December, 2014

This photo was taken by Deb Bell off the dock behind her house.  You are looking at Sarasota Bay.  On the far right, you can see the Cortez Road Bridge to Anna Maria Island.  It had been a rainy day and when the sun set, the few clouds that remained were lined up that way.  I think it is a great picture.








    Because of some sickness and difficulties in my family, I am late getting this out to you.  I will try to hit the most important things and let the others go until next month.

    Last week, Chet and I delivered 171 children's books to Bill Evers for distribution in the FELT program.  FELT's founder, Jane Evers, thought it was important to give the children books along with their food at the last session before Christmas vacation.  We  were able to help with that dream for several years.  This year was a little different though since the FELT program is now serving nearly 400 homeless children in the school system.  We were quite short of that number even though Deborah Thomas and I made a last minute foray to the Good Will Book Store at Tara.  When I called Bill, he said they would be happy to hand out as many books as they got.  I divided them into grade levels with a little sadness thinking of those who would not get a book.

    Please bring in any lightly used books you may have for K-5 children.  Of course, an occasional child can read at the 6-7 grade level, so those are acceptable also.  Just because a child is homeless does not mean he or she is not a good reader.  If you want to buy some books, second hand stores, the Good Will Book Store at Tara, and sometimes at regular stores, there are new books for sale at great prices.  If we could get 400 books together before the end of the school year, we could send the kids home with a book each for summer reading.

    Sam Lane, a popular pianist in the Bradenton-Sarasota area, will entertain us at our Holiday meeting on December 18.  We hope you will all be there to enjoy his program.  There was an article about him in the Sarasota Herald Tribune several weeks ago.  He plays jazz and pop, and most surprising, he is blind. 

    If you do not hear from your caller before this Sunday, please call Mary Ann Jensen, 756-7603, to make a reservation.  If you arrive at Renaissance on 9th at 11 a.m. or shortly thereafter, the line will not be as long.


Ellen

MCREA November, 2014

    Does it seem to you that life has speeded up so much that it is difficult to keep up?  Or is it that time and events are keeping their usual pace and it is I who has slowed down?  The cool weather, the election, the doctors' appointments, the meetings, the dinners with relatives, the bills to pay, the housework, the laundry, the meal prep all keep me running.  While attempting to make dinner Wednesday evening, I had to field a call from a credit card company advising me that someone has been running up some hefty bills at Nordstroms, Toys Are Us, and Bed, Bath and Beyond.  I did shop at B.B.&B. last Christmas, but T.A.T. is a thing of the past, and I have never crossed the threshold of N.  Luckily, the credit card company knew me for a tight wad. 
 
    Then, my email program decided that I could no longer just type in "MCREA membership" and it would send to all the members.  Have you ever tried to communicate with Microsoft problem solvers?  They actually gave me websites that required at least 60 digits and letters to access.  Then when I got there, I couldn't understand the information.  So, I am left with the task of typing each one of your names into an email.  I will shop around some more for a better service.  I have tried Chrome, but they only accept Chrome users into their "Circles" which are called groups elsewhere.  Would you all like to sign up for gmail?  I didn't think so.

    Our trip to the Ringling Museum which was arranged by Minnie Lee Jones was really entertaining.  We had a docent-guided tour of the Ringling Mansion.  Of course, most of us had been there before, but many of us had never been upstairs to see the bedrooms and closets of the famous couple.  John's feet were very long and very thin.  In his room, his clothes were laid out on his bed as if he would be coming in at any moment and getting ready for his day.  But, horrors!  His hat was on his bed.  Those of you who have Celtic ancestors are aware that is asking for big trouble.

Lunch in the Ringling Restaurant

 

    In addition to our Halloween party at our October meeting, we were addressed by Dr. Diana Greene, Deputy Superintendent of Instructional Services.  She spoke about the new requirements in testing and technology which are affecting teachers and students in the Manatee Schools.  Each course in K-12 must now have an exit exam which will be administered on a computer.  Yes, even kindergarten. Even P.E. must have a written testn not a test of physical ability as one might logically expect.  And, the results of these tests will determine 50% of a teacher's evaluation score, read salary.  

