South Dakota Retired School Personnel

SDRSPSouth Dakota Retired School Personnel

SDRSP Newsletter“To Serve, Not to be Served.”

www.SDRTA.net • Affiliated with National Retired Teachers Association • March 2016 Vol. 49 No. I

State Convention May 3-4 • Pierre Ramkota

Come to State Convention to “Celebrate”Celebrate a Mystery – Our first convention as SD Retired School Personnel brings a mystery. Who will be the “kick-off” speaker? With circumstances we can’t control, we are not able to announce who it will be. When you come to the convention registration table on Tuesday, May 3 at the Ramkota in Pierre, you will be asked to write on a piece of paper the name of the person

you think will be the Mystery Speaker at 1:30 that afternoon. If there is more than one correct answer, a drawing will determine the winner, and the winner will get $50 cash back to reimburse the convention registration fee.

Celebrate the Past – Phyllis Schrag, a SD Humanities Scholar, will present “Letters from the Attic” a PowerPoint™ presentation based on 50 family letters which had been carefully saved, never translated, and handed down through generations. Phyllis is the great-granddaughter of FJ Meier to whom the letters were written. In this presentation, attendees will gain a perspective of the life and times of Dakota Territory settlers. A long-time Sioux Falls Lincoln High School teacher, Phyllis was also an adjunct teacher at the University of Sioux Falls. She now resides in Ames, IA. Along with many other awards, she was the first ever recipient of the SD Education Association Teacher of Excellence Award in 2001.

Cathy Zubke, Membership Chair417 North BroadwayWatertown, SD 57201

SDRTA.net

PRESORTEDSTD

US POSTAGE

PAIDRAPID CITY, SD

PERMIT #22

SIOUX FALLS – President Cathy Anderson, cander451@msn.com, 605-338-7053. The Sioux Falls Area Retired Personnel Association continues to be very active in the community. We collect box tops for education, stickers for the Visual Arts Center at the Pavilion, calendars for the Banquet, items for the zoo, games for the Family Connection, hygiene products all year long for a number of

groups. We collected money in Jan. & Feb. for Feeding South Dakota, and we will sponsor a girl to Girl’s State. Programs for monthly meetings include “Sioux Falls – Then and Now” by Kevin Gantz, meeting our new Superintendent, Dr. Brian Maher, update of the SD Retirement System, and the Sioux Falls Police Department. We will end our year by having a Memorial and Remembrance service for members who have passed away this past year.Through the AARP “Community Presence” project, we provide

financial and physical support to many organizations. We will continue to provide treats for Vets’ monthly meetings and meals for the Ronald McDonald House. Donations were given to the Humane Society for food and the Bread Break program to help feed the hungry in the area. A new project we recently completed was to buy $150 worth of school supplies for Cleveland Elementary in Sioux

Falls and we provided treats for the staff for Martin Luther King Day. We continue the journey nurturing the minds and bodies of so many in need and our members play a very big part in making that happen.

SOUTHEAST AREA (VERMILLION) – Co-Presidents Sharon Donahoe, sdonahoe@

midco.net, 605-658-0319 and JoAnn Stockland, jstockland@hotmail.com, 605-202-0897Southeast unit in Vermillion met on November 18 and had a very applicable program on Senior Fitness and Healthy Moves by Ruth Scott, from Great Plains Therapy in Vermillion. Then we met on February 10 for a very interesting program about Travel for Seniors by the AAA Travel agency here in Vermillion. As always, socializing and refreshments were enjoyed. Our next meeting is March 9 when we plan to have

Reminiscent Teacher discussion and sharing and entertainment by local high school speech contest participants.

WATERTOWN AREA –President Denise Ottenbacher, denise8087@gmail.com, -882-2295 The Watertown Area Retired School Personnel have been entertained and educated this winter. The director of the Watertown Area Recreation Center and the parks and recreation senior activity director shared information of interest to our group. Watertown Teacher of the Year and high school band director, Jackie Stacey, brought a group of student musicians who entertained us a Christmas. Students also explained how to become an All-State musician. At our Christmas party, each member was given an elf or Santa hat and encouraged to share it with another person and do an act of kindness for the person. Next we will be educated by a group from “Up With People.”

WINNER - Co-Presidents Trena Vandenbark, 605-840-4517 and Donna Brozik, mdbrozik@gwtc.net Brozik,mdbrozik@gwtc.net, 605-840-4517 We have been busy getting new volunteer projects off the ground. Nursing home bingo and cards are going great. The

back-pack program is fun to participate in. Our Christmas party was postponed until April. We had a very informative program about our local library in January and enjoyed our Grandparent essays winners in February.

