2008 Delegates Meeting Scheduled for
Nov. 9-10 in Saratoga Springs

Welcome NYSTRS Delegates

Each NYSTRS participating employer is entitled to representation at the System's Delegates Meeting, held every November. Is your district represented? Check with your chief school administrator, who, by law, is required to oversee elections and report results. Election timelines differ in even- and odd-numbered years.

To learn more about delegate responsibilities and the election process read these frequently asked questions. In general, a delegate's primary responsibility is to elect a teacher member to the NYSTRS Retirement Board. (There are three active teachers on the 10-member Board.) Unofficially, delegates serve as liaisons between their co-workers and the Retirement System.

Quickly navigate this page by selecting from the links below.

• Delegate News, Resources and Services
• Annual Delegates Meeting
• NYSTRS Investments

You can obtain additional valuable information throughout our site, including access to member forms and publications, a summary of Member Benefits and Service Credit Rules, and Headline updates on NYSTRS services and changes impacting member benefits.

Delegate News, Resources and Services

Delegate News
NYSTRS issues periodic updates to our delegates to address timely issues, clarify System policies and announce new services. We encourage you to share the information in these bulletins with the membership:

Resources
The following resources are valuable for delegates:

• Legislation
• Annual Report (for the fiscal year ended 6/30/07; PDF)
• Compilation of Laws Covering NYSTRS (as of 12/31/07; PDF)
• NYSTRS Rules and Regulations
• Board Resolution Supporting Defined Benefit Plans (adopted 4/28/05)

If you are unable to view or print the PDF documents above, you may need to download a free copy of Adobe Reader. To request a copy of the Annual Report or Compilation of Laws Covering NYSTRS be mailed to you, call our Hotline at (800) 782-0289.

Services
Delegates serve as liaisons between the Retirement System and NYSTRS members in their district. To ensure they receive the most timely and accurate information available regarding their retirement benefits, please urge them to take advantage of the following NYSTRS services.

Consultations
Individual meetings with System information representatives, in person or through computer-based video conferencing, are available at locations throughout the state. Consultation schedules are posted in school buildings and on the Consultations page of our Web site.

Preretirement Planning Seminars
These day-long programs target members age 45 and older who are five to 10 years from retirement. The seminars cover a variety of retirement-related topics. Schedules are posted in school buildings and on the Preretirement Planning Seminars page of our Web site.

Group Benefits Presentations
Upon request, NYSTRS representatives will come to your school and give a tailored benefits presentation to a group of members. Typical topics include new member orientation, mid-career retirement planning, and an overview of System benefits for all tiers. School districts, individual schools, delegates, or groups of members can arrange these presentations by calling (800) 348-7298, Ext. 2914.

Back to Top

Annual Delegates Meeting

National, state and local elections will not be the only ones taking place in November. In Saratoga Springs, delegates attending NYSTRS' Annual Meeting will be electing a new teacher member to the System's 10-member Retirement Board.

If you are unsure whether your employer will be represented at this year's meeting, check with your chief administrative officer or your local union president. If your school has openings in both the delegate and alternate positions, vacancies can be filled by holding an election by Oct. 1 and reporting results to NYSTRS no later than Oct. 6.

A common reason for openings in this “off” year for delegate elections (a.k.a., a special election year) is the retirement of a delegate without an alternate to assume the delegate role. Only active members are eligible for these positions. There may also be unfilled openings as a result of regular elections held in 2007.

Long-time Board member and current Board President Joseph P. McLaughlin will not seek re-election after 18 years of service. New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) has endorsed Paul Farfaglia of the Jordan-Elbridge Teachers Association to fill McLaughlin's seat.

The other teacher members of the Board are Sheila Salenger of Malta and Michael Corn of Barneveld. Teacher members are elected from the membership, one each year, by delegates to the NYSTRS annual meeting. All Board members serve three-year terms with the exception of the New York State Comptroller or his/her designee, who serves for the duration of the Comptroller's term in office.

The 2008 Annual Delegates Meeting will be held Sunday and Monday, Nov. 9 and 10 at the Saratoga Springs City Center. Meeting details and other pertinent information will be posted here in the coming weeks, and an informational packet will be mailed to delegates in September. Lodging options are listed below.

In addition to the election, the meeting is an opportunity for delegates to stay apprised of the System's current activities, and provides them with benefit and retirement-related resources to share with their colleagues. This is accomplished through seminars, an Information Center, and a question-and-answer session with NYSTRS Board and staff members.

For your reference, the following presentations were given at the 2007 Annual Delegates Meeting: Main Session for All Delegates: How You Can Make a Huge Difference in a Member's Life; When You Absolutely, Positively Need it Now – Use Our Web Site; Why Your Benefit Profile Holds the Key to a Successful Retirement; and, Social Security Information. Read the Summary of Questions and Answers given during the Delegate-Board/Staff discussion.

Saratoga Lodging Information

Back to Top

NYSTRS Investments

NYSTRS' primary objective is to consistently deliver promised benefits to all members and their beneficiaries, at the lowest possible cost to participating employers. Accordingly, the funds we invest are diversified prudently across the most attractive asset classes in order to achieve the best possible long-term total returns, consistent with an appropriate level of risk.

Our Investments page lists our current holdings.  

Back to Top