 School
districts and finances were the main area of concern
that brought Steve Lund and Steve Razidlo to the
meeting. Reed Campbell had the job of introducing
the guests in his role as School Board Member. The
Federal Stimulus dollars, the state finance issues,
and the post employment benefits were the three main
focuses of their presentation.
Federal Stimulus Money is coming through backfilling
state funding dollars that were cut. Title one aide
will provide an additional $600,000. Special
Education funding will also be supplemented. The
money will arrive in 2010 but has to be used over
two years and will not be repeated. These funds are
tied to these programs because the money is intended
to stimulate the economy by saving and creating
jobs. The Brainerd School District is holding
position and hiring back additional teachers to
provide help to the over crowded classrooms.
Eighty-five teachers were eliminated after the major
cuts. The school district is concentrating on the
younger students where the help is needed the most.
The Minnesota State K-12 Education Bill will include
a $350,000 shortfall for the Brainerd District.
Ninety percent of funding is received in a year when
100% of expenses have to be paid. The shifts to
balance the budget will force the school district to
borrow money to wait for the shifted money. The
scariest part is what is the state going to do two
years from now to pay this back.
June 30th is the end of the fiscal year. The audit
is usually finished by fall. The district's fund
balance will be positive but only will provide an 8%
fall back margin. The budget is projected with the
stimulus dollars. The budget has to be projected two
years because of these shortfalls on the state level
and federal stimulus money. Without the federal
funding in two years, there will be a major problem.
One of the district's goals is to hang on to their
good teachers if possible.
Enrollment projections included factoring in open
enrollment, birth rates, and the current lists into
the final mix. Mr. Lund predicts a rise in
enrollment but not in the next year. Staffing
changes were also discussed. Before the stimulus the
number was down to 401 from almost 500.
Post Employment Benefits is made up of two
components. The state requires that retirees have
access to the health insurance. The other factor is
the district costs negotiated through contracts with
the unions. This number now has to be included on
the financial statement. School districts now have
bonding authority to pay for these benefits since
2008. This was going to be revoked. The School
District acted with authority to sell the bonds to
be placed in a trust account to pay the 1.5 million
dollar per year cost. The school district's reform
to work collectively with employee groups to modify
the benefits structure to help reduce the future
growth of liability. Bonds are sold, the money is
not levied on the tax base. Levies are annual. OPEB
bonds are more spread out and affect taxpayers less.
It is the most equitable taxation plan. The school
district's excellent credit rating helped save money
with this bonding process. The Board is meeting to
decide how to invest the trust fund money from this
bonding. |
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Thanks Pam Sachs for taking notes. |
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| Announcements |
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Charlie Bartels got up and thanked everyone
for their help with the Fiesta. He
especially acknowledged the Cub Foods folk
for their contribution. He thanked Pam for
her onion ring extravaganza, Bill Goers for
organizing the volunteers, and Karen
Munsterteiger who has agreed to take over
organizing the Fiesta next year with Greg
Straka as assistant. Kudos to all who
participated. Cathe added that she felt that
this was one of the best Fiestas ever. She
expressed the gratitude of everyone at Camp
especially the campers! |
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Brat Sale Sign UP is now going
on--please contact George Moore for more
info. |
 Grant
application for Winter Wonderland
Sponsorship are available online at the
Sertoma site. They are also linked to the
Winter Wonderland Site. Encourage applicants
to go and get a copy to fill out. These will
be officially completed by late April or
early May. |
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Brainerd Area
Sertoma Club Calendar
Got a big event coming up—want to let everyone know?
Please send to Pam Sachs and it will be posted.
eglponys@brainerd.net |
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| Pipe and
Drape Schedule |
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| Ceiling Dates |
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Blue
Ticket Winner |
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Kathy Williams |
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| Pot-O-Gold
Winner |
| Amie Anderson |
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| Attendance |
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Guests: Superintendent Steve Razidlo, Steve Lund,Director of
Business Services for ISD181, Elisa Rogers from BLADC, Matt and
James Crisis Line guests, Lori Rubin's son Austin, Nick
Newman-Jerry Newman from Ridgeline Mfg. |
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| *Everyone is encouraged to bring potential
members to a Sertoma meeting with the Club picking up the cost.