YANKTON AREA – President Joyce Maggied, maggied34@vyn.midco.net, 605-665-7977Though we are currently on our winter meeting break, many of our Yankton unit committees (Grandparent Essay, Legislative, Scholarship, Community Service) continue. We will resume meeting on the first Thursdays of April, May and June at 11:30 a. m. at Jo Dean’s Restaurant with programs that promise to be outstanding. We are sad to report the November death of Margaret Lyons, a well-known and loved music educator in our area. She taught for the Yankton district 25 years, was named Yankton Education Teacher of the Year twice and was an organizer and director of the Yankton Children’s Choir. Margaret, along with her husband, Jack, received the Yankton Area Arts Advocacy Award in 2004, and they were named Yankton Citizens of the Year in 2009. Members of our unit, the Yankton community and the thousands of her music students miss her.

SDRSPA STATE OFFICERS 2014-2016

PRESIDENT Betty Beyer 725-5510 • bjb61@nvc.net1508 Northview Lane 290-0215 cellAberdeen, SD 57401

PAST- PRESIDENT Nancy May 718-0666 • nancymay@rushmore.com4619 Bellewood Dr.Rapid City, SD 57702

PRESIDENT-ELECT Bill Zubke 886-8637 • ezbzspeak@hotmail.com417 N BroadwayWatertown, SD 57201

VICE-PRESIDENT Kay Ainslie 859-2670 • kainslie@gwtc.net441-2449 cell Box 182 Philip, SD 57567

SECRETARY Leni Healy 360-8949 • CLHealy@aarp.org4206 S. Minnesota Ave.Sioux Falls, SD 57105

TREASURER Patricia Johnson 886-8756 • sdpjohnson@mac.com1226 E. Kemp AveWatertown, SD 57201

MEMBERSHIP Bill & Cathy Zubke 886-8637Cathy - calz45@hotmail.comBill – ezbzspeak@hotmail.com417 N BroadwayWatertown, SD 57201

COMMUNITY/HEALTH SERVICES Joanna Jones 450-0121 • joanna_jones@yahoo.com10559 West Highway 14Spearfish, SD 57783

PUBLICITY/NEWSLETTER

LEGISLATION Henry “Hank” Kosters 224-1825 • hank.g.kosters@gmail.com326 S. JacksonPierre, SD 57501

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Diana Glover 787-4631 • dnglover9@gmail.com4781 Sturgis Rd. Rapid City, SD 57702

CHECK MEMBERSHIP ADDRESSES!It is important for all unit officers to check with each member for their correct address.

Not having correct addresses costs the organization a great deal of money. Send all address changes, as well as names and dates of deaths, to

Bill and Cathy Zubke, 417 North Broadway, Watertown, SD 57201Phone: 605-886-8637 • Email address: calz45@hotmail.com

LEGISLATIVE NOTE ~by Dr. Hank KostersAll three bills relating to the SD Retirement System (SB 13, 14 and 15) were signed by the Governor. Thus there will be a parallel retirement system effective 7/1/17. Current employees and current retirees will continue in the same system as they are part of now.

Celebrate Family Compassion - Denette Eisnach-Becker, daughter of Dennis and Shirley Eisnach of Pierre, along with some of her children, will be the presenter after dinner Tuesday evening. She and her husband David have five children including two teenagers from Kampala, Uganda, who were adopted two years ago. Denette will tell of the “up’s and down’s” of her family’s experiences in the international adoption. Her sons, Frank and Vick, will demonstrate drumming, and her daughter, Kaylee, will accompany them. Denette is an optometrist partner with Central Dakota Eyecare. She and David also have a son and daughter attending SD State University.

Celebrate Stories – Each unit is invited to participate in the storytelling session Tuesday afternoon. Remember the hilarity of the skits at last year’s convention? Will we find the same fun in the stories this year, whether they be humorous, dramatic or tragic?

More Celebrations - On Wed., May 4, a talented fifth grader will read an essay of how deserving his/her grandparent is of the title “SD AARP Grandparent of the Year”. There will be awards, announcements, an election of President-Elect and Secretary, news from AARP and the SD Retirement System. There will be memories, door prizes, new friends and old, and most of all celebrating of who we are, South Dakota Retired School Personnel, still caring about the education of our state’s youth and always promoting the well-being of our retired members.

