Expanding Our Reach. Strengthening Our Voice.

Winter Edition 2026 | Living Power Magazine

RGEA is preparing for one of the most significant initiatives in our recent history—a renewed statewide member recruitment campaign launching in early 2026. This effort is designed to strengthen our collective voice, expand awareness of RGEA’s mission, and ensure retirees and future retirees have the protection and advocacy they deserve for decades to come.

Why now? The answer is simple: strength in numbers. Our recent messaging survey showed that while longtime members understand RGEA’s role as a legislative advocate and trusted resource, many retirees across North Carolina still do not know who we are or how we stand guard for them. More than half of non-members cited “not knowing what RGEA does” as their biggest barrier to joining. Growing our membership is one of the most effective ways to close that awareness gap and increase our impact in the legislature, where decisions about pensions and healthcare benefits are made.

For current members, this campaign is an opportunity to help strengthen the association you rely on. Every new member adds weight to RGEA’s advocacy, reinforces our presence in communities across the state, and helps protect the benefits that today’s retirees (and tomorrow’s) depend on. If you know retirees who served their communities in education, public safety, health, and other sectors, or in local government, a personal invitation from you can make a meaningful difference.

Throughout 2026, you will see more about our membership drive. We will be expanding our digital outreach, increasing our presence on social media, and launching new tools to reach retirees where they are, whether online, in their communities, or through new communication channels. You may have already noticed one of these steps. RGEA is now on Instagram, and we invite you to follow @rgeainfo for stories, photos, and updates from members across North Carolina.

More exciting developments are in the works and we can promise this: Our goal is to strengthen RGEA’s visibility, modernize how we connect, and ensure that every retiree, member or not, knows that RGEA stands guard for them.

As we look ahead, we remain focused on building a stronger and more connected association. Your support helps extend our reach, amplify our advocacy, and reinforce the mission at the heart of everything we do. Together, we can make 2026 a year defined by unity, growth, and meaningful progress for all North Carolina retirees.