Alva Review-Courier -

Skeeter Bird, chief executive officer of the Northwestern Foundation and Alumni Association, presented the program at the Dec. 20 meeting of the Woods County Retired Educators Association (WCREA).

Bird handed out folders containing a 2018 annual report; the Imagine Northwestern Capital Campaign booklet; the latest issue of the Round-Up magazine and a brochure on the renewal of the University Mall.

He reported on the progress of the Capital Campaign developed with three core objectives in mind: student support, academic program and faculty support and campus infrastructure. An on-going project of the campaign is the restoration of the windows and bricks in the Fine Arts Building.

Bird also talked about the Endowed Chair Program, the Literacy Center and Early Childhood Education Classroom Lab, the Robotics Design and Build labs furnished with state-of-the-art equipment and the Doctor of Nursing Practice program, all of which were made possible through the support and commitment of generous donors who care about Northwestern and it students.

WCREA President Lenny Reed conducted the business meeting. Jerry Cox led in the Flag Salute and Arden Chaffee led the group in prayer. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved and a treasurer's report was given.

Cosette Wymer, Northwest District director for the Oklahoma Retired Educators Association (OREA), reported on the 2018 OREA Annual Meeting. She stated that 46 percent of Oklahoma's legislators are new this upcoming session. That is why it is so important to make connections with them and inform them on pressing issues facing retired educators.

Wymer also bought a supply of OREA cookbooks, which are available for sale at $20 each.

Barbara Case read highlights from the Oklahoma Education Association newsletter regarding teacher shortages and the need for new money for education. She also read the OREA Membership Minute concerning the benefits made available to members through the Association Member Benefits Advisors (AMBA).

There will not be a meeting for the month of January. The next meeting will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019, at the Alva Public Library Auditorium. Regina Wilson, director of nursing at Share Medical Center, will be the guest speaker.

Any person interested in the purposes of the organization may join the Woods County Retired Educators Association. Dues are $10 per year.