 

    The State of Florida is pushing for digital, on-line materials so that Manatee could buy the textbooks and get the digital tests to go with them.  Grades 3-12 will all be assessed on line.  5th graders must type a five paragraph essay writing exam.  So now keyboarding must be taught quickly.  Cursive will also still be taught.  Aren't you glad you are out of there? 

 

    Deborah Thomas has taken on the chairmanship of the FREA 5th grade essay contest.  Packets which explain the contest, have been delivered to the elementary schools. The topic is a happy memory of time spent with grandparents or other elderly persons in a student's life.  The FREA prizes are $150, $100, $50 for the best three essays.  MCREA will award a $25 gift certificate to the winner here and a $25 gift certificate to the winner's class for the teacher to use as he or she sees fit.  We hope teachers will be able to squeeze this in, perhaps as a topic for a practice essay. 

 

 

    Scholarship Chairs, Pat Griffin and Julia Forkgen have distributed the FREA Scholarship forms to the high schools.  The Scholarship Committee is required to then choose one from all the entries to forward to FREF.  We have had two winners in the last three years of this more lucrative state scholarship.  When the winner has been chosen, then it will be time to send out applications for the MCREA Scholarship.  Again, we need donations from you to make sure we have the funds to award to new recipients and to others who will be becoming college juniors.  Julia and Pat will be happy to accept checks made out to MCREA Scholarship Fund or you can give or mail them to our Treasurer, Ron Schneider.

 

    Our meeting on Nov. 20 will feature speaker, Nick Drizos of SMART (Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy).  As usual, we will meet at Renaissance on 9th, at 11 a.m.  Be sure to wear your nametag.  If you don't have one yet, please see Sue Roe about picking yours up or having one made for you.  Congratulations to Elaine Waldron for the excellent and timely Handbook.  Again, if you haven't received one, come to the meeting and pick yours up.  If you do not hear from your caller in the next week, please call Mary Ann Jensen at 756-7603 to make a reservation.

 

    A reminder for you is to start handing out cards with your purchases from Sunday, Nov. 9th to Sunday, Nov. 16th.  You received these cards at the October meeting.  If you were not there, then you do not have them.  These cards are meant to inform local merchants how much we retired educators support the economy. 

 

   On a sad note, you probably read that Jeanne Parrish, a former member of MCREA and a long-time English teacher at Manatee High School passed away last week.  I remember her a classy and yet down-to-earth lady with practical ideas for teaching English to teenagers. 

 

    Halloween was fun!

 

 Even witches have serious times

Lady, there's a turkey on your head

Ace pilot and winner of the costume contest

Boo to you too

Witches coven

 Fair maidens

A reunion of friends

 

 

 Diana, the Peacock

 

 

    See you on Thursday, the 20th,

 

    Ellen

 









 



MCREA October 7, 2014

    Were you able to store up some of that cool and refreshing air which we experienced over the weekend? At my house, it was sort of like Hercules cleaning out the Aegean Stables. The open windows blew a lot of the dog and cat hair out from under the furniture and rearranged it into piles that could be swept up. My husband became obsessed with catching and smoking mullet as he always is in the fall. So we had smoked mullet on Sunday and we were able to air the fishy smell out afterwards. Heaven. Now I can't wait for the next "cold" front to arrive.

   Our September meeting was very well attended -- 101 members and guests. Some of our new members were there, having joined at our annual New Retirees Reception in August. We must remember that there is strength in numbers when it comes to protecting our retirement accounts. The Legislature will be out again to do the FRS harm in their spring session. Our membership in MCREA and in FREA is crucial in keeping them at bay.
 
  Our scheduled speaker was Supervisor of Elections, Michael Bennett. Due to a death in his family, he was unable to attend and sent us the Assistant Supervisor in his place. Some of the interesting facts that I wrote down from his speech were that there were on that day 211,000 registered voters in Manatee County which made us 16th in the state. The last election only drew 20% of the voters which is a particularly low turnout.

  Here are some of the guests at our retirees reception. Perhaps you will see a familiar face or two.


 

Mac Aldrich and Jean Jacobson

 

Dennis Rose and Dan Crumpler

Gary and Lorraine Kerwin

Sharon Hundley

Dick Andrews and Bruce Dietch

Lori Cooper and Alice Deslaurier

Judy Shostrom welcomes our guests.

