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.

2017 Nov Newsletter, 2017 Oct Minutes


 STEVENS POINT AREA RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION (SPARTA) 
MEETING AT MOOSE FAMILY CENTER, 1025 SECOND STREET N. 
Monday, November 13, 2017 

SPARTA OFFICERS 
President: Santha Bickford 
Vice president: Open 
Co-Secretary: Dave Blado, Lauren Isberner 
Co-Treasurers: Janet Langton, Arvalea Crawford 
Immediate Past President: Joyce Chekouras 
AGENDA 
Socialization at 11:00 followed by lunch at approximately 11:45. The business meeting will be called to order at approximately 12:15 with the program around 12:30. Business will be continued and concluded following the program. 
BUSINESS MEETING: 
Call to order: Pledge of Allegiance; Introductions of guests and new members. Time of Reflection, especially remembering Mary Ann Powell, and honoring all those who have served and are currently serving our country. A prayer from Roy Menzel addressing the Kiwanis in 1998: “Give us the wisdom to know that there are true heroes in every neighborhood…and miracles of the human spirit all around us…probably in this very room.” 
Drawing for door prize 
Consent Agenda/ Officers’ Reports: Minutes of previous meeting as written on the final page (automatically approved if there are no corrections). 
Program: Never Forgotten Honor Flights from Central Wisconsin by organizer Mike Thompson. 
ONGOING BUSINESS: 
Treasurer’s Report 
1. Committee Updates: (Because members have expressed a desire to shorten the business meeting, we will only hear from those who have something significant to report.) 
Sunshine: Please remember to contact Mary Beth Anday at antonmbanday@charter.net or Sue Fee at ssfee15@charter.net if you know of someone we should remember with a card. 
Social: Eileen Payne suggested that members might be interested in organizing some local opportunities for socialization. Some suggestions are Tuesday night movies, a Christmas cookie exchange, a trip to Marshfield to view the Christmas lights and eat dinner, etc. Please sign up if you are interested-and let us know if you have other suggestions and/or would be willing to help. 
Book Sale Committee: Nancy Kemmeter, Janeen Kwarciany 
Membership: Mary Ann Krems. At the meeting of the Executive Committee on Oct. 31, it was reported that we currently have 70 paid members, five Emeritus members, and three new members, for a total of 78. 
Volunteer Hours Recorder: Remember to pick up your new recording sheet if you haven’t already done so or to download it at WREA.net. Click on “Volunteer Hours” on the blue bar at the left of the page and a printable form will come up. 
2. Continued Exploration of Meeting Sites The November meeting is scheduled for the Moose Family Center at 1025 Second St. N. Reservations need to be called in to Sherrilee Wallerman by Friday, Nov. 10 at noon! The menu is scalloped potatoes, ham, salad bar, rolls, coffee and/or milk, with a cookie and ice cream for dessert. The cost is $11 and members may park by the banquet entrance. Remember to give feedback as we would like to decide on a regular site soon. 
3. November meeting of ad-hoc by-laws revision committee 
Elbert Rackow, Sherrilee Wallerman, Dave Blado, and Joyce Chekouras plan to meet in November to get us on the right path as we move forward. 
4. Report on our Web-site by Jan Langton 
NEW BUSINESS 
1.Education Week 
Education Week is Nov. 13-17 this year. We have purchased treats for the staff at all our schools and you may pick them up at the meeting on the 13th. Sherrilee Wallerman has made cards to be delivered, along with our “Top Ten Reasons” handouts. Many thanks to our members who are representing us as we partner with local schools: 
Bannach Sally Dehlinger Jefferson Mary Zinda 
Kennedy Darlene Hakala Madison Janet Swiston 
McKinley Joyce Chekouras Plover/Whiting Lauren Isberner 
Roosevelt Judith Zimmerman Washington Eileen Payne 
Ben Franklin Barb Clementi PJ Jacobs Carol Van Alstine 
SPASH Sue Reinhardt Alternative High Mary Ann Krems 
Jackson Nancy Kemmeter Almond Santha Bickford 
Amherst Jan Langton Rosholt Jim Krems 
McDill Mary Moore MidState Sherrilee Wallerman 
We also need folks to join our Executive Committee to write and submit letters to our local schools during Education Week. Let’s overwhelm them this year! Dave Blado is our secretary who handles newspaper communication. Contact him if you need help or ideas. 
2. Adjourn 
NEWS AND NOTES 
Once again, an anonymous donor is paying for lunch for all our members who are veterans of the Armed Forces. Last year the donor presented each a gift of the book America’s White Table by Margot Theis Raven. Thanks to our generous donor. 
Treasurer’s Report: November Newsletter 
Expenses: 
WREA Convention 251.40 
Supplies 407.50 
