July 2014 Bulletin

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Volume 39—Number 1
July 2014
Welcome to the New FREA Bulletin.
The format may be larger, and in full color, but the production of this Bulletin actually saves FREA money. Want to know
what is going on around the FREA? Read on! Want to know what we are doing to protect your FRS Pension? Read on!
Want to know...oh, heck. Please just read on and thanks for joining us as we head
Together Towards Tomorrow!
Help us Help You. What? FREA, like many organizations, is
dealing with the conundrum of how to move into the future while
still honoring the traditions of our past. In case you missed it, or
just wish you had, there is a whole different world out there these
days. And while FREA understands the resistance to change that is
ingrained in most of us, change for the better can be exciting, and
we hope that you will join us as we work together to move FREA
into the future.
What can you do? This issue of the FREA Bulletin is not only a
new larger format and in full color, it is also new in tone as we look
toward building the FREA of tomorrow.
Members-at-Large: Units are important to FREA and a strong
and healthy unit is an amazing source of support, camaraderie and
fun and if you can join one, you would be welcome. But what if
you live in an area that does not have a unit, or the meetings are
not convenient times for you, or too far away, or you just do not
have the energy?
We understand. We recognize that the
generation of educators and school personnel retiring these days
FREA President Cathy McCartney
are retiring into a very different world than existed even 20 years
ready
to, with your help, move FREA
ago.
into the future.
The Sandwich Generation—Are you one of them? These are
people who have children and parents who need care. These
people may be stretched to the limit not only financially, but in free time and energy. We here at FREA recognize that. But imagine
your life, or the lives of present and future educators and school personnel without an FRS pension? This is why we need your help in
building an FREA strong enough to benefit all retired educators and school personnel in the State of Florida now, and in the future.
Why do we need to be strong? It is no secret that government pensions around the country are either in trouble or bankrupt.
The Florida Retirement System (FRS) is one of the strongest and best run retirement systems in the country. Let’s repeat that: The
Florida Retirement System is one of the strongest and best run retirement systems in the country. However, for the last 2 years
FREA and other state of Florida employees and retirees have been fighting battles against those who want to change and weaken the
FRS. FREA members have written letters, made phone calls, and sent emails to their local legislators. We have so far been heard
and listened to. And we have won. The FRS remains unchanged, for now. But unless we want to fight this battle every year, we
need to get the information and knowledge out to the general public that:
IF IT ISN”T BROKEN - WHY FIX IT? The public sees the horror stories out of California and other states regarding bankrupt and
under-funded pension funds, and they wonder if that could happen here. Our job is to let them know that FRS is strong, well-funded,
and critical to the economic health of Florida. The FRS is not a drain on Florida Taxpayers; FRS is a massive contributor to the
Florida economy. The page 2 article details how beneficial a strong FRS is to the Florida economy. We need to spread the word!
Our strength is in numbers. FREA’s voice needs to be strong in order to protect the future of the Florida Retirement System. We
ask you to continue to support the FREA with not only your dues, but also by inviting one other person to join us in growing into a
voice to be reckoned with. Friends and family can be FREA Associate members for only $35.00 a year. Tallahassee needs to
understand that we are a strong voice, and growing. And while we do embrace change for the good, in this case, change is not good.
They need to leave the FRS alone. (continued on page 3)
2
FREA Legislative Team ~ Your Pension Watchdog
Co-Chairs: Larry Carmichael and Linda Edson
At the 2015 FREA State Convention, one of our guest speakers was Ash Williams. Mr. Williams is the
Executive Director of the Florida Retirement System (FRS). It is his responsibility to invest all of our
pension money. We are blessed to have such a competent man in this position. Ash came with a power
point presentation, hard copies for all attendees and many stories that entertained all of us. He is
always a highlight of our convention. The PowerPoint Presentation is available for reading or
downloading on the FREA website: www.FREA.org
Some FRS facts that Ash shared with us:
FRS has an active membership of approximately 620,000 employees
Members of the Florida school system make up almost half of the FRS employees
The market value of the pension plan was $132.4 Billion last June, this June it is around $147 Billion
Approximately $2 out of every $3 of today's Pension Plan benefit payments is funded by investment gains not from taxpayers
Historically FRS returns are higher than their bench mark
 As of July 1, 2013 FRS was 85.9% funded. A healthy plan is one that is at least 80% funded. The number will probably go up in July
 The State Board of Administration (SBA) makes periodic adjustments to its asset allocation to ensure for the long-term health of
the pension system.
FRS Pension Plan is one of the lowest in operating costs
FRS is the 5th largest public retirement plan in the US
FRS has more money to invest than half of the countries in the world
We have a strong pension system. Ash said this is because of 3 main factors:
Reasonable benefit package
Responsible Funding
Solid long-term investment performance - this is the SBA's job
Long Term Planning Strengthens the FRS: When someone is in the pension plan, the SBA has their money for the long term. This
enables them to make investments that are long term and offer the best profits. Ash told us stories about several real estate
properties that we are invested in, from NYC to California. SBA is doing their job of investing our money for the best return. It is our
job to alert everyone how the Florida Retirement System is benefitting, not hurting, our state. Imagine what would happen to the
state of Florida if their seniors were not financially independent? As seniors we have a large impact on the economy both locally and
state-wide. We all have a responsibility to alert our legislators of the truths about FRS.
FREA’s Legislative Goals: My goal as State Legislative Co-Chair is to keep you informed and let you know the voting record of your
elected officials. From walking the halls in Tallahassee, I can tell you from personal experience that all politicians want to hear from
the people who can vote for them. Just because the Florida Legislature is not in session doesn't mean that your voice shouldn't be
heard.
How Can FREA Members Help? We are retired educators, so let’s educate our legislators and Governor Scott on how healthy the
Florida Retirement System is.
Send them this article, call and read it to them. Need your Legislators’ contact information? Please go to the Legislative page on
the website to find the links to the Florida legislature. If you do not use the internet, please call the FREA office and we will mail you
the materials needed to help you educate your unit and your legislators. The idea is to not keep fighting this fight. Once the Florida
Government understands (do not forget that Governor Scott is a money man and knows how the financial world works) that the FRS is
healthy, not a drain on the taxpayers, a benefit to the economy of Florida, and that you will not stop
fighting for it, they will move on to something that really is a problem that needs fixing.
Our strength is in our numbers: We have over 300,000 retired FRS educators and school
personnel inside the state of Florida. We need to grow the voice of FREA by growing our member
numbers. Anyone can join the FREA and we ask you to help us help you by growing our numbers. For
$35.00 a year, retired educators and school personnel and their friends and families, can help in the
fight to protect the FRS. They listen to us when we are 12,000 strong, imagine the impact if we
were 24,000 strong. Or more?
Call or write or email and tell your Legislator and Governor Scott:
If it isn’t broken, why fix it?
Larry Carmichael and Linda Edson are FREA’s Legislative Co-Chairs. They continue to work tirelessly as your advocate in
Tallahassee, even when the Legislature is not in session.
Please help them in the fight to save the FRS by giving them a stronger voice.
Remember: Our Strength Is In Our Numbers...Renew or Join today!
