*Members: If you have any announcements that you would like to post on the ROBS website, please contact us at
info@robsny.org. Announcements will be posted each month on this page.
If you miss any previous month's announcements,
you can view them at the Archives page of this website. You can also read more news in our Newsletters. In addition, if you have
your own website, and would like to share it with other members, let us know and we can include the link on the ROBS site.
IMPORTANT DATES |
IN THE NEWS MARCH 2009 | ||||
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SAD SHARING | NYSUT NOTES SPEAKING TO THE GENERATIONS  By Dorothy Zuckerman NYSUT Retiree Services Consultant dzuckerm@nysutmail.org Do you know the difference between a raspberry and a blackberry? Would you rather handle an I-Pod or a pea pod? Have you started to twitter yet? Many seniors express outrage at people who “play” with their hand held computers during a meeting or a speech. They are taken aback by people on the street who appear to be talking to themselves over their cell phones. Over the past few years there has been a growing disconnect between today’s youth and older adults. Each generation has shaped our world in a different way because of the world they were born into and responded to. These intergenerational differences often lead to stereotypes and prejudicial attitudes. The relationships we develop with our children and our grandchildren are essential to maintain genuine and lasting open communication. As seniors we read about the Boomers, Generation X and Generation Y and we are confused about who and what they represent. Rapid changes in technology have left many seniors behind. As a result, older people often find it difficult to find a comfortable place in this changing environment. In order to remain useful and vital, it has become extremely important for seniors to become more involved in intergenerational activities. Sharing interests and experiences, breaking down language barriers, learning |
new technology – these are ways to bring the generations together. Dowling College in Oakdale has recently established the Center for Intergenerational Policy and Practice, the first of its kind on Long Island. For more information, contact Dowling College at www.dowling.edu/news. See how techno savvy you are. Can you translate the following cyber symbols?
AFAIK: as far as I know; BBL: be back later; BWL: bursting with laughter; DIKU: do I know you; GAL: get a life; HHIS: hanging head in shame; IHA: I have acronyms; IITC: If I remember correctly; JTLYK: just to let you know; LD: later, dude; LOL: laughing out loud; PA: parent alert; P911: my parents are coming; PMFMJIB: pardon me for jumping in but; TCOB: taking care of business; TILII: tell it like it is; VBG: very big grin; LLTA: lots & lots of thunderous applause |
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MEMBER'S WEBSITES |
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John M. Sherin Complete Team Building Kits
Teaching Cooperation/ Collaboration Emotional Intelligence (EQ) www.brokensquares.com Rick Mundy
Watercolor Prints of L.I., Adirondacks, NYC...
www.RickMundy.Com Gloria Hannemann Home Improvement and Maintenance www.Servi-all.com Meet My Pets -" For the Birds" www.glohann.com/petindex.htm Elmon Kazandjian NYC Art Gallery www.woodwardgallery.net |
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| WHAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW | |||||
| We believe that "Humor" is important in the lives of children. The book and Mrs. Belle were embraced by readers of all ages, so another humorous book about Mrs. Belle, "The Teacher Who Would Not Retire Goes To Camp" debuted in September of 2005. It received a "Blue Ribbon" for first place from Islip Town in 2006. Now, our third book of the series, "The Teacher Who Would Not Retire Discovers A New Planet," will be introduced at a book reading / signing on April 3, 2009 at the ROBS meeting. Our first two books also made their debut at ROBS. After all, that's where it all began, in Brentwood, New York, in 1960. The best part of our "Life After Retirement" career is reconnecting with old friends and former students. We now do readings and signings all over the Metropolitan area and have met so many people that meant so much to us during our teaching career. We find that many of the children of the students we had, are now attending schools in Nassau and Suffolk Counties, and we have become close friends of these families. We think of Brentwood as a nucleus that has hands reaching out to all parts of Long Island. We are now beginning to work on another "Mrs. Belle" adventure. Retirement is wonderful because you have the time to devote to your special projects. We are very fortunate to have so many fond memories of our teaching days and we want to continue writing about our love of teaching. We like to feel that we have been instrumental in bridging the gap between seniors and young children. Sheila & Letty Sustrin *See their letter below in the Town Crier |  | |||
