Manatee County Retired Educators December 2013

    I am sure you are all gearing up for a happy holiday season.  Decorating, wrapping presents, attending events, and cooking all take a toll on our resilience to colds and other ills if we are not careful to stop, put our feet up, and just dream a little.  After all, it takes time to properly gaze at the Christmas tree and all the other items we have lovingly preserved through the years for just this one month of the year.

    I have found that I appreciate my decorating efforts more than anyone else does, so I spend lots of time just enjoying looking at them.  When there were little ones around, they loved the colors, scents, and promise of Christmas.  Remember how their eyes would shine as they contemplated the tree and Santa's visit.  Who loves the story of the Nativity or of Hanukkah more than a child?  If we can believe again as a child believes, what joy there is waiting for us.

    Our November program was outstanding.  Sandra Ford, Director of Food Services for the Manatee Schools brought us up to date on the tremendous responsibilities of the staff that feeds the children breakfast, lunch, and now at some schools, dinner.  Some of the statistics were incredible.  To begin with, 49% of Manatee County students are on the free or reduced lunch program.  35,000 students are served lunch each day.  The staff has served 5,000,000 lunches and breakfasts each year, with an 80% participation level.

    Several questions from members were fielded by Ms. Ford.  When she asked us what we remembered as our favorite lunch items, many replied the rolls.  Unfortunately, she told, bread making had become too expensive, time consuming, and worst of all -- the bakers had all retired.  It seems that baking bread is no longer a practiced skill.  I have heard it described as the female equivalent of plowing the back forty.  Still, those rolls were so good!

Sandra Ford

 

                                                  Walter Miller asks a question.

    We are making a final request for donations to our local MCREA Scholarship.  In January, we will be distributing the FREF Extravaganza donation material, so we would like to wrap up the MCREA fund raising this month.  Of course, we will always accept donations at any time in the year, but we are trying not to overburden you with monetary appeals.  Make a check out to MCREA Scholarship and give it or send it to Treasurer Ron Schneider.  'Nuff said.

    Our December meeting is on the 19th.  Please try to arrive as soon as 11:00 as possible.  We have had great attendance and to avoid standing in a line to pay for your lunch while you want to be seeing your friends, come early.  Renaissance on 9th is the place and lunch is $15.  Our program this month will feature a chorus from Southeast High School.  This would be a good time to bring a prospective member or a guest.  To make a reservation for a guest or to make one for yourself if you did not hear from your caller, Mary Ann Jensen will help you at 756-7603.

See you there,
Ellen

 

November 2013

    One more Halloween without a single costumed little visitor has passed.  Where did all the kids go who used to ring the doorbell and yell "Trick or Treat" at the top of their lungs?  I suppose if I were a mother of young ones now, I might be wary of sending them off into the dark.  I think my neighborhood is safe, but I wouldn't go for a walk at night by myself or even accompanied by my dog, so I get it.  How sad that the imaginary ghouls of the holiday have been replaced by the real-life ghouls of every day.  What happened?  I wonder if the little kids can still go out and wander around in my little town in Maine like my children could here when they were small. 
   
   Of course, we MCREAers can create our own neighborhood and our own party when we need it.  These pictures will establish that.  I hope next year, more people will put themselves out there in costumes.  A good time was had by all at our Halloween party.  The Bingo game was a blast as usual and what prizes the winners received!  Sandy Stephenson does a great job getting the Bingo together for our enjoyment.  It's fun and we made a beginning to the MCREA Scholarship account. 
   
   It is time to make a contribution to the annual local scholarships.  Remember that we do not do fund raisers and try to sell each other stuff because everyone got tired of that.  Now we just bare-facedly (is that a word?) ask everyone to contribute.  It doesn't have to be a lot of money.  If everyone could give $20 or more, we would be set up to give some hard working graduates a leg up on their textbooks, at least.  Sometimes textbooks alone can run into the $300 dollar range.  We should remember that we are encouraging students who have made a commitment to become educators, a rather hard sell in these times.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don't forget that we are still collecting food for the Food Bank, books for FELT, and small items for the nursing homes.  I will see you at 11:30 on Thursday, Nov. 21.  If you have not heard from your caller during the week preceding the meeting, call Mary Ann Jensen at

756-7603 to make a reservation.

 

Ellen

 

 

 

 

 

October 2013 Manatee County Retired Educators

We had a good turnout for our New Member Reception at the Library.  At last count, we had garnered 10 new members.  Then, if you attended our first meeting at Renaissance on 9th, you know we had a very large crowd there to enjoy the camaraderie and to hear Superintendent Mills speak.