However, you will be billed $9.50 for any other guests. |
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| Greeter
Schedule |
| Remember:
As greeter you have several duties. You need to arrive about 10
minutes early. It is your job to greet people, help them find
their badges and sell them a ticket if they wish to participate.
The money collected must be divided by the Greeters equally--half
goes to the Current Club Treasurer for the social committee and
half goes to the Club President along with the bucket of tickets.
Be there by 11:45 and call somebody to substitute for you if you
can't be there. |
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| July 1 |
Carole Paulson Gerry Peterson, George Moore |
| July 8 |
Karla Nelson, Gary Phillips, Randy Phillips |
| July 15 |
Cathe Picek, Mark Puschinsky, Carolyn Bare |
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| Sertoman of the Day |
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Of
Note |
Camp Confidence received a check for $4,000 at the Fiesta. We will
also be presenting a $2000 check for Camp Sertoma. All those
volunteer hours allow us to be generous to organizations
deserving of our support.
Congratulations to Karen Owen who was presented with her second
chance GEM Award. She was thrilled.
Dear Sertomans: Thank you very much for your gift of a
scholarship. You generosity is greatly appreciated and will help
me very much at the University of Minnesota this next year. I am
excited for the opportunity. Aidan
Mark Korte talked about his year as President. Mark's humor and
good nature allowed him to poke fun at himself with things like
merging the club with International. He even tried to take the
weight of the world on his shoulders. He did thank everyone who
helped him and the club gave him a standing ovation for his
efforts. We also said farewell to our two sergeants who have
added to the fun of our meetings. Thanks Brian Kirkpatrick and
Mike Boen for a job well done. |
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Business Notes |
 Helpful
news from Traveler's Fare--your one stop shopping place
for information and bookings for your next vacation or
business trip.
How to Get Through the Security Line Faster:
- Pack an organized carry-on bag using layers - a
layer of clothes, then electronic, more clothes, and
then any heavier items. This will help
transportation security officers see what's in your
bag. Innocent items can actually appear to be
potential threats in an X-ray image, simply by the
way they're packed.
- Do not pack oversized electronics (laptops,
full-size video game consoles, DVD players and video
cameras that use cassettes) in your checked baggage
when possible.-However, please be advised that you
will be required to remove these items from your
carry-on bag and submit them separately for x-ray
screening. Small electronics, such as iPods, can
remain in your carry-on.
- Prepare your 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic,
zip-top bag of liquids before arriving at the
airport.
- Pack all your coats and jackets in your checked
baggage when possible. All coats and jackets must go
through the X-ray machine for inspection.
- Do not wrap gifts. If a security officer needs
to inspect a package, they may have to unwrap your
gift. Please wait until you've reached your final
destination to wrap gifts.
- Film. Undeveloped film should go in your
carry-on bag. You will able to declare film that is
faster than 800-speed to a transportation security
officer for physical inspection to avoid being
X-rayed.
- When in doubt, leave it out. If you're not sure
about whether you can bring an item through the
checkpoint, put it in your checked bag or leave it
at home.
BRAINERD GENERAL RENTAL SELECTED AS TEREX COMPACT
EQUIPMENT DEALERBrainerd General Rental is pleased
to announce that they have been approved as a Terex CE
(Compact Equipment) Dealer. Brainerd General Rental has
been an ASV dealer (based in Grand Rapids, Minnesota)
for the past seven years. Terex acquired ASV in March of
2008. As a Terex CE dealer, Brainerd General Rental is
authorized to sell, rent and service the full Terex CE
line. The compact equipment line includes both the
Terex-branded compact track loaders, featuring the ASV
patented Posi-Track undercarriage technology, and a
broad portfolio of offerings from Terex, including
compact excavators, compact wheel loaders, site dumpers,
tractor loader backhoes, light towers, telehandlers,
power buggies, and tandem asphalt rollers.