Larry Carmichael
3
FREA Membership ~ Michael Ferger
Michael Ferger
State Membership
Chairperson
It was my privilege and honor to be asked by our new President, Cathy McCartney, to accept the
position of State Membership Chairperson. I accept the position with a strong dose of optimism,
although throughout the state, most units are struggling with membership, and the overall picture
shows statistically that membership is falling.
At the Symposium in August, all the District Membership Chairpersons are invited to attend. There will be special
meetings where new ideas will be presented and we will hopefully have time to do some brainstorming about a plan of
action to take. They will then return to their respective districts and share this information with everyone at the fall
district workshops.
It is my goal to reverse the trend and see membership in FREA increase throughout the state, and I believe that when
we all work together we can make this happen. I want to suggest a plan called EACH ONE REACH ONE and will ask each
one of our current members to extend a personal invitation to one new retiree and also, remember that friends and family
can join and take advantage of all of our benefits and discounts. If even half of us do this, what a difference it could
make! And if ALL of us do this, just imagine where we could be in the area of Membership at this time next year!
Together Towards Tomorrow—continued from Page 1
How does FREA plan on changing and growing stronger? Change will come incrementally, and with input from you,
the FREA members. The kickoff will be at the 2014 FREA Symposium in Ocala on August 19 - 21. There will be national
speakers, non-stop team-building, and brainstorming and yes, at the direction of FREA President Cathy McCarthy, FUN!
We will be working together to figure out how to build the FREA of the future. Our goal is to involve all FREA members in
this project, whether you belong to a unit or not. The Board members and officers who attend will be supplied with tools
and techniques to help them educate and energize others who share our vision and goals.
As mentioned earlier, we understand that there are areas of the state where units have closed but there are still active
FREA members who wish to support FREA’s goal of preserving the FRS as-is. FREA recognizes that it is up to us to give
Members-at-Large the tools needed to help them, while encouraging the growth of strong and vibrant Units all around the
state of Florida. Our mission is to build the strongest FREA possible by utilizing the talents and skills of all our members.
FREA and FREF’s commitment to future Florida Educators: The Florida Retired Educators Foundation continues to
make a difference in the lives of students who wish to become teachers inside the State of Florida. This year we awarded
13 scholarships to students from all over the state. Over the years, FREF scholarships have helped hundreds of students
get closer to their dream of becoming an educator and making a difference. And while they are not large, these
scholarships provide needed help to worthy and worthwhile students. FREF is strong and healthy and with the ongoing
commitment of the members of FREA, will be helping thousands more in the coming years.
Together Towards Tomorrow: Change is sometimes not easy, but it is always exciting.
And we think that the changes we envision for FREA are truly exciting in a good way. We
hope that we can count on you to help us make these changes, and to help us grow the FREA
by inviting family and friends to become Associate Members. We welcome any suggestions or
ideas that you have to help grow FREA in a way that makes us an organization ready to move
into the future in a powerful and meaningful way. This issue of the FREA Bulletin is the first
step into the future FREA. Please read on and think about how you can
Help us to Help You!
4
Board Of Directors
President/9
President Elect/10
Catherine McCartney
Roger Cuevas
[email protected]
[email protected]
State Director/4
Secretary/
Treasurer/6
FREF Chairman/2
District 1 Director
District 2 Director
District 3 Director
District 4 Director
District 5 Director
District 6 Director
District 7 Director
District 8 Director
District 9 Director
District 10 Director
Carolyn Stephens
TBA
Marie Grein
Beverly Kelley
Melanie Waite
Arlene Oehler
Leanne Karstedt
Alonzo Braddon, Jr.
Bertha Padgett
Jane Lee
Constance Besco
Jean Campbell
Jamie Colborn
Marguerite Falconer
[email protected]
Audit
Benefits
Roger Cuevas
Roger Cuevas
[email protected]
[email protected]
Budget
ByLaws
Convention Coordinator
Historian
Information Services
Legislative Co-Chair
Legislative Co-Chair
Membership
Memorial Services Chairman
Nominating
Parliamentarian
Travel Coordinator
Unit Exhibits
Volunteer Services
Marie Grein
Tom Johnson
TBA
Janet Ford
Carolyn McLaughlin
Larry Carmichael
Linda Edson
Michael Ferger
Helen Shaw
Thelma Mosley
Tom Johnson
Arlene Ziller
Flora Woodfaulk
Jody Scruggs
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Committee Chairs
FREF Continues to Grow
~ Thanks to you!
From
Beverly
Kelley,
Chairman, Florida Retired
Educators Foundation
"What a fantastic convention
celebrating our 60th BIRTHDAY!
What a beautiful site! Thank
you, President Thelma.
More ATTENDEES and more
MONEY raised this year! Many
thanks to all who visited us in
Beverly Kelley
the Country Store; those who
FREF Chair
brought items to sell and to eat;
those who bought Extravaganza
tickets and those who bought Dollars For Scholars
auction tickets. We sold out of the flashing apples
again. (Purchase $20 worth of Dollars for Scholars
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
FREF Trustees
District 1
District 2/Chairman
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 10
Pamela B Schwartz
Beverly Kelley
Laura Hodges
Leila Pratt
Carolynne Fooshee
Helen Shaw
R. David Brown
Sue Orth
Janet Ross
Anne French
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
FREA State Office— [email protected]
Executive Secretary
Barbara Williams
[email protected]
Database Administrator
Libby Brut
[email protected]
Technology/Data Coordinator
Anne Fagan
[email protected]
Have you changed your email address,
mail address, or phone number? Please
send your new contact info to
[email protected] so that we may update
your records.
FLORIDA RETIRED
EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION
Affiliated with NRTA:
AARP’s Educator Community
10051 5th Street North, Suite 108
St. Petersburg, FL 33702-2211
Phone: (727) 577-6400;
www.FREA.org — [email protected]
Out of forms you often use?
Submissions may be sent to:
[email protected]
Changed Your E-mail address?
These are easily accessed by going on the
FREA website and clicking on the FREA
Forms tab in the Menu. www.FREA.org
EDITOR’S NOTE:
The editors have
exercised the privilege of editing Bulletin
material where space was limited or
when similar information was received.
Tickets and receive 30 tickets and a special light-up
pin). We all wore out Flashing apples proudly!
The Trustees thank everyone for their support! As
they say. . . “It takes a village" to be able to support
future Florida educators. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
Your Trustees are hard at work all year raising money
for our Scholarship Program.
Our next big fundraising effort is in October at our
Fall Workshops. Come
support us. Bring your
money. Many thanks
and love to Paul for his
leadership these past
two years. You will be
missed."
FREF Extravaganza Winners
Grand $500.00 Elizabeth MacNeil
South Pinellas
1st
$400.00 Winifred Graham
Broward
2nd
$350.00
Patricia Roberts
Broward
3rd
$150.00
Joan Trentham
Central Brevard
4th
$100.00 Mary Lou Deering
Broward
5
Volunteer in the Spotlight ~Elaine Sites
Escambia REA
Students from Title 1 schools in Escambia County are all smiles as they
hold up some of the over 800 books collected by the EREA in their
Reading is Fundamental
Program.
Elaine Sites, the
driving force behind the success
of the program, is our Volunteer
in the Spotlight this month.
Thanks Elaine, and all who took
part—their smiles tell the story!
Left: This is what it’s all about.
