Tuesday, November 10, 2015

The Red Pencil
Newsletter of Watauga County Retired School Personnel

Vol.XVI, No.2  October 2015_______ _____________________________ntn1066@hotmail.com
October Meeting
When:Thursday, October 15, NOON, $10, check made payable to Watauga County NCRSP
Where:Deerfield Methodist Church
Why:To share time with each other AND to hear from Watauga County Superintendent of Education, Dr. Scott Elliott. Please come!
With:non-perishable food for the Hunger Coalition.  This month, let’s load down that long table in the Fellowship Hall with INDIVIDUAL SIZES of fruit, heatable meals, cereal, and everything else for the more than 400 backpacks our schoolkids take home every weekend, don’t forget all the lovely, noisy, loose change you’ve been collecting for the Scholarship Fund..  And don’t forget the plastic bags and medicine bottles!
If your caller has not reached you by October 10, phone Margaret Sigmon, 264-2036, to make your reservation.  Remember that we’ll be selling take-home meals for $5.
AND, if you have time, please plan to stay for just a few minutes after the meeting to help Margaret clean our meeting space.
        President’s Message
As summer warmth gives way to cooler days and our mountain landscape sheds its green foliage to provide us its October brilliance, it is time to join together for our autumn NCRSP luncheon.   

Schools are in full swing and our legislature has finally reached a budget agreement giving us a few positives i.e., restoring our teacher assistants and driver education and increasing beginning teacher salaries.  Unfortunately, the assault on North Carolina’s public education system has not stopped.  Funding for students and teachers continues to decline.  North Carolina is currently spending $877 less per student than in 2009 and 70% of our teachers will receive no salary increase. They will receive a one-time $750 bonus that does not count towards retirement.  NC struggles to keep experienced teachers while the poverty rate of school age children climbs to 25%.  We retirees will receive no Cost of Living Increase (COLA), a real disappointment after our state treasurer said publically that money was available for this purpose.  

Since the education news from Raleigh has not been encouraging, we look forward to some positive news from our recently hired superintendent, Dr. Scott Elliott.    He will be our featured speaker for our October program.   He will share what is happening in the Watauga County Schools. We are fortunate to have Dr. Elliott as our superintendent and we wish him well as he begins his second year serving our county.  These are his remarks taken from his welcoming on the Watauga county school web site:

“ Our circumstances include both great strengths and notable challenges, but I would not trade the talents and resources of the Watauga County Schools and this community for those of any of the 114 other districts in NC.  If we all work together to focus on providing great teaching and learning in our schools, we can offer life changing education for our students.  Let’s not settle for anything less.”

I share his views that I would not want to trade the resources of Watauga County schools for those of the 114 other units in the state.   We are fortunate to live in a beautiful part of the Blue Ridge Mountains and we are fortunate to have a wonderful workplace to educate our children. Whether it is our geographic isolation, our exceptional staff, our exceptional community, the university advantage or all these reasons, we have advantages over other units that foster educational excellence. 
I am grateful to our Watauga NCRSP unit as a bright spot in the northwest part of NC, working to support local education.  Thank you for all you do to support Watauga schools.  I look forward to seeing you at our October meeting. 

