A Delightful Meeting

Wow! Is the rain coming down or what! Hope you all are high and dry. It was good to see lots of our members present for this meeting. Yes, parking was a challenge due to the movie people. I was told that this was a Stephen King movie and the next day there was going to be a scene with an explosion. I don't know about you all but I am glad that our meeting was not taking place during this "explosion." The tables were beautifully decorated with flower arrangement. And I won one of them and it is on my table and still looks great after a week! Thanks, Maleeta. At the end of our meeting our elected officers gave their reports. Scholarship decisions are coming up at the beginning of May. We have money in the treasury and members attending. What more could you ask for?

Our beautiful flowers.

The Honorable John Tecklenburg, mayor of the city of Charleston,  was our guest speaker. He started and ended the meeting by playing the piano. That was a great beginning and ending.

Our Mayor tickling the ivories

What a great photo op! We really enjoyed "On the Sunny Side of the Street." He changed the saying that we should leave a better world for our children to we should leave better children for our world. That does give one pause. He is probably right on the money with that expression. He thanked us for our service. He also said that he meets regularly with our superintendent, Dr. Postelwaite. That's a good thing.
He recommended that as seniors we look into the senior center on James Island. He also is excited abut the senior center being built in West Ashley. And speaking of West Ashley: He stated that this area will be the focus of his administration. The farmers' market is opening. Mayor Tecklenburg spoke of the revitalization of downtown.  He also is advocating for the completion of I-526 which should have been done 20 years ago. Several members asked questions with the main concern being the traffic situation all over but especially in West Ashley. Seems like we had a great attendance from West Ashley. After fielding these inquiries the mayor closed his presentation with another piano piece, "The Maple Leaf Rag."
If you want more information about our fair city, here is the URL:
The Holy City

Another Passing

It is with a heavy heart that I read of the passing of one of our members and a friend of mine, Peggy Bozard. Peggy and I went to then Winthrop College. She was a business instructor at Stall High. She will be missed. Here is the link to her obituary.
Peggy Bozard

Valentine's Day Gathering

Yummy strawberry dessert!

Mary Thrift  began our meeting with CCREA business:
Reminders:
Tuesday, April 18, Mayor Tecklenberg will be our speaker
Tuesday, May 16, Scholarship Luncheon (everybody is bringing salads!)

Member Information:
Theresa Johnson's daughter is here now instead of Atlanta and she is in remission. Her husband is having surgery.

Joan Gaetke read the minutes from our January meeting.  Maleeta Ennis told us that we had 38 present including 5 visitors. Judy Jordan gave the treasurer's report.

Mary thanked the West Ashley Culinary Arts Class for preparing our wonderful lunch.  Then, Dustin Chavis entertained us with three songs: "Some Enchanted Evening,"
 " Bali Hai,"  and "What I Did For Love." It was wonderful. I remember that when in high school (yes, we had an actual high school!) our chorus group sang "Some Enchanted Evening" for the Miss Bishop England Pageant. Boy, was I nervous!!
After our wonderful music the members were asked to compose a poem for Valentine's Day. The winner was Mary Ferguson. Her poem was quite interesting.
Look forward to seeing you all in April!
P.S. Are we meeting permanently at this site??

All the Rage

Our meeting was a great one. Mary opened the meeting and proceeded to conduct the business portion. A reminders about our next meeting was given: our next meeting has been moved to February 14, St. Valentine's Day. This will be our "Red, White and Blue Luncheon. The cost will remain the same, $8.50 and will be catered by West Ashley High School's culinary class. The members present were asked to remember Shirley B. as she recovers from surgery, Theresa J.'s daughter as she is now in remission and keep Madeline V. in our prayers as she mourns the loss of her mother.
Joan Read the minutes from our November meeting and they were approved. Mary gave the treasurer's report for Judy. Maleeta told us that we now have 62 members with 28 present today. (Maybe the change of meeting place kept some people from attending.) Judy reminded us of our scholarship fund.Then Maleeta drew names for the door prizes and I did not win one this time, drat! Maybe next time?

 Our fashion show was next. I have included some pictures for you to enjoy. All the clothes were provided by Joan's daughter who is the owner of "Ellington" at 24 State Street.

Another Year, A New Beginning

It is hard to think that a new year is beginning. I am still trying to cope with 2016, aren't you?
This new year is coming like a freight train and as is said time and tide waits for no man or woman! But we will all "adjust and monitor" as we teachers know how to do. January 17, 2017 is proving to be an exciting meeting for the CCREA. We will be regaled with a fashion show thanks to Joan and her daughter. Don't forget that our meeting place has changed. We will be at the North Charleston Methodist church which is almost on the corner of Spruill and Montague, of course, in North Charleston. It is directly across the railroad tracks from the parking lot at North Charleston High School.  Or it is across from the restaurant Sesame's. This will be a great meeting. I am sure Team 3 (?) will provide wonderful teats for our lunch. I may not be there as I will be coming home from North Carolina. But I hope to see you there.
Happy New year!

November Meeting

I wish that more of our members had attended to hear our superintendent. She was a refreshing breath of air. She spoke about her background and then looked to the future to set goals: improve learning, be financially sound, and boost teacher morale. There were lots of concepts with each of the goals. I did not realize what a low percentage of our students were not ready to attend post high school centers of learning. She gave alarming statistics that only 10% of our graduates were ready to attend Trident Tech. 90% have to take remedial classes which the students pay for but get no credit. Such a sad commentary on our school systems. I think the thing that impressed me most was that Dr. Postelwait went around to each table and had each member present introduce herself and the school each had retired from.
The food prepared by the team was delicious. They could fix my lunch anytime. Door prizes were awarded. I forgot my camera but I did take a few with my phone which are usually not too clear but I shall see and I can add one or two later.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

November Meeting

I hope all of you are safe and well and dry. We are OK here...just a whole bunch of limbs down. But we are already cleaned up and awaiting pickup. Our next meeting should prove to be an interesting one. Our new super of schools will be here to entertain us. I wonder what she will tell us. Remember Team 2 will be providing the refreshments. Please remember to get to the hall early as we have to help set up. And then please stay after so we can get cleaned up. We may not be in the same place as before. I guess we will find out when we get there.