Children who receive the gift of
books and the gift of learning to
read. A million different worlds
are now as close as the next
page they read.
Right: EREA Elaine Sites, RIF
chairperson, at RIF 40th
anniversary celebration.
What Do Over 600 Donated Books Look Like? This!
Florida
Retired
Educators Association
members may have
lost
Margaret
Poppell—Champion of
Literacy—this
year,
but
Margaret’s
Literacy
for
Life
Project is alive and
well. Otis A. Mason
Elementary School of
St.
John’s
County
received over 600
books
donated
by
FREA members from
around the state.
Kim Dixon, Principal of Otis A. Mason Elementary School of St.
In
May,
FREA
Johns County, left, stands with 2012-2014 FREA President Thelma
members came to the
J. Mosley as she receives over 600 books in the name of the
Margaret Poppell Literacy for Life Project.
2014 Convention held
at the Renaissance
World Golf Resort in St. Augustine loaded down with their book donations. FREA
members enlisted hotel bellmen to help as they pushed carts of books, carried bags
of books, and stacked book after book. Each book was counted and credited to their
local REA. Then a personalized custom designed bookplate was placed inside its
cover by Project Chair Pat Sims of Duval County REA, and her committee. The books
were then all placed into boxes, stacked onto carts and hidden behind the curtain in
the Grand Ballroom at the Renaissance.
During the final FREA General Session, when the books from behind the
curtains were revealed to a standing ovation, Kim Dixon, Principal of Otis Mason
Elementary was overwhelmed. Fortunately, she had arrived at the hotel in a vehicle
large enough to accommodate the boxes filled with books for her school. FREA
members should be proud of their generosity and their help in ensuring that literacy
lives on in Margaret Poppell’s name.
This book was donated at
the 2014 FREA Convention
by Members of the
6
District 1 Volunteer of the Year — Rebecca Garvin — Escambia REA
After becoming the primary caregiver for my elderly parents in 2013, I
had to give up many of my out-of-home volunteer "jobs": including secretary
for EREA, yearbook lady for Ransom Middle School, tutoring at two
elementary schoo ls and tutoring English to three Vietnamese Buddhist nuns
at the Temple in Pensacola.
I continue to volunteer with the Guardian ad Litem Program through the
First Circuit Court as an advocate for abused, neglected and abandoned
children. In the past 4 yea rs I have represented 26 children. I visit the
children, find out if they have needs or services that the court can provide,
and report to my case coordinator. I tell my “guardian” children I am their
cheerleader in court.
I also croc het for several causes, as that is something I can do from
home. I made 100 helmet liners for the United States Marine Corps,
( picture at right) that were sent to Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan. I made over 100 hats for the foster
children in Escambia County, 36 for the cancer society. I make lap robes for wheel-chair bound nursing home
patients. At EREA we sell potholders, dishcloths, hats, scarves, glass cozies, with proceeds divided between
the schola rship fund and RIF.
My latest project is crocheting stuffed animals for the foster Rebecca Garvin receives her District
Volunteer of the Year Award from
children. At an EREA meeting we earned $66.00 for RIF using a “Bama”
Thelma Mosley 2012-2014 FREA
elephant. as the prize. I am honored and humbled to be the Volunteer of
President
the Year for District 1. Thank you for this recognition!
FREA Volunteer Services ~ Jody Scruggs, Chair
Many of you know me as “granjo55” from reading my emails. My actual name is Jody
Scruggs and I have been your Volunteer Services (formerly Community Services) Chairman for
the past 4 years. The Volunteer Services Committee is really about you and your
contributions of time and talent to your communities. Without you, I wouldn’t have a job…
and I love my job! It makes me smile to hear of all the wonderful things our FREA members
do for the State of Florida.
Our Volunteer Services Committee Chairmen are all committed to celebrating your
contributions to your communities and providing you the support and recognition that you
deserve. Please use them as the great resource that they are. Don’t know who that is? Give
the FREA Office a call to find out.
You Make a Difference: Each local unit of FREA has a Volunteer Services contact so that
you may report your volunteer hours, and then we total our FREA Volunteer hours for every
year. Then during the next year’s Florida Legislative Session we pass on our total volunteer
hours to the Florida Governor and the Legislature to let them know that we are an active,
vital segment of the population. In 2014 FREA Volunteers reported 424,664 hours, with a
dollar value of $9,576,173.20. Our volunteers Rock!
2013-14 Volunteer Projects Report: This year I listed the many projects reported by
your units in a report that will be shared at the Fall Workshops. It is 8 pages long! You
should all be proud of what you do. As volunteers, you can use this list for ideas and projects
that might be used in your own community. Thank you to all who shared!
Not in a Unit?—We would still love to include your contributions: For FREA members
who do not belong to a local unit, we want to hear from you too. I know that you are out
there, because some of you send me your hours, and yes, I do use them in the total hours
that we present to the state. Keep up the good work and if you are volunteering and are not
reporting your hours as yet, feel free to contact the FREA office to help you make a
connection either to a unit, or directly to me, so that you may receive recognition for your
contributions to the people of Florida. Thank you to you also!
We are making it simple to be involved: We have a new “Tool Kit” along with a poster,
to help your units participate in the 5th Grade Essay Contest. If your unit does not presently
participate, you might check it out and see if this would be the perfect opportunity for you to
get involved.
We have also simplified our Volunteer of the Year Nomination form to encourage more of
you to let us recognize FREA member contributions across the state. The Volunteer Services
Chairman Handbook is also available as a resource.
How do I help you to help me? The FREA website www.FREA.org Volunteer page, or the
Forms page, has everything mentioned here available. Don’t use the internet? Call the FREA
When asked for a picture that showed her
doing something she loved, Jody sent this
picture of herself with her grandchildren along
with the sentence: “I think you can guess
which one is me!”
office and they will be happy to send out
any materials you need.
The FREA office is also available to help
you toot your own horn about your
accomplishments. We are always looking
for pictures and articles about your
community activities to share on the
website, Facebook page and in the
bulletin. Don’t be shy; we know that this
publicity can encourage someone to
become involved.
I hope you have a
wonderful year and do let me
hear from you!
Jody
7
FREA State Director
Hi. I am Carolyn Stephens.
I have been asked by our new FREA President to serve as State Director for the next two years. The duties of
the State Director include working closely with district directors to coordinate their activities as district
directors, to provide assistance to them as they plan their district Leadership Workshops, to correlate
appropriate training programs, and represent the district directors in other FREA activities.
While working with the district directors, I will urge them to coordinate their efforts with those of the district
chairmen in their districts to encourage unit members to recruit new members, to complete all repots, and to
provide informative, engaging programs. As we emphasize our theme of EACH ONE REACH ONE, involvement
and interesting meetings will help us retain those new members and reconnect with those inactive members
on our rolls, thus growing in strength and numbers.
District 2 Volunteer of the Year — Dr. Flossie Byrd — Jefferson REA
Among my volunteer activities, I serve as a volunteer for the Keystone Genealogy Society of
Jefferson County, Florida, assisting African American clients in discovering linkages to their ancestors
and their descendants.
This occurrence is where my volunteer activity positively impacted my life, and that of a hitherto
unknown cousin, not to mention the rest of our families.
