Mr. Glenn Asby "Andy" Reece, age 75, of Dutch Treat Road, Banner Elk, died Tuesday night, December 8, 2009 at Carolina's Medical Center. Born January 7, 1934 in Watauga County, he was a son of the late Asa L. and Kate Swift Reese. Mr. Reese was a graduate of Appalachian Teacher College and received his Master's of Education from Duke University. He was a retired educator, having taught at Bethel Elementary School, Cove Creek School, Watauga High School, and Appalachian State University. Andy was a baseball coach at Watauga High School and Principal at Blowing Rock Elementary School. After retirement from the local school system, Andy worked for the North Carolina Association of Educators as the Uniserve Director. He served in the US Army during the Korean Conflict and was a member of Beaver Dam Baptist Church. Andy was also a former member of the Watauga County School Board, having served ten years, including a term as Chairman.
Surviving are: his wife; Brenda Reese, four children; Butch Reese and wife Debbie of Vilas, Debbie Reese and fiancé Ronnie Carter of Vilas, Tina Jameson Brown and husband Charles of Valle Crucis, and Scott Jameson and wife Jennifer of Elk Park, five grandchildren; Joshua Reese of Boone, James Ward and fiancé Liz Ammerman of Boone, Macie Brown of Valle Crucis, and Hunter and Dakota Jameson of Elk Park, three great grandchildren; Jessica, Jordan and Richard of Boone, his brothers and sisters; Norman Reese of Conover, Kathleen Reese of Vilas, Richard Reese and wife Lou of Boiling Springs, Gladys Shoun of Sylvania, Ohio, Betty Shoun of Vilas, Clint Reese and wife Maude of Fuquay-Varina, and Dorcas Hodges of Vilas, two sisters-in-law, Jody Dugger of Burnsville and Barbara Reese of Ringgold, GA. He was preceded in death by his parents; Asa L and Kate Swift Reese and two brothers; Asa L. Reese and Lance Reese.
A celebration of life for Mr. Andy Reese will be conducted Monday evening at 7 o'clock at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel. Officiating will be Mr. Keith Reese and Mr. Mitchell Yates. The family will receive friends Monday evening prior to the service from 5 o'clock until 7 at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home. Flowers are accepted or memorials may be made to the Watauga Education Foundation for the Kate Swift Reese Scholarship Fund, Post Office Box 2658, Boone, NC 28607. Online condolences may be sent to the Reese family at austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Reese family.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
Next Meeting December 17
The Red Pencil
Newsletter of Watauga County Retired School Personnel
Vol.XII, No.3 December 2009_ntn1066@hotmail.com
December Meeting
Noon, Thursday, December 17, 2009
Deerfield Methodist Church
Cost per meal is $10, payable to Watauga Unit, NCRSP
Our holiday meeting will be considerably brighter for the sight of YOUR shining face and for the presence of The Steel Magnolias, a very special musical group from Ashe County. You certainly won’t want to miss their performance.
As we do each year in celebration of Dr. Seuss’ birthday in early March and the Read Across America program which honors him, we ask that you bring a new or gently-read children’s book to the December meeting for distribution to Watauga County children through the Santa’s Toy Box Program. Do NOT bring books that have been marked in. On the subject of Read Across America, if you would like to volunteer to read to kids, select an appropriate volume, put the first week of March on your calendar, and call your favorite elementary school.
Please, please, please bring as much non-perishable food as you can to the meeting for the Hunger Coalition. Powdered milk, soup, oatmeal, pasta products, canned fruit and vegetables, ANYthing non-perishable will be acceptable. Don’t forget those medicine bottles, either, and this month, please include all those annoying little plastic bags from the grocery store and Wal-Mart and every other shop in town. We can recycle them!
If your caller has not reached you by Sunday, December 14, call Margaret Sigmon, 264-2036, immediately to make your reservation.
RAFFLE! The raffle for Steve Breitenstein’s incredible apple pie brought nearly $100 to our scholarship fund – a new and very impressive record. In December, we have a handmade wooden bowl filled with seasonal goodies you’ll love. As usual, each ticket is $1 or six for $5. Raffle money always goes into the scholarship fund. By the way, if you have mailed your dues and not made a donation to the scholarship fund, you can always do that – and donations to the scholarship fund are tax-deductible if you itemize.
President’s Message
At this time of the year, Christmas memories come cascading into my thoughts. Most of them are filled with joy, some with sadness, and others are bittersweet. Memories of my beloved mother seem especially poignant as I think of the stories that she would tell to us, to her students, and to worshippers at our church. One of her favorites was The Story of the Other Wise Man by Henry Van Dyke. It was written in 1896 and tells of Artaban, the fourth Magi. In preparation of his journey to seek the Messiah, he sells his possessions and buys three precious gems, a sapphire, a ruby, and a pearl, to present to the Christ Child. However, as he hastens to join the other three wise men, he is delayed when he stops to minister to a dying man reaches Bethlehem too late to give his gifts to the Christ Child. Hearing that the family has fled to Egypt, he chooses to sell his sapphire to buy camels and provisions to cross the desert. As Artaban continues his quest, he takes time to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, and to heal the sick. He uses the ruby to save the life of a child and all he has left is the pearl. For thirty-three years searches fruitlessly for the Promised One. Hearing that He might be there, Artaban climbs a hill to Golgotha, but along the way he encounters a young woman being tormented by soldiers. He trades the luminous pearl for her life. Many years later, as Artaban lies dying, he hears a sweet voice saying, “Inasmuch as thou hast done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, thou hast done it to me,” and he understands that he has at last found the Messiah he has sought for so long.
As I am retelling this story, I see each of you like the “Other Wise Man,” giving your time to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, and to heal the sick. You give so freely of your time, your resources, your energy and your enthusiasm. The smiles, laughter, friendship, and contributions to our organization and community bring light to the darkness and bless each other and all of us.
May the blessings of this season be yours as you have blessed me,
Beth
Among Us Cats – Did you get the answers to our October quiz?
floating off the coast of California, Santa Catalina; sang “Morning Has Broken,” Cat Stevens; lives in a library, catalogue; causes change, catalyst; crawls on the ground, caterpillar
And Exactly How Old Are You?
The State NCRSP Office is doing a survey to determine how many of our members are over 80 years old. Even if you provided this information to Dot at the October meeting, please do it again. Call her at 264-3621 and give her your name and birthdate. You can leave the information on her answering machine or even send her an email at dot24@bellsouth.net.
Wintertime Instant Russian Tea Mix
4 cps sugar + 3 cps Tang + 2 cps instant tea, plain + ½ large pkg Kool-Aid or Country Time lemonade powder mix (approx. 1/3cp) + 2 tsp cinnamon + 2 tsp ground cloves
Mix together and store in airtight jar. To use mix 2 large tablespoons with hot water in cup. Makes a LOT. Perfect for small gifts and to warm your insides on a wintry day.
Computer Talk
ü Our fabulous and informative Watauga County NCRSP blogspot is http://wataugacountyretiredpersonnel.blogspot.com/. Lee Stroupe updates this site often with new photographs and copies of The Red Pencil and other goodies you’ll want to read.
ü For NCRSP, the website address is www.ncrsp.org. If you are trying to reach Pam or Dave Deardorff, their numbers in Raleigh are 800-662-7924, extension 244 for Pam and 242 for Dave.
ü Dot Barker has calculated the savings to our unit when we send The Red Pencil to you via email. Each copy we don’t have to mail saves us approximately $1, and that mounts up. Currently we have seventy-one names on our email list, including our state officers and district president, and that means we don’t spend $71 per issue on printing and mailing. If you would like to receive your newsletter by email, please send a note to Nanci at ntn@skybest.com. Thanks so much!
Remember that our state insurance will pay for an eye exam before January 1, 2010!
Did You Know…
that your volunteer hours are valued by the State of North Carolina at approximately $20 per hour, or approximately ELEVEN MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR? When you report your hours, you aren’t patting yourself on the back or asking to be congratulated and admired (although you certainly are admired and to be congratulated!); you’re telling our legislators just exactly how much we retired school personnel continue to be of value to the quality of life in our state. You are helping our lobbyists to safeguard our retirement benefits every time you report those hours. Bring your completed form to the December meeting or mail it to Eula Mae Fox, 199 Watauga Dr., Boone NC 28607, by December 31. You’ll find ANOTHER copy of the form at the end of this newsletter.
Membership Matters!
Membership is a topic that just won’t go away, and it shouldn’t. We need every single member we can attract and we need new and present members to be aware of the benefits of their membership and participation. At present, we have 114 members in our unit, 80 of whom are on payroll deduction and 36 of whom pay their dues by check, and 8 new members this year.
In a change in policy, NEW members only, not present or past members, may join NCRSP on a pro-rated basis if they are on payroll deduction. If you have colleagues who have been thinking of joining us but did not come to the August or October meetings, please let them know that they can join now or at any time during our year by paying the pro-rated sum. Call Dot Barker, 254-3621, for specific details.
On the subject of membership, we were delighted to welcome three retired teachers from Avery County at our October meeting and hope that Lola Young and Johnny and Carolyn Canupp will return to be with us and will bring their colleagues from our neighboring county!
Spreading the good word of the activities of our unit at the District III convention were Beth Carrin, Eula Mae Fox, Dot Barker, Sue Aldridge, June Mann, and Roland Moy. Our membership was well represented!
A Christmas True or False Quiz
___1. Poinsettias are quite poisonous if eaten and should be kept out of reach of children and pets.
___ 2. According to tradition, the first historical personage to decorate a fir tree with lights (actually candles, in those days) to celebrate Christmas was Martin Luther.
___ 3. The character "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" was originally created as a holiday promotional gimmick for the Montgomery Ward department store chain.
___ 4. "Xmas" is an abbreviation for Christmas because in Greek, the language of the New Testament, Christ begins with Chi, written as an X.
_ 5. The shape and color scheme of candy canes were originally intended to symbolize the purity of Jesus Christ and the blood he shed on the cross.
___ 6. Known to us today as "Santa Claus," the third-century monk St. Nicholas originally came to be associated with Christmas because he died in the month of December.
___ 7. The earliest commercially-made Christmas card was sold in 1843.
___ 8. The tradition of "decking the halls" with boughs of holly and other greenery originated from the need in bygone days to preserve plant life from harsh weather by keeping it indoors during freezing temperatures. the supernatural belief that bringing greenery in the house in midwinter would ensure its return in the spring.
___ 9. The tradition of hanging stockings by the chimney for Christmas was inspired by the legend of St. Nicholas, who is said to have provided dowries for three poverty-stricken sisters by dropping gold coins down their chimney and into the stockings they had left out to dry.
___10. Modern depictions of Santa Claus as a jolly, fat elf clothed in red and white with rosy cheeks and a twinkle in his eye owe their inspiration largely to Coca-Cola advertisements of the 1930s.
Christmas Quiz answers: 1. False 2. True 3. True 4. True 5. False 6. False. He was actually famous for his kindness to children and generosity to the poor. 7. True 8. False. Actually it was the supernatural belief that bringing greenery in the house in midwinter would ensure its return in the spring. 9. True 10. True. The other influences on our image of Santa Claus are the 19th-century cartoonist Thomas Nast and the Clement Moore description in his “Night Before Christmas.”
NCRSP Community Participation - Volunteer Hours 2009
Newsletter of Watauga County Retired School Personnel
Vol.XII, No.3 December 2009_ntn1066@hotmail.com
December Meeting
Noon, Thursday, December 17, 2009
Deerfield Methodist Church
Cost per meal is $10, payable to Watauga Unit, NCRSP
Our holiday meeting will be considerably brighter for the sight of YOUR shining face and for the presence of The Steel Magnolias, a very special musical group from Ashe County. You certainly won’t want to miss their performance.
As we do each year in celebration of Dr. Seuss’ birthday in early March and the Read Across America program which honors him, we ask that you bring a new or gently-read children’s book to the December meeting for distribution to Watauga County children through the Santa’s Toy Box Program. Do NOT bring books that have been marked in. On the subject of Read Across America, if you would like to volunteer to read to kids, select an appropriate volume, put the first week of March on your calendar, and call your favorite elementary school.
Please, please, please bring as much non-perishable food as you can to the meeting for the Hunger Coalition. Powdered milk, soup, oatmeal, pasta products, canned fruit and vegetables, ANYthing non-perishable will be acceptable. Don’t forget those medicine bottles, either, and this month, please include all those annoying little plastic bags from the grocery store and Wal-Mart and every other shop in town. We can recycle them!
If your caller has not reached you by Sunday, December 14, call Margaret Sigmon, 264-2036, immediately to make your reservation.
RAFFLE! The raffle for Steve Breitenstein’s incredible apple pie brought nearly $100 to our scholarship fund – a new and very impressive record. In December, we have a handmade wooden bowl filled with seasonal goodies you’ll love. As usual, each ticket is $1 or six for $5. Raffle money always goes into the scholarship fund. By the way, if you have mailed your dues and not made a donation to the scholarship fund, you can always do that – and donations to the scholarship fund are tax-deductible if you itemize.
