Retirement Seminar: October 15th

Jan Fraley, delivering her presentation on "Retirement - What Should I do First?" at Pasco High School, Oct. 15th

Pasco High School hosted BFSRA's "3rd Annual Retirement Seminar" October 15th in the second floor library.  Approximately 100 attendees were provided valuable information needed for successful retirement planning and retirement. 

Thank you's to: 

Alejandro Vergara, Assistant Principal, Pasco High School 

Presenters: Jan Fraley, Larry Cade, Kristin Faris, Matthew Reisenwebber, Rick Nebeker, Don Parks, Rohn Rutledge, and Rachel Schneider. 

Planners: Elaine Banks, Don Parks, Dottie Stevens, and Jim Bumgarner, Committee Chair.    

Legislative Luncheon: Oct 8th

L to R:  AJ Foster, Rep. Joe Schmick, Joy Ledgerwood, Rep. Larry Haler, Rep. Brad Klippert, Aide Megan Allen

Sen Sharon Brown, Sen Mark Schoesler, Reps Larry Haler, Brad Klippert, Joe Schmick, Legislative Aides Jan Swenson, Megan Allen and Skyler Rude met with Elaine Banks, Jim and AJ Foster, Jim Bumgarner, Dottie Stevens and Joy Legerwood over brunch on Oco 8th at Cousins in Pasco.

Senator Mark Schoesler and Jim Foster 

Elaine welcomed the Legislators and Aides and Jim Foster gave them an overview of our concerns/issues, including medical subsidy, COLAS, & Retirement programs.

Senator Sharon Brown and Dottie Stevens 

We thanked them for not cutting our Medical Subsidy again and asked that not be an issue next session.

It was also explained that we understand the financial dilemma they are in but ask that they not balance it on retiree backs.

We are on fixed incomes and conno tafford more cuts and in fact need a COLA.

L to R:  Aide Jen Swenson, Dottie Stevens (back of head),
Aide Skylar Rude, and Senator Sharon Brown

A number of conversations took place while people we eating. The Legislators wee very interested in concerns of active teacher in regard to class size, curriculum, the lack of subs, why more people are not going int teaching, etc. Several were taking copious notes as we tried to answer their questions.


Elaine Banks, Jim and AJ Foster

From: Dottie Stevens, President: 2015 - 2016.

President: Dottie Stevens 

Welcome to the 2015-16 year for the Benton Franklin School Retirees Association. I am looking forward to serving as your president with the assistance of an excellent board. Please welcome to our board Donna Brown, who will lead our Health and Protective Services and Ardith Eakin, who will lead our Greeters. 


Helen Bakshas and I met with Shirley Simmons of Country Gentleman where we have had three years of wonderful food and service. We have added some new menu items in keeping with our spring survey and hope you are delighted as we are with the additions. We will increase luncheon costs a dollar this year to $14.00. 

Luncheons will begin on August 24th at 11:30 am. We will enjoy our favorite “Indoor Picnic” with hamburgers, hotdogs, salads and brownies. 

Helen, a retired music educator and our President-Elect, will be filling our meetings with sweet melodies and musicians. Be prepared to enjoy yourself at every meeting during this 2015-2016 year. 

We will be recognizing our Unit 29 nominees for the Stan McNaughton Outreach Award – Marlys Mayer and the Patrick T. Hoban Meritorious Award – Jim Bumgarner. Don Parks will be recognized for bringing WSSRA recognition to us for high membership increases, and Hollis Morris will be recognized for 25 years of unit service for leading Health and Protective Services. 

Please assist us with our Service Goal by supporting SHAKE (Seniors Helping All Kids’ Education) at our August meeting. Our timely donations will help area youth off to a good school start (see SHAKE article this issue). 

We are also looking for interested members to assist with reorganizing our Teacher Grants Program. Contact me directly if you are interested. 

Thank you. 

"2015 Convention and Delegates"

L to R:  Jim Bumgarner, Elaine Banks, Dottie Stevens, Tom Callahan, Marlys Mayer,
Lew Edming, Jim and A.J. Foster, Hollis Morris.
Not Pictured:  Don Parks, Helen Bakshas

We had a grand time in Wenatchee at the state convention.  New state officers were elected, Rick Nebeker, our former E8 rep and Walla Walla all around good guy, was elected to President-Elect for the upcoming year, and he will serve as the state president in 2016-2017.

