Rejoin!
by Mary Armbruster
Words to ponder: A pessimist has no motor; an optimist has no brakes.
I hope our members will “have no brakes,” and we will increase our numbers! Can we do it? YES, when you attend the LIZ Annual Luncheon Meeting, Wednesday, September 28, 2011, please invite a colleague to join our retirees.NYSRTA/LIZ dues are $27 annually or $378 for life. Make your check payable to NYSRTA/LIZ and mail to: NYSRTA, 8 Airport Park Blvd, Latham, NY 12110-6416.
If you are also interested in joining a more local retiree organization, East End RTA and West End RTA dues are each $20/year.
Contact Suzanne & Frank Jessup, EERTA, 23 Maple Street, Westhampton Beach, NY 11978
or
Mary L. Armbruster, WERTA, 120 South High Street, Lindenhurst, 11757-5023.
Looking forward to seeing and meeting you in September!
Vote!
by Sally Valenti, Chair
Thanks to the assistance of Sheila Jones and Lois Thornberg
the nominees for the Executive Board for a two-year term commencing November 1st, 2011 are:
President: Fred Conway
Vice President: Kathy Grande
Secretary: Evelyn Paola
Treasurer: Lois Thornberg
The election will take place at the annual meeting at 11:30 A.M. on September 28th at the Villa Lombardi in Holbrook.
NYSRTA Convention is around the corner...
by Fred Conway, President
The Long Island Zone has had an exciting year to be capped off with hosting the 2011 NYSRTA Annual Convention at Honor’s Haven in Ellenville, NY from October 18th through 21st, bringing on board numerous new members, and supporting future teachers in a major way!
The host committee, led by Sally Valenti and Evelyn Paola, has been meeting regularly since last August. The members of the committee are deeply involved with all aspects in the preparation for the convention. We look forward to an exciting presentation for this annual event. Within the theme “Long Island Is...,” we expect to see “Walt Whitman, Teddy Roosevelt and Elvis.” [Elvis?] On Wednesday, October 19th, a Zone-sponsored Great Gatsby Gala is planned and guests are requested to dress in the attire of the era.
Delegates will receive a stipend of $300 at the convention to help in defraying the costs. All delegates are expected to attend the LIZ Annual Meeting at Villa Lombardi’s in Holbrook on Wednesday, September 28th. Besides the Annual Reports, chaired by Leigh Powell, important information on the convention will be issued by our co-chairs, Sally and Evelyn. Your duties as a delegate will be discussed and Helen Brion will explain voting on the various propositions and resolutions. You are on your own in traveling to and from Honor’s Haven. Perhaps you can arrange carpools. Also, you must send in your reservation form with a $50 deposit to Honor’s Haven Resort & Spa. The form is on the last page of the summer edition of YORK STATE. We are in the final stages of the convention planning and your participation in pulling off this enormous project is very important to us. Please help us with such things as bringing materials (raffle baskets, goody bags, table decorations, etc.) and assisting when asked, which will be discussed at the Annual Meeting. This convention planning is an arduous and all-consuming task and co-chairs and their committees are congratulated for their tremendous attention to every detail in leading us to an inspired culmination of “Long Island Is...” A month to show time - give it all you’ve got!
Mary Armbruster and Lois Thornberg have had remarkable success in expanding our membership. They contacted all superintendants of the Long Island school districts requesting lists of their retiring teachers, thus resulting in that unbelievable increase in our membership. Thank you, ladies, for your approach to increasing our ranks.
Congratulations to West End RTA for awarding six scholarships and East End RTA for awarding another scholarship to deserving graduates majoring in the field of education.
We enjoyed journeying to NYC during June to see Memphis on Broadway thanks to Agnes Dansereau, Co-President of EERTA.
Hats off to Sheila Jones, our other Co-President of EERTA for keeping NYSRTA (through York State) and LIZ members apprised of events throughout the year as our Public Relation Chair.
