What You Missed on March 18, 2015

The meeting of RFArea REA in March was both business and pleasure.

• Changes to the organization's bylaws were approved, though we agreed to omit the proposed $25 memorial contributions to scholarship fund in the name of deceased members since we really don't have a separate scholarship account.  Instead, the Board has been instructed to discuss more lasting ways these people can be remembered (books donated to their town's local library in their name?  Suggestions will be welcomed.).
• Jane Harred reported on the upcoming election on April 7th.  See her earlier blog post on this matter:  http://riverfallsareawrea.blogspot.com/2015/03/state-supreme-court-matters-to-appear.html.
• Evelyn Klein reported on the proposed budget cuts to the University of Wisconsin System.
• Our two last meetings of the year were highlighted:

May 18th at 11:00 (West Wind) will focus on the ways technology affects our lives--from social networking, blogs, and email to online threats to new devices changing our day-to-day living.

June 17th at 5:00 will mark our year-end potluck to be held at the Hoffman Park shelter.  Bring a dish to pass, and then we'll all head over the baseball park to catch a Fighting Fish game.

We are changing the time in hopes that EVERYONE will be able to join us!  (Ruth Wood will be at a family reunion, and Marylin Plansky will be touring national parks by bus, so the rest of us need to come out and support RFArea REA and the Fish.  If you need a ride, please contact Bernie Brohaugh.  We will get you here!  We miss seeing all of our members.

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Following lunch, our conversation focused on how our members spend their time since they have retired, though "retired" doesn't seem quite seem the appropriate word, given how busy RFArea REA people seem to be.

Gorden Hedahl reports that he has strengthened his love for theater since retiring from UW-River Falls as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Professor of Theater Arts, stating that he goes to the theater wherever he is--whether it is in London while visiting family or Beloit to see former students' productions or various venues in the Twin Cities.  Being part of one of the best theatrical and performing arts centers in the country, Gorden and his wife Jean Loudon have no desire to leave this area.  He attends performances at the Guthrie Theater, Penumbra, the Jungle Theater, Chanhassen Dinner Theater, Mu Performing Arts, and the only history theater in the country at the Minnesota Historical Society.  Gorden is also directing three plays this year, including one at White Bear Lake's Lake Players Theater.

Evie Johnson must be the busiest volunteer in Maiden Rock, Wisconsin.  Her first love is her hometown's 4-H Club, which meets weekly at her house.  The young people in her group perform plays, direct the local Easter egg hunt, participate in the Pierce County Fair, and are involved in other community activities.  Evie sews and crochets.  She made 80 felt stockings that were distributed to area children at Christmas time.  She also creates knit caps for her church's missionary work.  And if all of that is not enough, she works with the Maiden Rock senior center as well as contributes to community beautification, helping with the town's flower baskets and gardens.

Not only is Evelyn Klein a prolific published author, but she remains connected to her German heritage.  Evelyn has three published books--Seasons of Desire, Once Upon a Neighborhood, and From Here Across the Bridge.  She is currently working on her fourth book of stories and illustrations as well as continuing to search for a publisher for her linguistics text that grew out of her years of teaching secondary German and English.  She has given readings at The Loft, Sub-Text, Pretty Good Books, and various public libraries around the Twin Cities and Wisconsin.

She has also published in a variety of magazines and journals.  She is on the editorial board of the Minnesota Independent Scholars as well.

Evelyn is a member of and contributes to the Germanic-American Institute in St. Paul, an organization that works to foster and create appreciation of German language and culture.  She recently participated in a bilingual program sponsored by the GAI.

Liz and Gene Kreibich spend a good deal of their time working with the River Falls Senior Center and serving on its board.    Both are also active members of Royal Neighbors of America (which has matched our scholarship fund for the past five years).

When they are not involved in community activities, Gene and Liz are traveling to Branson or Palm Springs or spending time with their grandchildren.

Cheryl Maplethorpe sees her retirement mission as serving as the nexus of various community organizations so that they can complement each other to create a better arts and civic culture in River Falls.  To that end, in addition to RFArea REA, Cheryl belongs to the Rotary, DAR, and AAUW. She is vice-president of the board of directors for River Falls' Community Arts Base and volunteers at the public access television station here in town, filming events of public and cultural interest (including one of our own book discussions).

Cheryl is also an artist.  Her paintings have been shown at various locations in the area.  She has also worked with area businesses to display the work of local artists around town.  She is one busy person

Marylin Plansky, currently RFArea REA's vice president and former president and treasurer, enjoys travel and volunteering.  She spent February in San Simons Island, Georgia, the site of Fort Frederica, an 18th century British stronghold against the Spanish, and beautiful beaches.  She and her longtime friend (another former teacher from Marshfield) also visited Savannah and the surrounding area.  December found her tripping down Broadway on a whirlwind tour of New York.  In June, Marylin sets off from a two-week bus tour of western national parks.  And then later in the year, she will accompany her English friend for a French river tour.  She also takes many shorter bus tours--fall leaf trips, mystery trips, and others.

Marylin also serves on the board of directors for Jumpstart to Literacy, founded by member Tony Pedriana, and volunteers at the local public library in its gallery.  She is an avid reader and a regular participant of all of our book discussions.