MAREA meets, awards scholarship to Spencer’s Rucker

The Marshfield Area Retired Educators (MAREA) held their regular meeting on May 19, with president Sally Lucas calling the meeting to order. She introduced the speakers for the day.

The winners of the 2024-2025 scholarships were: Claire Roth, Colby High School; Hailey Rucker, Spencer High School; and Hope Kelnhofer, Marshfield Senior High School. Each of these graduates is pursuing a career in education. A special thanks to Ruby P. for managing this scholarship project.

Kathleen H., chair of the Health Issues Committee, shared some important information regarding common myths about cancer. She clarified that cancer is not contagious and emphasized that there is no pill that can cure it. She also stressed the importance of research in solving the mysteries surrounding cancer, its causes, and potential cures.

Curt H., the legislative chairperson, spoke about the significant cuts in federal funding for schools, making state funding crucial to addressing the needs of special education, teacher training, and other educational funding requirements. He encouraged all members to reach out to their representatives to advocate for the protection of public media, either through email or phone calls.

Sally awarded Ruby T. with the Volunteer of the Year Award and Karen W. was acknowledged as an honored member of Wisconsin Retired Educators’ Association.

The meeting’s speakers, both retired veterinarians, Cathy Miller-Timme and her husband Mark Timme, shared their experiences from their time in the veterinary field. Cathy was the first female vet in Wisconsin. She discussed the challenges of being a female veterinarian in the Amish community near Medford. She shared several memorable stories, including one where she delivered a calf for a farmer who had been working for hours, managing to deliver it in just 20 minutes. She also recounted performing surgery on a rat with breast cancer, which survived the operation.

Mark also shared his own memorable experiences, including a time when he had to visit a farm where the owner wasn’t present. Mark had to assist a downed cow in its stall, with the cow trainers still running. He jokingly said he had a “talk with God” that day. He also explained the science behind many of the procedures veterinarians use to treat various animal illnesses.

All MAREAmeetings are held at 10 a.m. on the third Monday of each month at the Country Aire Restaurant, with a lunch following the program. For more information about MAREA, contact Sally Lucas at sally.lucas@yahoo.com.