Like a bear in the springtime, or a cat in the fall, it is time to shake off the long sleep of summer and get back into action. Hobo is not anxious return to the merry go round of meetings, luncheons, money raising, and volunteering. Are you? Emerging from our summer dens to test the temperature, most of us are not excited about staying out there. It would be nice if September really was the month of cooler days which many of us enjoyed as children.
My daughter used to tell me that she could detect fall in the air this month. She was a native who was more sensitive to slight changes in the atmosphere. I heard a weather man on television say that September 12 is the statistically correct point in time when the temperature and the humidity begin their slow fall, day by day, sometimes warming a little and then cooling a little, as the month progresses into October. So I am waiting for the 12th and looking forward to those days that follow.
Polly Bostick and Tommy Thompson both left us this summer. We will miss them at meetings. Tommy was always there helping Ron Schneider at the check-in table. Before Polly got sick she ran around selling 50-50 tickets during the meetings. Both of them were excellent teachers at Sugg Middle School for many years. Polly taught math and Tommy taught social studies. We have sent checks in their memories to the FREA foundation which supports state scholarships for teachers.
Our annual reception for newly retired educators garnered some members at the event and more have promised to attend the September meeting and join then. Here are some pictures from the Meet and Greet. Many members showed up to help welcome the newcomers and to prepare the snacks and drinks. Thank you all.
Membership checks must be in by the end of September to assure your name is included in the MCREA Handbook. You can bring your check for $55, which covers your MCREA membership and your FREA membership, to our September 17 meeting, or you can mail it to Ron Schneider, Treasurer, 3802 Chinaberry Rd., Bradenton, FL 34208.
Minnie Lee Jones has produced a great schedule of events for us this year. She will have information for you at the first meeting. The first event is a trip to Port Manatee.
The annual District 7 FREA Workshop will be held on Oct. 6, at Der Dutchman Restaurant in Sarasota. All members are welcome to attend and learn more about the work of FREA as well as meet other members of District 7. For more information, come to the September 17 meeting or contact President Sue Roe at 792-4786.
Deborah Thomas is once again chairing the FREA 5th Grade Writing Contest. She will be sending information about the contest to elementary school principals and teachers soon. If you would like to help her with the project, please call her at 752-6895.
The FREA Convention this year will be held aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. For more information and to make a reservation, go to the FREA website. www.frea.org. If you haven't been looking at the website regularly, you will find it very informative and fun to read.
Mary Ann Jensen and her calling committee will be getting in touch with you soon to make reservations for lunch ($15) at Renaissance on 9th, on Sept. 17. If there is a slip-up and you are not called, please call Mary Ann before Monday, Sept.14. Our first speaker is Elaine Graham, a member of MCREA, who will talk about Take Stock in Children, "The Power of Mentoring".
Suzanne Willever has volunteered to greet members and lead devotions this year. If you would like to serve on her committee, please call her at 750-8783. Deena Thomas will chair the Information/Protective Services Committee. Please call her at 371-3404 to help.
Our long serving Treasurer, Ron Schneider, is looking forward to his retirement from the MCREA Board. If you are interested in giving Ron a reprieve from his duties, please call him or Susan Roe. This is a position which can be eased into as an assistant treasurer in order to learn the job from Ron. Actually, we are not dealing with vast sums of money here and anyone who handles a household budget is well prepared to take over.
I am looking forward to seeing you soon,
Ellen