We said "goodbye" to our former executive director, Ed Gonion, and his wife, Diane.  They will be sorely missed as both provided such great leadership, grace and integrity to the office.  Ed's replacement will be Mike Boring, a long time and highly respected educator from Washington state.

Other "big news" is our dues have been raised by $2/month.  That state will recieve one dollar per month for each member and the local associations will receive one dollar per month per their local  members.  We have yet to decide how those funds will be best utilized.  The original impetus for the motion came out of the Committee to Investigate Convention Costs as a way for locals associations alleviate some of those expenses.  We may also be looking at increasing our scholarship and teacher grants accounts.

Lastly, our state PAC committee reported that due to our ability now to endorse candidates prior to elections, we have achieved a degree of "clout" heretofore unknown in Olympia. Count that as a definite possibility as to why both the House and Senate have approved keeping our $150/month Medicare subsidy in the proposed state budget lying on the governor's desk.  We'll know more later.

To that end, it is time to get those emails going out to your local legislators, thanking them for their support in this issue this time around, and making sure they know we are still keeping an eye on the process and will continue to encourage them to support all school retirees.  

More posts to follow......
 

The Final Luncheon of the 2014/15 Year

WSSRA President Edie Moersch Installs New Officers 

Our special treat today was hosting our visiting WSSRA President, Edie Moersch, and her husband, Ed. Edie shared a few complimentary words with us, and she installed our new officers, President, Dottie Stevens; Vice President/Program Chair, Helen Bakshas; Secretary, Lew Eding and Treasurer, Marlys Mayer.

L to R: Tom Callahan. Dottie Stevens,
WSSRA President Edie Moersch, Helen Bakshas, Lew Edming, and Marlys Mayer. 

Inspirational Speaker

As a part of our Memorial Service, inspirational speaker, author and KSD teacher, Sandy Martineau Smith, spoke on the choices we have to either accept life's daggers as circumstances we can't control, and move on with our lives, or let them worry us . . . to death.

Sandy's book, titled, "Life's Garden of Weekly Wisdom," can be found at Amazon at this link, and at Google Books, here.  

MEMORIAL SERVICE

Each year all local associations throughout WSSRA conduct a Memorial Service for those members who passed on during that particular year.  Today, Dottie Stevens presented a yellow rose for each of the following BFSRA members who passed this year:

Marcia Clement        Vera Edwards         Conward Fariris        Frederick Fraser      Shirley Kinsel
Ken Olsen                  Gayle Rice             Gordon Timmons      David Verbarg         Jane Yelenc
Clarence "Bus" Sperline


Have a Great Summer, and we'll see you in August. 

2015 Scholarship Winners

Congratulations to our "2015 Scholarship Winners" -  Kaitlin Anderson, Trenton Nett, and Courtney Hall. We wish them nothing but success as they pursue their dreams to become educators.    

Kaitlin Anderson: valedictorian at Chiawana, won a BFSRA $1000 scholarship. She plans to go to BYU to major in Secondary Math Education. She also won the E-8 Handy Scholarship which is $900 renewable for 4 years.

Trenton Nett: Southridge, plans to major in Math Ed at either Central or Gonzaga. His parents are also teachers. He is also a valedictorian. He won a BFSRA $1000 scholarship.

Courtney Hall: Kamiakin, plans to go to Eastern to major in Elementary Ed. She won a BFSRA $1000 scholarship and also the
E-8 Foundation for $1500.

Thanks to Alice Allison, Scholarship Chair, for all her hard work finding these outstanding young high school seniors to receive these awards.

Marjy Legget, Air Race Classic Particpant - Speaker at March Luncheon

To varying degrees we all ride on the coattails of those that came before us: Benjamin Franklin, Abe Lincoln, Jonas Salk, Edward Jenner, Amelia Earhart, just to name a few. However, not many ride as closely as Marjy Leggett rides on the coattails of Amelia Earhart.

In 1929 there were only 117 licensed female pilots in the entire country. Of that number, 26 (who represented 73 others) showed up to form the group, the "Ninety-Nine's." In that 26 was Amelia Earhart who named the group and served as its first president. The group still flies today, and Marjy is one of them.

