January 2011 Vol.19 No.1 OSARC newsletter In This Issue Practicing Safe Computing our computer is vulnerable to attack by un- Ywanted programs called malware. Malware - In Memoriam includes viruses, worms, spyware, and adware. 2 They can slow down or destroy your computer and - Drug Rider Premiums Up enable criminals to access your private information, rob your assets, or steal your identity. Gone are the days when it was sufficient to back up your computer so that you could restoreit to an uninfected state. Now 3 - Fire Safety for Seniors it is essential to protect your data from intruders whenever you're connected to the Internet. At OSARC’sJanuary meeting, MaryGinsburg of theNY - OSARC Celebrates Personal Computer User Group will provide an overview of threats to your 7 computer. She will describe how these programs gain access and outline ways to protect your machine and data. She will discuss anti-malware software, the relative merits of paid versus free software and security suites versus individual programs, 8 - Volunteers Needed as well as the settings necessary to keep your security measures protecting you. She will also describe some symptoms of a malware infection and give some advice on its eradication. However, the emphasis is on prevention! 9 - Kathryn’s Election TIME TO RENEW YOUR DUES FOR 2011 Adventures - 2010 Edition ith the arrival of 2011, the Newsletterreminds you that your OSARC duesfor Wthe new year are due. The membership committee is standing by (well, sitting by, truth be told), awaiting your payments. So, don’t disappoint them. A small 15 -DeficitCommissionReleases number of OSARCers have already paid their dues for 2011 – Marsha Ambrose, Saul Bick, Marcia Brown, Maria Crisci, John Dellecave, Don Delorenzo, Jack Recommendations Dobrow, Lorraine Hickey, Amy Kahn, Lillie Lockhart, Charles Reiche, Bernard Tuchman, Joy Walton, Kay Wilson, Shirley Wilson, and Geraldine Wooden. Thanks! Everyone else, it’s time to break out that checkbook. 16 - OSARC Visits the King A dues payment form is enclosed with this Newsletter, along with a pre-addressed return envelope for your convenience. As always, this edition of the Newsletter is going out to all OSA retirees, not just OSARC members. So, please renew your OSARC membership, consider joining for the first time, or rejoin, if you let your membership lapse sometime in the past. Dues area modest $18 a year and arepaid on a calendar year (Jan.-Dec.) basis, regardless of when you paid your dues last year. You receive 10 issues of this Newsletter, invitations to monthly OSARC meetings featuring guest speakers on issues of retiree concern, and the chance to stay in touch with your fellow retirees. Take a moment now to make your payment to OSARC. And best wishes for a healthy 2011 to you and your family! OSARC 220 East 23rd Street Next Organization of Staff Analysts’ Suite 707 New York NY 10010 Retirees Club Meeting (212) 686-1229 (212) 686-1231 Fax Wednesday • January 12, 2011 • 12:30–2:30pm (212) 330-8833 Hotline Keeping Your Computer & Data Safe www.osaunion.org Guest Speaker: Mary Ginsburg, New York Personal Computer User Group OSA Union Office • 220 E. 23rd Street • Ste 707 (Between 2nd & 3rd Aves) OSARC Officers 2010-2011 In Memoriam The union has been informed recently of the deaths of Co-Chairs........................................................................Regina Berry, Fred four retirees. Carl Gadson retired in 2006 as an Associate Ranzoni Supervisor of School Security with the NYPD. MEBAretiree Co-Vice-Chairs.......................................................................Fred Lieber, Saul John Auffreddou retired from the Department of Trans- Weber portation as an Engineer. Robert McCallum retired in 1992 Treasurer..............................................................................................Dan as a Staff Analyst at the Off-Track Betting Corporation. Lois Morgan Sims retired in 1997 as an Associate Staff Analyst at the Secretary..........................................................................................Joyce Human Resources Administration. Cleveland The Newsletter extends its sincere condolences to the families and friends of our brothers and sister. We’ll Be Seeing You in All the Old Familiar ••••• Places Thirty-nine (39)members and friends attended the Remembering Mollie November OSARC meeting: by JoAnn Ambrogi Hakimah al-Zahra, JoAnn Ambrogi, Gilberte Ambroise, MolliePisciotta died recently at the age of 92. She retired Regina Berry, Elizabeth Borden, Lois Chaffee, Joyce from the Human Resources Administration, working well into Cleveland, Gloria D’Jaha, Joan Doheny, Manny Friedman, her “golden years,” after raising two fine sons with a loving Tom Gorse, Josefino Gumpeng, Al Gundersheimer, Betty Henderson, Paul Henry, Mary Hillman, Roslyn Jones, husband. Although Mollie was not employed in the analyst Elisabeth Karetzky, Kaye Lee, Joel Leichter, Rosanne Levitt, title, she worked with many who were, including several Fred Lieber, Marvin