The purposes of this Association are to:

  • The purposes of this Association are to:
  • A. Promote and protect the interests, rights, and welfare of the retired educators of the Stevens Point area in conjunction with the Wisconsin Retired Educators’ Association (WREA).
  • B. Monitor and work to improve the benefits for retired educators and other members of the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS).
  • C. Encourage Association members to maintain membership in the Wisconsin Retired Educators’ Association (WREA).
  • D. Develop working relationships with local service organizations whose main emphasis is on aging groups and with organizations sharing goals similar to those of the Association.
  • E. Inform Association members about and advocate for educational and other relevant societal issues.
  • F. Inform members of activities in the area provided for senior citizens.
  • G. Encourage Association members to be active participants in community affairs on an individual basis.

Saturday, November 4, 2017

Book Sale Success!


Once again, the Book Sale Committee carried out a smoothly-run, highly productive book sale.  Together with help from WI/Nicaragua Partners, SPARTA volunteer shift workers, and an unexpected show of muscle power at closing from the Wolfpack, the operation went smoothly.  

Thanks to this huge effort, enough money was raised for us to continue our scholarship and grant programs.

A big shout-out to the Children's Museum for all their support.  They help us out in so many ways, from renting us the property for a tremendously generous rate, posting and advertising the sale, being very cooperative about scheduling, and supporting us in so many other ways.  A BIG THANKS!




See You In November

SPARTA
Stevens Point Area Retired Teachers’ Association
November Meeting Announcement
Agenda, minutes & news attached.
November 13, 2017 – 11:30 a.m.
Program – Mike Thompson of the
Central Wisconsin Never Forgotten Honor Flight 
The Moose Lodge
1025 Second St. N.
Stevens Point, WI
Meal - $11.00
Ham, Scalloped Potatoes, Salad Bar, Roll, Coffee/Milk, Ice Cream and a Cookie
R.S.V.P. by November 9th - Noon
Call – Sherrilee at 715-344-0031or swallerman@charter.net
Make Checks Payable to: The Moose Lodge


Sunday, September 24, 2017

October Meeting


Our next meeting will be held at 11:15 on Monday, October 9 at the Park Ridge Family Restaurant (formerly the Blue Top.)  Our presenter will be Sandy Williams from the Central Wisconsin Children's Museum (our very kind landlords.)

The meal will be served family style and include:
     soup
     bread
     roast pork
     mashed potatoes
     gravy
     dressing
     peas
     cake
     coffee

All for the price of $13, which includes tax and tips.

A good meal, fellowship, and an interesting speaker.  Excellent!

Anyone brave enough to wear their dirndl or lederhosen?



Ready to Get Going?


FIRST ANNUAL
WAUSAU GRASSROOTS FESTIVAL

Saturday October 7, 2017
Registration 8:00 / Event 9:30
Wausau Labor Temple
318 S 3rd Ave. - Wausau, WI
Suggested $10 Donation

Rep. Dennis Kucinich
John Nichols
Martha Laning

2018 GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES
 

10 BREAKOUTS
Organizing through the Power up Strategy
WPEN Smart Education
Multicultural Participation in the Grassroots
Creating Empathy and Understanding
The Importance of Messaging
Reviving Democracy Through Citizen Action
Environmental Issues Explored
Healthcare, Ticket to A Just Society
Barnstorm: Building Grassroots Power in Rural America
Getting Elected Through Signage

MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT

LUNCH
Chad O'Brien
Open Tab
opentabacoustic.com

PIZZA - SALAD DINNER - $10
Mike Miller

EVENING STARTING AT 7
$5 Suggested Minimum Donation
Kittens
facebook.com/kittens-372758446485
Brad Emanuel
brademanuel.com
Shoestring Joe and the Star Thief

WisconsinGrassroots.Net/festival
For More Information Contact: John Stanley
608-444-8739 / 
 alwayssinging3@hotmail.com
FOR RIDE SHARING TRY
eRideShare.com
This is a Free Service




Copyright © 2017 Wisconsin Grassroots Network Task Force, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because of your association with the Wisconsin Grassroots Network

Our mailing address is: 
Wisconsin Grassroots Network Task Force
5923 century Ave.
Middleton, WI  53562

September Meeting


Our guest presenters at the September meeting provided us with a taste of the different groups that they represented. 




