April 2007 Vol. 15 No.4 OSARC newsletter

In This Issue GETTHEETOAMONASTERY 3 - Rubin Museum Report - OSAWF Drug Rider Reimbursement 4 - Avoiding Elder Abuse 5 - COMRO Report - Volunteer Fair 6 - Slaves & Slaves To Fashion - OSARC Officer Nominations Due Photo: Metropolitan Museum of Art he membership has spoken and told OSARC “where to go” for its annual April outing – the Cloisters in Fort Tryon Park in Upper Manhattan. 7 - New Yorkers’ Role T The Cloisters, the branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art devoted totheart andarchitectureof medieval Europe, wasassembled fromarchitec-tural In Spanish Civil War elements, both domestic and religious, that date from the 12th through the 15th centuries. The building, and its cloistered gardens, are treasures in themselves, like the collection housed inside. The collection includes sculptures, tapestries, 8 - Wal-Mart Gives Up? illuminated manuscripts, goldsmiths' and silversmiths' work, stained glass, - Health Care Spending enamels, ivories, and more. If youare interested in taking part, you must call Trip Committee chair - Brave New Economy Renée Bash at (212) 362-1202 immediately upon receipt of this Newsletter - Insurers Scam Seniors and, in no case later than Monday, April 9th. Be prepared to shell out $8, the recommended entrance fee for group members (a bargain, since it's $15 for individuals). An audio guide is available at $4 each [continued, pg 2]

Next Organization of Staff Analysts’  Retirees Club Event OSARC Wednesday • April 11, 2007 • 1:30pm at the Park 220 East 23rd Street Suite 707 Entrance or 2:00pm at the Museum Entrance New York NY 10010 (212) 686-1229 FIELD TRIP TO “THE CLOISTERS” (212) 686-1231 Fax Call Renee Bash Immediately at (212) 362-1202 (212) 330-8833 Hotline if you want to take part. www.osaunion.org Reminder: There Is No Membership Meeting in April. OSARC Officers 2006-2007 Co-Chair...... BettyHenderson Co-Chair...... KayeLee Co-Vice-Chair...... ReginaBerry Co-Vice-Chair...... FredRanzoni Treasurer...... DanMorgan Secretary...... AlGundersheimer COMRORepresentatives...... JimMcKeon,JohnOst,EdnaRiley  Newsletter Editor/Photos...... Rob Spencer Nona Volk & Sheila Gorsky We’ll BeSeeingYouIn AllTheOld FamiliarPlaces OSARCers To Cloister Themselves Forty-three (43) members and friends attended the March [continuedfrom page 1] for a group of 15 or more, and $6 each OSARC meeting: for individuals or a group of fewer than l5. Since your Trip Alice Allen, Leslie Allen, Hakimah al-Zahra, Gilberte Committee chair has no way of knowing how many desire the Ambroise, JeanAnmuth, Renee Bash, ElizabethBorden, Ida audio-guide, when you respond to Renee, please also let her Chin, Vincent DiGesu, Gloria D’Jaha, Manny Friedman, know if you want the audio-guide. Again, her home number is Beverly Freierman, Richard Guarino, Al Gundersheimer, (212) 362-1202. You can leave a message on the answering Betty Henderson, Paul Henry, Mary Hillman, Avis John, machine (between the hours of 10am and 11:30pm), with your Roslyn Jones, Irving Kreindler, Kaye Lee, Hank Lenz, name and the number of guests, if any, that you'll be bringing. Rosanne Levitt, Marvin Lutenberg, Hank Mandel, Nilsa Having the correct number of people to relay to the Cloisters Mangual, Shirley Mason, JimMcKeon, Dan Morgan, David staff will ensure that they have a sufficient number of audio O’Brien, Carl Prisco, Edna Riley, Stacey Rindler, Frances guides available. Rosenbaum, Nancy Russell, MichaelSchady, Sallie Stroma- To reach the Cloisters, take the A train to 190th Street. n, Madeline Taylor, Hattie Thomas, Ana Vives, Nona Volk, Follow the signs to “Cloisters - Fort Tryon” and take the Richard Walters, and Donald Weinberg. elevator to the street level. From there, you have two choices. We welcome ShirleyMason who retired in Marchfrom the For those who do not wish to walk, take the M4 bus (free Department of Buildings as an ASA, who was attending her transfer) near the train station at the corner of 190th Street and first OSARC meeting. We look forward to seeing her and you Fort Washington Avenue. It will go directly to the Cloisters. at our next meeting. For those who are able to stroll through the magnificent ••••• park (a fairly steep climb is involved at the end of the stroll, from the base of the hill on which the Cloisters sits, up to the In Memoriam Cloisters entrance itself), take the A train to 190th Street. Take The Newsletter has recently learned of the death of two OSA the elevator to the street, and then walk along Margaret Corbin retirees. Elsie Colon retired in 1997 fromtheHealth and Hospitals for 10 minutes to the park entrance, Corporation as a Supervising Systems Analyst. Eleanor Murphy where a 15-20 minute walk awaits. retired in 2002 from DOH as an Associate Staff Analyst. The Walkers can meet Renée Bash at the Newsletter extends its sincere entrance to the park at 1:30pm. We condolences to their family and will proceed together through the park friends. to the museum. Driving directions: northbound • • • • • drivers take the Henry Hudson Park- way to the “Fort Tryon Park” exit, No Newsletter in May? located one mile north of the GW Other projects at the union de- Bridge. Southbound drivers, exit the mand the time of your editor, so there Henry Hudson at exit 14/l5. At the will either be a very slim May issue stop sign turn back to the parkway of the OSARC Newsletter or none at northbound and head up a mile to the all. At the very least, we will mail Ft. Tryon Park exit. Free city parking Gloria D’Jaha you an announcement of the content is available in the lot by the Cloisters. of the May meeting and a flyer for We will all assemble at the Museum entrance at 2pm. the Gala June Luncheon, which will This is an hour later than the previously suggested time. contain a coupon to return with your — Renée Bash payment. The full Newsletter will Ana Vives & Mary Hillman return in June. •••••

