"Toy Drive" with "Mary Lou and Stevie"

Turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, cranberry relish, and a nice oven-warmed bun (well - sorta), were the main items on today's entree at CG Pub House for our annual November luncheon.

Members enjoyed socializing with this great meal while "Mary Lou and Stevie" created a perfect background to the affair with their wonderful Christmas music.

Apologies for no pictures today of "Mary Lou and Stevie," however this video, taken in 2016, was found in the archives, so give them a click and enjoy the moment, again.

The Big Event for the luncheon was when Anna Avile and Elizabeth Amezcua, representing 'The Salvation Army," accepted the toys collected by members for this year's Annual Toy Drive.  Ms. Avile thanked BFSRA for its donations and reported we donated 189 toys last year (we didn't get a count on today's donation), and that they have had 400 children sign up with them this year.

We did get a few pics of Anna and Elizabeth and few of the many toys:

Master Gardeners applications open until
Jan. 3rd.  Contact Alice Allison.

Only 5 Mini-Grants left of the 20 budgeted for at $200 each.  If you know someone who could use the funding, click on the "Mini-Grant" tab above to find an application.

Have you written your legislators lately?  Many know they should, but put it off and out of mind until the urge disappears. You can call them, email them, or send them a private FB Message. Find the links for email and FB in the left-hand margin on this page.  If you don't, then that "blank" supports their mentality to keep your COLA.

Have you subscribed to receive updates to your blog?  Right-hand margin. Email addresses are never shared with anyone, anywhere, at any time. Keep up with what's happening in your association, subscribe.














Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas
everyone. We'll see for our next luncheon,
January, 22, 2018.

Powerful Program Today: Human Trafficking

Tricia MacFarlan, Executive Director of Mirror-Ministries, presented a powerful program today on human trafficking in the Tri-Cities. In response to their mission of, "responding to domestic minor sex trafficking with love of Christ and through intervention and restoration," their primary focus is on minors and those same minors as they move into adulthood, over 18.

MacFarlan reported the movie, "Taken," starring Liam Neeson, "isn't what human trafficking looks like." 

The picture she painted is far bleaker. 

Many of our local kids are involved in trafficking after being lured into this evil industry; those by personal choice an extremely low number.  The estimated number of girls prostituting, again not by choice in most all cases, in the Tri-Cities, is 234; with an additional 39 other, older kids, often doing the pimping.  

An example of how they become involved is with a young girl 12 - 13 being invited to a party where unbeknownst to her, her open cup is spiked.  The next morning she awakens to find soreness, bruising, and no memory of what happened. Then she begins receiving pictures on social media of what happened while she was "out," with threats that if she tells anyone there will be trouble. 

Trapped, guilt-ridden, with no one to talk to, what follows can be a long trip through hell-on-earth, where some kids are exposed to as many as 8 - 10 "customers" a day. Many performing for things like food, a place to sleep, or being supplied with the drugs they have become addicted to.

A second example involved Play-Station where gamers can interact with one another via the internet as they play the game. Traffickers often allure young kids into their web of deceit by first making contact through this venue, and other such, gaming devices. Once a relationship is established, making actual contact, and creating the trafficking situation is the easy part.  

Local police agencies, using undercover techniques, put out ads as mom or dad selling out their own children, and received "thousands of responses." Incredible!     

The average age of entry is 12 - 13. Once inside, through such force, coercion, and fraud, the average life-span is 7 years. 

Click here to find Mirror-Ministries at their website, 

and here to find them on Facebook. 

Mike Moran, WSSRA's newest Lobbyist, Visits BFSRA

Mike Moran

WSSRA's newest lobbyist, Mike Moran, joined us for lunch today at CG Pub House. Mike's group, Moran Public Affairs LLC, provides support to Businesses, Environment Advocates, Government, Law Enforcement and Labor, as well as Social Service Agencies, Tribal Governments, and Labor Organizations.

Mike reports we have been losing income for years via the state pension system.  Couple that with what may, or may not, happen at the federal level and "we are like a frog in the saucepan.  They are turning up the heat and we don't know it yet."

No one can make the change needed, but us.  Maybe it is time to start pushing back, much more significantly.  In his experiences working with government, he says most decisions are based on anecdotal information rather than data collection, analysis, and consequent recommendations.

To that end, when we contact our legislators via email, or on their Facebook pages, we need to share with them anecdotal information regarding either our personal stories, or stories of what we know about other retired school employees who are struggling more and more as the years go by.

