« August 2023

From the President - My first newsletter as your president – I know you’ve all waited patiently to see what I’ve written. I hope you’ve enjoyed your spring and summer despite somewhat questionable weather. I have seven geese and they enjoyed the weather very much.

I feel like we have an exciting year ahead of us. However, we do have several things to take care of. We have a constitutional amendment proposed that we will present discuss and then vote on in October. Also Penny Jaskalen and her husband have moved so we will be seeking someone to take over as Scholarship Chair. If the gossip grapevine is right I think Crystal Ward may have some positive news for us.

I look forward to seeing everyone as the fall gets started and that clean fresh air gives us that energy we all need!

Take Care
Dave Wing

Next Meeting

September 13, 2023

Sixth Street Congregational Church

Auburn, ME  04210

Download the Registration Form

Registration Form

http://mainenet.org/portal/a-news/arealibrary/2023AugustForms/SeptemberMeetingRegistrationForm.pdf

Download all the forms referenced in this newsletter. To download all the forms and information referenced in this newsletter, click this link...

Download the FORMS

New Member Form - If you are a new member, or if you are recruiting new members, please use this form and send it to Gina Fuller.

New Member Registration

Programs for AREA in 2023-2024

September 13, 2023 Sixth St. Congregational Church

10:30 Speaker, Mark Turcotte, a humoroust
11:15 Business Meeting
12:00 Lunch
Greeters: Gina Fuller and Cindy Peters

October 11, 2023 Sixth St. Congregational Church
10:30 Business Meeting
11:00 Auction
12:00 Lunch
Greeters: Gina Fuller and Crystal Ward

November 8, 2023 Sixth St. Congregational Church
10: 30 Speaker: AI Expert – Barry Lawson
11:15 Business Meeting
12:00 Lunch
Greeters: Donna Whelan and Sue Tymoczko

March 13, 2024 Green Ladle, LHS
10:30 Speaker: Laurie Johnson, Seniors Plus
11:15 Business Meeting
12:00 Lunch
Greeters: Susan Cornelius and Deanna Marken

April 10, 2024 Green Ladle, LHS
10:30 Speaker: Carl and Joyce Bucciantini
11:15 Business Meeting
12:00 Lunch
Greeters: Donna Whelan and Beth Bell

Treasurer's Report

from Gina Fuller

Treasurer's Report

Changes to our April Treasurer's Report

The downloadable report is from April - and we have seen the following changes.
Since April 2023 there have been very few changes to out treasury:

General Checking:

Interest added = $ 2.23
Paid back $36 to member that paid twice in April

Ritter Grant: - Interest added = $ .23
Expenses for Candy = -44.80
Ritter Grant received = $ 300.00
Moved the remaining Newsletter amount of
$ 5.62 to our Ritter Flyer Account – which is used
Currently for Candy,etc

Scholarship: - Interest added = $6.65
Donations = $ 850.00

Committee Chairs and Officers

Officers and Committee Chairs
AREA 2023 – 2024

President: David Wing
Vice President: Donna Whelan
Secretary - Deanna Marken
Treasurer: Gina Fuller

Past Presidents: Sue Cornelius and Rosita Friel
Community Service: Joyce Bucciantini
Scholarship:
Information Services: Roger Fuller
Legislative: Crystal Ward
Leadership: Hugh Keene
Ritter Grant: Mona Ervin and Sue Cornelius
Sunshine: Cindy Peters
Historian/Necrology: Cindy Peters
Publicity: Beth Bell
Mailing: Sue Tymoczko
May Convention Table: Jo Dupal and Grace Keene
Raffle: Susan and Rueben Cornelius
Financial Review Overseers: Crystal Ward and Marsha Graham

Day of Caring - Get Involved!

The 2023 MEA Retired Educators Day of Caring Project for AREA will be collecting School Supplies for The Store Next Door Middle School and High School Homeless Students program.  