OSARC Newsletter • April 2007 • Page 2 The final part of our visit was a Reminder: 2006 Drug Rider Reimbursement conducted tour of museum works, If they have not done so already, Medicare-eligible retirees with an emphasis on “feminine ema- who paid for a drug rider on their City-approved health plan in nations.” Despite the ferocious ap- 2006 covering themselves (and any Medicare-eligible spouseor pearance of many of the paintings, domestic partner) should file now with the OSA Welfare Fund tangkas, masks, and sculptures, our for partial reimbursement of their drug rider premiums. guide Dinah explained they were You’ll need tosupply a copy of your basic health plan card protective of worshippers. These and the pension check or quarterly direct deposit pension works of art were used as a means to statement from 2006 that shows the first and last month of the gain self-liberation from suffering year that you were paying for a drug rider. For most Medicare- and negative emotions, such as an- eligible retirees that would be January and December of 2006, ger, greed, and hatred. unless you became Medicare eligible after the start of the year Multi-armed, multi-headed be- or dropped the rider before the end of the year. ings symbolize the power of an en- Reimbursements will be in the form of a lump sum payment lightened mind to see and respond to sometime in the middle of 2007. the different needs of all beings si- Shirley Mason Information was sent to you with the January issue of this multaneously. Newsletter, along with a form to complete and return with your We left the museum with the satisfaction of gaining some information. insight into the meaningof the exhibits' unfamiliar and striking For more information, or if you have lost the form, contact imagery, an incentive to return. Judy or Vojna at the union office at (212) 686-1229. [Editor’s note: Anew exhibition at the Rubin, The Missing ••••• Peace: Artists Consider the Dalai Lama, runs throughSeptem- ber 3, 2007, and features works in a range of media by contem- porary artists “inspired by the messages, vision, and values of OSARCers Get Rubin – and a Sandwich the Dalai Lama.” By OSARCer Rosanne Levitt TheexhibitionMongolia: BeyondChinggis Khan,celebrat- On February 28th , OSARC TravelCommitteeChair Renée ingthe 800th anniversary of the foundingof the Mongol empire Bash welcomed a group of four by Chinggis Khan in 1206 remains on view until April 16th. (Richard Fink, myself, Toni Matije- Mongolian sculptures, paintings, manuscripts, and other ritual vich and Toni’s friend Joanne objects are complemented by contemporary photographs of Ambrogi) for lunch, film, and tour of Mongolia. Featured are Mongolian dance masks, the Rubin Museum of Art, home to u s ed in the paintings, sculptures, and textiles 19th and early from the Himalayas andsurrounding 20th centuries in regions. annual festivalsin Upon admission to the museum, monasteries our gaze was immediately drawn to across Mongolia. a central steel and marble staircase, (See photo in pre- which spirals through the five story vious column.) building to the galleries. On April 11 We proceeded to the theater on at 7pm, you can the lower level to see a (free) BBC Mongolian mask in the view the New film on the Tartar Crusades. As we Rubin Collection. York premiere of devoured our lunch, the powerful Mongol warriors from the the film Kiran North successfully conquered huge areas in Asia and Africa, Over Mongolia, evenreaching Poland andHungary in Europe. Whenthe Kublah which tells the Eagle hunter in Kiran Over Mongolia. Kahn showed no interest in converting to Christianity, the story of a young papacy sanctioned the Crusades to recover the Holy Land and Kazakh boy’s efforts to learn his grandfather’s tradition of assist in the defense of the Byzantine Empire. hunting with eagles. Admission onWednesday, $15, includes a The crusaders were not victorious, but fate intervened to post-screeningdiscussion, as well as admissiontothe Mongolia stop further expansion when the Mongol ruler died and the Exhibition. The film is repeated on Saturday, April 14 and fighters had to return home to vote on a successor. (Absentee Sunday, April 15 at noon, 2pm and4pm. Admission is $12 and ballots were not allowed.) includes the Mongolia Exhibition. For tickets, call Ultimately, after many years and much bloodshed on both 212.620.5000 x344.] sides, the Mongols were defeated. We recovered from the carnageby visiting the gift store and strolling around the exhibits. The museum was delightfully un- ••••• crowded, making it easy to get close enough to the art works to appreciate their intricate details.

OSARC Newsletter • April 2007 • Page 3 mon, if modest, form of financial abuse is the failure to return OSARCers Learn to Avoid Abuse money left over after shopping for an elderly person. Elder abuse has not received the level of publicity gener- Physical abuse (punching, slapping, hitting, inflicting ated about abuse against other population groups, including burns, choking, or excessive physical restraint, for example) children, spouses and teenagers. sometimes occurs on its own or when the elderly victim resists Nevertheless, an estimated 10% financial abuse by a family member or caregiver. of the elderly are victims. Sexual abuse is usuallyinflicted by an adult male living in The guest speaker at the same household with the victim. It can take the form of OSARC’sMarch meeting, Rev. forcible sexual activityagainst the victim’s wishes, forcing the Brenda Ford, provided an over- victim to watch pornography, inappropriate and unwelcome view of the varieties of abuse contact with body parts during affecting those in later life. Cur- caregiving or unwelcome exhibition- rently a student at Union ism. Theological Seminary, Ford The elderly are often subject to previously headed the Manhatt- neglect. At times, this involves “ac- an Community Program at Safe tive neglect,” where care is deliber- Horizon, where she was the el- ately withheld. For example, der abuse trainer. She also medicationmay bedeliberately with- worked for the New York City held to hasten the demise of an el- Department for the Aging. derly victim. More often, the neglect Ford noted that, when she Rev. Brenda Ford is passive. A caregiver may refuse started working with the City, homecare, but notbe able to perform she thought that most crimes against the elderly were commit- the necessary services him or her- ted by strangers (e.g., purse snatchings). However, she soon self, or the caregiver may simply be found that most of the complaints about crimes against the unaware of an appropriate care- elderly were made by seniors against their caregivers or other giving strategy. members of their own household. Seniors who live in rent stabi- Elder abuse can be defined, said Ford, as knowing, lized or other low-rent apartments are often subjectto attempts intentional, or negligent acts by caregivers or other persons to evict them by filing false claims of their mental incompe- that cause harmor a serious risk of harm toa vulnerable older tencewith Protective Services for Adults. Suchfalseclaims are adult. The elderly can be victimized by physical abuse, sexual possible grounds for slander suits. Political office holders can abuse, neglect, threats and in- also be helpful in fighting such timidation, ridicule, emotional false claims. abuse, isolation, or financial Providing less mainte- exploitation. nance and repairs to apart A common form of psycho- ments occupied by the elderly logical abuse inflicted on the is also considered to be a form elderly is exaggerating their loss of abuse. of mental capacity. A subtle The elderly can take steps form of such