By Dena Wood
The Times
Teatime Anyone?
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January 23, 2014
The large bear on the left is made of mink and was crafted by Jackie Ormsby who first suggested holding a Teddy Bear Tea fundraiser. The bear on the right was handmade by Claudia Ford. A raffle for the pair will take place in March.
WAITSBURG - Members of the Walla Walla Columbia School Retirees Association (WWCSRA) would love to meet you for tea. The 8th Annual Teddy Bear Tea - the group's primary fundraiser - is just around the corner and organizers are hoping attendance continues to rise as it has in past years.
This year's event takes place Saturday, February 22, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Francis Social Hall (722 W. Alder St., Walla Walla). In its first year, the group sold 125 tickets and made roughly $1,500 in profits. Last year, they sold over 200 tickets, raising in excess of $2,000.
The popular event includes a gala tea, story corner, children's activity area, an exhibit of handmade bears, a craft bazaar, silent auction and a photographer. Tickets are $6 per person and children must be accompanied by an adult. The group is also raffling two handmade teddy bears. Tickets are $1 each and the drawing will be held at the Unit's luncheon on March 10.
All profits are used to fund scholarships that benefit college students completing a school-based internship. The association awards two $1,200 scholarships each May, to graduates from Walla Walla or Columbia Counties. Graduates must complete their internships between September 2014 and May 2015.
Former recipients from Waitsburg High School include: Gennie Adams, Margaret Hagerman, Jacklyn Helm, Anne Bickelhaupt, Jill Bickelhaupt. Dayton High School graduates include Jeremy Hubbard and Lacy (McCuistion) Nichols. Prescott graduates receiving scholarship funds include Judy (Ketterling) Hall and Jodi (Hollenbaugh) Gradwahl.
The group also awards 12 "mini grants" of $100 each year. Six grants are awarded in October and another six in February. The most recent Waitsburg recipient was High School Family Consumer Science Teacher Nancy Bickelhaupt, who received a grant this fall.
Membership in the WWCSRA is open to anyone who is actively employed or retired from public school (not just teachers) as well as their spouses. The association serves schools in Prescott, Waitsburg, Dayton, Starbuck, Dixie, Touchet, Burbank, College Place and Walla Walla. The group currently has 23 Waitsburg members, 16 who are actively employed in the Waitsburg School District.
According to past president Joan Helm, "The group works hard to maintain and enhance retiree and future retiree benefits. We used to say 'enhance' but with the climate the way it is now, we're just trying to maintain."
Tickets to the tea and teddy bear raffle tickets may be purchased by contacting Joan Helm at (509) 337- 6318.
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