“The approval as a Terex CE dealer allows our customers
the selection, service and quality that they have come
to expect from Brainerd General Rental. This agreement
allows us to build on the successful relationship we
have had with ASV for the past seven years,” said Steve
Mau, Owner / President of Brainerd General Rental (WWW.brainerdrental.Com).
A diversified global manufacturer based in Connecticut,
Terex Corporation (WWW.terexce.Com) is the third largest
equipment manufacturer in the world with 2007 net sales
of more than $9.1 billion. The compact track loaders
will continue to be manufactured in Grand Rapids,
Minnesota
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Rumor Corner
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After a very successful Mariucci Fiesta, Cathe Picek became the
shirt lady. Not only did she have to hand out the unclaimed
Sertoma shirts, she had to give everyone who worked a Confidence
Learning Center volunteer shirt. She only had one committee list
and will be doing a repeat performance to get the auction and
bar crowd.
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We all had to speak slowly--Steve Lund from the school district
was our speaker--our Prez insisted.
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Art knows how to pick his guests--trailer building for Winter
Wonderland.
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Mary brought two nice fellows whose moms work at CTC, they are
volunteering at the Crisis Center.
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Paul Gropper is on vacation, wearing a handsome Dad shirt and a
proud poppa.
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Our future prez had to admit at intros she was "late".
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Brenda Kelley did a good job of introducing herself even though
she has been up since one a.m. working on the pig roast for the
Arb picnic.
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Mark was just talking about late folk and in walks the tooth
fairy.
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Wow the bar tips added up to $2,000 at the Fiesta this year.
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Happy forty-three years married to Art, Happy 33rd Anniversary
to LoAnn.
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Karen Owen and Jeff Olson flunked greeting--according to the
Ayatollah Kirkpatrick.
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 Hot
Mama fines to the girls at the lawyer table.
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Aaron Meister is the loosest banker in town.
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Did you know Karen M and Greg S are married?
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The pledge and the prayer are not photo shoots--poor Brian
Lehman had to pay.
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Dick Stoltman married off his daughter, went on a fishing trip
and still had to provide a stimulus package of $2 for Bruce
Heilman.
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Charlie Bartels made the German and the Norwegian cook the
fettuchini
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We no longer have vampires or mosquitoes at the Fiesta because
of Greg Garlic Straka.
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Mike Boen collected a dollar from all the radio voices in the
audience.
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Big round of applause and big thank you's to Brian Kirkpatrick
and Mike Boen for their excellent work as sergeants. Their
wonderful sense of humor has been much appreciated.
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Kathy Williams and Kari Satre will have to take a make up test
on school funding. They were collecting all the unused buttons
for pot O gold into a bag to make drawing easier.
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Pam Sachs got fined for using WD Forty on her sore knee!!
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Photo's |
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Photos
Photos Everywhere New photos go up almost every week on our new
Sertoma Photo Gallery.
http://sertomaphotos.brainerd.com |
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Notes from your President |
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Westgate Mall Community Service/non-profit days are being held
April 25th, June 20th and November 7th. This is a perfect time
for community non profits to get their message out to the
community. Booths are free. I am looking for someone who would
be in charge of this project and see that we had a suitable
booth and people to staff it. If interested, please contact Mark
immediately. We are already a bit late in reserving a booth for
the first event. |
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If you are not receiving the newsletter notification or the
emails announcing special events, please contact Pam Sachs
either at 218-821-1130 or
eglponys@brainerd.net. |
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Andi Holmes
(jholmes@brainerd.net) is in charge of the Sertoman of the Day schedule. Contact her to take advantage of
this great opportunity to share your story and get some free
advertising (and no fines for the day). The form is also
available here on our website.
Kari Barnes is the go-to person
for Pipe and Drape information.
Need awards? Did you lose your pin? Bonnie Cumberland
(bcumberland@mailstation.com) is the person
in charge of awards and meeting paraphernalia. |
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