Lee 
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
People Pieces
Congratulations to prospective NCRSP member Cheri Harmon, now Cheri Harmon Craver, on her September marriage to long-time beau Jim Craver.
And more congratulations to Susan McKay, who celebrated finishing her chemo treatments by taking a three-week trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands!
Happy recovering to Sue Aldridge, doing nicely after knee surgery in early September.
Kudos to Dot Barker, who survived an unannounced and unwelcome visit from raccoons IN HER HOUSE.  Ask her for all the scary details.
Representing us at the NCRSP regional meeting on the 16th of October will be Janice BurnsBill WinklerLee StroupeDot BarkerBarbara HunsuckerBetty Wells, and Mary Linda Dooley.  They’ll do us proud!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
In Memoriam
The Watauga Unit of North Carolina Retired School Personnel sends its deepest sympathies to the families of Betty Elliott, Charles Isley, and R.G. Shipleythree of our most valued members.
In the past year, our unit has lost eleven members.  When a death occurs in our membership, we transfer $25 from our treasury into the scholarship fund in memory.  Please remember that contributions in memory or in honor of our colleagues are always appropriate.  Make your check to WC NCRSP and send it to Dot Barker.  Put the name of the person in whose honor/memory you are contributing on the memo line.
LISTEN UP!!!
OK, that was shouting and I know shouting isn’t polite.  On the other hand, I really need your attention.  The Red Pencil is only as useful to you as you allow it to be.  In a world filled with “stuff” bombarding all of us all the time, information overload is not just possible; it’s well nigh unavoidable.  Our little newsletter, however, can’t become just another piece of flotsam and jetsam in your life.  You can’t let it.  News about our programs and our schedules and activities is in here.  A message from our unit president is in here.  Business matters like the budget on which we’ll all have to vote are in here.  What to bring to meetings, whether or not Janice Burns has made another of her legendary cakes for auction, Candace’s latest news about volunteer opportunities, even an occasional brief book recommendation or a nifty recipe are in here, and it’s all important.  Please take the time to read this newsletter, and if you have comments to make about it or news you want to share through it, get in touch with Nanci Tolbert Nance, ntn@skybest.com or 828.963-8892.
A Very Special Message
On behalf of my family, I would like to thank the members of the Watauga Unit of North Carolina Retired School Personnel for the special offering made in memory of my mother, LaVerne Franklin, to the NCRSP Scholarship Fund.  We have been devastated by our loss, but the many acts of kindness shown to us during this difficult time have been an uplifting blessing.  The scholarship program was something she looked forward to every year and you have all fittingly honored her legacy with your contributions to North Carolina’s future educators.  
                         Thank you kindly,
Morgan Redmond & The Franklin/Redmond/Martin Families



   The Importance of Membership

If you did not join or renew your membership in NCRSP in August, October is the next best time.  If you are a renewing member and a cash-paying member and have not yet paid your dues, you will find the amount of your dues in the upper right corner of the mailing label on this newsletter.  Your 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 are a new retiree, your dues are $111 and can be paid by check or you can join by bank draft or credit card.  If you plan to join by bank draft, bring a voided check with you.  Both forms will be available at the meeting.   If you have questions, please call Dot at 264-3621 or Barbara or Roland Moy at 264-8811
IMPORTANT!  New this year – checks written for dues payment must be written to NCAE.  All other checks, such as scholarship or attendance at association meetings/conferences, are still written to Watauga Unit of NCRSP.   






  We will be voting to approve this budget at our October meeting.

Watauga Unit of NCRSPProposed Budget for 2015-2016
Income
Local dues based on 40 members @ $8.00320.00
Local dues based on 55 members @ $10.00            550.00
Total dues income            870.00
Other estimated income200.00
          1070.00

Expenses
Newsletter printing (5 @ $60.00)300.00
Other printing
Postage for newsletter (5 @ $50.00)225.00
Other postage and supplies  25.00
Total printing, postage & supplies550.00

Officers' Expenses
State Convention300.00
Workshops, etc.100.00
Total Officers' Expenses400.00

Miscellaneous (Memorials, gifts, TLC)200.00
       *Committee Expenses  0.00
Total Miscellaneous200.00

Total Expenses          1150.00

   *   Committee expenses to be taken from grant funds
You will notice that Scholarship Fund is never in our budget, because dues cannot be used for scholarships and our scholarship is funded entirely by donations.  Please be generous with your donations for scholarship, with your major donations, and with your change in the little watering cans on the tables at our lunches.  Remember that a donation to the Scholarship Fund is a great way to remember a colleague and to honor one.  


      Health Plan Changes for 2016
With the changes in our Health Plan going into place again, you will probably have questions and want more information.  To make the most-informed choice, make an informed choice, you are encouraged to take advantage of the outreach event that will be in our county on Monday October 19, at 9:00AM at Meadowbrook Inn in Blowing Rock.  Please call 1-800-850-1992to reserve a seat for this meeting.  


ANNUAL NORTH CAROLINA FOUNDATION FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN GIVEAWAY ANNOUNCED

The NC Foundation for Public School Children provides eyeglasses, school supplies, and more to hundreds of students in our state.  Grants from the Foundation’s resources funded literacy projects and helped parents to become more involved in their children’s schools.  More than 1,600 high school students completed a Teacher Cadet course on their way to becoming future teachers.
This year, cash giveaways to ticket buyers (1 ticket - $5, 4 tickets - $10, 10 tickets - $20) include a grand prize of $5,000 cash, 2 prizes of $2,500 each, 3 prizes of $1,000 each, and 10 prizes of $100.
For every 100 tickets sold by a local affiliate of NCAE or NCRSP, the name of the affiliate will be entered in a drawing for $1,000 cash.
Tickets will be available at our October meeting or may be purchased through the website at www.NCRPSC.org.
Please note that the drawing will take place on December 8, 2015 and winners will be notified by phone or email.
VOLUNTEER SERVICES:
Candace Hall

NCRSP Community Participation - Volunteer Hours  2015
Name  __________________________
Category 
Jan  
Feb  
Mar  
Apr  
May  
Jun  
Jul  
Aug  
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Total
Education
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x


x
x

Other
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x


x
x

Total Hours in All Categories ________
Candace will be happy to take your information by phone at 264-5763 or by email to mcandacehall@gmail.com.