I received a call from a person inquiring whether or not I knew anything about, or had ever heard
of, her great grandmother. My response opened avenues to the past that had been hitherto
obscure. Her question was, "Do you know anything about a Maggie Miller Morris?" My response was
"after I tell you that she was my father's aunt, my grandmother's sister, what else would you like to
know?" I have never had such an enthusiastic response from anyone conducting family research. She was
at my home at the end of the week with her family data. When the two of us combined our data, we
now have data on more than 1500 individuals and families. The information-dating from the early
nineteenth to the twenty-first century-continues to grow and is being shared with other family
members. Just to see the sparkle in her eyes and to hear the excitement in her voice makes the
effort worthwhile. And to top it all off, we are "cousins" who might never have met had she not made the inquiry and been referred to me.
District 3 Volunteer of the Year — Flora Woodfaulk
Taylor REA
Special thanks to the members of District 3 for selecting me as the 2014
Volunteer of the Year!
Annually, I coordinate the Taylor County Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Commemorative Celebration. During the week-long activities, I collect
non-perishable items for needy families. The items are arranged in usable
containers and delivered to needy families on the Day of Service. The
families are always very grateful for the food and containers and usually
express their gratitude with hugs, cheers, and most often tears.
After a cheerful chat with family members and discarding the Kleenex
that have been used by both the families and me, I am grateful for helping
to make a difference. I am also touched where I hear and witness
instances in which these families pay the generosity forward and support
others in need.
Flora Woodfaulk receives her District
Volunteer of the Year Award from
Thelma Mosley 2012-2014 FREA
President
District 4 Volunteer of the Year — Carolyn Stephens — Sumter REA
When I first learned that I needed to write a paragraph about my volunteer experiences and include a “human
interest” story, I shuddered and decided I had no stories to share. A friend reminded me that a smile and a kind
word are volunteer acts, and even though they are small acts, they bring joy to the
one who is the recipient. I thought a while longer and realized that I, too, have stories
to share.
In the eleven years since I retired, I have joined organizations where members work
diligently to raise scholarship monies for graduating high school seniors. It is always
heartwarming to watch the excitement in students’ faces when each receives a
scholarship check to help with his/her college expenses. Knowing that the hours I
work at the high school athletic field concession stand or in the retired educators
booth at the Fall Festival help these students get started on their paths to successful
careers keeps me volunteering year after year.
Promoting ideas to recognize teachers and their work with students, like working to
raise scholarship funds for high school seniors, is a volunteer activity I embrace. Because I have always enjoyed baking
cookies and sharing with others, I began baking for the teachers with whom I had worked before my retirement. I have Carolyn Stephens receives
her District Volunteer of the
continued to bake for the Webster Elementary School staff at least three (3) times a year since I retired. Those
Year Award from Thelma
teachers often tell me that getting cookies made just for them makes them feel special and appreciated. Their
Mosley 2012-2014 FREA
appreciation makes me feel special, too. Thank you to District 4 for this honor. Carolyn Stephens
President
8
Do you wonder what the State Historian does?
I was pleased that President, Cathy
McCartney asked me to continue as
State Historian for her tenure.
Why does FREA need a Historian?
As state and/or local members, it
is important that we are aware of
what our colleagues are doing in
their units, and that the FREA, and
its members,
is alive and
functioning and having fun!
How do we do this in a long and
spread out state like Florida?
Technology helps. I am able to
create more interesting collages,
and post articles and pictures to
the FREA Facebook page in a timely manner. I can also
receive articles and pictures by email, fax, and surface mail.
(This is a hint people-please help me fill pages!) Technology
allows me to store all this without being buried in a sea of
paper.
As State Historian I enjoy receiving photographs,
newspaper clippings, and any accolades about unit activities
that can be included either in the State History Book or on
our Facebook page. The History Book travels around the
state (with the help of the Workshop Travelling Team) and is
shared with members at the District Workshop meetings.
If you want to see what happened at this year's state
convention in St. Augustine, go to www.frea.org and click on
“Convention 2014” to view the photographs of all the fun
experienced by attendees.
Highlights include: the 600+ books donated for the
Margaret Poppell Literacy of Life project; the $9 million+
volunteer hours check; wonderful speakers – Betty Burney,
“I AM A STAR Foundation” and Ash Williams, State Board
of Administration; $17000+ FREF raised for scholarships;
and of course, the dinner and dancing! There were also 61
first time convention attendees!
Facebook followers can “friend” Florida Retired
Educators Association for timely pictures and news from
around the state, in addition to job postings and postings
by other REA’s around the state, and the country.
The state Historian tries to keep the team together by
sharing all these activities with all the members through
out Florida. Help me to help you toot your unit’s own
horn by sending me news of your unit’s accomplishments!
Janet Ford—FREA State Historian—Palm Beach REA
District 5 Volunteer of the Year — Sandra Thompson — Duval REA
Volunteering has become a way of life for me as I find it
rewarding and satisfying to know that
I have made a
difference in the lives of youth and senior citizens in the
community. Several years ago, I started to work with a group
of high school students connected with my sorority who we
called the B.R.A.T.S. (Brilliant, Responsible, Alert, Talented
Scholars) Teen Service Group.
As chair of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Education
Committee, I conducted a Summer KAMP for youth at the
Sorority House and the B.R.A.T.S served as mentors, tutors and
assistants for the Kamp. We received National recognition
from the Sorority and was awarded Grants to continue that
work. The B.R.A.T.S. rendered service in many ways: served
as bell ringers for the Salvation Army, baked cookies and Sandra Thompson receives her
District Volunteer of the Year
delivered to Fire Stations, conducted an Annual Food, Books
Award
from Thelma Mosley 2012and Clothing Drive for youth in the Homeless Shelter and hosts
2014
FREA President
an Annual Christmas Dinner for the chapter’s adopted family.
One of the BRATS received the Nestle Outstanding Youth Award and I was honored to escort the BRAT and his mother to California
to receive the award. Our first BRAT to graduate from College (2014) is an Elementary Education Major and is planning to teach in
the state of Florida We are so proud.
I also assist the elderly at my church, in transporting them to Dr. appointments and other activities which are held at the
church. For the past two years, I have carried two veterans to Gainesville for treatments and also grocery shopping and other errands
as needed. One of them passed away last year, and I am continuing to carry on with the other for he has no relatives in the city.
9
Martha Chewnings and
Lucy Banks welcoming
convention attendees at
Registration
Virginia West
getting ready to
open for business
at the Banquet
Left, 2012-14 FREA President Thelma Mosley and Reservation seating
Ed Etheridge, 2006-8 President lead off the
table.
dancing for the Gala Banquet at the Convention.
Lots of fun was had by all at the FREA 60th Anniversary
Sponsor, Ernie Strobel , below, poses
Convention in St. Augustine. Members won prizes,
with
the winners of the prize given out
danced, shopped, donated books, and yes, attended
by his agency.
meetings. Through it all, there were big smiles and
the feeling of togetherness and camaraderie,
epitomized by the shirts Polk II were
sporting at the Convention, below.
District 6 Volunteer of the Year — Henry Shaw — South Pinellas REA
Volunteering for service in my
St. Petersburg community has
been an integral part of my adult
life. As a child growing up in a
small community in Tabor City,
North Carolina, my father Chester
Shaw was my role model for
involvement
in
community
service. I was deeply impressed
with the way he went about
quietly helping neighbors and
friends. This inspired me to do
the same when I became an
adult.