 Pick Two: All the Things You Never Had Time to Do” featuring Barb Evans from RSVP, Barb Towey with Music. Music, Music, Linda Weber from Nicaragua Partnership, Anne Rogalski from the LIFE program, Jerry Lineberger from Friends of Schmeekle, and Nancy from AMBA 

Sunday, September 10, 2017

Volunteer Hours

PLEASE bring your list of volunteer hours to the September meeting!  If you can't be there, please email a copy to Santha Bickford!!  Thank you!!!

Monday, September 4, 2017

See You Monday!

SPARTA
Stevens Point Area Retired Teachers Association
September Meeting Announcement
September 11, 2017 – 11:30 a.m.
Program – 
All the Things You Never Had Time To Do
Memories
2811 Plover Springs Dr.
Plover, WI 54467
Meal - $11.00
R.S.V.P. by September 7th
Call – Sherrilee at 715-344-0031 or swallerman@charter.net

Thursday, August 31, 2017

Helping Houston



Hurricane Harvey could be the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history with a potential price tag of $190 billion, according to a preliminary estimate from private weather firm AccuWeather.
This is equal to the combined cost of Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, and represents a 0.8% economic hit to the gross national product, AccuWeather said.
                                                               --USA Today, Aug. 31, 2017

Many of us want to help the people in the Houston area who are suffering from the Hurricane Harvey disaster.  It's easy to go online to donate to reputable organizations.  However, it's prudent to check the organizations before you give.

Charity Navigator is a resource that rates all these organizations. It also has links to reputable groups for Hurricane Harvey relief.  You can link to them here: https://www.charitynavigator.org

And, as always, there are bad guys out there running scams.  This link will take you to the government website warning of these scams:  https://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/current-activity/2017/08/28/Potential-Hurricane-Harvey-Phishing-Scams


Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Classroom Supply Closet

We've learned of a new organization in town that collects supplies for teachers.  Located at 3100 Minnesota Ave. in Stevens Point, they are just getting up and running.  We will be collecting donations at our September meeting.  For more information about them, go to www.classroomsupply closet.org or info@classroomsupplycloset.org.


We know you've been dying to start saving washed out peanut butter jars, shoe boxes, and 2 liter pop bottles again.  Here's your chance!

The list of items wanted and unwanted can be located in the sidebar below. You may want to print it out for future reference.


Time to Apply for Grants

September 5 is the deadline for applying for the fall grants.  If you know of an organization that would qualify, pass the application found in the sidebar along.



Report from Parliamentarians: "Approving" Treasurer's Reports Not Advised





At the May meeting, President Bickford announced that a member had challenged our custom of not approving the treasurer's report.  Subsequently, that month's report was voted on and approved.

In researching this issue, there is found to be strong consensus among parliamentarians and parliamentarian groups that the treasurer's report should NOT be approved by the organization.

For an organization our size, it is appropriate that an informational report be given at each meeting,  It can be questioned, but not voted on for adoption or approval.  At the end of our fiscal year (on or about September 1), a committee examines the books and determines if they are correct.  At the September meeting, their findings are presented to the membership who may then vote to "accept the report."

The following three articles elaborate on this topic:

Grant Recipients Express Gratitude



















In Memorium

We said good-bye to these colleagues this summer:  They will be missed.
  • Thomas Gloudemans, May 24
  • Ana Marie Burch, June 13
  • Ed Poock, June 16
  • Andrea Drifka, June 19

Back to the Fifties a Hit

Once again,  Eileen Payne as proven herself the Field Trip Queen!  The trip to the Fireside Theater was wonderful.