 

    An opportunity to volunteer has come to us from Karen Carpenter, School Board Member.  "There is an urgent need for volunteers for the Reading Pals program.  One hour a week with a guided curriculum helping kindergartner for 25 weeks.  This is my third year volunteering and it is a great program and experience."  Her instructions are to contact Sandra Holmes at the United Way, 748-1313.  It is also on line at www.uwmc.net/, or you can email ReadingPals@uwmc.net/ 

    Please remember to bring cans for the Food Bank and small toiletries for the nursing home Christmas gift bags.  We are also still collecting gently used and new books for children who receive food to tide them over the weekends -- FELT (Feeding Empty Little Tummies).  We hope to have a book for each child to take home at Christmas.  If you are interested in volunteering at FELT, they have a web page. I will forward the next newsletter I receive from them so you will have it.

    Most dear to my heart are our MCREA Scholarships which we  present each spring to Manatee County seniors who are planning to become educators.  Yes, there still are some, and they deserve recognition for going into a field so demeaned at this time.  When you speak to one of them about that, he or she always credits a teacher who was an inspiration,  and so they want to do the same for some other kids.  In other words, they are motivated by the same desires that sent each of us into the profession.  Our rewards were not monetary, but they were "on the side of the angels."  Now we are asking again for your support.  Please donate what you can.

    Our Thursday, October 16 meeting is all about Halloween.  Come in costume if you like.  Many of us do go all out.  You will be amazed.  There will be prizes.  Also, our entertainment director, Sandra Stephenson will lead us in Halloween Bingo.  Yes, there are prizes for winners here too.  Everyone should bring 20 quarters to play with.  Those will be collected at the end of the meeting for the Scholarship Fund.  We have a group from the School Board coming to update us on their projects for the year, so we will have an opportunity to learn something as well.

    As usual, if you have not heard from your caller by Thursday or Friday of the previous week, please call Mary Ann Jensen at 756-7603.  If you haven't paid your dues for 2014-15 yet, you must get them in this month if you wish to have your name in our Handbook.  Our Treasurer, Ron Schneider, will take them at the door or you can mail him a check at 3802 Chinaberry Road, Bradenton, FL 34208.

    See you on the 16th.  Try to come early if you can to avoid the big line signing in. 
11 is a good time or even earlier and you can visit.

    Ellen 

MCREA August , 2014

    Summer isn't over yet?  It seems that it lasts longer each year.  I am happy, however, that there is no hurricane threatening us at the moment.  It seems that in most years, Labor Day is the real beginning of hurricane season.  The holiday is early this year. Honestly, I feel a little shivery mentioning the "H" word.  It's like saying "flat tire" when you are on a long trip.  Why tempt fate?

   

    These are three of our scholarship recipients with Julia Forkgen, Scholarship Chair, who were guests at our May meeting.  From left to right, Lonnitra Jefferson, Bethune Cookman;  Meghan Neu, USF;  Kristy Palanco, SCF.

    Janaye Brown, UF, and Desmond Jefferson, SCF, were unable to join us that day.  Janaye and Desmond are both grandchildren of our own James and Elaine Brown.  Elaine served as MCREA Scholarship Chair for many years.  I can tell you as a member of committee who made the choices, we knew about Janaye's relationship, but we had no idea about Desmond's. Both were standouts in the group of applicants.

    The Scholarship Committee also rewarded $500 to Milea Willett, a 2013 recipient, because she has already finished her first two years and entered her junior year as an education major.  She took college classes when she was in high school.  This is a plan which we hope to continue to follow.  When a recipient becomes a junior or enters a chosen field of education, we will reward her or him again.  It is a way for us to help students who may not be receiving any more scholarship money and at the same time to ensure that entering education is their goal.

    So, you can see that this is a little pyramid scheme which could overwhelm us unless we have your help.  Presumably, we will have students requesting help in the spring for next year.  And we do want to keep on giving high school seniors money too. I hope you will all help us raise enough money to do that. 

