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     March 17, 2011:

Betty Bozick relating her experience teaching on an Apache Reservation

      The Darke County Retired Teachers Association held their March luncheon meeting at the Brick Room at the Brethren Home Thursday March 17^th, 2011. Our featured speakers was Mrs. Betty . Bozick. Mrs. Bozick shared her experiences teaching at an Apache Reservation for 6 years between 1975 and 1981, where she was employed as a Title 1 teacher. She taught a variety of ages from elementary school to GED classes for the adults.  Her emphasis was giving her students the tools they needed to succeed.  She reported that her initial teaching was made more difficult by lots of stealing, no eye contact, students who sat on the floor or on the desks, and lots of bullies. She also found the Apache language difficult to learn.  She reported that they frequently used facial features to indicate directions which made students difficult to understand unless she was watching their faces. She had to develop effective teaching techniques for this community through experience.  For example, a classroom assignment that involved competition fell flat because the Apaches are expected to be humble and not compete with friends and relatives.  Mrs. Bozick reported that she learned a lot from her students. 

May 10, 2011:

Larry Lokai

the "Buckeyeman"

   The Darke County Retired Teachers Association held their annual awards banquet on May 10, 2011 Lutheran Church in Greenville. Larry Lokai better known as “Buckeyeman” was the featured speaker for the event. He graduated from The Ohio State University with a bachelor's degree in 1967 and a master's degree in 1973.  Mr. Lokai taught Agri-Business and Agri-Science for 30 years in Clark, Erie and retired in 1996 from Keystone Local Schools in Lorain County.   

      Since 1998 he has served as “SELF-PROCLAIMED” Buckeyeman and spent over 100 days a year doing some type of promotion work.  In his role of Buckeyeman, he applies scarlet and grey makeup completing his ensemble with a scarlet and grey wig.  The seven buckeye necklaces around his neck, representing seven national Ohio State championships, weigh 7 pounds.   (In his presentation he explained how he got the title of Buckeyeman.)

      In his presentation he talked about some of his activities. According to Mr. Lokai, he attends events such as country fairs, in his costume, wig and face paint, giving out buckeyes and buckeye necklaces. He stated that he gives away 3000 necklaces a year. Since 2002 he has given a buckeye to each new student at Ohio State’s freshmen orientation.  He also attends Ohio State games in costume; Buckeyeman has been at every game since the beginning of the 2002 season. He estimates he’s donated over 20,000 buckeyes to the Ohio State and other student organizations this season alone.

    Buckeyeman showed slides of some of the activities  in which  he's participated .  He also gave his audience at the award banquet buckeyes in the form of nuts, necklaces and trees.

     Mr. Lokai said “What I try to do is #1 instill pride and #2 make people aware there is more to Ohio State then football games”

September 15, 2011:

Kathy Val, Outreach Education Specialist,   & Kim Custenborder, the coordinator of Catholic Social Services

   The Darke County Retired Teacher’s Association met Thursday, September 15, 2011 at 11:30 at the Brick Room at the Brethren Homes.  A delicious luncheon served by Nancy Isch was followed by a brief business meeting, the introduction of new retired teachers and the Celebration of Birthdays (for members who have reached the age of 80).

   The featured speaker for the September luncheon was Kim Custenborder, the coordinator of Catholic Social Services, who informed the group about the services her agency provides.  This agency, located in Sidney, serves most of the Miami Valley counties. Among its services are adoption and pregnancy counseling, family counseling, a food pantry, a Family Care Center plus consultation services for Daycare programs, Pre-schools, Head start, licensed in-home childcare providers, and parents of children in one of the above programs.  (Kathy Val, who accompanied Kim, is in charge of the day care consultation services.) 

     Another service for the agency is PASSPORT, a home-care program funded by Medicaid that provides long-term care services to assist people over 60 in maintaining their independence. Individuals at risk of nursing home placement can often remain in their own homes with the supportive services of the PASSPORT program. Services include personal care assistance, homemaking, home-delivered meals, emergency response systems, adult day care, home medical equipment, minor home modification, medical transportation, chore services and social work counseling. An assessment at no cost can be completed for anyone interested in home care services regardless of program eligibility. 

   According to Kim, seniors who are on the waiting list for the PASSPORT Program are in need of volunteers for the Senior Visiting Program, a friendly service for seniors who are socially isolated and live alone or are homebound. Trained volunteers provide weekly visits about two hours, offering friendship and support, and at times provide help with small tasks such as watering plants, writing letters or organizing photo albums. Clients often enjoy activities such as reminiscing, watching a movie, listening to music, playing cards or a game with their volunteers. All volunteers are trained through CSS.   To learn more about being a Senior Outreach Volunteer, please contact Kathy Sell, Senior Service Manager, at 800-521-6419

November 17, 2011:

Garst Museum Docents Marilyn Robbins, Pat Lemmer, and Norma Schilling who presented the program “Museum in a Suitcase.”

     The Darke County Retired Teacher’s Association met November 17, 2011 at the Brick Room at the Brethren Home.  A delicious banquet meal served by Nancy Isch was followed by a Memorial Service for four Darke County Retired Teachers Association members who died this year.

      A business meeting was held. In addition, Darlene Ruzicka, District III ORTA Director and Bill Phillips, ORTA’s Vice President Western Area, gave brief talks.  

     The featured speakers for the luncheon were Marilyn Robbins, Pat Lemmer, and Norma Schilling who presented the program “Museum in a Suitcase.”  The trio reminisced about times gone by with a suitcase of artifacts from the Garst Museum.  They identified the objects (sometimes letting their audience name them) and then passed them around for their audience to examine.  They also presented information about the benefits of becoming members of the Garst Museum. All three of the presenters are docents at the Museum.