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Retirees worked hard for candidates

Holiday greetings. On behalf of the PEF Retirees Executive Board, we wish everyone a joyful holiday season and all the best in 2007.

And as we also come to the end of 2006, let me bring you up to date on several topics:
• Political action — Many volunteers from PEF Retirees made thousands of phone calls and sent out hundreds of post cards for PEF-endorsed political candidates. We also participated in campaign organizing, literature drops and rallies.

We thank all of our retiree participants who “walked the walk” and demonstrated their commitment to PEF and the democratic process.

• 28th Annual PEF Convention — The PEF Retirees Executive Board was present at the PEF Convention in Lake Placid. We invited everyone to stop by our PEF Retirees booth and we hope we provided valuable information about retirement benefits and senior issues.

We thank everyone who signed our PEF Retirees petition urging the state Senate to reintroduce and override the veto of S.6397, the legislation that would ensure state health insurance benefits would not be diminished for retirees unless an equivalent change is made for state employees. We gathered 400 signatures on our petition and we thank the PEF delegates for their support.

For many years, delegates to the PEF conventions have been treated to a variety of delicious cookies baked by Bridget Pawelczak from Division 393 at Gowanda Correctional Facility in Region 1. This year, her cookies were offered from our booth. Many thanks to Bridget for these treats.

• New Membership — At its March 2006 meeting, the PEF Executive Board adopted a policy of paying for the first year of PEF Retirees’ membership dues for all PEF members as they retire, starting April 1, 2006.

Our PEF Retirees office now notifies all new retirees when their names and addresses are received from the state Retirement System. However, it sometimes takes months for a name to show up on that list. So, if you have retired since last March and would like to join PEF Retirees, please call us at 1-800-342-4306, ext. 289 to request an enrollment kit.

We welcome all NYS retirees, regardless of when you retired. Additionally, PEF Retiree membership also is open to PEF members who expect to retire at some point in the next five years. Call us for details.

• 2005 PEF Retirees Audit — The PEF Retirees constitution states, "The Retiree President shall cause an audit to be done for each fiscal year....”

Robert Harms, chair of the PEF Retirees Financial Committee, reports the audit for calendar year 2005 is completed. The Audit Committee, headed by Rich Magelaner (Region 10/11 PEF Retirees president), with Carol Sheffer (Region 8) and Bob Redmond (Region 8), and ably assisted by Alice Hughes, found everything to be in order.

The PEF Retiree Executive Board thanks them, as well as the Statewide Financial Committee comprising Harms (Region 8), Karl Wokan (Region 5) and Ron Jubis (Region 6).

• Empire Plan Basic Medical Provider Discount Program — On several occasions, PEF retirees living outside New York state have expressed concerns about their health insurance coverage. The problem arises when they are dependent on out-of-network medical care.
If you are in that situation, be aware the Empire Plan Basic Medical Provider Discount Program offers discounts from selected providers who do not participate in the Empire Plan.

These individuals are part of the Multi-Plan network, a nationwide provider organization contracted with United Health Care. To find a provider in this plan ask if the provider is an Empire Plan Multi Plan participant or call 1-877-769-7447.

The Communicator Dec.06/Jan.07

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2007 Calendar
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2006 PEF Audit
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Clarification: A photo caption in the November issue of The Communicator should have said PEF Vice President Pat Baker and Regional Coordinators Dee Dodson, Vernetta Chesimard and Jemma Marie-Hanson coordinated the PEF Sept. 11 memorial service in New York City.