Lutenberg, Hank Mandel, John OSARCers. Mazzarella, Jim McKeon, Dan Morgan, Eileen Pentel, Fred OSARCer Jim McQuade was Mollie's office mate and Ranzoni, Jeff Robinson, Nancy Russell, Michael Schady, Louis friendfor many years. Mollie was a role model, especially for Starkey, Sallie Stroman, Jean Taylor, Edward Tennant,Hattie younger professional women She had a keen intellect and wit Thomas, Saul Weber, Margaret Williams. andwas generous in her spirit and in her time with you. Those New faces at the meeting included Lois Chaffee, who who had the privilege of knowing her admired, respected and retired from the Department of Small Business Services and loved her. Elisabeth Karetzky, formerly of HRA. Welcome to both! So, we toast Mollie and her life well led. Rest-in-peace, Forty-one (41) members and friends attended the dear friend and cherished colleague. Our condolences go out December OSARC meeting: to your family. JoAnn Ambrogi, Gilberte Ambroise, Jean Anmuth, Renee ••••• Bash, Regina Berry, Elizabeth Borden, Renee Boyce, Michella Brown, Lois Chaffee, Joyce Cleveland, Joan Doheny, Manny Friedman, TomGorse, Irma Grossman, Josefino Gumpeng, Al Retiree Drug Rider Rates Go Up January 1st Gundersheimer, ElizabethHenderson, Mary Hillman, Barbara Expect to see an increase in the drug rider premium Hunt, Kaye Lee, Rosanne Levitt, Mark Lewis, Fred Lieber, deduction from your pension checks come January. Marvin Lutenberg, Hank Mandel, John Mazzarella, Dan The two most widely used basic health plans for Medi- Morgan, Eileen Pentel, Fred Ranzoni, Edna Riley, Nilsa care-eligibleretirees will seethe following premium in-creases Mangual Rios, Nancy Russell, Waguih Sabongui, Michael – HIP VIP will rise to $116.28 from $115.88 monthly and Schady, Michael Schlesinger, Tomi Smith, Joe Sperling, Louis GHI CBP Senior Care goes from $108.75 to $119.87 a month Starkey, Madeline Taylor, Mary Taylor, Willie Mae Timothy. (including prescription drugs and 365 day hospitalization). Mark Lewis joined us for the first time. He retired from HIP Prime HMO for non-Medicare retirees will rise from the NYC Department of Health. $107.35 for individuals and $263.13 for a family to $111.29 We look forward to seeing you at our next OSARC and $272.63, respectively. Other plans will alsosee increases. meet ing. Information on all of the new rates can be obtained from the Health Benefits Program at 40 Rector Street or can be downloaded in PDF format from the Health Benefits Program’s website at www.nyc.gov/olr. Medicare-eligible retirees on GHI Senior Care will continue to see the drug rider premium reduced by the OSA Welfare Fund’s contribution of $50/month per member or covered spouse/domestic partner. In other words, you should see a deduction of $69.87 per covered person. For HIP VIP enrollees and those in other Medicare-enhanced health plans, the Welfare Fund will continue to reimburse you in a lump sum for $50/covered person/month. The reimbursement takes place in the first quarter of each year for the previous year. A festive cake completed the feast at OSARC’s December luncheon. OSARC Newsletter • January 2011 • Page 2 dropand roll onthe floor tosmother OSARCers Get Briefing On the flames, or grab a blanket to smother them. He said you can use Fire Safety For Seniors water if there is a source nearby, By Joyce Cleveland but recommended that you don't waste time searching for water if it isn’t close at hand. Clothingis not fire resistant, he reminded OSARCers, and hair pieces or hair spray can be quite flammable. There is not much of a time lag between ignition and serious injury. Jones reminded OSARCers of the infamous videotapes of Michael Jackson’s rehearsal accident in which Josefino Gumpeng Jackson’s hair caught on fire. Within seconds of ignition, Jackson had sustained third degree burns to his scalp. So, smother the fire as quickly as possible. Another frequent source of fires in the home is leaving pots on the stoveunattended whilecooking. Distractions, such as listening to music, watching television, speaking on the phone or even leaving the home while cooking can easily lead OSARC Co-Chair Fred to disaster. Ranzoni welcomed Fire- Jones suggested that one should stay in the kitchen when fighter Mike Jones of the cooking, but if you have to leave, find a way to remain New York City FireDepart- attentive. For example: ment’s Bureau of Training, • Set the stove's timer, since many new stoves can be set to Fire Safety Education to shut off automatically when the timer goes off. OSARC's November lunch- • If your stove does not have a timer, use a portable timer eon. Firefighter Jones deliv- (available even from 99¢ stores) and place it next to you ered an informative (and at- or, if you believe a timer is too expensive, take something times memorably humor- with you when you leave the kitchen as a reminder that ous) lecture on fire safety, you have left food cooking on the stove, such as a big with an emphasis on the oven mitt or two large spoons. concerns of seniors andtheir caregivers.