Each year they group up and fly competitively across country: 2,500 miles. In the early days they had 9 days to make the trip; today they get 4! Women can join at 17, but Marjy says she has only seen a few 18 years olds involved, along with some who are in their '70's, '80's and even '90's.

Marjy made the jaunt in 1995, 2012, 2013, and in 2014. She shared the perils of altitude flying in Piper Cubs and Cesnas as well as the impact aging can have on a pilot's ability to absorb oxygen at such high elevations. Her story was fascinating, and I know for one, I would like to be a stowaway on one of those flights - so I could ride on Marjy's coattails.  

Thanks, to Dottie Stevens for another great luncheon program.

On an additional note: During Aviation Celebration Week at the Richland Fly-In, local pilots will be giving youngsters, "Young Eagles,"  some hands-on experience, and free 20 minute flights at the Richland Airport. The date is June 20th from 9am to 1pm for youngsters ranging in age from 8 - 17, and there is no cost for the program.  And, of course parents will need to fill out registrations and sign approval forms.

"Pre-Retirement Seminar a Huge Success"

We entertained 200 attendees last evening, March 12th, at the Pre-Retirement Seminar held in the Southridge High School cafeteria. The numbers were considerably below the near 275 we were expecting, but the room wouldn't have held too many more. 

Attendees were schooled in the steps necessary to make the transition to retirement (Jan Fraley), how to attend to those sick-leave accumulated days (VEBA with Kristin Farris), what to do about health insurance (PEBB with Larry Cade), Social Security and investing (Matthew Riesenweber), and Plans I, II (Bob Fox), and Plan III (Mark Miller). 

Thanks to Kennewick School District for providing the facility, Tri-Tech for the refreshments, and to Elaine Banks, Don Parks, and Dottie Stevens, committee planners, and Jim Bumgarner, Chair.

Thinking about retiring soon?  Click this link to learn more about how make it a successful transition. 

February Luncheon with Soccer Coach, Bruce Gochoel

President, Tom Callahan, opened the luncheon today with the Pledge of Allegiance, a reading of the minutes of January's luncheon, and a short-business meeting.

Jim Foster shared a recent trip he and A.J. went on to visit our legislators in Olympia. His reports coincides with THIS report distributed from our WSSRA Offices in Lacy, WA., on Monday of this week. (Click the link to read the report.) Some discussion ensued regarding the ease at which one can communicate with our legislators via email.  Their email addresses can be found in the monthly Hot Lines, and they are linked to this blog in the right margin.  Jim said only a couple of sentences are needed and the email can be sent multiple times until the bill either dies or makes it way to Governor's desk.  

One suggestion is to craft your email message in your word processor then copy and paste it into the email you have opened for each particular legislator.  Personalize it, "Dear Senator Hewitt," then click "send". This can be accomplished in less than half-an-hour.  

Jim Bumgarner reported the Pre-Retirement Seminar is planned with approximately 275 attendees at Southridge High School, March 12th, from 6 - 9 pm.

Dottie Stevens, Program Chair and VP, presented Bruce Gochoel, coach of the Kennewick High School (Go Lions) varsity soccer program, and the newly formed WSU TriCities Club Soccer Team.

Coach Gochoel has 37 years of soccer experience, from his years as a player to the present.  His experiences with soccer as a young man in Southern Florida and as a college student at DePaul University in Chicago trained him well as a premiere coach of two of our local youth soccer teams.

Gochoel says the level of soccer here is phenomenal. Not knowing exactly what to expect upon his arrival, he said he was impressed with what he found.  

He said, "coaching is all about trying to help kids, many of whom come to school due to the athletic programs they are involved with." He encouraged interested BFSRA members to volunteer some, even it means simply attending a game or two.  

Thanks, Coach, we will keep that in mind.  

  

"UPDATE: Retirement Seminar - Venue Change"

Due to the overwhelming number of responses from future retirees, we have MOVED the seminar:

• FROM the Pasco School District Offices 
• TO Southridge High School in Kennewick.  

Our annual Pre-Retirement Seminar is open to ALL school employees throughout Benton and Franklin counties on March 12th.