abuse is to dismiss to lessen their exposure to fi- their ideas by claiming that they nancial abuse. Utility bills can are not based in reality. Other be automatically paid from a forms of emotional abuse in- bank account.A person giving clude humiliating, demeaning or away title to a house can stip- ridiculing, name calling, insults ulate that he must remain in or yelling, or even the withhol- that house. ding of affection. There are many potential Financial abuse often oc- signs that someone is being curs when someone tries to or victimized. Signs of passive or succeeds in taking over the fi- active neglect may include nancial affairs of another, espe- malnutrition, dehydration, bed cially the paying of bills. This sores, a decline in personal type of abuse can take the form hygiene, and unresolved of outright theft of money or chronic health problems. Se- possessions, or spending thevic- niors may be victims of physi- tim’s money without their per- cal abuse if there are obvious mission or the misuse of a signs of physical trauma, signs power-of-attorney. At times, of trauma from restraints, re- bills will remain unpaid, while peated injuries, such as frac- the caregiver diverts funds tohis tures or dislocations, repeated or her own personal use. A com- Diagram by Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

OSARC Newsletter • April 2007 • Page 4 unexplained injuries with inconsistent explanations of the The New York City Department for cause, a history of doctor “shopping,” and time lags between the Aging and Safe Horizon will accept injury and treatment. confidential telephone complaints of Signs of sexual abuse include genital trauma, venereal elder abuse. They will not take any ac- disease, and unusual infections. tion which you do not wish them to take, Psychological abusecan be marked byanxiety, depression, unless others are also at risk. You can suicidal thoughts, confusion and disorientation, and a sense of reach Safe Horizon’s hotline at helplessness. Agitation, evasiveness, and clinging and trem- (212)577-7700 and the Dept for the Ag- bling may also be signs. ing’s Elderly Crime Victims Resource A senior being abused financially may have unusual Center at (212)442-3103. banking activity, such as ATM use by a homebound elder or largewithdrawals over a shortperiodof time. Perhaps personal ••••• belongings are missing, or a recent caregiver isolates the senior from other friends and family, makes promises of lifelong care COMRO Report Stacey Rindler in exchange for financialasset transfers, or bank or credit card Jim McKeon, OSARC’s representa- statements areno longer being delivered to the older adult as in tive to COMRO, reports that COMRO discussed the financial the past. condition of the City pension systems. All five are in good Additionally, caregivers may violate seniors’ basic rights. shape and paid out about $9.3 billion in FY2006. They earned They may withhold or read the senior’s mail without permis- $0.6 billion dollars on their assets, which represented a 10.1% sion, intentionally obstruct a senior’s religious observances, rate of return. He pointed out that had Social Security been dietary restrictions or ministerial visits. The senior may not be able to enjoy similar returns and had Congress not imposed given the chance to speak with guests without the caregiver’s low interest loans to the general treasury, Social Security presence. Or the senior may seem overmedicated or sedated. would be facing no funding issues. The compounded effects of Among the contributing factors are stress on caregivers, this practice over the years is responsible for a large portion of who may not have the skills and information to properly care the predicted shortfall in Social Security funding, said Jim. for an older adult; social isolation from other family members; On the other hand, the privatized social security system in external stresses such as financial problems; and increased Chile (as noted in the article in the last issue of this Newsletter) dependency or impairment of the senior. Ford pointed out that is failing. A major reason is that the Chilean system spent seniors who are in poor health are more likely to be abused about one-third ofthe funds received on administration(versus than those in good health and caregivers dependent financially less than l% in the U.S. in Social Security). In addition, they on the older adult are more likely to abuse. cut government contributions and didn’t require employer Families with a history of abuse contributions to the program. are more likely to see elder abuse and ••••• caregivers with addiction problems or emotional disorders are more likely to be abusers. JASA Schedules Fair & Conference So, how can you help prevent JASA, the Jewish Association for Services for the Aged, elder abuse? Ford listed a number of is sponsoring two upcoming events. On Monday, May 21, tactics – maintaining social networks 2007 from 9am to 12 noon, JASA, and friends, staying in touch with old along with the Joint Public Affairs friends and neighbors even after you Committee for Older Adults will pres- move, asking friends to visit you at ent Building Community: A home, participating in outside activi- Conference Addressing Geriatric ties including volunteering and com- Mental Health Awareness and Advo- munity activism, obtaining legal ad- cacy. The keynote speaker is Edwin Gilberte Ambroise vice regarding powers-of-attorney, Mendez-Santiago, Commissioner ofthe reviewing your will, arranging for NYC Department for the Aging. The direct deposit of pension or social security payments, not living Conference will be held at UJA Federa- with individuals with a history of violence or substance abuse tion, 130 East 59 Street on the 7 Floor. and not signing documents without having them reviewed by For more information, contact Tasha someone you trust. Forsythe at (212) 273-5262. Families should maintain close relations with aging Then, on Thursday, June 14, from Elizabeth Borden relatives and friends, find alternativesources of care, andmake 9:30am-2pm at the same location, plans for potential incapacitationwith the senior based on their JASA will sponsor a Volunteer Ventures Expo, featuring wishes. Families should pay attention to their own limitations, volunteer opportunities for adults over 50. It is your opportu- only offer in-home personal care if they understand the nity to meet reps from dozens of NYC nonprofits seeking demands on the caregiver, and should not expect family volunteers. Admission is free but advanced registration is problems to disappear when an elder moves into your home. required. To receive a registration form and details, contact Finally, you should nothamper or intrudeon an elder’s privacy Alexandra Collier at (212) 273-5291. if you offer caregiving.

