WREA District 1 Meeting

The WREA District 1 meeting was held on Wednesday, May 7, 2014, in Rice Lake at Turtle Back Convention Center.  Approximately 60 district 1 members, invited speakers, and staff from the WREA office attended the meeting.
A panel of Wisconsin elected officials was first on the program.  Joe Baye was the moderator for a panel consisting of Senator Bob Jauch, Representatives Mick Milroy and Stephen Smith.  The panel commented on questions dealing with Public School Funding; Common Core Standards; The State Retirement System; and Communication with legislators from both sides of the aisle.
Next, the WREA presented retiring senator Bob Jauch with a plaque thanking him for his years of service to northern Wisconsin and his support to public education.
Following a short break, Dr. Bernie Hughes, Professor Emeritus from UW Superior presented on staying active during retirement years.  Dr. Hughes will be turning 90 this September.  His talk was filled with memories of this growing up, years in education, and time since he has retired.
Prior to lunch, the WREA District 1 Foundation Challenge Award winners were presented.  With the change from fall to spring district meetings, two winners were presented to the group.  Last years winner was Rice Lake Middle School and this years was Rhinelander High School.  Steve Hoersten from the Rice Lake MS presented the winning program and Susan Hampton, along with two students from Rhinelander, presented their winning program.
Following lunch, Nancy Cramer, District Manager of MASA made a short presentation of some of the available benefits for WREA members.
After Nancy's presentation a panel of WREA members presented their views on grassroots legislative contacts and what they thought should be WREA's involvement in lobbying for education legislation.  On this panel was Joe Baye, John Bigley, Bob Opsahl, and Terry Derleth.  The moderator for this group was David Bennett.
Those attending took a short afternoon break, then Ginny Pedersen and Lynne Kagelmann, both of the WREA State Membership Committee, made a presentation (Dog and Pony Show!) on the WREA Membership Toolkit developed by the committee.  They used hand puppets of a dog and a pony to help get their points across to the audience.  A set of these puppets was given as a door prize for those attending.
The meeting wrapped up with presentation of volunteer checks recognizing unit members for volunteer hours, door prizes of plants from tables, hand puppets, and dice from the casino, along with parting statements from John Osterloth, BCREA president, and Vic Bekkum, WREA president.

Legislative Panel

Dave Bennett and Vic Bekkum presenting award to Senator Bob Jauch

Dr. Bernie Hughes

Steve Hoersten - Rice Lake MS

Rhineland HS getting award

Vic Bekkum presenting Little Red Wagon Award

Nancy Cramer - MASA

Grassroots panel

Lynne Kagelmann - Membership Comm.

Ginny Pedersen - Membership Comm.

May 1st BCREA Meeting - Cumberland

About 60 members of BCREA met at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Cumberland on Thursday, May 1st.   David Bennett, WREA Executive Director, was the featured speaker.  In informed the group on the history of the WREA, the lobbying efforts of the group, and other information concerning members of the organization.  He answered many questions directed at him from the members.
There were several items discussed and voted on during the business meeting.  The District 1 meeting will be taking place at Turtle Back in Rice Lake on Wednesday, May 7th.  BCREA will be hosting this event.  Volunteers are needed to help with this event and several members came forward to help.  The WREA State Convention will be held in Middleton on September 23rd and 24th.  John Osterloth volunteered to be the delegate representing BCREA.  There was a motion and second to provide financial help to those attending the convention.  This was passed by the members.
The summer picnic for the BCREA is scheduled for Wednesday, July 23rd at the Narrows Park in Rice Lake.  Members are to arrive at about 4 pm with the meal being served at 4:30 pm.  BCREA will be providing the meat, plates, napkins, etc.  Members are to bring a dish to pass and their own beverages.  Calls will be made prior to the picnic to get reservations and remind members of the event.
BCREA is still in need of a member to volunteer to be president-elect for 2014/16.  An member interested in this position is to contact an officer.  If member(s) know of a possible candidate, please let us know.
The group recognized one of our members at this meeting.  Mildred Carlson, who turns 100 this September was able to attend this meeting.  The members were pleased she was able to attend.  Two visitors were at the meeting.  Sharon Mosansky, retired custodian from Riverview in Barron and Jan Helgeson, retired 3rd and 5th grade teacher from Cumberland.
The officers of BCREA will be meeting in June to plan next years events.  Look for information on 2014/15 coming out in late August prior to our September meeting.

Dave Bennett - WREA Executive Director

Millie Carlson

Sharon Moseansky

Jan Helgeson

BCREA March 20th Meeting

Approximately 30 members of BCREA met on Thursday, March 20, 2014, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Rice Lake.  The program was presented by Lakeview Medical Center Hospice.  There were several presenters from Hospice.  They included Sylvia Blakeman, HHC/Hospice Director; Lucy Hewitt, RN Hospice Coordinator; Kris Fetkenheuer, Hospice Volunteer Coordinator; Lauri Engness, Hospice Volunteer; and Lauri's two dogs Dice and Lily who are Hospice K-9 Volunteers.

