As an MEA-Retired member you’re part of the 116,000 member Michigan Education Association and NEA-Retired, our national counterpart in the over 3 million member NEA. That’s powerful representation by the largest association in the state and in the nation concerned exclusively with the interests of education employees and retirees.
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What is MEA-Retired?
MEA-Retired stands for Michigan Education Association-Retired. It is an MEA affiliate made up of current and retired public school employees.
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What MEA-Retired Does for You.
MEA-Retired retirees vigorously lobby to maintain and improve retirement and health benefits for all public school employees. And more…
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MEA-Retired - Of Course!
As an MEA-Retired member you’re part of the 116,000 member Michigan Education Association and NEA-Retired, our national counterpart in the 2.2 million member NEA.
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Leadership
Learn more about MEA-Retired Officers. As lifetime members of MEA-Retired, our officers have a longstanding relationship with this community.
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Membership
Help protect the benefits that took a lifetime to obtain. Join MEA-Retired today. Find out more about who we are, what we do and added benefits of membership.
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FAQs
This is your resource for MEA-Retired frequently asked questions. Get information about membership benefits, as well as navigating through the website.
"MEA‐Retired supports active and retired members as we adapt to changes firmly based on our wide‐range of experiences and
connections with our creative commitment to quality education."
Michael Koen, MAHE Liaison, MEA-Retired Board of Directors
PRESS RELEASE: Sept. 26, 2025:
Longtime Rockford Teacher Honored
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
GRAND RAPIDS — Retired veteran Rockford Public Schools teacher and longtime Rockford resident Fred Overeem has received a key labor award from the Kent County Democratic Party (KCDP).
Fred, 86, received the Dorothy Newman Service Award on Sept. 20 from the party’s Labor-Educator Caucus “for his longstanding commitment of time and talent, and for being a treasure to both unionism and the KCDP,” said Jeff Pietrowski, of the Kent County Education Association.
Fred spent 36 years as a teacher in the Rockford Public Schools district.
“Outside of all those wonderful years in the classroom with all those great kids … One highlight of my career,” Fred said, “was developing an astronomy teaching unit, in cooperation with Gary Tomlinson and Dave DeBruin, at the Chaffee Planetarium — in Grand Rapids — and the James C. Veen Observatory” in Lowell.
As a member of the Rockford Jaycees, Fred said he led the BB gun safety program and coached the Rockford team, winning two second- and a third-place finish at the Jaycees state BB gun tournament. The team that took first place, he said, “went on to win at the Nationals. We were on target” with those programs.”
Fred said he personally has also enjoyed rifle marksmanship competition, and has “placed high in state and national competition.”
Music has also played a large part in Fred's life, he said: “I was a member of the concert and marching band while attending Central Michigan University. Later, I participated in the Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus, the Grand Rapids Bach Choral, and the Opera Grand Rapids chorus.
“Occasionally the opera gave me small roles to sing, such as the jailer in “Tosca,” and Uncle Ukaside in “Madam Butterfly. “
Now at age 86, “outdoor activities are still a major interest to me. Hiking, camping during warm weather, and Nordic / cross country skiing when there is snow are all nice.
“Whatever my old bones will let me do,” he chuckled.
Fred Overeem Honored: L-R: Jeff Pietrowski, Fred Overeem and Aaron Eling, MEA Secretary/Treasurer.
Photos by Bridget Fox