It gives me great pleasure to serve where there is a need Henry Shaw receives his District
Volunteer of the Year Award
because to be of service to mankind is a wonderful way to show your Christian beliefs. Be it
from Thelma Mosley 2012-2014
volunteering at the hospital, working with our aged population through Neighborhood Senior Services,
FREA President
helping to raise money for charitable causes, or serving as head usher at First Presbyterian Church.
To be able to help shape the lives of young men in our community through the Big Brother/Little
Brother organization has reaped many rewards for me. My little brother was being raised by his elderly grandmother. He was having
difficulty in school and in dire need of a big brother male figure in his life. We were paired together and remained together
throughout elementary, middle and high schools. We had fun with tutoring sessions, going on hiking trails, bike riding, trips to the
zoo, lunches out, going to the movies and many other adventures. He is currently enrolled at St. Petersburg College.
To me, being able to help keep even one youth off of the streets and out of jail is a mission accomplished. Being able to
render service where it is needed has helped to enrich my life in more ways than I can count.
10
FREF Chairman ~ Beverly Kelley
It's time for another super year with the FREF Trustees! As your new chair I'm ready to lead the Trustees to
new heights making more money for our state scholarships. I have belonged to FREA since 1999 when I brought in
a new unit as president, the Franklin County REA. Then I was a District Director for four years and for the past six
years I have been a Trustee. Being active in FREA and FREF has been a labor of love.
The Trustees meet this August to begin our efforts for a new year. As Trustees it is our mission to make
monies for our state scholarship program and also monies for Teachers in Financial Crisis. You may not be aware
of this part of our mission but we do help members in times of financial crisis especially during hurricane season.
We have 39 future teachers in the pipeline and in March will vote on 10 -12 New applicants. (Or as many as our Treasurer,
Marie Grein, says we can afford.) We have worked very hard the past six years to make our Scholarship Program pay for itself!! Yeah!!
The Trustees earn money needed for FREF in three major ways throughout every year: 1. During the district workshops the
Trustees plan various fundraisers along with the district director's help. 2. During the yearly Convention we have The Country Store,
the Dollars for Scholars Auction and the Extravaganza 3. Unit donations directly to FREF through the Certificate of Recognition
program where each unit contributes $2-$5 per member as well as monetary donations for members in honor or memorial. Also
member donations of at least $10,000 for a named scholarship. Members may also put FREF in their wills or buy a life insurance policy
with FREF named as beneficiary. REMEMBER the bottom line is: Money in perpetuity for scholarships for Florida's future teachers.
MANY, MANY THANKS for all our FREA MEMBERS who constantly support the FLORIDA RETIRED EDUCATION FOUNDATION.
Left and Right: Members are all smiles as they pick up their
Dollars for Scholars Prizes. Below, DJ Rodney Hurst has the
dance floor jamming with FREA members enjoying the Gala
Celebration.
District 7 Volunteer of the Year — Mildred Owens — Manatee REA
As a classroom volunteer, I Mildred Owens, feel very fortunate to be able to see the impact I have on students. I feel good
because I help students and the students feel good because they are getting helped.
I have been Cheryl James' classroom volunteer for over 20 years. When I volunteer in the
classroom, I want to make a difference to the school community. However, when I volunteer in the
classroom, I am always learning new things that improve my knowledge of what is going on in the
classrooms.
Volunteering also paves the way for personal development. I know
that helping the students in a classroom is a great way to energize
me and have fun. I dedicate my time to connect with the school
community and make friends with adults and children. I enjoy
having a vital role in the classroom such as working one on one with
students, who might need a little help with a certain subject. I read
with students, provide extra practice on math facts, assist with
learning centers, and work with students on special projects in the
classroom. I’ve quizzed them on their spelling word lists, laughed at
their jokes, listened to stories about their families, and celebrated
their achievements.
Mildred Owens receives her
I must say that there are very few things in life that feel better
than being hugged simultaneously by twenty pairs of little arms. I District Volunteer of the Year
Award from Thelma Mosley 2012love and enjoy being a classroom volunteer each year.
2014 FREA President
11
FREA ~ FREF Treasurer ~ Marie Grein
At the present I am serving as FREA Treasurer and FREF
Treasurer. In the past I have served as North Pinellas County
Retired Educators Association President, District Six Director and
FREA President. It is my duty to be sure FREA and FREF money is
spent wisely.
My interests vary. I enjoy traveling and have visited the seven
continents. As a female pilot, I am an active member of the 99s.
The 99s is a group of female pilots formed in 1929 whose first
president was Amelia Earhart. In addition, I quilt and create bears.
I am looking forward to seeing FREA members at the October
Workshops.
District 8 Volunteer of the Year — Ruth Ford — Orange REA
I want to thank the District Eight leaders who selected me for this
high honor. It is especially meaningful when one is so recognized by
one’s colleagues.
The majority of my volunteer time is spent working for my church.
Although I do a variety of tasks from helping decorate the sanctuary to
cleaning up the kitchen, the one that has touched the hearts of many has
been my card ministry. I try to send get well cards to those who are sick
or have had surgery, thinking of you cards to those who are depressed or
out of work, and sympathy cards to those who have suffered the death of
a friend or family member. I have been amazed at the number of people
who share that mine was the only card they received. Snail mail still has
impact, and many people believe those who are in a hurry or don’t really
care, send e-mail or post on social media.
However, the most challenging activity I have undertaken for the past eight years involved
tutoring an attention deficit boy who had great difficulty learning. In addition, Joshua rarely is Ruth Ford receives her District
motivated to do homework, advance preparation, or test prep. I faced an enormous task. Preparing Volunteer of the Year Award from
Thelma Mosley 2012-2014 FREA
him for middle school’s two hour semester exams was a true test of my teaching ability. Between his
President
parents and me, we finally persuaded him that passing his exams with an A or B would be an attainable
goal. Math was Josh’s easiest subject, while it is my most difficult – especially trying to remember Algebra I! So we concentrated on
literature, grammar, social studies, science and Spanish. I spent hours trying to think of different ways to prep him; my most
successful endeavor was to have him play teacher, and ask me questions. He had to know the correct answer, and had fun when I
gave the wrong answer – not always faked! So far, he has reached his goal each semester – one more to go in middle school. Next
year I must study diligently to understand high school subjects. That may well end my tutoring career!
District 9 Volunteer of the Year — Mary McKinney — Indian River REA
I, Mary Bagley McKinney, am the mother of two children: Edwyn Meyka McKinney & Edwin Winfield MaKinney, Jr. I am
the proud grandmother of a beautiful three year old grandson named Edwin Rha’Keam McKinney. I am an active member
in my church, New Bethel AME Church located in Gifford, Florida. Currently, I serve as the Pro-Tem (VP) of the trustee
board. My duties include, but are not limited to, maintaining the look and upkeep of our beautiful church building.
I am a very proud member of Lambdas Beta Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority. I
serve as the Tamias Grammateus within my local chapter. My duties are to assist the
Tamias with the financial duties of the sorority. I am also one of the Amicae sponsors for
my local chapter of Lambda Beta Zeta, assisting with their monthly meetings and
providing my leadership on their yearly projects. I am also the proud area four
coordinator of ZHOPE. (Zeta Helping Other People To Excel).