I have some pictures of the retired educators who attended the reception.  As you can see, they were a handsome and a cheerful group.  I suppose being able to enjoy a leisurely morning after all those years of reporting early would cheer anyone up.  But I also think they saw some old friends and shared some memories.  Once an educator, always an educator.  We go around tamping down the rough spots and looking for the good in people.  It's our nature.

Cheryl Bennet, Judy Ussery, Margaret Mitchell

Pat Watkins and Rose Lucas

Roz Steward and Julia Garland

 

Bob and Valerie Jenkins

Becky Gingras, Eileen Merchant, Shirley Robinson

 

FREA District VII Leadership Training

The FREA Traveling Team of President Thelma Mosley, President Elect Cathy McCarthy, Treasurer Marie Grein, and our own Faye Murphy State Director presented the workshop.  We were represented by Judy Shostrom, Deborah Thomas, Susan Roe, Nancy Erwin, Ron Schneider, Tom Thompson, David and Carolyn Brown, and I.  We came home through the rain invigorated and ready for a great  MCREA year.

Carolyn Brown shows the check which represents the hours of volunteer services prformed by MCREA members and their worth in dollars.

Carolyn Brown presents the FREA Volunteer of the Year Certificate to Ron Schneider.

David Brown sells door prize tickets to support FREF scholarships.

 

 





 

 

At the last count that I heard, 90 people had made reservations for our first lunch meeting.  Rick Mills,  Manatee County Schools Superintendent, was part of the draw, of course.  He did not let us down.  I thought he was exceptionally forthright and open about his plans to improve education in our county.  His intent seems to be to work with school faculties and principals to bring about better learning.  His concern for morale of employees was encouraging.  And he said that curriculum planning and long range goals must be arrived at by a concensus of everyone, not just top down directives.  He also said that purchases for educational materials must be supported by concrete gains in learning.  To me and several others at my table, his approach seemed practical and well considered.  Perhaps teachers will be able to get off the merry go round and use their skills and creativity which make their calling so much more interesting and effective.  Teaching is a calling, after all, not just a job. 

 

We had a great outpouring of love in the form of bags and bags of donated food for the Food Bank, lots of small gifts for the nursing homes, and some lovely books for FELT.  Remember that you do not have to bring something every time, but when you can contribute it is all good.  We are not collecting food for FELT this year, just books.  We thought we might be asking too much of everyone. 

 

Again, we are hoping that you will donate to the MCREA Scholarship Fund.  At our October meeting, Sandy Stephenson will be calling those bingo letters again.  Please come with 20 quarters to play.  Those quarters will be applied to the fund while they are still hot.  Also, come in costume if you like.  We always have some great costumes and we will have prizes for the best, the scariest, the prettiest, etc. 

 

See you at 11:30 (sooner is better to avoid the long line at check-in), on Thursday, October 17.  If you do not hear from your caller in the week preceding the meeting, call Mary Ann Jensen at 756-7603.

 

Ellen

 

 

 





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Manatee County Retired Educators Assn. August/September 2013

 I guess I have become a true Floridian at last.  Even though I burned my fingers on the steering wheel yesterday when I forgot to put up the sunscreen, I can feel fall coming on. I know it won't really arrive in Florida until the last week in October when hurricane season ends and the kids can trick or treat without sweating off their face paint.  Still, there are little signs that it is on the way at last.  The days are getting shorter.  The Earthbox store in Ellenton is open.  School has started.  Bealls has moved and moved the dots and now is discounting the last of summer stuff on the dot racks.  I went in last week and pawed through it all.  Even if didn't find anything, it is blissfully cool and quiet in the store with just us locals shopping.

 

The MCREA Board met on August 26 to plan for our coming 2013/14 lunches and activities.  The group was well prepared.  Judy Shostrom has been planning all summer and had some interesting suggestions to help us get going.  Susan Roe, vice president, has prepared the calendar, and our treaurer, Ron Schneider, proposed some simplifiations to the management of the treasury which will help keep us up to date on our monetary obligations.

 Ron asked that I let you know that if you have not paid your dues, he is ready to accept them.  Please send your check for $55 to Ron Schneider, 3802 Chinaberry Road, Bradenton, FL 34208.  You can bring your check to our first meeting also.  Paying your dues later than that, however, could result in your name not appearing in the new MCREA Handbook.

