Lucas County Retired Teachers Association

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Rhea Halloran

rheaa615@bex.net

It was so exciting to see over 100 members and guests at Inverness Country Club in March.  We were lucky to have a beautiful, cool and sunny day.  I hope we will have even nicer weather for our meeting at Belmont.  Four of the Board Members attended the ORTA District meeting in Findlay on April 2.  The Express Scripts Prescription difficulties that some of our members have experienced were addressed by a STRS representative.  It was recommended that if you have a problem with a prescription or are treated poorly, ask to speak to a supervisor and explain yours problems.  If this does not work, contact STRS at 1-888-227-7877 and ask for help in resolving your problem.  Remember, Tact is the art of making people feel at home when that is where you wish they were.

Luncheon Meetings 2008

Thursday, May 29 - Toledo Country Club

Tuesday, September 16 - Oak Openings

Thursday, October 30 - Toledo Club

Tuesday, December 16 - Clarion Hotel on Secor Road

BOARD MEETING

The next Board Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 26 at 9:30 a.m. at the LCRTA Office, 2155 Arlington.

NEXT GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Where: Toledo Country Club at 12:00 noon

Menu: Croissant Club with smoked turkey, bacon,Swiss cheese, tomato, and lettuce, pasta salad, sliced fruit, brownie/nut bars, coffee and tea

Cost:  $16.50

Program:  Chrys Petersson, anchor newscaster for WTOL-TV

Community Participation:  New and gently used books to be given to needy organizations

Reservations:  Send your check made payable to LCRTA for $16.50 to Kathleen Brunt, 3460 Shadywood Circle, Lambertville, Michigan 48144 by May 23.

e-Bay Class

A two hour “How to Sell on E-Bay ” class was held on Saturday, April 26 from 10:00-12:00 at the Sanger Branch Library on Central Avenue.  Twenty-seven members attended the class.  Bonita Lee and Craig Cummings from the United States Postal Service gave an interesting and informative presentation on how to sell and ship using ebay and the USPS.  They distributed numerous handouts and an ebay DVD to help everyone get started on auctioning the $1200 of “stuff” everyone has around the house.

2008 LuncheonMeetings

March 26 Meeting at Inverness Country Club

One hundred and one members and guests attended the LCRTA meeting and luncheon held on March 26 at Inverness Country Club.  The tables were beautifully decorated by Kathy Decsman and Carol Ludwig using the Easter theme.  Chrisitina Alvarado was the keynote speaker.  She told how her family, sponsored by a church group, came to the U.S.A. from Cuba.  Christina graduated with a full scholarship to the University of Toledo where she graduated with a degree in medical robotics and is employed by St. Vincent’s Hospital  She plans to continue her education towards a degree in nursing.  Comments on the evaluation form gave Inverness Country Club an excellent score.  The food did not fare as well with only thirty excellent scores.  Many members and guests stated they preferred a hot meal.  Your evaluations, attendance, comments and donations are appreciated. 

Nannette Fetter, Community Participation Chair with Christina, Director of Mom’s House

 Brenda Wojtowicz, Winner of the 50/50 Raffle

Christine Alvarado, Speaker with President Rhea Halloran

A New Book by Jerry DeBruin, LCRTA member

Mud Hen Memories written by John O’Brien and Jerry DeBruin with John Husman is the story of ”the best known minor league baseball team in the world,” the Toledo Mud hens, especially in the years from 1965-2000, with complete stats, year-by-year highlights and rosters.  Also featured are chapters about the history of baseball in Toledo from 1883 to 1955.  Copies of letters written by past players are included.  Winner of the Center for Archhival Collections Local History Publication Award Independent Scholar Division. 

“Mud Hen Memories is a grand slam.  It’s a treasure trove of stories for any baseball fan.  for a Mud Hens fan it’s a true love fest.”  Ernie Harwell

“Mud Hen Memories” will keep baseball follwers happy…”  The Toledo Blade, September 2, 2001

Congratulations on a book well done…”  Jamie Farr

“This is a terrific book…thank you, thank you, thank you…”  Christine Brennan, USA Today

Make checks payable to:  Jon Colchagoff - Treasurer MHM and mail to Med Hen Memories, 5834 Monroe Street Suite A-310, Sylvania, OH 43560

www.mudhen memories.com

Proceeds go to retired homeless baseball players

COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

Nan Fetter

Gather new and gently used children’s books and become an “Ambassador of Reading”.  The May 29 luncheon at the Toledo Country Club is our first round-up of new and gently used books.  The LCRTA Board is asking that each member become an “Ambassador of Reading” and help agencies like Head Start and Ronald McDonald House by providing books.  This is our chance to demonstrate our love of reading.  Bring your new or gently used books to the May 29 luncheon.  You may also give a cash donation at the meeting, and we will purchase appropriate books.  IF YOU CANOT ATTEND THE LUNCHEON, I WILL BE HAPPY TO COME TO YOUR HOME AND COLLECT BOOKS.  Just call Nan Fetter at 419-885-1692 and give me your address and phone number and the approximate number of books.  You may also mail you donation to Dick Brunt, Treasurer, 2155 Arlington , Toledo, Ohio 43609.   Joseph Addison reminds us that “Reading to the mind is what exercise is to the body”.