1. AREA has $300 to purchase much needed backpacks and you may purchase a backpack.
2. AREA members can bring Middle School and /or High School supplies items from the list below to the September 13, 2023 meeting at the 6^th Street Congregational Church in Auburn

LISTS From The Store Next Door

Middle School Supplies List 2023

• No. 2 Pencils
• Ballpoint pens
• Pencil pouch
• Erasers
• Sharpeners
• Ruler
• Protractor
• Scissors
• Personal calendar
• Pocket folders • 3-ring binder
• 3-hole punch
• Index cards
• Subject dividers
• White-out
• Highlighters
• Markers
• Glue Sticks
• Wide ruled loose-leaf paper
• Spiral notebooks
• Stapler
• Locker accessories
• Lunchbox
• Backpack

 Supplies List for High School: Year 2023

• #2 Pencils
• Colored Pencils
• Pencil Sharpener
• Pens
• 12 inch Ruler
• Pocket Folders
• 3-Ring Binder • 3-hole punch
• College Ruled Loose Leaf 3 Hole Paper
• Spiral Notebooks
• Sticky Notes
• Highlighters
• Markers
• Tabbed Dividers
• Wire Bound Weekly Planner
• USB Flash Drive
• Backpack
• Lunchbox
• Hand sanitizer
• Locker organizers
• Glue stick
• Pencil case
• Stapler
• Scissor

Legislative Update

from Crystal Ward

Legislative Results 2023 session in Augusta

1. The MainePERS COLA increase starting Sept. 2023 will be 3% up to $24,911.84. If your pension is over this amount your real COLA on your total pension is LESS THAN 3%.
2. In October or November you will receive a one time, stand alone, Check--- for 3% of the 2022 base of $22,186.25. Remember the one you received last year of 1%.
3. Starting July 1, 2023 the amount paid by the State of Maine for your health insurance goes from 55% to 60%. Anthem will tell us how they will be doing this by the end of Sept. There was no increase in the cost of the Anthem Advantage plan for 2023-2024. There were increases in other plans.
4. The first $35,000 of income will not be taxed by Maine Income Taxes. It was $30,000 last year.
5. Major concern remains the Legislature did NOTHING, to deal with the terrible 2011 changes that stopped the COLA (capped at 3%) from being applied to our WHOLE pension amount. We will keep trying!!!!

To Your Health - Allergies!

From Mona Ervin

No one likes to admit they're a victim of fraud. It's embarrassing and sometimes that shameful feeling prevents people from reporting the crime.

"These fraudsters thrive because they know consumers are hesitant to report that they've been victims," said John Breyault, Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications, and Fraud with the National Consumers League.  Phone scams are on the rise. Truecaller, which makes an app that blocks spam calls, estimates that nearly 70 million Americans have lost money to phone scams in 2022, and that those scammers made off with nearly $40 billion in total. Phone scams include frauds that begin with calls and text messages.

The following scam alert was released by the US Marshalls office on July 28.  Although it was reported on TV and was published in the Sun-Journal it is worth repeating. 

For Immediate Release

JULY 28, 2023

Ryan Guay, Senior Inspector

District of Maine

(207) 780-3355

Portland/Bangor, ME – The U.S. Marshals Service in Maine is alerting the public of a phone scam involving individuals claiming to be U.S. Marshals or other Federal Officials.

During these calls, scammers are “spoofing” actual U.S. Marshals office phone numbers attempting to fraudulently collect money or suffer legal consequences. The scammers claim potential victims need to “pay a fine or post bond” or face being arrested, losing their property, banking accounts or other consequences.

The scammers use many convincing tactics such as, citing publicly available information of prospective victims, which may include old residential addresses and phone numbers to appear credible. They may also provide fictitious information such as law enforcement badge and case numbers, names of actual law enforcement officials to further appear legitimate.

Scammers may also spoof their phone numbers to appear on caller IDs as if they are calling from a government agency such as the U.S. Marshals Service.

