October 3, 2012

    I hope you are planning your Halloween costume to wear at our meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 17.  We had a lot of fun with the costumes last year, and I know we can do even better than that.  The only problem I have is driving to the meeting and hoping I don't have to explain myself to a traffic cop if I goof up. Two years ago when I was all dressed up in my "lady from the grave" costume with gray face makeup and a fright wig, I had to rush out to tell the garbage men not to take a fish box that held some dead leaves. ( I have had it drummed into my head by Chester that fish boxes cost money).  Except for a slight widening of his eyes, the courteous young man did not comment on my getup at all.  My neighbor who was watching out her window is still laughing. 

 Please note that we are meeting on Wednesday this month due to a request from Renaissance on 9th that we do so. 

    A number of Board Members attended the FREA Leadership Conference in Port Charlotte on Sept. 17.

Fay Murphy,our District VII Director as well as the State FREA Director, presided.  MCREA received a number of awards from FREA for membership, contributions to FREF, and many others.  Here is MCREA President, Deborah Thomas displaying them.  Other MCREA members are also there. 

    I was interested to read the motto and the mission statement of FREA on the conference program. 

The motto: "To serve, not to be served"

The mission statement:

  "To promote the well-being of retired educators

    To encourage community service, and to support

    public education by disseminating information to

    members and the public through publications,

    programs, and projects at the state and local levels."

Are we doing that?  I think so, but we could do more of the disseminating.

    With every first meeting in September, the Scholarship Committee reminds the members that we support graduating high school students who wish to become educators.  In some years, we have been able to award as many as four $1000 grants to worthy applicants.  Last year, we had two recipients whom you met in the spring.  

    The Scholarship Committee has decided to proceed differently this year.  Realizing that the big crunch for a student's finances occurs at the beginning of the third year or when he or she chooses a major (an important time for MCREA's scholarship as well due to the need that the student must be pursuing a degree in some form of education), the committee will award $500 to graduating seniors and the remaining $500 when the student reaches that crucial period.  In that way, we will be helping students stay the course in their college careers, and we will be ascertaining that our money goes to those in education.  

    Clearly, all the money for these awards must come from our members.  Years ago, after selling each other things for years and completely wiping out everyone's white elephant collection, it was decided by the membership to just ask members to contribute to the scholarship fund.  I do not know if there was a suggested contribution, but if a majority of the members contributed at least $25, we would be in good shape.  Of course, some will do more and some of us who retired a long time ago before wages grew along with inflation may not be able to offer that much.

     I am happy to report that at our first meeting, we collected $295 from six members.  Please bring your checkbooks to our next meeting or send a check to our Treasurer, Ron Schneider, made out to MCREA Scholarships.  Ron's address is 3802 Chinaberry Road, Bradenton, FL 34208.

    Sandra Stevenson has once again set up the Bingo Game for our October meeting.  She asks that you bring 20 quarters to play with.  The money will be donated to the scholarship fund, and you win some perfectly wonderful, if inexpensive, prizes.  The program this month is fun and games for Halloween.



FREA Director Fay Murphy

    I hope I will see you all on Wednesday, October 17.  Deborah is asking everyone to try to arrive at Renaissance on 9th at 11:00-11:15 in order to get everyone signed in by 11:30. 

    If you do not receive a call for a reservation, call Mary Ann Jensen before Monday, October 15.  Her number is 756-7603.

Ellen