PMRE Executive Committee
Andrew MacAvoy
President
Jane Conetta
Vice President
Brigid Kinney
Secretary
Dot Braunstein
Treasurer
Patchogue-Medford Retired Educators: P.O. Box 723, Patchogue, NY 11772
*The PMRE officers listed above can be contacted via the PMCT
at ph#631-475-8515 or via email @ union@pmct.org
Patchogue-Medford Congress of Teachers (PMCT): P.O. Box 539, Patchogue, NY 11772.
PMRE 
and
VIEWS
September 2009
Editorial -
Health Care Fears
Health Insurance companies and their Republican allies have been working hard to confuse Americans
by spreading incorrect data about health care reform.
Here are eight common sense provisions that Obama wants included in reform of the system.
8 ways reform provides security and stability to those with or without coverage
· Ends Discrimination for Pre-Existing Conditions:
Insurance companies will be prohibited from refusing you coverage because of your medical history.
· Ends Exorbitant Out-of-Pocket Expenses, Deductibles or Co-Pays:
Insurance companies will have to abide by yearly caps on how much they can charge for out-of-pocket expenses.
· Ends Cost-Sharing for Preventive Care:
Insurance companies must fully cover, without charge, regular checkups
and tests that help you prevent illness, such as mammograms or eye and foot exams for diabetics.
· Ends Dropping of Coverage for Seriously Ill:
Insurance companies will be prohibited from dropping
or watering down insurance coverage for those who become seriously ill.
· Ends Gender Discrimination:
Insurance companies will be prohibited from charging you more because of your gender.
· Ends Annual or Lifetime Caps on Coverage:
Insurance companies will be prevented from placing annual
or lifetime caps on the coverage you receive.
· Extends Coverage for Young Adults:
Children would continue to be eligible for family coverage through the age of 26.
· Guarantees Insurance Renewal:
Insurance companies will be required to renew any policy
as long as the policyholder pays their premium in full.
Insurance companies won’t be allowed to refuse renewal because someone became sick.
One can see why insurance companies would oppose changes such as these.
Their bottom line would take a hit.
(Insurance companies’ yearly profits are always in the top 100 companies.)
Why are Republicans against it? Reason one is they want back in the driver’s seat in D.C.
and they will continue slinging as much mud as fast as they can knowing some of it will stick to Democrats.
Just remember that President Bush and the Reps. wanted to gut Social Security
because they didn’t believe in government run programs.
Their philosophy hasn’t changed.
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FACTS
· United Health Care has sent their employees to demonstrate against health care reform
when Congressional home town meetings are held.
· Republican strategist Dick Armey has organized people
to attend these meetings to shout and demonstrate.
· Contrary to claims that the shouters are “ordinary citizens”
verbally attacking their representatives,
the majority of attendees are part of organized PR demonstrations.
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Anytime you would like to share some information or even your views via a PMRE
Editorial, you can contact
the PMRE Editor, Mary Sayer at #(631) 949-3032.
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SOME OTHER INFO…
Linda Patrich’s daughter, Lauren, will be married on September 26th – Joy for the Pastrichs’!
Longtime PMRE activist, Claire Siegel, announced that her grandson, Jeffrey, Class of 2009 was the 3rd generation to graduate from PM High School.
After spending two marvelous weeks traveling in Alaska and Canada, David Prosser recommends the awesome scenery!
Ellen Rappaport informs us of a special Meet-the-Authors Night at Temple Beth El in Patchogue on October 27th at 7:30pm.
The book “Hidden Letters” is a true coming-of-age story told by an 18 year old boy living during the Holocaust.
What Ever Happened to…???
Bob Guglielmone, who taught at PMHS from 1968 to 1973, was named the new Bishop of Charleston,
South Carolina. Bob grew up in Mastic Beach and attended Seton Hall High School in Patchogue.
After leaving PMHS, he attended a seminary in Huntington (info from PMCT SpeakOut).
*Do you have an interesting story or tidbit to offer?
