NYSUT retirees are needed in force between now and November to help elect a pro-education president and to strengthen the pro-education majority in Congress.

That was the message that AFT retiree director Frank Stella delivered to the Retiree Breakfast Saturday.

"The AFL-CIO mantra for the next one is 'Bigger, better and broader,' but the presidential race is a really tough battle," Stella told the group. "Our estimate is that it will take about 65 million votes to win. We still need 37 million more votes, and they're not all in Pennsylvania."

NYSUT Vice President Kathleen Donahue thanked the retirees for being such an active group and such a strong presence in the union. Those qualities will come in handy as NYSUT helps its national affiliate with the campaign, Stella said.

"Seventy percent of retirees vote in every election and about 70 percent of union retirees vote for union-endorsed candidates," he said. "Our goal is to get those numbers up a little bit. For those little pockets out there that haven't been touched, the extra effort really does pay off."

Next month the AFT will launch regular walks in which members will distribute leaflets that present information on the issues and the candidates at locations around the country.