Bay Area

Retired School Personnel

V O L U ME 2 9 I S S UE 1 B A Y A RE A RE T I RE D S C H O O L P E RS O N NE L PA G E 1

June 2021
Officers
President President’s Corner
Barb Skowronski

President Elect
Post-pandemic greetings to you. This past year has been one for the history
Dee Bishop books and each of us has a story to tell. With spring well underway and
summer on the horizon, we immerse ourselves into a new chapter. Now,
Program moving forward as the Bay Area Retired School Personnel organization, it is
Vice President time to roll up our sleeves and energize our Bay Area Chapter. We need YOU
Janet Brandt
Ardith Reszke
for the survival and existence of BARSP. Everyone has a place, an idea, a
smidgen of time to devote if we all put our minds to it. WE have a voice.
Secretary
Nancy Yurgaites Sometimes we may question what membership in MARSP/BARSP means.
From a MARSP brochure: “MARSP’s Mission – To preserve, protect and
Treasurer
Connie Frank
enhance benefits and provide societal support that creates a dignified
retirement for current and future public school retirees.” I know we have
Past President all seen within the political realm that anything can happen. MARSP looks out
Joyce Sigelko for our interests and attempts to fend off blows threatening our pensions and
benefits. BARSP, through our meetings and newsletters, apprises you of the
latest changes to our medical, dental, eye, hearing, and pension benefits. Our
BARSP meetings not only provide a great luncheon, but give us the chance to
Luncheon Meetings socialize, and often we are entertained or informed by people within our own
September 13
community. We help teachers in Midland and Bay counties with projects and
scholarships. We are looking forward to meetings with lunch in September.
Please mark your calendars for the second Monday of September. Encourage
retired school personnel with whom you may come into contact, to join
MARSP and attend our autumn meeting.

PLEASE consider helping with one of the many things our local chapter does.
We really need you.

I can be reached either by email, mail, phone, or text. You are encouraged to
volunteer, comment, share an idea for a presenter, program, or anything. We
now have a post office box! The address is: BARSP P.O. Box 1112, Bay City,
MI 48706.

WELCOME BACK!

Dee Bishop
[email protected]; 989-450-2545; P.O. Box 1112, Bay City, MI 48706

PLESE
BE
VOLUME 29 ISSUE 1 BAY AREA RETIRED SCHOOL PERSONNEL PAGE 2

In Memoriam
September Pre-Pays LORAINE AHLER JUDITH MAGYAR
BETTY ALLEN RUTH MARTEN
Leeds Bird Ron Hildinger
MAXINE BARKER JUDY MELDRUM
Margaret Bird Bill Jones
JUDY BAUER MINA NATZMER
Dee Bishop Marion Jones
BOYD BOETTGER JOSEPH PALMER
Cindy Bosco Carl Learman
WILLIAM COZAT REBECCA POST
Phil Bosco Kathy McMillan
CAROL DWAN HELEN SANDERS
Kathy Bremer Ardith Reszke NOEL EICHHORN MARILYN SHERMAN
Kay Bridenbaugh Charles Rochow JUDITH ELAM BARBARA STEELE
Charley Brown Mary SanClemente DONALD FATH ROBERT STREADWICK
Shirley Clemens Florine Shutkowski MARTHA GRANT CATHERINE TEAL
Diane Cooley Barbara Skowronski JAMES HOLLERBACH JANET TEMPLIN
Kathy Cull Bob Sporman FRANCES KRASKA MARY TOBIAS
Sandra DeWaele Sylvia Sporman MARIAN LARIVE MARION WOOD
Mary Ida Doan Gary Tusciuk
Mary Garcia Vonnie Tusciuk BARSP Greeters 2021-2022
Marty Gilkey JoAnn VanOver
September, 2021: Arlene Lambert, Mary Moskal, Nancy
Lois Gottleber Marvin Webber Yurgaites
Franklin Grant Nancy Yurgaites October, 2021: Kathy Bremer, Mary Moskal, LouAnn Thompson
Joan Hildinger Carl Learman November, 2021: Lois Gottleber, Joan and Ron Hildinger

