We are retirees from NYSUT locals in Westchester and Putnam Counties. Some of us were active in our local unions, some of us were not. But we all share a desire to keep in touch with our colleagues, with our profession, and with our unions - NYSUT and AFT, and NEA. We all share concerns with educational and health issues and with issues affecting us as retirees. We are retired teachers, clericals, SRP's, nurses and other health professionals.
RC 15/16 Mission Statement
The mission of NYSUT Retiree Council 15/16 is to promote union goals and enrich the lives of retirees as it provides organizational, educational and social programs and activities by:
- assisting in improving communication between NYSUT and retirees,
- encouraging retirees to participate more fully in NYSUT retiree organizations,
- assisting and encouraging retirees in the participation in union political activities,
- assisting in planning and implementing activities that help enhance retirees' lives.
The Westchester/Putnam Retiree Council began under the leadership of our first President, Mildred Zimmerman of the Greenburg Federation of Teachers, in the early 1990's, when there was no county or state union department specifically dedicated to the needs of retirees. In those early days, we were a small group, but as word of our activities spread we grew, and today we number over 13,000 members! As we grew, the idea of retiree groups caught on state-wide; we now number more than 161,000 in the state and continue to grow. NYSUT has dedicated a department and a vice president to servicing the needs of the many retirees in New York. We meet, we share information with each other, we provide information on topics of importance to retired members: legislation which may affect our pensions and our medical coverage; Medicare and Social Security; identity theft and how to avoid it; and many other topics which arise and may affect our members. We sponsor and attend luncheons; we organize conferences with speakers on interesting and informative topics; we travel together and have an active program of organizing excursions from single day to multi-day trips to exciting locations; we are active politically, providing information on current legislation, lobbying in Albany, organizing and manning phone banks during local budget elections and state and national elections. Retiree representatives attend and participate in developing union policies affecting retirees at the NYSUT and AFT conventions. We are active in community affairs, volunteering at food banks, participating in walks for cancer, providing scholarships, and assisting needy children with school supplies. In short, we are active, committed and organized.
We are serious when warranted, we have fun together, we learn from each other, we help in our communities, and we stay active in body and mind, which helps us stay "young!" in spirit. Quoting a recent NYSUT Retiree of the Year, "We are retired, not expired!" WE ARE YOU! The officers who make this council run are elected by the membership. These positions are open to all, as is membership on any of our committees. WE WANT YOU TO JOIN US. Go to the membership link on our home page, then click the link for Participation Fee, and you will get the information needed to join us and participate fully in our activities. We hope you will join us soon to share in our activities and keep in touch with colleagues and the profession. We look forward to welcoming you.
SOME OF OUR ACTIVITIES ON YOUR BEHALF INCLUDE:
* Representing you as we lobby in Albany with the "NYSUT Committee of 100"
* Representing you as we lobby for legislation in Washington DC
* Representing you at the NYSUT and AFT Conventions
* Publishing a newsletter for your information
* Producing our website at: rc1516.ny.aft.org with up to date information on activities and travel
* Staffing phone banks at election time
* Establishing local committees to allow for member input
* Holding workshops of interest to our members: including, Pre-retirement; Legal & Financial Planning in Retirement; Medicare & Medicaid
* Holding an annual conference day with seminars of interest to our members
* Holding two luncheons/year where members can get together with old friends and enjoy an excellent lunch
* Raising monies for the Food Bank
* Providing for scholarships for students in Westchester and Putnam Counties
* Assisting children in our local schools with needed supplies through REACT
* Sponsoring day and extended trips which include all expenses