BCRSP May Newsletter 2016 - TRTA Local Unit Directory
Transcription
BCRSP May Newsletter 2016 - TRTA Local Unit Directory
LETS “JAZZ IT UP” THIS YEAR IN BCRSP! BCRSP NEWSLETTER MAY 25, 2016 – VOLUME 9 Brazos County Retired School Personnel May 25, 2016 Newsletter Meeting Agenda Gathering: •Pay for lunch and sign in •Procure door prize ticket •Perhaps donate to scholarship jar or book basket (money or books) •Put on name tag/ socialize/find table Luncheon: ⇒Stand for Invocation / Pledges Effie Perry / Shirley Burkhalter ⇒Serving begins at 11:30 Meeting format: o Treasurer’s Report / Minutes Diana DeFrancesco / Elaine Peninger Unfinished Business: Membership Dues—2016-2017 Patsy Bolch * Program Suggestions – 2016-2017 Sheila Fields * Legislative Update – James Warner PROGRAM: * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS! CSISD: Leah Lewis College Station High School BISD: Austin Miller Rudder High School ENTERTAINMENT: * New Business: Ø District VI Spring Leadership Training - Carolyn Taylor Ø Unit/Individual Awards - Carolyn Taylor Ø Nominating Committee Report – James Warner Ø Yearbook Ads – Carolyn Taylor Membership appreciation: Birthdays – Mary Sue Ribardo In the Spotlight – Mary Sue Ribardo Pats on the Back – Carolyn Taylor Recognition of New Members - Patsy Bolch Door Prizes – Cathy Berry Chuckle of the Day – Linda Coats RECOGNITION OF SPECIAL GUESTS Dr. Thomas Wallis, BISD Superintendent Dr. Clark Ealy, CSISD Superintendent Sandra Davis, BISD Education Foundation Director Teresa Bendon, CSISD Education Foundation Director ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ NEXT MEETING! WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 FRANCES MALONEY Frances was born on August 16 in Houston and after she was 6 weeks old she and her family moved to Snook where she was raised. She was the first of her family to graduate from high school and a university. She graduated from Texas A&M in 1981 with a B.S. and received her Masters in 1986 in Early Childhood Education. Her first 7 years of teaching were in Somerville ISD in Kindergarten. She retired from Bryan ISD as a Kindergarten teacher. She has 2 children, a daughter and a son. Each is married and has 3 children, so Frances has 6 grandbabies! Her hobbies include vegetable patio gardening and traveling with her hubby. Their last trip abroad was to London, Paris and Bruje, Belgium. Frances enjoys everything about BCRSP, including meeting new people, running across colleagues, catching up with friends and the camaraderie. Welcome to BCRSP, Frances! PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE: As the year comes to a close before we take a break for the summer, I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve as your president this year. We have had a great year! I look forward to completing my term next year and have already started thinking of ways to make it even better than this year! Your Executive Committee will be meeting in June and August to make plans for the coming year. We encourage and welcome your ideas and suggestions. This is YOUR organization and we exist solely to serve YOU! You can help us by renewing your membership, recruiting new members, recruiting state-only members to join BCRSP and helping us regain those members who have dropped out. There are many other ways you can help as well. If you are interested in becoming more involved as an officer or serving on a committee, please let me know. I hope you all have a wonderful summer! WELCOME TO OUR DISTINGUISHED GUESTS: We always look forward to honoring our scholarship recipients in May and welcome them and their parents. We are honored to have the superintendents of Bryan ISD and College Station ISD, Dr. Tommy Wallis and Dr. Clark Ealy. We would also like to welcome the directors of the educational foundations from each district, Teresa Bendon from College Station ISD and Sandra Davis from Bryan ISD, who are instrumental in helping us identify the scholarship recipients. PATS ON THE BACK: Each month this year we have been recognizing individuals who have made contributions to BCRSP with pats on the back. This month our pats on the back will go to all members who have had perfect attendance this year. Thanks for your support and dedication to BCRSP! MEMBERSHIP DRIVE FOR 2016-2017: Patsy Bolch, 1st Vice-President for Membership reminds us that the membership drive for next year is well underway. Early payment of dues has many advantages. You have more time to enjoy the benefits of membership, you receive your membership card earlier, you get your name in the yearbook, etc. We will be having a drawing at the end of this meeting