This program lasted about 70 minutes with members being able to ask many questions for the presenters.  Information was distributed about how to become a Hospice volunteer and what jobs Hospice volunteers are able to choose from to help out the program.  All volunteers must go through a 4 week, two afternoons per week, training before being able to apply to be a volunteer.

If anyone is interested in finding out more, they can contact Hospice Care at 715-236-6256.  Their office is located in Rice Lake at 2304 South Main St., Suite #6, Rose Stone Plaza.

A short business meeting followed the program.  We had one new member join BCREA at this meeting. Welcome to Larry Miller, former teacher in Chetek.  Reminder, the organization is in need of a member who is willing to be president elect next year.  Please speak to any officer if you have interest in becoming more involved with the organization.

BCREA is hosting the Spring District 1 meeting being held in Rice Lake on Wednesday, May 7, 2014, at Turtleback in Rice Lake.  We are asking for volunteers to help by working that day to help register participants, etc.  If you have any interest in working, please contact John Osterloth, josterloth@charter.net, or any officer of the organization.  It is important the we also have members attend this meeting.  More information should be coming out from WREA soon.

Our next meeting is scheduled for May 1st at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Cumberland.  The program scheduled is David Bennett, WREA Executive Director.  This is an opportunity for all BCREA members to meet our state Executive Director and hear about WREA.  We encourage as many members to attended this meeting as possible.

New member Larry Miller

Lauri with Dice and Lily

Information area

Sylvia Blakeman, Director

Lauri with Dice and Lily

Lucy Hewitt - RN

Kris Fetkenheuer, Volunteer Coordinator

Lucy and Kris

BCREA January 2014 WITC Meeting

On January 16th, approximately 30 members of the BCREA meet at the WITC Convention Center in Rice Lake.  Six employees of WITC presented various topics dealing with WITC programs and help for the students attending the Rice Lake Campus.  Following a delicious soup and sandwich lunch, ten members went on a 2 hour tour of the facilities, seeing many of the programs and having time to speak with several teachers of these programs.

Top picture - Betty Shaffer and Wendy Loy speaking on continuing education.
2nd picture - Lori Bowman presenting on Foundation/scholarship events.
3rd picture - Susan Janetski talking about counseling and accuplacer.
4th picture - Anne Hanson speaking on study skills/adult basic education.
Last picture - Christy Roshell who gave an overview of WITC and guided the members on their tour of the facilities.

January 2014 Meeting

The Barron County Retired Educators’ Association will meet on Thursday, January 16, in the Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College Conference Room located at 1900 College Drive in Rice Lake.  Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m. with coffee and cookies being served.  At 10:30 a.m. a program will be presented by the WITC staff concerning the college and programs it offers.  All retired teachers, administrators, and staff are invited as well as their guests.  The cost of the noon meal is $10.  After lunch tours will be provided for all interested attendees.  Reservations may be made by calling Barb Millerman at 715-743-2390 or e-mailing her at bamillerman@chibardun.net no later than Sunday evening, January 12.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

     Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our members and those who read this blog.  Our next meeting will be on Thursday, January 16, 2014, at the WITC in Rice Lake.  Our program will be a presentation on WITC and what is available on the campus.  Following the lunch, there will be tours of the facilities available to those who wish to see what is offered in Rice Lake.
    Thank you to those who turned in your volunteer hours.  All forms required by the WREA have been completed and turned in for 2013.  Along with the January meeting at WITC, we have our March 20th meeting at Bethany Lutheran in Rice Lake with a program on Hospice Care and our May 1st meeting in Cumberland with a program provided by David Bennett, the WREA Executive Director.
     The Barron County Retired Educator's Association (BCREA) will be hosting the spring District 1 meeting being held in Rice Lake.  The exact date and time will be announced at a later date.
     I look forward to seeing many of you in January.  For those who have left for the warmer climate, safe travels and see you later in the spring.

John Osterloth
BCREA President

November BCREA Meeting

About 45 members attending the November 14, 2013, meeting of the Barron County Retired Educator's Association which was held at Renegade's outside of Turtle Lake.  The program was presented by Jennifer Beaudette, Director of Member Services of Barron Electric Co-op.  Two new members attended this meeting.  They are Saundra and Bill Bergum of Cumberland.  If members have volunteer hours and were not at the meeting to turn them in, please email them to John Osterloth at josterloth@charter.net. Also, at this meeting, funds were collected to help Barron county elementary schools.  If members still wish to contribute, they can send them to Sandy Steiner, BCREA treasurer.

Jennifer Beaudette presenting

Jennifer speaking to group

Melissa Klump - Technology Coordinator with Jennifer
Beaudette and John Schaffer in backgound

Members listen to Jennifer's presentation

New members of the BCREA -
Saundra & Bill Bergum of Cumberland