Please keep travel toiletries that you collect over the summer to give to the Friendly Center in the fall.LCRTA members will have six opportunites to help area residents.  To assist with your shopping, please save this list of meeting dates and the items we will be collecting.  We hope knowing in advance will allow you to shop the sales.  Thank you for helping these worthy organizations.

2008 DONATION LIST

May 29  Group to be Named                  

new and gently used children’s books   

September 16  Boy’s and Girl’s Club

school supplies 

October 30  Friendly Center 

senior bingo prizes, craft items, child and adult socks, personal care items

December 9  Lucas County Children’s Services   

stuffed bears and animals  

LCRTA was able to place dictionaries in the hands of 264 third graders at Longfellow, Oakdale and Arlington Elementary Schools.  These dictionaries were delivered in late January.  The money from the 50/50 raffle was used to purchase the dictionaries.  Thank you for supporting this worthwhile project.  Members who helped make this happen were:  Suellen Newnham, Marion Boyer, Fran DeLamater, Rhea Halloran, Margaret Wroblewski, and Gloria VanDame.

SHARE A TRAVEL PERK As you prepare for summer travel, think about collecting all of those bottles of shampoo, hand cream, etc. provided by hotels/motels. Several agencies in our area could use unopened items.  We will have a lime green collection bin at each of our meetings in which to deposit items.

TRAVEL

Millie Allred  

The University of Toledo Retirees Association (UTRA) and LCRTA are presenting the musical “Beehive” at the Croswell Theatre, Adrian, Michigan, Sunday, April 20 at 3:00 p.m.  Departure from the University of Toledo Driscoll Alumni Center at 1:00 p.m.  Join us for a fun filled musical sensation.  This fast-paced show includes a hot band, big hairdos, and great costumes and features a look back at the musical groups of the 1960’s.  On the way home we will stop at the “Stables” in Blissfield where each person is on his/her own to order a bite to eat.  The cost is $40.00 which includes the bus and show.  Reservations deadline is April 15.  Phone Dr. Millie Allred, Chair a 419-531-5906 with questions.

INFORMATIVE & PROTECTIVE SERVICES

Fran DeLamater

Have you thought of volunteering, but are not sure how to proceed?  Our hope is to identify members and tell where they volunteer, what they like about volunteering and how they can be contacted!  Last spring, Justin Moor, Area Office of Aging, called me and asked if I knew anyone who was over sixty-five years of age and had a chronic disease who would be interested in learning to lead a course for people in like circumstance.  Consequently, I went to Columbus for a week to learn to lead this course which had been recently developed by six health care professionals (doctors, nurses, PhDs, etc.) at Standford University in California.  The Heathly U program is a six week workshop designed for people with various chronic diseases, such as asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, heart disease, diabetes, stroke, etc.  Course leaders are non-health professionals who are sixty-five or older and have chronic diesase and receive training on leading the six week course.  Participants are taught how to cope with frustation, fatigue, and pain.  They also learn how to exercise appropriately, use medications appropriately and communicate effectively.  The classes are free, one day a week and are held at a neutral site such as a Senior Center.  I have now led this course three times and my respect for the course only grows each time.  if you are interested in learning more about this course, you may contact Justin Moor at the Area Office on Aging, 419-725-6969.

Survey

Your Informative & Protective Services committee want to help member address some of the annoying little prolems older adults face in our area.  We’ve investigated fixing a leak and checking your oil in past Slates.  We want your input on what our committee should investiagte in future Slates.  Please phone Fran DeLamater, chair of the committee, with your ideas: 419-841-5600.

SCHOLARSHIP:  Claudia Trombla

LCRTA will again offer three scholarships.  The first two named in honor of Dr. Arthur White and the third, The Frank and Shirley Dick Scholarship.  This is the sixth year that Frank and Shirley Dick generously agreed to give a $1000 scholarship to a Lucas county resident who is a University of Toledo junior or senior.