PULSE December2020.Pub
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THE PULSE Volume XXXXI, Issue 4 Your Partner in Pension Protection President Linda Carbajal 608 Portsmouth St. Bakersfield, CA, 93311 (661) 665-0371 Treasurer Denice Mettle 2608 5th St. Bakersfield, CA, 93304 (661-323-0210 Editor Marsha Parr 10205 Alyssum Ct., Bakersfield, CA, 93311 (661) 663-9306 Volunteers Laticia Ibarra 5616 Silver Crossing St. Bakersf., CA, 93313 (661) 412-7019 Membership Helen Collins 4005 Adidas Ave. Bakersfield, CA, 93313 (661) 303-3044 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Well, here we are, in the last month of the year, DECEMBER, 2020. I can’t say that it’s been a great year (who am I kidding)! It’s been a terribly challenging year! This Covid Pandemic has turned life into a real tizzy, and not for just us, but for the whole world! We’ve all made lifestyle adjustments that have greatly impacted us on how we live our lives day to day. I’m not really complaining, I mean, after all, I have been relatively healthy, I haven’t fallen this year. In 2019, I fell twice. The first time it was a full body slam onto tile floor and the second time, I broke my shoulder. My allergies haven’t bothered me as badly as in previ- ous years and I’ve been able to avoid Covid-19, although immediate and extended family members have not. Without a doubt, I am grateful for my good health. Although I know sev- eral people who have had the virus, I am thankful that I haven’t lost anyone to it. Let us con- tinue to be safe and healthy. I hope all of you had a peaceful, stress-free Thanksgiving. My grandson brought me an overflowing plate of traditional Thanksgiving food. I tried to be “good” and split the one meal into a decent three meals. Our traditional tamale-making event may have to be modified as well. My three sis- ters, brother and I always get together on Christmas Eve for a tamale-making marathon day. My mother always made tamales on Christmas Eve and we’ve managed to maintain the tradi- tion. I’m not too sure about this year, however. We’ll have to wait and see. Our Division will have a ZOOM Board meeting on December 8, 2020, at 1:30 p.m. Since we haven’t been able to meet face-to-face, a ZOOM meeting is a great way to stay con- nected. The agenda will include the possibility of donating to a couple of local organizations. I want to wish you HAPPY HOLIDAYS! I hope to see you in 2021 when, with vac- cinations, we will be able to meet again! MERRY CHRISTMAS HAPPY HANUKKUH HAPPY KWANZA CalSTRS website: https://calrta.org New Div. 8 website: [email protected] ‘TIS THE SEASON TO BE SCAMMED HOW TO INCREASE MEMBERSHIP —Pam Baugher, Legislative Liaison IN CalRTA Please stay aware that many “opportunities” 1.TALK TO FRIENDS ABOUT CalRTA. that are too good to be true, probably are. If you get a 2. DISCUSS WHY MEMBERSHIP IS call about financial deals, DON’T give them credit IMPORTANT TO US AND TO THEM. cards numbers, personal information, anything that can 3. TREAT THEM TO A LUNCHEON. be used to steal your identification. 4. GIVE THEM THE PULSE. SHOW THEM If you get a threatening phone call, e.g., your THE MEMBERSHIP FORM. electricity will be turned off in 30 minutes due to lack 5. EXPLAIN THE DANGERS WE ARE ALL of payment, hang up and call your power company and FACING REGARDING OUR PENSIONS. inform them. (Note: My personal favorite was that my REMIND THEM THAT CalRTA IS THE ONLY Social Security number is being misused and I’m going ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS PRESERVE to arrested. I said that was okay. I could use the rest! OUR PENSIONS. They hung up.) ***************************************** Be SAFE! Don’t be fooled. You’ve worked IMPORTANT DATES IN too hard for your money to lose