He mentioned the importance of our finding someone in the legislature who can serve as a "champion" of the pension system.

"Silence is acquiescence," Mike said.

In the left margin of this blog you will find the legislative email links, and the Facebook page links, for the three legislators from the 8th district.  Let's begin contacting them often, much more often, and work toward them knowing and understanding how their actions can either provide either further escalation of hardship, or some semblance of the comfort planned for by the thousands of retired school employees in Washington state. We recommend using the "message" feature of their FB pages, rather than posting directly on their front page.

It is up to us.

WSSRA Executive Director, Dr. Alan Burke, Visits BFSRA

Dr. Alan Burke
Executive Director
WSSRA
2017-2018

We were honored to have newly hired WSSRA Executive Director, Dr. Alan Burke, with us at this our first luncheon of the year.  Dr. Burke started as a middle school teacher/administrator.  Since those days he served as the Superintendent of Yelm S.D.; a deputy director to O.S.P.I in Olympia (where he learned the in's and out's of Olympia politics); he was the director for WSSDA for 2 years; and last year tried retirement - until he saw the opening by WSSRA looking for a replacement for Dr. Mike Boring.

He shared with those attending the most recent information regarding the present state of flux in Olympia with our pensions and health coverage. Dr. Burke's experiences in education and in the state legislative milieu will serve us well as we enter into these post-McCleary years with the legislature and our issues. Stay tuned as there is more to come as we enter this period of "pension recovery" slated for the upcoming year.

A few things to consider:

PERS 1 & TERS 1 Plans:  Created in 1933.  Life expectancy was 67.  "Today we are just getting started at 67," Dr. Burke.

Current funding shortfalls:  The PERS 1 and TRS 1 pensions accounts were caused by insufficient payments by the Legislature. In the period between 2001 and 2011, the Legislature paid only 58.7% of the employer retirement contributions. Employees paid 100% of their required retirement contribution.

TRS 1 & Pers 1 Pension Recovery:  Retirees have not had a Cost of Living Adjustment since 2010 and have lost over 12% of their purchasing power due to inflation.  Restoring a Plan 1 COLA will help restore some of that purchasing power.

Plan 1 UCOLA: was created in 1995 to account for increasing longevity and the need for pension recovery. It combined several older annual and discretionary COLAs for Plan 1.

Plan 1 UCOLA:  eliminated in 2011. It was not replaced with an alternative to account for increased longevity.

TRS 1 & PERS 1 Minimum COLA Benefit Levels:  Both do continue to qualify some retirees for an annual COLA. Roughly 10% of Plan 1 retirees qualify for minimum benefits. Unfortunately, the minimum benefit levels are not high enough keep Plan 1 retirees from falling on state Medicaid services.

Medicare Supplemental Insurance Plans:  Unusually high monthly increases, $55 for Univorm Medical (2018) and $40 for Kaiser Health (2017), are compounding the damage to the oldest retirees. An increase to the Medicare Eligible Benefit to $205 is needed just to mitigate current premium increases.

Restore Retiree Healthcare Benefits: The Legislature lowered the Medicare Healthcare Benefit from $183 to $150 in 2011.  Uniform Medical premiums have skyrocketed $55 per month in the past year. Increasing the Medical Benefit to $205 per month will restore the cut and mitigate the loss of purchasing power from increasing healthcare premiums.

Maintain the PERS 2 & TRS 2 retirement plans for future school employees:  The current pension plans are popular with employees and are also well funded.  Making Plans 2 the default plan would provide better benefits for employees and decrease pension expenses for the state.

Make the actuarially recommended payment to the state pension funds:  TRS 1 & PERS 1 are underfunded due to past skipped payments by the State. Making the recommended payment will get Plan 1 funding back on track.

A Few Words from President Dottie

Dottie Stevens

We are in for a treat with our annual indoor picnic this year.  Gary Malner, on accordion, will be entertaining us, and our new Executive Director, Alan Burke will be delivering greetings from WSSRA.  Don Parks has heard Gary perform and says it is not to be missed.  I had the opportunity to visit with Alan at our June WSSRA Conference and was impressed by his enthusiasm and message.  Don’t forget to bring school supplies for SHAKE (Seniors Helping All Kids’ Education).

I would like to thank members for returning the BFSRA Survey at our May luncheon.  Valuable feedback and we are now reviewing the suggested programs for the year.  Coming events this fall: September will be a legislative focus; October – Mirror Ministries with Tricia MacFarlan on Human Trafficking; November – celebration, Toy Drive and music.

