FROM THE DESK OF DEB PETERSON
REPORT: E.D. 52 March 5-6, 2013 Meeting
Kathleen Donahue, NYSUT Vice President
1. “Tell It Like It Is” launched November 2012 – Bundles of 100 NYSUT member letters are being sent to the Board of Regents and the Commissioner’s Office.
2. NYSUT Budget – On a 4 year plan that includes Efficiencies & Reductions in staff
3. “Yellow Dot Program” – Designed to help first responders to a car accident scene is becoming a NYSUT endorsed safety program, (like the File of Life.)
4. Joe McLaughlin who is the At Large Director for ED 51 – 53 is the 2013 “Retiree Member of the Year”
5.“Throw out the Lifeline” – Disaster Relief program initiated to help our members especially in the wake of Sandy.
Joan Perrini, the NYSUT ED 52 Director, included the Jan/Feb 2013 issue of ODDS ‘n’ ENDS in everyone’s packet. She invited members to encourage NYSUT Retirees visiting Florida to visit a TRIF Unit.
Kate Maguire, NYSUT Member Benefits informed us that NYSUT endorses 50 programs. NYSUT members automatically have $1500 in AD & D Insurance. Also there is a Defensive Driving Course available online at http://www.nysut.org for $21.95. This is a good way to reduce your insurance premium.
Madeline Connolly, NYSUT Information Technology Support
NYSUT continues to develop a list of member’s email addresses. The purpose is to increase communications within Retiree Councils. If you have not already done so, you can by going to the Retirees page at http://www.nysut.org OR Direct Link at
2. MAC (Member Action Center) can be accessed https://mac.nysut.org/. You can also get an app for your iPhone or Android.
Dennis Tracey, NYS Alliance for Retired Americans
Reviewed the Kaiser Family “A Story of Medicare: A Timeline” You can view it at http://www.kff.org/medicare/
Peter Savage, NYSUT Legislative Representative
1. NYSUT feels education should be fully funded.
2. NYSTRS was the best funded pension program in the country last year.
3. NYSUT filed a lawsuit against the 2% Tax Cap stating it is unconstitutional because it is arbitrary. It undermines schools’ ability to provide quality education.
David Keefe a NYSUT member of NYS Teacher Retirement System discussed the concept of “Smoothing.” Up to 2016, employee contributions will rise, and then level off.
Helen Vickery, NYSUT Senior Accountant
1. In the eyes of the IRS, we are a business and have certain reporting requirements. We pay tax on all purchases
2. Sub groups (TRIF Units) must report all their activity to Retiree Council 43. IRS asks for our website address
3. 2500 applications for Disaster Relief received by March 1st. NYSUT paid 1600 grants so far with 800 more waiting to be paid. Average payment is $250.
Geralyn O’Reilly, NYSUT Retiree Services Specialist informed us that there are 194,161 NYSUT Retirees in 2013. There are 45 active Retiree Councils in New York & Florida.
Katherine Fitzpatrick, Education Team, Medicare Rights Center
Visit their website http://www.medicarerights.org/or helpful information. Their site provides up to date information about Medicare issues. They have a weekly newsletter as well.