The whole group at the Fireside.

Lunch was superb, as always.

with Joyce and Fran Polsen.

Three hip chicks.

We're Back!

So sorry for that.  After the May meeting, a vacation seemed in order.  So now, there's all these things to catch up on.

First of all, the May meeting: We met at the Golden Corral.  Evaluations showed that while the majority of the members were positive about most aspects, there was just not enough room.

Our guest speaker was Dr. Ray Reser from the UWSP faculty.  His presentation of the History and Future of Native Americans was quite interesting and included the latest theories of the timeline of aboriginal settlement in Wisconsin.



See the minutes from the meeting located in the sidebar for details.


Sunday, May 7, 2017

May 8 Meeting at the Golden Corral

Don't forget to come to the last meeting before summer.  We're trying out a few new locations for our meetings.  This one will be at the Golden Corral.  Be there at 11:30 to pick out your lunch.  The cost is $8.69 for your food and $2.39 for drinks.  If you need help with your tray, there will be help.

The business meeting will start at about 12:15 and the program speaker at 12:30.  Out guest speaker is Dr. Ray Reser, UWSP, on the history and future of Native Americans.

The agenda, notes, and minutes are posted in the News and Notes section of the sidebar.

Saturday, April 22, 2017

No Good Deed is in Vain

We received these thank you notes for the St. Patrick's Day cards that were sent out.  Kudos to our President for this initiative.


Ramona Weisbrod passed away April 4, 2017.

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

They Like Us! They Really Like Us!

Another grant recipient heard from:


2017 SPARTA Scholarship Recipient

The SPARTA Scholarship Committee is please to announce that our 2017 Scholarship winner is Brittany Gagas, Rosholt.  The alternative chosen if she is unable to accept is Morgann Glazer, Stevens Point.
Congratulations!

Forever in Our Memory

Our sincere sympathies to out to the family and friends of these fellow educators 
who have passed away this month:

Ramona M. Weisbrod

Ramona Marie (Rozek) Weisbrod passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 4. While heaven gained a gentle soul, our world has lost some of its warmth. She was born April 19, 1926 to August and Martha (Kedrowicz) Rozek on the family farm in Polonia. She had three older brothers (Ernest, Fabian and Henry) and three older sisters (Loretta, Emily and Evelyn) and a younger sister Theresa/Tess. Only Emiily and Tess survive her.

Ramona attended school in Polonia and graduated from St. Joseph's Academy in 1944. She attended Central State Teachers College earning a 2-year teaching certificate and eventually earned her degree at Wisconsin State University - Stevens Point.

Ramona married the love of her life, Clarence Weisbrod, on June 7, 1947 and they celebrated their 67th anniversary before Clarence passed away in 2014. Together they raised five children: Nancy (Brian) Wilhelm of Neenah, Joseph (Mary Ann) Weisbrod of Rosholt, Barbara (Russell) Golla of Plover, John (Kathy) Weisbrod of Stevens Point, and Dori (Mike Meverden) of Spring Grove, Illinois. They were blessed with ten grandchildren: Eric (Tonya) Weisbrod, Lindsey (Jeremy) Leick, Tracy (Patrick) Weishan, Erin Wilhelm, Megan Golla, Kara (Tyler) Shogren, Lauren Golla, Logan Golla, Anna Weisbrod, and Jacob Weisbrod. They also found much joy in their five great grandchildren: Hannah and Jacob Weisbrod, Elizabeth and Alexander Leick, and Emily Shogren.

Ramona served 38 years as an elementary school teacher in and around the Stevens Point area with her last 19 years at Washington school. She was delighted to be recognized by former students who would greet her by saying "I had you for a teacher!"