It is with regret that we have accepted the resignation of Jan Harlow as our President-Elect.  Due to a medical issue she must focus on her health.  We wish her a speedy recovery, as our thoughts are with her and her family.  We are currently speaking with interested candidates for the position.

I am looking to this year and our continuing fellowship.  I am most grateful for our BFSRA Board and their continual support of the members.  We have a lot of fun, and we hope you will consider joining us in a leadership role.  See you soon.

Dottie Stevens, President

Pasco Convention: A Great Success

The Washington State School Retiree's Association held its annual state convention in Pasco this last June 5th - 7th.

The convention featured: key note speakers, two banquets, No-Host Socials, Opening Ceremonies, a Celebration of Life for those members who passed this year, a Scholarship Luncheon for the many high school student winners who intend to pursue education as a career, Legislative Committee and PAC workshops, election and installation of new officers for 2017-2018, an After Dinner Dance that featured the Tri-Cities Big Band, and a workshop entitled, "All You Ever Wanted to Know About Wine."

The local planners were: Helen Bakshas, Dottie Stevens, Don Parks, Elaine Banks, Ardyth Eakins, Helen Bruggeman, and Jim Bumgarner.

They are commended for all their hard work in putting together an outstanding event for all our state delegates.

May 22, 2017: The Last Luncheon.

Newly Installed Officers: 
            2017-2018

L to R:  Marlys Mayer, Lew Edming, Dottie Stevens.
WSSRA President, Rick Nebeker (not picutured)
installed these newly elected officers. 

Our new slate of officers has a familiar look: 

Dottie Stevens returns for her second term in office (her first term was 2015-2016);

Lew Edming will serve again as Secretary; and 

Marlys Mayer asTreasurer.  

Jan Harlow, the new face in the group (not available for a photo)

will serve as Vice-President in
charge of Programs.  

Stan McNaughton Outread Award Nominee

Bette and her husband, George, started a library at the Benton-Franklin Juvenile Justice Center in 2002 through a local Kiwanis Club.  They continue to operate this and train others to assist.  They also tutored youth at the Center for 10 years in a Day Report, GED Program.  

"The other day, a kid said to me, 'before I was locked up, I had read only two books in my life.  If've read 70 since I've been here. That's an example of why we hang in there," says Bette.  For 16 years, Better ran the telephone tree for BFSRA.  She is retired Reading Teacher of 37 years!!  

We are honored to place her name in nomination for the prestigious State Award.

Vickie Bowles plays Amazing Grace

Celebration of Life 

At the last luncheon of the year, we also memorialize those who passed during the most recent year.  To that end, the following names were read and a rose added to a vase for each name read. They are: 

Adrienne Birdsell, Dorothy Boscola, James Harbour, 

Violet Heacock, Mary Hollibaugh, Phyllis Jensen, 

Joyce Larson, Tralice Leaumont, Dorothy Mech, Inez Miller, L. Jane Morrow, Vickie Newell, Bruce Pennington, 

Mickell Racy, Judy Rizzuti-Hare, John Robinson, 

Ruby Rutherford, Helen Shelton, Lois Springer, 

Parry Thompson and Jeanetter Whitesell.

Thank you, President, Helen Bakshas 

Helen Bakshas sings during the Celebration of Life.  In the
background, Dottie Stevens, and Rick Nebeker.

This was our last luncheon of the year.  The 2016-2017 year is officially closed, folded up, placed in the archives. Helen Bakshas was our president this year and she is to be commended for putting together a memorable year, somewhat memorialized in the last 8 or 9 posts on this blog.

Good job, Helen.

BFSRA and E8 Scholarship Winners: 2017

This is the second year BFSRA has awarded scholarships to university level students who are enrolled in WSU: Tri-Cities, College of Education - students who will teach.  Maricela Garza, from the Office of Advancement and Community Development at WSU Tri-Cities joined us April 24th and shared how our scholarship funds are being used by the university.  She introduced four of the recipients of our current year's scholarships ($1,000 each) they are:

L to R: 

Megan Gosney, Richland High graduate who plans to teach secondary language arts; 

Jessica Garcia Ramirez, Pasco High graduate, plans to teach elementary bilingual classes; 

Mark Cheney, Kamiakin High graduate who plans to teach high school chemistry; and

Nicole Strasser, Richland High graduate who plans to teach the elementary grades. 

Not pictured: Becky Rausch and Kyla Turner.