Insurance News
Back to normal? Maybe not, but work is in progress.
REMINDER: THE CERTIFICATE OF COVERAGE FORM has been mailed. Remember to take care of it as soon as
possible. This is mandatory and time sensitive, it must be received by July 15, 2021. You can return it by mail, go
online or call. You will need the VOC Reference # located on the left hand side of your form if you go online or call.
A couple quick reminders:
1. You receive a free physical and blood work when done in conjunction. If you are on Medicare Advantage it must be one
year and a day between physicals. Your doctor's office can verify the date.
2. If you are on Medicare Advantage you also receive a free Medicare Wellness Visit. This is not a physical but an
opportunity to meet with your doctor at no cost and again blood work done in conjunction with it will be covered. It's a time
to have a discussion with your doctor about your health.
3. If you are not on Medicare you still receive a free physical and blood work once a year.
4. If you are turning 65 and going on Medicare Advantage, you need to call MPSERS (517.322.5103) when you receive
your Red, White, Blue Medicare card. They need your Medicare Number and will sign you up for Medicare Part A & B,
Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage and Optum Rx Medicare. When you turn 65 within the year you are entitled
to a free Welcome to Medicare Physical.
NOTE: Remind your Doctor's office when you want your next appointment to be a physical, Wellness Visit or your
Welcome to Medicare Physical.

BE HEALTHY, BE WELL,

Susan Post
VOLUME 29 ISSUE 1 BAY AREA RETIRED SCHOOL PERSONNEL PAGE 3

BARSP MEETING MINUTES from March 9, 2020 was rejected due to the cost. Barb noted that bulk mail is
divided into “general” and “non-profit”. Our newsletters are
The meeting was called to order by President Barbara mailed “general”, which is more expensive, but delivery is
Skowronski at 11:10 am. The meeting began with the Pledge speedier than “non-profit”. She added that consideration was
of Allegiance followed with “God Bless America”. given to reduce our local dues to $5, but the board thought it
best to leave our portion at $10 to expedite newsletter
PROGRAM: Barb introduced Debbie Van Idor from Sunrise delivery. A motion was made by Pat Smiley Wilson and
Family Credit Union. Ms. Van Idor distributed a brochure seconded by Mary San Clemente that we continue to collect
entitled “Helpful Tips on Keeping Yourself and Your Identity $10. Becky also reminded us that MARSP is sending out
Safe”. Questions were welcomed during her presentation, reminders about renewal of membership dues and
and some members shared their own brushes with fraud in encouraged us to renew through MARSP rather than our
the informative program. local chapter.
SECRETARY’S REPORT: With no corrections or additions to CHEER AND COURTESY: Sandy DeWaele reported that she
the November, 2019 Report, it was approved as submitted. had sent two cards to families of our members who recently
passed away. She noted that a member of the membership
TREASURER’S REPORT: Figures are from November 11, committee had been contacted before her. It is important that
2019 through March 9, 2020 (no meetings Dec, Jan, Feb) she be made aware of these situations asap to ensure a
timely card. Important they know that our group cares about
Income $ 1,368.44 them.

Expenses 2,125.36 LUNCH RESERVATIONS: Carl reported he still has not had
anyone volunteer to assist him. He said that he would start
Checking Acct 10,593.00 someone out really slow. Carl reported 51 reservations
received and 55 stubs picked up. He said, “we are doing
Savings Acct 949.13
fine.” He also gave a friendly reminder to tags as well as the
3 CDs (each at) 7,373.05 numbered “free lunch drawing” balls that each of us get
when we pay for our lunch. Barb thanked Carl for all the work
he does and encouraged someone to consider volunteering
A motion was made by Bill Jones and seconded by Bob to assist Carl.
Sporman to accept the report. Connie Frank, Treasurer,
thanked Sunrise Family Credit Union for their contribution of NEWSLETTER: Please send items to Rika by Thursday,
free meeting lunches raffled off each month to our members. March 12th.