I am extremely grateful to the following members of LIZ for their participation on the State Executive Committee: Angelo Grande (Legislative Action), Anna May Hoffmann (Secretary), David Keefe (State Retirement Board), Jim Moeller (Trust Fund), Mary Ella Moeller (Health), Leigh Powell (Site), and Lucretia Ruppel (Friendly Service).
Legislative Action
by Angelo Grande, Chair
As the song goes, “It was a very good year.” With the passage of Proposition A, we have combined State and Federal Legislation Committees into a new unit called Legislative Action. Despite a few growing pains, we have had a successful year. At our March Meeting, I ran a training session for the zone chairs, who then trained local advocates, who in turn have been busy calling on both their state and federal representatives.
In April, I went to Washington, D.C. as a guest of AARP and their affiliate, the National Retired Teachers’ Association. The focus of the convention was Pensions. I visited the offices of Kristen Gillibrand, Charles Schumer and Carolyn McCarthy, as well as some of the sponsors of our bills to discuss our federal agenda, which includes Medicare and Social Security.
In May, I visited the state capital with Tom Campany, Judie Byndas, Lisa Dolen, Kathi Bassett and Kathy Grande to advocating for bills dealing with Elder Care Abuse and Disposal of Prescription Drugs.
Despite the budget problems in both Albany and Washington, it was a very good year.
Annual Meeting
by Mary Ella Moeller, Vice President
The Long Island Zone luncheon and Annual Meeting will be very exciting this year. Attendees will be given copies of the annual report in which each officer reports on the activities for the year, outlining what they have accomplished and perhaps their vision for the ensuing year. The officers will be happy to answer questions. Of particular interest will be a report on the final preparation for hosting the convention. I am sure that you will be pleasantly surprised at the work done by co-chairs Sally Valenti and Evelyn Paola. They have the hosting committee running in high gear. Long Island Zone is blessed by having dedicated leaders in all positions.
We will be entertained by the Antiquity Barbershop Quartet. This group has performed in a number of different venues and has received accolades for the music and their showmanship. Our own Fred Conway, LIZ President, sings lead in the quartet. The name “Antiquity” refers to the combined singing experience that far exceeds one hundred years. Our President is a man with many talents.
Mark your calendar and plan to attend. If you know recent retirees who are not members of LIZ and NYSRTA, bring them to the meeting and try to get them involved in our many activities.
See you at the Villa Lombardi September 28th at 11:30 A.M. Bring a friend for a very entertaining and informative day.
Bylaws
by Helen Brion, Chair
As presented in the last newsletter, NYSRTA members passed four Propositions at the October 2010 Annual Meeting.
• Proposition A combines the state legislation and federal legislation committees to the legislative action committee;
• Prop B adds a new category of membership;
• Prop C changes the Trust Fund Board make-up;
• Prop D established a process in case a member of the Board can not continue in his/her position.
At the March LIZ Board meeting, it was decided to change the LIZ Bylaws to conform to the NYSRTA Bylaws. Propositions A and B will be voted on at the September 28th LIZ Annual Meeting.
The NYSRTA Board will present five Propositions this year at the October NYSRTA Annual Meeting.
• Proposition A changes the fiscal year: January 1 to December 31;
• Proposition B clarifies the make-up of the voting body of the NYSRTA Board: “the elected NYSRTA officers and the ten zone presidents”
• Proposition C changes the wording in Articles IV, IX, and X11 to make them uniform in intent, content, and structure;
• Proposition D defines classes of membership;
• Proposition E redefines the duties of the secretary on distribution of the minutes.
These will be presented to you for your opinions at the September 28th LIZ Annual Meeting as the LIZRTA Executive Committee deems at their September 7th Board meeting.
Resolutions
by Helen Brion, Chair
The NYSRTA Resolutions Committee had five Resolutions submitted to them by June 12th. I received them June l8th, after the LIZ Board meeting, so I had to send them to the Board by e-mail. Those who responded were in favor of all.