ABERDEEN – Contact Ron Johnson, ronjohnson15@abe.midco.net, 605-225-7968

BLACK HILLS – Co-Presidents, Kandee Snoozy, lksnoozy@aol.com, 605-388-0328 and Becky Fisher, scuttle29@hotmail.com, 605-721-3312Robin Gillespie, principal of Wilson School, gave a presentation in November on what it is now like to teach in the classroom. December took us to Somerset Retirement Court for our December Luncheon where we were served a delicious complimentary meal and enjoyed the program, Homestake Opera House, presented by Sara Carlson. January’s program was presented by some of our Keystone Historical School

volunteers to interest more members into helping teach the children who spend a half day in a 1900 classroom. January and February were busy months for our Bylaws and Standing Rules revision committee. Our February meeting brought the members acceptation of the proposed changes of the Bylaws and Standing Rules and an excellent program by Deirdre Monahan, of RC Regional Hospital Cardiac Rehab, on how to care for our heart.

BROOKINGS – President Nancy Fixen, nfixen@itctel.com, 605-693-4075

HURON AREA – Co-Presidents Keitha Neuharth, kneuharth@santel.net, 605-350-3251 and Bev Erdahl,

lberd@hur.midco.net, 605-352-4746

MADISON – President Elaine Brown, elbro@goldenwest.net, 605-351-5492

MILBANK – President Rhonda Peller, rrprel@aol.com,605-438-4388Besides enjoying our wonderful speakers and entertainment, including Arlo Levison, President of the Grant County Historical Society, Mibank retirees continued looking for ways to impact the community. In the fall, we sponsored a successful Food Drive for the Grant County Food Pantry. In November, bars, cookies, apples, “kisses” and local Valley Queen Cheese were delivered on different days to schools and transportation departments

during American Education Week. At holiday time, MARTA members bought gifts for several children listed on the Angel Tree and wrote dozens of

Christmas cards for soldiers. Our “Students of the Month” sponsorship at our elementary school continues to be very popular since one student per classroom is honored each month by having their picture on the bulletin board and receives a special certificate from Milbank Area Retirees. In January, our Milbank High School Debaters gave an overview about their debate program and how much research it takes for competition. Plus, we were excited to have so many 5th graders participate in the Grandparents Essay contest this year.

MITCHELL – Contact Emily Bickett, ebickett@mit-tel.net, 605-996-6905

NORTHERN HILLS – President Bob Schneider, rschneider@rushmore.com, 605-722-7712NHRSP members have participated in a variety of community service projects by doing volunteer work, and members have encouraged participation in the Grandparent Essay Contest, Reminiscent Teacher Essay and teacher scholarships. Interesting programs at recent meetings included “An Overview of our SD Retirement System” by Travis Almond, “Northern Hills Area CASA” by Kate Kelley and “Impact of Small Musical Bands” by Lyle Berry. With leadership from Joanna Jones and Lynn McFarland, AARP 2016 Incentive Program is being considered by NHRSP for participation in additional community service projects. Sue Chaplin, Della Hall and Doris Richter attended Lobby Day at Pierre. Our bylaws have been revised and updated to include all school personnel. Mary Ellen Warren, speaking for the nominations committee, presented a slate of officers for election in April.

OAHE (MOBRIDGE) – President Fay Jackman, fay.jackman@gmail.com, 605-850-8421

PHILIP AREA – President Marcia West, cmmmwest@gwtc.net, 605-859-2213Philip Area AARP/RTA/RSP will be taking on a project of purchasing “Welcome to Philip” banners that will be installed on 24 new light poles along Highway 73 through Philip. This project will be done in cooperation with City of Philip and Philip Chamber of Commerce. We will be using SD AARP funds from our Community Presence status. Christmas decorations will also be purchased in the future. Work on the Philip

Cemetery Directory continues with a larger map being made and markers being placed at unmarked graves. Flowers will be planted at the Old School House Park and a new flag hung as needed.

PIERRE AREA - Co-Presidents Margaret Ellefson, margknut@pie.midco.net, 605-224-6020 and Lu Heibel, vennieh@pie.midco.net, 605-224-2834The Pierre unit’s newest venture is to arrange “Ed Ops” (Educational Opportunities) for members and friends. A tour of the SD Women’s Prison and drug talk by an inmate was held on January 28. A visit to the Brinkman Arabian Stables northeast of Pierre is scheduled for this spring. PARSP 2016 regular meeting programs are Sky Lab, funeral planning, legislative update, library tour, Ft. Pierre train depot, and grandparent essay winner.