The New Retirees Reception is on Thursday, Sept. 5, at 10:00 a.m., at the Central Library in downtown Bradenton.  Please inform your newly retired co-workers that there are good reasons for joining us, in addition to the comaraderie we enjoy.  How better to keep up with the Florida pension fund and the sometimes iffy actions of the state legislature?  If your friend is shy, come along with him or her. Judy makes killer punch and we have lots of other treats.  And the library is so cool  -- in more ways that one.

Our first meeting is at 11: 30 a.m., on Thursday, Sept. 19, at Renaissance on 9th.  We are pleased that our first speaker will be Superintendent Rick Mills. I know you must be very interested in his plans for the school year.  If you do not hear from your caller in the week preceding the meeting, please call Susan Roe at 792-4786 to make a reservation.  Remember that reservations must be honored.  If they are not, expect a bill from MCREA for your lunch.

Our charitable giving was discussed by the board.  They decided that we were collecting for too many causes.  Therefore, the decision was made to collect for the Manatee County Food Bank which is in dire need right now, to collect small toilitries etc. for the nursing home, and to collect children's books for FELT.  No one should feel obligated to bring something to every meeting, but when shopping, it is easy to pick up an extra can of beans, a package of pasta or the like.  Books can be purchased very cheaply at the Central Library second hand book store or at the Goodwill Library at Tara on State Road 70.  Some of us still have a few left over from the classroom which, if we can bear to give them up, would be appreciated by a child who has no books .

 

MCREA Scheduled Meetings 2013/14 

 

 

September 19           Mr. Rick Mills, Superintendent of Manatee County Schools

 

October 17               Halloween Activities

 

 November 21          Sandra Ford, Director of Food Services, Manatee County Schools

 

December 19           Christmas program TBA

 

January 15               Brynne Anne Besio, South Florida Museum

 

February 20             Lt. Esterbrook, Manatee County Sheriff's Office

 

March 20                Samantha Kennedy, Florida Extension Service

 

April 17                  Fay Murphy, FREA Director

 

May 15                   Show and Tell

 

 

By the way, I think this blog could be more interactive with some input from you.  At the bottom of the page, there is a spot for comments.  If you have any suggestions for the blog, for the board, or just have a comment you would like to make, please do so.  I will look forward to reading something from you.

 

See you in September,

Ellen

 

 

 

MCREA April, 2013

 

Tommy Thompson waits for members to see him and renew their memberships in MCREA. 

 

 Our excellent speakers from AAA Travel, Marge Koser  and Maureen Ray told us about many travel opportunities coming up this summer.  How about a surprise trip?  AAA only tells the travelers the temperatures to expect, so that they can pack accordingly, and the length of the trip.  Then when the date is announced to sign on, the phones ring like mad at the Lakewood Ranch  AAA office as people clamber to get in on the action.  If you think you might be one of those brave souls, call Marge Koser at the LWK AAA to find out more.

 

At the May meeting, the new officers of MCREA will be installed.  Also coming up at that meeting is a vote on changing the Bylaws to include a statement about the procedures that must be taken should MCREA ever be dissolved.  This is a directive from the FREA to handle the financial situation should that occur.  Of course, we do not see that happening with our active group.

 

I spent a couple of afternoons grading the donated books to be included in the last distribution of backpacks of food for FELT when school ends for summer break.  They were wonderfully illustrated and engaging, and I know most of them came from MCREA members.  Thank you for those donations.  Of course, we are still collecting food item and books.  Also, the Manatee County Food Bank appreciates our donations of food and money.  We are also collecting items for distribution at nursing homes around the county. 

 

Our Treasurer, Ron Schneider, has been chosen Volunteer of the Year for District 7, FREA.  Not only is Ron a tremendous worker for MCREA, he also volunteers for the Rotary Club and many other organizations around the county.  We are very proud of him and grateful for his work keeping the books straight for us. 

 

The Scholarship Committee met and awarded a $500 scholarships to Melea Willett of Southeast High School who will attend the University of Florida.  Melea is also a recipient of the FREA Scholarship which awards her $500 for her freshman year and then incremental awards for the last three years.  Another scholarship for $500 was awarded to Erin Tribble of Manatee High School who will attend the State College of Florida.  Both of these students will also be considered for another MCREA grant in their junior years should they continue their goal of becoming educators and should they maintain good grades.  Thank you to all members who contributed funds for  those scholarships.  We hope to have both young ladies as guests at our May meeting along with their parent or parents.

