September marks the beginning of a new year for MCREA. Being educators, we all think that the year begins in September and ends in June unlike the rest of the population who insist on January to December. We had a very productive first Board meeting on Monday, August 30th, and we are girding up for a spectacular year.
Our first event is the New Retirees' Reception on September 13, from 10-12, at the Central Library downtown. We have sent out invitations, but we know that sometimes folks are just not motivated to attend alone. So, we are asking you to call your colleagues who have retired and have not joined us or who are newly retired and ask them to attend. You can come along with them to make them more comfortable.
Our first meeting at the Renaissance on 9th will be held at 11:30, September 16. We look forward to seeing everyone there in our new meeting place. I think you will find it very convenient for parking. Remember that the charge is $10 for lunch. (Westminster had raised their price to $10 at our last meeting there.) Guests and prospective members are always welcome. Just be sure to give their names to your caller so we will have a reservation. Remember that reservations that are not honored will be billed since MCREA must pay for all reservations that are made. If for some reason your caller does not call you before Sunday, September 12, please call me (794-1646) or Judy Shostrom (746-5575) and we will make your reservation for you.
On September 20 at 8:30 a.m., at the Holiday Inn at Lakewood Ranch, the Traveling Team from FREA will present a Leadership Workshop. Since this year's meeting is in our neighborhood, perhaps you might like to attend. State Representative Keith Fitzgerald will be the featured speaker. The theme for this year's workshop is appropriately titled, "Surviving the Legislature." If that body acts as is being predicted we will have to be on our toes with letters, calls, emails, and outrage to save our retirement pensions and those of educators still in the system. If you are interested, you must call Fay Murphy (758-5140) this coming week. Fay is our District VII Director and is in charge of the event. She will need to register you and ask about your lunch options. Registration which includes lunch and continental breakfast is $18. Fay can also give you directions for getting there.
The MCREA Scholarships which we present every year (see last month's blog) are supported mainly by donations from our members. Elaine Brown, Scholarship Chair, explained the reasoning behind asking members for support. It seems that "back in the day", various methods of rasing money were attempted -- white elephant sales, book sales, etc. They all proved to be time consuming and troublesome. Members suggested that they would rather contribute $25-$50 or some other sum than to try to come up with ideas and carry out activites to raise money. So that is why we ask you for support. Of course, we are always open to other suggestions which you may have. Please let us hear from you about this issue.
By the way, Brittani Bomar received $500, not the $1000 stated in the last blog.
I hope to see you soon to start off our year in fine form. We should have some new members at our first meeting. Come and welcome them.
Ellen