The Red Pencil
Watauga Unit, NCRSP
451 Poplar Hill Dr.
Boone NC 28607



Sunday, August 16, 2015

August 2015 Red Pencil

The Red Pencil             Description: NCRSP Seal (circle for color printers)

Newsletter of Watauga County Retired School Personnel


Vol.XVII, No.1 August 2015________________________________________ntn1066@hotmail.com___

August Meeting


           When:               TUESDAY, 18 August 2015, 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

Our special guest speakers for this meeting are from the NC State Department: Josephine Knitz, who will give us an update on retirement issues, and Thomas Friedman, who will talk to us about the state health plan.  Bring your questions for these experts!
 
If your caller does not contact you, call Margaret Sigmon at 264-2036 before 8 PM on Saturday, the 15th of August or email her at margaretsigmon@bellsouth.net
 
Every year we say the same thing about our first meeting, but it still matters and you can really help “the staff” 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 NCAE.  Remember to pay particular attention to the article about dues later in this newsletter;
 
  1. 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;
 
  1. drop all the lovely, noisy, loose change you’ve been collecting into the little watering cans at your table;
 
  1. bring food staples (pasta, beans, rice, canned veggies) for the Hunger Coalition.
 
Remember that we are not collecting school supplies again this year.  Instead, you contributed in May to the Back2School Festival.
 
***At our May meeting and shortly thereafter, members contributed more than $600 to this fund in memory of Past President and Scholarship Committee Chair La Verne Franklin.  A donation to the Scholarship Fund is an excellent way to remember or to honor a friend or a professional colleague.
 
 
Description: MC900441394[3]President’s Message
 
     With less than five weeks of summer remaining, it is time to gather for our August breakfast and think about the start of another school year.  What a great excuse to meet and celebrate!  With our August breakfast, we look forward to new retirees joining our local organization. We are very fortunate to have a membership of 105 strong.  One of our primary missions is to promote our membership, and we appreciate Barbara and Roland Moy’s work of visiting our schools and delivering welcome packets to our new retirees. We encourage our school retirees to join us and be a part of us.  Last year we added six retirees to our membership and we hope we continue to grow.                                                                                                                                      
     One of the benefits of being a retired NEA-NCAE member is the low cost of membership.  A one-time fee of $250.00 gives you lifetime membership in the NEA.  The yearly NCAE dues is actually less than half of the active NCAE dues. 
      I am excited about our August program as we feature two representatives from Janet Crowell’s office of the Department of Treasury to answer questions about our retirement benefits.  Hopefully we will receive good news about the status of our health insurance and retirement benefits.  Thank you, Mary Linda Dooley, for lining up our program speakers and I look forward to another year of interesting and meaningful RSP programs.  
    We also have one of our own who was recognized on the national level for her work as our communication chair and editor of The Red Pencil.  This past June in Orlando at the national R-NEA convention, our Red Pencil was awarded first runner-up for the top newsletter among our 50 states and thousands of local units. Congratulations, Nanci, for all your contributors. 
We have much to celebrate.  Our membership is made up of talented individuals who continue to serve our local unit and community.  Many thanks for all you do.

Lee 


APROPOS OF NOTHING BUT TWO REALLY GOOD HINTS:  1. Deodorize your food disposal and sharpen its blades at the same time by turning it on and emptying the ice in your icemaker into it.  That’s also a good way to get rid of stale ice and begin afresh!  2. Act to prevent dryer fires by removing the lint filter and running it under the warm water in your sink.  If the water doesn’t flow freely, use dish detergent and a brush to scrub it, removing the waxy buildup from softener sheets.  Rinse under warm water, allow to air dry, and replace.
 
Description: MC900410407[1] NCRSP Meeting Dates, 2015-2016
All meetings will take place at Deerfield Methodist Church.  With the exception of the Tuesday 9A meetingon August 18, all meetings are on Thursday and begin at noon.  Please mark your calendar now to avoid conflicts with doctors’ appointments and other events.
 
