President
Barbara Rich, Fairbanks
President-Elect:
open
Secretary
Barbara George,
Fairbanks
Treasurer
Virginia Walters, Kenai
Past President
Bill O’Dell, Fairbanks
Website:
AKREA.ORG
SCHOLARSHIP NEWS
Anchorage and Mat-Su
Areas: CARTA: Shannon
Jones, President
CARTA meets 1st Saturday
at 12:30 at the Anchorage
Senior Center (Sept.-May)
Contact: Ronelva Peacock
(907)349-1714
Fairbanks (FRTA) Ellen Ayotte
1121 Coppett St
Fairbanks, Ak 99709
FRTA meets the 2nd
Wednesday at the at 11:30
Juneau/Douglas: Barb Potter
billstoy@aol.com
JRTA meets on the 3rd
Monday every month
Seward: Mary Daniel
Box 593 , Seward, AK
99664
smdaniel@gci.net
Kodiak: Kathy Wischer
Box 202, Kodiak AK 99615
kwischer@alaska.net
Kenai Virginia Walters
214 Birch,Street, Kenai, Ak
99611
vewalters@gci.net
Homer: Ray Hillman
Melissa Benson of Wasilla, currently a senior at UAF,
was the recipient of the 2014 AKREA scholarship. She
received it for second semester when she was doing
her student teaching.
She says, “My goals are strongly tied to my
philosophy of teaching. I want to teach children to
be the best they can be. ..I believe that all
students are capable of learning and that we as
teachers have an obligation to find out how to teach
them so they learn.”
Melissa is an honor student, and a member of
honor societies Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Theta
well as on the National Dean’s list. She has
invited to join the Gold Key Honor Society.
also raising two sons in Wasilla.
The selection was made by the Seward Retired teachers
(907) 235-2449
rhillman@ptialaska.net
Palmer: Jane Hammond
Box 281, Palmer AK
99645
the
Kappa as
been
She is
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
BARB’S BY-LINE
Summer is coming!!!
We have a lot to be thankful for. Our mini
grants are going real well. The classes seem to enjoy their projects.
Next year with all the cuts these grants will be even more important
as will the scholarship with projected tuition increase for students.
It is difficult for the teachers and students will all the cuts. We
are getting more and more applications for the mini grants and
scholarship. If you would like to donate toward them we would be very
happy.
We have a fund that we have invested in for scholarship and
mini- grants only. It is invested conservatively.
The legislature met and had a very difficult time due to the price
of oil and the amount of oil we are producing.
I know we all have
solutions to the problem, we need to let them know if we want them to
continue cutting or to start using some of the reserves such as the
Permanent Fund or maybe reinstall the income tax there are many ways
to get us back on track. I HOPE EVERYONE CONTACTS THEIR LEGISLATORS
AND LETS THEM KNOW HOW YOU FEEL.
WHAT YOU WOULD DO IF YOU WERE A
LEGISLATOR. THEY NEED YOUR INPUT. Talk to them this summer when they
are home. Most of the legislators listen.
Health Care it is on most all of our minds. I know a lot of you are
still having problems with Aetna who is the cause of almost all of the
problems. The state still has not given Aetna a contract. They work
month by month.
PLEASE send the problems to
Michele Michaud at the Division of Retirement Benefits.
Phone 907-465-3225, fax 907-465-3081,
toll free 1-800-821-2251,
michele.michaud@alaska.gov
If you are thinking of getting a shingles shot you will find out
that they are expensive: upwards to $400. Price varies, depending on
where you live and where you go.
However, if you live in Alaska,
retirees are considered uninsured because most vaccines are not
covered by Alaska Care. As such you can get the shot at your local
state health care office for a minimal charge usually about $35 or
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less. However the program is being phased out and will no longer exist
after July 31st.
We thank all our members who bring in new members and who help us
financially by paying a little extra especially if you are a life
member and do not have to pay. The newsletter by mail is costing more
almost every year. Every little bit helps.
Have a good summer will talk to you again next fall.
Barbara Rich
A LOOK AT THE LEGISLATURE: IF NOT NOW….WHEN?
Is it any wonder that people are looking at each other with a
large degree of puzzlement and frustration? The people of Alaska
closely followed the 90 - day legislative session expecting a
budget, a reasonable conversation to the cuts in education,
Medicaid expansion, a myriad of other worthy issues…which includes
the S.B 88 Teachers and Public Employee Retirement Plan, to be
addressed with some degree of resolution.
The terms, special session, a 12 - day recess, are freely floating
around, as if this will somehow solve the challenges left behind.