OSARC Newsletter • April 2007 • Page 5 mid-1930's about women Fashion, Slavery, and Photojournalism under communism.” Sallie Stroman, OSARC’s roving “Harold Ickes, Presi- cultural ambassador, provides reports dent Roosevelt’s Secretary this month on quite a diverse collec- of the Interior, later asked tion of museum exhibitions available her to study the prospects for OSARCer visits. for settlement after WWII The Museum at the Fashion Insti- th in the then-territory of tute of Technology, at 27 Street and Alaska.” Seventh Avenue, is featuring Ralph “In the exhibit, we fol- Rucci: The Art of Weightlessness th low her remarkable career. throughApril 14 . “Rucci, a Philadel- When Roosevelt allowed phia native born in the late 1950's, 1,000 Jewish war refugees Photo by Ruth Gruber of displaced earned an undergraduate degree in from Italy to ‘visit’ Os- Jewish refugees in the hold of a philosophy and literature at Temple British prison ship returning them wego, New York in 1944, to Europe from Palestine. University, but his passion was fash- Secretary of the Interior Sallie Stroman ion. He enrolled in and completed his Ickes sent her on a secret mission to Italy to accompany them studies in the FIT design program.” to New York. Gruber recorded the refugees’ histories. It was “His work on display at FIT was dividedinto fivesections. a defining moment in her life. When government officials The first part presented Rucci’s draped evening dresses and contemplated deporting the refugees back to Europe, Gruber hammered satin pajamas, reflecting Halston’s early influence lobbied FDR toallow them to remain in the US until the end of in his designs. The secondpart explores the textiles that Rucci the war. After Germany’s surrender, the refugees wereallowed commissions and has printed especially for him. Some of his to apply for residency.” art work is printed onto silk organza, chiffon, and gauze. The “After the war, President Harry Truman set up the Anglo- third part of the show presents the surface treatment found in American Committee of Inquiry on Palestine to study the Rucci’s cardigans and matching shells. Part four presents resettling of Jewish war refugees and survivors in Palestine. Rucci’s tailored suits, the most compelling of his daywear gar- The New York Post convinced Ickes to allow Gruber to cover ments. The fifth section explores Rucci’s use of furs, skins, the Committee’s work. In addition, she covered the story of the and feathers. Rucci uses the best quality pelts and his furs are “Exodus,”the American vessel attacked by British ships as it produced in collaboration with furrier Nick Pologeorgis. Ten attempted to deliver Jewish refugees to Palestine.” of the garments on display featured “Among the world leaders she photographed were Golda leather, alligator skin, and snake Meir, David Ben-Gurion, and UN Secretary General Dag skin.” Hammarskjöld.” “Accessories designed by Rucci “In 1985, she covered Operation Moses, which brought showed Asian cultural influences. Ethiopian Jewish immigrants to Israel. She was the only There were gloves, shoes, boots, foreign correspondent permitted to accompany the airlift.” earrings and other items of very The Museum of Jewish Heritage is located at 36 Battery unusual design.” Place in Battery Park City. For general museum information “Overall, therewere between 50 call 1(646) 437-4200. The museum is open Sunday–Tuesday and 60 gowns. If you’re into fash- and Thursday from 10am to 5:45pm, Wednesday from 10am ion, as I am, this exhibit was quite to 8pm, and Friday from 10am to 5pm. interesting – with good and unusual Gruber will answer questions about her life April 25 at styles and designs.” 7pm. Tickets are $5. Museum admission is $7 for seniors. The Museum is open Tuesday Through September 3, 2007, the NY Historical Society is through Friday from noon to 8pm displaying New York Divided, the second and final part of its and Saturday from 10am to 5pm. substantial exhibition on the history of slavery in New York, For moreinformation call(212)217- which explores the tumultuous half-century from 1815-1870. 5800 or visit The first part of the exhibition (which OSARCers visited last Ralph Rucci: “Circle” www.fitnyc.edu/museum. year) covered colonial times through 1827,when slavery ended Infanta Ballgown, 2004 The Museum ofJewish Heritage in NY State. has on view through October 8, 2007, “Fromthe Heart: The PhotojournalismofRuthGruber.” Gruber is a world-renowned journalist, andphotographer, now OSARC Officer Nominations Due 95 years old. “She was born in Brooklyn and, at the age of 20, Enclosed with this issue of the Newsletter is a form to completed her dissertation on Virginia Woolf.” complete with your nominations for OSARC officer Gruber’s work again and again focused on the rescue and positions for the 2007-8 year. You may nominate survival ofendangered Jewish communities.She photographed yourself or others, but please follow the instructions war refugees and visited displaced persons camps. “She was on the form. the first journalist toreport from the Soviet Arctic when the NY Herald Tribune asked her to write a series of articles in the