Presenters will share the information retirees need:

• Required Paper Work
• Financial Decisions
• Health Insurance
• Social Security
• Department of Retirement Services Plans I, II and II
• VEBA

The links on the poster are not live on this posting.  If you wish to email us, please click here:  BFSRA Retirement Seminar. 

"January Luncheon"

Our luncheon today featured Dave Bond, Superintendent of Kennewick School District who presented a highly interesting and informed talk regarding the upcoming bond election to continue improving the educational facilities for the children attending KSD.  We found Mr. Bond highly informed and he made a presentation no one could argue against in terms of passing the bond.  We wish and him and all the good folks in KSD continued success.

L to R:  Dave Bond, Superintendent of Kennewick Schools; Dottie Stevens, Program Chair/VP; and
Tom Callahan, President

We also took some sweet time to celebrate the 103rd birthday of beloved Pasco teacher/administrator and member of BFSRA, Arden Vie. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ARDEN!!  

Beloved educator and member, Arden Vie, presented with his 103rd birthday cake.

And though I don't have the official count on today's attendance,  my unofficial estimate puts the number at just over 100 members.

  

"A Very Successful November Luncheon!"

Thanks to Dottie Stevens for organizing another great Salvation Army Toy Drive, and sing-a-long led by Don Parks at the luncheon this month.  The Roast Turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing and gravy, weren't bad either.

L to R:  President, Tom Callahan; Major Julio Vasques, Salvation Army;
Program Chair, Dottie Stevens; and Ana Avila, Salvation Army. 

While we enjoyed sharing the toys with Major Julio Vasquez of the Salvation Army, and taking our first leap of the season into Christmas music as led by Don Parks, we also found interesting the report brought by Rick Nebeker, E8 representative to WSSRA. 

Rick shared the state association has been charging $5/member/month since 2003. The price of just about everything has escalated significantly over the past 11 years, including the operating expenses of the WSSRA. Additionally, the exploding costs of the state convention have led to the formation of the WSSRA Convention Costs Reduction Committee which has recommended not a reduction in the number of members attending, especially in light of the growing numbers of members statewide, but rather an additional dollar/member/month in dues fees which would flow directly to the local associations.

L to R:  Don Parks, Helen Bakshas, Barb Sowell

Some of the hundreds of toys shared with the Salvation Army. 

"Meet the Candidates"

Thanks to our crack legislative committee, Jim and A.J. Foster and Elaine Banks, the candidates were, if not fully prepared, well-behaved.  And for a room full of former teachers, that was a good thing. (I hate having to discipline candidates for public office, don't you? Sometimes their unruliness is quite distracting.)

Questions, prepared by the committee were asked of each candidate who in turn either answered the question, skirted the question, or gave a response that had little to do with the question.

Thanks again, to Jim, AJ, and Elaine for a well-attended event and one where all those in attendance were enabled to cast more intelligent votes.  

On a slightly different note:  Each year when we host the local candidates and their challengers for our "Meet the Candidates" luncheon,  I am reminded of this set of lyrics from Paul Simon's classic, "Mrs. Robinson."

Sitting on a sofa on a Sunday afternoon, 

Going to the candidates debate.

Laugh about it, shout about it,

When you've got to choose, 

Ev'ry way you look at it, you lose. 

Click the lyrics to hear the song. This stanza happens at 2 mins, 45 secs. 

"And We're Off"

Our August Picnic this year featured new officers, President Tom Callahan, and VP/Program Chair, Dottie Stevens; great picnic food (hamburger, baked beans, hot dogs, chips and a brownie); and Eric Van Winkle, who presented the newly opening Gesa Carousel of Dreams to the members.  

"BFSRA, local Benefit Fairs, and New Active Members"

This is the time of the school year when the local school districts run their Benefits Fairs for their employees.  At these fairs employees can learn about and sign up for such things as insurance, Costco plans, counselor services, dental plans, etc., etc., etc.  Our association is always there with pleasant smiles, lots of hand-outs and application forms.

Thanks to our fearless Membership Committee Chair, Don Parks, 36 new actives filled out applications and joined our association.  Way to go, Don.

I took short video of the Pasco School District Benefits Fair, and thought you might like to see what happens inside what appears to have bee-hive qualities. (Apologies for the quality of the video, I guess a smart iPhone can't do everything.)