Our region, SouthEast 8 (E8) also awarded scholarships to aspiring high school students who are interested in pursuing careers in education.  The winner this year are: 

Krystal Roberts, Walla Walla High School, and Erica Leinweber, Walla Walla High School, each recipients of the Robert J. Handy Scholarship ($900/year, up to four years); and Grace Frazier, Dayton High School, won the WSSRA-Foundation Scholarship ($1500). No pics available.  

Congratulations to all.   

Mini-Grants Awarded

We are proud to announce and congratulate the winners of this years' Mini-Grant program.  BFSRA budgeted enough funding to cover 20 individual grants, valued at $200 each and this year, we had 20 winners. Here are their names and projects.

Benton-Franklin Juvenile Justice Center
Daneille Beliston - Classroom Library
Janice Sola - Classroom Library
Antonio Vegas - GED Testing Fees

Tri-Tech Skills Center
Mat Adelmund - Instructor Travel Assistance
       (Washington DC recognition #House Of Code 3D gaming)

Finley
Stephanie Bradshaw - Reading Recover Books
Lorianne Donovan - Electrical Circuits Can be a Snap
Jennifer Ward - Remix Reading
Kelly Williamson - Summer Reading Challenge

Kennewick
Stephanie Brooks - Flexible Seating
Wanda Cadwallader - Exploration in Programming
Michelle Johnson - Holiday Cards for Senior Citizens
Ron Pasma - Band Reeds
Dan White - Horse Shoe Metal Art

Pasco
Cristal Alcala - Painting Poetry
Paulette Gonzalez - Scholarship Rack
Mary Lopez - Flyers
Amanda Mars - Braille Literacy
John Weisenfield - Nat Geo DNA Geneology Project

Richland
Dawn Hansen - Classroom Books.

Pasco High's Mariachi Band a Big Hit

Bob Brawdy: Tri-City Herald

Pasco High School's Mariachi Band performed for the luncheon, March 27th. Thanks to Don Parks and Helen Bakshas for arranging with the school for these highly talented and entertaining students to join us.

To hear them play, click below for a You Tube produced from their presentation.

                           You Tube

Kennewick, Pasco, Richland School District Superintendents

Rick Schulte, Michelle Whitney, and Dave Bond.

Over one hundred luncheon attendees heard a presentation today at the newly remodeled "CG Public House" (formerly the Country Gentleman), by our three Tri-City school superintendents. Two districts, Pasco and Richland, will run bonds this year, while Kennewick will not.

Dave Bond, KSD Superintendent, explained how the district has utilized the funding from an 89.5 M bond from 2015 by completing the new Desert Hills Middle School, the Sage Crest Elementary School, and Chinook Middle School.  In progress are Westgate Elementary and the presently, yet to be named, Elementary #16 (Clearwater Creek project).  

Mr. Bond also shared how KSD received a grant from the state for just over 51M for a K-3 (kindergarten to 3rd grade) Grant sponsored by the state. That money is being used to lower class sizes throughout the district by increasing the number of classrooms at the Clearwater Creek project from 22 to 38; by rearranging where the dual language students will be housed; and by adding 20 new classrooms to Amistad Elementary.  

In April, 2019, Kennewick High School is slated for new construction. It will be a 250K sq. ft. facility with estimated expenses at $300/square foot.  Overall cost, according to Bond, will run at 75M. 

Michelle Whitney, PSD Superintendent, reported the Pasco Facilities Task Force began working in the Spring of 2015 to analyze district facilities and enrollment projections. The committee has recommended the continuation of a K-6 configuration in the elementary schools, 7-8 in the middle school, and 9-12 in the high school. 

In addition, a 16th new elementary school, upgrading of old facilities, as well as the maintenance and custodial facilities are in need of upgrading. The school district has called for a 119.7M bond, with state matching funds of 50.2M which will run at 39 cents/1,000 of assessed value. 

Rick Schulte, RSD Superintendent, said Richland schools ran a bond in 2013 for 98M, with 62M state matching funds. With that funding, RSD has installed new HVC equipment at Chief Joe MS, upgraded Fran Rish stadium, is replacing Jefferson Elementary, and a fourth middle school is under construction. 

This year, plans for replacing Badger and Tapteal elementaries along with constructing two new elementary schools, upgrading RHS's auditorium, further upgrades to Fran Rish stadium, and upgrading the playing fields at Handford High School along with the district's administration building, are included in the 99M bond with 42M in state matching funds. 

Ballots are due February 14th.  Happy Valentine's Day.