News





Skiles, James J. "Jim"
MADISON


James J. "Jim" Skiles, Professor Emeritus of Electrical and Computer Engineering, passed away Oct. 19, 2020, at the age of 92. He was born Oct. 16, 1928, in St. Louis, Mo., the son of Coy and Vernetta Skiles.

James received a Bachelor of Science degree from Washington University in St. Louis in 1948, a master's degree from the Missouri School of Mines & Metallurgy in 1951, and a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin in 1954, all in Electrical Engineering.


From 1954 until his retirement in 1989, Jim worked as a professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He was Chairman of the Department from 1967-72, Director of the University-Industry Research Program 1972-76, Wisconsin Electric Utilities Professor of Energy Engineering 1976-89, Director of the Energy Research Center 1976-89, and served on the Graduate School Research Committee.

Jim was a specialist in Electric Power Systems and in Analog and Digital Computer Technologies and Applications. He authored and co-authored numerous technical papers and supervised the research of Ph.D. and master's degree students throughout his career. He continued his research on Superconductive Magnetic Storage Systems and working with students on Hybrid Vehicle projects for several years after retirement.

Jim was an Eagle Scout and throughout his life enjoyed outdoor activities, including gardening, bird watching, camping, backpacking, canoeing, and downhill skiing. He was a pilot and aircraft owner for 25 years, and he and his pilot wife traveled in their airplane throughout much of the U.S., Canada, and Alaska.

He enjoyed travel and visited more than 50 countries. He journeyed to Antarctica and also took extensive voyages on Russian Icebreakers in the Arctic Ocean along the northern coasts of Siberia, Greenland and among Canada's Arctic islands.

Jim was preceded in death by the love of his life, Deloris, whom he married on Sept. 4, 1948; and by his son, Randall Skiles. He is survived by his sons, Steven (Marsha) Skiles and Jeffrey (Barbara) Skiles; as well as grandchildren, Kelly, Matthew, and James. A celebration of life will be held at a future date.

Jim was a founding member of the Wisconsin Coalition of Annuitants.



Wisconsin Legislative Audit Bureau Reports
By Year


Report 20-9 | September 2020 | Retirement Funds Investment Activity
Briefing Sheet
Mobile Briefing Sheet
Full Report

Report 20-14 | September 2020 | Wisconsin Retirement System
Briefing Sheet
Mobile Briefing Sheet
Full Report
Follow Up

Report 20-15 | September 2020 | Wisconsin Retirement System Reporting for Participating Employers
Briefing Sheet
Mobile Briefing Sheet
Full Report

Report 20-16 | September 2020 | Retiree Life Insurance Programs
Briefing Sheet
Mobile Briefing Sheet
Full Report

Report 20-17 | September 2020 | State Retiree Life Insurance Reporting for the State of Wisconsin
Briefing Sheet
Mobile Briefing Sheet
Full Report

Report 20-18 | September 2020 | Local Retiree Life Insurance Reporting for Participating Employers
Briefing Sheet
Mobile Briefing Sheet
Full Report




Sarah Godlewski, Wisconsin State Treasurer, update on the Retirement Security Task Force
presented at the September WCOA meeting.

























click photo to go to the 'top1000funds' site for the full article.





click photo to go to the 'top1000funds' site for the full article.






The two items above would have been presented to the ETF Board at the March ETF meeting. There was no meeting this year because of the pandemic. Click on the upper photo to see the whole presentation.



A letter from David Villa:


SWIB Response to COVID-19

To WRS participants and other stakeholders :

The recent market movement has been volatile and significant. Over the past several weeks, the spread of COVID-19 has had a major impact on global financial markets. SWIB is continuing to monitor, analyze, and respond to market conditions. Our investment and trading operations continue as usual, and we can operate remotely during the public health crisis.

It is important to remember that SWIB is a long-term investor. Although no investment strategy can prevent losses, our goal is to generate returns over the long-term to help ensure the WRS remains strong. SWIB is positioning to take opportunities now and for the eventual market rebound. It is still early in the year. Governments around the globe are taking unprecedented efforts to both contain the virus and help stabilize the economy. As many of our stakeholders know, market gains and losses for the Core Trust Fund are smoothed over five years. Last year’s net return of 19.33% and SWIB’s highly diversified portfolio put us in a strong position to weather this current downturn.

