Southern Region Meets at Rend Lake

Southern Region Retirees met recently at Rend Lake College for a tour of their Culinary Department. It provides career opportunities to many local students, and is one of the better ones in this part of the state.

Our thanks to Chef Robert Wilson who gave us the tour and shared much interesting information.

Pictured are Joy Richey, Martha Winter, Milly Kaiser, Martha Speir, Joyce Pyatt, Kathy Harrison, Carol Schlitt, Donna Whitlock Rumsey, Chef Wilson, and Rusti Grogan.

Shirley Martin also joined the group for lunch, and it was good catching up with her.

Most have likely seen the note from Carol Schlitt that the bus trip for September is full. Looking forward to a great time!

Member Update

Paula Robinson was looking forward to being a grandmother again.

She has also done some consulting with Catholic Charities on grants, etc.

Paula is part of a group that gets together the first Friday of the month in Springfield. Jananne Finck, Diane Duewer, Judy Taylor, Diane Ryals, Linda Smith and others enjoy catching up when they can. I'm sure I also missed some members of this group. Let me know if there are others.

Good News--For Now

This little bird was just outside our house last week looking for something to eat. Hope to see the end of winter soon!

Here is a note from NARFE about whether the Sequester of funds will affect retirement annuities.

Since President Obama issued the sequester order on March 1, many NARFE members have contacted Headquarters about the impact this will have on their retirement payments. NARFE President Joseph A. Beaudoin has stated: “To the best of my knowledge, there will be no impact on the issuance of annuity payments. According to the Office of Personnel Management, ‘Sequestration will not stop delivery of FERS and CSRS annuity checks. These monthly retirement benefits checks will continue to be issued.’” The NARFE “SequestrationFAQs,” available on the NARFE website, will be updated with information as it becomes available to us. You can access it directly by visiting: http://www.narfe.org/home/articles.cfm?ID=3229. 

Member Update

Thought you might like to see the article on Ellen Burton that was included in the Winter 2013 Epsilon Sigma Phi newsletter. Sounds like she has been busy!

I am certain that as some of you read this article, you are asking, “Who is she?   Other than to write that I worked for University of Illinois Extension for 40 years and during that time I held positions that ranged from Assistant Adviser, Youth, to Regional Director, East Central Region; I will ask others to fill in any details.

My husband, Paul, and I live near Goodfield IL, which is just off I-74 between Bloomington and Peoria, in Woodford County.  We have one son, who works as an analyst at Michigan State University.

When I retired in 2008, I was on the Epsilon Sigma Phi National Board and became the National President of ESP shortly after retiring.  In the fall of 2009 I became the National President of the Joint Council of Extension Professionals.   During these years I truly FELT I was fully employed with the tasks of serving the professional Extension organizations and the professionals who comprise the membership of those organizations.  Serving in these positions kept me very busy, but also provided me with wonderful opportunities to meet, work with, and make lifelong friendships with outstanding Extension professionals from all parts of our great county. 

Deborah Thomason, SC, 2011 ESP President;

Ellen Burton, IL, 2009 ESP President;

Sandy Corridon, Maryland, 2010 ESP President

Because of being president of the two Boards, I had the opportunity to attend many national meetings, regional meetings, educational conferences and Board meetings of both Boards.  Between my personal travels and the work on the Boards, I was fortunate to travel from San Diego to Portland, Maine; from Fargo, ND to San Antonio, from the Arctic Circle to the Caribbean, from Portland, Oregon to Nova Scotia and many places in between.  It was work and it was hectic, but a great opportunity for personal growth and learning.    I encourage each of you to be involved in your professional organization.  You owe it to your profession and yourself!

                                                                               

2011 National ESP Conference in Syracuse NY

Dr. Mary Keith (formerly from IL) with the Illinois ESP delegation Pennie Crinion, Ellen Burton, Pat Hildenbrand, Doug Harlan, and Mary Ann Fugate

In the fall of 2010 my responsibilities on National Boards ended and I felt like I was finally retired!  Since this time, I have done some traveling with friends and family to New York, Alabama, Minnesota and many trips to South Carolina.  I have a friend who lives near Hilton Head, SC and I travel often to see her.  I also make it a point to go to my favorite city—Charleston, SC.

Additionally—when I am home I volunteer at our local hospital.  I enjoy this volunteer opportunity as I see so many people I know—but due to privacy laws-- I cannot tell anyone I saw them!  I also work when needed for the Woodford County Circuit Clerk and Court.  Learning more about the judicial system has been most interesting.  Additionally, I am working with my paternal cousins to trace our Irwin ancestry.  We have it back to 1785 when our ancestor came to America from Ireland.  Reading is also one of my great pleasures. 

As many of us have learned the greatest pleasures in life are usually simple things.  For me being retired means:

1.      Being able to help my husband with his business.

2.      Being able to help friends when needed—or join them on a trip to “some place!”

3.      Being able to sit down in the morning with a fresh cup of coffee and read the morning paper from front to back—without hurrying!

For me retirement is truly about family, friends, and being able to do the things I like to do, and/or learning about something that always interested me.  If you ever plan to be in my area please contact me.  I would love to meet you for lunch!

P.S. And for those who are wondering if I took up shooting sports and welding, as I told colleagues I was going to do when I retired—I have had a number of lessons from professionals in one of the two fields!  

Note: if you would like to know how to get in touch with Ellen, please send a note to ieafcslife@gmail.com.

Life Members Travel to Peru

Donna Falconnier and Carol Schlitt recently returned from a fabulous trip to Peru.  They visited Lima, Machu Picchu, Puno, Lake Titicata and flew over the Nazca lines. 

The picture was taken on the famous Uros Islands which are completely made of reeds and are continually added to as they disintegrate to the bottom of the lake.  The Indians that live on these “floating islands” wear layers of clothing, mostly woolen, to protect themselves from the cold, the wind, and the sun which at 3800 feet above sea level can burn fiercely.

Carol and Donna are wearing the distinctive derby type hats and full skirts that most of the women on the island still wear.

Sure looks like they had fun!

Catching Up

 The first issue of For Your Information for 2013 was published recently. Here is the link: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/fyi/

Some items noted are:

• Amanda Taylor is the new Assistant Director of Extension Field Operations.
• Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition has a new leader--Dr. Sharon ("Shelly") M. Nickols-Richardson from Penn State.
• Wally Reynolds, Boone County Ag. Adviser until 1996 has passed away.
•  Debi Roy Delaney's mother has also passed.

Click on the link above for details.

Life members received an e-mail from Brenda Derrick this week about the passing of Tom Buchanan in Missouri. Our condolences to all the families.

Let us know if you don't have any information you may need.

 

Happy Valentine's Day!

 Hope everyone has a great Valentine's Day.

Thought you might enjoy a few funnies to go along with all the hearts, flowers, and sentimental thoughts.

1. A couple drove down a country road for several miles, not saying a word. An earlier discussion had led to an argument and neither of them wanted to concede their position. As they passed a barnyard of mules, goats and pigs, the husband asked sarcastically, "Relatives of yours?" "Yep," the wife replied, "in-laws."

2. When a man opens the door of his car for his wife, you can be sure of one thing: either the car is new or the wife. 

3. A young woman was taking an afternoon nap. After she woke up, she told her husband, "I just dreamed that you gave me a pearl necklace for Valentine's day. What do you think it means?"

"You'll know tonight," he said.

That evening, the man came home with a small package and gave it to his wife. Delighted, she opened it--only to find a book entitled "The meaning of dreams".

Seriously, we hope your day is everything you want it to be. You are special!