For over 9 years I have been an active volunteer with the Gifford Youth Activity Center, serving as the secretary
of the Executive Board. I also work with the students who are having reading difficulties. Additionally I fill in when
the receptionist has to be out. I serve as the Treasurer of the
Gifford Progressive Civic League. My duties are to see that the
monthly bills are paid.
Within the Gifford community I volunteer with the following
organizations:
NAACP, Gifford Aquatic Center, Economic
Opportunities Council of IRC, FAMU Alumnae Association, Gifford Mary McKinney receives her
High School Alumnae Association and a member of the Indian District Volunteer of the Year
Award from Thelma Mosley
River Retired Educators Association.
2012-2014 FREA President
12
Presidential Awards 2014
The Presidential Award is one given personally by the FREA President to thank
those members of her team that she would like to give special recognition and
thanks.
Clockwise l to r; Linda Edson, Legislative Co-Chair,
Carolyn
McLaughlin, District 1 Director, Carolyn Stephens, District 4 Director, Dr. Norma
White, Convention Coordinator and Membership Chair all receive their
Presidential Awards from outgoing FREAPresident Thelma Mosley at the 60th
Anniversary FREA Convention. Bertha Padgett, right, also received the award,
and we are sorry, but we have no picture of that moment.
Barbara A. Williams—State Office—Executive Secretary
My long journey and relationship with Florida Retired Educators Association began in 1982 about a year
after I became a widow. My husband Richard died of cancer in 1981, leaving me with my 10 year old son
Stan to raise. Through the AARP/NRTA Widowed Persons Service grief program, I met a lovely woman
named Aileen Chapman that had been a widow for a number of years herself and was part of a group that
was interested in organizing a WPS program in the Pinellas county area. She encouraged me to join with
them in this endeavor and said , “we need some young blood on this committee”. Through that relationship I
found out that Aileen was a retired teacher and was the Treasurer of FREA at the time. When she found
out I was looking for a job, she met with me, Tom Backus and Betty Zentgraf, both past Presidents of FREA.
I was hired on the spot to be the one gal, part time FREA office manager. In the beginning the office was a
very small one room, in the old AARP/Pharmacy building in St. Petersburg. I had a desk, a chair, and an old
Underwood typewriter. First thing, Aileen took me down to an office equipment company and we picked
out an IBM Selectric typewriter. My computer equipment back then was a big old black and white Radio
Shack model with a huge four foot high printer. You understand I am really dating myself. That was 29 Me, my granddaughter Lyndie,
my son Stan at a Tampa Bay
years ago September.
Rays game
That friendship, with that lovely lady by the way, lasted until Aileen died at age 104 in 2012. She was
still here to see me finally have the most fantastic experience of becoming a Grandmother for the first time eight years ago. She knew how
much it meant to me for I had waited so long to become a grandma.
I am so grateful over the years for the many friendships I have made. So many are just like family.
Year after year as I have worked as office administrator and as the Executive secretary, I continue to be amazed and marvel at the
variety of volunteer work our members are involved in. Why just in this Bulletin alone we have Rebecca crocheting helmet liners for the
United States Marine Corps and sending them to Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan. Or the hundreds and hundreds of hats, socks, lap covers and
stuffed animals that many have crocheted or knitted to take to VA hospitals, nursing homes, abuse shelters and for foster children.
I have often said if you are trying to reach our members, they may be retired but they are tireless……you have to call early in the
morning or later in the evening to reach them.
One of the many things that I enjoy is working with our Trustees. When we started the FREF Scholarship program, we set it up to provide
scholarships to high school seniors going into education. I have worked with all the Scholarship recipients during each of their four years as
they work to obtain their degree in education and many go on and get their Masters. I remember very vividly years ago when I attended a
Fall workshop in District five and got to meet one of the students that I had followed for four years through her education. Here she was
speaking in front of our group, in her second year as a teacher. I was so proud of her as I listened to her relay her experiences as a new
teacher. I felt good to know that I had been a tiny part of that journey, and to see her as a well poised, well spoken teacher.
As the years progressed, we added two more to the staff, Libby and Anne. The office has grown to seven rooms, and we rent our own
space. We are up to date with the technology that is available and just this week started accepting credit cards for dues and convention
payments.
“We have come a long way baby” from that one room, one desk office. I am very proud to have been a part of FREA for all these years
and to have met and known so many wonderful and dedicated educators.
Barbara
God bless you all and God bless all those that have gone on before us.
Left to right: Bringing Lyndie home, Me, Julie, Stan; Lyndie and me with Stan’s first pumpkin carving; Julie, Lyndie, Stan and me.
13
Libby Brut—FREA State Office—Database Administrator
Hello All,
Many of you know me as Libby and for the past 26 years I have enjoyed working as part of your
FREA staff. I was born and raised in the Sunshine State in Miami Beach. I graduated from Miami
Beach High School, met my husband of 41 years, Ed while attending Miami Dade College and after
graduation, married and moved to St Petersburg.
We have two wonderful grown sons, Edward, who works at Disney World and has a degree in
animation art, and Christopher, who works as both a professional race photographer and for Best Buy.
This works out well as we love going to Disney, the St. Pete Grand Prix, and can always use a new TV
or appliance at discount!
I enjoy miniature collecting and recently started a new hobby of painting miniature figures after
being inspired by Ed. I also volunteer at the Armed Forces History Museum in Largo, Florida.
I joined FREA in 1988 when Mary Zellner was President and have worked under 12 presidents since.
At FREA, I am the Database Administrator who handles your FREA membership, both state and
local, and keep statistical reports for the FREA membership. Throughout the year I work on the
benefit programs that concern our membership.
The annual convention finds me working with reservations, registration volunteers, keeping the
hotel updated with rooming lists, changes and helping coordinate many of the functions at our
convention.
For the Foundation, I process donations and send out the Thank-you letters. I keep statistical reports of donations, fundraising,
scholarships and update scholarship recipients records in the computer database.
My career here, over the years has allowed me to meet and work with so many great people. It is like a circle of wonderful
friends all over the state, who have always made me feel like an important part of FREA.
Below l to r: A 3”x5” miniature I painted (Gusty); Eddie, Chris, his wife Jenny, me, Ed; Ed and me at the Grand Prix.
District 10 Volunteer of the Year — Carol Roland — Broward REA
"I remember you. You helped me so much last year when you came."
These words greeted me when visiting a small ALF. As a State of Florida Ombudsman, I
conduct assessments at Assisted Living Facilities (ALF's) and investigate resident complaints.
Many residents over 85 having no relatives and extremely limited income are especially
vulnerable to feeling intimidated. They keenly know if they make trouble, the facility can
evict them; something they very much fear. Then where would they live? Thus often
residents only tell me: "Everything is great. The food is good. The staff are helpful."
Two years ago, residents of a small, clean, well-run ALF expressed no concerns. But
speaking to a spry 85 year old, I sensed something was off even though she said, "Everything
is great..." After connecting with this retired schoolteacher, she finally admitted that she
really missed having daily fresh fruit and vegetables. She became extremely nervous when I
discussed filing a complaint until I told her I'd try to solve it unofficially without involving her.
