September 13, 2010

 These are photos from our new member reception at the library last week.  We had 20 new retirees who attended and 12 signed up on the spot.  Some others took home applications so we hope to hear from them soon.

  If you know someone who has recently retired or has retired a long time ago, please invite them to join us for one luncheon to see how much fun we have staying connected once a month.  Of course, there are other incentives too, like insurance programs, opportunities to volunteer in the community, interesting programs, and a darn good lunch.
If your friend was a member of MEA, his or her first
lunch is on them and their first year's dues too.

  Don't forget that we are collecting food for the Manatee County Food Bank's all but empty shelves and smaller food items for FELT.  I sent you a copy of the FELT newsletter where you will read that they have taken on 2 more schools this year.
 
Please join us on Thursday, at 11:30 a.m., September 20 for a great lunch and some good conversation.

September 13, 2010

Hi again,

    This is just a reminder that our new MCREA season begins on Thursday, Sept 20.  We will be collecting canned and dry food for the Manatee County Food Bank and books and smaller packages of food for FELT.  The Food Bank is in the midst of a big drive to replenish their all but empty shelves and the FELT group have added two more schools to their list of donations.  I sent you the FELT Newsletter today which will explain all that they are doing for the elementary school kids in our county.  As yet, no one has asked us to contribute to the school system for the huge deficit they have found on their books.  No, I do not think they will, but I just had to work a mention of it in somewhere.  I know you are all shaking your heads in disbelief at the situation.

    I am adding some pictures from the new member reception.  Thank you to everyone who came and helped with the conversation and refreshments.  We had about 20 prospective members and 12 signed up on the spot to join us this year.  Now, if you know some others who should join us, please let them know and ask them to attend a meeting.  If they were members of MEA, their first lunch is paid for by MEA as well as their first year's membership.

Ellen

MCREA

September, 2012

    Hello summer survivors.  I hope you were able to get away from our sauna-like weather for at least a short trip to cooler places.  Although, I think I should stop complaining since many of those areas were pretty darn hot this summer as well.  It used to be when we would escape to Northern Maine we could expect only a few days of 80 and above weather.  This year they had many more.  It is important to remember that when it gets hot up there, in most cases, there is no air conditioner to turn on, and the windows, at least in Maine, are super small to hold in the heat in the winter.  

   

    The Georgia peaches were juicier and sweeter this summer.  I heard a grower lamenting the drought but saying his crop, although smaller, was much tastier. Regardless of whether you believe in global warming or not, something is happening to alter the climate.  I will not mention the "h" word for extreme storms that we have dodged so far.  I think the weather predictors and the media in general have done all they can to jinx us on that. Lucky for us, they hexed Louisiana instead.

    Now the important stuff.  Our New Member Reception will  take place on Thursday, Sept. 6 (this week!) at the Central Branch Library in Bradenton, at 10 a.m.  If you know someone who is a retired educator( any retired employee of the county schools or another school system, college, private or parochial school) please encourage him or her to attend. You can come along too to support a new member.  We will have refreshments featuring Judy Shostrom's punch, a real treat, information about MCREA, and conversation.

    Our first meeting will be at Renaissance on 9th, at 11:30 a.m, on September 20.  Our first meeting will give you an opportunity to get caught up with everyone's adventures and an overview of the coming year.  The Board is planning a 50th Birthday Celebration of MCREA to be held November.  Lunch is $15.  Wear your name tag.  The following are the meeting dates for 2011-12. Please note the Oct. and Nov. meetings are on Wednesday.

Sept 20

Wednesday, Oct. 17

Wednesday, Nov. 14

 Dec. 20

 Jan. 17

 Feb. 21

  March 21

April 18

May 16

    Our donations to FELT (Feeding Empty Little Tummies) will continue each month.  Remember children's books and foods that can be used to stuff the Friday backpacks of children who need the nourishment for the weekend are our contribution.  I read that 50 percent of Americans now are below the poverty line and that 75 percent of those receiving aid have children.  Those grim statistics tell us how important it is to pitch in and help.

    This summer, we have all been reading about the empty shelves at the community food bank.  I didn't realize that the food banks at most churches and in the community in general are partially or entirely supplied with food from the community food bank.  The MCREA Board is requesting that we bring a dry food stuff and a can of food to our meetings.  Of course, if this would be a hardship for you, please feel free to abstain from any of our collections.

    I am looking forward to our first meeting.  I hope you will be able too.  As usual, at the beginning of the year, there may be some glitches in our calling procedure, so if you are not called before Sunday, Sept. 16, please call Mary Ann Jensen at 756-7603 or Deborah Thomas at 752-6895.

    See you soon,

    Ellen

      

   Here is our scholarship recipient, Jacob Kargauer, at FSU.

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