PMRE Executive Committee

PMRE  and VIEWS

Summer 2009                                                                               

A Message from Andy

Dear PMRE Members:

June was an active month for us retirees.  It was great to see those of you who were able to make it to the June social. 

Once again Genie Weisman hosted a wonderful gathering. 

Thank you, Genie.  Our slate of officers, all incumbents, were unanimously re-elected at the social/meeting.

The very next day, we gathered at Sunset Harbor to welcome the 2009 retirees into the PMRE. 

 The number of retirees in attendance was substantial and PMCT President, Paul Pecorale,

was grateful for our participation in their End of the Year Party and Retirement Celebration. 

I hope we can double that showing at future events with the PMCT. 

It’s so very important for us to support each other in good times and in rough times. 

Both in-service and retirees may be sharing the rough times ahead.

At the June social I did emphasize our need to fight against the creation of Tier V.   

Also, I remind you once again to use the NYSUT website to send letters and faxes

to your legislators to voice your opposition to any future efforts to create Tier V.

The Executive Board will convene on July 7^th at the PMCT office to discuss next year’s calendar

 and a variety of other issues for 2009-2010.  We will publish that calendar in the next issue.

For those of you who have participated in RC22 luncheons and trips,

please tell your circle of friends from PMRE to get on board. 

Kal, Jane, Bill and I, as well as the other members of the RC22 Executive Board,

will be finalizing plans for the RC22 events for 2009-2010. 

I won’t let the cat out of the bag, but the fall trip will be very interesting and loads of fun. 

 I know it will fill up quickly, so sign up and get your spot secured as soon as the notice arrives in the mail. 

Please have a safe and fun-filled summer and I look forward to our breakfasts

 and events starting this fall.  See you in September.

In Solidarity,

Andy   

2009 PMRE Calendar

            Fall 2009

            September                 PMRE meeting (date TBA in next newsletter)

            October 15^th              CORTLI Luncheon with Special Speakers at the

                                                Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury

            October 2^nd                PMCT Octoberfest @ Sunset Harbor

            October 18^th                   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    

  See you in September!

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            ATTENTION PMRE MEMBERS

In an attempt to go “Green” and “Electronic”, we are hoping to establish an                        

email list for all our PMRE members.   

 We would like to start using emails as        

a form of communicating information to our membership. 

 Kindly contact www.union@pmct.org (the PMCT office)

with your current email address at                       

your earliest convenience.

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to the 2009 PM Retirees

                                NAME                                             SCHOOL

                   John Baumiller                       High School

                   Lawrence Chartrand           High School

                   Sandee Cipolla                        Oregon

                   Nancy Cleary                            Medford

                   Leslie Ann Dinkel                  High School

                   Audrey Ford                               High School

                   Jeannett Franck                     High School

                   Margaret Goetz                       High School

                   Sue Hyllestad                           Bay

                   LaNel Kavander                      Oregon

                   Mark Klahn                                Oregon

                   Linda Locantore                     Bay

                   Rosa Mena                                 Bay

                   Linda Mitchell                         High School

                   Anthony Pannizzo                 Saxton

                   Mary Ann Priest                      Medford

                   Brian Reilly                               High School

                   Gail Shafer                                 High School

                   Brenda Stiriz-Verderosa   High School

                   Betty Velez                                 High School

Happy Retirement.

ENJOY!

& Welcome to the PMRE

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In Memoriam

With deep regret we announce

the passing of the mother of Linda Locantore (PMCT member)

and Mike Locantore (P-M Administrator) and

also the death of the father of Patty Hoffman.

Thinking of

Abby Burton

HOT OFF THE PRESS!

MORATORIUM PASSED & SIGNED

          The Moratorium which safeguards retirees’ health coverage paid by the schools districts has been passed and signed. 

 Coverage is safe for another year.  Thank you for your support via letters/email and also through your VOTE/COPE funds.

          If you already have automatic deductions made monthly from your pension to VOTE/COPE, then you are helping in this fight. 

 You do not have to sign up again unless you wish to change the amount you are presently giving.

For any information, contact:

VOTE/COPE

P.O. Box 5190

Albany, NY 12205-0190

1-800-342-9810

Stay Informed & Involved!

          As a twenty year retiree, I can assure you there is life after teaching in the public schools and it’s wonderful. 

No more slipping or sliding to work on icy mornings, no more bells, lesson plans or hall duty,

 plenty of leisure to read, fish, travel, relax - just remember,

there is a fine line between relaxing and going to pot which is the reason for this note. 