    While I am writing about giving, something most of us are asked to do on a daily basis it seems, MCREA is still supporting FELT (Feeding Empty Little Tummies) which is carrying on in spite of the loss of its founder and major supporter, Jane Evers.  So, please look around for children's books that you can contribute.  I got a several at the library store last week for only three dollars.  Again, all of us working together can assure each child receiving food for the weekend, a book for Christmas.

    We are also continuing to bring in food for the Manatee Food Bank.  Although employment is up a little, there is still a lot of hunger out there.  Try to bring a can or two to each meeting.

    The gifts that we put together for the nursing home depend on your generosity also.  Those shampoos and soaps that you picked up in the hotel during your vacation are perfect for little remembrances.  Items should be small, unopened, and appropriate for shut-in senior citizens -- no makeup, candy, jewelry.  Socks, cardigan sweaters, and lap robes are nice too.

    I signed up for the Renaissance trip to see Cinderella at the Straz in Tampa on Saturday, Oct. 25.  Lunch will be served at the Renaissance, the bus trip, and the tickets are $115 per person.  I hope that some of you will also attend.  For information, call Renaissance on 9th, 749-0100. 

    FREA is sending out letters asking us to pay our dues.  Please remember that if you have paid your dues to MCREA, your FREA dues were included, and you do not have to pay them again.  If you have not paid your dues yet, please send a check for $55 to Ron Schneider, 3802 Chinaberry Road, Bradenton, FL 34208.  Or you can bring your check to our first meeting, Sept. 18.  FREA confuses us with this request because there are counties which do not have local associations.

    Mary Ann Jensen is looking for callers for the telephone tree.  If you have a little time that you could donate, please call her at 756-7603 or see her at our first meeting.  We are growing!

Speaking of growing, our best chance to grow is coming up on Thursday, Sept. 4, at the Manatee County Central Library.  Our annual reception for new retirees has been a great way to grow our membership.  We invite you to attend also to meet the new lucky ones and to partake of some great refreshments.  We will be there from 10:00-11:30 a.m.  If you know someone who has not yet joined us, please invite him or her to come with you.

    This is the almost complete schedule of meetings for 2014-15.  All will be held on Thursday, at 11:00 a.m., at Renaissance on 9th.  Lunch is still $15.

         September 18    Michael Bennett, Manatee Supervisor of Elections
  
         October 16        Halloween Fun

         November 20    Nick Drizos, SMART (Sarasota Manatee Assn. of Riding           
                                   Therapy)
      
         December 18     Christmas Program (TBA)

        January 15          Debbie Grubb, Florida Council for the Blind

        February 19        Joint meeting with the Sarasota County Retired Educators
                                    Linda Edson, FREA Legislative Co-Chair, FREA

        March 19            Lynn Girnis, Musical Entertainment and Comic Relief for
                                    the Chronologically Gifted

        April 16             Chris Nelson, Identity Theft

        May 21               Show and Tell

    Of course, you know that if your caller does not reach you before the meeting, please call Pat Battles who is taking over for Mary Ann Jensen this month,755-1182.

See you soon,

Ellen

Manatee County Retired Educators Association

April 2014

    I agree with Shakespeare that "April is the cruelest month".  I think he was considering an affair of the heart when he wrote that, but for educators, the remark describes the actions of the Florida Legislature.  You are probably, like me, constantly shocked at their complete disregard for kids and teachers as they scorch the earth to fulfill their own personal agendas.  Meanwhile, we citizens of Florida have to become more and more cynical about our representation which seems to have nested firmly in the pockets of companies that set up private schools, moneyed interests who wish to kill labor unions like FEA and, as a consequence, FREA, and our pensions.  Never mind that research shows that public schools do a better job of teaching all students.  Forget that the concept of schooling for every child is the way to insure that all learn about our democracy. 

    Red herrings are thrown around with abandon in Tallahassee.  The politicians use their own brand of religion (or that which will please some constituents), crazy gun laws, their disregard of and disdain for the poor and underemployed, and their desire to create a voucher system for schools which will eventually spell the end of public education..  They are cheered along by the Chamber of Commerce whose members do not wish to increase salaries for their workers,  the NRA, and those pseudo-educational companies which are anxious to set up cheaply run private schools.

