Message from your President

Dear Members,

“If it ain’t broke…”
You know the rest.

Carbon County PASR is anything but broke. In fact, after the scrutiny of chapter reports delivered by President Marjorie Balliet, the officials at the 50th PASR Convention in Erie pronounced our group as tied for FIRST place in the state!

Now that we are assured that what we’ve been doing is the right thing, we need to continue that quality of endeavor. In order to maintain our position, we ALL need to perform with the same excellence as in the past. Our strength derives from the efforts of everyone in our chapter.

We are beginning a new year, with new “Goals and Activities”. Let’s all decide to do our best to work as a team, and once again earn that recognition.

As your president, I have some awesome footsteps to follow. Please be patient as I struggle with juggling many schedules, while simultaneously learning computer skills to communicate and facilitate most of it.

Together we can.

Janet O. Hall

President
Carbon County PASR

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Carbon PASR Spring Meeting

The Carbon Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees (PASR) met this week for its spring meeting and luncheon in the Harvest Cafe at the Carbon Career and Technical Institute in Jim Thorpe.

PASR member Dan Kunkle served as speaker for the event. Kunkle is the executive director and founder of the Lehigh Gap Nature Center and shared information about the center with members attending the meeting.

He noted that in its 10 years, the center has gained local and national recognition for its re-vegetation efforts in the Lehigh Gap between Palmerton and Slatington.

The Lehigh Gap Nature Center also focuses on conservation and environmental education and research. More than 4,000 students attended educational programs at the center in 2012.

Chapter President Janet Hall also presented a Special Commendation to member James Wentz, who has been recognized in the past as a volunteer of the year, and continues to volunteer throughout the community, primarily at the Lehighton campus of the Blue Mountain Health System.

"Jim is a role model for seniors many years younger than he," said Hall. "All he does, he does with a smile."

During the meeting, Hall also recognized PASR members who have been retired for 20 years or more. Each member received a certificate and gift.

Members reaching or exceeding this milestone included Frank Andreas, Marjorie Balliet, Elizabeth Bray, Richard McIntyre, Ann McNamara, Mary Ellen Poe, Marian Reinbold, Saranne Richards, Dervin Sharbaugh, Perma Snyder, Lynn Solt, Josephine Strausser, James Wentz and Joan Ulshafer.

Hall also welcomed several new members to the Carbon chapter of PASR, including Robert Andrews, Mary Arieta, Dennis Cunfer, Charles DePuy, Mary Ellen Kmetz, Connie Mihalko, Deb Myers, Jill Perry, Debra Rodgers and Leona Sivak.

PASR is a statewide organization dedicated to meeting the needs of retired school employees and organizing service projects that benefit schools and the community. Chapters also award annual scholarships for local students.

The Carbon chapter includes approximately 250 members comprised of former teachers and staff from the Jim Thorpe, Lehighton, Palmerton, Panther Valley, and Weatherly school districts and CCTI.

Featured members during the spring Carbon Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees (PASR) included James Wentz, left, who received a special PASR Board of Directors commendation for his volunteer work; and Dan Kunkle, right, executive director and founder of the Lehigh Gap Nature Center, a PASR member and the meeting's speaker. Center is chapter President Janet Hall.

Members of the Carbon Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees (PASR) who have reached 20 or more years of retirement from public education were recognized during the spring Carbon PASR meeting. They are, front from left: Marian Reinbold, Janet Hall (chapter president), James Wentz, Marjorie Balliet, Josephine Strausser and Joan Ulshafer.
Honorees not pictured are Elizabeth Bray, Franklin Andreas, Richard McIntyre, Ann McNamara, Mary Ellen Poe, Saranne Richards, Dervin Sharbaugh, Perma Snyder and Lynn Solt.

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Where do they stand?

Legislative candidates respond to PASR L/PEC survey.

The L/PEC survey is rather simple. It asks the candidates to state whether they are either willing or unwilling to support each of the issues listed on PASR’s legislative agenda. It asks the candidates to identify the three issues they would be most inclined to sponsor if elected, and it asks the candidates to identify which issue they consider most important and why.

In addition to the survey form and instructions, each candidate was given an information packet, titled About PASR, to explain the association and how it operates, and provide background information on the various issues listed on the survey. An L/PEC volunteer in each of our regions followed up with the candidates in their areas to make sure they received the materials, answer any questions, and remind the candidates of the deadline for returning the survey.

To find out how Carbon County candidates for PA Representative responded to PASR L/PEC survey The candidates' survey responses (found in the Member's Only section of www.pasr.org website, red box on the left side of these page, please log-in and then click on Overview) are presented exactly as submitted to us by the candidates in PDF format with no edits or comment from PASR.

Please join us in thanking the candidates who elected to return the surveys and the PASR L/PEC volunteers who worked so hard to get as much information as they could from the candidates to help each of us make informed decisions at the polls on November 6.

All of us, unfortunately, will not have the opportunity to choose who will represent us in the General Assembly when we go to the polls on November 6. There are 228 seats in the Pennsylvania Senate and House of Representatives up for grabs in this year’s election but in only 113 legislative districts will voters have the opportunity to choose between a Democrat and a Republican candidate. In the remaining 115 districts, there will be only one candidate listed on the ballot. PASR does not endorse or financially support any candidates for public office and, instead, encourages its members to carefully consider and select the candidates they think would best serve and represent their interests in Harrisburg. We believe that it is our responsibility as leaders to try and give our members as much information as possible about the candidates’ positions on issues of concern to our association and all retired public school employees. We trust our members’ ability to make the right decisions and will work with whoever is elected to serve in the legislature, irrespective of political party. We understand that bipartisan support in Harrisburg is needed to address our concerns.

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