OSARC Newsletter • April 2007 • Page 6 The second part of the exhibition explores New York 1863, the orphanage had housed 1,250 City’s growth into America’s leading port, global center of children. In July of that year, the building financecapital and “hotbedof pro-slaverypolitics” centered on was burned tothe ground during the Civil trade in southern cotton and sugar. Simultaneously, an War draft riots. All of the children es- anti-slavery movement of significance developed. caped safely.” In March, I had the chance to visit the NY Historical Freedom’s Journal was America’s Society to see the exhibit, which is divided into many parts. first black newspaper, started by Rev. Upon entering the museum, you see a short film showing the Samuel Cornish and John Russwurm. passage of Africans to the Americas towork on plantations to “If you find these “tidbits” fascinat- pick cotton for domestic use and to be exported to England. ing, I urge you to see the full exhibit. I A section explores the importance of cotton and slavery as saw both parts and enjoyed the exhibit a cash crop to the New York economy during the first half of and applaud the Historical Society for a the 19th century. New York’s merchant families were heavily job well done.” tied to the Southern plantations. The New York Historical Society is Madeline Taylor The exhibit explores the stories of notable African- located at Central Park West and 77th Americans in New York history. William Dixon was an Street. The museum is open Tuesday-Sunday, 10am to 6pm, escaped Maryland slave who had come to New York City to Friday until 8pm. Admission is free on Fridays from 6-8 pm. make a life for himself. In 1837, slave catchers captured him A web companion to the physical exhibits can be viewed and he spentmore than two years fightingfor his own freedom, at http://www.nydivided.org/VirtualExhibit. and the right to a jury trial. Duringthis period, he hada chance meeting with another fugitive slave, Frederick Bailey, who later adopted the name Frederick Douglass. TunisCampbellworkedas ahotel steward and anti-slavery activist in New York and later became the high- est ranking African-American politi- cian in Georgia. David Ruggles co-founded the Committee of Vigilance in 1835, which defended black New Yorkers from kidnappers. Former slave Isabella Van Wagener took the name Sojourner Truth and became an abolitionist and City Ties to Spanish Civil War Explored women’s rights activist. An ambitious exhibition onthe pivotal role played by New Pete Williams ran a dance hall/ Yorkers in the fight against fascism in the Spanish Civil War saloon called Almack’s on Orange Vincent DiGesu from 1936-39 is on view at the Museum of the City of New Street, now Baxter Street, in the Five York through August 12, 2007. The show features more than Points district of Lower Manhattan. Charles Dickens made 400 objects and artifacts, primarily from the Abraham Lincoln Almack’s and its dancers famous in his book American Notes Brigade Archives at NYU’s Tamiment Library. It tells the in 1842. The star of Almack’s floor show was a ‘juba dancer,’ stories of “the New Yorkers who came to engage in global who performed a mixture of Irish step dances and movements politics in this tumultuous era” and features “photos, letters, drawn from Senegalese African dances that featured a lot of uniforms and weapons, works of art, archival film and more.” movement, stomping, and stepping. William Henry Lane, The goal is to “convey the enormity of the significance of Almack’s star, known as Master Juba later became the first the conflict itself and the intense engagement of New Yorkers black man to break the color line in the minstrel industry.” and other Americans with the events in Spain...the Spanish The Five Points was, in its time, the one district in New Civil War became a touchstone in the process of Americans York that was welcoming to interracial couples, and it housed facing fascism.” The Museum is located at 1220 Fifth Avenue someof thecity's leading black churches and fraternal organiza- at 103rd Street. For more information, call (212)534-1672 or tions.” visit www.mcny.org. Some 100 years before Rosa Parks and the Montgomery In conjunction with the mainexhibit, an exhibit of Spanish bus boycott, Elizabeth Jennings became the first woman to Civil War poster art is on display in the first floor gallery at desegregate mass transit. In 1854, she was removed from a NYU’s Bobst Library, 70 Washington Square So., (West 4th horsedrawn carriageby a whiteconductor when she attempted St. between Mercer St. and LaGuardia Pl.)from April 25 to to ride in a ‘ladies car’ he had reserved for whites. She sued in August 15. A half-day symposium at Bobst on Friday, April Brooklyn Circuit Court and won. Her case ended segregated 27 from 4–9pm will celebrate the opening of the Abraham seating on trolleys and carriages in New York. Lincoln Brigade Archives collection at Tamiment For info, The Colored Orphan Asylum was founded in 1836 by contact Michael Nash at (212) 998-2428. Quakers Anna and Hannah Shotwell and Mary Murray. By

OSARC Newsletter • April 2007 • Page 7 was content to inflict two-tiered wage structures on workers, Wal-Mart Gives Up On NYC (Or Does It?) in which they would hire in new In an apparent victoryfor organized labor in New York, in workers at drastically reduced late March, Lee Scott, the CEO of Wal-Mart, the nation’s salaries while allowing existing largest retailer, announced “I don’t care if we are ever here,” workers to retain their current referring to the difficulties the chain has had in breaking into salaries. Not any more. the New York City market. Meanwhile, according to Wal-Mart, a retailer knownfor its Bloomberg News, “Chief Executive low wages, skimpy benefits, and Officer Philip Schoonover was paid discriminatory labor practices, has $8.52 million in fiscal 2006, including f a c e d a salary of $975,000.” ongoingintense opposition from labor