DMARSPA MAY 25, 2023, MINUTES
1. Mike Walag welcomed for President Marla Carr DMARSPA members and guests to the May 25, 2023, meeting.
1. Liz Benjamin introduced Dawna Bradley who presented a program on Juneteenth. Dwana represents the east side of Des Moines on the school board. She received a bachelor’s degree from Iowa State, and worked with children as a reading interventionist. After parting ways with the District, she ran for the DM School Board, and won. In addition to being on the Board, she is General chair of Juneteenth, and goes across the state to get other Juneteenth celebrations started. Her goal and passion is to get everyone to know what Juneteenth is about. It’s not just for black people. She does a weekly live podcast. Dwana is a single mom to two kids; one will become a teacher. Currently, she is working with Polk County Senior Center on Forrest for a Juneteenth celebration. History of Juneteenth: there is a lot of
misinterpretation. Iowa has played a major role in recognizing Juneteenth. Juneteenth started with a proclamation by President Lincoln freeing slaves. It took two and a half years, June 19, 1863, to get the word to Texas. Not everyone wanted to celebrate. Early celebrations focused on families, but there continued to be pushback from others. Celebrating the month of freedom but basic rights that everyone should have people would come out in their finest garments and celebrate. In the early days, it was called Emancipation Day. The Juneteenth flag was created in 1990. Principle was the first sponsor to raise the flag - red, white, blue. Iowa Juneteenth history started by Gary Larson in 1990 in the greater Des Moines area. He got Governor Vilsack to create it into law. We used to be very embrasive of of other’s culture. In 2002, Gary made sure that everyone in Iowa could celebrate on the third Saturday in June. Book - A CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM - JUNETEENTH by Charles A. Taylor can be ordered on Amazon. The first Iowa celebration was in Evelyn Davis Park, where awards were given. There will be a gospel celebration on June 11 at 6 pm; just doing music only. The celebration was moved from Evelyn Davis Park to downtown. She wanted to start to open up the space; will have it at Western Gateway Park this June. A national museum is wanted. A video told the story of Opal, a 101 year woman whose parents’ house was burned to the ground. She would like to have a new national museum on her own land. To Opal, Juneteenth means freedom. She did something that costs nothing - She walked from Ft. Worth, Texas, to Washington D.C. with 1 million signatures. History matters. It’s made us stronger. Dwana encourages people to come to an event this year, and learn.
2. Recognition of May birthdays followed by The Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence.
3. Dee introduced one of our scholarship winners who was unable to attend last months’ recognition - Emily Powers. Emily is a student at Buena Vista, majoring in elementary ed. She organized activities with youth with disabilities. Emily is a member of the women’s golf team, honor society, peer leadership, academic assistance and helped start special Olympics at Buena Vista. In high school, she started special unified sports for special ed. students.
4. Lunch
5. Introduction of visitors
6. Business Meeting
A. Secretary’s Report: Sherry Wilkinson - Minutes filed as read.
B. Treasurer’s Report: Sandra Petre - Balance on Hand April 27, 2023: $5666.32. Deposits - $1572, Expenses - $1030.57, Total Balance on Hand May 25, 2023 - $6207.81. SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNT: Balance on Hand April 27, 2023: $3350.07,
Deposit - $477, Interest - 73 cents, Balance on hand May 25, 2023, $3827.80. TOTAL BALANCE ON HAND MAY 25, 2023 - $10, 035.61.
C. Courtesy Report: Dee Fleischacker - A get well card was sent to Tina Olson and a thinking of you card to Nancy Waldon who is in hospice.
D. OLD BUSINESS:
1. Jan Johnson and Marla Carr attended the District 5 IRSPA meeting in Newton on May 3. They gained a lot of information, and would like to include a three-paragraph summary of our meetings every quarter for the newsletter. We might get more members, if people realized there was a group in Des Moines.
2. Dues of $18 are due by the June meeting, if you want your information in the program booklet.
3. Continue to ask people to join DMARSPA, especially people who have just retired.
4. Be sure to tell Dee if you are bringing a new retiree in June so Marla can give them a rose.
5. Marla thanks Ed Jan Johnston for volunteering to be president. E. NEW BUSINESS:
1. If anyone would like to join today, please see Sandra Petre after the meeting. 2. Sandra has volunteered to organize a list of members who would like to decorate tables with centerpieces and table favors. Please tell Sandra if you would like to decorate for any month.
3. Marla encouraged members to ask newly retired teacher and any of their school friends who might be interested in becoming members. We are open to all school personnel.
a. We need to make an effort to invite newly retired teachers to our June meeting.
b. Remember, their first lunch is free.
4. We need a president elect for next year. The nominating committee will be seeking candidates.
5. Officers will be installed in August, and will take over in September. 6. Cashiers are needed for January. Sign up to be a cashier from September to August of 2024.
8. Cashiers for June: Debbie Caldwell and Ramona Camacho-Aguilar.
A. If anyone would like to be a cashier before the end of June or next year, please contact Mike Walag.
9. Door prize:
10. Puzzle answers
11. A short meeting will be held after the meeting for the program committee.
June 22, 2023, program: Erin Sears who will share her Storyteller Project about her experience student teaching in a remote Eskimo village. This will be followed by Learning at The Loo by Jan Mitchell, former Iowa Teacher of The Year.
Adjourned at 12:45 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Sherry Wilkinson
Secretary
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