For Retirees
Latest Edition of e-Connect Retiree Newsletter
News for Retirees
March Newsletter
Member-to-Member Article
Words from Dr. Frederick P. Kirsch
Several years ago, your Retiree Advisory Board (RAB) developed the SAANYS Retiree Scholarship. Each year around January the RAB begins to receive applications from graduating seniors all over New York State. In addition to basic directory information, students provide the scholarship committee with transcripts, testing scores, a resume of activities and community service in which they have been involved, extenuating financial circumstances, and an essay response to a question related to leadership and their understanding of what it means to be an effective leader in society. Two letters of recommendation are also required with one being from the retiree sponsor. Applicants must be “sponsored” be a SAANYS retiree member in good standing in any or the three retiree membership categories (Active, Associate, or Affiliate). The retiree member may sponsor a child, grandchild, former student or even a friend or neighbor. The 2025 application, guidelines, and a Q&A document are all available online here.
Once the early May application deadline has passed, a three member RAB scholarship committee reviews each and every application submitted using a holistic evaluation approach. In past years, scholarship winners have gone on to prestigious universities, SUNY’s, community colleges, and technical and trade schools. For the committee, the hardest part of the process is determining the winners. In the relatively short life of the scholarship program, we typically receive between 20 and 30 applications. Each year we plan to award up to four scholarships utilizing the $2000 SAANYS makes available for this purpose. It is uplifting to read through each application. We have remarkable young people in our state who are poised to be great leaders and citizens and each and every one who submits an application has impressed us.
The RAB expresses its gratitude to Executive Director Jennifer Carlson, The SAANYS Board of Directors, and all SAANYS staff for their efforts to support the SAANYS Retiree Scholarship Program!
In addition to recognizing extraordinary student scholars, the RAB hopes to encourage Active members who are retiring as well as all existing retirees to maintain their membership in SAANYS during their retirement. Membership has its rewards!
Dr. Frederick P. Kirsch
SAANYS RAB Member
2010-2011 SAANYS Past President
February 2024 Government Relations Update
The 2024 legislative session is off and running and filled with a few surprises that we did not expect. This summary will outline just a few of the issues that affect our members and also address issues specific to our actively retired members.
Three issues that continue to be of high importance for SAANYS’ advocacy efforts that focus on retiree issues include the continuation of the salary cap waiver, increasing the COLA, and revisions to Tier VI. The salary cap waiver that was allowable during the past few years was not included in the governor’s proposed budget. SAANYS is meeting with key legislators to extend the waiver so that retirees wishing to continue to work in schools would be allowed to earn salaries above the current $35,000 cap. SAANYS also continues to support legislation that would increase the COLA, as well as increase the base salary on which pensions are based. We also have been advocating for changes to Tier VI that currently require administrators to work until age 63, up to 40 years of service in order to receive their full benefits and to reduce the percentage of salary that is required to be placed into the pension system. Read the full update.
Retiree Membership
Whether plans include traveling the country, starting a business, or continuing in the field of education, SAANYS has multiple resources to support your dreams. Download the SAANYS Retirement brochure here.
Review these various levels of membership when thinking about retirement and contact the SAANYS Membership Office at 518-782-0600 or kduffy@saanys.org with any questions.
Retired Active (Must join directly from a Regular Active Membership.)
- Includes Legal Services (including representation for post-retirement administrative employment).
- Legislative representation.
- Free basic $10,000 life insurance for life (reductions at ages 65 and 70).
- Tier 2 life insurance coverage (if carried prior to retirement).
- NASSP & NAESP memberships at retiree rates.
- All publications.
- Financial and retirement planning.
- Purchasing power and discount programs.
- Regional retirement activities.
- Voucher for membership in New York State Retired Teachers Association.
Retired Affiliate (Must join directly from a Regular Active or Retired Active Membership.)
- All of the above, except legal services.
Retired Associate
- Legislative representation.
- NASSP & NAESP memberships at retiree rates.
- Publications.
- Financial and retirement planning options through Equitable.
- Purchasing power and discount programs.
- Regional retirement activities.
Retiree Scholarship Program
Click here for the 2025 Application and Guidelines
Open to any New York public high school senior. Applicants must be sponsored by a current SAANYS Active Retiree, Affiliate Retiree, or Associate Retiree member in good standing.
By completing the information required on the application, the student will enable the committee to determine eligibility to receive funds provided specifically to help high school students graduating in June of 2025. Students must have demonstrated good school and community citizenship, are planning to go on to higher education, and who otherwise satisfy criteria by the SAANYS Retiree Scholarship committee.
Students are responsible for seeing that the application is accurately and completely filled out. Be sure to collect all supporting documents before beginning the application. Applicants must sign into their Google account in order to upload supporting documents (transcript and two letters of reference). The SAANYS Retiree Board reserves the right to not process applications found to be incomplete as of the application deadline.
PLEASE NOTE: For purposes of this scholarship, regular Active SAANYS members listed as a sponsor shall not be considered. SAANYS allocates scholarship money for each region annually. Contact your Regional Representative for details about the SAANYS Scholarship opportunities in your region.