At the post-assessment meeting with the ALF administrator, I mentioned that the food
smelled delicious, but she really should serve more fresh vegetables and fruit. This was such
a minor incident I completely forgot it and the woman–until a year later when I visited the
same facility. A spry 86 year old said, "I remember you. You helped me so much last year when you came." She then reminded me of
what I had done and she was so appreciative of my efforts. Since then, I have helped many residents officially and unofficially resolve
far more serious issues. However this incident stands out because such a small effort on my part inspired such joy to this resident.
Incidents like these are the rewards that make volunteering worthwhile.
14
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Anne M. Fagan—FREA State Office—Technical Data Coordinator
President Cathy asked me, Barbara and Libby to submit a picture and
write a short article on who we are, and what we do here in the FREA State
office in St. Petersburg. Here is my completed assignment.
“Honey,” my Dad told me more times than I can count, “if you have your
health, you have everything you need. The rest is just details.” So...as
Voltaire said in another way:
“I have decided to be happy, because it is good for my health.”
Is it easy to decide to be happy? Heck no. And there are times that I
forget, and wallow in self-pity until I figure out wallowing is not a good
decision and usually really boring. So I count my blessings, do some exercising
to maintain that good health, both mental and physical, and press on. In my
carnival ride of a life, sometimes pressing on has meant landing a homebuilt
airplane, whose engine just quit, in a cornfield, Or it could mean figuring out
how I am going to pay the bills after being laid off after 9/11. Actually, the
9/11 conundrum was easy. I lost friends and co-workers who worked in
Windows on the World at the World Trade Center. My silly little financial
problems were nothing. I was alive and healthy. I pressed on and decided to
be happy while I rebuilt my life, again. At University of Texas at Dallas, I
worked and finally finished my BA after 25 years and 5 different schools,
including Puerto Rico and Mexico. In the next year I studied and worked and
achieved an MA in Communications and Organizational Management.
To read my resume is to read either a very funny story or a very bad novel.
To date I have held down so many different jobs in such a variety of careers, I
would rather not publish the type or number. Someday the second of 2 halffinished books I have written, may be finished and then the details will be out.
I do believe my varied careers, both professional and non-professional,
have conspired to create who I am today; and have given me the skills needed
to do the immense variety of tasks that I do here at FREA. What is a Technical
Data Coordinator - other than a very limiting title?
Then again all titles are limiting, aren’t they? I mean, has anyone ever
seen the job description for the Queen of England? I thought not. However, I
digress. What do I do here at the FREA office?
 Design and maintain the website.
 Answer phones and emails.
 Design all the graphics for all the projects coming out the office to do with
marketing, promotion, membership, business cards, etc.
 Keep track of all the supplies necessary to run the office.
 Answer phones and emails.
 Design, write, coordinate submitted articles and pictures, and edit the
FREA Bulletin 3 times a year.
 Co-write, edit, and send the Office NewsBlast email letter
 Design the brochures, posters, bookplates used for Membership, Benefits,
Contests, etc.
 Create and pack the materials for retirement packages.
 Create some, edit some, and put together all the materials necessary for
Board and Trustee meetings
 Answer phones and emails
 At Convention time in addition to helping design and produce the
materials needed, I am one set of the boots (or high-heels) on the ground
that makes sure that everything runs smoothly, and if there is a problem,
Clockwise: My Dad, Jim Fagan in WW2. and 3 months before he
left us: Laughing, always enjoying life. Me at 19, sailing on my
late November birthday in Muskegon, Michigan. Zip-lining last
year in Kauai with my Mom, Marian Fagan. Center: Gary and me
as few FREA people as possible are affected by it.
 Anything else that needs to be done—that I can do to help.
Why do answering phones and emails keep getting repeated?
Because each phone call or email sent by the FREA Board,
Trustees, Unit Officer, person who saw the website, or one of
thousands of members usually results in a task to be completed.
Those tasks can take anywhere from 1 minute to 1 day, to as
long as a week. So prioritizing tasks is my biggest challenge. I
call it task triage. What started out as Priority 1 in the morning
may end up not getting completed until much later in the day, or
the week.
Does this laundry list of tasks leave anything undone? You
betcha! That is where the other 2 valuable members of the FREA
Office Staff come in. But I will let them tell their own stories.
In the meantime, I continue to be honored to work for FREA.
This organization is filled with amazingly talented and giving
people who truly epitomize the best part of America. You
humble me with all that you do because you care, and work
tirelessly, to leave the world a better place.
And in the end, that is my goal: If I can make someone smile
or feel just a little bit better, or improve their life, for even a
moment, then I am doing God’s work. Thank you.
For 5 years I worked as a Commercial Pilot, flying Part 191 Charters around most of North America in
everything from a Cessna 421 to a Lear-35 to a DC-8. This is me standing atop the wing of 55DW (Dearie), a
DC3, the last commercial plane I flew. In 1985 I lived in Puerto Rico and was hired to fly cargo around the
Caribbean. Sounds like a lot more fun than it was, trust me. I flew cargo from baby chicks (cute, but smelly)
to rum to furniture. In 1986, 55DW met her demise in the Laguna La Torrecillo about 1/4 mile from the end
of the runway at Munoz Marin airport in San Juan. All the prayers and threats in the world did not help Dave
the co-pilot , and me muscle poor Dearie onto the runway. She was too old and tired. So we made a sort-of
graceful water landing, and waited on the wings of the aircraft for the Coast Guard as the seagulls swooped
and dolphins circled. That was the day I decided to quit flying for a living. Over the years there had been two
previous non-planned dead-stick landings, and I figured that 3 was the limit to walk away from safely.
15
In Memory of those who left before us. . .
Don’t be dismayed at goodbyes.
A farewell is necessary before you can meet again.
And meeting again, after moments or lifetime,
is certain for those who are friends.
