Bay Area Retired School Personnel

Volume 22Issue 2 October 2013

Presidents Message.
Officers
President Sandy DeWaele
josandew@charter.net

1st Vice President Joyce Sigelko 2nd Vice President Betty Defrain Janet Brandt Secretary Ann Waterman Treasurer Phil Bosco Past President Dr. Mary Boettger

BARTS: There were a lot of positive comments about our new location at BARTS on Midland Street. The banquet room was large with lots of natural light and good views of Bay City. The buffet was plentiful and fresh. The soup was hot!! Please come and enjoy the change yourself. Wed love to see you there. You will not be disappointed. Board Meeting : 18 officers and chairpersons attended a Board meeting on August 5, 2013 at Krzysiaks House. MARSP suggested we do a SWOT analysis of our organization. SWOT is an acronym for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. The results were: Strengthswell organized and informative meetings, dedicated and co-operative members willing to volunteer for small jobs, good programs, leadership, calling committee and newsletter and a stable budget. Weaknesses- membership-need for more members, to regain lost members, how to identify and recruit new members plus meet their needs, how to get members to accept major roles and attend meetings, how to publicize BARSP, reduction in revenue due to reduction in membership. Lunches...better food, price, parking, plus problem with unpaid lunch reservations. Opportunities to Improve- Membership issues: expand membership committee. Cindy Bosco and Phil Paulus will explain more about this later. Co-ordinate efforts of the membership, calling, pension 101, cheer-courtesy committees. Publicity issues: Invite Bay City Times reporter to 2 or 3 of our meetings, BARSP Facebook site kept updated, MARSP website to include BARSP info. Lunch issues: wait and see if new meeting place (BARTS ) solves some of these issues. Threats We need to increase our membership in order to have a strong voice in maintaining our retirement benefits. We need more members to step up into major leadership roles if we are going to continue to be strong. Please contact me with additional ideas. Community Service We are collecting used magazines for the hospitals at our October meeting. Please remove or blacken out your mailing address. Labels that read: Donated by Bay Area Retired School Personnel-BARSP will be affixed to the magazines . I want to thank Joann Vanover, Patricia Wilson, Deb Bula and Ann Waterman for volunteering to apply the labels and deliver the magazines. I am very pleased with the response received for volunteers to help with this years Community Services Projects. It is important for BARSP to make our name and purpose known. People need to be aware that BARSP is not only a group that protects retired school personnels pensions and benefits but also cares about our community. Insurance Options: Our Monday, October 14, 2013 meeting will be a two part comparison on health Insurance. This will inform all our members of some of their health insurance options but should be especially helpful to people who use Bay City doctors and hospitals. It starts with two Health Plus representatives who will speak from 9:45- 10:45, followed by Bronko with a BCBS update from 11:00-12:00. We will have a short business meeting from noon-12:20 followed by a great buffet lunch at BARTS. This is a very important meeting! Dont forget to bring the Health Insurance pullout from your next Vanguard with you to this meeting. Doors will open at 9:00 am.

BARSP
Luncheon Meetings BARTS 804 E. Midland St. 2nd Floor 11:00 AM October 14, 2013 November 11, 2013 March 10, 2014 April 14, 2014 May 12, 2014

-Sandy

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PLEASE! Your Membership Team needs HELP!

Until a few years ago, membership for BARSP was a one man/woman responsibility. When Phil and Sandy Paulus said yes to managing the BARSP directory, the load decreased by half and keeping up with the membership roster has become a manageable task. But there is so much more we could be doing with a little help from a team of two or three more volunteers. Cathedral Printing provides us with our directory and their only compensation comes from advertisers. We need a BARSP member to work with Cathedral Printing, suggesting appropriate businesses that might want to advertise in our directory. We have a calling team to keep in contact with our members. We need a volunteer to coordinate reaching out to members who may be dropped from our membership because dues have lapsed. Another volunteer is needed to invite new retirees to join BARSP, explaining the advantages and the FUN!!! None of these tasks needs to be outrageously time consuming, so please consider joining the Membership Team. Call or email Cindy Bosco or Sandra DeWaele for more information. Reminder: Did you know you can bring guests to our meetings. Wouldnt this be a good way to introduce potential new members to BARSP? Dues notices from MARSP begin in February so encourage your friends to join us after the first of the year to get the most for their money. They can be your guest until next spring. SNOWBIRDS: Contact Cindy Bosco with your travel plans if you will be away when newsletters are sent (August, September, October, February, March and April). Please include a forwarding address and the dates you will be gone. Proposed 2014 Budget

