On November 2, 2017, a few hundred retirees attended the Retiree Conference at the Watermill in Smithtown. After Continental Breakfast, NYSUT Vice President Paul Pecorale,VOTE/COPE coordinator June Smith and Regional Political Organizer Jeff Friedman spoke about the campaign against the Constitutional Convention and the operation of the phone banks. Suffolk Regional Office Director Peter Verdun gave an update on current issues facing NYSUT, including the Constitutional Convention and the agency fee court case, “Janus”, before the Supreme Court. The breakout sessions included a comprehensive presentation on long term care and other elder law issues, a discussion of proposed plans to expand Medicare, a presentation on the experiences of a Japanese-American in a World War II internment camp and an opportunity to make phone calls supporting a no vote on proposition 1 – the Constitutional Convention.  After lunch, State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli discussed issues related to our pension benefit. In all, the day was informative, the speakers inspiring and the food was great. Thanks are due to Joan Perrini for all the hard work to make the event possible.