If we don’t take a non – partisan look now, then when?
There are still constructive steps that we can take. We can
contact our legislators ….remind them of our continuing thought s
and concerns….listen and respond to any updates coming our way.
Liz Lucas, AKREA
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IN THE UNITS
.JUNEAU
JREA 2014 – 2015
The school year is coming to a close, and yet, we have fresh snow on
our mountains this morning. I never get tired of seeing it.
We have had only a few speakers this year. It seemed that we had other
things to discuss at our meetings. Some just like to socialize.
Our main focus this year, has been selling our Teacher Tales Books.
The money raised from the sale of the books will go towards incentive
grants for teachers still working in the classroom. Teachers from
across the state are eligible to apply. We have spent many hours on
this project. Our group has participated in three craft fairs,
interviews on radio stations and a pod cast with the State Library.
Our latest endeavor was a Coffee & Collections Presentation at the
City Museum. The City Museum had awarded us a $1,000 grant to help
with the publishing of our book.
We could certainly use some help in selling our books. Whether or not
you know any of the teachers in the book, it is a great history of
teaching in Juneau before statehood. There are copies of our book
scattered around the state. Ask your Association leaders. If you can’t
find a copy, I will gladly send you one. Remember, teachers around the
state will benefit from this project. My e – mail address is
billstoy@aol.com, just mark it Teachers Book. We would appreciate your
help. The cost is $18.95.
ANCHORAGE
Central Alaska Retired Teachers Association (CARTA) ended their
meeting year of 2014-2015 with busy agendas. The April meeting,
dedicated totally to the annual Scholarship Fundraising Auction under
the leadership of Co-Vice President Gretchen Van Hove, found those
present having a rollicking good time as we bid, sometimes against
ourselves, on about 100 items. As Auctioneer Don Joyner led us
rapidly through the paces, we raised just over $2,500 for our
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scholarship program, and as far as our combined memories — we never
bother to look up things like this — that is a record.
May’s meeting including two big items: Installation of the Board of
Directors and Introduction of CARTA Marie Paxson Memorial Scholarship
winners.
The CARTA Board of Directors for the coming year consists of
President Kathryn Berkowitz, Co-Vice Presidents Gretchen Van Hove and
Carol Waters, Secretary Barbara Sell, and the Treasurer is Judy
Ireton. A past president, Mary Flynn, installed them and all received
red roses and the thanks of the entire membership.
CARTA again presented three $2,500 scholarships this year and the
quality of this year’s winners was extremely high. The CARTA
Scholarship Committee this year consisted of Linda Zimmermann, Eunice
Lott, Frances Talbott, Carol Waters, Don McDermott, Juliana Armstrong,
and chair Larry Graham.
Christina Whoolery won the scholarship for a student preparing to be
an elementary school teacher. Christina lives in Wasilla, but is
finishing her teacher certification requirements and her MA at Alaska
Pacific University in December of this year, so she will be student
teaching this next fall.
Kristina Montelauro Demain won the scholarship for a student preparing
to teach at the secondary school level — art in her case, at the
middle or high school level. Kristina grew up in Ohio and received
her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the Cleveland Institute of Art.
She will finish her requirements for a teaching certificate this fall
and her MA at APU in the spring of 2016.
Lori Lee Xiong received the scholarship for a student preparing to
teach at either the elementary or the secondary school level.
Since 2007 Lori has worked as a Bilingual Tutor for the ESL and ELL
programs, the last six years at East High in Anchorage, where she has
received rave reviews. She will finish her degree and her teacher
certification requirements at APU in December of 2015.
Visit our website at AKREA.ORG for relevant phone
numbers, current news and updates on retirement issues.
Also ‘friend’ Alaska Educators on FACEBOOK for news of
other Alaskan retirees
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TIDBITS
The current Alaska AFSCME newsletter reports that HR 973, a bill to
repeal the WEP/GPO is stuck in the House Ways and Means committee.
Called The Social Security Fairness Act of 2015, it mirrors the bill
former Senator Begich was working on. HR711, introduce by Texas
representative Kevin Brady would lessen the effects of the provisions
but would not eliminate them.
SSFairness Group is a grassroots committee of retired teachers and
others whose sole purpose is to repeal the WEP/GPO. Their homepage is
ssfairness.com/who-we-are.. They encourage everyone to contact their
congress persons.
he most recent HEALTH MATTERS from Alaska Care devoted some time to
SCAMS! Apparently several are floating out there hoping to ensnare
unaware Seniors. Some are aimed at surviving spouses, specifically,
asserting that benefits will be withheld if the survivor does not pay
some fictitious back debt. Always call the State of Alaska number
(800-821-2251) NOT the number provided by they caller or in the
letter you may receive.