REDFIELD – Co-Presidents Arlie Rodman, arlier@abe.midco.net, 605-472-0225 and Gerri Schutte, gerri_schutte2@hotmail.com, 605-472-2142RARSP contacted area schools with information about the 5th Grade AARP Grandparent Essay Contest and judged the entries. The winning entry was mailed for further competition. In October we adopted our new bylaws and job descriptions. Area school administrators have been given information to pass along to their staff on our state scholarship program in hopes of creating more interest in the program. We continue to have informative programs at each meeting. We are preparing for our annual spelling contest to be held the end of April for Grades 1 – 9 in our area schools.

Unit Leaders and News:

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*************************************************************************************Please pass along this enrollment form to retired colleagues. Remember all school personnel are invited to join

and enjoy the benefits of the South Dakota Retired School Personnel.*********************************************************************************************

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Send this form and $15 (annual state dues) to:Pat Johnson 1226 E. Kemp AveWatertown, SD 57201

Energize This Spring with Volunteerism

~ Thank You For Donations ~ Reported by Pat Johnson, Treasurer

~ Dates to Remember ~

by Community Service Chair Joanna JonesOur country is the second most philanthropic country in the world, second only to Myanmar (Burma). Here in the US, 62.8 million Americans volunteered for 7.9 billion hours in 2015. We volunteer! We give of our time and energy! We need to ring the bell and shout about the work we do. Volunteering draws people together and builds community quickly. It is a big selling point for us as retirees. Collins, J. H. (12/04/15) “Nonprofits Benefit When Volunteers Use Their Professional Skills” AARP Create-the-GoodIn South Dakota, 35% of retirees volunteer a significant amount of time in activities that strengthen and benefit their communities. For the volunteers, participation strengthens their social ties to one another and protects them from isolation during difficult times. Helping others leads to a sense of greater self-worth.Not only should we ring the bell and shout about how much our work is valued, $23.07 per hour, but we should also note how we have helped to decrease the health costs within our state. Volunteering enhances the mental and physical well-being of our state’s residents, both those serving

as well as those being served. There is a significant positive relationship between volunteering and good health. (Putnam, R. (2000) Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. New York: Simon and Schuster) The impact of volunteers is extraordinary. This may be why - they embody these traits: being results-driven, having passionate professionalism, coming from a collaborative mindset, stick to their commitments, bring visibility to the work, think more about what they can contribute than receive, and are energizers. (Lindenmayer, M. (June 3, 2013) 7 Traits of Amazing Volunteers, Forbes online news) Collaborating on volunteer projects is magical. Join in today as new friendships are formed and fun abounds.

In Memory of Phyllis Scott from Pierre Area RSP

In Memory of Phyllis Scott from Shirley Eisnach

In Memory of Ester Tibke from Watertown Area RSP

In Memory of Ester Tibke from Pat Johnson

In Memory of Gertie Schumacher from Watertown Area RSP

$50 to Scholarship Fund from Redfield Area RSP

April 5 – Deadline for: Ramkota room reservations for convention Unit Reports to President Betty Beyer Nominations for Florence Krieger Award and Outstanding Service Awards to President Betty Beyer Reminiscent Stories and Scholarship applications to Bill Zubke Volunteer Hours Reports to Joanna JonesApril 25 – Convention Registrations Due to Judy Rapp

Wed., July 13 – SDRSP State Board Mtg, Ramkota Hotel, Pierre 11:00 a.m., Central Time Lake Sharp Room

Tues., Aug. 9 – SDRSP Workshop for Unit Leaders & Members 1:00 p.m., Brookings, First Lutheran Church

Thurs., Aug. 11 – SDRSP Workshop for Unit Leaders & Members 1:00 p.m., Rapid City, AARP Center, Rushmore Mall

A Message from President Betty Beyer ~

Hello, Everyone!First of all, I want to thank you all for the encouragement through emails and letters that you sent to me during my hip surgery. I seem to be on schedule and feel a bit better each day, so on we go!

Our convention is coming very soon, and I am looking forward to seeing you and hearing about the many accomplishments you have made in the past year. I just know that everyone in each unit has done their very best in each field of endeavor.

I encourage you all to write your reminiscences so we can enjoy reading about your experiences in the schools. Remember, we are school personnel, and it can be from our secretaries, janitors, business managers, anyone who worked in our schools to help our children get an education.

Please get your stories ready to tell at the convention. I think it brings it all to our level when

we hear about the real experiences we had in our schools. You are all so talented that I expect great things! Our theme is CELEBRATE so with each story, we will do just that!

