Welcome to the Retiree Division

Welcome to the Retiree Division section of Local 1180's new website. More than just a drop-in center, the Retiree Division provides retirees of CWA Local 1180 with a venue to pursue their social, intellectual, and educational interests throughout their retirement. Through thoughtful and creative planning, the staff of the Retiree Division prepares a monthly calendar representing a compilation of some of the greatest activities in the area at any given moment. Broadway shows, trips, speakers, lunches, and interactive workshops allow retirees to socialize with peers, have fun, and learn a little along the way.

We can only begin to tell you about how glad our retirees are to have a one-stop-shopping experience that offers so many ways to keep busy, engaged, and active. We hope that you make the decision to join in on some of the fun. Read the monthly calendar to see what events are coming up, and then call to reserve your space. Remember that we are providing programs for more than 4,000 retirees in the New York City area, so space may be limited.

We have a special welcome gift for all 'newbie' retirees. Or, if you are an existing retiree, stop by the office just to say hello. We can't wait to greet you all.

Suzanne E. Beatty, LMSW

Retiree Division Director

Biography

Director's Message

Thank you to everyone who filled out the contact form mailed out with last month’s newsletter. When members call the office about benefits, we ask if there is any information to update, and 95% of the time members say “no.” Yet, when we read back the information on file, more than 50% of members say “no, that’s not right.” This is exactly why it is so important to update your information. Filling out the form and sending it back makes a big difference and saves countless hours due to phone calls not being answered, mail being returned, and emails bouncing back. 

And now I need to say “I’m sorry” because I made a mistake. Yup, I really did. At the bottom of the form I said to return it to 
97 Hudson Street. While that is actually the address of the Retiree Division, it is not an actual mailing address. In fact, according to the US Post Office, we don’t exist! It should have said to return the form to 6 Harrison Street. 

While some of the forms that were sent did actually make it to our office, unfortunately many were returned to retirees who had to call and get the correct address and resend. I can only imagine how confusing and annoying it must have been to have that mail returned (…and all those stamps…ugh!). This mistake was impactful, but relatively minor, and was corrected with each returned mail call. However, it got me thinking …. about mistakes!

First, mistakes happen. They are right up there with the big D and taxes. Sometimes our mistakes are small like this and other times they are weighty and more complicated. They take many forms and can come at any time. We all know this and can accept easily that we made a mistake, but the negative thoughts and emotions that often piggyback a goof-up can linger long past the originating event and can make one question life and our own abilities. A bungle can make a person feel foolish and cause worry about making even larger mistakes. Fear about life’s uncertainty and our own capacity to maintain mental acuity can peek from the shadows. One may worry that a misstep could be the first sign of something worse to come. Take a breath my friends. It’s not likely that your boo-boo is that serious.  

Mistakes are normal. Did you forget someone’s name or show up for an appointment on the wrong day? There are a thousand reasons why either of those may have happened. Mistakes are just part of the ebb and flow of life. Sometimes big and sometimes small, mistakes can point out something we did not know or that is out of balance in our life. Though perhaps embarrassed by the foible, a mistake can create a stronger foundation for a better action in the future. Handling mistakes well can help you adjust, correct, and rebalance to be more responsive in the moment.

So hand out your “uh-oh,” “oops”,  “oh-no,” “I’m sorry” and  Steve Urkle’s “Did I do that?” with ease, knowing that the recipient of your mortification is likely to be guilty of a similar offense. Try as we might, no one is perfect, so calmly forgive yourself and others and use the moment as an opportunity to reflect on actions that may have contributed to the flub!

If you worry that your mistakes are long lasting, more frequent than usual, are clearly extreme (shoes in the oven), or if loved ones are constantly telling you “hey, I told you already that shoes don’t go in the oven,” then see your health care provider. If not, then most likely you are just like the rest of us, tripping over our words and actions, getting up, brushing it off, and trying again.