Jeanie Anderson called the meeting to order at 11:32 AM, followed by the flag salute. There were 23 members present: Marty Erickson, Annette Eickson, Loretta Babbitt, Mina Milligan, Margaret Snitlzer, JaneMadden, Wanta Filbin, Kathy isignoli, Gerry Jarvis, Renie Shannon, Barbara Kelly, Klaras Ihnken, Maryann Sawyer, Jeanie Anderson, Sherry Boose, Larayne Anderson, Linda Bannon, Colleen Baron, Fran Person, Donell Morely, Anne Moyers, Bill Moyers
Jeanie Anderson introduced our guest speaker, Korri Nelson. She also recognized long time member, Kathy Lisignoli, who now lives in Minnesota.
Minutes: December 2020 general luncheon minutes were reviewed and approved as written.
Treasurer’s Report: by Marty Erickson
- Savings Account Revenues $8,531.33
- Checking $323.36
- 12 Month Certificate $3,076.46
- Scholarship Account $3,092.28
- Net worth to date $14,960.42
Thought for the Day: Jane Madden read about kindness and all its possibilities.
Friendship: Jane Madden sent get well cards to Fran Person, Gerry Jarvis and Donna Quesnell. She also sent cards to the families of Jale’ Hansen, Jacqueline Duncan and Floyd Neubauer.
Health: Fran Person had the members fill out a questionnaire that was prepared by WSSRA’s Health Service Committee. The purpose of the survey is to develop a baseline of where members are with respect to a number of health issues and concerns. Information from the survey will be used to plan future committee activities with a focus on meeting the health-related concerns and challenges expressed by the membership.
Foundation money: Jeanie Anderson explained that during our January Board meeting, motions were made to give a $1000 each to Cascadia Tech Academy, Vancouver School District Foundation and Battleground School District Foundation.
February Program: Mina Milligan reminded the members that the February luncheon will feature Maria Heckinger, who will be talking about her book, Beyond the Third Door. She encouraged members to bring a friend. Jeanie Anderson reminded members to tell callers if they are bringing someone so they can be included in the lunch count.
Lunch was served
Committee to Elect: Loretta Babbitt is on the Committee to find new candidates for next year, and asked for help from the general membership. Jeanie Anderson said this committee needs to include the President, a board member and a general membership. Voting is in April, and installations of new officers in May.
Jeannie Anderson also informed us that Marci Maxwell will be bringing will bring Pam Francis, our current WSSRA President, to our March meeting.
Program: Korri Nelson, certified fitness coach, presented a program entitled Body, Brain, Balance and the Fitness Factor. What you can do to reduce your fall risk, move easier and feel better. She stated that her thoughts concerning fitness have changed as she grows older and better understands the process of aging. The following is information that she talked about:
- You can move fitness forward but don’t overdo it.
- Fear of falling usually causes a person to fall. That fear actually changes our way of walking.
- Posture is key to being able to safely perform balance exercises; hence, a great place to begin balance training is by analyzing your posture.
- If you need a walking aid, use it.
- Keep chin parallel to the floor. Hit ground with heel first then roll to toe.
- Strength improves posture, bone density, connective tissue and cognitive function by 13%
- Think of core strength as a tree. The truck is steady and strong and controls the arms and legs.
- The idea behind balance training is that we are teaching the body to react to changes in its position.
- Get Moving!!
Korri Nelson led us through some exercises and answered questions. She works at Prestige Senior Living Bridgewood, 11700 NE Angelo Drive, Vancouver WA 98684.360-254-4666, cell phone is 360-356-2203. She will be presenting a class Friday, January 24th from 4-5 on Ageless Grace which is a cutting-edge brain fitness program based on neuroplasticity that activates all 5 functions of the brain – analytical, strategic, kinesthetic learning, memory/recall, creativity and imagination – and simultaneously addresses all 21 physical skills needed for lifelong optimal function. The program consists of 21 simple exercise Tools designed for all ages and abilities. These exercises, based on everyday movements that are natural and organic, focus on the healthy longevity of the body and mind. The 21 Tools are simple to do at home. The movements are designed to be performed seated in a chair, yet they can be done on a bed, standing near or behind a chair, down on the floor, or standing. Almost anyone can do them, regardless of most physical conditions.
January Birthdays: Jane Madden handed out presents and led Happy Birthday to those born in January.
Door prizes: Loretta Babbitt drew numbers for door prizes. There were four winners.
Retirement: Jeanie Anderson and Dr. Burke will meet with school employees on February 12th. Then they will join with the Retirement Committee at Elmer’s Restaurant at 9:30 AM.
Dates to Remember:
- January 27 Coordinating Council
- February 2 Groundhog’s Day
- February 12 Retirement Seminar Elmer’s Restaurant 9:30 AM
- February 14 Valentine’s Day
- February 17 President’s Day
- February 20 SWWSRA Board meeting Cameo Café 8:30 AM
- February 27 Luncheon at Cascadia Tech Academy Wear red, white and blue
Adjourned at 1:35 PM.