from those who have renewed their membership for next year. The prize is a beautiful gift basket from Aggieland Outfitters valued at $170. Dues are $50 ($35 for TRTA and $15 for BCRSP). We also hope you will include a contribution to the scholarship fund with your dues. Please consider Diamond Plus Membership. With your authorization TRTA will deduct your dues monthly ($2.92) and indefinitely until you decide to withdraw that authorization. You will then only need to worry about paying local dues each year. It is convenient and reduces paperwork for everyone, thus saving money! You receive a permanent membership card. Please see Patsy if you would like to join as a Diamond Plus member. Lastly, we hope you will help us recruit members. We have a critical legislative agenda to advance in the next legislative session, beginning in January, 2017 and we need all retirees enrolled as members! Numbers speak to legislators!!! YEARBOOK AD SALES: We are going to be selling ads for the yearbook this summer to help cover the cost of printing them. If you know a business that would like to advertise in our yearbook, please see me for a form to use. Prices will be: Whole Page $100, Half Page - $50, One-Fourth Page - $25. BUSY SUMMER AHEAD FOR BCRSP: The BCRSP Executive Committee will hold its summer planning meeting on June 15. Programs for 2016-2017 will be considered, a budget will be developed and committee reports will be given. The Executive Committee will also meet at the Brazos Center on August 10 to participate in the annual Brazos Valley Food Bank Feast of Caring, which is one of the projects of BCRSP. We will meet again on September 14 to assemble the yearbooks, prepare a mail out and finalize plans for the first meeting on September 28. As you can see, we will be very busy! REPORT ON DISTRICT VI SPRING LEADERSHIP TRAINING: BCRSP was well represented at the District VI Spring Leadership Training in Huntsville on May 12 at the Region VI Education Service Center. Those in attendance were: Patsy Bolch, Diana DeFrancesco, Sheila Fields, James Warner, Linda Warner, Dale Schafer, Sharon Ogden, Mildred Davis, Vera Wallem and Carolyn Taylor. Officers and Committee Chairpersons received training in their respective positions. President Jamie Larson and TRTA Secretary, Leroy DeHaven addressed the group and new officers for the next biennium for District VI were installed. BCRSP received 5 awards! It was a very productive day, with opportunities to network with others in District VI and share ideas. TRTA Spring Convention, 2016 CONGRATULATIONS! Dr. James Warner has been named the new District VI Legislative Chairperson for the next biennium. With his knowledge, expertise, experience and passion for legislative matters, we are in good hands! Congratulations, James! LEGISLATIVE REPORT A. “The recent decision by the Texas Supreme Court (finding Texas’ method of funding public education to be constitutional) was a blow to public education and it demonstrates the absolute need to elect legislators who care about educators, public education and retired school employees.” Tim Lee, Executive Director, TRTA This decision and the attitude displayed toward it by top state political leaders indicates that very little additional state funding and now new means of revenue growth are likely to be forthcoming in Texas. This probably means that hope for a COLA for those retiring after 2004 or an increase of any kind for retirees is in vain. B. An even more immediate concern is an announcement on May 13 by TRS Executive Director Brian Guthrie. The TRS Board of Trustees was told that increasing financial pressure many force the Board to take some actions as early as next month to help forestall an impending deficit situation. Possible options to be considered by the Board include: • Premium or out-of-pocket increases; • Limiting network access; and • Enhanced network management. Each member is urged to go to the TRTA website and carefully review Tim Lee’s The Inside Line article of Friday, May 13 for a more extensive view of this matter. Members will be e-mailed a copy of the article prior to our May 25th meeting. We have passed the point where we can assume that we will be taken care of; that someone else will write our letters or make our phone calls; that elected officials will automatically know and act in our best interests. We need more members and voices, and we need them yesterday. James Warner BCRSP Legislative Chairman BIRTHDAYS: MAY 04 – SUE ASHBURN 10 – CHARLOTTE PROUDFOOT 11 – LINDA ASBERRY 14 – NANCY WHITLOCK 15 – BILLYE PRATT 18 – MARGARET GODFREY 19 – VIRGINIA TURNER 22 – ELIZABETH WHITLEY 26 – MARY ANN GAYLORD 28 – PAT GUNTER 29 – BEVERLY CATALINA 31 – SANDY SHERROD JUNE 02 – MARIA CATALENA 03 – PERRY BELL 05 – BETTY NEVILLE 06 – NAOMI ALMANY 08 – RICHARD STOUT 10 – VERA WALLEM 13 – MARTHA SEATE 18 – JUNE SCOTT 20 – SHIRLEY BURKHALTER SANDY LITZENBERG 21 – SANDRA PETTY 27 – ANNE FOSTER 28 – HIAWATHA GODINE JULY 01 – JEANETTE JAMES 04 – JOANN WIMBISH 05 – SANDRA BASS 07 – DOUG KOEBERNICK 11 – CAROLYN KELLAM 12 – CHARLOTTE STOUT 14 – CAROLYN MCDANIEL JOYCE MEADS 16 – ALBERT CAMPBELL 18 – DORIS RUFFINO 20 – JOAN MOORE 21 – BOBBY LEBOW 22 – ZANDY PUSTAY 23 – DIXIE TRACY 24 – TOMMIE BOOKER BECKY HALL 25 – BETTY ALTIMORE SUE ANDERSON NANDINE EATON 26 – SAM ENLOE DIXIE WOODELL 27 – CYNTHIA BOYER BECKY COKER 31 – PEGGY CRITTENDEN LINDA PARRISH AUGUST 07 – KAREE GRIFFITH 09 – PEGGY HENSON GRACE KIEFFER 10 – JANE LEBLEU 12 – BETTY GREENING 15 – GEORGE MCBEE 16 – FRANCES MALONEY 17 – ANN TREAT LIBBY VASTANO 18 – CONNIE LIPSEY 19 – JOYCE CAWLEY THOMYE STEEN 20 – LILA CASHION 21 – SANDRA WILLIAMS 23 – LINDA FISHER JUDY HARBER DANNY STRIBLING 26 – SANDRA DAVIS 28 – CARLA PLACE 29 – BERT BAKER BRENDA OWENS 30 – MARY RODRIGUEZ VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: The Office of Communications in Bryan ISD hosts several events throughout the year and many times need help. They need greeters for the End of Year Awards at Central Baptist Church, hostesses for a reception, help making end of the year goodie bags and New Teacher Welcome Bags (this is the greatest need), Please call Sabrina Fronterhouse at (979) 209-1020 or email her at [email protected] if you are interested in this volunteer opportunity. THANK YOU NOTE: We received a thank you note from Leah Lewis, one of our scholarship recipients. Leah writes, “I just wanted to let you know how thankful I am for the scholarship you have provided. I am so excited to pursue a career as an elementary school teacher and truly appreciate your generosity towards my college! It truly is a tremendous blessing to my family and me! Thank you! Leah and her parents at the May 25th award ceremony! Informative and Protective Services “Protect You and Your Family” Regional, State, and Federal Agencies Texas Consumer Protection Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) Department of Assistive and Rehabilitativ e Services (DARS) Texas Roadway Conditions and Information National Weather Service FEMA Disaster Assistance National Flood Insurance Program Report Suspicious Activity CenterPoint Energy Entergy 800.621.0508 texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer 512.438.3011 www.dad.state.tx.us 800.628.5115 866.581.9328 (TTY) www.dars.state.tx.us 800.452.9292 txdot.gov/travel@txdot or @txdothoustonpio or facebook.com/txdot 281.337.5074 weather.gov/Houston@nwshouston or facebook.com/us.nationalweatherservice.houstongalveston.g ov 800.621.FEMA (3362) diasterassistance.gov@ fema or facebook.com/fema 888.379.9531 floodsmart.gov Emergency 911 NonEmergency: 855.i.Watch.4 (855.492.8224) Electric: 800.332.7143 Gas: 800.752.8036 800.9.OUTAG E (800.968.8243) iwatchhouston.org centerpointenergy.com/outagetracker@CNPAlerts or facebook.com/centerpointenergy www.etrviewoutage.com/external/tx.aspx or facebook.com/EntergyTX Health Care Committee Report BRAZOS COUNTY RETIRED SCHOOL PERSONNELL Minutes: April 27, 2016 Call to order/Remarks: • The regular March meeting was called to order by President Carolyn Taylor at 11:30 A.M. at the Hilton Garden Inn, 3081 University Drive, College Station 77802. The Secretary was present. • Pledges to the United States and Texas flags: Shirley Burkhalter • Serving began at 11:30 • Attendance: 70 Program: • Entertainment: Take Me Out To The Ballgame • Mark Johnson – “How to Hit Homeruns In Retirement” Memorial Ceremony honoring our deceased members Meeting: New Business: • Report on State Convention: Carolyn Taylor • Treasurer’s Report and Minutes: Diana DeFrancesco and Elaine Peninger • Membership Update – Patsy Bolch 53 • Our Unit was recognized for the most new members from “Each one Bring one” • Legislature: Carolyn Taylor • Scholarship Activities: Linda Coats • District VI Spring Leadership Training Conference, May 12, Hunstville, Region VI Education Service Center • Program Suggestions for 2016-2017 Unfinished Business: • 2016-2017 Membership drive begins Membership Appreciation: Mary Sue Ribardo • Birthdays • In the Spotlight: Frances Maloney Pats-on-the-Back – Carolyn Taylor • Vera Wallem • Becky Coker • Ann Seale Chuckle of the Day: Linda Coats Door Prizes: Cathy Berry Adjourned: 1:30 Elaine Peninger, Secretary TRTA District 6 Spring Conference Take Me Out To The Ballgame! April 27, 2016