<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[AFICS New York]]></title><description><![CDATA[AFICS/NY' purpose is to assist, foster community among and advocate for the interests of UN system retirees living in the New York City area. ]]></description><link>https://www.aficsny.org/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Sat, 04 Apr 2026 15:05:48 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.aficsny.org/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[UN Staff 1% for Development Fund requests AFICS/NY support.]]></title><description><![CDATA[We would like to make you aware of the UN Staff 1% for Development Fund, to which you can contribute the cost of just three cappuccinos a month to help people in the developing world build better lives. Since 1984 its New York Branch aims for staff to contribute up to 1% of their salary towards development, to encourage Member States to contribute at least 0.7% of their GDP for that purpose. We issue microgrants of up to $ 5,000 per community project in the fields of education, agriculture...]]></description><link>https://www.aficsny.org/post/un-staff-1-for-development-fund-requests-afics-support</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69b801b9faed8c5e63c7a4af</guid><pubDate>Mon, 16 Mar 2026 14:56:49 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18d205_afc39b38142c47c381067cca0beef3c5~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_780,h_438,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Andrew Nye</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[End-of-Life Guidance for Beneficiaries and Retirees.]]></title><description><![CDATA[AFICS/NY is pleased to be able to provide the End-of-Life Guidance for Retirees End-of-Life Guidance  for Beneficiaries The attached letter  from Jay Karia, Co-Chair Health Insurance Committee AFICS/NY Dr. Sudershan Narula, Co-Chair Health Insurance Committee AFICS/NY and Deborah Landey, President AFICS/NY explains.]]></description><link>https://www.aficsny.org/post/end-of-life-guidance-for-beneficiaries-and-retirees</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69b37368d0cd2535b5277fdd</guid><pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2026 19:55:01 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Andrew Nye</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[2025 Annual Enrollment]]></title><description><![CDATA[As in previous years, the United Nations Health and Life Insurance Section (HLIS) is coordinating the Annual Enrollment Campaign  for all health insurance plans administered by UN Headquarters. The campaign will run from 1 to 30 June 2025 . Changes go into effect on 1 July 2025 .]]></description><link>https://www.aficsny.org/post/2025-annual-enrollment</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69b3757c19a7028f2bc31326</guid><pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2026 02:26:12 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Andrew Nye</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[ASHI Hotline Created]]></title><description><![CDATA[We are delighted to announce the  creation by the United Nations Health and Life Insurance Section (HLIS) of a hotline for retirees regarding their health insurance matters .  AFICS/NY has been strongly advocating for the past couple of years for such dedicated service for retirees, especially for the additional capacity to provide it.  AFICS/NY was informed by HLIS that it has established a dedicated telephone line that retirees can call with any questions concerning ASHI (After-Service...]]></description><link>https://www.aficsny.org/post/ashi-hotline-created</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69b3727d7dab63102efb868d</guid><pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2026 02:13:07 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Andrew Nye</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Reimbursement of Medicare Premiums]]></title><description><![CDATA[The UN's Health &#38; Life Insurance Committee (HLIC) has reported that  some eligible retirees are not being reimbursed for their Medicare Part B premium as they have not submitted the required documentation to the Health &#38; Life Insurance Section (HLIS) .  Retirees are  urged to verify that they are being reimbursed for Medicare premiums paid by them directly, or through deductions from their Social Security payments .  Anyone having problems on Medicare Part B premium reimbursement should...]]></description><link>https://www.aficsny.org/post/reimbursement-of-medicare-premiums</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69b37202d0cd2535b5277ccd</guid><pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2026 02:11:03 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Andrew Nye</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Retirees and beneficiaries: cost-of-living adjustment to the US dollar track in April 2025]]></title><description><![CDATA[The UNJSPF announced on 3 March 2025 that in accordance with the UNJSPF Pension adjustment system and based on CPI (consumer price index) data from the Monthly Bulletin of Statistics (MBS) published by the UN Statistics Division, there will be a 2.8 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to the US dollar track of periodic benefits for this year, effective 1 April 2025. You can read more about this announcement here.]]></description><link>https://www.aficsny.org/post/retirees-and-beneficiaries-cost-of-living-adjustment-to-the-us-dollar-track-in-april-2025</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69b3674dd558374c818e3468</guid><pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2026 01:26:22 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Andrew Nye</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Message from the AFICS/NY Chair of the Standing Committee on Pension Issues, Suzanne Bishopric]]></title><description><![CDATA[First the good news,    The Cost-of-Living Adjustment for US dollar track in April 2024 is 3.4% UNJSPF provides more information on this, here. The FAFICS proposal to the Pension Board, advocating an inflation adjustment for Small Pensions, received strong support from the Board during its Seventy-sixth session (21-22 February 2024).  The CEPA agreed to provide background information and suggestions to remedy the lack of inflation adjustments to small pensions.  The financial implications...]]