This is not the first time we have had to deal with stresses in the markets, and it will not be the last. These are unprecedented economic times that create uncertainty around what might happen next. But, just as we did through previous market challenges, we will continue to adapt, work hard, monitor our investments, and take opportunities where we see them on behalf of the trust funds that we manage.

On behalf of the SWIB Board of Trustees and our committed staff, stay safe as we navigate through the days ahead.

David Villa
Executive Director/Chief Investment Officer




2020 Census Jobs The U.S. Census Bureau is recruiting to fill hundreds of thousands of temporary positions across the country to assist with the 2020 Census count.

Message from Tarna Hunter:

I am following up on the conversation I had with WCOA members this morning about assisting the U.S. Census Bureau with the 2020 Census count. Please forward this to WCOA members for distribution to their retiree group members.

The U.S. Census Bureau is recruiting to fill thousands of temporary positions across Wisconsin to assist with the 2020 Census count. Jobs with the 2020 Census will help ensure Wisconsin has a complete count and will inform how billions of dollars are distributed for hospitals, schools, roads, and more. Jobs with the 2020 Census offer great pay, flexible hours, paid training, and a chance to help keep moving Wisconsin forward together.

For more information about 2020 Census jobs or help applying, please call
1-855-JOB-2020 or go to 2020census.gov/jobs

If you have questions, please contact Joanna Beilman-Dulin, 608-267-7873 or email joanna.beilmandulin@wisconsin.gov

Additionally, the U.S. Census Bureau has an interactive map that reflects 2020 Census recruiting goals by county in all states. If you select Wisconsin, and hover your mouse over a particular county, you will see a box pop up that provides that county’s percent goal achieved and the current rate for census taker jobs in that county.

Joanna would like to extend her appreciation for your willingness to let your members know about the 2020 Census jobs.

Thank you,

Tarna


. . . go here for report on ETF site


Click photo below for the Washington Monthly article, discussed at the February meeting, regarding 'Medicare Prices for All'.


. . . go here pdf

. . . go here for SHIFT Appendix pdf



. . . go here for full report




. . . go here for full report





State sues technology vendor for breach of contract after work halted on ETF benefits system
Complaint: Only 7 percent of work completed


By: Jessica Arp
Posted: Mar 21, 2019 09:27 AM CDT Updated: Mar 21, 2019 09:30 AM CDT


MADISON, Wis. - The State of Wisconsin is suing a vendor contracted to build a new computer system for the Department of Employee Trust Funds, claiming they paid the company $14.3 million and only 7 percent of the project was completed.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice filed the lawsuit on March 8, claiming Vitech Systems Group did not live up to a contract to create a new benefits system that would administer programs to public employees.

A News 3 Now investigation first reported that the project had halted in March 2018, but lawmakers weren't notified until a July memo. Even after the memo, some lawmakers were not aware of the issue with the major project until asked by News 3 Now.

. . . go here to read whole story.





WISCONSIN COALITION OF ANNUITANTS
1924 Pleasant View Drive Stoughton, WI 53589-1959
Chair: Sandy Drew, email: sdrew24@tds.net: telephone: 608-833-5811


February 28, 2019 WISCONSIN
State and Local
GOVERNMENT
RETIREES



Honorable Robert Cowles, State Senator
118 South, State Capitol
Madison WI 53707

Honorable Samantha Kerkman, State Representative
315 North, State Capitol
Madison WI 53708


Dear Senator Cowles and Representative Kerkman:

I am writing on behalf of the Wisconsin Coalition of Annuitants’ (WCOA) Board. The WCOA is composed of organizations that represent retired state and local government employees who are covered by the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS). Many of them also participate in the group health insurance program and other benefit programs under the supervision of the Group Insurance Board (GIB) and administered by the Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF). As such, the WCOA closely follows the two agencies that oversee the WRS and the other employee benefit programs to assure they are administered for the benefit of the participants.

