5/20/09.  IRTA 44TH REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY REPORT, BY CAROL WEISE.  Larry and Carol Weise, TBC/RTA co-Presidents, attended the IRTA Assembly, at Primo Banquet Hall, in Indianapolis.

GOOD NEWS:  IRTA NOW HAS 25,000 MEMBERS!  President Eugene Wease chaired the meeting, and there was a change in the by-laws to reflect that IRTA is an NRTA (National  Retired Teachers Association)affiliate with no relationship with the Indiana State Teachers Association.  This is a clarification, as IRTA has not had a relationship with the ISTA.  The by-laws now state that the local presidents must be members in good standing of the IRTA. 

 

At the Assembly, eight college students, in Education, received $2,000, each, from the Scholarship Fund.

Our TBC local received certificates of appreciation for the web-site and for Miller School supplies. 

The AARP speaker was Lily Liu, who presented an excellent power-point program on the history of the AARP and the relationship with our IRTA.  Nancy Tolson, new  IRTA President; President-Elect Robert Kraft; and Secretary-Treasurer Carol Grieser were installed.  SEE LEGISLATIVE SITED, 4/15, FOR  INFORMATION ABOUT THE ONE-TIME SUPPLEMENTAL CHECK!  THANK YOU, LARRY AND CAROL, FOR ATTENDING THIS IMPORTANT ASSEMBLY!!

 

5/21/09. FIRST TBC/RTA 09 MEETING!!  47 TBC/RTA retired teachers met at the Shrine Club, 25 north.  Benton Central retired teacher, Harry Hoover, presented an excellent program about Benton County Wind Farms and how windmills are constructed and installed.  HIS PRESENTATION STIRRED UP INTEREST AND MANY QUESTIONS!  THANK YOU, MR. HOOVER.  Certificates of appreciation from the IRTA were presented to Doris Thompson for the Miller School supplies project and to Donna Kenney for the web-site.

Carol Weise and Joyce Bentley (Membership Chair) invited non-members to join the IRTA.  WE NEED YOUR MEMBERSHIP AND HELP.  The IRTA helps protects our pensions and our issues, including COLAs. You can have your dues deducted from your first September check and once a year from then on.You can choose to become a life-time member.  Contact Joyce Bentley for membership information.. 

(765- 474-0329).  Miller School supplies -- our next project.  Please watch the July invitation and news letter for information.  You can donate supplies or money for the project. REMEMBER 93%  OF MILLER SCHOOL CHILDREN ARE ON FREE OR REDUCED-PRICE LUNCHES.  THE MILLER FAMILIES NEED OUR HELP!!! 

 

REPRESENTATIVES RANDY TRUITT (District 26) AND SHIELA KLINKER (District 27) were our guests,

Representaative Truitt, who co-sponsored House Bill 1498 (COLA bill), discussed impressions from his perspective as newly-elected legislator.  Sheila Klinker, a retired teacher who attends our meetings and supports our interests in te House Ways and Means Committee, presented her perspective of Special Sessions, (WONDERFUL), also an over-view of the 09 legislative session.  THANK YOU, SHIELA AND RANDY!!  APPRECIATE YOU BOTH!! Repesentative Klinker has stated that THANK YOU MESSAGES are GREATLY APPRECIATED by Legislators. The supplemental check was a WONDROUS GIFT during this economic climate.  Legislators realize that many retired teachers have inadequate retirement pensions, and that the need for assistance is very important..MESSAGES OF APPRECIATION WILL BE REMEMBERED, WHEN NEXT YEAR COLA LEGISLATION COMES UP. SEE CONTACT LEGISLATOR iNFORMATION ON LEGISLATIVE SITE, END OF SITE.

     

5/3/09. WELCOME BACK!  LARRY AND CAROL WEISE ARE WITH US AGAIN AFTER SPENDING

THE WINTER IN FLORIDA.  YOU WERE MISSED.  LARRY IS FEELING IMPROVED IN HEALTH EVERY DAY. GOD BLESS YOU BOTH!   BOARD MEETING 5/4/09, SAME PLACE, 1:30.

 

11/20/08.  TBC/RTA MEET AND GREET DAY --  WESTMINSTER VILLAGE, WEST LAFAYETTE.

GREAT PROGRAM -- SHIELA KLINKER (REPRESENTATIVE 27th  DISTRICT); W. LAFAYETTE POLICE CHIEF DOMBKOWSKI (Program, Immigration); ANDY THOMAS (IRTA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). Representative Klinker chaired this last 08 TBC/RTA meeting. THANK YOU, SHIELA!  .LET'S SHOW  SUPPORT TO ANDY THOMAS WHO IS PROMOTING IRTA LEGISLATIVE AGENDA DURING THIS DIFFICULT ECONOMIC CLIMATE!

(See report of the  TBC/RTA November meeting in the Legislative Information website).