Please email or send us your quirky tale.*
PMRE Meeting Minutes –
June 11, 2009 PMRE General Meeting -
Announced the June 12th PMCT End of Year Party.
New Business: NYSUT Alerts for our awareness were discussed.
July 7, 2009
PMRE Executive Board Meeting
New Business: The PMRE Calendar for 2009-2010 was discussed and established.
The agenda for the September 9th General Breakfast meeting was formulated.
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In Memoriam
PMRE extends its deepest sympathy to the following members
who have suffered a grievous loss over the summer:
Former PMCT/PMRE Representative, Elizabeth (Betty Frail) Pollitt, lost her husband Bill to a sudden illness in July.
Words of comfort can be sent to Betty at 5641 Modena Place, Sarasota, FL 34238-6213
Patricia (Maiasky) Cooke’s husband, John (Jay) Cooke also died suddenly on July 22nd.
Sympathy may be sent to Pat at 6 Mallard Drive, Center Moriches, NY 11934-3106:
PMRE member Marilyn Warnken lost her husband recently
and notes of condolences may be sent to Albee Road, August, ME 94330.
We have been notified that Patty Hoffman lost her father recently.
Cards can be sent to P.O. Box 823, Remsenburg, NY 11960.
We have received word of the death last fall of Catherine Weeks,
who taught at River Avenue. Her husband, Joe, also passed away recently.
Also, Winnie Sawchuk, a longtime district secretary, lost her long battle with cancer.
Condolences may be sent to her husband, Nick at 2055 Ridgeway Court, Loveland CO 80538.
News and Views extends our thoughts and prayers to our colleagues during this sorrowful time.
Thinking of...
Recovering from recent operations are Martha Rabin, Joel Sands and Dee Cutter.
Our best wishes for speedy recoveries.
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2009 PMRE Calendar
2009
September 9th PMRE General Breakfast Meeting – 9:30am @ Island Grill
September 29th Primary Voting
October 2nd PMCT Octoberfest @ Sunset Harbor
October 15th CORTLI Luncheon with Special Speakers at the
Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury
October 18th 
SAVE THE DATE!
MAKING STRIDES Against Breast Cancer Walk
· WHAT - is a 5 mile non-competitive walk to fight Breast Cancer
· WHERE - is held at the Boardwalk at Jones Beach in Wantagh
(Parking field 4 & 5)
· WHEN - Sunday, October 18, 2009
Registration/Start of walk between 8:00am - 11:00am
· WHY – Because every woman is at risk for breast cancer; Our grandmothers, mothers, sisters, daughters, colleagues and neighbors
October 21st PMRE General Breakfast Meeting – 9:30am @ Island Grill
November 3rd General Election
December 3rd PMRE Holiday Party – 12-4:00pm at Bellport Country Club
May 12th PMRE General Breakfast Meeting – 9:30am @ Island Grill
June 3rd PMRE June Social – 3-6:00pm @ Genie Weisman’s House
in Patchogue
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COLA Will be 1.0%
The consumer price index (CPI) may have declined, but your benefit payments are on the rise by 1.0%.
New York law requires an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA)
for eligible retirees receiving a state-issued public pension.
A key factor used in the COLA calculation is the CPI,
so many may question how the COLA can increase if the CPI declined.
It is because state law mandates a minimum increase of 1.0% annually.
So, beginning with September 2009 payments
and continuing through August 2010, an eligible retired member
with an annual benefit of $18,000 or more will receive a monthly increase
(before withholdings for federal income tax of $15).
To be eligible for COLA, you must either be:
· 62 and retired at least five years; or,
· 55 and retired at least 10 years; or,
· A retiree receiving a NYSTRS disability benefit
for a least five years (regardless of age); or,
· A surviving spouse of an eligible retiree receiving a lifetime benefits.
(The spouse receives an increase of one-half the retiree’s COLA.)
Those eligible for the COLA after September
will receive an adjustment when first eligible.
When the COLA beginning in September is factored in,
the cumulative maximum monthly increase since the state’s
COLA legislation took effect in 2001 is $192.
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