ERS reconnects in person with retirees

On April 26 and 27, ERS held its biennial Staying Connected retiree fairs in Austin. They were the first in-person member events ERS has held since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.

A total of almost 100 retirees attended over two days. Executive Director Porter Wilson provided an update on benefits and legislative activities, followed by presentations on physical activity and mental stimulation to maintain wellness. You can watch a recording of the presentations at Staying Connected Fairs events page. Attendees also had the opportunity to talk one-on-one with ERS staff, administrators of Texas Employees Group Benefits Program insurance plans, and representatives of state employee and retiree associations.

In the past, we’ve held Staying Connected fairs in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and Houston, as well as in Austin. This biennium, due to COVID-19 surges followed by problems finding appropriate venues, we had to delay the events by several months and eventually bypass DFW and Houston. We hope to bring Staying Connected back to all three regions in fall 2023.