December 2024/January 2025
Below, please find information about December/January’s list of classes to exercise your mind and body, as well as updates on your benefits and programs. We hope you find this month’s bulletin helpful and make time for self-care so that you can remain Retired, but Active! Enjoy!
Share Your Voice with the Inspirational Choir!
Come bring your voice and sing! Join the Inspirational Choir and meet our new teacher. We’ll create music, exploring the different styles, rhythms, complexities and languages together—crossing different musical periods in time.
“Music is life itself.” – Louis Armstrong
Your Retired Members Bulletin is Getting a Makeover!
Big news! Beginning in mid-January, you will be receiving your newsletter four times a year! You’ll now have access to the upcoming three-month schedule of chapter meetings and classes ahead of time, to make planning easier than ever. The all-new bulletin will also be redesigned to include larger type, more photos and even new featured sections. Here’s the plan for the new format:
In mid-January you’ll receive the first issue of the newsletter, which will include the schedule for February, March and April. You’ll receive Issue 2 in mid-April; Issue 3 in mid-July and Issue 4 in mid-October. And don’t worry—you’ll still hear from 1199SEIU Benefit and Pension Funds Executive Director Donna Rey, 1199SEIU Retired Members Division President Mary Stovall-Merrill and 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East President George Gresham three times a year, so keep an eye on your mailbox for the first issue in January!
Retiree Spotlight
Congratulations to Heriberto Diaz on recently celebrating his 99th birthday! Heriberto is a longtime member of the 1199SEIU family and retired only a few years ago at the age of 95. Please join us in wishing Heriberto a very happy birthday and best wishes in retirement.
Do you have a milestone you’d like to share with the community?
Share your news with us by emailing [email protected].
Season Two of Our Health Is the Key Podcast is Coming Soon!
Our Health Is the Key podcast is finishing up its debut season and season two is right around the corner. Health Is the Key is dedicated to you, our healthcare workers. When you tune in for season two, you’ll hear more cutting-edge information from our industry’s medical experts, mental health professionals and other health leaders to motivate you on your health journey.
But wait: Season one isn’t finished just yet! This month, Dr. Karinn Glover, Attending Psychiatrist in the Adult Outpatient Psychiatry Division of the Montefiore Health System, talks about techniques to handle holiday stress. If you missed this or any of our previous episodes, you can tune in at Health Is the Key.
The Healthy Living Resource Center Is Your Wellness Toolkit!
The Healthy Living Resource Center has five sections: Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies, Healthy Hearts, Healthy Eating and Healthy Provider Relationships. Browse each section for expert insight, wellness tools, exercise videos and screening guidelines. Be sure to check back often for updates and new information.
Protect Your Health by Getting Vaccinated
Stay Informed with Aetna Online Health Presentations
Through our partnership with Aetna, you can stay up to date on important health and wellness topics by viewing monthly online presentations. An Aetna registered nurse will present a 30-minute live webinar on the monthly health topic and provide resources. The video will be available on the Aetna website at the start of each month, allowing you to watch whenever it fits your schedule.
Upcoming Topics
December: Becoming an empowered patient; ultimate holiday workout
January: Benefits overview and updates; highlights for 2025
Explore Age-Friendly Websites
There are several organizations that work to make New York a great place for seniors to live. Here are just a few websites you may find helpful:
Stay Connected with In-person and Online Chapter Meetings
We hope you are enjoying these meetings, using them to connect with friendly faces and get updates on Funds news and information about your retiree benefits. As we continue to keep an eye on health recommendations and guidelines, we have decided to resume holding in-person chapter meetings at several locations in the New York and New Jersey areas. All other chapters will continue to meet online via Zoom. Take a look at the listings below and plan to attend your in-person meeting, or simply join your chapter meeting by typing the Zoom link listed below into your Internet browser and entering the meeting ID and passcode when prompted. You can also join your meeting using the phone number listed below your chapter.
Cooking for Your Health
Let’s get cooking! We’re excited to get in the kitchen to show you how to prepare healthy meals and share tips for better eating. Each class will last one hour at the Zoom links listed below and will include a cooking demonstration. Take a look at the tasty offerings you’ll cook up this month!
Exercise Your Mind and Body
We’ve partnered again with Mind over Matter Fitness to bring you classes for your mental and physical well-being. View the class descriptions and join the classes online via Zoom at the links listed below. For more information, please call (646) 473-8761.
Have You Joined Our Retired Members’ Online Community Yet?
We’re stronger together! So stay connected with our 1199SEIU Retired Members Facebook group.