Another prevalent scam is the “You won the Lottery”. Just remember
you can’t win a contest you didn’t enter. Never wire money, or send a
prepaid debit card to anyone promising you a large prize. You don’t
need to pay money to win money.
Another scam is “This is your Grandson” on the phone. A call from a
young man needing money for some emergency. He waits for you to say
“Is that you Johnny” before he uses a name, then asks for travel
money or something because he’s stranded, or has been mugged, or some
other story. Call the parents or the grandson himself before you
attempt the rescue. It is most likely a scam.
And call the police or the Better Business Bureau if you received
these calls/letters. Law enforcement wants to know what is out there
so they can warn their communities against fraud.
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WASHINGTON D.C. trip with COLETTE
We’ve just returned from a very successful
Washington DC tour.
In 2013, the AKREA board first proposed a
collaborative venture with Collette Tours. Although
many of us had been to D.C. before, we decided
that this might be a great way to break the ice and
see how such a venture might work.
As it turned out, Washington DC was at the height
of the tourist season as it welcomed in spring with
the tulip and cherry tree blossoms. It was a
delightful time to go and Collette did a wonderful job of easing us into the wonderful historic sites
including the oft visited along with some very special visits. The more familiar stops of the Capitol
Building, the Smithsonian, and the Washington National Cathedral, were topped off with the less visited
starting with George Washington’s Mt Vernon. The National Anthem beginnings at Fort McHenry, and a
personalized tour of the US Naval Academy at Annapolis, as well as the National Cemetery completed a
wonderful history tour
As our first group tour with Collette Tours, we were delighted with the variety and wonderful sites
added to make this a very worthwhile experience.
The tour leader was extremely personable and eased the way for a memorable trip for the entire group.
AKREA and Collette will be sponsoring a trip in 2016. We’d
like your input so visit GOCOLETTE.com to see the trips
they offer and send us a note or e-mail
(akeducators@yahoo.com) about where you’d like to trave
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OPPORTUNITY GRANTS
A committee of Kenai area retired teachers recently selected the 2015 AKREA classroom Opportunity
Grants . Sixteen applications from teachers all over the state were received. The awards, in no special
order, are:
To Caputnguaq School, Cherfognak in Lower Kuskokwim District for an Indoor Garden. Stefanie Sprenkle
says,” I believe an indoor garden will give the students something to care for, work for and be rewarded
with…I think it is truly important for students to learn where their food comes from and how it is grown.”
To Delta Greely School, Big Delta, Delta Greely District, for ESL books to help the Puerto Rican
students, the children of military personnel recently stationed at Fort Greely. Tiki Levinson explained.”This
increases their capability in both class and socially. The other students will no longer be unable to
communicate with them and so they become more interwoven into…the school and the community.”
To Northwood Elementary in the Anchorage District for a school wide display of a salmon life cycle,
Kelsey Deiman said “Salmon are a great tool for teaching life cycles and relating it to the many Alaskan
cultures that rely on salmon as their livelihood.”
To Campbell Elementary, Anchorage District for graphic novels. Holly Rinehart stated. "I …have a high
percentage of struggling and reluctant readers in my class….Whenever my students have an opportunity
to read they go immediately to graphic novels. [They] act as a magnet to the students in my class.”
To Haines School Library Services, Haines Borough School District for people puppets. Leigh Horner
wrote. ”The…Library Program has been using animal puppets to tell stories written by students
throughout the school. [People puppets] will allow the students to write and perform plays more specific to
normal life.”
Students from Northwood ABC n Anchorage
enjoying their graphic novels, purchased with the
opportunity grant from AKREA
Students from Caputnguaq, in Cherfornak
learning about gardening and plants grown using
the Opportunity Grant monies,
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ALASKA RETIRED EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION
NAME (Please Print)
Last____________________________First___________________M.I._______
Address:__________________________________________________________
City:_________________________________State:_________Zip___________
Phone:________________________E-Mail______________________________
I prefer to receive the newsletter via
Dues: $15 per year
[ ] e-mail
[ ] USPS
4 years/$50
Make Check Payable to ALASKA RETIRED EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION
mail to: Virginia Walters
214 Birch Street
Kenai, Ak 99611
The Ak-REA dues year is January –December. Any dues received after September 15 each
year will cover the next year
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