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.

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

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!