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.

Thursday, December 29, 2022

T-Shirt Wisdom

I found a column from Justin Isherwood published on February 12, 2021.  He expressed the opinion that we cull pearls of wisdom from the Bible, Shakespeare, and Twain, but modern "scripture" is best summarized by T-shirt slogans.  So, here's a few to start out this series:

  • If you can't fix it with duct tape, you're not using enough.
  • Measure twice, cut once.
  • Fight Truth Decay.
  • The good thing about Science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it.


January Newsletter

 












































Monday, October 24, 2022

Sunday, July 17, 2022

It's a Book Sale!

Fellow SPARTA members,

In our July newsletter, you were informed that SPARTA will not be moving into the INCLUSA building for book storage and sales. This is a huge disappointment, but we need to move on. 

Because we have more than 200 boxes of books in our storage unit and more than 200 boxes stored by SPARTA and community members, we need to have a sale. We can’t find anything permanent at this time, but are very happy to announce that the Stevens Point Holiday Inn and Convention Center will rent us two rooms in the convention center for a sale. The Holiday Inn staff has been very helpful, and it meets the requirements of parking, tables, carts and a safe, clean space for a community sale.

SPARTA Book Sale Information:

Holiday Inn and Convention Center

1001 Amber Ave. Stevens Point, Wis.

           Wednesday, Aug. 10, noon – 7 p.m.;

           Thursday, Aug. 11, 9 a.m. – 7 pm.;

           Friday, Aug. 12, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.; and

           Saturday, Aug. 13, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Pre-Sale Activities

Monday, Aug. 8, move boxes from the storage unit and get boxes of books in place.  

Tuesday, Aug. 9, SPARTA and community members who have been storing books for us can bring their boxes between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. unless special arrangements are made. If necessary, call me at 715-344-2598.  This is NOT a request to drop off books,  It is only for the members and friends who have been graciously storing our books.

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE THIS A SUCCESSFUL SALE. 

Nancy Mezyk will send out a sign-up sheet for moving the books out of storage, working set up, shifts during the sale, and take down on Saturday afternoon.

Posters – I have blue posters left to distribute for the Eastside, Southside and part of Downtown Stevens Point. Please contact me if you can help so we can get these out as soon as possible.

I am attaching a copy of the Book Sale poster that you can email to groups of friends and family or share with friends on Facebook. I will post in events on Facebook.

We need paper bags for the sale. Call me if you can donate paper bags so we can make arrangements for drop off.

Community members have been waiting for a SPARTA book sale, so let’s work together to make it a fun event!

Nancy Kemmeter and Janeen Kwarciany



Monday, July 4, 2022

Two Takes on the Fourth of July

From Frederic Douglas, 

‘What To The Slave Is The Fourth Of July?

 Frederic Douglas


From the Ukranian Air Force, our national anthem

Ukranian Air Force



Monday, June 20, 2022

Saturday, June 11, 2022

Why the Committee Report Worked

I wrote a rambling reaction to the riveting Thursday night drama.  I'll spare you that, as this article does a much better job of explaining what the Committee got right. Why the Hearing Worked 


And Liz Cheney?  Wow.  Turns out she's a statesman.   I didn't think that there were any left.  She's obviously sacrificed her political career in order to do the right thing; honor her commitment to her oath, to protect and defend the Constitution.


Sunday, May 22, 2022

Solar Power


 Hi all: The attached photo was on the front page of Friday's Stevens Point Journal.  They were doing an article on the proposed solar field proposed for southern Portage Country so used a picture of our solar panels.  Note that they did not list us by name: Portage County Democratic Party, but they did list at least us by address: 2220 Division St.  I think this is a great opportunity to thank you all for purchasing the building and the solar system.  We should be proud. Thanks. Jack


Monday, May 9, 2022

2022 May Newsletter








 

How to Use WREA's Website

 This document is also found in the sidebar under "News and Notes."  We will also send it out attached to the next newsletter, and it will be included in the directory in January.



Monday, March 14, 2022

Volunteer Hours

Many of you asked for this form at the meeting today.  I've put it in the right sidebar under News and Notes.  It's the third page down.





Sunday, March 13, 2022

Accurate and Informative Websites

 We've asked Joyce C. to compile a list of websites that can be trusted.  It's copied below and is also in the "News and Notes" section of the right sidebar.


                      WEBSITES PROVEN TO BE ACCURATE & INFORMATIVE

                                                      March 2022

 

1.  wrea.net  - SPARTA’S state website

 

2.  spartanewsandnotes.com - Our chapter’s website

 

3.  wsaa.org - Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance (WREA’s partner lobbyist site assesses

daily legislation and how he/we respond) 

 

4.  thewheelerreport.com – covers Wisconsin Legislation including schedules

 

5.  wispolitics.com – covers current political activities

 

6.  wisconsinexaminer.com  - 501c3 nonprofit - covers current political updates and concerns

 

7.  captimes.com – current news from Madison

 

8.  prwatch.org – Center for Media and Democracy’s website addressing national political concerns

 

9.  presswatchers.org – addresses correctness of information

 

10.  heathercoxrichardson.substack.com – Daily newsletter about the history behind daily politics

 

11.  dianeravitch.net – Ravitch, former U.S. Assistant Director of Education, discusses current events and their relevance to education for all in her articles.