Meals 53.10 
Grants, Stipends, Memorials 2,800.00 
TOTAL $3,512.00 
Income: SPARTA dues: 35 x $12 $420.00 
Book Sale, October 2017 
Expenses: 
Ad 30.00 
Snacks 20.97 
Ink, calculators, etc 62.74 
Petty cash 200.00 
Start-up cash 865.00 
TOTAL $1,178.71 
Gross Income: $7653.96 
Net Income: $6,475.25 
Minutes October 2017 
REGULAR MEETING
On Monday, October 9, 2017 SPARTA met at the Parkridge Family Restaurant with 31 present including three guests: speaker Sandy Williams, past recipient of scholarship Jordan Kaminski, and Lillian Spangenberg’s daughter Sarah Reeve. The door prize was won by Dave Crawford. 
Elbert Rackow suggested that the book sale profits should be reported for each individual sale, but the president pointed out that the form of reporting had not been the issue (It was a question of reporting total annual sales versus individual sales), and that statement was allowed to stand. The spelling of both Arvalea Crawford’s and Sherrilee Wallerman’s names were corrected. Mary Zinda moved and Jerry Kasdorf seconded a motion to accept the September, 2017 minutes as corrected. 
SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT Jordan Kaminski, who is currently a second-semester student in Education at UW/SP, gave a report on her experiences both in class and in the schools with children. We were assured that the profession is in good hands with future educators like Jordan. 
CENTRAL WISCONSIN CHILDREN’S MUSEUM director Sandy Williams presented the history, purpose, and programs of the museum during their 20th anniversary year. She discussed the great working relationship with SPARTA and expressed the hope that it can continue for many years. 
ON GOING BUSINESS: 
TREASURER’S REPORT was presented by treasurer Jan Langton. 
GRANTS COMMITTEE chair Janet Swiston presented the list of grants selected for the fall distribution. She explained the process and the criteria and gave information and deadlines for applying for grants next spring. Elbert Rackow moved to accept the recommendations of the grant committee and Ann Cragg seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 
BOOK SALE COMMITTEE co-chair Nancy Kemmeter passed the floor to Nancy Mezyk who is managing the work schedule for the October sale. Nancy reported that she is very short of help for Saturday, October 21. The committee is recruiting some help from resources in the community. Nancy Kemmeter asked all members to help with publicizing the event. 
HEALTH COMMITTEE chair Jerry Kasdorf reported on prescription take-back events in the county. 
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE chair Mary Ann Krems reported that the committee will be meeting within the next month to develop a strategy for 2018. 
RETIREMENT COMMITTEE chair Judy Zimmerman reported that the retirement seminar was poorly attended, although the presenter was excellent and provided much relevant information. 
SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE chair Mary Ann Krems reminded members that scholarship applications for next year can be obtained at our website. 
SOCIAL COMMITTEE chair Eileen Payne discussed some ideas gleaned from discussion at the convention about local field trips. Members are invited to contact her with suggestions. 
It was announced that current plans call for next month’s meeting to be held at the Moose Lodge on North Second Street. 
Members are encouraged to continue to support the Supply Closet. Their information will be on display at meetings. 
New recording forms for volunteer hours were distributed. 
Jan Langton continues to up-date our website at www.SPARTANEWSANDNOTES.COM. 
Members are encouraged to use it! 
NEW BUSINESS: 
1. Delegate Eileen Payne gave a brief report on the convention at Elkhart Lake which four of our members attended Oct. 3 and 4. She reminded members that the annual convention will be held at the Holiday Inn in Stevens Point next fall. 
2. President Santha Bickford reminded members that Education Week is coming in November. She asked members who do not wish to continue the schools they sponsored last year to inform her as soon as possible. The Executive Committee decided to purchase candy to be delivered to the schools along with thank you notes and our handouts listing the top ten reasons to join WREA. 
3. Members were reminded that at our November meeting meals for veterans will be furnished by an anonymous donor to thank and honor them for their service. They were also reminded that we would like those who have not already received one a copy of the book America’s White Table. 
Mary Zinda moved that the meeting be adjourned and Janet Swiston seconded. The motion passed unanimously. 
Respectfully submitted, 

Charlene Laurent/ Santha Bickford 

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