President’s Message
At this time of the year, Christmas memories come cascading into my thoughts. Most of them are filled with joy, some with sadness, and others are bittersweet. Memories of my beloved mother seem especially poignant as I think of the stories that she would tell to us, to her students, and to worshippers at our church. One of her favorites was The Story of the Other Wise Man by Henry Van Dyke. It was written in 1896 and tells of Artaban, the fourth Magi. In preparation of his journey to seek the Messiah, he sells his possessions and buys three precious gems, a sapphire, a ruby, and a pearl, to present to the Christ Child. However, as he hastens to join the other three wise men, he is delayed when he stops to minister to a dying man reaches Bethlehem too late to give his gifts to the Christ Child. Hearing that the family has fled to Egypt, he chooses to sell his sapphire to buy camels and provisions to cross the desert. As Artaban continues his quest, he takes time to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, and to heal the sick. He uses the ruby to save the life of a child and all he has left is the pearl. For thirty-three years searches fruitlessly for the Promised One. Hearing that He might be there, Artaban climbs a hill to Golgotha, but along the way he encounters a young woman being tormented by soldiers. He trades the luminous pearl for her life. Many years later, as Artaban lies dying, he hears a sweet voice saying, “Inasmuch as thou hast done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, thou hast done it to me,” and he understands that he has at last found the Messiah he has sought for so long.
As I am retelling this story, I see each of you like the “Other Wise Man,” giving your time to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, and to heal the sick. You give so freely of your time, your resources, your energy and your enthusiasm. The smiles, laughter, friendship, and contributions to our organization and community bring light to the darkness and bless each other and all of us.
May the blessings of this season be yours as you have blessed me,
Beth
Among Us Cats – Did you get the answers to our October quiz?
floating off the coast of California, Santa Catalina; sang “Morning Has Broken,” Cat Stevens; lives in a library, catalogue; causes change, catalyst; crawls on the ground, caterpillar
And Exactly How Old Are You?
The State NCRSP Office is doing a survey to determine how many of our members are over 80 years old. Even if you provided this information to Dot at the October meeting, please do it again. Call her at 264-3621 and give her your name and birthdate. You can leave the information on her answering machine or even send her an email at dot24@bellsouth.net.
Wintertime Instant Russian Tea Mix
4 cps sugar + 3 cps Tang + 2 cps instant tea, plain + ½ large pkg Kool-Aid or Country Time lemonade powder mix (approx. 1/3cp) + 2 tsp cinnamon + 2 tsp ground cloves
Mix together and store in airtight jar. To use mix 2 large tablespoons with hot water in cup. Makes a LOT. Perfect for small gifts and to warm your insides on a wintry day.
Computer Talk
ü Our fabulous and informative Watauga County NCRSP blogspot is http://wataugacountyretiredpersonnel.blogspot.com/. Lee Stroupe updates this site often with new photographs and copies of The Red Pencil and other goodies you’ll want to read.
ü For NCRSP, the website address is www.ncrsp.org. If you are trying to reach Pam or Dave Deardorff, their numbers in Raleigh are 800-662-7924, extension 244 for Pam and 242 for Dave.
ü Dot Barker has calculated the savings to our unit when we send The Red Pencil to you via email. Each copy we don’t have to mail saves us approximately $1, and that mounts up. Currently we have seventy-one names on our email list, including our state officers and district president, and that means we don’t spend $71 per issue on printing and mailing. If you would like to receive your newsletter by email, please send a note to Nanci at ntn@skybest.com. Thanks so much!
Remember that our state insurance will pay for an eye exam before January 1, 2010!
Did You Know…
that your volunteer hours are valued by the State of North Carolina at approximately $20 per hour, or approximately ELEVEN MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR? When you report your hours, you aren’t patting yourself on the back or asking to be congratulated and admired (although you certainly are admired and to be congratulated!); you’re telling our legislators just exactly how much we retired school personnel continue to be of value to the quality of life in our state. You are helping our lobbyists to safeguard our retirement benefits every time you report those hours. Bring your completed form to the December meeting or mail it to Eula Mae Fox, 199 Watauga Dr., Boone NC 28607, by December 31. You’ll find ANOTHER copy of the form at the end of this newsletter.
Membership Matters!
Membership is a topic that just won’t go away, and it shouldn’t. We need every single member we can attract and we need new and present members to be aware of the benefits of their membership and participation. At present, we have 114 members in our unit, 80 of whom are on payroll deduction and 36 of whom pay their dues by check, and 8 new members this year.
In a change in policy, NEW members only, not present or past members, may join NCRSP on a pro-rated basis if they are on payroll deduction. If you have colleagues who have been thinking of joining us but did not come to the August or October meetings, please let them know that they can join now or at any time during our year by paying the pro-rated sum. Call Dot Barker, 254-3621, for specific details.
On the subject of membership, we were delighted to welcome three retired teachers from Avery County at our October meeting and hope that Lola Young and Johnny and Carolyn Canupp will return to be with us and will bring their colleagues from our neighboring county!
Spreading the good word of the activities of our unit at the District III convention were Beth Carrin, Eula Mae Fox, Dot Barker, Sue Aldridge, June Mann, and Roland Moy. Our membership was well represented!
A Christmas True or False Quiz
___1. Poinsettias are quite poisonous if eaten and should be kept out of reach of children and pets.
___ 2. According to tradition, the first historical personage to decorate a fir tree with lights (actually candles, in those days) to celebrate Christmas was Martin Luther.
___ 3. The character "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" was originally created as a holiday promotional gimmick for the Montgomery Ward department store chain.
___ 4. "Xmas" is an abbreviation for Christmas because in Greek, the language of the New Testament, Christ begins with Chi, written as an X.
_ 5. The shape and color scheme of candy canes were originally intended to symbolize the purity of Jesus Christ and the blood he shed on the cross.
___ 6. Known to us today as "Santa Claus," the third-century monk St. Nicholas originally came to be associated with Christmas because he died in the month of December.
___ 7. The earliest commercially-made Christmas card was sold in 1843.
___ 8. The tradition of "decking the halls" with boughs of holly and other greenery originated from the need in bygone days to preserve plant life from harsh weather by keeping it indoors during freezing temperatures. the supernatural belief that bringing greenery in the house in midwinter would ensure its return in the spring.
___ 9. The tradition of hanging stockings by the chimney for Christmas was inspired by the legend of St. Nicholas, who is said to have provided dowries for three poverty-stricken sisters by dropping gold coins down their chimney and into the stockings they had left out to dry.
___10. Modern depictions of Santa Claus as a jolly, fat elf clothed in red and white with rosy cheeks and a twinkle in his eye owe their inspiration largely to Coca-Cola advertisements of the 1930s.
Christmas Quiz answers: 1. False 2. True 3. True 4. True 5. False 6. False. He was actually famous for his kindness to children and generosity to the poor. 7. True 8. False. Actually it was the supernatural belief that bringing greenery in the house in midwinter would ensure its return in the spring. 9. True 10. True. The other influences on our image of Santa Claus are the 19th-century cartoonist Thomas Nast and the Clement Moore description in his “Night Before Christmas.”
NCRSP Community Participation - Volunteer Hours 2009
Monday, November 30, 2009
Poem by Eugene Byrd
Retired English teacher and minister Eugene Byrd often writes poems and posts them on the bulletin board at church. Eula Mae Fox copied his latest creation.
If
Eugene Byrd
If your car breaks down,
Tow it.
If your boat hits a shoal,
Row it.
If your grass is still growing,
Mow it.
If you love a garden,
Grow it.
If you have a bad habit,
Throw it.
If your life is too fast,
Slow it.
If you are blessed with love,
Show it.
If you are filled with light,
Glow it.
If you succeed in the world,
You will know it.
And if I had a better mind,
I’d be a better poet!
If
Eugene Byrd
If your car breaks down,
Tow it.
If your boat hits a shoal,
Row it.
If your grass is still growing,
Mow it.
If you love a garden,
Grow it.
If you have a bad habit,
Throw it.
If your life is too fast,
Slow it.
If you are blessed with love,
Show it.
If you are filled with light,
Glow it.
If you succeed in the world,
You will know it.
And if I had a better mind,
I’d be a better poet!
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
October Red Pencil
The Red Pencil
Newsletter of Watauga County Retired School Personnel
Vol.XII, No.2 October 2009 ntn1066@hotmail.com___
October Meeting
When: Thursday, October 15, NOON, $10, check made payable to Watauga County NCRSP
Where: Deerfield Methodist Church
Why: To hear a report on current conditions for retired school personnel from Pam Deardorff, executive secretary of NCRSP and lobbyist, and her husband, Dave, who is a financial officer with the NCRSP office
With: staples and canned goods for the Hunger Coalition (powdered milk, peanut butter, soup), medicine bottles and plastic bags
all the lovely, noisy, loose change you’ve been collecting for the Scholarship Fund
a fistful of dollars to purchase tickets for a most special raffle [See below.]
If your caller has not reached you by October 11, phone Margaret Sigmon to make your reservation, 264-2036.
A Very Special Raffle
Once upon a time in the mountains, a young boy spent snow days with his grandmother, learning from her how to make fabulous apple pies from scratch. In fact, despite his successful career in education and his considerable skills as a husband, father, and craftsperson, among certain circles, this young boy has become known as the consummate pie maker. Fortunately for us, he has just joined the Watauga Unit of North Carolina Retired School Personnel, and in October, STEVE BREITENSTEIN is trading his football talents for his culinary talents and baking one of his famous apple pies just for us to raffle for the benefit of our Scholarship Fund. Tickets will be $1 each or six for $5. Be clever and save your dollars now for a chance on this rare treat.
Contributions/Suggestions/Email Edition of The Red Pencil, anyone? Change of email or snail mail address?
ntn1066@hotmail.com or snail mail to
Nanci Tolbert Nance, P.O. Box 188, Blowing Rock NC 28605
The Importance of Membership
If you have not renewed your membership in the Watauga Unit of NCRSP for this year, you will find the amount of your dues in the upper right corner of the mailing label on this newsletter. Your Horace Mann Accidental Death Insurance policy will end on October 31 if you do not renew your membership by that time.
If you are newly retired and have not joined yet, please make your decision now to join this vital organization. You need us, and we need you, too! In fact, we need every retired educator to be on our membership roster in order to strengthen our position as advocates for retaining and improving benefits for all retired school personnel in this state. Together, we have strength.
You can pay your dues at our October meeting or mail them to Dot Barker, 451 Poplar Hill Dr., Boone NC 28607. If you have questions, please call Dot at 264-3621 or Barbara and Roland Moy, 264-8811.
On the Subject of Membership: HELP!
Do you know any retired teachers in Avery County? Because their NCRSP unit has not been active for several years, we have received permission from District III to invite them to attend one of our meetings and even to join us. In this cause, your personal touch could be extremely effective. Through Phi Delta Kappa or Delta Kappa Gamma or another organization, you may know several retired educators in Avery County, and if you do, please give them a call and invite them to our October meeting to hear Pam Deardorff speak and to enjoy the fellowship of fellow educators.
Read any good labels lately?
General Mills is putting Box Top$ for Education labels (pictured above) on the bottoms of Kleenex, cereals, and all their other products and donating cash for each one you cut out to the school of your choice. So far, General Mills has donated more than $300 million dollars to classrooms across the country. At our meeting in October, La Verne will have a small plastic bag each of us for our collection and she will deliver the bags to schools. Check those General Mills products, folks!
District III Fall Convention
The District III Convention of NCRSP is in Morganton this year, at the First Baptist Church on October 16. This meeting is always interesting and informative, and the drive to Morganton on a beautiful autumn Friday should be a real treat. Cost of attending is $15. If you’re interested in being a part of this gathering, call Beth at 264-9227 after the 23rd of September but before the 26th and leave a message on her answering machine.
Our Scholarship Recipient Sends Her Thanks
It is with sincere gratitude that I thank you for your generous contribution to my continuing education at North Carolina State University. With your financial assistance I will be able to purchase my textbooks for both the fall and spring semesters. Your generosity is greatly appreciated. Thanks again.
Kathryn London
The ABC’s of the F L U
The regular flu and the H1N1, or Swine, Flu are NOT the same thing. All of us need to take the regular flu shot as soon as possible, but we retirees are not in the population most susceptible to the H1N1 flu. In fact, doctors believe that we may actually carry a kind of immunity to H1N1. At any rate, get your regular flu shot as you normally do and wait for further developments on the second shot. Experts now say that the supply of the H1N1 shots will be sufficient for our entire population.
ALSO, statistics say that 50% of people over 50 will have shingles, and we all know that’s not a happy thought. If you have not had the shingles shot, order it at Boone Drug at Deerfield, make an appointment to go the pharmacy, and BCBS should cover everything but $30. If you have any questions, check with the nurse downstairs at Deerfield.
Recording Those Volunteer Hours!
We all sound like broken records when we talk about recording our volunteer hours, but the subject is important and the process is really so simple that we must say it again. We are NOT tooting our own horns or showing off or bragging when we report the amount of time we spend in service to others. Instead, we are giving support to the assertion of the NCRSP that we continue to be a valuable resource to the quality of life in our state. Each of our volunteer hours is valued at more than $22, and the accumulated value of our service to the state is a matter for considerable personal and professional pride. Please, please, PLEASE keep up with your volunteer hours for this year.
Volunteer Hours 2009
A little email courtesy, please.