    Well, I did go on, didn't I?  I hope you are writing emails to those sell-outs. (I can not rightfully call them legislators.)  Only at the ballot box can we straighten out this mess.  And with the money pouring in to support them with vile television ads that distort and lie and wave those red herrings, it will be an uphill battle all the way. 

    On a lighter note, Dr. Mona Jain was honored by Gamma Zeta Chapter, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. on March 15th as Woman of the Year for her community service and commitment to youth and non-traditional students in Manatee and Sarasota Counties.  Elaine Brown and Johncyna McRae are  members of the Sorority.  Dr. Jain, Elaine Brown, and Johncyna McRae are all members of MCREA.

    Debra Thomas says there is a great need for tutors at the Adult Education Center of the Manatee Technical Institute.  Many of the present tutors are winter visitors who will be returning home soon. 
If you are interested in volunteering for an hour or so a week, call Olga Rodriquez, Volunteer Coordinator, Adult Ed. Center, MTI.  Her number is 941-209-6800, Ext. 2244.  You may want to talk to Deborah for more information.

    Now for some housekeeping duties.  Please do not forget to feed the tax bag on your table at our monthly meeting.  If you recall, we do not want to charge more to take care of the sales taxes which Renaissance must collect on our lunches.  Next, please pick up a membership renewal form at the next meeting.  You can fill it out at the meeting, turn it in to Ron Schneider, and save a stamp.  Doing it now will save the membership chair hours on the phone reminding you during the summer.  We have made a new policy that anyone who has not renewed by the first of October will not be listed in the directory.  We plan to get the directory out in November next fall.  If you have any changes to make to your listing, be sure to give them to David Brown who is updating the information.

    The Sheriff Dept. Officer who spoke at our February meeting was Alan Fifield.  He was very entertaining and he left us with some thoughts on how to protect our safety at home and on the road.  He certainly deserved to named correctly. 

    If you have not bought your ticket for a door prize at the FREA Conference in St. Augustine in May, time is ticking by.  The prizes are great as usual: a Visa gift card of $500, an HDTV, an iPad Mini, $150 in cash, and $100 in cash.  Remember, the proceeds support the FREF Scholarships.  We have two students currently collecting yearly stipends from those funds.

    Julia Forkgen, MCREA Scholarship Chair, is collecting applications from high school seniors for the MCREA Scholarship.  Your contributions have been generous this year.  Thank you.  The Scholarship Committee will meet this month to read through the applications and select the winners. 

    We will meet at 11:30 at Renaissance on 9th, on Thursday, April 17th.  Fay Murphy, FREA State Director and member of our group, will bring us information about FREA and its role in Tallahassee.  Fay is well-versed in the actions of the legislative bodies and in FREA's work bringing reason to their follies.  If you do not hear from your caller, please call Mary Ann Jensen to make a reservation, 941-756-7603.

See you soon,
Ellen

   

MARCH 2014

 

 

    You know it is March if you have tried to venture out for shopping, dining, or visiting points of interest.  There were already 300 people ahead of you and if you paused a minute, 300 people behind you.  Still, they do bring much needed money to the county coffers.  We can bear it until Easter, can't we?  After all, we can sun in our own yards, take walks away from the busiest highways, rent Netflix, and just stay home.  Those poor babies have to return to the icy, barren tundra from which they came.  (My spell checker swears there is no such word as "tundra".  It must be one of those words which will be dropped from the new SAT.)

 

 

 

    Attendance at our February meeting was excellent as usual.  Membership numbers are rising which makes coming to meetings more fun for everyone.  Speaking of membership, renewal forms are now available for 2014-15.  Pick one up and renew your membership when you come to the meeting on March 20.  If we can get those memberships in earlier, perhaps we can get the yearbooks out sooner in the fall.  Next year, we are aiming for October, so those who have not renewed by Oct. 1, will not be listed in the yearbook.  Please check your listing for this year to be sure that your email, address, phone, etc. are correct.  If not, give your corrections to David Brown soon, soon, soon.  It would be a good idea to drop off or send any email changes, when they happen, to me as well if you want to continue receiving this blog.