 

And that brings us to the most important information in the note.  Please come to the May 16th lunch at Renaissance on 9th.  Try to arrive at 11 to 11:15 to visit with friends and discuss your summer plans.  The program is rather open and informal, officially billed as a picnic.  I suppose that means wear comfy summer clothes and expect potato salad, or maybe hotdogs?  Anyway, it will be fun for all with lots of games and prizes. 

 

If you do not hear from your caller before Friday, May 10, please call Mary Ann Jensen at 756-7603.

 

Ellen





April 2013

 

Hello Everyone,

 

 

 I am finally getting back into the groove since my daughter's chemotherapy treatments at Moffitt have ended and she is getting stronger every day.  So far, so good. 

 

 The pictures I have posted are from the February meeting and were sent to me by Minnie Jones.  The first is of an attentive group listening to the "Dramatures" from the Manatee Players.  I hear they were very entertaining.  The second is picture is of Terrence and Joan McDonald, hard working members of the Scholarship Committee.

The third is of President Deborah Thomas and telephone committee member and general "jane-of-all-trades",Connie Myers.

 

  The last picture of is our dear member, Veronica Orbaker, whom we lost this winter.  She is with her daughter, Nancy Porter.  I took the photo at an AAUW meeting luncheon in 2010.





 

 

 

 

Nominations for New Officers



  

 Deborah Thomas and her MCREA Board are finishing up their two year term in May, so the nominating committee chair, Mary Ann Jensen, submitted the names of  members who will carry on the duties of the organization.  New officers include:  Judy Shostrom, President; Susan Roe, 1st Vice President; Tommy Thompson, 2nd Vice President; Nancy Erwin, Secretary; and Ron Schneider, Treasurer.  The slate of new officers will be presented at the March meeting for your vote.  Installation of officers will be at the May meeting.

 

MCREA Scholarship Committee

 

Applications for the MCREA Scholarships must be mailed by April 8, and the Scholarship Committee will meet the following week to award them.  Donations are still being gratefully accepted for our scholarship fund.  Last year, we awarded two $1000 scholarships to some very grateful and outstanding students.  This year, we plan to award $500 to each recipient and then to follow up later, when they have completed their first two years and have chosen their fields of study, with another $500 if the funds are available.

 

FREA Scholarships

 

FREA contacted me recently to inform us that Tayler Liles, a recipient of the FREA Scholarship last year, will receive her second FREA Scholarship of $750.  I hope you saw Tayler when she visited us last year.  She received $500 from FREA then and $1000 from MCREA.  We are very proud of her for doing so well in her first year in college. She is a graduate of Palmetto High School and attends the University of Florida. Remember that donations in the form of door prize tickets will be offered at our meetings raise money for the FREA Scholarship Fund. 

 

April Meeting

 

MCREA will meet on Thursday, April 18, at 11:00, at Renaissance on 9th.  There will be a memorial for the members we have lost in the months since last April.  A speaker from AAA (that's three A's, not two) will inform us about planning some trips for summertime fun.  As usual, if you do not hear from your caller in the week preceding the meeting, please call Mary Ann Jensen to make a reservation. 

 

FELT and Manatee County Food Bank

 

For those of us who realize more and more how lucky we are to have comfortable lives, there are always opportunities to share with others who are not so comfortable.  We are still collecting food and books for Feeding Empty Little Tummies and for the Manatee County Food Bank.  Even though the economy is getting a little better, there are still people who need our help.

 

I hope to see you at the meeting this month.

 

Ellen

 

 



 

 

 

February 2013

Hello MCREA friends,

    Since I have not been able to get to a meeting for several months, I haven't taken any pictures.  This one is courtesy of Deborah Thomas from the December meeting.  I think everyone looks very festive and we can remember that lovely season.

    Sadly, I will not be with you again this month.  My daughter has finished the fifth session of her chemotherapy at Moffitt and has one more coming the last week of February.  I dare not join any large gatherings because of the threat of catching a cold which I would then probably give to her since I am taking care of her.  I haven't been to a movie in months!  Maybe by April I can return to MCREA.

    In the meantime, Julia Forkgen has been carrying on as the sole chair of the scholarship committee.  The members met and chose an application to send to FREF.  If you remember, our applicant won a scholarship last year.  It is a generous amount of money to help throughout the student's years in college.  I hope you are all contributing to the FREF through your purchase of door prize tickets at the meetings. 

The MCREA Scholarship applications have been mailed to the high schools.  Those applications will not be reviewed until April by our committee.  Again, we are hoping for some excellent applicants.  These scholarships are supported by donations from you, so I hope you have remembered to send one to our Treasurer or to bring one to a meeting.

