For Retirees

Before You Retire, Here’s What You Need to Know…

Retiree News

How Pre-Retirement Missteps Can Lead to Forfeiting Pension Benefits

The New York State Teachers’ Retirement System and the Employees’ Retirement System have both significantly tightened their scrutiny of retirees who return to work and whether the employee displayed a bona fide termination of employment when they filed for retirement benefits. In plain terms, this means that your retirement must be a real retirement, not a temporary absence followed by a pre-arranged return. NYSTRS and NYSERS are actively looking for evidence that a member genuinely intended to leave employment permanently at the time of retirement, and they have the authority to withhold or reclaim pension benefits if they conclude otherwise. Read the full article here.

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Joe Pastulka – Traveling Poland (Full article)

Retirement brings the opportunity to try the experiences often put on the wish list. Like many of you, I have done some investigation into my ancestry. Reflecting back on conversations and stories my family shared, I developed an interest in seeing Poland.

The year after I retired, a lifelong friend suggested that we take that trip. My friend, Joe Mankowski, had traveled to Poland numerous times. In the early 90s he taught English to Polish students. So, the decision was made and in June of 2024 this story began.

We traveled to Warsaw, the capital of Poland. It stands on the River Vistula in east-central Poland. It is a very modern city with all you would expect in a modern metropolis. Busy and bustling both day and night. It is Central Europe’s economic hub of professional and business services with banking, technology, and energy driving its growing economy.

We booked an Airbnb in the area of Old Town Warsaw. No matter where you go there are plaques, monuments, and reminders of the destruction that Warsaw experienced in WWII. Warsaw was almost completely leveled, with an estimated eighty-five percent reduced to rubble. It was amazing to see how the Poles rebuilt with such architectural accuracy to what existed before the war. Today, Old Town is a bustling tourism area with cobblestone streets and 17th and 18th century buildings. It is a must-see as the churches, Market Square, and the Barbican fortress wall take you back in time. Plan on seeing the Palace of Culture, the Warsaw Uprising Museum, Lazienski Park, and the Museum of Polish Jews.

Our next stop took us by train to Ilawa, a town in northern Poland in an area known as the lakes district. We stayed with friends in a home on Lake Jeziorak. An area with beautiful forested land and crystal-clear lakes. Using Ilawa as a home base, we traveled by train to Malbork Castle. Malbork, a Castle of the Teutonic Order, was originally built in the 13th century to serve as the headquarters of the Teutonic Knights. Again, more than half of the castle was destroyed during WWII. It too was rebuilt to its original glory. The castle covers over fifty acres and is the largest brick castle in the world, so plan your time and energy accordingly.

While in the northern part of Poland we visited Gdansk. It’s the home of the Solidarity movement and Westerplatte, where the German army first invaded Poland. Gdansk did not evade the destruction of the war from both the Germans and later, the Russians. After Gdansk was transferred back to Poland, a massive and painstaking reconstruction effort began. Polish architects and citizens meticulously restored the architectural heritage of Gdansk’s historic center to its original Hanseatic splendor with 16th-century Dutch influences. The Tricity region of Gdansk – Sopot and Gdynia – makes a beautiful seaside vacation location on the Baltic Sea.

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Our next destination was Krakow. We traveled on the high speed Pendolino train from Gdansk to Krakow. The six-hour 300-mile journey on this train is remarkably smooth considering between stops, you reach speeds of 120 mph. Krakow is a major city in southern Poland, known as the countries cultural and intellectual center. The city evaded the destruction of WWII as the Germans used it as a base of operations for their military so they preserved the city.  I would say it was my favorite city to visit as it has a blend of medieval charm and a cosmopolitan feel with trendy bars and restaurants.  

We found an Airbnb in Old Town. It was a short walk to the vast Rynek Glowny Central Square, Europe’s largest medieval market square. In 1979, Pope John Paul II returned to Krakow where he was Archbishop of Krakow for twenty years. He spoke to estimated crowd of over 500,000 people in front of St Mary’s Basilica, that gives you an idea of its size. Within the square, you can view classic artwork and shop in the Cloth Hall, originally built in the 13^th century then reconstructed in 1555. The breath-taking St Mary’s Basilica, was started in the 13^th century and is a fine example of Polish Gothic architecture. The interior features wood carved alter pieces and murals by Jan Matejko.  