Do you love forwarding jokes and pictures of children and animals and warnings about viruses to your friends? If you do, stop it – UNLESS you remember one simple fact: every time you send an email message with all your friends’ addresses in the TO box, you’re exposing each one of them to a possible attack by computer hackers. You’ve given one person’s address to five or ten or fifty other people who may be total strangers, and that’s more than rude; it’s dangerous.
Sharing, however, is fun, and if you’re going to forward ANYTHING to a group, follow this simple procedure. Do it EVERY SINGLE TIME.
1. Create an entry in your address book for Unidentified Recipient and give it your own email address.
2. Locate the BCC box just below the TO and CC boxes at the top of a new email. If you can’t find it, ask someone to show you where it is, but do not send mass emails until you locate it.
3. Click Forward on the email you wish to share.
4. Type Unidentified Recipient in the TO box.
5. Type all your friends’ names in the BCC box. [BCC stands for Blind Carbon Copies.]
6. In the body of the message, highlight any personal information and the addresses of all previous recipients (Not everyone is as polite as you are.) and hit Delete. Now you have a clean message that contains only the material you wish to share.
7. Review quickly to see that Unidentified Recipient is in the TO box and your friends’ names/addresses are in the BCC box.
8. Hit Send.
9. Wait for your friends to thank you and to be impressed by your conscientiousness and kindness. You’re saving everyone a lot of trouble!
Green hints from SECU website:
Instead of sending old rugs, towels and blankets to the landfill, donate them to your local animal shelters.
As part of your pre-winter cleaning routine, make sure your refrigerator's condenser coils are cleaned so air can circulate freely. When dust and pet hair build up on the coils, the motor works harder and uses more electricity.
When the time comes to replace appliances and electronics, buy products that have earned the ENERGY STAR® rating. These products provide the features and performance you want while saving energy and reducing greenhouse emissions.
Ceiling fans can help keep you comfortable even in winter. Reversing the direction of the blades pushes warm air down into the room. Fans should turn counter-clockwise in the summer and clockwise in the winter.
The best way to warm up a vehicle is to drive it. No more than 30 seconds of idling on winter days is needed – anything more wastes fuel and increases emissions.
Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters and radiators as needed; make sure they're not blocked by furniture, carpeting or curtains.
One compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb is four times more efficient than a regular bulb, while giving off the same amount of light.
During the winter months, set your thermostat at 68 to 70°F during the day and 60 to 65°F at night.
Keep shades up in the winter and remove any obstructions to sun-facing windows to allow the heat of the sun to warm your home.
IN MEMORIAM
The members of the Watauga Unit of NCRSP sends our deepest sympathies to the family of Gaynelle Wilson, in whose memory we have added $25 to our scholarship fund.
At our August meeting:
Ben Strickland, chair of our Legislative Committee, gave us the latest information about our retirement and insurance. We are grateful for his careful attention to the details that matter so much to us!
La Verne Franklin, vice president of Watauga NCRSP, presents a handmade card to Sue Aldridge in appreciation of her years of service to this unit as our historian. Thanks to Sue, we have beautiful, organized scrapbooks filled with photographs, articles, and other memorabilia.
Please note that we will also vote to approve our operating budget at our October meeting.
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Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Legislative Summary of 2009
Summary of Legislative Changes Affecting Retired School Personnel
The “long session” of the General Assembly convened January 28, 2009 and adjourned August 11, 2009. The Assembly will reconvene for the “short session”
on May 12, 2010
Appropriations:
Senate Bill 202: (Session Law 2009-451) Appropriations Act
• Appropriates $29 million for 2009-2010 and $160 million for 2010-2011 to the State Retirement Trust Fund. The $29 million moves the State contribution rate from 3.36% to 3.57%, and the $160 million appropriation moves the contribution rate from 3.57% to 4.93%.
• No Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for retirees or state employees.
• Appropriates $132 million for 2009-2010 and $276 million for 2010-2011 to the State Health Plan. The state will continue to pay premiums for active and retired employees: $287.20/mth for Medicare eligible retirees, up from $272; $377.22/mth for non-Medicare eligible retirees, up from $346.38.
State Health Plan
Senate Bill 287: (Session Law 2009-16) State Health Plan (SHP)
Ratified April 23, 2009, this law appropriated $250 million to cover the shortfall for 2008-2009 and outlined a comprehensive plan to fund the SHP for 2009-2011 and set new initiatives. The law:
• Eliminates the PPO Plus Option (90/10 Plan) effective July 1, 2009.
• Adds a Comprehensive Wellness Initiative for all non- Medicare eligible members: Smoking cessation plan effective July 1, 2010 and weight management plan effective July 1, 2011.
• Increases cost for certain branded prescription drugs by $5. For branded prescriptions with generic equivalents, members will pay the generic co-pay plus the difference between the cost for the generic and the branded drug. (Generics stay the same---$10)
• Requires that coverage of non-acute specialty medications, excluding cancer medications, be provided by a specialty pharmacy vendor and may impose a co-payment of 25% of the cost of the drug (not to exceed $100) per prescription per 30 day supply. Description of specialty drugs is included in the bill but must be a drug that exceeds $400 per prescription.
• Requires prescriptions to be dispensed on a 30 day supply, instead of 34 day supply.
• Eliminates (January 1, 2010) the routine eye examinations.
• In the Standard Plan (80/20) PPO: Increases the in-network annual deductible to $600 (from $300) and the annual coinsurance maximum to $2750 (from $1750). Increases the in-network primary care co-pay from $20 to $25 and the in-network urgent care co-pay from $50 to $75. Increases the in-network specialist co-pay to $60, except for mental health/substance abuse services, chiropractic services, physical, occupational and speech therapy services which will be $45. Increases the in-network and out-of–network inpatient co-pay to $200 from $150. Different amounts apply to the PPO Basic Plan (70/30).
• Clarifies ‘eligibility’ definitions/coverage
• Includes contract provisions between Plan and third party administrator and pharmacy manager and calls for independent audit.
• Creates a Blue Ribbon Task Force to review the governance of the SHP “and to make recommendations for changes that will ensure the ongoing financial stability of the Plan….”
• Sets the premium rate increases at 8.9% for 2009 and 8.9% in 2010 for those who pay for dependent coverage such as spouse/child or family.
• Maintains fiscal year plan instead of moving to a calendar year.
House Bill 1274: SHP Blue Ribbon Task Force and SHP Changes
• Makes technical changes to the Blue Ribbon Task Force (created in SB 287) and other changes to the SHP, including a provision regarding prescription drugs which states that SHP members shall pay the lesser of the copayment price or the pharmacy’s cash price to the general public for a particular prescription. Pharmacies may be removed from the pharmacy network for violation of this provision.
State Treasurer/ Retirement
• Senate 691 (Session Law 2009-283) includes the Treasurer’s Governance and Transparency Act of 2009. The Transparency Act increases the Investment Advisory Committee from five to seven members by adding two additional public members with experience in large investment programs. It also outlines how the State Treasurer must discharge her duties regarding the retirement systems and if the Treasurer’s investment authority is ever broadened by the General Assembly, the treasurer must provide an annual report on the use and results of this new authority.
• Senate Bill 703 (Session Law 2009-98) State Treasurer Investments
This law expands the set of assets in which the pension funds can invest.
• Senate Bill 658 (Session Law 2009-378) Modifies the membership of the Supplemental Retirement Board by requiring that one of the Governor’s appointments be a state or local government retiree. The law also covers retirement provisions for furloughed local governmental employees.
Retire/Rehire (Return to Work)
• The General Assembly did not extend the Return to Work provision for teachers, thus the current law allowing reemployed retirees to work exempt from the earnings cap in the NC Public Schools or ‘double-dipping’ will no longer be allowed, starting October 1, 2009. For more information visit: www.ncae.org
• House Bill 94 (Session Law 2009-11) changes the definition of retirement to clarify that unpaid volunteer service (answering phones, monitoring halls and cafeteria, etc.) in a local school administrative unit is allowable during the six months after retirement.
• Senate Bill 204 (Session Law 2009-137) allows retirees in the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System to return to full time employment as Nursing Instructors with a State-supported community college or a State-supported university and continue to receive their pension, for a maximum of three years. The law requires these retirees to have a six month break in service before being rehired. Additionally, the employing entity must certify that it has a shortage of qualified nursing instructors and has made a good faith effort to fill positions with qualified instructors who are not retirees. The law expires June 30, 2013.
(Prepared by NC Retired School Personnel—August 11, 2009)
The “long session” of the General Assembly convened January 28, 2009 and adjourned August 11, 2009. The Assembly will reconvene for the “short session”
on May 12, 2010
Appropriations:
Senate Bill 202: (Session Law 2009-451) Appropriations Act
• Appropriates $29 million for 2009-2010 and $160 million for 2010-2011 to the State Retirement Trust Fund. The $29 million moves the State contribution rate from 3.36% to 3.57%, and the $160 million appropriation moves the contribution rate from 3.57% to 4.93%.
• No Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for retirees or state employees.
• Appropriates $132 million for 2009-2010 and $276 million for 2010-2011 to the State Health Plan. The state will continue to pay premiums for active and retired employees: $287.20/mth for Medicare eligible retirees, up from $272; $377.22/mth for non-Medicare eligible retirees, up from $346.38.
State Health Plan
Senate Bill 287: (Session Law 2009-16) State Health Plan (SHP)
Ratified April 23, 2009, this law appropriated $250 million to cover the shortfall for 2008-2009 and outlined a comprehensive plan to fund the SHP for 2009-2011 and set new initiatives. The law:
• Eliminates the PPO Plus Option (90/10 Plan) effective July 1, 2009.
• Adds a Comprehensive Wellness Initiative for all non- Medicare eligible members: Smoking cessation plan effective July 1, 2010 and weight management plan effective July 1, 2011.
• Increases cost for certain branded prescription drugs by $5. For branded prescriptions with generic equivalents, members will pay the generic co-pay plus the difference between the cost for the generic and the branded drug. (Generics stay the same---$10)
• Requires that coverage of non-acute specialty medications, excluding cancer medications, be provided by a specialty pharmacy vendor and may impose a co-payment of 25% of the cost of the drug (not to exceed $100) per prescription per 30 day supply. Description of specialty drugs is included in the bill but must be a drug that exceeds $400 per prescription.
• Requires prescriptions to be dispensed on a 30 day supply, instead of 34 day supply.
• Eliminates (January 1, 2010) the routine eye examinations.
• In the Standard Plan (80/20) PPO: Increases the in-network annual deductible to $600 (from $300) and the annual coinsurance maximum to $2750 (from $1750). Increases the in-network primary care co-pay from $20 to $25 and the in-network urgent care co-pay from $50 to $75. Increases the in-network specialist co-pay to $60, except for mental health/substance abuse services, chiropractic services, physical, occupational and speech therapy services which will be $45. Increases the in-network and out-of–network inpatient co-pay to $200 from $150. Different amounts apply to the PPO Basic Plan (70/30).
• Clarifies ‘eligibility’ definitions/coverage
• Includes contract provisions between Plan and third party administrator and pharmacy manager and calls for independent audit.
• Creates a Blue Ribbon Task Force to review the governance of the SHP “and to make recommendations for changes that will ensure the ongoing financial stability of the Plan….”
• Sets the premium rate increases at 8.9% for 2009 and 8.9% in 2010 for those who pay for dependent coverage such as spouse/child or family.
• Maintains fiscal year plan instead of moving to a calendar year.
House Bill 1274: SHP Blue Ribbon Task Force and SHP Changes
• Makes technical changes to the Blue Ribbon Task Force (created in SB 287) and other changes to the SHP, including a provision regarding prescription drugs which states that SHP members shall pay the lesser of the copayment price or the pharmacy’s cash price to the general public for a particular prescription. Pharmacies may be removed from the pharmacy network for violation of this provision.
State Treasurer/ Retirement
• Senate 691 (Session Law 2009-283) includes the Treasurer’s Governance and Transparency Act of 2009. The Transparency Act increases the Investment Advisory Committee from five to seven members by adding two additional public members with experience in large investment programs. It also outlines how the State Treasurer must discharge her duties regarding the retirement systems and if the Treasurer’s investment authority is ever broadened by the General Assembly, the treasurer must provide an annual report on the use and results of this new authority.
• Senate Bill 703 (Session Law 2009-98) State Treasurer Investments
This law expands the set of assets in which the pension funds can invest.
• Senate Bill 658 (Session Law 2009-378) Modifies the membership of the Supplemental Retirement Board by requiring that one of the Governor’s appointments be a state or local government retiree. The law also covers retirement provisions for furloughed local governmental employees.
Retire/Rehire (Return to Work)
• The General Assembly did not extend the Return to Work provision for teachers, thus the current law allowing reemployed retirees to work exempt from the earnings cap in the NC Public Schools or ‘double-dipping’ will no longer be allowed, starting October 1, 2009. For more information visit: www.ncae.org
• House Bill 94 (Session Law 2009-11) changes the definition of retirement to clarify that unpaid volunteer service (answering phones, monitoring halls and cafeteria, etc.) in a local school administrative unit is allowable during the six months after retirement.
• Senate Bill 204 (Session Law 2009-137) allows retirees in the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System to return to full time employment as Nursing Instructors with a State-supported community college or a State-supported university and continue to receive their pension, for a maximum of three years. The law requires these retirees to have a six month break in service before being rehired. Additionally, the employing entity must certify that it has a shortage of qualified nursing instructors and has made a good faith effort to fill positions with qualified instructors who are not retirees. The law expires June 30, 2013.
