Addition to October Blog

If you would like to volunteer a couple of hours on Tuesday, October 18th or Wednesday, October 19th at the Book Fair at Palma Sola Elementary School, please call me at 794-1646. 

October 7, 2016

    Our September meeting was well attended.  Vicki Bartz (above) from Tidewell Hospice was the featured speaker.  Her comments were uplifting and not downers as one might have expected.  I learned that one does not have to be on one's death bed to receive help from Hospice.  It is also a program for those who have a critical illness but not necessarily one which will take them very soon.  All that is required to receive Hospice assistance is a doctor's verification of terminal illness.  They accept insurance and Medicare and will also help those who have neither.  Their main objective is to provide comfort to their patients and patient families whether in their facility, the hospital, or at home.

    Watching Matthew roar up the east coast of Florida brought a great sigh of relief to everyone on the west coast, but we all worry about those in the path of such a big storm.  I just read on the internet that some folks who did not evacuate from the beaches are calling for help now.  They must wait for the conditions to improve before medical and other aid can reach them.  This should be a lesson to us all to heed the call when we are told to get ourselves out of harm's way. 

    Since Microsoft decided to "update" my mail program and do away with my mailing
groups, I have had to resort to Gmail to get items out to you all in MCREA.  Now I have two emails with attachments which I cannot get into the Blog, so I will forward them to you instead.  Forgive me for all this mail, but I am stumped.  Perhaps one of my grandchildren or my son in California will drop in one day and be coerced to solve my tech problems.  Until then, it's Medieval Computer Days around here.

    Chris MacCormack, a new member and the Director of Project Light, the adult language learning center which was started by Sister Nora Brick and Ann and Ted Griffen, is looking for volunteers to teach two hours a week on a regular basis.  Classes are made up of 4-12 students and all materials are provided.  Only English is spoken, so there is no need to know another language.  Deborah Thomas has been teaching there since August and can answer any other questions you might have.  If you are interested in visiting a class or learning more, please call Chris MacCormack at 727-5183 or email her at maccormc@msn.com  The facility is at 1104 14th St. W. in Bradenton.

    Pat Roberts, a volunteer for FELT (feeding empty little tummies), called me to ask if we could bring in our books for distribution on the last day before the Thanksgivng holiday instead of Christmas this year.  There are other things sent home then and the packs get a little heavy.  I do have about 100 books right now, but we need more at this meeting as the November meeting will be too late.  Presently, there are 360 homeless kids being served and more will be added.  FELT is in elementary, middle, and one high school (Manatee) now.  Other high schools have asked to be included, so we need books for young adults as well as for children.  I believe kids who have no access to books at home would be very pleased to have one of their very own.  Again, the Goodwill Book Store at Tara, the downtown library book store, and your own treasured classroom library are great sources.

    Joan Sackett has agreed to create a list of volunteer opportunities which she will have available at our meeting.  Elaine Waldron will have the MCREA Handbook ready for our November meeting.  If you have not yet paid your 2016-17 dues, do it to before October 31 in order to have your name included.

    Last year I volunteered to work at the Palma Sola Elementary School Book Fair.  I have been asked to do so again by the Media Specialist.  So far Susan Roe and my son, Warren Bell have agreed to help.  If you would like to work

    Our October meeting is dedicated to Halloween .  Come in costume if you like.  We will have a contest for best costumes.  We will also play Sandra Bingo which awards "great" prizes and supports our MCREA Scholarships.  Bring 20 quarters to play with and to donate after the games.

    If you have not heard from your caller by October 14th, please call Mary Ann Jensen at 756-7603 or Susan Roe at 792-4786.

    Remember that we contribute to the Manatee County Food Bank,the Salvation Army, and a nursing home.  Canned goods, towels, toiletries, and those hotel little soaps and bottles of shampoo and lotion are always welcome.

    See you on Thursday, October 20, at the Renaissance on 9th,

    Ellen