 

12.  robertreich.org – former U.S. Secretary of Labor discusses relevance of daily events in his articles.

 

13.  robertreich.substack.com – former Secretary of Labor explains current economic issues in his  daily letter. 

 

14.  dcreport.org – David Cay Johnston authors articles regarding current events and addresses his 40+ years of experience with the former president.

 

15.  wallstreetonparade.com – Excellent in depth information and citizen’s guide to wall street and its effect on current events.

 

16.  Sheldon Whitehouse “The Scheme” – Senator from Rhode Island has videotaped over 50 presentations in the U.S. Senate regarding the history of “dark money” and it’s connection to the U.S. Supreme Court and elected officials - referencing extensive research done by the Center for Media and Democracy.  Most presentations are about 20 to 30 minutes. Google the title to access the tapes.

Helping Others

 


Sunday, February 27, 2022

A March Madness Meeting!

Yes, it's finally happened!  We just might be back to something resembling normal, with a for-real, in-person meeting on March 14 at the Park Ridge Family Restaurant (the old Blue-Top).  The newsletter is in your email or can be found under "Pages" in the right hand column.  I figured out how to circumvent the Adobe translation charge and get a copy onto this website.  Now the trick is remembering how I did it for next time.





Saturday, February 5, 2022

Minnesota Does it Right

From the Minnesota DOT:

Here are the 8 winners of MnDOT's 'Name a Snowplow' contest

Betty Whiteout made it, obviously.


The results are in and Minnesota has eight newly named snowplows.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation announced the results of its second annual "Name a Snowplow" contest, which attracted hundreds of pun-tastic submissions.

Here are the winners, and the districts in which they'll be operating:

  • Betty Whiteout – District 8 (SW Minnesota)
  • Ctrl Salt Delete – District 7 (SW Minnesota)
  • The Big Leplowski – District 4 (West-Central Minnesota)
  • Plowasaurus Rex – Metro District 
  • Scoop Dogg – District 3 (Central Minnesota)
  • Blizzard of Oz – District 2 (NW Minnesota)
  • No More Mr. Ice Guy – District 1 (NE Minnesota)
  • Edward Blizzardhands – District 6 (SE Minnesota)

Betty Whiteout was comfortably the most popular choice, with more than 40,000 votes cast for the name.





Friday, February 4, 2022

Scam Alert

 From the WREA newsletter:


How Do I Protect Myself from the Scam Artists?

There are different ways in which a scam artist will try to engage you. 

  • One is by sending an email asking for help for a cause. 
  • They may even use a name that you are familiar with. 
  • Look at the email address. Is it one that you recognize? Does it match the name and organization of the sender?

If you got a phishing email or text message, report it. The information you give can help fight the scammers.

  1. If you got a phishing email, forward it to the Anti-Phishing Working Group at reportphishing@apwg.org.
  2. Report the phishing attack to the FTC website at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
  3. Sign up for biweekly Watchdog Alerts from AARP's Fraud Watch Network. Click here to sign up.
  4. Report a Scam to the AARP Fraud Watch Network.

Read more in the Spring edition of the WREA News, coming to your mailbox soon.

 

Wednesday, January 12, 2022

A Movie Review!

Our SPARTA president has no time for TV viewing or sitting down in general, so it was somewhat shocking that she mentioned seeing this Netflix movie and suggesting that movie reviews during this LOOOONG covid time might be a good idea.

The movie she saw was "Don't Look Up."  In short, it's a satire/spoof/comedy/tragedy about scientists discovering a comet about to hit the Earth, and their attempts to warn authorities.  Many see it as an allegory about climate change, still others see it as a metaphor about covid.  Whatever the topic, it's a thinly disguised, very liberal interpretation of current affairs.

I enjoyed basking in a viewpoint that shared my own villains.  The movie was funny. but too close to the truth.  Throughout the movie, little snippets are shown of the other beings that share this planet: polar bears, bees, forests.  These are extremely touching and remind us of the real tragedy that we're about to face.  The final lines delivered around a family dining table might be our epitaph:  "We really did have everything, didn't we?"


But sit through the end credits.  Revenge is sweet, even 22,740 years later.

A better review can be found at DailyKos: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/1/11/2074128/--Don-t-look-up-Its-creators-say-it-s-a-satire-To-me-it-was-too-real-to-be-a-satire

(You'll have to copy and paste the link.  Their warnings about linking scare me a little.)

To be fair, there are loads of reviews panning this film.  Rotten Tomatoes scored it at 54%, audience scoring 78%.  Roger Ebert disliked it, even Huffington Post deemed it too heavy-handed. 

Satire is dead.  Real life is now beyond satire. 


Tuesday, January 11, 2022

Newsletter, January 1, 2022

 Go to "pages" on the sidebar and click on 2022 January newsletter.  No graphics are included, since transferring a pdf or word document to this platform is a trick that hasn't been mastered yet.



Monday, January 10, 2022

The Center for Media and Democracy

If you are looking for news of the hidden workings behind the headlines, check out the Center for Media and Democracy.  Many thanks to Joyce for passing along these articles:

About war against Science in the war against covid:

 https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2021/12/22/how-the-koch-network-hijacked-the-war-on-covid/

The war against public education:

https://dianeravitch.net/2022/01/03/who-demoralized-the-nations-teachers-readers-respond/

These folks are out of Madison and give a different perspective.