(Prepared by NC Retired School Personnel—August 11, 2009)
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Friday, August 7, 2009
Gaynelle Banner Wilson dies August 4th
Gaynelle Banner Wilson
(October 30, 1937 - August 4, 2009)
Mrs. Gaynelle Banner Wilson, age 74, of 2210 Mast Gap Road, Sugar Grove, died Tuesday, August 4, 2009, at Blowing Rock Hospital.
Mrs. Wilson was born October 3, 1934 in Avery County, a daughter of Beatrice Teague Banner and the late Robert Martin Banner. She was a retired music educator for the Watauga County School System, where she worked for 30 years.
In addition to her mother, Mrs. Wilson is survived by one son, Derek Martin Wilson and his friend, Donna Francis of Vilas; one daughter, Heather Wilson Wingler and husband Eddie of Banner Elk; one grandson, Brandon Mast Combs of Sugar Grove; one granddaughter, Haley Eden Wingler of Banner Elk. She is also survived by a number of aunts, uncles, one niece, and cousins.
In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by one brother, Samuel Teague Banner.
Funeral services for Mrs. Gaynelle Banner Wilson will be conducted Sunday afternoon, August 9, 2009, at 2:00 o'clock, at Henson Chapel United Methodist Church. The body will lie in state, at the church, from 1:00 until 2:00 o'clock. Officiating will be Reverend Judy Eurey and Reverend Richard Moore. Burial will follow in Newland City Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Saturday evening, from 6:00 until 8:00 o'clock, at Hampton Funeral Service.
Flowers are appreciated, or memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, in care of Glenda Hodges, 810 Parkcrest Drive, Boone, North Carolina, 28607, or to Henson Chapel United Methodist Church, in care of Donna Francis, 381 Laurel Branch Drive, Vilas, North Carolina, 28692.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
August Red Pencil-- Details of our kickoff breakfast for 2009-2010 school year
The Red Pencil
Newsletter of Watauga County Retired School Personnel
Vol.XII, No.1 August 2009 ntn1066@hotmail.com
August Meeting
When: WEDNESDAY, 12 August 2009, 9AM
Registration, payment of dues to begin at 8AM
Where: Deerfield Methodist Church
How much: $10, check payable to Watauga County NCRSP
for a buffet country breakfast catered by George Wellington
What: getting together on the first day of school, welcoming new
retirees, and enjoying the pleasure of each other’s company
If your caller does not contact you, call Margaret Sigmon at 264-2036 before 8 PM on Saturday, the 8th of August or email her at margaretsigmon@bellsouth.net. NOTE NOTE NOTE that school begins on WEDNESDAY this year, NOT Thursday! Don’t forget to put your golden apple pin on your lapel, either!
By now, this information is standard, but it still matters and you can really help “the staff” to simplify this first meeting of the year by being ready when you arrive to:
1.pay your dues. You’ll find more about the amount later in this newsletter, but you know by now that your dues are noted on your mailing label on this issue of the RP. Bring a check in that amount made out to Watauga Unit, NCRSP. Remember to pay particular attention to the article about dues later in this newsletter;
2.contribute to the Scholarship Fund. The sum of $5 is a suggestion, but we’re happy to be the recipients of your generosity in any amount;
3.drop all the lovely, noisy, loose change you’ve been collecting into the little watering cans at your table;
4.keep up with your volunteer hours for Community Participation chairperson Eula Mae Fox; and
5.pile the tables just inside the door high with school supplies for distribution to the students in the Watauga County Schools. Marshall Ashcraft, who is responsible for getting our contributions into the schools, says that he probably receives more spiral notebooks than the students need but that they would really appreciate some 1 ½” 3-ring binders and backpacks. Because the backpacks usually cost between $15 and $20, perhaps you’d like to team up with another member or two and hit Wal-mart! Remember that school supplies are tax-free on the weekend before school begins.
A REALLY IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM MARGARET SIGMON
The members of Watauga County North Carolina Retired School Personnel receive a call before each of the five annual meetings reminding them of the meetings and confirming their attendance. Our volunteers make many phone calls and leave many messages on answering machines. If you find a message on your machine, returning that call is EXTREMELY important so that the callers can get their lists to Margaret Sigmon by Sunday before the meeting day. A total number must be given to George Wellington on Monday so he can do his grocery order. If you do not receive a call about the meeting, please phone Margaret Sigmon at 264-2036.
President’s Message
Greetings and a big, hearty welcome to all! How much fun it is to meet together at breakfast on the first day of school to celebrate with each other! Even more than usual, in these troubling times, we need the encouragement and friendship of our fellow educators and the support and the strength of our organization to fight for our continued health and retirement benefits. Even though most of us are no longer “on the front line,” we are concerned, dismayed, and perplexed with the proposed legislative cuts in education. Issues, for which we fought, are under attack. The teachers of our state, aided by the diligent work of our NCAE/NCRSP officers and lobbyists, have spoken again and again to preserve the gains that have been made. Each time we receive a legislative update from Ben Strickland, we ask ourselves, “Where will it end?”
The only answer to save teacher jobs and maintain class size is to increase revenue. While searching the horizon for a view of the newly-erected wind turbine from our house, my granddaughter saw it, and exclaimed, “If you look for it, you will find it!” Out of the mouth of babes comes wisdom and advice for our legislators. There are ways to save education from those disastrous cuts, and our legislators, with our prodding, must search for those solutions. If they do, they will find it!
My heart and my thoughts will be with you on the morning of August 12th, but I will be in San Francisco representing North Carolina in the National Senior Games. I will look forward to the news of the meeting and to our next gathering on October 15th.
Let the year begin!
Thank you for the honor of serving as your president
Beth Carrin
On The Green Side
Last year your harried editor promised that each newsletter would contain a hint or two for going green and preserving our planet. This year, I promise to do a better job, beginning with this message about plastic bags. Did you know that some stores actually charge you $.10 for each plastic bag they use for your purchases?
Worldwide, we use between 500 billion and one trillion plastic bags, with less than 2% of them being recycled. Millions of these bags end up in the litter stream and even account for more than 10% of the debris washed up on our coastlines, according to the Marine Debris Monitoring Program. When you are checking out and the clerk asks, “Paper or plastic?,” the correct response is, “Neither. I brought my own bag.” Almost every store sells a recyclable bag with its own logo at an extremely reasonable price (Wal-mart sells bright blue bags for $1 and you can find lightweight, sturdy bags at every grocery in town, in Target, and in dozens of other stores.), and you can do your part by taking these bags – no matter the logo – into every store. Belks? Recyclable bag. The outlets at Shoppes on the Parkway? Recyclable bag. Develop the habit of keeping bags in your car and taking them with you no matter what.
And if you shop at Lowes Grocery, did you know that you’ll get CREDIT at the cash register if you’ve brought your own bags?
THIS month, purge your cabinets of all those nasty plastic bags and bring them to our August meeting. We’ll take them to the Hunger Coalition where they will be put to use – and then, we hope, recycled.
REMEMBER THAT OUR AUGUST MEETING IS ON WEDNESDAY, NOT THURSDAY!
Contributions/Suggestions/Email Edition of The Red Pencil, anyone? Change of email or snail mail address?
ntn1066@hotmail.com or snail mail to
Nanci Tolbert Nance, P.O. Box 188, Blowing Rock NC 28605
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Fond Farewell
Ruth Lisk has moved to Texas to be closer to her son. She will continue to join our unit and be a part of our happy group. Her new address is: Ruth Lisk, La Vita Bella, 3527 Oak Dr., Dickenson, TX 77539.
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We all lead busy lives and have full calendars. To help simplify your calendar for the coming school year we offer this listing of NCRSP meeting dates and ask that you write them down in your pocket calendar immediately to prevent conflicts with doctors’ appointments or dentists’ visits or other demands on your time. Take a moment now, please, to make sure that you can join us all year for our informative and interesting meetings.
For Your Calendar: The 2009-2010 Watauga Unit NCRSP Meeting Schedule:
12 August 2009 9AM
15 October 2009 noon
17 December 2009 noon
18 March 2010 noon
20 May 2010 noon
We’ve seen some of these questions before, but they’re still fun. The questions are straight, with no tricks, and so are the answers.
1. What famous North American landmark is constantly moving backward?
2. What fruit has its seeds on the outside?
3. Only three words in standard English begin with the letters ' dw' and they are all common words. Name two of them.
4. There are 14 punctuation marks in English grammar. Can you name at least half of them?
5. Name the only vegetable or fruit that is never sold frozen, canned, processed, cooked, or in any other form except fresh.
6. Name 6 or more things that you can wear on your feet beginning with the letter 'S.'
$$$$$ $$$$$ $$$$$ $$$$$ $$$$$ $$$$$
$$$$$ $$$$$ $$$$$ $$$$$ $$$$$
MONEY MATTERS: paying dues the efficient way
As always, your dues amount is printed in the upper right corner of your mailing label this month. If you receive your newsletter by email, you may check with Dot Barker, dot24@bellsouth.net on your amount. Please bring this amount to the August meeting, with your check made payable to Watauga Unit of NCRSP. If you are unable to attend the meeting, you may mail your check to Dot Barker, Treasurer, 451 Poplar Hill Dr., Boone NC 28607. If your label has PR printed on it, you have chosen to have your dues deducted from your retirement check through the Payroll Deduction Plan. DO NOT WRITE a check for your dues if you see PR on your label. You certainly will, however, want to write a check for the Scholarship Fund. If you are not on the Payroll
Deduction Plan and will be writing a check for your dues, you may include your donation to the Scholarship Fund in your check if you wish.
If you are a new retiree or a membership prospect, you will find no dues amount on your label. If you retired after July1, 1999, your annual dues are $106. If you retired between July 1, 1985 and July 1. 1999, your annual dues are $60.
Please consider paying your dues this year through the Payroll Deduction Plan, whether you are a new retiree or a current member. With this plan your dues are deducted from your retirement check each month, so they are spread over the year rather than in one check. You have no check to write at the beginning of the year. Also, even though we all hope that we won’t have to use it, the amount of the Accidental Death and Dismemberment Policy that comes with your membership is $7,500 for those members on the Payroll Deduction Plan and only $2,500 for cash-paying members. Please note that the state will drop accidental death coverage for cash-paying members who have not paid by December 15. The forms for both types of membership will be available at our August meeting. Again, PLEASE consider paying through Payroll Deduction, for your benefit and our chapter’s.
Again, you may include a contribution to the Scholarship Fund in your dues check. If you mail your dues to the treasurer, you may include both dues and Scholarship Fund donation in the same check.
Our unit has an Associate Membership plan for noncertified personnel - assistants, secretaries, cafeteria workers, etc. The Associate Membership is $10 and is for nonvoting membership in the local unit only, which includes our newsletter, The Red Pencil. This does not include membership in the district, state, or national organization. This is available only for noncertified personnel.
If you have any questions about dues, please call Dot Barker at 264-3621 or email her at dot24@bellsouth.net.
Need a Lift?
If you or anyone you know needs transportation to one of our meetings, please call our president, Beth Carrin, at 264-9227, and she will make arrangements.
2009-2010 Officers
Watauga Unit
North Carolina Retired School Personnel
President Beth Carrin 264-9227 bethiemae@charter.net
Vice Pres/Pres Elect La Verne Franklin 964-3337 franklin160954@bellsouth.net
Sec./Treas. Dot Barker 264-3621 dot24@bellsouth.net
Parliamentarian Robert G. Shipley 297-2832
Legislative Comm. Chr. Ben Strickland 264-2320 benstrickland@bellsouth.net
Membership Comm. Chrs. Roland, Barbara Moy 264-8811 moyrf@appstate.edu
Necrology June Mann 264-8626 junemannwhs@aol.com
Community Participation Eula Mae Fox 264-3066 emfox5429@bellsouth.net
Scholarship La Verne Franklin 964-3337 franklin160954@bellsouth.net
Decorations Linda and Roger Harwood 264-3974 rlharwood@bellsouth.net
Meeting Arrangements Margaret Sigmon 264-2036 margaretsigmon@goboone.net
Remembrance Lera Randall 264-3979 lerarandall@earthlink.net
Historian Janice Burns 295-7454 burnsjn@bellsouth.net
Red Pencil Editor Nanci Tolbert Nance 963-8892 ntn@skybest.com
ntn1066@hotmail.com
Webmaster Lee Stroupe 264-1276 lstroupe@gmail.com
Community Participation chair Eula Mae Fox, unit president Beth Carrin, and unit secretary/ treasurer Dot Barker
Do you know any prospective members of our unit, new retirees who would benefit from membership and who would add energy and another perspective to our group? If so, please let them know that we need them and they need us. Remind them that membership in NCRSP includes Panorama and NCAE News Bulletin, FREE accidental death and dismemberment insurance up to $7,500, lobbyists representing retirees’ needs, free hearing screenings, member discount cards for discounts at over 150,000 locations/businesses – and all for as little as $6.75 a month on payroll deduction. Invite them to attend our meeting in August.
New retirees have received a letter from our unit. At the bottom of the letter is a coupon for breakfast at that meeting.