~Richard Bach
DISTRICT 1
Sara T J Armagost
Knoxville
John E Baldwin
Paxton
Janet B Campbell
Defuniak Springs
Mary S Crain
Panama City
Garnet F Felts
Pensacola
Faye H Glover
Pensacola
Eula Mae L Harrison
Laurel Hill
Joy A Kitching
Graceville
Shirley Larson
Pensacola
Edna Neimeyer
Pensacola
Dodie Sills
Yoakum
Lucy Verlaan
Pensacola
Rochelle Wamble
Pensacola
Gladys P Woofter
Pensacola
DISTRICT 2
Martha Brady
Greensboro
Jean Gander
Apalachicola
Harry K Holt
Quincy
Christine Williams
Port Saint Joe
DISTRICT 4
Timothy J Adams
Gainesville
Ann S Andrews
Oxford
Betty Jane F Bennett Centerville
Earl Brown
Lake City
Minnie Hawthorne
Gainesville
Avis D Jameson
Lake Panasoffkee
Juanita W Jones
Lake City
Ethel P Winn
Crystal River
DISTRICT 5
Dorothy J Alford
Jacksonville
Edwin C Brown
Lake Park
Janice W Brown
Lake Park
Kathryn A Costa
Ormond Beach
Donald L Cross
Jacksonville
James E Everett
Jacksonville
Florence R Partin
Fernandina Beach
Nellyvonne T Russell Jacksonville
Myra A Tippins
Jacksonville
DISTRICT 6
Ida M Bender
Plant City
Dorothye M Davis
Saint Petersburg
Alois S Holub
Tampa
Frank V Kretzmer
Ormond Beach
Vivian J Miner
Odessa
Margaret Nolan
Saint Petersburg
Josef G Parker
Westminster
Bobbie S Reynolds
Cumb Gap
Paul F Woods
Plant City
DISTRICT 7
Glenice A Fablinger
Merritt Island
Eleanora Keen
Arcadia
DISTRICT 8
Dorothy A Dobbs
Mount Dora
Walter E Dzurus Jr
Longwood
Baynor F Elston
Lady Lake
Yvonne E Rice
Umatilla
TN
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
TX
FL
FL
FL
NC
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
MA
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
GA
GA
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
CO
TN
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
DISTRICT 9
Helen M Burney
Fort Pierce
Lillian S Carwithen Saint Augustine
Eleanor B Daniel
Vero Beach
Iva P Godwin
Okeechobee
Esther M Johnson Avon Park
Elsie A Lunceford
Vero Beach
Blanche L Mount
Fort Pierce
Mary Ann Murray
Okeechobee
Mamie D Padrick
Cary
Mona M Parrish
Fort Pierce
Ida L Rolle
Fort Pierce
Muriel M Schmitt
Stuart
Robert A Welsh
Jacksonville
DISTRICT 10
Julian E Ballard
Marietta
Dorothy D Bonner
Riviera Beach
Donald E Dahlberg Jupiter
Violet M Dargan
Sanford
Louise Gott
Fort Lauderdale
Nancy Musselwhite Miami
June G Thomas
Boca Raton
Virginia P Webb
Lake Worth
STATE MEMBERS
Marie S Bell-Alexander Jacksonville
Barbara Bleiweiss
Boynton Beach
Merle Bravick
Newport
John Broome
Fort Lauderdale
Juanita M Bryant
Hollywood
Frederick J Buckelew Pace
Anthony Caccavella
Boca Raton
Catherine M Callahan Jacksonville
Betty R Cook
Johnson City
Lois Cooper
Boca Raton
Helen M Cooter
Greeneville
Mary H R Dagobert
Jacksonville
Malcolm Davis
Boynton Beach
Evelyn Derensis
Margate City
Aileen V Di Nino
North Miami
Kathy Don
Boca Raton
Frances D Dye
Albuquerque
Rose-Marie C Faso
Dade City
Laura M Felder
Live Oak
Ina L Fellner
Delray Beach
Ethel Fieger
Framingham
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
NC
FL
FL
FL
FL
GA
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
AR
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
TN
FL
TN
FL
FL
NJ
FL
FL
NM
FL
FL
FL
MA
Happy trails to you,
until we meet again.
Some trails are happy ones,
Others are blue.
It’s the way you ride the trail that
counts,
Here’s a happy one for you.
~Dale Evans
Kathryn Q Foley
Shirley R Fox
Gilda Gold
Lillian Golomb
Minny M Gunn
Alda P Hogan
Arlene Hyman
Hal P Jackson
Dora M Johnoff
Marjorie Juliber
Albert Klugman
Paulette R Krinsky
Herbert C Krupp
Shirley S Kuhl
Donald Kulberg
Margarita Lahman
Kathryn Lancas
Richard M Levin
Rae Levine
Arthur Magelof
Eileen P Mank
Louis A Masi
Francis M Mc Manus
Stanley Miller
William H Minahan
Glenda H Moores
Seymour Okrend
Amelia J Orth
Catherine D Palmer
Florence C Patrick
Leonard O Payne
Robert W Peavy
Carolyn C Pelot
Evelyn H Pringle
Maryanne S Puglisi
Shirley Redish
Ruby M Rhoda
Renee Rosenbaum
Irving Rubin
Susan B Saitz
Patsy E Scales
Gloria D Schwartz
John A Sleasman
James A Smith
Morton Steinbach
Walter W Strakowski
Robert E Straus
Gladys Stumer
Paul R Swanson
John N Szymanski
Richard C Thompson
Daniel Wainick
Robert L Weaver
Martin Weinstein
Miriam Weinstein
Herbert R Whitehead
Bernard Wiener
Epworth
Palm Beach Gardens
West Palm Beach
Boynton Beach
Highland Beach
Jasper
Boynton Beach
Jacksonville
Winder
Delray Beach
Boynton Beach
Lake Worth
Boynton Beach
Boca Raton
Boynton Beach
Sorrento
Miami Beach
Boynton Beach
Lake Worth
Boca Raton
Hunter
Boca Raton
Tallahassee
Delray Beach
Tampa
Tequesta
Boynton Beach
Ponte Vedra Beach
Live Oak
Fort Lauderdale
Gainesville
Flagler Beach
Hayesville
Chesterfield
Jupiter
Charlestown
Tewksbury
Boca Raton
Penfield
Boynton Beach
Hopewell Junction
Jupiter
Gainesville
Sunrise
Boynton Beach
Hobe Sound
Boynton Beach
Delray Beach
Lake City
Fort Myers
Charlotte
Boynton Beach
Glen Rock
Delray Beach
Delray Beach
Windsor
Snellville
GA
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
GA
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
NY
FL
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FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
NC
VA
FL
RI
MA
FL
NY
FL
NY
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
NC
FL
NJ
FL
FL
SC
GA
16
NON-Profit Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
St. Petersburg, FL
PERMIT NO. 121
www.FREA.org
Florida Retired Educators
Association
10051 5th St. North
St. Petersburg, FL 33702
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Florida Retired Educators Association Membership Application
Already a
 Annual FREA Membership
 Associate Member
$35.00
member of
Associate: Any person interested in the work of the FREA? Please
 New Membership
 Retired Teachers/Administrators
Association may apply for associate membership. An
approved applicant may become an associate member detach this
without the right to vote, hold office, or serve as a delegate
application
 Renewal of Membership
 Retired Support Staff
to the Annual Delegate Convention.
and give it to
Circle One: Miss, Mrs., Mr., Dr., Other
Date:
a friend who
Your Name:
may be
Spouse’s Name
interested in
Telephone
Mailing Address
Apt./Condo/
joining and
(
)
taking
State
Zip
County
City
advantage of
our
Your Date of Birth:
E-mail address:
MEMBERSHIP
BENFITS and
Local FREA Unit (if known)
School District Retired From:
in supporting
FREA is your advocate regarding your pension and the future of education in the State of Florida. the protection
Would you like to support FREA’s efforts on behalf of all present, and future Retired Educators, and of the FRS.
other beneficiaries of the Florida Retirement System? This money will be used in a non-partisan way. There is
Yes, I would like to support FREA’s Legislative Advocacy: $ 4.00
strength in
Make checks payable to: FREA
FREA Dues for July 1—June 30
$35.00
Mail to: 10051 5th Street North Suite 108
Total Enclosed $ _________ numbers and
St. Petersburg, FL 33702
FREA needs
 Mastercard
 Discover
 Visa
 American Express YOU to help
You may join securely online
www.FREA.org
us help you!
Name on
Exp. Date
S35.00
or
Call the Office with your credit card
727-577-6400 ~ Mon-Fri 8AM-5PM
Card
Card Number
   ~   ~   ~   