On June 5, 2008 the MTA Scholarship Selection Committee met at the MTA office to select the scholarship recipients for 2008. The selection is based upon—GPA, sibling consideration, parental income, employment, high school and community activities, parental NYSUT and MTA membership and essays.

Recipient & Parent

Jillian Bergus - Sherrie Bergus (Mech)

Ann Reynolds - Catherine Reynolds (TM)

Ashley Witt - Patricia Witt (CH)

Joseph Petrossi - Arlene Petrossi (MHS)

Sean Hodgkiss - Stephanie Hodgkiss (MHS)

Amelia Fish - Anne Igoe (CH)

William Hluchan - Elizabeth Hluchan (MMS)

Rebecca Sgandurra - Gail Sgandurra (MH)

Thank you to the following MTA members who graciously volunteered to help with the selection process.

• Andrea Baker (Mech)
• Debi McGowen (TM)
• Jimmy Moffett (TM)
• Rhonda Perrett (MHS)
• Lori Poveromo (MMS)
• Jennifer Wentworth (MMS)
• Pat Scali (TTMS)
• Katherine Crawford (TTMS)
• Denise Woolsey (TTMS)
• Lorraine Pagliocca (CH)
• Sally Huffman (CH)
• Ruthann Galvin (MH)
• Matt Wentworth (MH)

NYSTRS Pre-Retirement Planning Seminars will be held throughout the state during the summer months. Seminars are scheduled in Middletown on August 6th and in Fishkill on August 7th as well as many other cities across the state.

The seminars are designed for members age 45 and older. To reserve a seat at the seminar just call TRS at 800-356-3128 ext 6180. When calling you will need to provide the following information: social security number or TRS membership number, date of birth, home address and home phone number.

(Submitted by Janet Myruski-Vote/Cope Coordinator)
The Spring 2008 Vote-Cope drive has come to a successful end. This year many people have increased their payroll contributions. Many people contributed for the first time and many more of you have contributed consistently throughout the years.

Thanks to each and everyone one of you!

Special thanks go out to the chairperson in each building.
Their efforts are truly appreciated.

Chorley-Patty Witt
Truman Moon-Frank Lentino
Monhagen-Andrea Simmons-Murray
Twin Towers-Lois Samsel-Cronk
Mechanicstown-Kathi Decker
Maple Hill-Nancy Healy
High School-Wendy Bartocci

A very special thanks to Frank Lentino
who came very, very close to getting
100% participation at Truman Moon.

Let’s strive for 100% participation in all buildings in the coming years. Contributing to Vote-Cope allows NYSUT to work on our behalf for the issues which are important to education and to our profession.

Best wishes to our retirees!
Have a wonderful summer everyone!!

Last month’s Will Day was one of the most successful ever.  Fifty-two members and spouses or domestic partners had wills written or signed.  To meet the demands of benefit fund participants, fund chairperson Becky Osczepinski recently announce that the next Will Day has been scheduled for Thursday, October 30th.  Reservation forms for this next session will be distributed throughout the schools in mid-September.

When traveling more than 100 miles from home be sure to carry your travel assistance card so that, if necessary, you can receive help from Worldwide Emergency Travels Services. The WETS is a benefit that is provided to teachers as a rider to the Accidental Death & Dismemberment policy. Consult the WETS brochure or the Member Benefits page of the NYSUT website for details of the coverage.

If you have misplaced your card you can stop by the MTA Benefit Fund office to pick one up.

NYSUT and the MTA are asking for help from the members in getting up-to-date mailing addresses for retired members listed below. If you know of a new address for any of these retirees please e-mail them to Gary Day.

