Current Information and Announcements
Southeast Idaho Chapter of Idaho Retired Educators
Updated April 21, 2024
Please indicate your attendance
at the SEIREA luncheons...
at the SEIREA luncheons...
Dear SEIREA Members~
Our meetings will be at the Juniper Hills Country Club south of Pocatello (6600 Bannock Highway). Lunch at the Country Club will be $20 (includes tax and tip) and the luncheons will vary from month to month. It is a complete lunch with salads, main courses, and desserts. There is ample parking, easy access, and a large bright meeting room. Please Note: The Country Club does not want to handle separate checks or cash, so we ask you to make your checks out ahead of time to SEIREA in the amount of $20. Of course, cash is always welcome for your lunch. It would speed things up if you have a your check made out to SEIREA in advance. Your board is pleased to have this venue again and an interesting series of programs planned for the year. ~Ronda Black, past president; Francie Stephens, president Announcements:
We are asking our membership to become more tech savvy and use this website to keep up on the happenings of the SEIREA. Using this website will keep you informed and save the association money for paper, printing, and distribution, not to mention saving a least one or two trees per year. :-) Also, we are asking you to RSVP the luncheons via the form above in order to save the callers from having to call everyone. I send a list to the callers of those who have used the form so they should be aware of the RSVP's. Also, the form is sent directly to the President and the Treasurer for head counts. It is very helpful in knowing attendance so that there is enough seating and food for everyone or so that we don't end up paying for overages. Thanks in advance for your participation. Members: If you are looking at this Retired Educator website, please check the information under "Members" (just click on the word) to see if your information is correct. If not, please e-mail me at: [email protected] with the appropriate corrections. I will make them as soon as I get the info from each of you. Please click on the other links (header words) and see if any information there is incorrect. Thank you for taking time to view the website and for making corrections or comments. Also, if you would like to see any additions (new pages) or deletions. GREETINGS TO ALL RETIRED EDUCATORS-- If you are reading this, then you are on our SEIREA website. HOORAY!! That also means that you can (and hopefully will) use the website to register your ability or inability to attend the monthly luncheons. Prior to each meeting, members receive a message via our user friendly Website SEIREA.weebly.com, requesting your response to attending or NOT attending the meeting. Using that system is easy and gives us numbers to make lunch reservations. We still have six callers, but the goal is to make their jobs lighter and quicker. And that will happen if you register your attendance on line. They will be happy to continue calling those members who do not have access to the internet. If you have responded affirmatively to the request, but plans change and you are unable to attend, please notify me prior to the meeting. If you say yes and then don't come, we are still charged for your meal. I consider it an honor to be president of the SEIREA. The organization is made up of folk who are from all "walks of educational life." Our membership consists of retired teachers, instructional assistants, custodians, superintendents, university educators, central office personnel, secretaries, etc. All people who have worked with young people at one level or another are encouraged to join. Retired Educators' Association of Idaho annual meeting was held at the ShoBan Casino and Resort this past April. SEIREA was the host unit and our members were well represented. SEIREA scored several awards for outstanding unit activities. Marjean, Kent, and others helped create a fun event with the theme being Idaho Parks. Each table had a rendering of one of our state parks. Very clever and fun for the participating delegates.
Craig Quintana from Idaho Parks and Recreation gave a lively presentation about the great parks and recreational activities available to Idaho citizens. He kept the group entertained with funny quips and a lot of great information. In addition, Stan Cope had arranged with the Tribe to have the Native Dancers perform, a young lady who played the fiddle, a school choir, and other fun entertainment. It was a great meeting and thanks to all who made it possible and run so smoothly. The last photos are from the REA Hall of Fame presentations. Jackie Cranor and Roger Wheeler were our inductees. We read Jackie's bio as was written and praised for the many things she has done. Pete read the "spoof" bio for Roger which brought laughter to the crowd. Then we read his "straight" bio with his achievements and many recognitions. The last photo is of all the statewide Hall of Fame recipients. A unique group of giving, caring, educators.
The Retired Educators Association of Idaho (REAI) has been in operation since 1955. It is also the educational arm of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP.) Here in Idaho, we have 9 units throughout the State. Our Southeast Idaho unit's 2022-2023 membership was 74—a number we hope to increase again this year.
SEIREA is a non-profit, non-political and service organization. Annually we provide an ISU Student Scholarship to a Junior in Education. Last year we were able to provide two scholarships! We also support the ISU Success Center with their GED needs. We present a book each month to a local school and encourage our members to volunteer in the community at such events as schools and the Idaho Food Bank for example. SEIREA meets monthly from September through May on the first Wednesday of each month at 12:00 noon. Our meals are going to cost more due to the rapid rise in food costs. We always have a short, but interesting program. Please bring a check for the specified amount already made out to save time at check-in table. If you have any food allergies, please call us prior to the luncheon *Dues for the 2022/2023 year remain the same at $25. You may pay this at any meeting. Please bring a check (separate from the lunch check) for $25.00 made out to SEIREA. You may also send a check to our Treasurer Judy Liday at: 180 Fairway Circle, Pocatello, ID 83201 Again, we welcome all to our association. It is a good time to visit with old friends, make new ones, become informed, and keep your finger in the "education pie". |
SEIREA Awards and Honorees...