></description><link>https://www.aficsny.org/post/message-from-the-afics-ny-chair-of-the-standing-committee-on-pension-issues-suzanne-bishopric</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69b36009ecfce39c49ab22d0</guid><pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2026 01:03:03 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Andrew Nye</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What the 55th FAFICS Council Session Means for Members: A Message from President Jerry Barton]]></title><description><![CDATA[In his letter  to all FAFICS associations, President Jerry Barton describes key takeaways from the Vienna Council Session, held in Vienna, Austria, from 14 to 17 July 2025 with a focus on priorities and implications for FAFICS member associations.]]></description><link>https://www.aficsny.org/post/message-from-mr-jerry-barton-5-september-2025</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69af2d000c1a368a2fa479c5</guid><pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2026 20:42:22 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Andrew Nye</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Analena Baerbock elected President of the 80th General Assembly]]></title><description><![CDATA[Annalena Baerbock, President-elect of the General Assembly at its eightieth session addresses delegations after her election. Former German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock was elected President of the General Assembly’s 80th session on 2 June. Her appointment comes as the regional group that includes Western Europe takes its turn at the helm of the world body. She assumes the role at a challenging time, with ongoing conflicts, faltering development goals, mounting financial pressures, and...]]></description><link>https://www.aficsny.org/post/analena-baerbock-elected-president-of-the-80th-general-assembly</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69aee751053d59350a13f4e9</guid><pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2026 15:34:06 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18d205_f15f2d5c0bdd4126afdb49f45efb295e~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_750,h_420,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Andrew Nye</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Exclusive Kenya Airways Offer to AFICS/NY]]></title><description><![CDATA[Kenya Airways is delighted to offer an exclusive promotion of up to 10% for members of the Association of Former International Civil Servants of New York (AFICS/NY). Click here for details]]></description><link>https://www.aficsny.org/post/exclusive-kenya-airways-offer-to-afics-ny</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69aed8b97bcffb82205ed3d7</guid><pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2026 14:28:54 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18d205_8ca72f04080d4749801c8218494c5293~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_670,h_450,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Andrew Nye</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[George Saddler]]></title><description><![CDATA[September 1925 - January 2026 It is with deep sadness that AFICS/NY announces the passing of Mr. George Floyd Saddler, former President of AFICS/NY (1994–2001), former President of FAFICS, and an Honorary Member of the AFICS/NY Governing Board. Mr. Saddler celebrated his 100th birthday in September 2025. He will be remembered with great respect and appreciation by his colleagues and friends in the AFICS/NY and FAFICS communities. A memorial service will be held on April 18 at 10:00 a.m. at...]]></description><link>https://www.aficsny.org/post/in-memoriam-mr-george-saddler</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69ad82cf3fdd64550e6c4b9b</guid><pubDate>Sun, 08 Mar 2026 14:54:31 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18d205_8bbb8684da7e42068e615754ce5f58de~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_400,h_300,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Andrew Nye</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Transformative Power of Volunteering for Retired Individuals and Society]]></title><description><![CDATA[Volunteering offers retired individuals a unique opportunity to enrich their lives while making a positive impact on their communities. Beyond simply filling time, volunteering provides deep psychological, emotional, and social benefits. It fosters meaningful connections across diverse backgrounds and nurtures empathy and understanding. This post explores how volunteering helps retired people find purpose, build relationships, and appreciate the rich diversity of society, ultimately...]]></description><link>https://www.aficsny.org/post/the-transformative-power-of-volunteering-for-retired-individuals-and-society</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69ab9f3cd66894c6d6f52964</guid><pubDate>Sat, 07 Mar 2026 03:47:41 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18d205_bd643e69b7ae4994aa6efff9f55667f2~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_768,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Andrew Nye</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Rafeeuddin Ahmed]]></title><description><![CDATA[27 December 2025   Dear Family, Friends, and Former Colleagues of our Father, We would like to invite you to a memorial event that the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are organizing to commemorate the life and career of our dear father in recognition of his over three decades of distinguished service and enduring contributions to the United Nations family. The...]]></description><link>https://www.aficsny.org/post/in-memoriam-mr-rafeeuddin-ahmed</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69a7b1d95f34dbe2951f7a0f</guid><pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 04:17:19 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18d205_b2b3975b4da545a0befe006fdde87621~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Andrew Nye</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Neylan Ayse Bali ]]></title><description><![CDATA[It is with deep sadness that AFICS/NY announces the passing of its lifetime member, Mrs. Neylan Ayse Bali, who passed away at her home in New York on April 3, 2025. Mrs. Bali was a distinguished former Director of the United Nations Security Council Affairs Division, having served the Organization with dedication for over 33 years. She was widely respected and admired for her professionalism, integrity, and her unwavering commitment to women's equality and global peace. The late UN...]]