One can only imagine the effect on and community groups and local the morale of the workers who remain. political leaders since it first sought to open a store in the City several years ••••• ago. That effort, in Rego Park, Queens, fell through, followed by an Health Care Spending To Rise unsuccessful move to open a store on According to the Centers for Beverly Freierman Staten Island. Medicare and Medicaid Services, health care is expected to The remarks came in a meeting consume one out of every five dollars spent in the United with New York Times editors and States within a decade. By 2016, annual health care spending Kaye Lee reportersand was quickly followed by is expected to top $4 trillion up from $2.1 trillion in 2006. a Wal-Mart PR staffer’s claim that Government spending on healthcare, now at 45% of the the remarks referred only to Manhattan and not the rest of the total, is expected to rise to 48.7%. City. So, vigilance probably remains in order. ••••• ••••• Brave New Economy Insurers Rip Off In yet another sign of the ruthlessness with which workers are treated by private sector corporations, Circuit City, the The Most Vulnerable second largest chain electronics retailer, announced in late You think of yourself as March that it would lay off some 3,400 workers or about 8% prudent, as a good planner. So, you of its total workforce. buy long term care insurance to Nothing especially unusual about mass layoffs in the protect yourself against the American economy. We’ve gotten used to them by now. But possibility of catastrophic nursing this one had several unique aspects. The workers were not the home or home care expenses. You least productive.They werenot poorperformers. Thecompany pay the premium every year and, was not eliminating their positions. finally, the time comes when you Rather, the company made the need long term care services. astonishing announcement that the What does your insurer do? company’s most experienced and Well, if you are among the seniors highest paid workers were being fired interviewed by the NY Times for an Carl Prisco simply to make way for new and extremely depressing March 26th article, and you are insured cheaper employees. Thefired workers by Conseco, Bankers Life, or Penn Treaty, your insurance were employed in the company’s company denies your claim–often repeatedly. stores as sales associates and stock The article outlined extensive delays in payment, denials people and in the firm’s warehouses. for failure to provide unimportant paperwork, denials for They were offered the opportunity to submitting information on forms the insurance company reapply for their jobs after 10 weeks provided which it later said were incorrect, denials because the at the new lower rate. long term care facility was “inappropriate” even though it was The company announced that the state-licensed, and denials because customers had failed to mass firings were part of a “wage meet a standard in their policy that turned out not to be written management initiative.” into their policy at all. Hakimah al-Zahra According to Bloomberg News, The punchline for the insurance companies seems to be to Circuit City pays an average of $10 to $11 an hour and the put off payment as long as possible in the hope that the most experienced make somewhat below $20 an hour with customer will be unable to pursue their claim, will give up on health benefits. Replacements will earn about half thosewages their claim or will die first. and will not have benefits. It usedto be that corporateAmerica

OSARC Newsletter • April 2007 • Page 8 ALUMNI OFBROOKLYN’S THOMAS JEFFERSONHIGH SCHOOL, CLASS OF1960 areplanning a 50th anniversary reunion for 2010. Part of that class and want to get involved? Call Gail Wander at (805) 388-2508 Happy Birthday to OSA Retirees Born in April! Gerardo Afable, Susan Allison, Joseph Alvarez, Florence Appelstein, James Arangio, Morton Ash, Jewel Bachrach, Roger Bachrach,RobertBackes, Gwendolyn Barnes, BeatriceBarr, Ruth Bell, Aquila Blyden, Benedict Bonino, James Breininger,Irving Brickman, EverettBrogdon, Priscilla Budden, JosephO.Buster, BelindaCarroll, Stephen Clifton, Linda Coleman, Peter Costa, Henrietta Council, Joseph Cruz, Emilio Cruz, Mary Ann D'ulisse, Vera DeGazon, Ralph DeMattia, Clive DePass, Philip Dinanzio, Jr, Jack Dobrow, Steven Dubin, Walter Dugan, Gloria Erardy, Frank Farkas, Pauline Feingold, Mildred Feinstein, Richard Fink, Vivian Fletcher, Carmen A. Flores, Judy Flynn, Carl George, Lorraine Gewirtz, Edward Gilligan, Pedro Gonzalez, Donald Greco, Henrietta Haffenden-Myles, Brenda A Hamilton, Marion Harnik, Ben Heller, Jacquelyn Henderson, Andrew Hollander, Jacqueline Holmes-Boyd, Marion House, Janice James, Susan Jessen, Gloria Jimenez, Amy Kahn, Lorraine Kelly, Margaret Kelly, Arnold Kingston, Lawrence Lamanna, David Lee, Lillie RLockhart, MaryLudvigsen, BeverlyMandel, John Maniscalco,Peter Mastropolo, Carolyn McCray, Thomas McGann, James Meyer, Joseph Mickens, Paula Miller, John Mobyed, Barbara Mont, Hope Morris, Felice Morris, Kathleen Neary-Burns, RobertNoble, Jeronimo Paredes,Julia Quagliano/Lynn, Jane Robinson, Horace Robinson, Lorraine Russo, Geoffrey Ryan, Therese Sbano, Michael Schady, Jack Schulstein, Janice Shaheen, Deborah Sherol, JennySiff, Aristotle Simpri, Sharon Snell, Stanley Spector, William Spong, Fred Steinberg, Cele Stolzenberg, David Sussman, Ruben Sutton, Gilda Thomas, Irene Toler, Barbara Toussant, Pedro Velazquez, Florence Wagener, Victoria Washington, Wendy Weekes-Jones, Peter Wood, Noel Worrell, Alice Yap, Leoila