Stratford
COMMUNITY LIVING
Send Stratford news to: RR@tpprinting.com phone: 715-223-2342 fax: 715-223-3505 P.O. Box 677 103 West Spruce Street Abbotsford, WI 54405 MAREA meets
The Marshfield Area Retired Educators Association (MAREA) held its December meeting was held via Zoom, with 17 members present.
The meeting was called to order by president Cindee Loos, followed by the Pledge to the Flag. Minutes were approved as printed. The treasurer’s report was placed on file. MAREA member Doreen Schultz was installed as vice president.
Under old business, Sunshine and Shadows chair Carol Ballerstein read a thank you note from Marge Kolek for the sympathy card and donation to the WREA Foundation in Ken Kolek’s name.
Ballerstein thanked members for sending Christmas cards to seven homebound members. Member Grace Dietel- Ensign thanked the group for the Zoom meeting and get well wishes. Members were encouraged to send get well card to member Eileen Keller.
Members were thanked for donations to area food pantries. Kathleen Hasenohrl gave a health issues update and encouraged members to continue following COVID mandates and receive the vaccine.
Ruby Pinter reported scholarship money would be sent to recipients shortly, and letters would be going out for 2021 MAREA scholarship applications.
Members were encouraged to continue keeping track of volunteer hours, realizing this may have been curtailed due to COVID.
Under new business, members voted to pay the $15 fee to increase the time allowed on Zoom for a meeting. Trina Tiffany will pursue this which will allow time for a speaker at meetings. It is hoped this will allow meeting attendance tracking and Spotlight on members for the January meeting.
A December birthday song and Christmas songs were sung, accompanied by Ruby Pinter on piano. Mary Denk will update the MAREA blog.
Grab & Go crafts
Younger children can get a symmetrical snowflake craft kit from any of the nine Marathon County Public Library (MPCL) locations from Monday, Jan. 4 until Friday, Jan. 29.
Each kit will contain cotton swabs, blue circles and instructions for making this artistic, seasonal craft.
Parents can call the branch libraries to schedule a time to pick up a kit, or visit the drive thru at MPCL in Wausau any time it’s open.
Reading challenge
Marathon County Public Library will offer a virtual Winter Reading Challenge for kids, tweens and teens from Friday, Jan. 1, until Sunday, Jan. 31.
The challenge will be conducted via the free Beanstack app. Participants can log the books they read, the number of minutes/hours and more. Can participants complete the challenge in time? They should participate and find out!
For more information on the reading challenge, people can call 715-261-7220.