We all need to talk to, invite and encourage retired school personnel to join our group. We need to keep our monthly meetings lively, enjoyable and of course, have good food and interesting programs. If you meet a retired person, give them the pitch and invitation. I just know that with a smile and a joke, you can inspire them all to join.

See you at the convention! Let’s all come and celebrate! There might even be a surprise or two. Don’t miss out!

Free Convention Tours

On the morning of May 3, 10:00 a.m., the first tour will be to the Kennedy Elementary School in northeast Pierre. Principal Kelly Hansen welcomes visitors to see this new building which opened in August 2015.

After the convention, May 4, 2:00 p.m., attendees have the opportunity to see and learn about the Governors’ statues which are going up in the

Capitol City. The gathering spot will be near the Capitol.

Both tours will last about 45 minutes. Please meet near the registration table before each one for car-pooling. On your registration form, please indicate if you will be going on the tours, however, there is usually room for additional participants.

Monday, May 2 7:30 p.m. State Board Meeting Tuesday, May 3 9:45 – 1:00 – Registration Hobby Displays may be set up. 10:00 Pre-Convention Tour Kennedy Elementary School Meet at Registration Table Lunch on your own First General Session 1:00 Call to Order – Pres. Beyer Opening Prayer – Huron Area Unit Pledge and Music Welcome – Pierre Mayor Laurie Gill Welcome – Pierre Area Co-Presidents Margaret Ellefson and Lu Heibel Roll Call by Units – Leni Healy Introduction of Board Members and Past Presidents 1:45 “Mystery Guest” Presentation 2:30 Break 3:00 “Letters from the Attic”-Phyllis Schrag, SD Humanities Speaker 3:45 “Storytelling” by the Units 4:30 Visit Hobby and Reminiscent Teacher Displays Second General Session 6:00 – 6:30 Social and Music Prayer – Michael West, Philip Unit Dinner Announcement of Scholarship Winners by Bill Zubke Presentation of Awards – President Beyer Speaker – Denette Becker and Family

Wednesday, May 4 Breakfast – Caramel Rolls 7:30 – Unit Leaders Meeting with State Board Third General Session 9:00 Memorial Service – Conducted by Kay Ainslie and Assistants Business Meeting President Betty Beyer Minutes – Leni Healy Treasurer's Report/Budget – Pat Johnson Membership Report – Bill and Cathy Zubke Legislative Report – Dr. Hank Kosters Newsletter Report - Community Service Report and “With Our Youth” Awards – Joanna Jones Other Reports and Continuing Business New Business – Presentation of Slate of Officers by Nancy May Election; Other Business 10:00 AARP Message 10:30 Break 11:00 SD Retirement System Report – Travis Almond, Member Services/ Communications 12:00 Luncheon Meeting Prayer – Watertown Area Unit Lunch Introduction of State Winner of AARP Grandparent Essay - Donna Fischer Reading of Essay by State Winner Florence Krieger Award - Kay Ainslie Traveling Trophy – Kay Ainslie Remarks by Incoming Presidents Closing Remarks – Pres. Betty Beyer Closing Group Song Please hand in evaluations Tour of Governors' Statues

2016 Convention Agenda • Ramkota Hotel, PierreSDRSP Convention Registration Form May 3 – 4, 2016, Ramkota Hotel, 920 West Sioux Ave, Pierre, SD “Celebrate” Deadline for Rooms– April 5 Deadline for Registration – April 25 Call and reserve your room at Convention registration Ramkota, Pierre, SD Mail this form and a check to: 605-224-6877 Judy Rapp 407 N Huron Ask for a room with SDRSP Pierre, SD 57501 $94 605-280-7627 **************************************************************************** NAME __________________________________________ Unit ______________________ ADDRESS _______________________________ City, State, Zip ______________________ PHONE _______________________ Email ________________________________________ Name of spouse attending convention ______________________________ A. Complete Convention Registration $50 Number ___ x $50 = ______ (includes all sessions, dinner, rolls and lunch) B. Registration by Individual Event Registration Fee $15 Number ___ x $15 = ______ (May attend sessions – no meals) Dinner @$25 Number ___ x $25 = ______ Lunch @ $20 Number ___ x $20 = ______ Total ________ Convention Tours: I/We will go to the Kennedy School, 10:00 May 3 ___yes, ___ no How many? ____ I/We will go to the Governors' Statues, 2:00 May 4 ___yes, ___no How many? _____