Zeigler  ACTIVE OSARC MEMBERS [continued from page 10] Nilda Ramirez Nancy Russell Christine Spencer Richard W. Walters Iris M. Nowes-Hecht Frederick Ranzoni Lorraine Russo William H. Spong Carolyn Walton David O'Brien Ambati Rao Geoffrey Ryan Nikki B. Springer Joy M. Walton Catherine O'Connell Patricia Rashkin Waguih Sabongui Janette Springle Yih-Lu Charlie Wang John O'Connor Edward Rasquin Joyce Saffir Adrianne Staley Joseph Warfield Elizabeth O'Reilly Diana Recor Cheryl Samuels Louis C. Starkey Victoria Washington Stephen Obeng Thomas Reed Ana Sanchez Roschel Holland Stearns Herbert Wasserman Jane Offen Marylin Reed-Borquaye Gerald Sanchez Darryl Steckler Jacquelyn Watson Thomas Ogden Joseph Reeves Joseph Sanchez Fred Steinberg Joanne Webb Sheldon Oliff Theodore Reich Sylvia Sands Linda Steinhart Ashley Webster Patricia Ollison Deborah L. Reid Flora Santana Betty Stewart Donald Weinberg Murray Olson Jeanette Reid Anahid A. Sarkissian James Stewart Henry Opad Vera Reid Marc Sawyer Cele Stolzenberg John Ost Claus Reinisch Sheila Sawyer Jo Ann Stone Gloria Page Fred Reinowitz Therese Sbano Trumilla Stone Amorita Pakilit Ruth Reiser Michael Schady James Story John Pape Raymond Riccio David Schapiro Phyllis Stothers James Pappalardo Dolores Rice Minna Scharff Sallie Stroman Larry Pappert Jeannette Richardson John Schild Penelope Stubbs Jeronimo Paredes Shirley Ricks Elaine Schirmer Chun-Hwai Su Eugene Parker Edna Riley Adele Schlapik Frances Suddreth-Hart Olivia Parker Larry Schonfeld Margaret Suite Lucille Parris Barbara J. Schwartz Mortimer Sullivan Melvin Pascoo Ina Schwartz David Sussman Anita O. Payne Linda Schwartz Elbert Sweat Jr Carol Payne Peter Schweitzer Thomas V. Tallarico Regina E Pegues Sadie Sciortino Alfredo L. Tan Elba Pelaez Thomas Seelye Tuly Tanenbaum Richard Pellechia Tarlochan S Sehmi Natalie Tannenbaum Delores A.W. Peloso Myra Seltzer Jean Taylor Donald Weinberg Antony Penel Ida Sessa Madeline Taylor Olga Weiss Eileen Pentel Samira Shahid Marian Taylor Rose Weiss-Fischler Jack F. Perin Wilma Shiffman Mary D Taylor Erich Werner Sara Perry Hedvah Shuchman Kirsten Telemaque Shirley Wertheimer Robert Pfefferman John Siddons Stuart Tepper Alyce White William Pfister Paula Sierra Elizabeth Thomas Grace White Mary Ellen Phifer Jenny Siff Gilda Thomas Joyce White Susan Piccirillo Elaine Silver Hattie Thomas Herbert Williams Jack Pilchman Edna Riley Sheila Silver Nicholas Titakis Marcia Williams John Pinto Dorothy Siminski Joel Tolchinsky Yvonne C Williams Peter Piroso Gwendolyn Riley-Roberts Lois Sims John M. Toman Isza Williams-Darlington Arlene Pitt Stacey Rindler Ina Sinclair Lorraine Toto Aaron Wilner Phyllis Pittinsky Rudolph K. Ripp Mary D Singleton Mark Travitsky Bettye Wilson Vincent R. Polimeni Iraida Rivera Milton Sirota Luzviminda A Tuazon Diana M. Wilson Phyllis Pomerantz Gilbert Rodriguez Edward Sisenwein Michael Tuccio Ronald T. Wilson Pauline Pon Ophelia Rodriguez Othello Skeete Elaine Turkel Eric Wolferman William Pope John F Rohde Robert Sklar Carol Twomey Bassanio Wong Peter A. Prestia Allan H Rose Catherine Slade Felix Ugbode Peter Wood Evelyn Marie Pridgen John Rose Alice E Smith Josephine Valentin Chester Wooten Carl Prisco Frances Rosenbaum Edward Smith Roberta Van Laven Noel Worrell Martin Prokup Barry Rosenberg Karen Smith Cheryl Y Vaughn Simeon Wright Lon Protzel Lewis Rosenblatt Saundra Smith Annie Vento Benjamin Wright, Jr. Alma Pugliese Norman Roth Thomas Smith Doreen Vialet Alice Yap Risa Puld Philip Roth Sharon S Snell Michael J. Vincent Emilio Zane Morton Pupko Lloyd Rotker Gaye Snyder-Inkeles Ana T. Vives Leoila Zeigler Catherine Quere Selma Rubinstein Stewart Solomon Florence Wagener Margie Zinzi Michael Quinn Miriam Rubman George Spears Vida Wagner Phyllis Zito Miriam Quintero Anna Rudbarg Michael Spector Perry Walker Harris Rachlin Ed Ruettiger Stanley Spector Michael Walsh

OSARC Newsletter • April 2007 • Page 9 ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE ORGANIZATION OF STAFF ANALYSTS RETIREES CLUB Robert Adamenko Patricia Burton May Engler Mildred Hawkins Martin Lewis Gerardo V Afable Joseph O. Buster Gloria Erardy Charles Healy Joyce Liechenstein Prakash Ailawadi Dorothy Byrd Linda Erickson Nancy Hellman Michael Light Hakimah Al-Zahra Gladys Caballery Joyce Eversley Marjorie Helms Barbara Linder Michaela C Albanese James Cacopardo John Farley Elizabeth Henderson William Linhart Frederick Alexander Eugene G. Calvert Elizabeth Farrell Jacquelyn Henderson Claire Linnie Carmen Alfaro Vijya Campagne Camille Fatto Robert Henke Jr Helen Liu Tristan Allas Denise Campbell Pauline Feingold Paul Henry Lillie R Lockhart Alice Allen Milton Campbell Mildred Feinstein Saundra Henry Brenda Lomax Leslie Allen John Campobasso William Fellows Barbara Herman Marlene Lorraine Joseph Alvarez Joseph Cappiello Diana Ferebee Lisa Hernandez Rosa Lovejoy Jo-Ann Ambrogi Burton Carlin Carol Fernandez John Heron Grace Lucas Gilberte Ambroise Joseph Caron Sandra Fernandez Mary Hillman Joseph Lucas Marsha Ambrose Phyllis Carr Alice Fichtelberg Solomon Himelfarb Flora Lucchese Beverly Anderson Belinda L Carroll Betty Figueroa Joseph Holdampf Mary Ludvigsen Paul Anderson Patricia Caruso Joan Fillot Andrew Hollander Paul Lurie Aspacia Andros Donald Casiere Barbara Fimmano Jacqueline Holmes-Boyd Marvin Lutenberg Robert Angarola Louis Celi Georgia Finch Rita Honekman Cheryl E. Lyttle Jean Anmuth Janice Cerra Richard Fink Novell Hopkins Rose Maconi Florence Appelstein Jean Claude Ceus Joel Fishelson Marion House Dominick Madeo Arthur D. Aptowitz