• Eileen Bagge
• Becky Brown-Ryan
• Janet Doran
• Jane Foote
• Joan Furlin
• Nancy Judd
• Suzanne Liederman
• Fina Lodico
• Dennis Macleay
• Cecilia Mullin
• Lori Orsley
• Ricard Siers
• Juanita Toomer
• Maureen Tucker
• John Wheeler

 by Robin Geiger

The MTA will hold its annual End of the Year Celebration on Wednesday, June 18th at the Wallkill Golf Club. The festivities will start at 4:15 (to accommodate all of our colleagues). All members who have announced their retirement will be invited to attend as guests of the MTA. Traditionally, retirees will be honored with kind words and gifts. As is also our practice, all new teachers and their buddies will receive invitations to attend as guests.

The evening starts out with munchies and a cash bar, to be followed by a buffet dinner including cake and coffee. This is always an enjoyable evening and a wonderful opportunity to honor our colleagues. Invitations for retirees, new teachers and buddies will be distributed in May. For all of the rest of us, forms will be sent out in May with all of the information. Save the date — make every effort to attend — you’ll be happy you did!

REWARD
THE SMILE ON A WINNING SENIOR’S FACEJ
SATISFACTION OF HELPING A YOUNG PERSON
AND YES THE POSSIBILITY OF BIG CASH$$$$$

SCHOLARSHIP RAFFLE TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE APRIL 9TH
BEGIN TALKING IT UP TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY
LET’S SELL ALL THE ALOTTED TICKETS AND MAKE THIS THE LARGEST SCHOLARSHIP OFFERING EVER!

THE DRAWING WILL BE MAY 14TH

Newsletter submissions can be forwarded to Kristine Hanington at mtanews@middletownteachers.org.  All submissions should also be copied to Robin Geiger at rgeiger1@hvc.rr.com.  The next submission deadline is October 12, 2007.  Please  use private e-mails for newsletter articles.

Mentor Coordinator Jean Heater and Mentor Advisory Council member Jill Gillen review mentor applications prior to last week’s interviews. The Personnel Committee interviewed sixteen teachers who applied to be placed on the Mentor bank.

When calling NYSUT Member Benefits Trust regarding the new voluntary family vision plan please be aware that you are purchasing a new vision plan that is a separate policy from the current plan offered by the MTA Benefit Fund. Some members have been telling Member Benefits to convert their current individual plan into a family plan. That is not the case.

As far as premiums for the voluntary vision plan, the $230 annual family premium is guaranteed through 2008. After 2008 Davis Vision will re-evaluate the premium.

The next defensive driving course is scheduled for June 2, 2007.  It will be held at the MTA Office  from 9am to 3:30 pm.  Members, spouses and families are invited to take this valuable course. The course is $25 per person.  Please send reservations and payment to Peggy Fellows, Maple Hill School. There are only 40 slots and they filled up quickly last fall.  It is on a first come, first served basis so you are urged you to submit your reservation as soon as possible.  An e-mail will be sent out the week before the course reminding you of it.

VOTE-COPE - Campaign 2007
Open Doors
The Key to Effecting Change is VOTE-COPE

Building Chairpersons
Truman Moon-Frank Lentino
Chorley-Carol Kivell
Mechanicstown-Kathi Decker
Maple Hill-Nancy Healy
Twin Towers-Tammy Berube
Monhagen-Lennie Colon
High School-Wendy Bartocci

This year’s Vote-Cope campaign is about to begin. Vote-Cope is the political action fund for NYSUT. Once again, we ask you to seriously consider making a donation if you have never done so before. If you have donated in the past, we ask you to consider increasing your donation. Please take a moment to read the information you will find in your school mailbox. You will see why we continue to ask for your support.

WANT A CHANCE TO WIN $50.00? WANT 2 CHANCES TO WIN $50.00?? YOU CAN BE ENTERED TO WIN. BE ON THE LOOK-OUT FOR YOUR PERSONALIZED VOTE-COPE PACKET FOR DETAILS.

Honoring Retirees,
New Teachers,
New Teaching Assistants,
New Nurses and Buddies

Wallkill Golf Club
Thursday, June 14th
4:15-6:30
For more information, see flyer
– ask your senior building rep if you need one –
or contact Robin Geiger at MHS