If people ask you exactly what we do, please tell them that in addition to meeting five times a year for fellowship and information, we also donate school supplies to Watauga County students, collect children’s books for Santa’s Toybox, collect food, medicine bottles and plastic bags for the Hunger Coalition, donate cellphones to OASIS, and provide services to our members that include Christmas stockings for our shut-ins and transportion to meetings.
Do you have musical talent? Would you be interested in performing with a chorus of our members? Please speak with La Verne Franklin at our meeting on WEDNESDAY, the 12th of August.
Don’t forget to keep up with your volunteer hours! Did you know that the state values that time at $20.25 per hour? The worth of our contributions to our community is one factor in convincing our legislators that we matter and that we should be considered when decisions are made about retirement benefits. Keep count of your hours!
Don’t forget that we have really good pens with our NCRSP motto, “The Power of One,” on sale for $2.00.
Answers To Quiz:
1. North American landmark constantly moving backward...... Niagara Falls (The rim is worn down about two and a half feet each year because of the millions of gallons of water that rush over it every minute.)
2. The fruit with its seeds on the outside .... Strawberry.
3. Three English words beginning with "dw"? Dwarf, dwell and dwindle.
4.. Fourteen punctuation marks in English grammar… Period, comma, colon, semicolon, dash, hyphen, apostrophe, question mark, exclamation point, quotation marks, brackets, parenthesis, braces, and ellipses.
5. The only vegetable or fruit never sold frozen, canned, processed, cooked, or in any other form but fresh... Lettuce.
6. Six or more things you can wear on your feet beginning with 'S'….Shoes, socks, sandals, sneakers, slippers, skis, skates, snowshoes, stockings, stilts.
The Red Pencil
Watauga County NCRSP
451 Poplar Hill Dr.
Boone NC 28607
Newsletter of Watauga County Retired School Personnel
Vol.XII, No.1 August 2009 ntn1066@hotmail.com
August Meeting
When: WEDNESDAY, 12 August 2009, 9AM
Registration, payment of dues to begin at 8AM
Where: Deerfield Methodist Church
How much: $10, check payable to Watauga County NCRSP
for a buffet country breakfast catered by George Wellington
What: getting together on the first day of school, welcoming new
retirees, and enjoying the pleasure of each other’s company
If your caller does not contact you, call Margaret Sigmon at 264-2036 before 8 PM on Saturday, the 8th of August or email her at margaretsigmon@bellsouth.net. NOTE NOTE NOTE that school begins on WEDNESDAY this year, NOT Thursday! Don’t forget to put your golden apple pin on your lapel, either!
By now, this information is standard, but it still matters and you can really help “the staff” to simplify this first meeting of the year by being ready when you arrive to:
1.pay your dues. You’ll find more about the amount later in this newsletter, but you know by now that your dues are noted on your mailing label on this issue of the RP. Bring a check in that amount made out to Watauga Unit, NCRSP. Remember to pay particular attention to the article about dues later in this newsletter;
2.contribute to the Scholarship Fund. The sum of $5 is a suggestion, but we’re happy to be the recipients of your generosity in any amount;
3.drop all the lovely, noisy, loose change you’ve been collecting into the little watering cans at your table;
4.keep up with your volunteer hours for Community Participation chairperson Eula Mae Fox; and
5.pile the tables just inside the door high with school supplies for distribution to the students in the Watauga County Schools. Marshall Ashcraft, who is responsible for getting our contributions into the schools, says that he probably receives more spiral notebooks than the students need but that they would really appreciate some 1 ½” 3-ring binders and backpacks. Because the backpacks usually cost between $15 and $20, perhaps you’d like to team up with another member or two and hit Wal-mart! Remember that school supplies are tax-free on the weekend before school begins.
A REALLY IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM MARGARET SIGMON
The members of Watauga County North Carolina Retired School Personnel receive a call before each of the five annual meetings reminding them of the meetings and confirming their attendance. Our volunteers make many phone calls and leave many messages on answering machines. If you find a message on your machine, returning that call is EXTREMELY important so that the callers can get their lists to Margaret Sigmon by Sunday before the meeting day. A total number must be given to George Wellington on Monday so he can do his grocery order. If you do not receive a call about the meeting, please phone Margaret Sigmon at 264-2036.
President’s Message
Greetings and a big, hearty welcome to all! How much fun it is to meet together at breakfast on the first day of school to celebrate with each other! Even more than usual, in these troubling times, we need the encouragement and friendship of our fellow educators and the support and the strength of our organization to fight for our continued health and retirement benefits. Even though most of us are no longer “on the front line,” we are concerned, dismayed, and perplexed with the proposed legislative cuts in education. Issues, for which we fought, are under attack. The teachers of our state, aided by the diligent work of our NCAE/NCRSP officers and lobbyists, have spoken again and again to preserve the gains that have been made. Each time we receive a legislative update from Ben Strickland, we ask ourselves, “Where will it end?”
The only answer to save teacher jobs and maintain class size is to increase revenue. While searching the horizon for a view of the newly-erected wind turbine from our house, my granddaughter saw it, and exclaimed, “If you look for it, you will find it!” Out of the mouth of babes comes wisdom and advice for our legislators. There are ways to save education from those disastrous cuts, and our legislators, with our prodding, must search for those solutions. If they do, they will find it!
My heart and my thoughts will be with you on the morning of August 12th, but I will be in San Francisco representing North Carolina in the National Senior Games. I will look forward to the news of the meeting and to our next gathering on October 15th.
Let the year begin!
Thank you for the honor of serving as your president
Beth Carrin
On The Green Side
Last year your harried editor promised that each newsletter would contain a hint or two for going green and preserving our planet. This year, I promise to do a better job, beginning with this message about plastic bags. Did you know that some stores actually charge you $.10 for each plastic bag they use for your purchases?
Worldwide, we use between 500 billion and one trillion plastic bags, with less than 2% of them being recycled. Millions of these bags end up in the litter stream and even account for more than 10% of the debris washed up on our coastlines, according to the Marine Debris Monitoring Program. When you are checking out and the clerk asks, “Paper or plastic?,” the correct response is, “Neither. I brought my own bag.” Almost every store sells a recyclable bag with its own logo at an extremely reasonable price (Wal-mart sells bright blue bags for $1 and you can find lightweight, sturdy bags at every grocery in town, in Target, and in dozens of other stores.), and you can do your part by taking these bags – no matter the logo – into every store. Belks? Recyclable bag. The outlets at Shoppes on the Parkway? Recyclable bag. Develop the habit of keeping bags in your car and taking them with you no matter what.
And if you shop at Lowes Grocery, did you know that you’ll get CREDIT at the cash register if you’ve brought your own bags?
THIS month, purge your cabinets of all those nasty plastic bags and bring them to our August meeting. We’ll take them to the Hunger Coalition where they will be put to use – and then, we hope, recycled.
REMEMBER THAT OUR AUGUST MEETING IS ON WEDNESDAY, NOT THURSDAY!
Contributions/Suggestions/Email Edition of The Red Pencil, anyone? Change of email or snail mail address?
ntn1066@hotmail.com or snail mail to
Nanci Tolbert Nance, P.O. Box 188, Blowing Rock NC 28605
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A Fond Farewell
Ruth Lisk has moved to Texas to be closer to her son. She will continue to join our unit and be a part of our happy group. Her new address is: Ruth Lisk, La Vita Bella, 3527 Oak Dr., Dickenson, TX 77539.
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We all lead busy lives and have full calendars. To help simplify your calendar for the coming school year we offer this listing of NCRSP meeting dates and ask that you write them down in your pocket calendar immediately to prevent conflicts with doctors’ appointments or dentists’ visits or other demands on your time. Take a moment now, please, to make sure that you can join us all year for our informative and interesting meetings.
For Your Calendar: The 2009-2010 Watauga Unit NCRSP Meeting Schedule:
12 August 2009 9AM
15 October 2009 noon
17 December 2009 noon
18 March 2010 noon
20 May 2010 noon
We’ve seen some of these questions before, but they’re still fun. The questions are straight, with no tricks, and so are the answers.
1. What famous North American landmark is constantly moving backward?
2. What fruit has its seeds on the outside?
3. Only three words in standard English begin with the letters ' dw' and they are all common words. Name two of them.
4. There are 14 punctuation marks in English grammar. Can you name at least half of them?
5. Name the only vegetable or fruit that is never sold frozen, canned, processed, cooked, or in any other form except fresh.
6. Name 6 or more things that you can wear on your feet beginning with the letter 'S.'
$$$$$ $$$$$ $$$$$ $$$$$ $$$$$ $$$$$
$$$$$ $$$$$ $$$$$ $$$$$ $$$$$
MONEY MATTERS: paying dues the efficient way
As always, your dues amount is printed in the upper right corner of your mailing label this month. If you receive your newsletter by email, you may check with Dot Barker, dot24@bellsouth.net on your amount. Please bring this amount to the August meeting, with your check made payable to Watauga Unit of NCRSP. If you are unable to attend the meeting, you may mail your check to Dot Barker, Treasurer, 451 Poplar Hill Dr., Boone NC 28607. If your label has PR printed on it, you have chosen to have your dues deducted from your retirement check through the Payroll Deduction Plan. DO NOT WRITE a check for your dues if you see PR on your label. You certainly will, however, want to write a check for the Scholarship Fund. If you are not on the Payroll
Deduction Plan and will be writing a check for your dues, you may include your donation to the Scholarship Fund in your check if you wish.
If you are a new retiree or a membership prospect, you will find no dues amount on your label. If you retired after July1, 1999, your annual dues are $106. If you retired between July 1, 1985 and July 1. 1999, your annual dues are $60.
Please consider paying your dues this year through the Payroll Deduction Plan, whether you are a new retiree or a current member. With this plan your dues are deducted from your retirement check each month, so they are spread over the year rather than in one check. You have no check to write at the beginning of the year. Also, even though we all hope that we won’t have to use it, the amount of the Accidental Death and Dismemberment Policy that comes with your membership is $7,500 for those members on the Payroll Deduction Plan and only $2,500 for cash-paying members. Please note that the state will drop accidental death coverage for cash-paying members who have not paid by December 15. The forms for both types of membership will be available at our August meeting. Again, PLEASE consider paying through Payroll Deduction, for your benefit and our chapter’s.
Again, you may include a contribution to the Scholarship Fund in your dues check. If you mail your dues to the treasurer, you may include both dues and Scholarship Fund donation in the same check.
Our unit has an Associate Membership plan for noncertified personnel - assistants, secretaries, cafeteria workers, etc. The Associate Membership is $10 and is for nonvoting membership in the local unit only, which includes our newsletter, The Red Pencil. This does not include membership in the district, state, or national organization. This is available only for noncertified personnel.
If you have any questions about dues, please call Dot Barker at 264-3621 or email her at dot24@bellsouth.net.
Need a Lift?
If you or anyone you know needs transportation to one of our meetings, please call our president, Beth Carrin, at 264-9227, and she will make arrangements.
2009-2010 Officers
Watauga Unit
North Carolina Retired School Personnel
President Beth Carrin 264-9227 bethiemae@charter.net
Vice Pres/Pres Elect La Verne Franklin 964-3337 franklin160954@bellsouth.net
Sec./Treas. Dot Barker 264-3621 dot24@bellsouth.net
Parliamentarian Robert G. Shipley 297-2832
Legislative Comm. Chr. Ben Strickland 264-2320 benstrickland@bellsouth.net
Membership Comm. Chrs. Roland, Barbara Moy 264-8811 moyrf@appstate.edu
Necrology June Mann 264-8626 junemannwhs@aol.com
Community Participation Eula Mae Fox 264-3066 emfox5429@bellsouth.net
Scholarship La Verne Franklin 964-3337 franklin160954@bellsouth.net
Decorations Linda and Roger Harwood 264-3974 rlharwood@bellsouth.net
Meeting Arrangements Margaret Sigmon 264-2036 margaretsigmon@goboone.net
Remembrance Lera Randall 264-3979 lerarandall@earthlink.net
Historian Janice Burns 295-7454 burnsjn@bellsouth.net
Red Pencil Editor Nanci Tolbert Nance 963-8892 ntn@skybest.com
ntn1066@hotmail.com
Webmaster Lee Stroupe 264-1276 lstroupe@gmail.com
Community Participation chair Eula Mae Fox, unit president Beth Carrin, and unit secretary/ treasurer Dot Barker
Do you know any prospective members of our unit, new retirees who would benefit from membership and who would add energy and another perspective to our group? If so, please let them know that we need them and they need us. Remind them that membership in NCRSP includes Panorama and NCAE News Bulletin, FREE accidental death and dismemberment insurance up to $7,500, lobbyists representing retirees’ needs, free hearing screenings, member discount cards for discounts at over 150,000 locations/businesses – and all for as little as $6.75 a month on payroll deduction. Invite them to attend our meeting in August.
New retirees have received a letter from our unit. At the bottom of the letter is a coupon for breakfast at that meeting.
If people ask you exactly what we do, please tell them that in addition to meeting five times a year for fellowship and information, we also donate school supplies to Watauga County students, collect children’s books for Santa’s Toybox, collect food, medicine bottles and plastic bags for the Hunger Coalition, donate cellphones to OASIS, and provide services to our members that include Christmas stockings for our shut-ins and transportion to meetings.
Do you have musical talent? Would you be interested in performing with a chorus of our members? Please speak with La Verne Franklin at our meeting on WEDNESDAY, the 12th of August.
