Yes, after being your chair last year as a still working music educator, I have joined your ranks as a retired KMEA member. While I do not miss the pressures of having marching band (and other) performances ready and being in attendance at a myriad of events, I do miss the interaction with the students and my colleagues. I have become somewhat more proficient in the kitchen and house maintenance (housework) venues, and I have started to whittle down the honey-do list. The district has recruited me to use my voice at some events, so I am not totally removed from everything, but to this point I have appreciated having my time to be my time.
The ISW is just around the corner and I hope you are planning to attend at least part if not all of it. President Manteuffel and the board and staff have been working hard to make sure we have another outstanding event. One of the sessions I hope you attend is on Saturday. It will be at 8:00 AM in Room 208. It will be presented, at least partly, by our friend Gayle McMillen, and it will inform those in attendance about the KMEA Fund. This fund is one way to help KMEA have a legacy that will support our organization and assist those whose dream it is to travel down that path we all once did to become music educators. This is definitely a way we can be involved in the successful continuation of our profession. I even have another thought about how we as a group might do that, and I will present that to you at the luncheon/meeting.
With a year under my belt I am trying to forge ahead with plans for February. No one has offered any ideas for entertainment so you may just have to enjoy whatever I come up with on my own. Suggestions from the membership would be greatly appreciated. We will have guests to bring you greetings, including Michael Butera, executive director of NAfME, and our own president, Craig Manteuffel. Below is the registration form for the luncheon. Please note the registration deadline of February 9, and make checks payable to KMEA. We will have guests to bring you greetings, including Michael Butera, executive director of NAfME, and our own president, Craig Manteuffel. The luncheon will be on Saturday, February 23, 2013, from 11:30 AM until 1:00 PM in the Hyatt Hotel Ballrooms A-C. Please complete and return the Retired Luncheon Registration Form by the due date: February 9, 2013, and make checks payable to KMEA. This luncheon/meeting is one time you can truly hope to renew and refresh friendships, relive memories, and get up to date on friends and families.
Deadline to register is February 9, 2013
Once again, I am asking you to inform me if you know of recent retirees. Also bring to my attention those who have passed from our ranks to one of the great musical organizations I am hoping are in the hereafter. Since the KMR has gone to this new way of communicating with the membership, I am really interested to know how many of you are actually "receiving it." Please E-mail me at address shown at the top of this page to let me know you are really reading it. Thanks, and I hope to see you in Wichita at the meeting.