></description><link>https://www.aficsny.org/post/in-memoriam-mrs-neylan-ayse-bali</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69a7b0735f34dbe2951f7707</guid><pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 04:13:04 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18d205_f759a11d8f1845c4b3ae63f63ee25fed~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_286,h_309,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Andrew Nye</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Shabbir Cheema: Remembering him with grief and gratitude]]></title><description><![CDATA[15 January 1944 - 27 November 2025 A leading scholar and advocate of democratic governance and a dear friend has passed. A few days ago I learned that my close friend Dr. Shabbir Cheema passed away on Thanksgiving Day. His wife Sherry and other family members were with him. Blessings to Sherry, their children, and grandchildren. I am filled with gratitude for Shabbir’s life of kindness and world service. Here are a few highlights about Shabbir’s remarkable life from the summary of his...]]></description><link>https://www.aficsny.org/post/in-memoriam-dr-shabbir-cheema-remembering-him-with-grief-and-gratitude</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69a7af4bb3e74ede35e86759</guid><pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 04:07:38 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18d205_83ea32985b7642b6a823c5813effa7c0~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_243,h_243,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Andrew Nye</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Savitri Persaud]]></title><link>https://www.aficsny.org/post/in-memoriam-savitri-persaud</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69a7ae90b3e74ede35e865bf</guid><pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 04:02:28 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18d205_c7f371e90d934a8aa87b422aaa6ea760~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_959,h_721,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Andrew Nye</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Jamna Israni]]></title><description><![CDATA[October 15 1939 – February 22, 2025 With deep sorrow, we announce the passing of our beloved Jamna. A loving daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She brought warmth, wisdom, and kindness to all who knew her. Please join us as we gather to celebrate her remarkable life, share memories, and honor her enduring spirit.  Parkside Memorial Chapels (Funeral Service) Thursday, 2/27/25, 12 pm 114-03 Queens Blvd, Forest Hills, NY 11375   All Souls Chapel and Crematory (Cremation)...]]></description><link>https://www.aficsny.org/post/in-memoriam-jamna-israni</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69a7ad3e5f34dbe2951f700b</guid><pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 03:57:09 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18d205_ef4703f8210c4a14bf25b2a0bf163c9c~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Andrew Nye</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mary Lynn-Hanley]]></title><description><![CDATA[22 November 1937 – 5 February 2025 It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we inform you of the death of our friend and colleague, Mary Lynn Hanley, who passed away on Wednesday, 5 February 2025, following a period of declining health. Mary Lynn, who faithfully served AFICS/NY as Editor of the AFICS/NY Bulletin from her appointment on 1 March 1988 until her retirement in 2021, is remembered fondly by those who knew her as a critical reader and a meticulous editor. Former President of...]]></description><link>https://www.aficsny.org/post/in-memoriam-mary-lynn-hanley</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69a7a95effff75773eb846fc</guid><pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 03:42:31 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18d205_a008e4add8574988a680a1c0cab967a6~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Andrew Nye</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ajit M. Banerjee]]></title><description><![CDATA[5 April 1935 - 25 January 2025 Ajit M. Banerjee began his distinguished career at the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA). Later, he became a management training consultant for the Punjab Administrative Reform Commission and the Indian Government. His journey eventually led him to the United Nations (UN), where he made significant contributions to public administration and reform on a global scale. Dr. Banerjee held several pivotal positions at the UN during his 32-year tenure....]]></description><link>https://www.aficsny.org/post/in-memoriam-ajit-m-banerjee</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69a7a78c236139f6bdde8524</guid><pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 03:36:44 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18d205_1effe77a48cf4a6f823a8d0cdf7b3fed~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_370,h_547,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Andrew Nye</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Distinguishing Between Movement and Exercise for a Vibrant Retirement Life]]></title><description><![CDATA[Retirement often brings the idea of slowing down, but staying active is key to enjoying this new chapter fully. Many people hear doctors talk about "physical activity" and "exercise" as if they mean the same thing. Understanding the difference between these two can help retirees maintain independence, improve health, and find joy in daily life. This post explains how movement and structured workouts each play a role in aging well and how you can balance both for a healthier retirement. A...]]></description><link>https://www.aficsny.org/post/distinguishing-between-movement-and-exercise-for-a-vibrant-retirement-life</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69a74035b7ed48968149f409</guid><pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 20:14:18 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18d205_8a01a5e06c4141f395277c576f8ad130~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_768,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Andrew Nye</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>