The Resolutons submitted were:
1. Establish a Life Skills course for High School students;
2. Oppose further purchases of land in the Adirondacks by the State of New York;
3. Introduce a program to offer information and counseling assistance to educators about to retire;
4. Encourage members to serve as Election Inspectors;
5. Have the information to be voted on or discussed at the NYSRTA Annual Meeting sent out two weeks prior to the Annual Meeting.
The reaction that I sent to the NYSRTA Resolution Committe was:
1. Life Skills - I checked with a former high school Home Ec teacher and she said these topics were now included in a combined course with the business department teachers;
2. Purchase of Land in Adirondacks - Here on Long Island, the county is purchasing land to preserve the pure water. The Resolution Committe should check with state environmentalists to see if there is a need;
3. I had included most of this in the workshop as NYSRTA and LIZ health advocacy chair. I had been trained by HICAP of Dept of Aging and had personal retiree experience;
4. Many of our retired teachers are already working as election inspectors;
5. Two weeks before is not enough as our LIZ Board meeting is in September. We get this information in York State and the NYSRTA chairman gives it to the zone chairmen, so the zone chairmen should have been bringing it to the attention of their Boards and members all year long.
Long-Term Care Planning
provided by NYSRTA
With recent New York State budget cuts, it is highly important for retirees to take steps that can help protect retirement assets and income.
Are you aware that the recent NTS budget may change or affect your estate planning or long-term care planning?
Are you aware that many seniors have a misunderstanding of how their assets including their homes may be protected in the event of a long-term illness?
Are you aware that the rules for protecting your assets with Medicaid change depending upon whether you are married or single?
Are you aware that New York State has a plan that can help protect your assets in the event of a long-term care event or illness?
Are you aware of the current Medicaid look-back?
Are you aware of the Medicaid transfer penalties and how it can affect each individual differently?
Maintaining independence. Protecting your retirement assets. Leaving a legacy. It all becomes more possible when you plan ahead for long-term care.
Reasons individuals purchase and companies offer Long-Term Care Insurance:
• Substantial Tax Advantages
• Protect Retirement Assets and Avoid Medicaid Spend Down (Impoverishment)
• To Avoid Being a Burden to Loved Ones
• To Ensure Choice and Control of Health Care Decisions
• The Ability to Receive Care in Home As Opposed to a Facility
NYSRTA is pleased to announce the availability of discounted Long-Term Care Insurance. Long-Term Care Insurance provides coverage for services needed by people who are no longer able to care for themselves due to chronic illness, injury or the effects of aging.
Long-Term Care Insurance, with discounted rates, is being offered to NYSRTA members, spouses, partners, siblings, parents, parents-in-law, and children (including adopted and foster), between the ages of 18-84. You and your eligible family members may qualify for additional premium discounts. This includes the highly publicized NYS Partnership for Long-Term Care.
Call today to learn more about this rewarding benefit: Brian M. Johnson, NYLTCB, 11 Executive Park Drive, Clifton Park, NY 12065, 1-800-695-8224, ext. 154, or bjohnson@nyltcb.com.
New York State (through NYSRTA and Legend Equities Corporation) has this program to protect your assets and income. It is important that you review this with a Long-Term Care Specialist and an Elder Law/Estate Planning Attorney. Call Russel Sands of the Legend Group (631-244-8201) or the NYSRTA office (518-482-3509) for further information. Please note that Legend Equities Corporation and its affiliates do not provide tax, legal or estate planning information or advice. Consult your attorney and/or tax advisor for specific questions related to taxes, legal issues or estate planning.
In Memoriam
by JoAnne Powell, Newsletter Editor
It is with great sadness I announce the passing of my mother and Long Island Zone member, Mary Valentine Ashby at age 90. Mom graduated from Oswego State Teachers College and St. John’s University and was the librarian at Village Green Elementary School and Jefferson Elementary School in Huntington. Internment was at Arlington National Cemetery.