Peter Chan Mary Flannelly Sherry House Leo Maher James Arangio Johnsie Cheatham Philip Flaum Carolyn Hubbard Henry Mandel William A. Archipoli Stephen Chenenky Gerald Flynn Azeeza Hurston Nilsa Mangual Henry Armendinger Kuttikattu Cherian Constance Ford Nadine Hurwitz Angela Marino Robert Armstrong Arthur Chigas Arlene Forman Maria Ibanez Claire Maroney Jimmy Arnold Ida Chin Allen Foster Haydee Inclan John Maroney Kenneth Asbedian Estelle Chodosh Flora Foster Margaret Ingram Richard Marsh Hanacho Atako Himangshu Chowdhury Harold Fowler Ana Irizarry Donald Marshall Steven August William Ciporen Allan W. Fraser Brenda Ann Jackson Roberta Martell Neil Awalt Marilyn Cirrone Edna Fraylon Evelyn Jackson Claire N Martes Jacqueline Ayer John P. Clark James Freaney Janyce Jackson Ralph Martinez Malkit Bains Margaret Clay Beverly Freierman Pearl Jackson Tirso Martinez Jr Ingrid Balady Joyce Cleary Alan Freilicher Valerie Jackson Marylou Martucci Steven Balicer Hattie M cleveland Manuel Friedman Daniel Jacobson Edna Silas Marungo Rafiu Balogun Joyce Cleveland Armand Gabriele Janice James Martha Masnyj Theodore Barbal George Cohen Grace Gabrielsen Anna James-Bowers Shirley Mason Mary Bardy Martin Cohen Arthur M. Gaines Amelia Jefferson Denis Massey Mary Barlow Sheldon Cohn Ella Gales Edwina Jenkins Peter Mastropolo Mirella Baroni-Harris Glynton Coleman Renee Galkin Ina Jenkins Antoinette Matijevich Charles F. Baroo Linda Coleman Kenneth Gallo Gloria Jimenez Constance G Maxey Beatrice Barr Patricia Coleman Antoine Gautier Brenda Johnson Letitia Maxwell Richard Barth Elsie Colon Boushra Ghaly Cladie Johnson John Mazzarella Eileen Bartky Marlene Connor Marguerite Ghartey Ingrid Johnson Weltha McCant Joseph Bartolomeo William Considine Shirley Gilliam James L Johnson Kathleen McDonough Renee Bash Anthony M Cook Mary Giraldi Lorraine Johnson John J. McElroy Barbara Batts Hannibal Coscia Edwina Glasco Marilyn Johnson Thomas McEnery Earl Batts Henrietta Council Nicholas Gleason Robert Johnson Thomas McGann Marjorie Baum Ted Cox Irwin Goldberg Flora Jones Jannie M. McGill Yolanda Womack Beckett Ellen Creightney Myrna Gonzalez Roslyn Jones John Dennis McGreen Charles Beckinella Maria L. Crisci Pedro Gonzalez Eileen V Jordan Charles McHugh Rose Beer Robert Croghan Myra R. Goralski Amy Kahn James McKeon Judith Beiss Stanley Cutchins Bernice Gordon Melvin Kalmanowitz Kathie Mclain Ruth Bell Joseph D'Aiello Joan Gordon Herschel Kaminsky Velma McLaughlin Lynn Bender Elizabeth D'Aversa Marjorie Gordon Arnold Kaplan James J McQuade Diana Benitez Mary Ann D'ulisse Minette Gorelik Jeffrey Keller Bruce Mednick Carolyn Bennett Carol J Dailey Tom Gorse Lorraine Kelly Ronald Meekins Maureen Benson Marilyn Daitsman Sheila Gorsky Margaret Kelly Neil Mendelsohn Elaine Silodor Berk Richard M Dalrymple Eli Gottlieb Mamie Kemper Margarita Mercado Herman Berkowitz Dolores Daniels Sybil Gowdy Carol A. Keyser Samuel Merson Ira Berman Frances David Stanley Granat Eleanor Kinard James Meyer Margarita Bermudez Marie Davis Mary Elaine Grant Alma King Michael Meyer Marilyn Bernard Rufina Deguzman Eleanor Gray Anita King Thomas Mezzatesta George Bernett Edwin P Dei Johnel Green Arnold Kingston Carol Michaels Carolyn Berry Una Delaney Richard M Greene Kathleen Kinney Joseph Mickens Regina Berry Ralph Delise Susan Greenhouse Elizabeth Klaber John Milat Vidyadhar Bhide John Dellecave Stephen Gregor Laura Kleeman Joseph F Miller Joyce Bialik Janet Deluca Ira Greinsky Alfred Klein Geraldine Mitchell-Jones Saul Bick Ralph DeMattia Joel Grill Marie-Ann Koegler Michael J Molinari Adona Blake Chiquita Denny Mary Gropp Jules Kohn Barbara Mont Helen Blecher Constance Desanti Marcia Grossberg Roberta Kolin Gloria Morales Robert Bleiberg Rochelle DiCristofalo Martin Grower Marian Konstan Daniel Morgan Timothy Bohen Vincent DiGesu Richard Guarino Henry Korobelnik Allen Morris Elizabeth Borden Anthony DiLeonardo Frank Gulino Jerome Kraus Felice Morris Carmine Borzelli James DiMarco Albert Gundersheimer Irving Kreindler Hope Morris Carol Bowers Philip Dinanzio, Jr Tilak R. Gupta Sandra Krentcil Perla Morris Willie Bowman Sheila Dipolo-Donahue Estelle Guttbinder Jane Kronholtz Donna Mulgrave Helen Brandt Gloria Djaha Henry Haegele Richard Kucera Susan Mullgrav Edward Braverman Jack M. Dobrow Henrietta Haffenden-Myles Robert Kuhl Patricianne Murnane Connie Bray Mary Joan Doheny Myra Hailey Adele Kwaw J.J. Murphy Maureen Brennan Audrey N Doman Marguerite Hajduk Frances Kyle Joseph Murphy Eddie Marie Brodie Nancy Dorn Claire Hall Edward S Lakner Michael Murphy Joyce Bronstorph George M Drakos Edmund Hall Lawrence Lamanna Ruth Murray Yvonne Broughton Carla A. Drije Sandra Halstuch George Lang Elizabeth A Myers Carol Brown Christine Dudley Alicia Hamill Dolores Lapin-Curley Leslie Myers Herbert Brown James Duffield John Hannigan Judith Layzer John F Nash Jean Dertinger Brown Vincent Dufour Robert Hansen Harry Lee Kathleen Neary-Burns Richard Brown Walter J. Dugan Frances Nadine Hapaz Jeannette Lee Annie Newell Rosemary Brown Martha Easparro Geraldine Hardiman Kaye Lee Erwin F Nied Sylvia S Brown Mark Edelson Mary Gunn Hardison Stu Leibowitz Anita Nilsen (Shleifstein) Shirley Brugman William Eglinton Sandra Hardison Joel Leichter Elizabeth Nobile James Bucchino Philip Eisman Gussie Harris Henry H. Lenz Kathryn Nocerino Joseph Burden Martina Elam John M. Hastey Nicholas Lesanti Theresa Norris Joe Burgess Terrence J Ellison Chandra Hauptman Morton Levine Theresa Burke Barbara Elstein Stanley Hauptman Rosanne Levitt [continued, page 9] Kenneth Burton