Retiree Raffle and Dental Plan
This year Branch 6000 held its Annual Retiree Brunch on Sunday September 17, 2023, 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 in 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.
This retiree brunch gives you the retirees a chance to meet up with some old-time friends from your office 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. After we eat our brunch, we have 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 goes towards the prizes that we give out. If you did not participate in the raffle this year, you will have an opportunity in 2024, to be the grand prize or 1st place winner. Like that old saying “you have to be in it to win it.” You do not have 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 Peter Munoz a retiree from Long Beach and the 1st place winner of $250 was Elaine Marino, a retiree from Holbrook. Next year’s retiree brunch, will be held on Sunday September 15, 2024, at the same location the VFW Hall in Farmingdale. The retiree raffle will be mailed out sometime in the spring of 2024, 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 goes back to the retirees of Branch 6000.
As all of you are aware Health Plex Dental plan has terminated their agreement with Branch 6000 at the end of this year. The only plan as of now that will be available to the members would be Benefeds and you would have to apply online and during the open season. Sorry for any inconvenience that this may have caused you and your family. Health Plex Dental was brought out by US Healthcare, and they do not want to renew the policy they had with ARA Raccuglia and Branch 6000. We will continue to try and find other alternatives and if we do, I will put it in the LIMB.
At this time, I would like to wish Walter Barton, Carol Brown, and Vincent Calvanese a happy and long retirement. It has been an honor and privilege to work and learn from Walter Barton as the President of Branch 6000. He has worked tirelessly and countless hours to represent the members of this Branch. His work ethic is second to none and he keeps guiding the rest of us to be the most knowledgeable officers in the country. Enjoy your retirement, Walter!
Carol Brown is like a sister to me; I love her more than I love my own sister! Her knowledge will be sorely missed. She was my go-to person. Her knowledge of the contract and manuals will make her absence much harder to accept. Enjoy your retirement> Carol! Vinnie Calvanese is one of the hardest working officers in the Branch, he worked in the next office to me, so I know. We always shared our thoughts and concerns on issues, we had a lot of laughs and a lot of brainstorming together. Vinnie was dedicated to the members and this Branch. Enjoy your retirement, Vinnie!
I would like to wish my union brothers and sisters a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and a Happy Healthy New Year!