LIZ Sec’y Honored
by Sheila Jones, PR Chair
Evelyn Paola, secretary of the Long Island Zone, who is an Alumna of St. John’s University School of Education, will be awarded the “Lewis Avenue Alumni Legacy Award” on Sunday, October 2nd, 2011 at the D’Angelo Center on campus. Ms. Paola received both her B.S. in Education and M.S. in Guidance and Psychology from St. John’s School of Education and Graduate Education. She is deeply moved by this honor since St. John’s University has always been an important influence in her life.
WERTA News
by Sally Valenti, WERTA President
We held our Spring luncheon in June at Guy Anthony’s Restaurant in North Merrick, welcoming Joe Ferrara, long time member who happened to be vacationing on Long Island from Buffalo. Vivian Ellis played the piano as we enjoyed our lunch and we presented six scholarships to graduating seniors from Suffolk County high schools.
Along with our fellow retirees from EERTA, we are looking forward to our statewide convention in October being held at Honor’s Haven in Ellenville New York. Representing WERTA as delegates will be Mary Armbruster, Ida Davis, Vivian Ellis, Kathy Grande, David Keefe, Manny Kuehnel, June Latham, Liz Middleton, Candy Misner, Evelyn Paola, Jo Anne Powell, Lois Thornberg, Sally Valenti, Edith Whitaker and Marge Williams.
Our next meeting will be held in November.
EERTA News
by Agnes Dansereau, EERTA Co-President
Our Long Island-hosted Convention theme ”Long Island is...“ was explained in more detail at our last September 10 luncheon by Evelyn Paola and Sally Valenti, co-chairs.
Our luncheons afford members an appreciation of Long Island’s surrounding waters in such famed restaurants as Gurney’s in Montauk on the ocean in November, The Soundview on Long Island Sound for our annual Christmas party in December, Virginia Schulze’s beautiful home on Shelter Island’s West Neck Creek - also in December, Meeting House Creek Inn on an inlet of the Peconic Bay in Aquebogue, and the Peconic River at Jerry & the Mermaid in Riverhead. as well as our fruitful Vineyards where we celebrate September luncheon.
Besides lunching, lounging and looking at the water, EERTA members also enjoy spa discounts at Gurneys’, door prizes, raffle baskets, grab bags, a visit by Santa (our own Bob Svoboda), a sing-a-long (led by member musicians Nancy Pope and Gail Madden), entertainment by quartet “Antiquity” with Fred Conway, member and LIZ President whose wife Leslie won “Most Mermaid-Looking Contest.” EERTA also hosted the $1,000 scholarship winner, Mrs. Christine Imbriano, introduced by Scholarship Chair, Larry Strickland at the April Luncheon Meeting.
Following our June picnic luncheon was our annual Broadway bus trip to see “Memphis” with dinner at Patsy’s - another way our unit reaches out to entice new members.
Yet another facet of our organization is the legislative work spearheaded by Bob Svoboda who contacts legislators about teacher interests. While Bob was networking with NYS Assemblyman Dan Losquadro, Don Griffin was contacting NYS Assemblyman Fred Thiele, plus Senator Ken La Valle has confirmed he will be speaking to us at our September 14th Luncheon Meeting in Aquebogue.
This luncheon will also feature the unveiling of a handmade quilt by Suzanne Jessup, Membership Chair. The quilt focuses on our convention theme “Long Island Is...,” highlighting various historical & beautiful places & things that occur on Long Island. Our unit has been working on various aspects of the convention and we are happy with everyone’s cooperation and contributions - whether donated prizes like Penny Coyle’s homemade jams, or the canvassing folks have done to get free food certificates, totebags, or pens for Dee and Alicia’s goody bags.
We are happy with the turnout at our luncheons and the amicable spirit of cooperation in the group.
Apps Shared
by JoAnne Powell, Editor
As a result of the recent iPad reviews, members have been sharing information about their favorite iPad/iPhone apps (applications). Many are free and all are easy to procure.
Simply tap the App Store icon on your iPhone or iPad and type in your interest (or you can browse best sellers, staff picks, and more). Your search will undoubtedly produce an amazing number of hits from the thousands which are available! Read about them, view others’ appraisals, select your favorite, then tap to download. BTW, if you do buy an app (often as low as 99¢), you will not have to pay a second time for use on a second device.