Don’t forget to keep up with your volunteer hours! Did you know that the state values that time at $20.25 per hour? The worth of our contributions to our community is one factor in convincing our legislators that we matter and that we should be considered when decisions are made about retirement benefits. Keep count of your hours!
Don’t forget that we have really good pens with our NCRSP motto, “The Power of One,” on sale for $2.00.
Answers To Quiz:
1. North American landmark constantly moving backward...... Niagara Falls (The rim is worn down about two and a half feet each year because of the millions of gallons of water that rush over it every minute.)
2. The fruit with its seeds on the outside .... Strawberry.
3. Three English words beginning with "dw"? Dwarf, dwell and dwindle.
4.. Fourteen punctuation marks in English grammar… Period, comma, colon, semicolon, dash, hyphen, apostrophe, question mark, exclamation point, quotation marks, brackets, parenthesis, braces, and ellipses.
5. The only vegetable or fruit never sold frozen, canned, processed, cooked, or in any other form but fresh... Lettuce.
6. Six or more things you can wear on your feet beginning with 'S'….Shoes, socks, sandals, sneakers, slippers, skis, skates, snowshoes, stockings, stilts.
The Red Pencil
Watauga County NCRSP
451 Poplar Hill Dr.
Boone NC 28607
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
The May Red Pencil -2009
The Red Pencil
Newsletter of Watauga County Retired School Personnel
Vol.XI, No.5 May 2009 ntn1066@hotmail.com
May Meeting
When: Thursday, 21 May 2009
Where: Deerfield Methodist Church
How much: $10, check payable to Watauga County NCRSP
What: Annual presentation of scholarship – La Verne Franklin
Memorial service – June Mann
Bring medicine bottles and any food staples you wish, especially powdered milk, canned soups, and cereals. Add a jar of peanut butter or two to your donation!
If your caller has not contacted you by the 17th of May, call Margaret Sigmon at 264-2036 or email her at margaretsigmon@bellsouth.net.
Two important quickies: remember to wear your little gold apple pin, the sign of your membership in the Watauga County Unit of North Carolina Retired School Personnel AND note upon your arrival at the meeting that we have new – and expensive – nametags. Please remember to leave your nametag on the table at the end of the meeting.
Apples, not caffeine, are more efficient at waking you up in the morning .
President’s Message:
Can you believe it? Our May meeting will be the last meeting of this school year. It just seems a scant moment ago when we gathered together for our first meeting of the year in August.
What a year it has been! Many new members, wonderful attendance, George’s tasty, home-cooked meals, entertaining and informative programs, delightful conversation with new and old colleagues, legislative updates, and reading The Red Pencil filled with news that educates and keep us up-to-date.
I feel so fortunate to be a part of an organization that continues to contribute so much to our community. I am always amazed at your generosity, contributing not only to our scholarship but also to the students of Watauga County, the Hunger Coalition, and many other worthy organizations and projects.
Because of you, the officers, the committee chairmen, and the fantastic executive board working together, we have had a successful and enjoyable year. We know that our work is far from over and that each of us this summer can invite other retired school personnel to join us. Remember the “power of one”!
After our May meeting and until we meet again in August, may your summer be filled with warm sunshine, gentle rain, and loving friends.
With much appreciation and a grateful heart,
Beth
The It’s Never Too Late Department, Membership Division
If you have not renewed your membership this year, please come to the May meeting anyway and be thinking of renewing your membership in August when the new year begins.
The It’s Never Too Early Department, Membership Division
If you know of educational personnel who will be retiring at the end of this year, please send their names to Membership chairs, Roland and Barbara Moy or to Dot Barker, Treasurer, and give them a personal invitation to our August breakfast. Currently we have 131 members, 76 on payroll deduction and 55 who pay cash for their membership. We have 9 new members, but we’d love to have many, many more. Remember that Power of One!
This June 10, the Broyhill Inn and Conference Center will host a retirement/pre-retirement meeting in the Helen Powers Grand Ballroom at 9.30A. For the first time, a representative of the Watauga Unit of NCRSP will be allowed to speak to the group about our organization and distribute our brochures. Again, if you have friends who are retiring or thinking of retiring from education this year, please let them know about this meeting and encourage them to join us in August.
You burn more calories sleeping than you do watching television.
Keeping Up With Those Volunteer Hours
Do you keep a calendar? One with space for the appointments in your life? Add something new, a notation of how you volunteered your time. If you have an appointment with a committee or at church or have plans to run errands for a friend or deliver Meals on Wheels, take a second when you return and jot down the number of hours that event took. Circle it. Later, when the time comes to fill in your Volunteer Hours Form, just add up the circled numbers!
Make your computer your new NCRSP friend. Save our unit a great deal of money by receiving The Red Pencil via email and keep up with programs, news, events, colleagues in the Watauga County Unit by logging on to the chapter website, www.watauga.k12.nc.us./wcrt.or WataugaCountyRetiredPersonnelblogspot.com Thanks, Lee, for being our talented and dedicated webmaster!
A duck's quack doesn't echo, and no one knows why.
In Memoriam
At our memorial service at the May meeting, we will remember Ruby Michael and Reba Austin. As is our policy, we have made contributions to the scholarship fund. We would also like to pay tribute to H.W. Mast, husband of our long-time member, Mary Hazel Mast.
2008 Scholarship Recipient
At this time, the recipient of our annual $1000 scholarship has not been selected by the WHS Scholarship Committee. Once chosen, our recipient and his/her parents will be invited to our meeting at Deerfield Methodist Church.
Contributions/Suggestions/Email Edition of The Red Pencil, Anyone?
ntn1066@hotmail.com or ntn@skybest.com or snail mail to
Nanci Tolbert Nance, P.O. Box 188, Blowing Rock NC 28605
Things My Mother Taught Me, just in time for Mother’s Day:
Consideration for others: “I just scrubbed that floor. Go bleed outside.”
Logic: “If you fall off that swing and break your neck, you can’t go to the store with me.”
Medicine: “Stop crossing your eyes or they’ll freeze that way.”
Humor: “When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don’t come running to me.”
ESP: “Put your sweater on. Don’t you think I know when you’re cold?”
How to become an adult: “If you don’t eat your vegetables, you’ll never grow up.”
A lesson in genetics: “You’re just like your father.”
About my roots: “Where do you think you were born? In a barn?”
The wisdom of age: “When you get to be my age, you’ll understand.”
About receiving: “You are going to get it when we get home.”
And most of all, my mother taught me about justice: “One day, you will have kids, and when you do, I hope they turn out to be just like you.”
We hope your Mother’s Day is wonderful!
Community Participation Update
The bleak economic news has led me to think about all the good work that we RSP folk do when we bring in items for the Health and Hunger Coalition. I talked with their director, Compton, recently and learned that they have about a 35% increase in the number of people they are serving now.
I asked her for suggestions of items they often run out of or items they need that we might not think to bring. She mentioned the usual things: sugar, salt, flour. This month, we would like to add a jar of peanut butter to your usual generous donation. Compton also mentioned that while they cannot pass on food that has been opened, they can offer non-food items like cleaning supplies or personal hygiene items – things we might have tried and not liked, and again she thanked us for the medicine bottles.
I join her in thanking you for your contribution to the Hunger Coalition, but also for all the other volunteer work you do. Remember to keep those hours recorded.
Eula Mae Fox
How to Reach the People You Need
Your most recent issue of The Retirement Report, the newsletter for retired government employees in North Carolina, contains a listing of phone numbers and websites you should know. Among them are these important sites.
Retirement Systems Division
1-877-733-4191 (toll-free)
www.myncretirement.com
Department of State Treasurer’s
Unclaimed Property Program
919-508-1000
www.nccash.com
Social Security Administration
1-800-772-1213 (toll-free)
www.ssa.gov
State Health Plan
1-800-422-4658 (toll-free)
www.shpnc.org
SEANC
1-800-222-2758 (toll-free)
www.seanc.org
NCAE/NCRSP
1-800-662-7924 (toll-free)
www.ncae.org, www.ncrsp.org
Newsletter of Watauga County Retired School Personnel
Vol.XI, No.5 May 2009 ntn1066@hotmail.com
May Meeting
When: Thursday, 21 May 2009
Where: Deerfield Methodist Church
How much: $10, check payable to Watauga County NCRSP
What: Annual presentation of scholarship – La Verne Franklin
Memorial service – June Mann
Bring medicine bottles and any food staples you wish, especially powdered milk, canned soups, and cereals. Add a jar of peanut butter or two to your donation!
If your caller has not contacted you by the 17th of May, call Margaret Sigmon at 264-2036 or email her at margaretsigmon@bellsouth.net.
Two important quickies: remember to wear your little gold apple pin, the sign of your membership in the Watauga County Unit of North Carolina Retired School Personnel AND note upon your arrival at the meeting that we have new – and expensive – nametags. Please remember to leave your nametag on the table at the end of the meeting.
Apples, not caffeine, are more efficient at waking you up in the morning .
President’s Message:
Can you believe it? Our May meeting will be the last meeting of this school year. It just seems a scant moment ago when we gathered together for our first meeting of the year in August.
What a year it has been! Many new members, wonderful attendance, George’s tasty, home-cooked meals, entertaining and informative programs, delightful conversation with new and old colleagues, legislative updates, and reading The Red Pencil filled with news that educates and keep us up-to-date.
I feel so fortunate to be a part of an organization that continues to contribute so much to our community. I am always amazed at your generosity, contributing not only to our scholarship but also to the students of Watauga County, the Hunger Coalition, and many other worthy organizations and projects.
Because of you, the officers, the committee chairmen, and the fantastic executive board working together, we have had a successful and enjoyable year. We know that our work is far from over and that each of us this summer can invite other retired school personnel to join us. Remember the “power of one”!
After our May meeting and until we meet again in August, may your summer be filled with warm sunshine, gentle rain, and loving friends.
With much appreciation and a grateful heart,
Beth
The It’s Never Too Late Department, Membership Division
If you have not renewed your membership this year, please come to the May meeting anyway and be thinking of renewing your membership in August when the new year begins.
The It’s Never Too Early Department, Membership Division
If you know of educational personnel who will be retiring at the end of this year, please send their names to Membership chairs, Roland and Barbara Moy or to Dot Barker, Treasurer, and give them a personal invitation to our August breakfast. Currently we have 131 members, 76 on payroll deduction and 55 who pay cash for their membership. We have 9 new members, but we’d love to have many, many more. Remember that Power of One!
This June 10, the Broyhill Inn and Conference Center will host a retirement/pre-retirement meeting in the Helen Powers Grand Ballroom at 9.30A. For the first time, a representative of the Watauga Unit of NCRSP will be allowed to speak to the group about our organization and distribute our brochures. Again, if you have friends who are retiring or thinking of retiring from education this year, please let them know about this meeting and encourage them to join us in August.
You burn more calories sleeping than you do watching television.
Keeping Up With Those Volunteer Hours
Do you keep a calendar? One with space for the appointments in your life? Add something new, a notation of how you volunteered your time. If you have an appointment with a committee or at church or have plans to run errands for a friend or deliver Meals on Wheels, take a second when you return and jot down the number of hours that event took. Circle it. Later, when the time comes to fill in your Volunteer Hours Form, just add up the circled numbers!
Make your computer your new NCRSP friend. Save our unit a great deal of money by receiving The Red Pencil via email and keep up with programs, news, events, colleagues in the Watauga County Unit by logging on to the chapter website, www.watauga.k12.nc.us./wcrt.or WataugaCountyRetiredPersonnelblogspot.com Thanks, Lee, for being our talented and dedicated webmaster!
A duck's quack doesn't echo, and no one knows why.
In Memoriam
At our memorial service at the May meeting, we will remember Ruby Michael and Reba Austin. As is our policy, we have made contributions to the scholarship fund. We would also like to pay tribute to H.W. Mast, husband of our long-time member, Mary Hazel Mast.
2008 Scholarship Recipient
At this time, the recipient of our annual $1000 scholarship has not been selected by the WHS Scholarship Committee. Once chosen, our recipient and his/her parents will be invited to our meeting at Deerfield Methodist Church.
Contributions/Suggestions/Email Edition of The Red Pencil, Anyone?
ntn1066@hotmail.com or ntn@skybest.com or snail mail to
Nanci Tolbert Nance, P.O. Box 188, Blowing Rock NC 28605
Things My Mother Taught Me, just in time for Mother’s Day:
Consideration for others: “I just scrubbed that floor. Go bleed outside.”
Logic: “If you fall off that swing and break your neck, you can’t go to the store with me.”
Medicine: “Stop crossing your eyes or they’ll freeze that way.”
Humor: “When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don’t come running to me.”
ESP: “Put your sweater on. Don’t you think I know when you’re cold?”
How to become an adult: “If you don’t eat your vegetables, you’ll never grow up.”
A lesson in genetics: “You’re just like your father.”
About my roots: “Where do you think you were born? In a barn?”
The wisdom of age: “When you get to be my age, you’ll understand.”
About receiving: “You are going to get it when we get home.”
And most of all, my mother taught me about justice: “One day, you will have kids, and when you do, I hope they turn out to be just like you.”
We hope your Mother’s Day is wonderful!
