The Barton County Association of Retired School Personnel met at 11:30 a.m. on March 11 at the Club at StoneRidge. President Rose Kelly opened the meeting with the flag salute and Becky Dudrey gave the invocation. Thirty-eight members and one guest, Alicia Westhoff, were present. New members Steve Dayton, Janice Friedeman and Marcia Berchek were introduced.
Laverne Lessor reported on the upcoming state convention scheduled for June 15-17 in Great Bend. The first evening there will be a cookout followed by a talent show. Registration forms should be sent to Judy Fox. Members are asked to turn in their volunteer hours to Secretary Norma Ward by the May meeting so the annual report can be made to KARSP.
Vice-President Mary Bieberle introduced Alicia Westhoff of the CKMC Rehab Department who spoke of changes in the facility as it becomes an outpatient surgery center. The new name is St. Rose Ambulatory and Surgical Center. Changes were made in order to be sustainable financially. The Urgent Care Center will be staffed by the same doctors. Outpatient Rehabilitation will have Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech Pathology services. The same day surgery program can keep patients up to 23 hours. The labs are accredited. The Sleep Center will expand from a two bed to a four bed facility. Questions about the changes can be submitted to ckmc.org.
Announcements were made about a League of Women Voters meeting which the public is invited to attend and hear candidates for mayor, school board and community college trustees. Ten volunteers were requested to go to Central Kansas Christian Academy on March 31 at 1:15 p.m. and listen to and critique students dressed up like a character in a book after they make presentations.
Any newly eligible retired school personnel interested in joining may contact Membership Chairman Kayleen Kern or President Rose Kelly. Members get together for luncheons in September, December, March and May.
The next meeting will be at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, May 6 (which is a change from the scheduled date listed in the program book) at the Club at StoneRidge.