August 18, Tuesday, 9A Deerfield Methodist Church
October 15, Thursday, 12N Deerfield Methodist Church
December 17, 12N, Thursday, Deerfield Methodist Church
March 17,12N, Thursday, Deerfield Methodist Church
May 19,12N, Thursday, Deerfield Methodist Church
 
 
 
Description: TelephoneImportant Folks Volunteer to Be Callers
 

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 Saturday before the meeting day.  We must give a total number 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.
 
 
 
Our really important callers for the 2015-2016 year are

Jackie Adams
Sue Aldridge
Wanda Bentley
Beth Carrin
Candace Hall
June Mann
Mary Hazel Mast
Susan McKay
Rebecca Robinson
Joyce Sherrill
Betty Wells

We thank them for taking their time to make sure we know about meetings and have other timely information.


Description: MC900251285[1]   Need a Lift?
If you or anyone you know needs transportation to one of our meetings, please call Beth Carrin at 264-9227 and she will make arrangements.
 
 
Back 2 School Festival, a good thing for us to do
 
The Watauga County Unit of NCRSP has been involved for two years in helping to provide funding, materials, and personnel for the Back2School Festival.
Amber Bateman is the creator of this event, an outgrowth of her own Quiet Givers.  Amber saw a need to help our county’s students begin school with the supplies, the support, and the attitudes they needed to succeed.  She met with members of local organizations and led the discussion that resulted in the idea of a countywide, free school supplies festival.  
The B2S Festival itself, held this year on August 8, included hands-on activities for the attending students, activities led by local businesses, and booths sponsored by businesses, public service agencies, and churches to inform attendees of their services.
As our focal point for school giving, the Watauga Unit of NCRSP collected money in May to purchase supplies to “Pack the Bus” – and donated $690 to the cause!  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Description: j0233018
 
2015-2016 Officers
Watauga Unit
North Carolina Retired School Personnel
 
Your unit officers serve you.  If you have questions or information for any one of them, please get in touch using these numbers and email addresses.
 
 
President                                 Lee Stroupe   264-1276                       lstroupe@gmail.com
Vice-Pres./Pres. Elect              Mary Linda Dooley 263-0493  mdooley999@gmail.com
Sec./Treas.                              Dot Barker        264-3621         dot24@bellsouth.net
 
Parliamentarian                                   Ben Strickland 264-2320         benstrickland@bellsouth.net
Legislative Comm. Chr.                       Bill Watterson  898-5500         wataugateacher@yahoo.com
Membership Comm. Chrs.        Roland, Barbara Moy 264-8811           moyrf@appstate.edu
Memorials                                Susan McKay  264-9691         mckayinboone@live.com
Community Participation             Candace Hall 264-5763                  mcandacehall@gmail.com
Scholarship                                         Melony Winkelmann 264-6190            melony1943@bellsouth.net
Decorations                              Beth Winkler 264-6194                       betwinkl@bellsouth.net
Meeting Arrangements                        Margaret Sigmon  264-2036    margaretsigmon@goboone.net
Remembrance                         Louise  Osborne 264-9352       flwt@skybest.com
Historian                                  Janice Burns  295-7454                        burnsjn@bellsouth.net
Door Prizes                              Barbara Hunsucker 963-7384   hunsuckerbh@yahoo.com
 
 
Red Pencil Editor                    Nanci Tolbert Nance 963-8892           ntn@skybest.com
                                                                                                ntn1066@hotmail.com
Webmaster                               Lee Stroupe   264-1276                       lstroupe@gmail.com
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contributions/Suggestions/Email Edition of The Red Pencil, anyone?  Change of email or snail mail address?  
 
ntn@skybest.com or snail mail to



Description: MC900441314[1]Extremely Important Information about Paying Your Dues


No matter how long you have been a member of the Watauga Unit of NCRSP, this information about dues is new and important.  Please read carefully.

If you paid your dues by check last year, your dues amount is printed in the upper right corner of your mailing label.  Please bring this amount to the August meeting with your check made payable to NCAE.  ***Please note this change: all dues checks should be made to NCAE rather than to our local unit as in the past.***  If you are unable to attend the meeting, you may mail your check to Dot Barker, 451 Poplar Hill Dr., Boone NC 28607.  If you receive your newsletter by email, you may check with Dot, dot24@bellsouth.net, about your amount.

If your label has PR (Payroll Deduction) or EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer) printed on it, you have chosen to have your dues deducted from your retirement check.  Do not write a check for your dues if you see PR or EFT on your label.  You certainly will, however, want to write a check for the Scholarship Fund.  These checks can still be made out to Watauga Unit of NCRSP.  If you want to change your method of paying dues, please see Dot for the appropriate forms.
 
