At 11:39 AM Linda Bannon opened the meeting and led the members in the flag salute.
Program: DonnaQuesnell introducedDarci Schmitt and Brent Gjerve. They have entertained us for many years during our Christmas celebration. This year was amazing! Darci Schmitt opened with a solo song of “Santa Clause is Coming to Town.” We were delighted when we heard her exquisite voice. Four students, at four different locations, sang in superb harmony. Thank you Darci for bringing a smile to our faces and a song to our hearts
TREASURES REPORT: (Marty Erickson)
- Savings Account Revenues $12,728.15
- Checking $142.36
- 12 Month Certificate $3,076.46
- Scholarship Account $3,118.82
- Net worth to date $19,020.12
Marty Erickson made Motion to give Darci Schmitt $200 rather than $150 as voted on before. Seconded and passed.
MINUTES (Mina MilIgan)
November 19, 202 Minutes were approved as written.
MEMBERSHIP (Margaret Snitzler)
No changes since last meeting
HEALTH (Fran Person)
Fran Person warned everyone who participates in Zoom meeting to be careful what others can see in your residence. People can actually enlarge items to learn more about you. This may lead to scamming. You can hide all of that detritus using Zoom’s Virtual Background feature. The feature lets you use a still image or a video in the background to hide whatever is really going on back there.
Fran Person discussed the proper way to breath:
- Sit down with your back straight or lie down on a floor. Relax your body, empty your mind and stay aware of your breath.
- Inhale. With Yoga Breathing, we take the oxygen into the solar plexus. We are conscious of our breath and we take deep breaths, through the nose. This type of breathing strengthens the body and increases the supply of oxygen to the brain. Breath-in pushing the air into your stomach, feeling the stomach expand. The oxygen goes into the lowest part of your lungs, then the middle, and then the top. Your chest and abdomen will expand. Breathing slowly and deeply brings oxygen to the lowest part of your lungs and exercises your diaphragm. During an inhalation, your diaphragm will move downwards.
- Exhale. Follow your breath out of your body, empty your stomach first, lower lungs, followed by upper lungs. Allow your shoulders to completely relax.[2] During an exhalation, your diaphragm moves up, compressing the lungs and pushing air out.
- Take a yoga breath.[3] This is done with the following rhythm: 7 (seconds or heartbeats) inhalation -1 retention – 7 exhalation – 1 retention
- Repeat this breathing exercise any time you wish. The yogic breathing teaches us to breathe through the nose, to lengthen our exhalation, increasing our physical and mental health. Practice and this will become your normal breathing, requiring no particular effort.
FRIENDSHIP (Jane Madden)
Jane Madden wants to have the month and day of members’ birthdays so she can send birthday greeting through the mail. This will take the place of the birthday goody bag that is usually handed out during our luncheons.
MINI GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS & DONATIONS (Waneta Filbin)
Mina Milligan reported that $350 will be granted to suitable requests from school employees until $8,000 is used up. In the last couple of days, there have been many requests.
LEGISLATION (Donna Quesnell)
Legislators and legislators-elect are meeting this week for their first post-election legislative planning sessions. The state budget is a mess, and our top priority this session is NO CUTS TO RETIREE BENEFITS! This week is an excellent time to start your lobbying campaign for the 2021 Legislative Session. Please reach out to your legislative delegation this week and ask them to maintain the Medicare Eligible Healthcare Benefit and don’t touch our social security.
WEBSITE (Mina Milligan)
Mina Milligan reported that the site is all up to date. There is a flyer on the home page inviting school employees to get involved and become members.
DATES TO REMEMBER
December 3rd, Christmas Program 11:30 am
December 7th, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (USA)
December 11, 1St Day of Hanukkah
December 21st, First day of winter
December 24th, Christmas Eve
December 25th, Christmas Day
December 26th, Boxing Day (Canada)
1st Day of Kwanzaa
December 31st, New Year’s Eve
January 21st, 2021 Next Board Meeting 10:00am
Mina Milligan, SWWSRA Secretary