Lisa Perrin (left), from the NYSUT SW Regional office, readies the nametags and registration materials for more than 100 RC4 members and guests. | 
Early arrivals pick up "freebies". |
The $15 conference fee included both continental breakfast and buffet lunch. | 
Dave Eggert (right), NYSUT SW Regional staff director, confers with early arrivals. |
NYSUT retiree consultant Louise Ortman welcomes participants. | 
Hobie Rhinehart, president of retiree council 4, thanks attendees for their participation. |
NYSUT VP, Kathleen Donahue, coordinates the union's Program Services department, which addresses the needs of NYSUT's healthcare professionals, BOCES members, members of small and rural locals, new members and retirees. Donahue also oversees NYSUT's social service program for in-service and retiree members. She reminded retirees that the social services program is a free service for NYSUT members, and even extends to other members of their families. To learn more about the NYSUT social service program, click here. | 
Denis Butler, of the NYSUT Legislative department, spoke of the incredible dysfuntion in state government in Albany, and urged retirees to let their legislators know how critical their support of public education is to their voters. To access the NYSUT Legislative Action Center, click here. |
Anne Kelley is the Fair Trade project coordinator for the Labor-Religion Coalition of New York State. She spoke briefly to the entire group--and then conducted an in-depth workshop--about her experiences traveling the world in an effort to be sure that workers' rights are protected. She explained how products such as coffee, tea and chocolate figure in this work. To learn more about the Fair Trade project, click here. | 
Floyd Cameron is the NYSUT retiree services manager. He has vast experience in the legislative area as well, having worked as a staff member in the U.S. Senate, a lobbyist for an anti-poverty agency, and as a NYSUT legislative representative. He served as NYSUT's legislative liaison to the American Federation of Teachers in Washington, D.C., where he focused on federal issues related to protecting and strengthening public education, Social Security and Medicare. To learn more about NYSUT retiree services, click here. |
Mike Corn, a teacher who is one of the 3 teacher-members of the NYS Teachers' Retirement System Board of Directors, gave a presentation titled, "How Safe is Your Pension?" He told those in attendance that the retirement system has almost totally rebounded from the 2008 stock market crash, and that they needn't worry about the financial ability of the NYSTRS to continue to pay their pensions.They should worry, however, about the possibility of a NYS constitutional convention, which would probably remove very important protections from pensions of all in the public sector. For more details, click here to see the "Is Your Pension Safe?" page on the RC4 website. Click here to go to the NYSTRS webpage for current retirees. | 
Retiree Council 4 director and legislative chair, Jim McGrath, explained the importance of the VOTE-COPE program, particularly at a time in which everyone seems to "have it in" for public employees. To learn more about VOTE-COPE, and NYSUT's endorsement procedures, click here. |
Photographer Niles Dening presented a workshop on,"Better Pictures With Your Digital Camera." Click here to reach his website. | 
And then there was lunch! Participants wondered how we managed to provide two meals, a full-day program and rent the facility, all for $15/person. Well, it's easy when NYSUT also contributes $15/person! Thanks, NYSUT!!! |
Theresa Perrin, an activities expert from Emeritus at Lakewood, demonstrated how anyone, even a senior in a wheelchair, can use Nintendo's WII system to get a fun workout. Participants tried their skill at bowling and tennis. To learn more, click here to visit the official Nintendo WII website. | 
The NYS Attorney General's office sent an attorney to discuss current scams that prey on seniors. Participants in this workshop received a copy of "Smart Seniors," a guide to avoiding consumer and health scams. If you would like a copy, click here to download a pdf version of this book. To visit the NYS AG Consumer Fraud website, click here. |
Don Colligan, from the NYSUT Member Benefits department, told participants how to access great programs and discounts by going through the NYSUT Member Benefits website. To learn more about these programs and discounts, click here. Here's an easy way to get to the Member Benefits website: A link to the site is always at the top of the main page on the Retiree Council 4 website. Check it out at www.nysutrc4.org. | 
Lisa Allen, an elder law attorney with Harris Beach in Buffalo, made a return appearance. She spent 90 minutes updating attendees on the ins and outs of Medicaid planning. Everyone remarked at how much they learned about this topic, and how much they still needed to learn! Click here to learn more about Ms. Allen. |