January 10 Meeting Canceled

From our President:

Our SPARTA Executive Committee met today and made the decision that as much as we’ve enjoyed the three in-person meetings we were able to have in 2021, we must renew our efforts to stay safe and healthy in the New Year. We have made the difficult decision to cancel the meeting scheduled for Jan 10 at Park Ridge Family Restaurant. Several members have expressed concern and  our speaker has canceled because of COVID precautions! As far as we know now, we will plan to meet March 14 at our usual place and time! Stay safe, everyone, and here’s hoping for better times in 2022!

Carl Sagan, 25 years ago

The Demon-Haunted World by Carl Sagan, 1995, page 25-26.

"I have a foreboding of an America in my children's or grandchildren's time--when the United States is a service and information economy; when nearly all the key manufacturing industries have slipped away to other countries; when awesome technological powers are in the hands of a very few; and no one representing the public interest can even grasp the issues; when the people have lost the ability to set their own agendas or knowledgeably question those in authority; when, clutching our crystals and nervously consulting our horoscopes, our critical faculties in decline, unable to distinguish between what feels good and what's true, we slide, almost without noticing, back into superstition and darkness.

The dumbing down of America is most evident in the slow decay of substantive content in the enormously influential media, the 30-second sound bites (now down to 10 seconds or less), lowest common denominator programming, credulous presentations on pseudo-science and superstition, but especially a kind of celebration of ignorance."

Link to Carl Sagan on Johnny Carson

Desmond Tutu, Dead at 90

 

Celebrate American Education Week

•  November 15-19
• SPARTA will deliver letters of appreciation to each school along with a basket of goodies

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Irony is Dead: You Can't Say That

 Deluged as we are with outrage after outrage, it's hard to pick one out to note.  This, however, proves that there's no bottom to the black hole that we've fallen into.

Read more about this at Pharyngula:

https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2021/10/25/you-cant-say-that/

"The Buck Stops Here," said Harry.

 

Book Sale Status

 

So, the dust is settling on the flurry of activities that took place in May and June centering on the book sale.

As you know, we lost our lease with the Children's Museum Building and needed to move out.   The thought of finding another space was daunting, having gone though this just a few years ago as we had to leave Jackson School.  It took us over a year to find another space.  This time, though, the fates were on our side. 

Delta Dental is building a huge new building just East of 51.  Their old building on Hoover will be taken over by Inclusa.  Inclusa is offering space to a few non-profit groups, and we were lucky enough to be one.    

This is scheduled to happen in the Spring of 2022 if all goes well.

We could only store some of the books we had.  We've rented a storage space and have books stored in more than a few members' store rooms, garages, and basements.  We had to sell off what we could, and pass along the rest to Goodwill and other thrift stores.  We had surprisingly good sales, and actually came out ahead on the cost of the move.  

As usual, all hail to the members of the Book Committee and all the volunteers who worked the sale, hauled books around, or helped in a myriad of ways.  I won't attempt to list them here, since I'm sure to leave someone out, so please accept our heartfelt thank you for what you've done.

All that said, 

WE CAN'T ACCEPT ANY DONATIONS UNTIL THE MOVE IS COMPLETED NEXT SPRING!  

No room, no room.

It hurts to say this, but there's just NO ROOM.

Wow! Our first Meeting in a Year!

 

Our picnic/meeting was held in Plover's Heritage Park.  The weather was comfortable, the company wonderful.  It was great to be able to socialize once again.  A shout-out to Sherrilee for organizing the food.  We were excited to learn of a great opportunity that the Historical Society has been offered.  

An opportunity to expand Heritage Park and bring the Morgan House, listed on the National & State Registry of Historic Buildings, into Society ownership. This purchase would also include the entire block surrounding the Morgan House. With this addition the Park would be 'protected' from residential and commercial encroachment and own 4 of the 20 National & State Registered buildings/sites in Portage County Wisconsin.

The fundraising goal is $350,000 dollars, the projected selling price.

Website Neglect

 It's been awhile.  I deeply apologize.  It's not that we haven't been busy with SPARTA stuff.  In the last two months we've sold off much of our book inventory, moved the remainder to storage, moved bookcases to the Inclusa facility, and shut down our place at the children's museum.

It is true that I haven't been maintaining this site as it should be.  The feeling from the Executive Board is that we should have a FaceBook page.  We'll need someone to set this up and maintain it.  If you know of anyone who would be interested, please contact Santha or me.

In the meantime, we hope to see you at the picnic on Monday, July 12 at Heritage Park.  

