Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES Educators' Association

Dear Local Leader,

We are pleased to offer FOUR free in-person sessions about the NYS Teachers Retirement System (“TRS”) for any NYSUT member enrolled in this retirement system. These sessions will be held on:

• Thursday, February 15^th
• Thursday, February 29^th
• Tuesday, March 5^th
• Wednesday, March 27^th

All sessions are scheduled from 4:30-6:30pm at the Rochester Regional NYSUT Office, 30 N. Union St., Rochester, NY 14607.

TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM (TRS)

The sessions about the NYS Teachers Retirement System (NYSTRS) are for all NYSUT members who are also members of the NYSTRS. Teachers, related titles and teaching assistants are members of the TRS. (Nurses and civil service titles are not in the TRS.) This session will be presented by Beth Chetney, NYSUT Endorsed Teacher Member of the NYSTRS Board of Trustees. Topics covered include security, planning, filing for retirement, calculating your benefit, reading your statement and understanding the options.

These sessions will be held at the Rochester Regional NYSUT Office (30 N. Union St., Rochester, NY 14607). They are capped at 85 people each and will fill up quickly. Please consider your registration your commitment to attend. If you reserve a spot and do not show you will be taking a spot from another person. If you cannot attend, please let us know so we can give your seat to someone on the waitlist. Due to capacity limits, we are not able to accommodate requests to bring your spouse with you.

Pizza and soda will be served. There is free parking in the lots around the building. Advanced registration is required. Register HERE for these sessions and choose which date you will attend.

In order to inform the presentation to meet your needs, please fill out this survey that corresponds to the date you will be attending in advance the session:

• Thursday, February 15^th
• Thursday, February 29^th
• Tuesday, March 5^th
• Wednesday, March 27^th

Thanks,

Carrie M. Andrews
Regional Staff Director
New York State United Teachers
30 N. Union St. Suite 302
Rochester, NY 14607
Phone (585) 454-5550
Carrie.Andrews@nysut.org

Dear Local Leader,

I want to make sure that you and your members are aware of a recent change regarding Excellus Blue Cross/Blue Shield and WellNow Urgent Care. Effective January 1, 2024, WellNow Urgent Care is no longer an in-network provider in the Excellus BueCross Blue Shield network. Neither NYSUT nor your district have anything to do with this change. It’s a matter between those two entities. You may have already received direct notice of this change if you utilized a WellNow Urgent Care within the past year.

I am writing so you’re aware that if you have Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance (such as a plan through FLASHP or RASHP) and visit a WellNow Urgent Care your visit will be considered out of network and you may need to pay more for that visit. You can visit ExcellusBCBS.com/CareOptions to learn about other options for Urgent Care that are in-network.

Again, this is a matter between WellNow and Excellus Blue Choice Blue Shield. I want your members to be aware of the change as many of us utilize urgent care centers in our region.

Thanks,

Carrie M. Andrews
Regional Staff Director
New York State United Teachers

NYSUT has always been proud to support our members who seek to become National Board Certified (“NBC”) teachers. We want to let you know about an upcoming informational session being held at Nazareth College on January 11 at which time you can learn more about the process and the benefits of NBC.

For more information and to register for the January 11 NBC interest session visit these sites:  National Board Certified Teacher Interest Info Sheet – Google Docs and National Board Interest Session Jan. 11, 2024 (1) – Google Docs

There is also a National Board Writing Institute to support you as you work on the components of your certification. Register HERE for the March 23^rd session.

Thanks,

Carrie M. Andrews
Regional Staff Director
New York State United Teachers