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OUR DREAM CAME TRUE After retiring in 1998, we both realized that there was a void in our lives. We missed the interaction and everyday togetherness with the students. We volunteered time at the Laurel Park Elementary School where we had spent our last 18 years of teaching. We always had a desire to write stories for children. We decided that now would be the perfect time to begin a new "Life After Retirement" career. It is said that you should write about something that you are familiar with. Our love of teaching and children gave us the idea of writing our first book, and it was titled, "The Teacher Who Would Not Retire." Though the book was not autobiographical, the life of Mrs. Belle, our central character, paralleled the way we felt about children. We wanted to continue our involvement with children, just the way Mrs. Belle did. We were very fortunate in finding a publishing company located in West Bay Shore, New York. Blue Marlin Publications was willing to take a chance on us and we will forever be grateful. This book won a "Red Ribbon" for second place at the Americana Fair of Islip Town in 2004. | |||||
| THE TOWN CRIER - MarilynDePlaza@aol.com | |||||
 Marilyn DePlaza |
SAD SHARING It is with such a heavy heart that I send you this email of the passing of our dear friend, Bernie Heller. He was found this morning by his caregiver, Tina Gallo, a former student who lived next door,and took great care of Amy and Bernie. He evidently passed away overnight. MY DEAR FRIEND
BERNIE HELLER POSTED 3/30/09 From Marilyn DePlaza I attended graveside services for Bernie Heller on Friday. It was very sad for me as I listened to the Rabbi talk about Bernie's life from the time he was a young boy, abandoned by his mother and raised, along with his brother, 2 years younger, by his father. His father worked from 2 till midnight, so he could care for his young sons. Yet Bernie was always the player, selling bubble gum, running numbers. I was surprised to hear that he had earned the Purple Heart while on a secret foray into China during the Korean conflict. There was more, much more...... on a personal level, Bernie and Amy arrived here in south Florida almost 20 years ago, about the same time Henry and I did and together, we had annual dinners for retirees here. One year, we had an elegant affair at the Wellington Country Club, thanks to the two of them. There were over 60 of us then, now we are down to 12. Maybe you can understand my sorrow. This was the first funeral of a colleague that I had attended here. It felt like I lost a member of my family......which I feel about those with whom I taught for over 25 years........my family. Marv Davis was there. I had not seen him since 1980. He saw the obit in the newspaper and came to pay his respects. He is a widower now. I am sharing my sadness with you, my colleagues, in a selfish way, because I simply don't know where else to go with it. I loved Bernie Heller--he was a very good man and very kind to my family when I needed help placing my son in the college of his desire. I think he came through for more people than we know. May he rest in peace with his Amy. SAD SHARING Our deepest condolences to Janet Cutillo and family on the passing of her father, Murray Kran, early today. Janet Cutillo is the Reading Lab Consultant at South Middle School. Condolences may be sent to: |
A REQUEST FROM I am sending on an email (below) that I received this morning from Bobbe Frankel. So many of us know and love Chico Frankel that this is an easy request to fulfill. Perhaps some of you know some students who knew him and loved him and would like to write to him. Don't we all love to hear of the good times of our lives while we can, rather than have them read as eulogies. So this is Chico's email: frankelchico@hotmail.com .. It is yours to do as you wish. Dear Marilyn, Bobbe and Chico Frankel |
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GREAT TIME AT GOOD NEWS PRICIPAL OF THE YEAR POSTED 3/25/09 The following news comes from a collegue at Brentwood HIgh School:
It is with great pride that I share with you that Mr. Thomas O’Brien has been named New York State High School Principal of the Year. This award is given annually by SAANYS to recognize a principal who has made outstanding contributions to the community and the educational process with a commitment to excellence. Kudos to Tom for all he has done for the Brentwood High School students, staff and community. DIANA AMADOR'S GOOD NEWS |
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