Moving Sale

 Just a reminder that the BAG SALE starts June 1. The schedule for the next two weeks follows. We are asking that you share this schedule with friends, family and share on facebook if you have an account. Cost is $5 a bag.

                                                            BAG SALE

Tuesday, June, 1^st, 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Thursday, June 3^rd, 10 a.m.- 3:30 p.m.

Saturday, June, 5^th, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Tuesday, June 8^th, 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Thursday, June 10^th, 10 a.m. 3:30 p.m.

Saturday, June 12^th, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

As COVID restrictions are opening up and more people aren't wearing masks, it is difficult to know who is or isn't vaccinated without asking for a card. For the safety of the children who cannot be vaccinated, the Children's Museum is asking people who aren't vaccinated to wear masks in the building. We don't want to be asking everyone at the door to produce a vaccination card, so are still asking shoppers to wear a mask in the building.

Now the good news. We have a storage unit where the books we are going to keep are being stored, and INCLUSA  has graciously said we can store our 20 bookcases, book carts and table cart at their facility on Church Street. We will box up excess books to donate June 14 - 17 and have a tentative move date of June 23rd or 24th. Moving details are yet to be determined so we will keep you posted.

Bring your mask and money,

Nancy Kemmeter

COVID Humor

From Santha's hometown newspaper, a little dated, but still funny:

 COVID BITS

From The Community Scoop, published weekly in Lost Nation, IA, April 8, 2021

1. New monthly budget: Gas $0, Clothes $0, Groceries $2,500, Wine $3750.

2. Breaking News: Wearing a mask inside your home is now highly recommended- not so much to stop COVID, but to stop eating.

3. WHEN THIS QUARANTINE IS OVER, let's not tell some people.

4. Not to brag, but I haven't been late to anything in over 16 weeks.

5. It may take a village to raise a child, but I swear it's going to take a vineyard to homeschool one.

6. You know all those car commercials where there's one vehicle on the road?....it doesn't seem so unrealistic these days.

7. The spread of Covid-19 is based on two things: 1. How dense the population is. 2. How dense the population is.

8. People keep asking : "Is COVID 19 REALLY all that serious?  Listen y'all..., churches and casinos are closed.  When heaven and hell agree on the same thing, it's probably pretty serious.

9. Home School Day #1.  I'm trying to figure out how I can get this kid transferred out of my class.

10. The dumbest thing I ever bought was a 2020 planner.

Santa Claus is Real

 Well, there's been lots of action since the last posting.  The good news is that we've found another home for our books.  Details will be forthcoming, but it's Christmas in Spring for us.  It almost seems too good to be true, but as one who's always expecting the sky to fall it really does seem to be happening.

We've Lost our Lease

  From our President:

            We at Stevens Point Area Retired Teachers’ Association are reaching out to ask if anyone in the community knows of or has a place where we can collect our used books and hold our semi-annual used book sales. For the past five years we have had space and a wonderful relationship with the Children’s Museum downtown. The building has been sold and the new owner has other plans for the space, so we need to relocate.

 

            As you probably know, SPARTA has been iconic in the area for these sales. In 1991 we were offered the opportunity to take over the book sales from the American Association of University Women, and we happily assumed this service.  Profits from sales are donated back to community organizations in the form of grants and scholarships. Priority is given to causes which support our young people, and second to causes which support our elderly. We are able to pay a modest amount of rent and to work with anyone generous enough to support our efforts.

 

            Because of the COVID crisis, we were not able to hold book sales in 2020, and thus were not able to support the organizations we have in the past. Scholarship funds have been saved in an account with the Community Foundation set up for that purpose, so we are able to continue that. However, if we are not able to find a new site for our books and sales, we will probably be unable to fund our community outreach for a second year.

 

            If you have any suggestions or ideas to help us, please call and discuss them with our president Santha Bickford (7153405501) or our Book Committee Chairperson, Nancy Kemmeter, (7153405627}.  Please feel free to pass this information on as you see fit! Many thanks!

Tips from the Treasurer: Your Last Gift to Your Family

We're all bound to move on from this life, hopefully sometime in the distant future.  One thing you can do for yourself and for your family is to wrap things up before then.  It's important to make sure that things are done the way you want them done.  I made my own estate planner when I was in my 40s.  I update it every few years, and when the time comes, my niece should have all the information she needs to settle everything.

I shared my own book with my mom about five years ago and managed to talk her into letting me make one for her.  She has Alzheimers, and I was determined to have all the paperwork done before she lost the ability to make decisions for herself.  