Jim Liday is ISU College of Education's 2024 Professional Achievement winner. Jim will lead the COE's grad students and graduating seniors at commencement on Saturday, May 4, 2024. Jim Liday is a distinguished educator with a remarkable career devoted to enhancing the educational landscape. He holds degrees in Elementary Education and School Administration from Idaho State University, where he excelled academically. Jim's journey in education began as a fourth-grade teacher, eventually transitioning into elementary school administration. He joins several other SEIREA members who have received this honor.
Keep scrolling and reading...
On Friday, April 12, 2024, Idaho State University held its annual donor recognition dinner, the Gem Legacy Awards at the ISU Alumni Center. Among the myriad of donors to ISU scholarships, educational, leadership, and other donations, Southeast Idaho Retired Educators' Association was recognized for its contributions to scholarships at the College of Education. The Association reached the "Opal" level of giving which is for donations for $25,000 to $50,000. Tabatha Butler said that the Association has given more than $33,000 for our scholarship endeavors since the scholarship drive began. Attending that evening representing SEIREA and accepting the award were Francie Stephens and Doris Autenreith . Ronda and Pete Black were also in attendance as was Tabatha Butler, and two ISU student scholarship winners. It was a wonderful evening of like-minded ISU supporters. Francie will share the plaque at the REA-I regional meeting in Twin Falls on Thursday, April 18, 2024.
There's more, read on...
In addition to Mr. Liday, two of our members were recently honored at the COE's "Celebrating Excellence" awards event on Friday, April 19, 2024. Our "very own" Ms. Tabatha Butler was honored by the College with the "Bengal Partner Award" for her super efforts in philanthropy, marketing, guiding, etc the College of Education. Of course, we don't have to tell you how much she does for SEIREA. She's a keeper!
Also, honored was Dr. Patti Mortensen, who after a distinguished career in public education, and several years of teaching at the College of Education, announced her retirement. She was surprised at the Excellence event with comments from the Dean, examples of her work by Dr. Geoff Thomas, and presented with a bouquet of flowers and a standing ovation.
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The Southeast Idaho Retired Educators Association (SEIREA) presented over $4,000 for scholarships to support College of Education students. Comprised of retired Idaho educators, SEIREA members are dedicated to actively participating in and seeking opportunities to aid those in need within our community, particularly future educators. This recent gift is one of many that SEIREA has provided to the College of Education over the years that has been used to support preservice teacher's academic journeys. Thank you to all members of SEIREA for your constant support of our scholarship efforts.
The December 6, 2023 meeting of the Southeast Idaho Retired Educators' Association was our annual scholarship silent auction and raffle basket fund raising event. There were a lot of unique items and plenty of homemade goodies. In addition, enough items were donated, included several gift cards from various businesses including Jaker's, Olive Garden, Lowe's, and others. Several members even sent in donations to help with the scholarship funds. In addition, the ISU College of Education, with Dean Jean McGivney-Burelle, Tabatha Butler, Laura McRae, and Aubi Moon, hosted our December luncheon again this year. We thank these ladies and the COE for their efforts on behalf of SEIREA and our scholarship drive.
SEIREA members were treated to a wonderful turkey buffet luncheon, then traveled around the room silently bidding on auction items, purchased multitudes of raffle tickets, and enjoyed Christmas and other songs provided by the "Angel Tones," led by Melissa Schrade with Angela Johnson and Britain Prusse. The ladies were in complete harmony as they entertained the our crew. They were a real hit with our REA members. Someone even requested they sing, "Bugle Boy of Company B" which brought rave reviews from our 70+ members in attendance. This was one of the largest attendance crowds ever. SEIREA is the largest Retired Education Associaton in the state. Yay! The SEIREA 2023-2024 year began on Wednesday, September 6, 2023 with several new members and lots of returning members. It was great to see everyone. Bob Myers installed the new officers for the next two years. They are, Francie Stephens, president; Kent Hobbs, vice-president; Judy Liday, treasurer; Marcia Ney, secretary.
We heard from Tabatha Butler who told us how much the scholarship recipients at the COE were grateful for our efforts in helping them with funding. Your SEIREA officers for 2023-2024 are, left to right: Judy Liday, treasurer; Kent Hobbs, vice-president; Lyla Wolfenbarger, assistant treasurer; Francie Stephens, president; Marcia Ney, secretary.
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