 

    Lt. Esterbrook of the Manatee County Sherrif's Dept. spoke to us about safety at our February meeting.  I believe I was talking when he was introduced or otherwise not paying attention, so perhaps it was not Lt. E. after all but a great substitute.  Forgive my lapse which I am blaming on my advanced age.  (If you don't believe that excuse, I refer you to the above photo to prove it.)  Anyway, his picture, the policeman's, appears at the top of the photos.  He was very amusing even while speaking about such a serious subject.  Among the suggestions he gave us:

1. Get rid of the big purse.  Carry your credit card, license, etc. in your pocket.  Do not hang your bag around your neck for obvious reasons.  Muggers drive through parking lots, lean out, and grab purses.
2. Travel in twos.  Going to the mall alone is just too dangerous.  Husbands should accompany wives grocery shopping too.  (I think I would rather be mugged.)  At Publix, let them help you out with your groceries so you will not be alone.
3. Put a pair of size 13 work boots you purchased from Goodwill out on your doorstep.  Take your car keys to bed with you so you can activate the car alarm if you hear a prowler.  Lock your car when you pump gas.

There were many more and lots of jokes.  See what you missed?

 

    We are still accepting scholarship donations if you have not already made one.  Your check can be given to Ron Schneider at a meeting or mailed to him.  He will direct it to the scholarship fund. 

The FREF Scholarship Gala is also underway.  To be eligible for one of the great door prizes, you must purchase a ticket for $10.  You do not need to be present to win.  Our members who are attending the FREA Conference will be happy to bring your prize home to you.  Several years ago, Trish Bissell won a television and she got it!  MCREAers can be trusted.

 

    I graded all the books you donated and took them to Bill Evers to be sent out with FELT backpacks at spring break.  He is carrying on Jane's work and urged me to ask you for more snacks for the children and more books.  Jane was all about feeding hungry kids but she was also all about reading.  An avid reader herself, she knew how much joy there is in being able to escape with a good story as well as to score well on the SAT.  Good readers do both of those things.  Here I am preaching to the choir again.  Let's find those kids some good books to catch their imaginations.  If you visit the main library downtown, there is a second hand book shop available.  I have picked up some great children's books there.  Also, of course, the Good Will Bookstore in Tara is a wonderful source, not just for kids, but for you too.

 

    We are also still collecting for the Manatee County Food Bank.  If we all bring a little, it counts up to a lot.

 

    I forwarded Minnie Lee's list of events which she has organized for us.  She has worked so hard on this project and with great results. 

 

    Our March meeting is at Renaissance on 9th, 11:00 a.m., March 20.  Samantha Kennedy of the Florida Extension Service will be our speaker.  If you do not hear from your caller during the previous week, call Mary Ann Jensen 756-7603 to make a reservation.  Please hunt down those name tags and wear them.  Few of us are still good at remembering names.  The file for that kind of information got filled up by students' names years ago.  If we see each others' names hanging from our necks meeting after meeting, there is some hope that we will remember them.  Maybe.  But at least we won't be stumbling around trying to recall names instead of having good meaningful or meaningless conversations.

 

See you soon,

 

Ellen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





MCREA February 2014

      Sailor wants to know. What you are doing?  Why are you doing it?  Will you please throw the ball?  Where is dinner?  Where are the cats?  She is my daughter's dog that I inherited along with another cat -- now I have three.  But it is Sailor who keeps me busy.  I suppose it is good for me, but there are times when a little peace and quiet would be grand.  She is five now, so I figure I have to live at least seven more years to see her through.  It can be a motivational factor --kinda.

                                                            Where's the dog?

    I hope you have had an opportunity to read the email I sent you that came from Fay about the flurry of bills in the Legislature designed, I think, to confuse the issue and slip some way to do away with our retirement funds.  With FREA and Fay's help, I will try to keep you posted on their next steps.  I know there is a plot afoot to separate Law Enforcement and the Fire Fighters from the Educators.  Those groups are already being reimbursed more than we are.  No, I do not resent their getting special compensation for their dangerous jobs and their much earlier retirement rules.  Still, education can be hard on minds and bodies too, and we burn out early also.

    Our last meeting, with 87 in attendance, was fun as usual.  Jeff Rogers from the South Florida Museum told us about many activities there for everyone.  It isn't just Snoopy's house anymore.  I would encourage you to look at their website for information about movie night (with a cash bar), ongoing exhibits, and activities for visiting grandchildren.