SAANYS Retiree Scholarship – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. Who is eligible to nominate a student for this scholarship?
A. All SAANYS Retiree Members in good standing paying dues at the following 3 membership levels: Retiree Active, Retiree Affiliate, Retiree Associate.
Q. I’m an active SAANYS member. Can I nominate someone?
A. No, however SAANYS allocates scholarship money for each region annually. Contact your Regional Representative for details about the SAANYS Scholarship opportunities in your region. This scholarship requires nomination by a dues-paying retiree active, retiree affiliate, or retiree associate member.
Q. How many students will be selected and what is the value of the scholarship?
A. SAANYS has allocated $2000 for the Retiree Scholarship. The selection committee anticipates selecting 2-4 scholarship recipients from the applicant pool. Therefore, we anticipate awards between $500-$1000 each.
Q. Which students are eligible?
A. A student graduating from a New York State Public High School and enrolling in an accredited College or University (in or out of state).
Q. Does the student have to be enrolling in or majoring in a program related to education or teacher preparation?
A. No.
Q. The application asks for standardized test scores. I took the SAT but not the ACT. Do I have to take the ACT to be considered for this scholarship?
A. No. If you took a college entrance exam (SAT, ACT, other) please list the scores. If you did not take one or more of the exams leave blank or write N/A. The application is reviewed as a comprehensive document. No one area is considered more important.
Q. When will the recipients be notified?
A. We anticipate by early June.
Feel free to email Dr. Frederick Kirsch, Retiree Advisory Board member, at fpkirsch@gmail.com. with any questions.
Resources for Retirees
Financial Planning and Related Insurances Offered Through Equitable
Members can receive competitive rates on life, disability, long-term care, and more. In addition, a full array of retirement services is available, including a complimentary financial profile and comprehensive financial planning services.
Visit Equitable to learn more, or use the dedicated SAANYS member line by calling: 1-866-401-3030, option 8.
Abenity Travel Center
A feature of the Abenity Member Discount Program
Save on airfare, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and more
SAANYS Personal Legal Plan
Includes a simple will, a power of attorney, a living will, a health care proxy, + more
OPWDD’s Senior Companion Program
The New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities’ (OPWDD) Senior Companion Program is an outstanding program that partners New York State seniors with adults with developmental disabilities.
Retiree Committee
Name: Bob Allen
Title: Committee Member, Syracuse City
Email: rca111611@gmail.com
Phone: (315) 727-4974
Name: Carol Muscarella
Title: Committee Member, Region 2
Email: carolf.muscarella@gmail.com | Phone: (515) 965-7839
Name: Tammy Ivan
Title: Committee Member, Region 9
Email: tsivan5@gmail.com
Phone: (607) 760-3896
Name: Frank Sutliff
Title: Committee Member, Region 8
Email: fsutliff@verizon.net
Phone: (315) 717-2698
Name: W. Bruce Gorman
Title: Committee Chair, Region 11
Email: wbruce.gorman@gmail.com
Phone: (585) 244-2387
Name: Harry LeFevre
Title: Committee Member, Region 5
Email: hflefevre@optonline.net
Phone: (845) 429-6504
Name: Karen Urbanski
Title: Committee Member, Region 6
Email: kurbanski@nycap.rr.com
Phone: (518) 437-1533
Name: Bettyjean Callon
Title: Committee Member, Rochester City
Email: bcallon@rochester.rr.com
Phone: (585) 469-5196
Name: Joe Longobardi
Title: Committee Member, Region 4
Email: jlongobard@aol.com
Phone: (914) 245-7648
Name: Doug Regan
Title: Committee Vice Chair, Region 12
Email: dregan13@hotmail.com
Phone: (716) 626-0980
Name: Frederick Kirsch
Title: Committee Member, Region 10
Email: fpkirsch@gmail.com
Phone: (315) 560-5152
Name: Jose Suarez
Title: Committee Member, Region 1
Email: jpsuarez615@yahoo.com
Phone: (516) 443-6153
Name: TBD
Title: Committee Member, Region 7
Email:
Phone:
Levels of Retiree Membership
is open to retired school administrators and supervisors. Retired Associate members are eligible to receive publications, discounts, website access, and legislative representation.
is open to retired school administrators and supervisors who have maintained continuous regular or retired active membership. Retired Affiliate members are eligible to receive publications, discounts, website access, legislative representation, basic life insurance options, and complementary membership in the New York State Retired Teachers Association (NYSRTA).
is open to retired school administrators and supervisors who maintained continuous regular active membership. Retired Active members are eligible to receive publications, discounts, website access, legislative representation, basic life insurance and options, NYSRTA membership, and legal department services for post-retirement educational employment (including individual contract review and representation on job related matters), and representation on NYS Teachers Retirement System benefit determination issues.
Retiree members may choose to reduce to a lower level of membership at any time, but cannot increase their level of membership to retired active or retired affiliate once a lower level is chosen.