Wawel Castle and Cathedral are a ten-minute walk from the square. Built from the 11^th to the 17^th century, it served as the seat and residence of the polish monarchy. Exhibits of art, medieval armor and the tombs of Polish Royality can be viewed. On the side facing the Vistula River you can see the sculpture of the fire breathing dragon, who legend says was defeated by Prince Krakus. The dragon sculpture still spews a flame hourly. 

The next day we traveled to the Wieliczka Salt mines. This underground masterpiece was excavated from the 13^th century and produced salt until 1996. It reaches depth of over 1000 ft and tunnels that cover 178 miles. The miners carved statues, created chapels and the most impressive St. Kinga Chapel, so large, it can house 400 people for a mass or ceremony. Massive timbers were taken down the mines and banded together as scaffolding and supports. It is truly a magnificent engineering marvel. 

On a personal note, my father was born in a small town of Rytro, Poland, a 2-hour ride south of Krakow very near the Slovakia border. With some help, I was able to contact a third cousin from my fraternal grandmother’s side. We met at her home and with my limited skills in Polish it was a good thing my friend Joe was there it help as interpreter. After a plate of Pierogi and a few cordial glasses of Wisniak, a traditional sweet cherry infused vodka, we reviewed the family tree and shared stories of relatives and family.  Curiosity got the best of me so I asked where was the farm where the family lived and worked?   

I was thrilled to learn that after WWI my great uncle, my grandmother’s brother was able to buy some of the land and that I was indeed on the land where my father was born. Needless to say, it was an emotional moment. We said our goodbyes, hugged multiple times and we returned to Krakow to prepare for our return to Warsaw and home. 

We were in Poland for 20 days and this article is just a brushstroke of the time we spent there. We rode rafts on the Dunajec River, a waterway that forms a natural southern border between Poland and Slovakia. We sailed the Baltic on a Pirate ship from the port at Ustka. We touched the northernmost and southernmost borders of Poland. It was the trip of a lifetime. 

If you have any interest, I would strongly encourage you to do so. After centuries of partitions, devastating world wars and communist rule, modern Poland is a remarkable country to visit. They transitioned to a standout success story becoming a trillion-dollar economy with growth around 3.5% and unemployment near 3%. While being a part of the European Union, they utilize the Polish Zloty as their currency and the American exchange of 0.26 gives you a lot of buying power. English is spoken by most under the age of 50, food is phenomenal and the people are very welcoming. If you’re looking for European travel, consider a trip to Poland. 

Retiree Scholarship Winners 2026

Andrew Baldini – Region 1

Vivian Chen – Region 3

Brooke Devlin – Region 6

Scott Gommel – Region 7

Isabella Cacheiro – Region 12

Congratulations to the 2026 winners and their families!

Retiree Testimonials

“Thanks to the SAANYS legal team, a group of retirees and I successfully avoided a major negative impact to our retiree health insurance – at no additional cost. Our Active Retired membership covered expert legal support when we needed it most. It’s a powerful reminder of the value behind our annual dues.” – Chick Quattrini 

“My Active Retired membership offers affordable peace of mind. Knowing I always have access to SAANYS’ legal support – especially to protect my hard-earned, post-retirement health benefits – makes it an invaluable resource.” – Cynthia Holmes 

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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 [email protected] 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 active members (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.

Download the Retiree Membership Application here.

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Retiree Scholarship Program

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 Bruce Gorman, Retiree Advisory Board Chair, at [email protected] with any questions.

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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.

BenefitHub 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.

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Retiree Committee (RAB)

Name: W. Bruce Gorman
Title: Committee Chair, Region 11
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (585) 244-2387

Name: Doug Regan
Title: Committee Vice Chair, Region 12
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (716) 626-0980

Name: Bob Allen
Title: Committee Member, Syracuse City
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (315) 727-4974

Name: Carol Muscarella
Title: Committee Member, Region 2
Email: [email protected] | Phone: (515) 965-7839

Name: Tammy Ivan
Title: Committee Member, Region 9
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (607) 760-3896

Name: Frank Sutliff
Title: Committee Member, Region 8
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (315) 717-2698

Name: Harry LeFevre
Title: Committee Member, Region 5
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (845) 429-6504

Name: Karen Urbanski
Title: Committee Member, Region 6
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (518) 437-1533

Name: Bettyjean Callon
Title: Committee Member, Rochester City
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (585) 469-5196

Name: Joe Longobardi
Title: Committee Member, Region 4
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (914) 245-7648

Name: Jose Suarez
Title: Committee Member, Region 1
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (516) 443-6153

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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.