Several popular apps include: Find iPhone (if you ever misplaced a cell phone, you’ll LOVE this one - it will let you know if you’ve just left the phone at the library, dry cleaners or pizza place!), Clock (the alarm clock feature can keep you from ever being late again), Weather (at your house, the vacation rental and your kids’ homes - all on one screen), Dictionary, MyFitnessPal (I’ve stopped gaining a pound a year), Museums, TheatreMania, tkts, TV.com (never miss a favorite show), Newsday, and GeoQpons.
About webMD
http://www.webMD.com contains a wealth of information about what ails you! While the website is no substitute for your family physician, a visit to this vast, but simple-to-navigate site will add to your knowledge about the problem at hand and help improve communication with your doctor. And if you are in good health, there are loads of tips for living better, including a fitness planner, as well as a section on veterinary care for your pets!
About Snopes.com
In order to layout a newsletter, one must enter the news submitted, then reduce or expand it to fit the the four or eight-page format. Occasionally, a piece from the internet is added for interest and to fill a corner. Often such items may appear to be factual, but my researcher-mother would always run it by snopes.com for the real skinny.
The snopes.com website was founded in 1995 by Barbara and David Mikkelson, a couple who live & work in the Los Angeles area. Their interest in researching urban legends has since grown into an essential resource, is described as scholarly and reliable, and has been praised by the world’s top folklorists. The Mikkelsons have made multiple appearances as guests on national news programs and profiled in numerous major news publications. They are apolitical, vastly preferring their quiet scholarly lives in the company of their five cats to any political considerations.
So next time you read a story on the internet, check it out at snopes.com.
Classified
free to members when space allows
FOR RENT: Orlando furnished home, 4 bedrooms (king, queen, double w. bunk, twins, sofa bed), 3 full baths, private screened pool, Disney-16, Seaworld-17, Universal-22; $700 week, $2000 month, opt. winter pool heat $75 wk; call 631-661-6797.
Input Sought
If you have news, travel experience, or product info you would like to share, e-mail the info to LIzonenews@gmail.com with LIZ NEWS as the subject so that I may retrieve it when preparing the next issue. Thanks!
Spring Travel
provided by NYSRTA
Want to visit the Netherlands, Belgium & France May 7 - 17th, 2012? The cost for each person in a double occupancy ($3899) and single occupancy ($4899) includes round trip air from NY; book by November 8th and save $100. Highlights include Amsterdam, a candlelight cruise, Floriade, Brussels, Bruges, Giverny, Paris, an Eiffel Tower Dinner, and a Seine cruise. There will be a webinar presentation on Tuesday, 9/27 at 6:30 P.M. - contact nysrtainfo@nysrta.org.
Or if you prefer to go Down Under, explore one of the following: New Zealand’s North & South Islands, 20 days/28 meals, starting at $4049 to see Auckland, Bay of Islands, Rotorua, Wellington, Tranz Alpine Train, Franz Josef Glacier Region, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Te Anau & Mt. Cook. Outback to the Glaciers, 20 days/25 meals, starting at $4499 to see Melbourne, Alice Springs, Ayers Rock, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Sydney, Sydney Opera House, Franz Josef Glacier Region, Queenstown, Milford Sound & Mt. Cook. Australia & New Zealand/Land & Sea, featuring a 13-night cruise aboard the Sea Princess, 24 days/48 meals, starting at $5289 to see Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Ayers Rock, Sydney, Bay of Islands, Auckland, Tauranga, Napier, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin & Fiordland National Park. Australia & New Zealand, 27 days/38 meals, starting at $6499 to see Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Ayers Rock, Alice Springs, Darwin, Kakadu National Park, Melbourne, Tasmania, Sydney, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Mt. Cook, Wellington & Rotorua.
Please verify details with NYSRTA, 8 Airport Park Blvd, Latham, NY 12110, 518-482-3509, or nysrtainfo@nysrta.org.
updated October 15, 2011