Community Participation Update
The bleak economic news has led me to think about all the good work that we RSP folk do when we bring in items for the Health and Hunger Coalition. I talked with their director, Compton, recently and learned that they have about a 35% increase in the number of people they are serving now.
I asked her for suggestions of items they often run out of or items they need that we might not think to bring. She mentioned the usual things: sugar, salt, flour. This month, we would like to add a jar of peanut butter to your usual generous donation. Compton also mentioned that while they cannot pass on food that has been opened, they can offer non-food items like cleaning supplies or personal hygiene items – things we might have tried and not liked, and again she thanked us for the medicine bottles.
I join her in thanking you for your contribution to the Hunger Coalition, but also for all the other volunteer work you do. Remember to keep those hours recorded.
Eula Mae Fox
How to Reach the People You Need
Your most recent issue of The Retirement Report, the newsletter for retired government employees in North Carolina, contains a listing of phone numbers and websites you should know. Among them are these important sites.
Retirement Systems Division
1-877-733-4191 (toll-free)
www.myncretirement.com
Department of State Treasurer’s
Unclaimed Property Program
919-508-1000
www.nccash.com
Social Security Administration
1-800-772-1213 (toll-free)
www.ssa.gov
State Health Plan
1-800-422-4658 (toll-free)
www.shpnc.org
SEANC
1-800-222-2758 (toll-free)
www.seanc.org
NCAE/NCRSP
1-800-662-7924 (toll-free)
www.ncae.org, www.ncrsp.org
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Hot topic : Emergency phone numbers kept on "ICE"
Ben Strickland gives update regarding our health plan--Tom Redmon, Boone police officer, is demonstrating how to put emergency phone numbers in cell phone. George Durfor from EMS demonstrates how to to give yourself the heimlich manever.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
March Meeting--Early Meeting Time -- 10:30 -- Lunch: Regular Schedule
The Red Pencil
The Newsletter of Watauga County Retired School Personnel
Vol.XI, No.4, March 2009
Nanci Tolbert Nance, editor ntn1066@hotmail.com 963-8892
March Meeting
10.30AM, Thursday, March 19, 2009
Deerfield Methodist Church
Cost per meal is $10, check payable to
Watauga Unit, NCRSP
HEADS UP!!! ALERT!!! ACHTUNG!!! NEWS!!! PAY ATTENTION!!!
Please, please PLEASE note the change in our meeting time for our March gathering.
The program will begin at 10.30 and will be EXTREMELY important. Our vice-president and program chairman, La Verne Franklin, has worked really hard to create a morning presentation that she is calling Health Matters, and you will find the subject of our health is also the theme of this issue of The Red Pencil.
Our health matters, and at our meeting we will be hearing from an expert on identifying heart attack symptoms for men and women (two sets of very different symptoms), recognizing the symptoms of stroke, treating the most common allergies, and learning the Heimlich maneuver – how to apply it to others and to ourselves.
We will take a brief break during the program for stretching and exercising and ask you to bring TWO identical 14-oz cans of food – two cans of baked beans or two cans of spinach or green beans or stewed tomatoes or whatever, just two cans of the same weight. We’re going to use them for a little exercising and then donate them to the Hunger Coalition.
ALSO bring your cell phone and a card or piece of paper with the phone numbers you would use for emergencies, including a close relative or two and your doctor. A Boone police officer will be present at the meeting to explain programming your phone for emergency use AND he will program your phone for you!
We will have lunch on our regular schedule.
Please bring as much non-perishable food as you can manage for the Hunger Coalition. Powdered milk, cans of soup, oatmeal and pasta products, canned fruit and vegetables, ANYTHING non-perishable, will be acceptable. Remember those empty medicine bottles, too; each one of them saves the Hunger Coalition.
Very important note: If your caller has not phoned you by the 15th of March, call your caller if you plan to attend. If you change your mind at the last minute about attending, call Margaret Sigmon at 264-2036 immediately and come ahead! As usual, Margaret thanks her team of callers who generously volunteer their time doing important work for our organization.
What a lot to remember! Our meeting begins at 10.30AM, not noon, and before you leave the house, look over this checklist and be sure that you have:
ü Your check for $10 for lunch
ü Your cell phone and a list of emergency numbers, including those of a close relative or two and your doctor
ü Two identical 14-oz cans of food to use in exercising
ü Food for the Hunger Coalition
ü Medicine bottles
ü Loose change for the scholarship fund
ü At least $5 for raffle tickets for Janice’s coconut pound cake to benefit the scholarship fund
Whew! See you at 10.30AM on the 19th!
NCRSP Scholarship Fund in Need
Each May, our chapter of NCRSP awards a $1,000 scholarship to a graduating high school senior who plans to become a teacher. Our generosity to the scholarship winner depends entirely on each NCRSP member’s generosity to the Scholarship Fund.
First, PLEASE bring all your spare change for the little watering cans on your table and plan to make an enormous noise when you pour those nickels and dimes and quarters into the pots.
Second, if you haven’t made your annual gift to the Scholarship Fund, please do so at the March meeting or mail a check to Watauga County NCRSP Scholarship Fund to Dot Barker, 451 Poplar Hill Dr., Boone NC 28607.
Third, if you have already contributed to the fund, please consider doing it again, this time in memory or in honor of a deceased member of our chapter, a colleague, or a favorite teacher. Write the name of the honoree on your check and we’ll make a point of including it in the next Red Pencil.
Fourth, heads up! In order to help raise money for the Scholarship Fund, we will be raffling off a coconut pound cake baked by Janice Burns. Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5.
President’s Message
George Burns, he of the enormous cigar and the “Say goodnight, Gracie,” is famous for having said, “You can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get old.” “Old” is an attitude as well as a condition we allow to happen to us, and we can choose a number of ways not to allow “old” to happen.
One of those ways is exercise. When I go to the Broyhill Wellness Center or walk on the greenway, my fellow exercisers and I smile at each other as we plug along. I lead an exercise class at Appalachian Brian Estates and am always uplifted to see that the “stars” of the class are retired teachers – including Charlotte Stanley, Ruth Lisk and Lou Martin. One of my ‘students’ is in her late 90’s, and she said after a recent class, “I always feel better after I exercise.” Don’t we all!
Any number of medical studies show that physical fitness and mental fitness go hand in hand. One recent study from Case Western Reserve University notes that individuals who exercise by walking or engage in active hobbies such as gardening actually have a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
One very important factor in a healthy longevity is the relationships we have with other people. Our social interactions are vital to our well-being. As our newsletter editor noted in a recent email informing us about several of our members, “The simple act of sharing our joys and our griefs make us so important to each other.” During the past several months, our thoughts and prayers have been with our beloved Margaret Sigmon as she was treated for colon cancer. Nanci, sitting at the center of our NCRSP newsline, was able to keep us all informed of Margaret’s treatment and recuperation, and Margaret, as soon as she was able, wrote to all of us that our caring and our support were a big part of her recovery.
Let us always reach out to each other, to share not only our good news but our sorrows, as well. Staying connected is balm for our hearts. Ultimately, the old saw is absolutely right: Friendships multiply our joys and divide our griefs. We are so fortunate to have each other.
Beth Carrin
From 1955 – the way things change:
'Have you seen the new cars coming out next year? It won't be long before $2,000.00 will only buy a used one.’
'If cigarettes keep going up in price, I'm going to quit. A quarter a pack is ridiculous!’
'When I first started driving, who would have thought gas would someday cost 29 cents a gallon? Guess we'd be better off leaving the car in the garage.’
'I'm afraid the Volkswagen car is going to open the door to a whole lot of foreign business.’
'I never thought I'd see the day all our kitchen appliances would be electric. They are even making electric typewriters now.’
Each month, more and more of our members save the unit the cost of postage and printing by subscribing to the online edition of our newsletter. Please consider this simple and efficient way to receive our newsletter and send a message to Nanci at ntn@skybest.com including your name and email address. The cost of postage is going up in May, and you’ll be doing the Watauga Unit of NCRSP a HUGE service!
AND, while you’re playing on your computer, don’t forget http://wataugacountyretiredpersonnel.blogspot.com/, the website for our blog. Lee Stroupe, our webmaster, posts the schedule of our activities and pictures from our meetings as well as links to all kinds of helpful information. Lee does such a good job, and this website is attractive and user-friendly.
Health Matters, Part Two
Our Sue Aldridge is a member of the Women’s Health Initiative and shares the following crucial advice for preventing falls in the home. Did you know that more than 30% of us older than 60 will fall each year? Of those who fall, roughly 25% suffer moderate to serious injuries, resulting in problems with everything from dressing to bathing to walking around. If you and your family will take a few minutes to read and follow these suggestions, you may just save yourself a great deal of trouble and woe.
FALL PREVENTION GUIDE
Step One: Taking Care of Yourself
· Have your hearing and vision checked regularly.
· Get regular medical checkups. Review your medications with your doctor to ensure that you are taking the appropriate levels and types.
· Take medication as directed and DO NOT skip medications.
· Get plenty of rest, water and proper nutrition.
· Be aware of how you feel. Listen to your body. If you do not feel well, take time to walk slow and deliberately or ask someone to walk with you.
· Use a cane or a walker if one has been prescribed or if you feel even slightly unsteady.
Step Two: Removing Hazards
· Remove throw rugs that slide or fasten them to the floor with carpet tape. Make sure that kitchen and bathroom rugs have non-skid backing. NEVER use a towel as a bath mat.
· Keep cords and clutter from pathways.
· Arrange furniture to create a clear pathway between rooms. Be sure you have 38-42 inches of clearance in your path.
· Remove low coffee tables, magazine racks, footstools, floor plants and anything that would be easy to trip over from your walkways.
· Clean up spills immediately.
· Use sturdy stepstools with handrails. Stay off ladders.
· Make sure that sidewalks and walkways are level. If they are not, ask for help in having them repaired.
Step Three: Protecting Yourself and your House
· Wear safe footwear – shoes or slippers with non-skid soles.
· Hold on to steady furniture if you are unsteady on your feet.
· Be especially aware and careful in the fall “trouble spots” – the bathroom and kitchen. Install grab bars near sinks, toilets and showers.
· Use a shower chair or transfer bench when getting in and out of the bathtub.
· Keep your home well lit and turn on lights when walking through dark rooms or hallways.
· Use nightlights in bathrooms, bedrooms and hallways.
· Keep a flashlight handy at all times in case of power failure.
· Store lightweight or rarely-used items on the top shelves of cabinets.
· Install handrails on both sides of stairways.
· Do not place items on or at the top of the stairs where you might trip over them.
· Add a contrasting color strip to the first and last steps of a stairway to indicate the level changes.
· Keep phones in several rooms in case you need to call for emergency help.
Step Four: Fall-proofing the Outside
· Make sure outside doors, patios, porches, steps and walkways are well lit.
· Keep outside steps and walkways clear of obstacles and in good condition.
· Make sure you have handrails on both sides of exterior steps and be sure to use them.
· Be extra careful when sidewalks are wet, snowy or icy.
If you should ever fall, call 9-1-1, and if any type of cover is within reach, try to keep yourself warm with a blanket or a rug. Even if you are not seriously injured, be sure to mention the fall to your personal physician, since falling can be a sign of illness or problems with medications.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Miss Daisy Adams tells Santa that she doesn’t need a thing for Christmas because she has been so fortunate. We’re lucky to have her!
Bits and Pieces of Extremely Important, Extremely Interesting, and Otherwise Notable Information
ü At our March meeting, NEA-R members will be voting on delegates to represent North Carolina at the national NEA convention. The February Panorama contains brief resumes for each of the candidates. Please read those little pieces and choose ELEVEN individuals for whom to vote. REALLY important this time: you MUST mark your ballot with PEN, not pencil, because use of pencil invalidates your ballot.
ü The State NCRSP Convention is happening in Durham at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel and Convention Center, March 24-25. Representing our unit will be Beth Carrin, Eula Mae Fox, Ben and Lois Strickland, and Jimmie Owen.
ü Our unit currently has 126 members. Every single member is important, yet we obviously need to grow. If you are aware of current members of the education community who are nearing retirement, please begin now to explain the value of their membership in NC Retired School Personnel.
ü Health Matters, Part Three: Given the current state of the economy, our legislators are examining the state of our health plan and considering a number of options for ways to deal with the deficit of $580 million. The most recent plan, still just a proposal, is to tap the state’s ‘rainy day’ fund and make some changes that include an increase in co-payments and an incentive prescription drug plan as well instituting ways to reward members who do not smoke and are below 30% BMI (body mass index).
Remember that this proposal is just that, a proposal, and that NCAE will continue to work with legislators to hold down costs as much as possible and to protect the promise of an employer-funded health care plan.
For recent actions coming from Raleigh that affect our lives, go to the email box for NCAE Government Relations at g.relations@ncae.org and sign up for the regular legislative updates to be delivered to your email box.
Our Service to the Community Matters, Too
We increased our volunteer hours in ‘08! Total hours reported were 6650. Of those, 1155 were for educational activities and 5495 were in the "other" category. One of our newest retirees, Billy Ralph Winkler, logged the most hours of volunteer work, and we know he served our county with many paid hours as a Commissioner also.
The bad news is that only 28 people turned in a report. We can do a better job of recording our hours of service.
On the next page you’ll find another volunteer hours form. Put it on your fridge or next to your monthly calendar and keep track of all the time you donate to activities and events in your life. Do remember that taking care of family members does NOT count in your volunteer hours.
