The mission of the Pennsylvania Association of Public Employee Retirement Systems (PAPERS) shall be to encourage and facilitate the education of its membership in all matters related to their duties as fiduciaries overseeing the assets of the pension funds with which they have been entrusted.  It will be PAPERS' primary purpose to conduct an annual educational forum that provides the basis for improved financial and operational performance of the public employee retirement systems in the State. PAPERS will function as a central resource for educational purposes and act as a networking agent for all public plan staff and board members.

To learn more about PAPERS, please click here.

From the Desk of the Executive Director

Just when l think spring is not going to arrive, a red cardinal sits on a tree behind my office window. I am one of those who believe in the symbolism of the red cardinal.  Since I was sitting down to write my comments for this newsletter, I made the leap to wonder if PAPERS’ founding Executive Director the late Jim Perry, was peeking in my window to give me some words of advice.

A couple months ago I celebrated my first year anniversary with PAPERS. I honestly can say the year has flown by.  I am so grateful for the unwavering support and input of every board member, every officer, and every member of PAPERS.  I have experience in helping associations grow but this association is unique where members keep me fresh on what is important. And that is why we are not just growing but will be thriving!

One example is our new certification program. After countless hours of work from the Education Committee members and PAPERS Board, we will be accepting enrollment at the May Forum.  This is another great reason for you to attend the Forum in addition to the fabulous sessions and networking opportunities. The curriculum is phenomenal and the input from the Education Committee second to none.  I think Jim Perry is smiling down on us and saying good job because he knows how much everyone has put into this project.  

Karen K Deklinski

kdeklinski@msn.com

717-979-5788

Click here to access the latest issue of the PAPERS e-newsletter

(Spring 2018)

Click here for the conference final agenda.

Many of the presentations given at the conference are posted at: http://www.pa-pers.org/newweb/forum.html.

Thanks to Corporate Sponsors for This Forum

 Platinum

BNY Mellon

T. Rowe Price 

Gold

Neuberger Berman

NPPFA (National Public Pension Fund Association)

Pension Technology Group

 Silver

C.S. McKee

NAREIT

Penn Capital

In Memoriam

PAPERS founder and Executive Director Emeritus James A. "Jim" Perry passed away in February, 2018.    Jim had a long career in public pension fund administration, serving as Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Public School Employees' Retirement System (PSERS) for many years and was a past president of the National Council on Teacher Retirement.   His continued concern for providing retirement security for public employees and fiduciary education for the trustees/management of public pension funds led to his founding of PAPERS in 2005.

By-Law Update Adds New PAPERS Membership Category

A recent update to PAPERS by-laws now provides for the new category of Sustaining Membership.  Any individual with an interest in public pensions but not affiliated with an organization which qualifies for group membership may now join PAPERS upon payment of annual dues of $75.     Sustaining membership is not available to any person affiliated with a public pension plan which qualifies for a PAPERS Participating Membership or with a firm providing services to public pension plans which qualifies for an Associate Membership or an Affiliate Membership.  

Click here for more information about PAPERS membership categories.