Proposed Spent Proposed Line Item 2012-13 2012-13 2013-14 1 Postage $1,500 $1,196 $1,400 2 Printing $800 $655 $800 3 Grants & Donations * $1,200 $1,200 $1,000 4 Area 11 Dues $100 $101 $100 5 Miscellaneous ** $400 $95 $200 6 President Fund $500 $260 $400 7 Travel Reimbursement $500 $128 $400 8 End of Year one time Donations $2,200 TOTALS $5,000 $5,835 $4,300 *Grants: Santa House $200, Fine Arts - 4 @$200 One for each of the four School Districts in Bay County **Miscellaneous: Includes Entertainment, Courtesy & Cheer, Workshop & Conferences, Increase Membership, etc.

October pre-pays
Leeds Bird Margaret Bird Phil Bosco Cindy Bosco Kathy Bremer Deb Bula Mr. Bula Bonnie Clevenger Betty Clifford Ellen Czerwinski T. Betty DeFrain Sandy DeWaele Mary Ida Doan Marty Gilkey Diane Glazier Dick Goik Marilyn Goik Franklin Grant Judy Groom Ron Hildinger Joan Hildinger Diana Jacobs Girard Jacobs Bill Jones Marion Jones Nancy Kasperski Ruth King Carl Learman Inez Luce Kathy McMillan Clarence Miller Lois Miller Rose Moldenhauer Marilyn Morales Mildred Nuffer Brandy O'Dell Ruth Odle Eileen Partlo Sue Post Flo Schutkowski Joyce Sigelko Barbara Skowronski Sandy Stachowiak Peggy Sullivan JoAnn VanOver Edna Wittbrodt Phyllis Woody

Greeters 2013-2014
October: Deborah Bula, Betty Clifford, Patricia Wilson November: Marion Jones, Bill Jones, Lavona Styn March: (2014) Maxine Barker, Marty Gilkey, Florine Schutkowski April: Barbara Skowronski, Lavona Styn, Barbara Wall

Welcome Aboard
Cheryl Labean Terry Miller Susan Doyan

All things in life are

In Memoriam
Thelma Muir

temporary. If going well, enjoy it, they will not last forever. If going wrong, don't worry, they can't last long either.

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BARSP Meeting Reservation Form Monday, October 14, 2013 at BARTS on Midland St. $9.50 per person Name (s)_________________________________________ ________________________________________
No. Attending________________ Amount Enclosed __________________________( please do not staple)
9:45 10:45 Health Plus Presentation 11:00-12:00 BCBScurrent insurance benefits Bronko Bojicic
Make check payable to BARSP and mail by October 7 Carl Learman 6353 Lawndale Road Saginaw, MI 48604-9457 989-793-8089

