Atlanta retirees have their calendars marked for this year’s annual meeting scheduled for Nov. 14 at Merry Mac’s Tea Room.

UFT representatives will be on hand to bring them up to date on health benefit and pension issues as well as on new legislation and other union concerns. For the first time, the biannual spring and fall meetings held in retiree sections across the country will be condensed to a single meeting in deference to retirees who have to travel great distances to attend. But the meetings will still include UFT representatives from the Welfare Fund, the Teachers’ Retirement System, Chapter Leader Tom Murphy and others to meet, greet and inform retirees.

Beyond that, Atlanta coordinator Gail Maynor has arranged a holiday outing for Dec. 7 to see a performance of Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol” at the newly renovated Alliance Theater. Retirees will soon receive fliers with all the details. Maynor also is planning social events and trips throughout the year both for pleasure and to build union solidarity. “I like to plan excursions to explore this beautiful and historic city so retirees have an opportunity to see the city they have moved to and to have fun together,” she said.

Maynor moved to Atlanta six years ago, became a “master gardener” and took over as UFT retiree coordinator four years ago. She retired after 27 years as an elementary school teacher, a school counselor and a school-based Teacher Center staffer. Maynor works with a small team of retirees who meet for lunch monthly to discuss ideas for activities to attract and activate more Atlanta area retirees.