New retirees and membership prospects will not find a dues amount on your mailing label.  If you retired after July 1, 1999, your annual dues are $111.  If you retired between July 1, 1985 and July 1, 1999, your annual dues are $65. 
 
Our unit has an Associate Membership plan for noncertified personnel – assistants, secretaries, and cafeteria workers.  The Associate Membership is $10, is for nonvoting membership in the local unit only, and includes our newsletter, The Red Pencil.  Associate Membership does not include membership in the district, state, or national organizations and is available only for noncertified personnel.
 
*** IF YOU PAY YOUR DUES BY CREDIT CARD, be sure to notify NCRSP of any changes in your card, such as expiration date or security numbers.  The mailing address for such notification is NCAE Membership, P.O. Box 27347, Raleigh NC 27611-7347.
 
If you have any questions about dues, please call Dot Barker at 264-3621 or email her at dot24@bellsouth.net.
 





 
 
 
A Really Neat Idea: Blessing Bags

Do you often – or even occasionally – pass a homeless person on one of our streets?  Here’s a wonderful way to respond – and to be an example for a child who looks to you as a role model!
Description: hris Mckie's photo.
SUGGESTED BLESSING BAGS INGREDIENTS TO PUT IN GALLON-SIZED ZIPLOC BAGS:
 

chapstick
packages of tissues
toothbrush and toothpaste
comb
soap
hotel size shampoos
trail mix
granola bars
crackers
pack of gum
band aids
mouthwash
coins or predetermined dollar amount, say $5.00 (could be used to make a phone call, or purchase a food item)
hand wipes
warm pair of socks
a packet rain poncho
tampons (for women)

 
The ideas could be endless!
Assemble all the items in the bags and maybe throw in a note of encouragement. Seal the bags and stow in your car for a moment of providence.


NCRSP – What Have You Got to Lose?
 
At the beginning of a new school year, 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.  What do they have to lose if they don’t join?  Subscriptions to  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, that’s what – and more.  

New retirees have received a letter from our unit.  At the bottom of the letter is a coupon for breakfast at our first meeting of the year.
 
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 through our participation in the Back2School Festival; collect children’s books for Santa’s Toybox; collect food, medicine bottles and plastic bags for the Hunger Coalition; give cell phones to OASIS and to our troops overseas; and provide services to our members that include transportation to meetings. 

 TOOT YOUR HORN!  

Our Community Service Coordinator, Candace Hall, reports that we have received the form from the state level of NCRSP about our 2014 Community Service Report.  You’ll remember that the state goals are for 50% of members to report and for 25% of the reported hours to be in education.  We met that goal in the percentage of educational hours with 27% but failed in the percentage of members reporting with only 30%.  The State Chair of Community Service in her letter thanked members, not once, but twice, for the hard work, energy, and time given to our community and the State.
 
Candace has totals for the members for each of the two meetings that we've had so far this year that will be available at each table.  She welcomes receiving hours from earlier this year as well as the most recent period.  So far we have a total of 1426 hours, both education and other, with an additional 470 1/2 hours on a lucky 4-leaf clovers' notepaper but without a name.  If that clover paper is your, please let Candace know. 
Think about all the wonderful things you do, from singing in your church choir to providing flowers for meetings to being a substitute grandparent in an elementary school class or working the polls at elections.  Caring for a family member doesn’t count, but almost everything else does! 
Fill out the form on the last page of the newsletter and bring it to the meeting on the 18th or phone/email Candace.
 
  From one of our members (and no one is saying who!):

Why I Like Retirement

Question: How many days in a week?
Answer:6 Saturdays, 1 Sunday

Question: How many retirees to change a light bulb?
Answer: Only one, but it might take all day.

Question: What's the biggest gripe of retirees?
Answer: There is not enough time to get everything done.

Question: Why don't retirees mind being called seniors?
Answer: The term comes with a 10% discount.

Question: Among retirees, what is considered formal attire?
Answer: Tied shoes
            
 
NCRSP Community Participation Volunteer Hours 2015
Name:  
 
Category 
Jan  
Feb  
Mar  
Apr  
May  
Jun  
Jul  
Aug  
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Total
 
Education
 
x
x
x
x
x
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other (not familial)
 
x
x
x
x
x
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                            Total Hours in All Categories ________
Candace will be happy to take your information by phone at 264-5763 or by email to mcandacehall@gmail.com.