          You will find in retirement a continued need to keep up with the legislation

and politics related to your health benefits, the preservation of your pension

and general health and welfare issues.  In other words, you haven’t retired from the world. 

 Even if you plan to retire to Fiji, you expect your pension check to follow you regularly and undiminished. 

Ditto health benefits.  So, it behooves you to continue as a NYSUT member

 and to come to meetings to keep informed.  For your information, you MUST maintain NYSUT membership

either through your local (PMRE) or through Retiree Council #22 in order to continue participating

in the NYSUT Member Benefits Program. 

Membership in other retiree organizations is an individual decision,

but NYSUT is the organization to which you belonged before retirement, which offers the benefits,

and is the organization which fights for retirees’ benefits as well as those of the in-service teachers. 

Recently, we have fought hard for the COLA and intend to fight equally hard for improvements in COLA

and other benefits such as a permanent Health Insurance Moratorium.  We need your help.

          We cordially invite you to attend our meetings to clarify issues,

hear speakers on topics of interest, as well as to help us plan. 

Questions?  You may reach me at 516-678-6750

or via email @ jerud@juno.com

Judith Rudman

ED#52 Director

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Membership Matters              

            This summer events are occurring in Albany and Washington,

D.C. which will influence your future, for better or worse. 

          If your representatives believe no one is watching,

hey feel free to make bad decisions. 

f they believe their constituents are following events and are concerned about the outcomes,

they work carefully and responsibly.  How can you help see that they “toe-the-line”? 

First, follow what’s happening.  Second, respond to your reps’ actions or lack thereof

 by a phone call or email.  Third, be a paying member of PMRE. 

Your PMRE staff meets even over the summer and fights on your behalf. 

Support PMRE and help protect yourself.

          Send your check for $25.00 made out to PMRE (Retirees after 1990) to:

Dot Braunstein, Treasurer

68 Phyllis Drive, Patchogue, NY 11772

Report from Washington

            As a member of the Alliance for Retired Americans (a NYSUT and AFT associate),

 I joined retired teachers from Long Island and descended on Congress

 to press for improved health care and drug benefits. 

          I personally met with Congressman Tim Bishop who was very receptive,

but frank in his estimation of what can be accomplished. 

 He believes that lowered drug costs will be worked out,

but a single-payer government sponsored HEALTH Bill is unlikely to pass. 

I pressed him on this and other matters.  He replied that he would vote for

and support our goals, but that he felt not all measures were attainable.

          He and others did believe health care reform would come about,

but the final form is still being formulated.

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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.

PMRE Meeting Minutes –

PMRE  May 13^th General Meeting Breakfast -

New Business:  PMRE members were welcomed.  The minutes from the October 29, 2009 meeting were read. 

The budget was distributed.  PMRE Newsletter chairwoman reminded everyone of the Tuesday, May 19, 2009 Budget Vote. 

The 20 names of the 2009 retirees were read. 

The Committee of 100 was reported on concerning the possible creation of Tier 5 to the NYSTRS. 

 Under it new teachers would pay 3% retirement fees for life.  It would also keep high priced teachers longer.

  Tax issues were also discussed: The Circuit Breaker for middle class citizens and Mandate Relief which affects all. 

 It is also hoped that the STAR Rebate checks will be reinstated. 

The Green Bill insures that new construction and all renovations of NYS schools will follow new GREEN codes and specifications. 

 It was stressed that we should get online to notify Senate Democrats of our support of the Circuit Breaker Bill

and also send letters to Gov. Paterson in support of the bill. 

The next RC#22 General Meeting will be held on June 9, 2009 at 10am at Longwood Library on Rt25.

 It is an important meeting due to the election of NYSUT Delegates. 

Andy MacAvoy and Jane Conetta are running for re-election. PMRE members

were encouraged to attend the PMCT Retirement Party on June 12^th at Sunset Harbour. 

 NYSUT Alerts for our awareness were discussed.

PMRE June 11^th Social

New Business:  Two new PMCT Retirees were introduced and welcomed to PMRE. 

 The Election of officers – President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer took place. 

 There were no new nominations from the floor,

so it was nominated that the entire existing slate of officers will remain

.  All accepted.  PMRE received recognition from AFT for our generous contribution to Vote-Cope.

  The NYSUT RA convention was discussed. 

 We were assured that our pensions are without serious problems for 25 years. 

The Moratorium on Health Insurance was passed for another year. 

 The cons of the possible passage of Tier 5 to our retirement system were made clear. 

We were urged to stay active, alert and ready to fight its passage. 

Members can stay updated by computer at NYSUT.org. 

The value and importance of supporting PMRE was discussed.

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