This has definitely been a dreadful season of Legislative actions against educators and the children they teach. Since the damage has been done and the session is nearly over, we have only one recourse in supporting our colleagues still on the job and the children of Florida. We must unite in the next election to speak to the reasonable voters and to get them to the polls. No lies about the foundations of democracy found in public education can be accepted. We must refute those slanderous stories of our ineptness with letters to the editors and to our representatives in Tallahassee. Most of us do have former students in the community who will listen to us.
Anyway, it is time to let your blood pressure return to normal and to plan for the future. We have lost this battle, but we aren't done yet. Actually, we retired educators did not do so badly. But I have a feeling that they probably are gunning for us in the future. They do not respect us or our years of service.
Our April meeting was interesting with a talk from Cecile Arrington about the Leadership Program at Bayshore Elementary School. Ed Ethridge led us in a remembrance ceremony for our members who passed away this year. We passed the revised Bylaws, and we welcomed some visitors and some new members. Our big membership drive will begin in the summer as soon as we receive the list of the retirees from the school system. As our new membership chair, Susan Roe will send each of them an invitation to a reception which we will hold in August. I will keep you advised about the date which has not been determined yet. I am sure that some of you have friends who are retiring this year. It would be a great gesture to invite them to attend the reception. You can come along to help them feel more comfortable. It seems to me that organizations that grow and prosper are those that help individual members feel welcome and needed.
Barbara Kitzman expressed concerned about the school board insurance which went up $100 in January, for us, but not for regular employees. She called the school board and spoke to Leslie Strickland, the new insurance contact person. Ms. Strickland said that the school board has been picking up the extra $100 for the employees. I imagine that they were contractually obligated to do that. Employees expect a huge increase in insurance fees in the fall. It is hard to think that the same may not happen to retirees as well. As soon as we know more, we will let you know. Or if you find out anything, let me know so I can spread the misery around.
Our May, and final meeting until September, will be held on Thursday, May 19, at 11:30, at Renaissance on 9th. We discussed having a picnic somewhere instead of our regular meeting place, but many members said it was too hot in May, the bugs were bad, and the parking and footing could be treacherous at the various parks. So we decided to stick to the tried and true.
We do have one major innovation for our May meeting. Since we do not have a scheduled program, except for the installation of new officers, we were happy to take a suggestion made by Susan Darovec. We will have items from our crafters for sale at the meeting. Susan is a woodworker who will bring some of her rolling pins and other creations to sell. I am not a crafter, but I do have a collection of jewelry which my cousins made for me which I don't wear. It is really nice, but somehow my clothes don't match. Any profit made from my items will be donated to the scholarship fund. Susan, of course, is selling materials that cost her a good bit, so she will make a donation that she thinks is fair from her sales. Now, if you have something that you would like to sell, please bring it (them) along. Probably, you might want to bring a card table or some way to display your wares if they are extensive. You may set your price and invite haggling or stand firm. I think we should have fun with this.
Dues are due (love that!) now for next year. We will be accepting them at our next meeting. Remember, they have gone up $5, a much needed raise to our local unit. Bring your checkbooks and get it out of the way. This will save us postage writing you later.
Later on during the summer, you may get a letter from FREA asking you to renew your dues. If you have already paid your dues to MCREA, your dues have been renewed for FREA already. Do not send them any money. I found out I had been sending them dues twice that way and am paid up until 2012/13.
If you do not hear from your caller, please call me at 794-1646 to make a reservation. Life happens and sometimes callers don't get through. In the event that you make a reservation and a true emergency occurs, I am able to change the number that I call in to Renaissance up until Tuesday before our meeting. Please be sure it is an emergency, however. Judy is very patient, but we don't want to overstep.
Deborah Thomas, our new president, has asked me to continue writing this blog during her tenure. I will be happy to do so, and I will try to make it a little more interesting with pictures and quotes from members. I see myself as having more time to do that when my years as president are over. Most of our newer members have email so this is an inexpensive way to communicate with you. Postage prices have put newsletters by mail over prohibitive. We must count on the callers to spread information to those who do not have email accounts.
See you on May 19,
Ellen