There are all sorts of places to find a format to use for your information.  My lawyer suggested a book form Amazon, Peace of Mind Planner.  It's very good, and only $12.  I would suggest ripping it apart and putting it into a three-ringed binder.  That makes updates easier, and you can also delete sections that aren't relevant.

My own is a three-ringed binder with dividers.  The sections are:

1. Vital Information
• contacts
2. Documents
• will
• memorandum
• ids
3. Finances
• Power of Attorney, finances
• accounts
4. Medical
• Power of Attorney, Power of Health Care
• health care notes
• insurance
5. Final Disposition
6. Beneficiaries
7. Insurance
8. Shut it Down
• what to pay, close, cancel

It's important to update your information each year.  I keep a copy at home in my fire-safe box.  My niece has my both Power of Attorneys.  Being young, she preferred her copy to be on a memory stick. 

UWSP is offering an Estate Planning Workshop online on March 2, 2021 .  Find out more about it at: UWSP Estate Planning

And, yes, I do have a touch of OCD.

 

Good-bye to One Who Helped Hold up the Sky

 Link to Pisarski website

On Sunday, February 7, 2021, Leigh Meta Allgaier, loving mother of three and grandmother of two, passed away at 74 years of age.  Leigh was born on October 9, 1946 in Wausau, WI to Jacob and Lucille Zinkevcz.  She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin Madison.  On September 6, 1969, she married Jack Allgaier.  They raised three daughters together, all of whom became college graduates.

On Sunday, February 7, 2021, Leigh Meta Allgaier, loving mother of three and grandmother of two, passed away at 74 years of age.  Leigh was born on October 9, 1946 in Wausau, WI to Jacob and Lucille Zinkevcz.  She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin Madison.  On September 6, 1969, she married Jack Allgaier.  They raised three daughters together, all of whom became college graduates.

Leigh loved to cook and provided meals to volunteers at the Portage County Democratic Party as well as lunches for the local Warming Center.  Leigh loved to travel and explored China, Africa, India, Israel, Morocco, Turkey, and Russia with her traveling companions Pat, Louise, and Debby.  She traveled the United States with her family visiting the Outer Banks, Key West, the Olympic National Park, and Washington, DC.  

She enjoyed antiquing and collecting Hall teapots and Christmas pins.  Her pins were often displayed at the Lincoln Center and the Portage County Public Library during the holiday season.  Leigh was an avid card player and enjoyed playing duplicate bridge and sheepshead the most.  Leigh was a prolific reader and enjoyed her days working at the Portage County Public Library.  While spending winter months in Arizona, she loved getting and using her library cards throughout the Phoenix area. Leigh took special pride in her arrest during a protest against Scott Walker at the state capitol. 

Leigh was a strong person who battled multiple illnesses with strength and determination. A better future is what fueled her, she appreciated casting her last ballot in the Presidential Election, and she was thrilled to see the Biden and Harris inauguration.  The family wishes to thank the nurses, therapists, and doctors at St. Michael’s Hospital who provided superior care.

Leigh was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Jay Allen Zinkevcz (Minnesota).  She is survived by her husband Jack, her three daughters, Meta (Jef Schobert), Millie, and Rose, grandchildren Orion and Sapphire, and sisters-in-law Mary (Ronald) Stroik and Louise Zinkevcz.

Leigh enjoyed nothing more than a good party with friends and family.  Leigh wanted her celebration of life to include food, stories, conversation, and no sorrow.  There will be such a celebration in the future, once this horrid COVID-19 is under control. 

If you wish, please consider a donation in her name to Evergreen Community Initiatives, 1948 Church St, Stevens Point WI 54481 with warming center in the memo or a membership or donation to the Portage County Democratic Party, 2220 Division St, Stevens Point WI 54481 with Allgaier Memorial in the memo.

Pisarski Funeral Homes are honored to be serving the family. For online condolences please visit www.pisarskifuneralhome.com

Apology: more computer challenges

Sorry that it's been so long since the last post.  The new laptop came, and, of course, the connecting cords that were needed to transfer data from the old computer to the new weren't among the thousand in the electronic graveyard bin.  Apple, as always, changed the ports.  Once the needed cords arrived,  the transfer was made.  However, the Microsoft Office software that had been used successfully since 2008 finally gave out.  So now we await delivery of the new Microsoft package.

And the transfer lost the access to this editorial site for our blog.  Luckily, it was still alive on the old computer.   Macs are a high maintenance indulgence.