Save the NEW date:
Our Long Island Zone Spring Luncheon & Meeting
Wednesday, June 2, 2010 11:30 to 2:30 in the afternoon
at the Villa Lombardi in Holbrook

New Prez Reports
by Fred Conway, President

The Long Island Zone will be hosting the NYSRTA Convention in 2011, and I am pleased to announce that the convention chairs will be West End Retired Teachers’ Association President Sally Valenti and East End Retired Teachers’ Association President Jim McAllister.  We need many, many more volunteers for this major undertaking.

While membership in the areas is not necessary in order to be a part of NYSRTA/Long Island Zone, we certainly encourage it.  These smaller organizations historically strive to have their events close to home and you are able to continue making friends with like-minded retirees in your “neighborhood.”  The WERTA Membership Chairs are Mary Armbruster who you may contact at 631-957-4366 or MaryLI120@aol.com and Lois Thornberg at 631-845-9819 or loistberg@usa.net.  The EERTA Membership Chairs are SuzAnne and Frank Jessup who you may contact at 631-288-3827, 305-852-8903 or jessup@villagenet.com.

So whether or not you belong to WERTA or EERTA, please volunteer to help our Long Island Zone host a fabulous statewide conference in 2011 by contacting convention chair Sally at 516-665-8036 or alicia62479@yahoo.com (particularly if you live in Brookhaven Town or west) or Jim (particularly if you live in Brookhaven Town or east) at 631-722-2124 or seacovela@aol.com.

Please involve yourself in our activities in order to promote our organization and retired teachers in general.

State News: 2009 Convention
contributions by Mary Armbruster, Helen Brion, Leigh Powell & Sally Valenti

Our 2009 New York State Retired Teachers’ Association Convention, planned by NYSRTA Site Committee, chaired by our Zone’s Leigh Powell, along with the Workshop Committee and Albany Office gals - Bobbi Ziarno, Debbie Weisgerber & Lisa Dolen (below), was held in Verona, NY at the Turning Stone Resort from October 13 to 16, 2009.  This year’s theme was “Gateway to theWest,” hosted by the Western Zone.  We dressed up as cowboys and there was a lot of “Howdy Partner Lingo” to go around (check out cowgirl Sally, at left).

The motivational speaker was Judge Tommy B. Webb.  He focused on making a positive difference in a negative world.  The importance of treating yourself with respect and valuing others took on special meaning when delivered in the context of the experience of a poor Korean orphan.  Judge Webb also conducted one of the nineteen workshops on Wednesday.  A successful and fun workshop, “Sew Easy Quilts,” was conducted by Long Island Zone’s JoAnne Powell (far right) & Lois Wilson, earning rave reviews.  The membership workshop, conducted by NYSRTA-VP Bill Hall (above), William Armbruster, and Bob Mooso provided helpful tips to gain and retain members.  We all need to be active in this process.  Personal contact has been found to work best.

Thursday’s business meeting put two more of our members on the State Executive Board.  Congratulations to Angelo Grande, our new NYSRTA Vice President for State Legislation, and Lucretia Ruppel, our new NYSRTA Vice President for Friendly Service.  Bill Hall ran unopposed for his position of NYSRTA Vice President for Membership and Anna May Hoffmann for her position of NYSRTA Secretary.  Appointees include NYSRTA Health Chair Mary Ella Moeller and NYSRTA Site Chair Leigh Powell.  LIZ President Fred Conway sits on the Board as well.  Our representatives will work with other members of the State Association to ensure the future growth and long-term vitality of this organization which has served so many retirees over the years.

A proposed change in the NYSRTA Bylaws to combine State and Federal Legislation into the Legislative Action Committee was unanimously approved at our LIZ meeting, but tabled at the NYSRTA Annual Meeting.

Resolutions to discourage tax evasion by employers & employees, raise awareness & discourage elder abuse, and secure electronic medical information were unanimously approved.

Marjorie Williams, Vivian Ellis, Judge Tommy B. Webb, Edith Whitaker & Ida Davis relax after the Key Note Speaker’s address.

In addition to our work, we had golf & bridge tournaments and use of the pool & spa.

Our delegation had a wonderful ride up & back on a Horizon Coach bus.  Why don’t you consider joining us next October?  We always benefit from the comradery, enthusiasm and knowledge.

NOTE:  Pay your dues by June in order to qualify to attend the next Convention as a delegate.

Helen Brion!
by J.E. Simmons and M. McGuiness

Helen Brion was accepted for inclusion in the 2009/2010 editions of the Strathmore Who’s Who and the Presidential Who’s Who which recognize and select key executives, professionals and organizations in all disciplines and industries for having reached a distinguished level of success in their chosen professions. Congratulations Helen!.

  JoAnne Powell chats with fellow quilters.

LIZ delegates Ida Davis, Liz Middleton, Marjorie Williams, Evelyn Paola, Helen Brion, Lois Thornberg,
Jo Anne Powell, Jim McAllister. Sitting: Fred Conway, Aunt Edie, Mary Armbruster. Missing Sally Valenti and Candy Misner.