The U.S. Marshals Service urges the public to be vigilant if you receive any calls of this nature and contact the agency in question by calling them directly from verified official websites to authenticate the information. If you believe you were a victim of such a scam, you are encouraged to report the incident to your local FBI office and to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Things to remember:

• U.S. MARSHALS WILL NEVER ask for credit/debit card/gift card numbers, wire transfers, or
  bank routing numbers for any purpose.
• NEVER divulge personal or financial information to unknown callers.
• Report scam phone calls to your local FBI office and to the FTC.
• You can remain anonymous when you report.

The U.S. Marshals Service urges individuals not to divulge personal or financial information to unknown callers and highly recommends the public report similar crimes to their local police departments. If you believe you are a victim of fraud, report the incident through the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov. Also, you should report online, business, or phone scams to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) immediately at www.reportfraud.ftc.gov

DID YOU KNOW 

from Mona Ervin

Welcome back for what promises to be another interesting year for AREA.  As retired educators how well versed are you  in other educators?  Take this quiz to see how many famous educators of the past you can identify.
 

1. This person was an educator in space who died when the shuttle she was aboard blew up.  Who is this person?

2. This person was an Italian physician and educator best known for her philosophy of education and her writing on scientific pedagogy.  She was noted for working with children having disabilities, cognitive delay and illness that left then behind their peers. Many schools follow her “method.”   She allowed children to learn at their own pace and way. Who was she?

3. This Bolivian-American educator is  known for teaching students calculus from 1974 to 1991 at Garfield High School in East Los Angeles.  A difficult school to teach at, he was told not to teach but to babysit.  He taught calculus and his students surpassed expectations and went on to score well on the Advanced Placement Exams. He was the subject of the 1988 film Stand and Deliver, in which he is portrayed by Edward James Olmos.  Who was this great educator?

4. Born in the town of Hampden, Maine, she grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts.She was a teacher, author, and reformer who dedicated her life to improving the conditions of the mentally ill and prisoners in the 19th century. She traveled across the US and Europe, inspecting institutions, collecting data, and lobbying legislators and officials to create humane and sanitary facilities for the mentally ill.She also served as the superintendent of nurses for the Union army during the Civil War, organizing and training thousands of women to care for the wounded soldiers.

5. This Greek philosopher from Athens is credited as the founder of Western philosophy and among the first moral philosophers of the ethical tradition of thought. He taught by asking questions, a method known as the …method, which aimed to expose contradictions and stimulate critical thinking.

6. In 1982, the famed poet, writer and activist accepted the lifetime Reynolds Professorship of American Studies at Wake Forest University, where she taught a variety of subjects, including philosophy, ethics, theology, science, theater and writing.  She was well admired by many Including Oprah.

7. Best known for her work with Helen Keller, a deaf and blind student, this woman was an American teacher who herself was visually impaired and had experienced significant hardship.  Her work has had a lasting impact on education for students with disabilities. Her approach emphasized the importance of individualized instruction, and she recognized every student learns in their own way.

8. This American science educator became famous in the 1990s with his television show. His approach to teaching science emphasized fun, humor, and hands-on experimentation. He made complex scientific concepts accessible to a young audience and encouraged them to develop a love of learning and curiosity about the world around them. 

9. This person is an American educational reformer, slavery abolitionist and Whig politician known for his commitment to promoting public education.  He is known as The Father of American Education due to his commitment to the Common School. This sprang from his belief that political stability and social harmony depended on education: a basic level of literacy and the inculcation of common public ideals.

10. He was an American college professor and president who is best known for writing the first widely used series of elementary school-level textbooks. 

Options – there are extras
Toni Morrison
Christa  McAuliffe
Plato
Maria Montessori
Jean Piaget
Jaime Escalante
Horace Mann
Bill Nye
Socrates
Mary McLeod Bethune
Maya Angelou
Anne Sullivan
William McGuffey
Dorothea Dix
 
Answers
1. Christa McAuliffe
2. Maria Montessori
3. Jamie Escalante
4. Dorothea Dix
5. Socrates
6. Maya Angelou
7. Anne Sullivan
8. Bill Nye
9. Horace Mann
10. William McGuffey