MCREA meets on Thursday, Feb. 21, at 11:00, at Renaissance on 9th.  The program will be exciting since it is from the Dramatures of the Manatee Players.  There will also be an opportunity for you to participate in a "Sweet Memories of the Classroom" sharing time.  You might think about that to perhaps pull at our heart strings with your lovely story.  It is Valentine's month after all.

We are still supporting the Manatee County Food Bank, FELT, and a local nursing home.  Donations of money, food, children's books, small toiletries, socks, sweaters, etc. are always in order.  Johncyna MacRae is asking for help reading books to children at Williams Elementary.  As you know, the school is named for Deborah Thomas's and Johncyna's mother, a greatly respected educator in Manatee County.
We do not have all the details yet, but Johncyna will let you know when the event is set.

As usual, if you do not hear from your caller, let Mary Ann Jensen know by Sunday, the week of the meeting.  I hope you have a warm and loving Valentine's Day even if you have to go out and buy those flowers and candy yourself.  You deserve them.

Ellen

January, 2013

Hello Everyone and Happy New Year,

    It is wonderful to have a week to catch up with MCREA news and events.  My daughter, Louise, is half way through her chemotherapy treatments, and her oncologist has given her  until Monday, Jan. 14 to recuperate and have a breather.  Then it begins again, Monday through Thursday, with two weeks off before the next Monday through Thursday, etc.  Altogether, it will be three weeks of chemo and six of recovery from it.  Last time she had to be hospitalized for a week after the second session.  We hope that does not recur.  Her courage is great and her mood is upbeat in spite of the setbacks.  Her recent MRI showed that the tumors had shrunk a lot.  I've been able to keep up by telling myself that I drove up to the campus where Moffitt Cancer Center is located once or twice each week when I was in graduate school at USF.  Of course, I was much younger then, but I think, no tougher nor as motivated.

    Members have been having a great time according to Deborah Thomas's pictures and her descriptions of the events.  November's meeting celebrating MCREA's 50th, mostly put together by Carolyn and David Brown, was instructive and entertaining.  The pictures show Ed Ethridge and Deborah cutting the anniversary cake and some of the exhibits of the "good old days" in the schools of Manatee. 

    The Christmas meeting was also very festive featuring the Manatee County Chorus under the direction of  Tommy Jomesco and accompanied by our own Carolyn Reynolds. Sandy Stevenson got everyone in a competitive mood with games and prizes.  Carolyn Brown reported that the Volunteer Services Committee put together about 50 goodie bags to distribute to the nursing home, and youth volunteers from Florida Hometown USA accompanied the committee in delivering the bags and visiting the residents.
    The FREF Fundraiser for Scholarships is in full swing.  Ticket/donations are $10 each and may be purchased from Julia Forkgen at meetings.  Door prizes include:
Grand Prize - IPad III
First Prize - Kindle Fire
Second Prize - Kindle Fire
Third Prize - $200
Fourth Prize - $100
You do not have to be present at the conference to win, nor do you have to be a member of FREA, so sell some to your friends and relatives.  You can win.  We all remember that member Trish Bissell won an HDTV in 2011.
    Of course, we are still hoping that you will donate to our own MCREA Scholarship.  I will ask Deborah and Ron Schneider to report the amount of money we have accumulated to award this spring -- so far.  College is so expensive now that our Manatee County students who plan to be educators need our help.
    The new MCREA Directories were handed out at the December meeting.  Please check yours for any changes in email, phone, or street addresses that did not get included.  If there are changes, call or see David Brown for corrections.
    At last, County Historian Kathy Slusser will speak at our meeting on Jan. 17.  In error, I announced that she would appear in November.  I guess I was as anxious as I should have been.  Kathy is a fountain of interesting information about Manatee's early days.  The meeting will be held at Reniassance on 9th at 11:30.  Try to be there by 11:15 to facilitate getting everyone seated on time.  If your caller has not gotten in touch by the Sunday preceding that date, call Mary Ann Jensen to make your reservation.  We are still hoping you will invite some of your former colleagues who have not yet joined us. 
    Don't forget to throw a donation of food for the Manatee Food Bank or for FELT into your car for that day.  Books for FELT are also appreciated as are checks made out the Food Bank and designated for FELT.  They get much more bang for their bucks when they purchase food from the Food Bank's sponsors.

I hope to see you at least by the March meeting.  In the meantime, keep on supporting MCREA and its work.  I miss you all.

Ellen