Island News: LIZ Honors Members
by Eileen Brennan

The Long Island Zone of The New York State Retired Teachers’ Association, at its Annual Meeting and Luncheon September 30th  at Villa Lombardi in Holbrook, awarded special plaques for teamwork.  Longtime workers Mary Armbruster, JoAnne Powell, Helen Brion, Sally Valenti, Candy Misner, Eileen Brennan and Evelyn Paola developed a constitution, combined memberships & treasuries, and published the WERTA NEWS & WERTA Website in order to establish the new West End Retired Teachers’ Association.   Thank you, ladies!


The program consisted of annual reports and most importantly election & installation of officers:  President Fred Conway, Vice President Mary Ella Moeller, Secretary Evelyn Paola, and Treasurer Jim Moeller.

  Please consider inviting a retiree who is not a member of the Zone to the next luncheon in the hope that we may increase membership.

Long Island Zone Losses
by JoAnne Powell

Helen Berglind died October 9th of leukemia at age 86.  Helen had high standards: as President of South Nassau RTA, she worked to do her job well, and expected you to do yours the same.  In addition to presiding at SNRTA, she had been on the Long Island Zone Executive Board, and was once the NYSRTA Credentials Committee Chair.  Helen lived and taught in Baldwin as the mother of four, grandmother of eight, and great-grandmother of four.  Helen was buried at Long Island National Cemetery in Pinelawn.

Most of us probably remember Audrey Berry as the hard-working force behind our former LIZ President Wesley Berry.  Audrey, of East Norwich, passed away November 14th at age 76.  Mother of two sons, she’s interred at Calverton National Cemetery.

Bob Hoyt, 72, was the well-liked EERTA Membership Chair along with his wife, Eleanor. A life-long resident of Center Moriches, he died peacefully in his home on November 16th. Father of two daughters and “Pop” to three grandchildren, Bob was also a retired physical education teacher and coach from Center Moriches Union Free School District.

Friendly Service
Vivian Ellis, Chair

People feel good when they are remembered, but assistance is needed to enable Friendly Service to be more responsive to members during both happy and difficult times.  Please keep the committee chair informed so she can send appropriate cards and notify the LIZ NEWS Editor.

WANTED: New Retirees!
by Mary Armbruster

Our membership list for Long Island Zone contains 4455 names.  Strength in numbers is especially needed now.  Kindly send your membership info, if you have not done so.  NYSRTA/LIZ dues are $27 annually and $378 for life; statements are sent from the Albany office.  Please do not delay your renewal, and encourage your recently retired friends to become members.  As we expand our ranks with friends, the luncheons ought to be more and more fun!

BTW, the WERTA “one-time $5 gift membership” campaign was such a success that the WERTA Executive Board is extending it until June 2010.  So, whether you are an honorary, lifetime or annual member, here is another opportunity to give annual membership gifts to retiree-friends, new to WERTA (and the former units of NNRTA, SNRTA and WSRTA) for the crazy price of $5 each.  We could double our membership by welcoming friends. 

WERTA 2010 Gift Membership for a friend

WERTA NEWS
by JoAnne Powell

Two local graduates, Katherine Korwal of Lindenhurst High School in Babylon Town and Matthew Naboka of Centereach High School in Brookhaven Town, who plan to be teachers, were awarded Western Suffolk scholarships.  Katherine bubbled, “I’ve had a passion for teaching from the age of six with my classes of imaginary students!”  The committee is currently reviewing resumés for the next awards.

LIZ President Anna May Hoffmann installed WERTA officers.  President Sally Valenti, once taught elementary school in Oceanside, and was President of SNRTA.  Vice President Evelyn Paola had been NNRTA President and is active in her church.  Secretary JoAnne Powell taught art and has been active in all levels of NYSRTA. Treasurer Candy Misner taught Kindergarten in Oceanside and had been the SNRTA Treasurer.

EERTA NEWS

At the East End Retired Teachers’ Association June Flag Day Luncheon and Meeting at the Meeting House Creek, Penny Coyle received the 2009 Golden Apple Award. 

Thanks for your work on our behalf, Penny!

Classified
free to members when space allows

FOR RENT: Naples, FL Condo

Beautifully furnished second floor end unit (elevator  or stairs), 2 bedrooms (king, double, plus queen sofa bed), 2 bathrooms, newly renovated with high end appliances, carpet, spectacular golf/lake view.  Clubhouse, pool, sauna, tennis, walk to shopping. $2000/Feb, $1800 Jan or Mar, $1600 Dec or April, $1400 Nov or May, $1200 Sept or Oct, $1000 June July or Aug; call 631-678-2458

FOR RENT: Orlando, FL Home

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Gulf view; 2 bedrooms, 1+1/2 baths, study with DSL, tennis, heated pool.  Jan, Feb, Mar: $900/wk; Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug: $850/wk;  Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec: $750/wk; holiday weeks extra - includes FL tax, cleaning & boat slip; call 516-628-2905.

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