 

11/08.  BEST NEWS OF ALL!  WE HELPED FEED THE HUNGRY!  THE TERRIFIC TRIO (Doris Thompson, Joyce Gourko, Janet Partlow)  delivered to the Hanna Food Pantry a trunkload of food contributed bymembers who attended the November meeting. $419 was sent to Church Women United for Food Finders bargain foods to provide for the needy at the six Food Pantries in Greater Lafayette. WE ARE PROUD OF OUR MEMBERS, WHO CARE FOR THOSE LESS FORTUNATE!

 

11/08.  DWAYNE RATER, new Area 4 Director.  Thanks for greeting everyone of us in TBC/RTA, at our last meeting.  YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB!

            

9/08  TBC COMMUNITY SERVICE!  TERRIFIC TRIO!  NEW EXCITING PROJECT!  CHURCH WOMEN

UNITED FOOD PANTRIES NEED OUR HELP WITH FOOD OR MONEY DONATIONS.  Times are hard,

and more people need assistance. We helped Miller School.  (See below.)  WE CAN DO IT AGAIN!  FEEDING HUNGRY PEOPLE IS OUR NEXT PROJECT!   FOOD PANTRY SUPPLIES needed are Canned Vegetables (green beans, corn, peas) and Canned Fruit (standard size about 15 1/2 oz. for fruit and vegetables), Pork and Beans, Canned or Dry Soups, Canned Tuna, Boxes Macaroni and Cheese, Canned Pasta Products, Pasta and Tomatoes or Sauce, Cereal, Peanut Butter. Saltine Crackers..

MONEY DONATIONS - MORE FOR THE BUCK!   Food Finders charges Food Pantries 18 cents per pound for cereal -- one example how CASH BUYS MORE!  Bring any of the above food products to our next meeting, Thursday, November 28, Westminister.  Betty Wade, TBCRTA Treasurer, (1700 Lindburgh Road, W. Lafayette)  will collect cash donations.  Send donations with your reservations.  Invitations go out late in October for our November meeting at Westminster Village, West Lafayette.

 

8/08.   IT'S IN THE FAMILY -- THE TEACHING COMMITMENT IS GENERATIONAL!!  Carol Weise's testimony. 

I guess it is somewhat unique to be a part of a family of teachers.  Carol Weise is from such a family.  She grew up in a  family where teaching was the thing to do.   Her grandfather on her mother's side of the family was a teacher and her mother had a brother and sister-in-law who were teachers.  Carol's father was a teacher and had one sister and one brother who taught along with the brother's wife.  When Carol was in elementary school, she had her aunt for grades 3 & 4 and her Dad for grades 5 & 6.

 

Carol was one of six children.  All her brtothers and sisters, except one, graduated from college with a degree in education.  (The one who doesn't have a teaching degree  is married to a doctor).  She has one sister who is teaching, and her husband is a principal.  Another sister is director of a day care, is retired but working there part-time.  One brother taught math for 30 years, is now deceased. FAMILIES LIKE CAROL'S INSTILLED IN OUR GENERATION OUR CULTURE AND TRADITIONS OF HARD WORK, SAVE, AND NO DEBT.  WHAT'S HAPPENED!    

 

7/08.  TBC COMMUNITY SERVICE!  TERRIFIC TRIO AND WORKING MEMBERS!  After hearing about an urgent need, the TBCRTA Community Services Committee asked members to donate funds or supplies to MILLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, where 91.5% of children qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.  At the TBCRTA July meeting, $299. was given along with many school supplies.  Later about $250 in supplies were donated and 20 pair of sweatpants, which the school office keeps for emergency situations.  With this generous funding, the Services Committee spent time in Walmart, using the school grade level lists, buying 4 or 5 items for each grade, Kg. through 5th.  On Friday, 8/8,  7:30 AM., these items were delivered to Miller School, and arranged by grade levels on tables, ready for parents after registration.  TBCRTA members manned the tables--Carol Sosa, Kaye Klein-Albrandt, Mary Esther Seifers, Joyce Gourko, Doris Thompson, Carolyn Mohn, Joyce Bentley, Amy Sparks, Carol Martinez, Janet and George Partlowe, Donna Kenney, REPRESENTATIVE SHIELA KLINKER.  (Doris Thompson) 

On Monday, 8/11, 12 - 4 PM,  Carol Martinez, Joyce Gourko, Janet Partlowe, REPRESENTATIVE SHIELA KLINKER, returned to pass out supplies, once again meeting appreciative parents.

The Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Philanthropy Chair joined our teachers, putting his supplies with ours,  including items we had not bought, which was appreciated.  THIS PROJECT WAS GREAT COMMUNITY SERVICE.  

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  4/22/08.  Governor Mitch Daniels honored the IRTA for our volunteer efforts. HE WAS HONORING YOU!

     

4/08.  BIG NEWS!  WEB SITE!  Tracking and supporting IRTA legislation during the '09 legislative session will be facilitated by Web Site   rtatbc.org  WE WILL NEED YOUR HELP!   REMEMBER the 09 BUDGET YEAR!!