‘Here, there and everywhere’
About 300 RTC members and guests attend the 60th annual luncheon.
Margaret Ward accepts the Retired Paraprofessional Advocacy Award.
Retired teachers Tracey Brown (left) and Shirley Dewely chat at the start of the RTC Luncheon.
What began many decades ago as a small auxiliary group to stay in contact with retirees has grown into a powerful political force locally and nationally, UFT Retired Teachers Chapter Leader Bennett Fischer said at the 60th annual RTC Luncheon on June 3.
“UFT retirees are here, there and everywhere influencing city, state and national elections and taking care of our neighbors and our colleagues wherever they are,” he said.
The UFT is unlike other unions because it welcomes retiree and in-service members alike, UFT President Michael Mulgrew said. “I just want to thank you so much for your activism because it is unique,” he said, noting that retirees’ get-out-the-vote efforts will be key as the union prioritizes the high-stakes midterm elections this fall. “It is unique on this planet that a union local has retirees who do this work, and it’s special and it’s cherished.”
About 300 RTC members and guests attended the luncheon, which featured performances by the New York City Labor Chorus, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary, and Jimmy Hill and the All-starz band, whose blues, soul and funk music got attendees dancing.
The RTC gave out 10 awards honoring members’ activism, advocacy, leadership and dedication. Retiree Martin Raskin received the Historical Preservation Award for his dedication to preserving thousands of artifacts from New York City public schools. He said he wants to donate the collection to the UFT. Margaret Ward received the Retired Paraprofessional Advocacy Award, and RTC Treasurer Bobby Greenberg was given the Lifetime Activist Award.
Seven retirees received Get Out the Vote Champion Awards for their political advocacy: Judith Ackerman, Ronni Engelmyer, Donna Robin Lippman, Jo Ann Porter, Conchita Fluitt, Annmarie James and Sean Ahern. The chapter also recognized 50-, 60- and 70-year union members for their service.
Fifty-year member Ken Achiron, a retired teacher and UFT Public Schools Athletic League liaison, said he feels stronger about the union than he ever did. The UFT is “the only reason that we have pensions like we do and the dignity of retirement with a pension where you know that things are taken care of,” he said.
Retired teacher Paige East, who attended the luncheon with her two adult children and sister, retired on April 10 from PS 43 in Queens after serving in various roles for 35 years. Some of her retirement plans include traveling and continuing to write children’s books, among her other writing pursuits.
East said she wants to return to some places she has seen and venture to new ones, such as South Africa. “That’s definitely on my list,” she said. “It was on my mom’s bucket list, too, but God had other plans for her before she could get to it.”
Recently retired Hyacinth Hall, who taught pre-K in New York City public schools for 25 years, also has the travel bug. “I’m living my best life,” she said at the luncheon, days after returning from Bali with a friend.
“The UFT has afforded me a good pension,” she said. “Because of that, I’m able to travel and do things that I wanted to do all this time and I wasn’t able to.”