After retiring in 1988, she and Clancy enjoyed traveling all over the United States on bus trips. Starting in 1958 they escaped to their cottage on Lake Helen in Rosholt where first their children and later grandchildren explored outdoor life camping, fishing, swimming and boating. Ramona also golfed, gardened and walked for exercise but her great love was time with "this wonderful family" and a lifetime of friends. Her family will miss her cooking and is grateful she passed along so many of her recipes in a family cookbook. The gatherings for any (and no) occasion won't be the same without her. Her card games with her sisters were legendary. She also enjoyed the birds at her feeders almost as much as any visitors on her doorstep.

Ramona was unfailingly kind and did everything she could to care for others. In her memoir on the occasion of her 90th birthday she stated "Our Catholic faith has been the cornerstone on which we built our lives." She has been a faithful member of St. Stanislaus/Holy Spirit Catholic Church since 1952. Ramona had a great reverence for Pope Francis and enjoyed watching Sister Anjelica on EWTN.

Ramona and Clarence lived in their dream house on Soo Marie Ave. for 52 years until making a new home in 2014 at Oakridge now Brookdale. Ramona enjoyed her many friends and activities there until the time of her passing. The family would like to thank the residents and staff especially Rosemary for making her feel so "at home". Dr. Terry Hahn provided compassionate care to Ramona for many years and her family is so grateful.

Services were held Friday, April 7 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church with visitation beginning at 11:30 AM. Mass of the Resurrection at 1:00 PM. Burial followed at Guardian Angel Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial in Ramona's name will be established.

"I thank God every day for this wonderful family"

Published in Stevens Point Journal on Apr. 6, 2017


Gladys May Wentworth

Gladys May Wentworth, age 95, died peacefully April 10, 2017 at Brookdale Senior Living in Stevens Point, WI.

Gladys was born May 15, 1921 to the late Guy and Olive (Scribner) Gilman in the Buena Vista Township. She grew up on the Gilman family farm, attended the local grade school, and graduated from Emerson High School in 1938. Gladys subsequently attended Central State Teachers College.

She Married Bayard S. Wentworth on August 16, 1941 at the Buena Vista Methodist Church.

Gladys and Bayard settled in Stevens Point after her husband was discharged from military service. She dedicated her life to raising her four children until they began high school. Gladys worked several secretarial positon until finding her home at Madison Elementary School. She worked there as a school secretary until retiring in 1983.

Gladys will be remembered for her warmth and loving nature. Family was extremely important to Gladys and she relished spending time with her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren. She also enjoyed her social circles and conversation with good friends. She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star, the Rachel Circle, and the Fly High Group at St Paul's Methodist Church. In her spare time, she enjoyed cross stitching and baking her famous brownies and lemon bars. Gladys was proud of having been able to visit all fifty states; in addition to her travel abroad. In her later years, Gladys remained active and enjoyed walking well into her 90's.

Survivors include her children, Barbara (special friend, Norbert Shidell) Paulson, Cheryl Wentworth, Dennis (Michelle) Wentworth, and Kevin (Mary) Wentworth; sisters, Patricia Graham, and Marie (Clem) Hudziak; 10 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; and 2 great-great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Bayard; sister, Jeanne; brother, Guy; and granddaughter, Lynne.

A Funeral Service was held 2:00 p.m., Friday, April 14, 2017 at St Paul's United Methodist Church with Rev. Howard Hintzman presiding. A time of Visitation was held on Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Boston Funeral Home and on Friday from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service at the church. Interment will take place at Restlawn Memorial Park Cemetery at a later date.

Published in Stevens Point Journal on Apr. 11, 2017

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Book Sale Posters

SPARTA members,

Attached is the book sale poster that can be printed or posted to friends online. I also have posters printed for those who volunteered to take them out in the community. The sale is Wednesday, May 3 to Saturday, May 6, so the posters can be put out as soon as possible.

If you want copies of printed posters, contact Nancy Kemmeter at 715-344-2598.

Nancy 




Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Interested in Working with Environmental Education?

