2023 April 19 NYSUT RC 12 Executive Board Meeting Minutes
Present: Stacey Caruso-Sharpe, Kathlene Lyman, Cathy Picciocca, Dolores Talmadge, Jeanne Williams Bennett, Margaret Dafeldecker, Phyllis Vansteenburgh, Vicky McGowan-Horan, Maggie Bouck, Sheryl Baker Delano, Bev Alves
The Election Committee met prior to the beginning of the meeting to determine how the names would randomly be listed on the ballots for the May elections of directors for RC 12.
The names on the ballot will be listed: Victoria McGowan-Horan, Elaine Lounsbury-Browne, Maggie Bouck, Jennifer Shaad-Derby, Maria S. Pachecko
The meeting was called to order around 9AM.
Treasurer’s Report - Dolores Talmadge
Dolores has been looking for CD rates for our account. Due to a number of reasons, she wants to update information and will send information to Stacey so the Executive Board will vote online prior to the May regional meeting.
The Audit Committee has not met.
Report January 12, 2023 - April 19, 2023
Business Checking # 12 Balance $203.15 Business Money Market #11 $51,897.87
Social Checking #13 Balance $2,076.16 Social Money Market #3 $11,449.44
Savings #1 $ 178.16
Vice-President Report - Kathlene Lyman
Dolores, Sheryl, and Kathlene met to attempt updating the retiree list. The plan is to call local chapter presidents. Jeanne suggested asking Juliette to send a message out to the local Presidents Councils.
President’s Report - Stacey Caruso Sharpe
With the Representative Assembly around the corner, NYSUT has been focusing on fixing Tier VI, helping higher education, encouraging articles from teachers, and supporting pro education candidates for school boards.
Maggie shared that the Cherry Valley-Springfield Retiree President is Rhonda King.
Trying to get more retirees involved continues to be a challenge. Suggestions were made to attempt to get more participation in RC 12 at the membership meeting by providing the time necessary to work on committees. It was suggested that members work on committees before running for director positions. It is felt that progress is being made because five individuals did stand up to run for directors at our upcoming election. However, it seems that younger retirees are not involved.
RC 12 still needs to review the Constitution.
Maggie, Dolores, Sheryl, Vicky, and Stacey volunteered to develop some type of questionnaire for members to fill out at the May membership meeting.
Jeanne, who attended ED 51, explained some of the background information regarding Tier VI that will be discussed at the Representative Assembly at the end of April. The COLA does not seem to be a true COLA. Many new retirees do not have the option to carry health insurance. There is a 3% cap on the first $18,000 of pension earnings. The goal is to make Tier VI like Tier IV. Tier VI retirees must contribute every year. It was explained that Tier VI retirees who leave before 63 will suffer 52% penalties although they have 30 years of experience.
Barry Kaufman, president of NYSARA (Alliance for Retired Americans) presented the voting records of 2022 regarding 10 issues, representing both sides of the legislature. To review this document, go to the following link:
https://retiredamericans.org/voting-record/
Stacey shared that before endorsing individuals NYSUT looks at all our issues. Unfortunately, there seems to be a lot of game playing. As a result, many of our members are not contributing to VOTE-COPE due to voting endorsements. It was questioned whether RC 12 had a Political Action Committee.
Members can listen to the 2023 Representative Assembly at the following link:
https://www.nysut.org/resources/special-resources-sites/representative-assembly
NYSUT Retiree Services Consultant Report - Sheryl Baker-Delano
Sheryl helped with a March retirement workshop for the Capital District RC 9 and 10. Stacey and Kathleen requested a desire to be in the loop so information could be passed on to upcoming retirees in RC 12. The Herkimer County Presidents Council hosted another workshop where 15 teachers and 18 SRPs attended.
Margaret Dafeldecker shared that seven people were retiring from the Schoharie/ Middleburg area. Their retiree chapter president is Wendy Wilson.
Sheryl continues to stress Union for Life. She would like to set up an excel sheet to list personal contact information. She believes it’s important to have a workbook in hand and/or a digital format with Committee calendars. She also reported that there are NYSUT grants available for RC 12.
Elections Committee - Phyllis VanSteenburgh
A ballot was sent out to Margaret, Kathlene, and Jeanne to review.
Social Committee - Kathlene Lyman
A number of pictures from the New York City trip to see A Beautiful Noise were posted on the RC 12 website. A trip is planned to see Funny Girl on August 16 and New York, New York on October 18.
Rambling on the Rails New Hampshire trip may have a $30 increase because only 28 individuals signed up to attend the trip. It was planned for 35 people. Room is still available for this June 5-9 adventure.
There is also room to join The Ark Encounter and Creation Museum in Cincinnati to be held October 2-7.
Review the RC 12 website for more information. http://rc12.ny.aft.org/
Kathlene will be writing an article for the next Outlook to share how individuals who attend these social events pay for the entire trip/event. No part of the contributions made to RC 12 go towards these trips.
The trip to Glimmerglass this summer is an opera. Anyone who is interested in going should contact Wendy Wilson at moose123@nycap.rr.com. Anyone who is in Cooperstown may want to take the trolley tour into Cooperstown and lunch.
StateWide Senior Action Council - Kathlene Lyman
Their next convention will be held September 11th, 12th and 13th. RC 12 holds a membership where only one person (usually the president) can represent RC 12 at the convention. Other RC 12 members are welcome and encouraged to attend.
NYSARA - Stacey Caruso-Sharpe
A convention will be held on May 18th at NYSUT Headquarters. Any individual who wants to attend needs to pay $10.
RC 12 Budget 2023-2024
Margaret made a motion to adopt the same budget (July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023) for next year (July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024). The motion was seconded by Jeanne. A discussion followed, and the motion passed. All were reminded that this is a working document.
Stacey reviewed some resolutions that would be discussed at the Representative Assembly at the end of the month.
Respectfully submitted,
Cathy Picciocca
RC 12 Secretary