Mina Milligan, SWWSRA Secretary
Thought you would enjoy the following article about Irma Slocum
Irma Slocum is a Vancouver treasure. At 99, she’s seen the landscape around her evolve from rolling farmland to suburban housing and strip malls. She’s watched her five children and dozens of grand and great-grandchildren play and grow on her Felida farmstead. She’s been a quiet model for women’s empowerment. And she’s done it all with a thread of music weaving everything and everyone she loves together.
Irma and Hazel Hershey got married in a double wedding in 1941. Photo courtesy: Irma Slocum
Born Irma Hershey in 1921 in Parker, South Dakota, she and her family eventually moved to Mitchell (yes, home of the famous Corn Palace) and it was there that she met her future husband, Bill Slocum. Irma was playing piano in the music practice room at the high school when he knocked on the door. She knew who he was because they had history class together, but they’d never spoken. She wasn’t allowed to have boys in the room with her, so she didn’t let him in, but they talked for a bit at the door before he handed her a poem and skedaddled.
The farm boy and girl began a sweet courtship and eventually got married in 1941 in a double wedding with Irma’s sister Hazel and husband Loren Wheeldon. Irma was in college at Dakota Wesleyan at the time and planned the whole wedding because her sister was teaching in Bismarck, North Dakota. They thought the idea of a double wedding sounded fun, so they went for it.
Soon after, Irma and Bill’s lives were changed by World War II. In 1943, Bill joined the Army and Irma wasn’t one to be left behind. She said, “After Bill went off to war I joined the Women’s Army Corps because I felt so bad that all the young men had to go, so if there was anything I could do to help shorten the war, I would do it.” After completing basic training in Iowa and administration school in Texas, Irma was sent to Fort Dix in New Jersey. She stayed there for two years, hopping from job to job before landing as a typing teacher for returning veterans. While Irma held down the fort stateside, Bill served as a corporal in the South Pacific before he was injured. He was awarded a Purple Heart before eventually heading home to her.
Irma and Bill were both talented musicians, so their next step after the army was a natural one. Irma said, “We decided to go to Juilliard after the war because I’d heard it was such a great school for music. I never dreamed I’d get to go, but then the G.I. Bill came along and we were both accepted.” Irma studied piano while Bill studied vocal performance and their first child, son David, was born in 1947 while they were living in New York.
After leaving Juilliard in 1948, Irma and Bill briefly moved to Portland to stay with Bill’s oldest brother Art and his family. They settled in Vancouver when Bill was hired on as the Choir Director at St. Paul Lutheran Church. The couple’s daughter Julie was born in 1949 while they were living in town, with siblings John, Becky, and Beth following once they established roots on a beautiful piece of land on Salmon Creek, which they called Bonny Slope Farm.
Initially, Irma wasn’t too sure about Vancouver’s mellow vibe. She said, “We were used to a wide variety of activities while living in New York. Soon after moving to town, we held a concert and the audience was overcome with joy. This was the start of our musical journey in Vancouver. Bill organized and led several musical groups starting with a small group of madrigal singers. Then he formed a group called the Choraleers in 1953, which practiced at the old Clark College campus. Eventually, it evolved into a larger choir called the Brahms Singers in 1963.”
Bill served as the Brahms Singers Director until his retirement in 1985 and from there, the choir grew and evolved, eventually becoming the Vancouver USA Singers in 1993. While all this was going on, Bill also performed as a tenor in operas and solo performances, was featured as the “Wand’ring Minstrel” on KPOJ Radio in the 1950s, was a private voice coach and taught music throughout Vancouver and Portland before retiring in 1975.
Lest you think it was all about Bill, Irma had a hand in things every step of the way. She shared, “I was involved in each of these musical endeavors and I also taught piano lessons for many years. I helped start a piano club that is still going today. I eventually taught music and kindergarten in the Evergreen School District.” She toured with the Brahms Singers throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe until finally retiring in 2008 at age 87. She remains one of their biggest fans and has been known to write thoughtful notes to the singers after performances.
Irma’s community involvement hasn’t been limited to music. She and Bill joined the First Congregational United Church when they moved to Vancouver, which she says “was a compromise between Bill’s Lutheran upbringing and [her] Methodist roots.” She quickly became an important part of the church community, and up until recently, could be found sitting on a special stool in the entry, greeting everyone as they entered services each Sunday. In May of 2016, the church suffered serious damage due to arson, and Irma has been active in supporting fundraising efforts to rebuild.
Irma sums up life in Clark County best, saying, “Vancouver was a wonderful place to raise our five kids. We loved it. It has changed so much over the years. It has gone from a small quiet little town to a sprawling city with all kinds of activities. It’s been a good place to call home for the past 72 years.”
If you’re lucky enough to know Irma Slocum (or be her granddaughter, in my case), you might just catch a snippet of her playing the piano in her living room, with a view of her little farmstead and Mount Saint Helens beyond.