunities that pertain to retirees and soon-to-be retirees. For more information, reach out to your regional leadership or visit the ACSA website at acsa.org/membership.