The WCOA discussed the audit of the Group Insurance Board that was recently completed by the Joint Legislative Audit Bureau, particularly the release of sensitive personal information. The Board felt the issue of the breach of Social Security numbers was addressed by the LAB and ETF. With respect to the release of other personal information, the Board passed the following motion: “The WCOA appreciates ETF’s thorough analysis and process in communicating GIB participants’ personal identifying data.”

We trust you will share this with the other committee members. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Sandy Drew
Chair

Cc: Tarna Hunter, ETF



ORGANIZATIONS IN THE WISCONSIN COALITION OF ANNUITANTS
West Allis Retirees - DILHR Retirees - Epsilon Sigma Phi - AFSCME Retirees Chapter 7 – WI Professional Police Association Retired - DNR Retirees - Wisconsin Retired School District Administrators - Wisconsin Education Association Council Retired - Beloit Area Retired Educators Association - UW Eau Claire Emeriti Faculty - UW-Madison Retirement Association – Office of the Commissioner of Insurance - UW Milwaukee Retiree’s Association -Wisconsin State Attorneys Association - Association of Career Employees – SWIB Retirees - WFT/AFT Retirees - Retired Professional Fire Fighters of WI - Wisconsin Retired Corrections Personnel - State Engineering Association - Central Wisconsin Center Retirees - State Attorneys Association - DOT Retirees - Wauwatosa Employees Retirement Club -Wisconsin Retired Educators Association



NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 20, 2018

Audit Examines SWIB Performance and Management Special February Southern ARC Meeting Announcement

For More Information Contact:
Senator Robert Cowles, 800.334.1465
Representative Samantha Kerkman, 888.529.0061

MADISON – Today, the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau (LAB) released its biennial evaluation of the State of Wisconsin Investment Board (report 18-19). SWIB invests assets for the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS), the State Investment Fund, and five other funds.

As of December 2017, SWIB managed $117.0 billion in assets for the State. In 2017, the WRS Core Fund and Variable Fund exceeded five-year benchmarks with average annual investment returns of 8.6 percent and 13.3 percent, respectively. However, the Core Fund’s investment return did not meet the long-term expected rate-of-return assumption of 7.2 percent on a 20-year basis in 2016 or 2017. Given that SWIB projects it may earn investment returns between 6.2 percent and 6.8 percent annually for the next five to seven years, LAB recommends SWIB conduct additional stress tests that focus on the effect of sustained market downturns and certain other conditions. SWIB had 188.0 authorized full-time equivalent positions, and 40 contracted staff positions in December 2017. LAB reviewed five staff recruitments SWIB conducted in early 2018 and recommends SWIB revise its hiring policy to ensure it equally considers all qualified applicants. LAB also noted that, SWIB staff received $29.4 million in salaries and fringe benefits and $11.5 million in bonuses for 2017 performance.

“As market changes are anticipated, we are looking to SWIB for exceedingly good management,” said Rep. Samantha Kerkman (R-Salem Lakes). “SWIB has the framework for best-possible performance which comes with a high expectation of transparency and accountability across all areas of responsibility.”

From 2013 through 2017, LAB found SWIB’s annual expenses increased by 21.7 percent. After considering the effect of increases in assets managed by SWIB, LAB found the increase in annual expenses was attributable to higher management fees paid to external investment managers for more-complex investment strategies, an information systems implementation, and the hiring of additional staff. LAB recommends SWIB track future technology project expenses, develop policies to require Board approval for expenses that exceed the total budget, and report investment returns that include management fees and other investment expenses to the Board.

“I have long been an advocate of prudent fiscal management in state government. Maintaining thorough oversight of operating and project expenses needs to be at the forefront of the Board’s priorities to determine the appropriateness of budget overruns and avoid unnecessary cost while continuing to allow SWIB to manage investments to the best of their ability,” said Senator Robert Cowles (R-Green Bay).

Copies of report 18-19 may be obtained from LAB’s website, www.legis.wisconsin.gov/lab, or by calling (608) 266- 2818.

Report concerns related to state government activities to LAB by calling the toll-free hotline at
1-877-FRAUD-17.