LEGISLATURE: Dee, who is a member of the Supervisory PRESIDENT’S REPORT: Sad news shared of the passing of
Committee of the Sunrise Family Credit Union, commended Dr. Mary Boettger’s husband on February 24th. He was 86
Ms. Van Idor and her staff on their expertise. Congratulations years old. We extend our sincere sympathy to Dr. Mary and
were extended to Pat Smiley Wilson, on her retirement from her family. We are offering a free lunch to any guest we bring
the SFCU Board of Directors after 40 years. Next, Dee to our luncheon meeting, to increase our membership and
shared excerpts of Legislative Update from MARSP: (1) share the camaraderie and information available. She noted
House Bill #4171 is up for consideration before the Finance that if attendance falls below 50, we could lose our contract
Committee of the MI Senate which would amend the Income with Lumber Barons.
Tax act to allow widow or widowers to claim certain tax
deductions. It was suggested we call our representative (now ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 12:00 p.m.
Timmy Beson), who would have more information on this. (2)
Regarding ’20-‘21 Budget Proposals: In January, Gov. BLESSING: Barb Skowronski
Whitmer’s State of the State Priorities stated “MARSP is
encouraged that the budget proposal continues to put $50/$50: Leeds Bird, Carole Hoyle, Mary Ida Doan
increasing resources toward ensuring the financial stability of
MPSERS. We are to keep in mind that there is a long SUNRISE FREE LUNCH: Carl Learman
process, and they will continue to monitor for developments
impacting the mission of MARSP to protect and enhance the Respectfully submitted by Nancy Yurgaites
pension and health insurance benefits for all MI public school
retirees.” Another item is our auto insurance. Dee has been
receiving sketchy information on this change that will take
effect in July, but she will keep us posted as she learns more.

MEMBERSHIP REPORT/NEWSLETTER MAILINGS: A few of

our members indicated that they had not received a
newsletter either by e-mail or U.S. mail. We are still problem-
solving issues with mailing the newsletters. Becky indicated
some who had agreed to the e-mail option were now
requesting U.S. mail. A suggestion to physically mail to all
 BAY AREA RETIRED SCHOOL PERSONNEL
P.O .Box 1112 Presorted
STANDARD
Bay City, MI 48706 U.S. Postage Paid
Bay City, MI
Permit No. 30
Return postage paid

VOLUME 29—ISSUE Summer 2021

Meet Becky Thompson

I was born in Saginaw, Michigan to parents who both came from farming families, so much of my childhood
was spent on farms belonging to my grandparents. One of them is now a Centennial Farm. I attended elementary and
high school in Hemlock. My college career consisted of two years at Delta College and two years at Central Michigan
University.

After college I married my husband, Fred, and we moved to Bay City. Shortly after that I began substitute teaching in Bay
City and Pinconning Area Schools. After several years of substitute teaching I was hired at Pinconning Area Schools,
where I taught Special Ed, then later various elementary positions which included grades 2, 3, and 4. I retired in 2013.

Fred and I love to travel in our motorhome. We’ve been to some interesting and historic places, such as Yellowstone
National Park and Gettysburg, and have many more on our “bucket list”. We spend our winters in Florida on the Space
Coast in a golf resort in the small town of Titusville. We golf almost every day and watch as many rocket launches from
Cape Kennedy as possible. We also enjoy the occasional trip to Lakeland to cheer on the Tigers.

We are the proud parents of a son, Nathan, and a daughter, Erin and her husband, Grant, as well as grandparents to two
granddogs, Opie and Noelle.

When I have the chance, I love to work on genealogy. I’m hoping the genealogy room at Wirt Library will re-open
soon. It’s easy for me to spend hours there searching for records. I have been working on Fred’s family tree for several
years and have found some interesting people there. It’s surprising how many people he is related to that we know, but
didn’t know they were relatives!