Region 8
Retiree Newsletter

PEF Capital District Region 8 Retirees

Newsletter - October 2007

PEF Capitol District Retirees in Action: Increasing Public Awareness; Lobbying Legislators; Manning phone banks

Mike Keenan and Doug Bullock with CDARA members; Mary Bolonga, Fran Hahn, Jane & Ron Mikat, Bob at the Nurses Rally, Marje DeVoe with Assemblyman Abbate sponsor of our HIP bill in the Assembly

NYS PEF Capital District Region 8 Retiree President’s Message:

I don’t know, how it seems to you, but I cannot believe how quickly this year is flying by; Summer is gone and we’ve had our first Chapter meeting of the Fall and plans for our Holiday Lunch have begun.

I am very proud to be apart of our growing and thriving organization; attendance at our picnic this year, even in the rain, was over 135. I, sincerely, want to thank the other officer’s and our member volunteers, for all their hard work. We couldn’t do without them. Many hands make light work as the saying goes. If you haven’t attended before or just haven’t attended lately; Please, check our calendar & stop by a meeting & see what it’s all about. RSVP is requested to insure enough space & food.

With over 2,000 members here in the Capitol District, we have seen the need to be more efficient with our communications due to the high cost of printing and postage. We will be sending a annual newsletter with our Calendar of events in January and are working with PEF Reg 8 to establish our web pageat www.PEF8.org . For the Sept 10 meeting we implemented a new meeting notification process. We utilized an Email notice, for the members who have provided an email address and the postcards were sent only to our members who have attended a meeting in the past 18 months and have not provided an email address. If you did not receive our Sept. Meeting notification; Please, Contact the Retiree Office 518-785-1900 x 289 and update your record.

I am pleased to report that I attended the National Alliance for Retired Americans Legislative Conference in Washington DC. As a part of the conference activities, I lobbied our Representatives Mike McNulty and Kristen Gillibrand and Senator H. Clinton on the passage of the CHAMP bill and much needed prescription drug reforms. I will share more on the Conference events at our PEF Retiree Chapter meeting in Oct.

The Capitol District Chapter of the ARA will be holding its Fall Conference on Thursday, Sept 27 at the NYSUT Bldg on Rte 7 in Latham. We have a few seats still available for our Chapter members. If you are interested contact me at 477-2913 by 9/19.

Finally, as you head to the polls this year, I hope you will consider the PEF locally endorsed candidates when you vote.

SAVVY SENIORS VOTE!

In Solidarity, Marje DeVoe

Sept 10 Meeting Notes: Dennis Tracey, NYSARA Director and Walt Wheeler, CDARA President, provided information on the upcoming CDARA Fall Conference. Tom Comanzo, Reg 8 Coordinator, introduced Patricia Slavick, PEF endorsed candidate for Albany County Controller. Retired TV anchor, Ernie Tetrault & Bob LaCosta from Hear for You provided information on hearing aids. Ryan Delgado, PEF Leg Office updated the group on the status of our healthcare protection bill. Nominations for Officers were made and follow: Marjorie DeVoe, President Roy Bailey, VP, Gary Wensley, Treasurer and Barbara Kearney, Secretary Election will be Oct 1, 2007

PEF Capital District Region 8 Retirees Legislative Update PRIMARY DAY is Tuesday, Sept 18, 2007

ELECTION DAY is Tuesday, Nov 6, 2007 If you can’t get to the polls in person, you can get a absentee ballot from your Board of Elections with a simple phone call. Albany 487-5060, Columbia 828-3115, Greene 719-3550, Rensselaer 270-2990, Montgomery 853-8180, Saratoga 885-2249, Schenectady 377-2469, Schoharie 295-8388, Washington 746-2180 or go to www. PEF.org, click Political Action to download one.

PEF Endorsed Candidates include: Albany County: Patricia Slavick, Controller: Mike Breslin, Executive: PEF Retirees, Howard Shafer and Doug Bullock, Legislature, Schenectady County: Bill Chapman, PEF member, Legislature and Bob Becker, PEF member for Colonie Town Board VOLUNTEER: Phone banks need your help. contacts; email kathleen@cdalf.org or Call Tom Comanzo at 785-1900 x 206

Statewide: Governor Spitzer vetoed our Health Insurance Protection Bill S6030. In his veto memo, he indicated he would be establishing a task force to review the healthcare needs in NYS. Your urged to contact the Governors Representatives and tell them to recognize the need for fair and undiminished healthcare for public employee retirees. Contact by email at: partnership4coverage@health.state.ny.us or by mail to: Ms. Cindy Esterby Ms. Deborah Greer New York State Department of Health NYS Insurance Dept Corning Tower Room 1483 One Commerce Plaza Albany, NY 12237 Albany, New York 12237

In response to the Governor’s veto, Senator Farley has sponsored S6457. ‘An act establishing the task force on retiree health insurance protection;.. Because the legislature finds that adequate and affordable health insurance coverage is a crucial issue for public sector retirees. State government actions have been inconsistent, protecting health insurance coverage for some groups of retirees pursuant to chapter 22 of the laws of 2007, while denying protection to others.’ The bill requires the 22 member task force to include two (2) representatives of public sector retirees. Your vote counts... Remember to VOTE on November 6

Location of regular meetings: Pine Grove Methodist Church, 1580 Central Ave, Colonie at 12 Noon Monday, Oct 1 Regular meeting, Officer Elections, Speaker TBA, rsvp by 9/26

Monday, Nov 5 Regular meeting, Speaker TBA, rsvp by 11/1

Monday, Dec 3 Holiday Get Together, location TBA

Reservations & $5 deposit will be accepted at the Oct & Nov meetings. Last date to RSVP 11/19

Your PEF Capitol District Retiree Chapter Officers

Marjorie DeVoe, President Roy Bailey, V P Gary Wensley, Treasurer Carol Sheffer, Secretary

The newsletter content is written by Marjorie DeVoe for the PEF Reg 8 Retirees. Your written articles for publication are welcomed.