* Volunteer hours for the “Other” category would include the following activities. Please circle the ones in which you participated.
· Political
· Governmental
· Neighborhood
· Civic organization
· Hospital
· Companion to shut-in
· Healthcare/Red Cross
· Church/religious work
· Schools
· Athletics
· Transportation
· Mentoring/tutoring
· NCRSP
· Libraries
· Social Services
· Habitat for Humanity
N.B.
· Activities for which you are paid (i.e., honoria or stipends) do not count for volunteer hours.
· While the NCRSP Executive Board considers time caring for grandchildren, elderly parents, or other family members as very important, it considers these activities to be family obligations and does NOT accept these hours as volunteer hours.
North Carolina Retired School Personnel
Individual Volunteer Hours Record for 2008
The Newsletter of Watauga County Retired School Personnel
Vol.XI, No.4, March 2009
Nanci Tolbert Nance, editor ntn1066@hotmail.com 963-8892
March Meeting
10.30AM, Thursday, March 19, 2009
Deerfield Methodist Church
Cost per meal is $10, check payable to
Watauga Unit, NCRSP
HEADS UP!!! ALERT!!! ACHTUNG!!! NEWS!!! PAY ATTENTION!!!
Please, please PLEASE note the change in our meeting time for our March gathering.
The program will begin at 10.30 and will be EXTREMELY important. Our vice-president and program chairman, La Verne Franklin, has worked really hard to create a morning presentation that she is calling Health Matters, and you will find the subject of our health is also the theme of this issue of The Red Pencil.
Our health matters, and at our meeting we will be hearing from an expert on identifying heart attack symptoms for men and women (two sets of very different symptoms), recognizing the symptoms of stroke, treating the most common allergies, and learning the Heimlich maneuver – how to apply it to others and to ourselves.
We will take a brief break during the program for stretching and exercising and ask you to bring TWO identical 14-oz cans of food – two cans of baked beans or two cans of spinach or green beans or stewed tomatoes or whatever, just two cans of the same weight. We’re going to use them for a little exercising and then donate them to the Hunger Coalition.
ALSO bring your cell phone and a card or piece of paper with the phone numbers you would use for emergencies, including a close relative or two and your doctor. A Boone police officer will be present at the meeting to explain programming your phone for emergency use AND he will program your phone for you!
We will have lunch on our regular schedule.
Please bring as much non-perishable food as you can manage for the Hunger Coalition. Powdered milk, cans of soup, oatmeal and pasta products, canned fruit and vegetables, ANYTHING non-perishable, will be acceptable. Remember those empty medicine bottles, too; each one of them saves the Hunger Coalition.
Very important note: If your caller has not phoned you by the 15th of March, call your caller if you plan to attend. If you change your mind at the last minute about attending, call Margaret Sigmon at 264-2036 immediately and come ahead! As usual, Margaret thanks her team of callers who generously volunteer their time doing important work for our organization.
What a lot to remember! Our meeting begins at 10.30AM, not noon, and before you leave the house, look over this checklist and be sure that you have:
ü Your check for $10 for lunch
ü Your cell phone and a list of emergency numbers, including those of a close relative or two and your doctor
ü Two identical 14-oz cans of food to use in exercising
ü Food for the Hunger Coalition
ü Medicine bottles
ü Loose change for the scholarship fund
ü At least $5 for raffle tickets for Janice’s coconut pound cake to benefit the scholarship fund
Whew! See you at 10.30AM on the 19th!
NCRSP Scholarship Fund in Need
Each May, our chapter of NCRSP awards a $1,000 scholarship to a graduating high school senior who plans to become a teacher. Our generosity to the scholarship winner depends entirely on each NCRSP member’s generosity to the Scholarship Fund.
First, PLEASE bring all your spare change for the little watering cans on your table and plan to make an enormous noise when you pour those nickels and dimes and quarters into the pots.
Second, if you haven’t made your annual gift to the Scholarship Fund, please do so at the March meeting or mail a check to Watauga County NCRSP Scholarship Fund to Dot Barker, 451 Poplar Hill Dr., Boone NC 28607.
Third, if you have already contributed to the fund, please consider doing it again, this time in memory or in honor of a deceased member of our chapter, a colleague, or a favorite teacher. Write the name of the honoree on your check and we’ll make a point of including it in the next Red Pencil.
Fourth, heads up! In order to help raise money for the Scholarship Fund, we will be raffling off a coconut pound cake baked by Janice Burns. Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5.
President’s Message
George Burns, he of the enormous cigar and the “Say goodnight, Gracie,” is famous for having said, “You can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get old.” “Old” is an attitude as well as a condition we allow to happen to us, and we can choose a number of ways not to allow “old” to happen.
One of those ways is exercise. When I go to the Broyhill Wellness Center or walk on the greenway, my fellow exercisers and I smile at each other as we plug along. I lead an exercise class at Appalachian Brian Estates and am always uplifted to see that the “stars” of the class are retired teachers – including Charlotte Stanley, Ruth Lisk and Lou Martin. One of my ‘students’ is in her late 90’s, and she said after a recent class, “I always feel better after I exercise.” Don’t we all!
Any number of medical studies show that physical fitness and mental fitness go hand in hand. One recent study from Case Western Reserve University notes that individuals who exercise by walking or engage in active hobbies such as gardening actually have a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
One very important factor in a healthy longevity is the relationships we have with other people. Our social interactions are vital to our well-being. As our newsletter editor noted in a recent email informing us about several of our members, “The simple act of sharing our joys and our griefs make us so important to each other.” During the past several months, our thoughts and prayers have been with our beloved Margaret Sigmon as she was treated for colon cancer. Nanci, sitting at the center of our NCRSP newsline, was able to keep us all informed of Margaret’s treatment and recuperation, and Margaret, as soon as she was able, wrote to all of us that our caring and our support were a big part of her recovery.
Let us always reach out to each other, to share not only our good news but our sorrows, as well. Staying connected is balm for our hearts. Ultimately, the old saw is absolutely right: Friendships multiply our joys and divide our griefs. We are so fortunate to have each other.
Beth Carrin
From 1955 – the way things change:
'Have you seen the new cars coming out next year? It won't be long before $2,000.00 will only buy a used one.’
'If cigarettes keep going up in price, I'm going to quit. A quarter a pack is ridiculous!’
'When I first started driving, who would have thought gas would someday cost 29 cents a gallon? Guess we'd be better off leaving the car in the garage.’
'I'm afraid the Volkswagen car is going to open the door to a whole lot of foreign business.’
'I never thought I'd see the day all our kitchen appliances would be electric. They are even making electric typewriters now.’
Each month, more and more of our members save the unit the cost of postage and printing by subscribing to the online edition of our newsletter. Please consider this simple and efficient way to receive our newsletter and send a message to Nanci at ntn@skybest.com including your name and email address. The cost of postage is going up in May, and you’ll be doing the Watauga Unit of NCRSP a HUGE service!
AND, while you’re playing on your computer, don’t forget http://wataugacountyretiredpersonnel.blogspot.com/, the website for our blog. Lee Stroupe, our webmaster, posts the schedule of our activities and pictures from our meetings as well as links to all kinds of helpful information. Lee does such a good job, and this website is attractive and user-friendly.
Health Matters, Part Two
Our Sue Aldridge is a member of the Women’s Health Initiative and shares the following crucial advice for preventing falls in the home. Did you know that more than 30% of us older than 60 will fall each year? Of those who fall, roughly 25% suffer moderate to serious injuries, resulting in problems with everything from dressing to bathing to walking around. If you and your family will take a few minutes to read and follow these suggestions, you may just save yourself a great deal of trouble and woe.
FALL PREVENTION GUIDE
Step One: Taking Care of Yourself
· Have your hearing and vision checked regularly.
· Get regular medical checkups. Review your medications with your doctor to ensure that you are taking the appropriate levels and types.
· Take medication as directed and DO NOT skip medications.
· Get plenty of rest, water and proper nutrition.
· Be aware of how you feel. Listen to your body. If you do not feel well, take time to walk slow and deliberately or ask someone to walk with you.
· Use a cane or a walker if one has been prescribed or if you feel even slightly unsteady.
Step Two: Removing Hazards
· Remove throw rugs that slide or fasten them to the floor with carpet tape. Make sure that kitchen and bathroom rugs have non-skid backing. NEVER use a towel as a bath mat.
· Keep cords and clutter from pathways.
· Arrange furniture to create a clear pathway between rooms. Be sure you have 38-42 inches of clearance in your path.
· Remove low coffee tables, magazine racks, footstools, floor plants and anything that would be easy to trip over from your walkways.
· Clean up spills immediately.
· Use sturdy stepstools with handrails. Stay off ladders.
· Make sure that sidewalks and walkways are level. If they are not, ask for help in having them repaired.
Step Three: Protecting Yourself and your House
· Wear safe footwear – shoes or slippers with non-skid soles.
· Hold on to steady furniture if you are unsteady on your feet.
· Be especially aware and careful in the fall “trouble spots” – the bathroom and kitchen. Install grab bars near sinks, toilets and showers.
· Use a shower chair or transfer bench when getting in and out of the bathtub.
· Keep your home well lit and turn on lights when walking through dark rooms or hallways.
· Use nightlights in bathrooms, bedrooms and hallways.
· Keep a flashlight handy at all times in case of power failure.
· Store lightweight or rarely-used items on the top shelves of cabinets.
· Install handrails on both sides of stairways.
· Do not place items on or at the top of the stairs where you might trip over them.
· Add a contrasting color strip to the first and last steps of a stairway to indicate the level changes.
· Keep phones in several rooms in case you need to call for emergency help.
Step Four: Fall-proofing the Outside
· Make sure outside doors, patios, porches, steps and walkways are well lit.
· Keep outside steps and walkways clear of obstacles and in good condition.
· Make sure you have handrails on both sides of exterior steps and be sure to use them.
· Be extra careful when sidewalks are wet, snowy or icy.
If you should ever fall, call 9-1-1, and if any type of cover is within reach, try to keep yourself warm with a blanket or a rug. Even if you are not seriously injured, be sure to mention the fall to your personal physician, since falling can be a sign of illness or problems with medications.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Miss Daisy Adams tells Santa that she doesn’t need a thing for Christmas because she has been so fortunate. We’re lucky to have her!
Bits and Pieces of Extremely Important, Extremely Interesting, and Otherwise Notable Information
ü At our March meeting, NEA-R members will be voting on delegates to represent North Carolina at the national NEA convention. The February Panorama contains brief resumes for each of the candidates. Please read those little pieces and choose ELEVEN individuals for whom to vote. REALLY important this time: you MUST mark your ballot with PEN, not pencil, because use of pencil invalidates your ballot.
ü The State NCRSP Convention is happening in Durham at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel and Convention Center, March 24-25. Representing our unit will be Beth Carrin, Eula Mae Fox, Ben and Lois Strickland, and Jimmie Owen.
ü Our unit currently has 126 members. Every single member is important, yet we obviously need to grow. If you are aware of current members of the education community who are nearing retirement, please begin now to explain the value of their membership in NC Retired School Personnel.
ü Health Matters, Part Three: Given the current state of the economy, our legislators are examining the state of our health plan and considering a number of options for ways to deal with the deficit of $580 million. The most recent plan, still just a proposal, is to tap the state’s ‘rainy day’ fund and make some changes that include an increase in co-payments and an incentive prescription drug plan as well instituting ways to reward members who do not smoke and are below 30% BMI (body mass index).
Remember that this proposal is just that, a proposal, and that NCAE will continue to work with legislators to hold down costs as much as possible and to protect the promise of an employer-funded health care plan.
For recent actions coming from Raleigh that affect our lives, go to the email box for NCAE Government Relations at g.relations@ncae.org and sign up for the regular legislative updates to be delivered to your email box.
Our Service to the Community Matters, Too
We increased our volunteer hours in ‘08! Total hours reported were 6650. Of those, 1155 were for educational activities and 5495 were in the "other" category. One of our newest retirees, Billy Ralph Winkler, logged the most hours of volunteer work, and we know he served our county with many paid hours as a Commissioner also.
The bad news is that only 28 people turned in a report. We can do a better job of recording our hours of service.
On the next page you’ll find another volunteer hours form. Put it on your fridge or next to your monthly calendar and keep track of all the time you donate to activities and events in your life. Do remember that taking care of family members does NOT count in your volunteer hours.
* Volunteer hours for the “Other” category would include the following activities. Please circle the ones in which you participated.
· Political
· Governmental
· Neighborhood
· Civic organization
· Hospital
· Companion to shut-in
· Healthcare/Red Cross
· Church/religious work
· Schools
· Athletics
· Transportation
· Mentoring/tutoring
· NCRSP
· Libraries
· Social Services
· Habitat for Humanity
N.B.
· Activities for which you are paid (i.e., honoria or stipends) do not count for volunteer hours.
· While the NCRSP Executive Board considers time caring for grandchildren, elderly parents, or other family members as very important, it considers these activities to be family obligations and does NOT accept these hours as volunteer hours.
North Carolina Retired School Personnel
Individual Volunteer Hours Record for 2008
Monday, February 9, 2009
Our next meeting is March 19th
LeVerne is reminding us to put March 19th on our Calendar for our next Luncheon.
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