Annual Delegates Meeting

Meeting Presentations
The Year in Review

Welcome New Delegates

10 Things You May Not Know About Your NYSTRS Benefits

Can You Afford to Retire?

NYSTRS' Stable Foundation

Michael Corn: The Stability of a NYSTRS Pension

An election, a new video, a top 10 list and even a faux game show: NYSTRS' 2009 Annual Delegates Meeting had a little something for everyone.

More than 750 delegates, alternates and guests representing school districts from around the state gathered at the Saratoga Springs City Center for the two day event held Nov. 8-9. The conference was capped by the unanimous re-election of teacher Board member Michael R. Corn (see article below), but there was plenty of education and entertainment provided along the way.

Informative entertainment was epitomized by a round of the game show "Jeopardy" – or at least something closely resembling it. The "NYSTRS Potpourri Challenge" had players competing in a Jeopardy-style challenge that revealed important facts about System benefits and in the process provided more than a few laughs.

The Year in Review presentation looked at legislative changes from the past year, highlighted NYSTRS service improvements, and featured a sneak peek at the System's new educational video, Your NYSTRS Benefit Payment: Making the Choice That's Right for You. The video explains the various payment choices available to NYSTRS retirees and encourages them to explore their choices in order to maximize their benefit. (The video will be available in this site's Video Vault in the coming weeks.)

Other seminars included: Welcome New Delegates; 10 Things You May Not Know About Your NYSTRS Benefits; Can You Afford to Retire?; and, NYSTRS' Stable Foundation. In the latter, System investment staff reassured delegates that, in spite of the economic downturn, member benefits are safe and secure, and the Retirement System is strong financially.

The dates for the 2010 Annual Delegates Meeting are Nov. 14-15. For the seventh consecutive year, the meeting will be held at the Saratoga Springs City Center.

Corn Re-elected to Retirement Board

Michael R. Corn's sixth term as a NYSTRS Retirement Board member was ushered in just like his previous five: with a unanimous election.

The more than 500 delegates attending the 2009 Delegates Meeting agreed the Barneveld resident was deserving of another three-year term as a teacher member. The election, held Nov. 9, concluded the two day assembly at the Saratoga Springs City Center. As part of his acceptance remarks, Mr. Corn gave a presentation on The Security of a NYSTRS Pension.

First elected in 1992, Corn is one of the three active teacher members on the 10-member Board, which sets policy and oversees System operations. Sheila J. Salenger of Niskayuna and Paul Farfaglia of Liverpool are the other teacher members.

Board members serve without compensation and represent various constituents, including active and retired members, school administrators, school boards and taxpayers. Teacher members are elected from the membership, one each year, and serve three-year terms.

Corn has been a New Hartford Central School District faculty member for more than 30 years, and is a past president of New Hartford's teachers' association. He is also a longtime New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) director.

Summary of 2008 Annual Delegates Meeting

Paul Farfaglia, a central New York teacher and chair of NYSUT's Pension and Retirement Committee, was unanimously elected to the NYSTRS Board by a record 641 delegates attending the 88th Annual Delegates Meeting.

President of the Jordan-Elbridge Teachers Union, Farfaglia is the first Tier 4 member to have a seat on the Board.

Delegates left the meeting with benefit and retirement-related resources to share with colleagues, including information from the following presentations that were given at the meeting: A Look at NYSTRS' New Member Orientation Program; The Impact of Divorce, Disability and Death on NYSTRS Benefits; The Rules for Working in Retirement; Main Session for All Delegates: The Security of a NYSTRS Pension; Choosing a Benefit Payment Option; and, Social Security Information.