    Minnie Lee Jones is planning a trip for us to the Holy Land (the one in Orlando) on March 6.  She needs 30 people to hire a bus.  If there are fewer, it may be possible to join another group on their bus.  The fee for the trip and entrance to the park is $69.  A buffet lunch is available which is not included in the price.  Call Minnie Lee at 739-2250.

    Remember to save your travel sized items like the ones you get in hotels for next Christmas's donations to the nursing home.  Makeup and edible items are not acceptable, nor is anything that has been opened.  We are still collecting food for the Manatee County Food Bank.  I believe we have enough books for another distribution for FELT.  Although the group lost its leader and founder, Jane Evers, it is determined to continue. 

    Would you like to win a free lunch to be used next year?  For every $10 you contribute to the MCREA Scholarship Fund, your name will be put in a hat for a drawing in April.  If you have already contributed, for each $10 you gave, your name will be added also.

    The Scholarship Committee selected and interviewed a candidate for the FREF Scholarship.  As you may remember, we have had two recipients in the last two years.  It is a lucrative source of funds for education majors which continues throughout their college career.  We are now selling door prize tickets for FREF at meetings. The prizes are exceptional.  Tickets can be purchased at a meeting for $10 each. 

    We will meet again on Thursday, February 20, at 11:00 a.m., at Renaissance on 9th.  Lunch is $15.  Come early and stay late to visit with friends.  If you do not hear from your caller, please call Mary Ann Jensen at 756-7603.

See you there,
Ellen





   

January 10, 2014

    How long does it usually take to get used to writing 2014?  It seems to be more difficult each year.  2014 is really an awkward number.  Oh for the days of 1952 or even 1999, but even that last number was almost too many years to contemplate.  All the numbers used to be smaller.  You could buy a perfectly good new house for $8,000, the amount you might pay for a new car these days.  TVs had only four or five channels and just required a little adjustment to the rabbit ears to see the picture. Now the watcher must remember a momentous number of channels to keep up.  And passwords?  Don't get me going on that.  We have a file box stuffed with those and more are added weekly.  Some have been changed too, so it can take a few tries sometimes to get the right one if we haven't been proactively changing them when we needed to.
  
     Now that is my rant for the year and I promise not to do it again.  But why did the technological age have to coincide with my increasing age related inability to keep up?

    Our December meeting was well attended and very entertaining.  We were serenaded by the Southeast High School Chorus who were charmingly young and beautiful.  Their singing was angelic and so were their faces.  The Choral Director displayed her humor and light handed leadership with her charges, and she was a great pianist as well.  Here are some pictures of many of us enjoying ourselves.  Unfortunately, the stage at Renaissance is very poorly lighted and pictures of the chorus were too dark to use.

    Susan Darovec,  Legislative Chair, reminded us at the meeting the Florida Legislature will be once again attempting to change our Florida Retirement System.  Although our FRS is one of the strongest in the nation, the propaganda always tries to show the system as a drain on the taxpayers-- which it is not.  Despite a slip in the investments during the early days of the recession, the account has made up for its losses with good investments.  There will be more attempts to change beginning teachers to IRA accounts.  Should that happen, of course, the fund would be lost over time because there would be no new money invested.  One has to wonder again, why the Legislature is so against educators.  They fail to realize that we accepted lower paying jobs in order to teach children, with a promise that we would have a decent income after we retired.

    We will begin our sales of FREF Extravaganza donations this month.  Of course, we are still happy to receive donations for our local scholarship fund.  Please help us give some good students a leg up in their studies in education.  Surprisingly, there still are some who were inspired by a teacher or teachers to want to follow in their footsteps.  We should be proud of our ability to shine in spite of the demeaning way we are treated by the Legislature and some others.

    If you have not heard from your caller, please let Mary Ann Jensen know you need a reservation for Jan. 15 (756-7603).  Brynne Anne Besio of the South Florida Museum will be on the program. Try to arrive before 11:30 to avoid the line and have time to chat.  The usual location, Renaissance on 9th, is the spot.

See you soon,
Ellen