BARSP board members met August 5th and gave committee updates. Group activity followed. Groups of 4 shared and explored strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to our chapter. Issues and ideas were shared. Legislation Report - Joyce Sigelko reported that Sandy DeWaele, Dr. Mary Boettger, Nancy Kasperski and herself attended the September 4th MARSP meeting in Northville. They were briefed on EAA,(Educational Achievement Authority) that is now happening in Detroit. Goggle Michigan EAA for more information. Changes in health care are coming. Make sure you read your September Vanguard. Our pension is protected by the constitution but not our health insurance premiums, which are expected to rise. We need to increase our membership to gain leverage to lobby representatives in Lansing to help keep our benefits. Insurance Report - Sue Post has arranged for representatives from Health Plus and Blue Cross Blue Shield to present at our October 14th meeting. Be sure to bring your September Vanguard insert on health issues to the October meeting. Sue will provide telephone numbers for Health Plus and Priority Health. If you have any questions, Please contact Sue. Income $1,700.00 Reservations - Carl Learman reported 90 lunch reservaExpenses $ 504.42 tions. Check Account $6,277.14 Old Business: None Save Account $ 310.15 Blessing: Was given by Margaret Bird, Dr. M.Boettger volCD $7,619.73 Life Acc CD $7,619.73 unteered to give the October blessing. Next Meeting: Monday, October 14th, Health Plus presentation 9:45 to 10:45 Blue Cross Blue Shield presentation 11:00 to 12. There will be a short business meeting, Motion to accept the treasurers report as written was made by Mary Ida Doan and seconded by Clarence Miller. noon to 12:20 then lunch. Reminder: Please bring your old magazines to our OctoMotion carried. Presidents Report: Northern Bay-Arenac Retired School ber meeting for distribution to hospitals. Please blacken Personnel is helping to sponsor Gene Anderson in an after- out mailing label. noon of family fun, entertainment, comedy and magic Sep- 50/50 Winners: $52 Girard Jacobs tember 22nd at 2:00 pm at the Standish-Sterling High $18 Wilma Nuffer School Auditorium. All proceeds benefit scholarships for students in their districts. One time donations from BARSP $18 Harlan Brashaw for 2013 were made to the Helen M. Nickless Voluntary Clinic, Imagination Station, MARSP-Lower Level (in mem- Adjournment: Motion was made by Clarence Miller and seconded by Lois Gottleber to adjourn. Motion carried. ory of deceased BARSP members for the past year), Robyn Barst Pediatric Research Program, each received Submitted by: Ann Waterman $500 and the Bay City Santa House received $400. BARSP Meeting September 9, 2013 Meeting was called to order by President Sandra DeWaele.The Pledge of Allegiance was recited followed with the singing of America the Beautiful and Happy Birthday to those with September birthdays. Memorial: We remember Thelma Muir who passed away June 20th with prayers and thoughts of her selfless giving to education and to community. Membership is at 532. New members Cheryl Labean, Terry Miller, and Susan Doyan were welcomed. Program: Senior Fitness - Speaker, Chuck Cusick, personal fitness instructor encouraged members to stay physically and mentally fit through various exercises. Janet Brandt presented Chuck with an appreciation certificate for his presentation. Special Certificate was presented by President Sandy DeWaele to Joan Hildinger in honor of her 13 years of service as area 11director and assistant director. Secretarys Report: Motion was made to accept the minutes of May, 2013 by Dr. Mary Boettger and seconded by Florine Schutkowski. Motion carried. Treasurers Report: Phil Bosco

BAY AREA RETIRED SCHOOL PERSONNEL 2245 Carroll Road Bay City, Michigan 48708

Presorted STANDARD U.S. Postage Paid Bay City, MI Permit No. 30

VOLUME 22ISSUE 2

October

Meet Nancy Kasperski

Nancy taught early elementary in Bangor Township Schools for 34 years. During the last few years Nancy enjoyed serving as the building representative for Bangor West in the Bangor Township Education Association. After her retirement from Bangor Schools, she worked part time for 2 years for Michigan Blood Bank. Nancy and her husband Mike have been married for 45 years. They have two sons and each son has two sons and a daughter. The boys live in Grand Rapids, Michigan and Rochester, Minnesota. She keeps busy with lots of community service activities. She has volunteered at Studio 23, Bay City Fireworks and Tall Ships. Nancy has been on the Board of Directors for both Bay City Noon Optimist and the Studio 23 Art Gallery. She is still active and on the board for Miss Bay County. Faith Lutheran Church relies on Nancy and her team for funeral lunches. Nancy also meets with the audit committee of BARSP. Now with a winter home in The Villages in Florida,she plans to work to improve her golf game .
participate. However,as of January13, Health Plus has October is insurance month. Branko Bojicic will speak rep- become an option. I found many doctors in Bay City and McLaren Bay Region Hospital participate. Many Saginaw resenting Blue Cross/ Blue Shield during our meeting. There are changes coming for 2014 and 2015. The Living doctors and hospitals also participate. Representatives Well Program is expanding. All participates will be required from Health Plus will present in October .To make it easier for members to do a comparison, the presentation will be to designate a primary care physician and have a (new) before our regular October meeting. It is set for October reimbursable Wellness Physical. Deductibles are going 14, 9:45 at BARTS. If you would like to check out Health up for 2014/15. All these changes will be outlined in the Plus go online to www.healthplus.org/mpsers Call your September/October Vanguard. I recommend you read it doctors and ask if he/ she participates in Health Plus (or over and bring it with you to the October meeting. I have Priority Health, another option.) And come to the meeting had members ask about the HMO, Priority Health. Many Bay City doctors and McLaren Bay Regional Hospital dont to get your questions answered.
Insurance News from Sue Post