it. DECEMBER MEDICARE DEADLINE FAST APPROACHING December 1 Giving Tuesday The period to make changes to your Medicare December 5 International Volunteer Day plan is ending soon. This is an annual option. You December 7 Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day don’t have to do anything if you’re happy with what December 10 Hanukah begins you currently have. If you’re considering changing, the December 15 Bill of Rights Day deadline is Monday, December 7, 2020. There are December 18 Hanukah ends many commercials about different plans. If one looks December 21 Winter Solstice interesting, check it out before making a change. December 24 Christmas Eve December 25 Christmas IT’S FLU SHOT TIME December 26 Kwanzaa begins If you haven’t had your flu shot yet, you might December 31 New Years Eve want to consider getting it now. No, it won’t help pre- vent Covid-19. It normally helps mitigate the flu if you get it. Since many symptoms of Covid and flu are sim- ilar, having had the flu shot may help with diagnosis. If you do develop symptoms, call your doctor. Stay healthy! 2021 is coming! TREASURER’S REPORT —Denice Mettle/Julie Bedford Beginning Balance $ 17, 915.38 11/1/2020) Receipts $ 1, 369.97 Disbursements. $ 840.72 Ending Balance 8/24/2020 (11/30/2020) $ 18, 712. 63 2 VOLUNTEER HOURS DIRECTORY CHANGES —Judith O’Brien, Directory Chair —Laticia Ibarra, Volunteer Chair BUCKLEN JO LYNN Please send me your volunteer hours from 1423 THUNDERBIRD ST March to the present. All you have to do is separate BAKERSFIELD CA 93309-3520 them by month and list and total the number of 661-588-5767 hours. I do not have access to a computer, and phone messages are not always easy to decipher. CAMPBELL PHYLLIS F My address is: ZIP-93730-0662 5616 Silver Crossing St. Bakersf., CA, 93313 DON L MURFIN 8200 WESTWOLD DR APT 2 BAKERSFIELD CA 93311-3439 In Memoriam for December EDWARD D. OTTINGER 5423 RIPPLE COVE WAY —Judith O’Brien Chair BAKERSFIELD CA 93313-5381 Louise Bond YOUNG MONICA CONNOR Mayrene H. Edmiaston Phone-661-204-5386 Naomi R. Jensen Barbara Michael RESIGNED JOSEPH G. ROMLEY EMAIL MERGLER ROBERT [email protected] THOMPSON ALVIN [email protected] NEW MEMBER VALENTE ORNELAS 1854 SW TOPAZ LN GRANTS PASS OR 97526-5406 661-477-6135 3 CALIFORNIA RETIRED TEACHERS December, 2020 KERN DIVISION P.O. BOX 6275 Non-Profit Org. BAKERSFIELD, CA 93386-6275 Your partner in pension protection U.S. Postage PAID Kern County Permit No. 133 Division 8 Bakersfield, CA “My daughter at 14. Her Christmas dance, 1981” -Submitted by Gil Gia, Historian Panic in your face, you write questions to ask him. When he arrives, you are serene, your fear unbetrayed. How unlike me you are. After the dance I see your happiness; he holds your hand. Though you barely speak, your body pulses messages I can read all too well. He kisses you goodnight, his body moving toward yours, and yours responding. I am frightened, guard my tongue for fear my mother will pop out of my mouth. "He is not shy." You giggle, a little girl again, but you tell me he kissed you on the dance floor. "Once?" I ask. "No, a lot." We ride through rain-shining 1 A.M. streets. I bite back words which long to be said, knowing I must not shatter your moment, fragile as a spun-glass bird, you, the moment, poised on the edge of flight, and I, on the ground, afraid. NEXT MEETING As you know, there have not been any Division meetings in the last few months, due to the Covid 19 virus. We will let you know as soon as possible when these meetings can resume. Your executive Board has had Zoom meetings, and are in touch with each other and the State organization, and are still working on your behalf. We hope to see you in January! Merry Christmas, and a healthy, happy New Year! 4 .