Retiree Brunch and Raffle 2025
This year Branch 6000 held its Annual Retiree Brunch on Sunday September 14, 2025, at the VFW Hall in Farmingdale. A wonderful time was had by all that attended. This event is free for all retired Branch 6000 union members. You must notify the Branch in advance of your participation for this event.
I would personally like to acknowledge the Director of Retired Members for Branch 6000 Frank Melisurgo for doing such a fabulous job on the retiree brunch. Frank works hard planning this event so that you retirees have an enjoyable time.
This retiree brunch gives the retirees a chance to meet up with some old-time friends from your office to talk and reminisce about the times you spent together. The President of Branch 6000 informs the retirees of any critical issues that might affect them in their retirement years. Gives them an update on COLA projections. This year we had guest speakers show up that also inform us on issues of concern at the Federal level. We were fortunate enough to have Congressman LaLaota and Congressman Suozzi in attendance that spoke to the retirees on issues that affect them. Congresswoman Lara Gillan sent a video on her support for the letter carriers. Also, Congressman Garbarino sent an aide on his behalf.
After we ate our brunch, we had the retiree raffle with the grand prize of $1,000 and 1st prize of $250. These raffle tickets are $2.00 each or 6 for $10.00. I would like to “thank” all that participated in this year’s raffle. The monies that the Branch collects from this raffle go towards the prizes that we give out. If you did not participate in the raffle this year, you will have an opportunity in 2026 to be the grand prize or 1st place winner. Like that old saying, “you have to be in it to win it.” You need not to be present to win.
With that said I would like to congratulate the following retirees who won this year’s raffle: the grand prize winner of a $1,000 was Charlie Scholz who retired from Copiague post office. The sad unfortunate part is that the Branch was notified a week prior to the retiree brunch that Brother Scholz had passed away. So, we are giving his winnings to his family. The 1st place winner of $250 was Mike O’Donnell retiree from Farmingville post office.
Frank has not finalized the date of next year’s retiree brunch, but it will be held sometime in September 2026 on a Sunday. The date of the retiree brunch will be announced in the LIMB Leader when Frank makes the final arrangements.
The retiree raffle will be mailed out sometime in the spring of 2026, so keep an eye out for that mailing! If you do not receive a raffle book you can always call the office and ask for me and I would be happy to mail you another one. Keep in mind the monies that are collected go back to the retirees of Branch 6000.
After the raffle, President McLehose and I presented a 50-year gold card membership to Tony Guardino The Godfather of the Amityville Post Office. We also presented two 55-year pins, one too Bob White of Levittown post office and Raymond Mills of Brentwood post office.
If you are a newly retired letter carrier or planning to retire soon, please fill out PS form 1189 to stay in the union after you retire. The dues are $2.50 per month that will come out of your pension check. This gives you the right to attend union meetings, keep up to date on political issues that concern retirees and active letter carriers, COLAs for retirees, LIMB, other publications from the Branch, Postal Record and correspondences from the National Union. Allows you to attend the Retiree Brunch! It also gives you the right to vote for our National Officers or Branch Officers if there is an election at the National or Branch level. You also have Frank who is the Director of Retired Members. if you need any assistance and if you belong to the NALC Health Plan, and if you have any issues, you can contact our Health Benefit Representative Jim Tuthill for answers.
Stay involved, stay in the union!