A volunteer opportunity:


Forwarded conversation
Subject: Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education
------------------------

From: Windjue, Sara <Sara.Windjue@uwsp.edu>
Date: Mon, Mar 13, 2017 at 9:31 AM
To: "Santha.Bickford@gmail.com" <Santha.Bickford@gmail.com>

Hi Santha,
I am reaching out to you to get more information about the Stevens Point Area Retired Teachers’ Association. I work in the Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education on the campus of UWSP. We are a statewide program providing services and resources to teachers and school with the goal of increasing environmental literacy at the K-12 level. 

We offer a variety of PD throughout the state and will be offering four after-school workshops in April in Stevens Point with the goal of providing place-based resources to support literacy in the elementary classroom. We will also be providing a series of nine day-long workshops in the summer focused on various topics such as 3D Learning with Project Learning Tree, Bird Education, Invasive Species, and Renewable Energy. 

I’m wondering if you connect with current classroom teachers in the Stevens Point area? Are there ways you can help promote our PD and resources to area teachers (or teachers state-wide for that matter)? Or, are you strictly focused on retired teachers?

I’d like to learn more about what you do and if there are ways we can work together in the future to continue to improve environmental literacy in our students. (My daughter is currently enrolled in McDill)

I will also be participating in the Stevens Point Area School District Strategic Planning…will you or another retired educator be part of that process?

Thank you! I look forward to hearing from you.
Sara Windjue


Sara K. Windjue – Senior Outreach Specialist
Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education (WCEE)
1108 Fremont St., 201 SSC
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Stevens Point, WI 54481
ph: 715-346-4163 - fax: 715-346-4698
swindjue@uwsp.edu - www.uwsp.edu/keep
http://www.uwsp.edu/SiteAssets/images/SocialMedia/32px/Twitter.png http://www.uwsp.edu/SiteAssets/images/SocialMedia/32px/Facebook.png http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/PublishingImages/Social%20Media%20Icons/linkedin.png http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/KEEP/SiteAssets/images/School-Tube-Logo-2-ForNewsletter.png cool choices GHS



----------
From: Santha Bickford <santha.bickford@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Mar 15, 2017 at 11:51 PM
To: "Windjue, Sara" <Sara.Windjue@uwsp.edu>

Sara, our focus is retired educators. We have little contact with current teachers except to support  them and their students by attending Board meetings and attempting to keep current with legislation effecting our schools. I'll be glad to share your project and activities as a "news item" on our website if you like. Good luck with your work for the Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education!. 

----------
From: Windjue, Sara <Sara.Windjue@uwsp.edu>
Date: Thu, Mar 16, 2017 at 11:59 AM
To: Santha Bickford <santha.bickford@gmail.com>

Thanks for responding so quickly.

Do retired educators ever look to become volunteer with organizations? In the near future, we may have a need for volunteer educators to help us deliver professional development to current teachers. If you think there would be interest in that, I’d be happy to provide additional information, or maybe that could be the “news item” to find out if there is interest. 

Please share our website if you’re able: http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/wcee/Pages/default.aspx

Thank you and have a wonderful weekend,
Sara



Thank You

We're received thank you notes from some of our grant and stipend recipients.

From Gene Jacobs:

Hi Jan,
I want to thank you and SPARTA for the generous donation towards our research, it’s greatly appreciated.  Lorraine and I enjoyed the luncheon and visiting with some young friends.

Thank you,
Gene and Lorraine

Eugene Jacobs
Raptor Services, LLC
1601 Brown Deer Lane
Stevens Point, WI 54481
715-347-7998
           gene@RaptorResearch.com

Announcement:  Announcement:  We are offering four  5-day Raptor Workshops in 2017: "Introduction to Raptor Field Techniques" can be taken for credit through UW- Stevens Point. Two summer session:  5-9 June  2017.  Fall session: 2-6 October, 2017.  Visit http://raptorservices.rezgo.com  for details.

From the Portage County Historical Society: