February 18, 2023 Issue, Page 3 of 10

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February 18, 2023 News The Elk City News -3 Beckham/Roger Mills Unit of Oklahoma Retired Educators Association Oklahoma Retired Educators from the ‘The minutes were approved as presented. The ‘ AFRICA?® Beckham/Roger Mills Unit met on February treasurer's report was accepted. 10, 2023 at the Elk City United Methodist In committee reports, the Beckham/Roger Church. President Linda Long welcomed mem- Mills OREA Scholarship will be presented to bers, Cathy Lewis, Glenda Ivins, Judy Haught, a SWOSU education student doing student Stephanie Malone, Sharon K. Gilliland, Tana teaching in the Fall semester of 2023. Glenda Feldman, Nan Hubbard, June Lovelace, Becky reported that membership is holding steady eee ee e vee Newlin, Larry Long, Janice Attocknie and guest at 70 members. In volunteer hours, Becky col- Terri Chervenka. lected the number of hours each retired teacher June gave the invocation. Judy led the USA volunteered during 2022. Linda shared an up- Flag Salute and the Oklahoma State Flag Salute. date on the recent Legislative activity. Since Terri Chervenka, from Elk City’s Bella Vita, presented the program. Along with her assis- tant, Stephanie, Terri introduced unique and this year’s legislative session began, over three thousand bills have been filed. Thirty-eight of these bills affect retired teachers. OREA keeps Okc Zoo Welcomes Three Male delicious Italian oils and vinegars used to com- track of these bills and occasionally encourages pliment various types of food. She also shared OREA members to call their Legislators if a bill tips, recipes and techniques to create a delicious would adversely affect retired teachers. Cheetahs To Its Animal Family Charcuterie Board, which is the essence of easy ‘The next meeting is March 10, 2023 at the Ar- Guests visiting the Okla- of eastern and southern Af- whose iconic mid-century ex- entertaining. Terri presented each member rowhead Center. Members should meet at the homa City Zoo and Botanical rica. Cheetahs are known as terior will be preserved while with a Charcuterie Cup to enjoy during her pre- Arrowhead Center at 10:00 a.m. The program is Garden will be able to see the the fastest land mammal and the inside is transformed into sentation. a tour of the Center followed by a short meet- newest members of our ani- can reach top speeds of 60 to Becky and Cathy were recognized for having ing there. Mary Fern will present the devotion- mal family, three male chee- 70 miles per hour. Listed as a multi-use space for animal February birthdays. Members honored them al. The next OREA Board Meeting is scheduled tahs. The 2-year-old brothers, vulnerable by the Internation- habitats and private events. Jabari, Hasani and Erindi, al Union for Conservation of Dash out to the Zoo to see by for March 22nd in Oklahoma City. OREA State recently arrived at the OKC our new cheetahs! The Okla- singing the Happy Birthday song. Convention will be held October 3, 2023 in Tul- Nature (IUCN), cheetahs are Jan presented the inspiring devotional by sa at the Renaissance Hotel. Zoo from the Smithsonian's threatened by human-wildlife homa City Zoo is open from reading a story from “Quilt of Life” and refer- Judy won the door prize. Linda adjourned the National Zoo and Conserva- conflict, the illegal wildlife 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily with the tion Biology Institute in Front trade, habitat loss and loss of last entry at 4 p.m. Purchase ring to scripture, Luke 6:38. meeting in due form. Royal, Virginia. The OKC Zoo prey. In addition to support- participates in the Association advance Zoo admission tick- ing AZA’s SSP, the OKC Zoo is of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) a proud member of the AZA’s ets at okczoo.org/tickets and Species Survival Plan® (SSP) SAFE: Saving Animals from avoid the entry lines. Located Rehabilitation Services ends for cheetahs and serves as a Extinction program for chee- at the crossroads of I-44 and non-breeding home in sup- tahs, a collaborative network, 1-35, the OKC Zoo is a proud port of the SSP. waiting list for jobseekers with most partnering to build capacity to member of the Association With the arrival of Jabari (Jah-baree), Swahili for “fear- increase direct conservation of Zoos and Aquariums, the less” or “brave one,” Hasani spending as well as AZA mem- American Alliance of Muse- bers’ impact on saving species significant disabilities (Has-anee), Swahili for “hand- ums, Oklahoma City’s Adven- some,” and Erindi (Er-indee) through work in the field, in ture District and an Adven- named for a protected reserve our zoos and aquariums and ture Road partner. Regular OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Oklahoma Depart- new clients into existing caseloads.” in Namibia, Africa, where through public engagement. admission is $16 for adults many cheetahs are rereleased, The OKC Zoo is excited and $13 for children ages 3-11 ment of Rehabilitation Services has reopened DRS contracts with vendors across the state to have these iconic African and seniors ages 65 and over. job preparation and employment services for to provide clients with goods and services man- the OKC Zoo will be home to predators join its animal fam- a category of jobseekers with the most severe aged by staff to help clients reach their employ- two coalitions of cheetahs. ily as it continues to connect Children two and under are disabilities known as Priority Group 1, effective ‘The Zoo's Predator Pass habi- admitted free. ment goals. Vendor resources refers to the ca- Oklahomans with wildlife and tat will house our three new February 15. pacity of community partners to meet demand. bachelors along with current wild places from around the Zoo on Facebook, Twitter, Stay connected with the Vocational Rehabilitation counselors and Only new applicants are affected by waiting cheetah brothers, Boomer and world. With the opening of Ex- technicians from DRS’ two employment divi- lists. Current clients will continue to be served Pete, 6. pedition Africa this summer, Instagram, Linktree and Tik- sions, Vocational Rehabilitation and Services at the same levels. “Our carnivore team is the Zoo will welcome several Tok, and by visiting our blog for the Blind and Visually Impaired, will begin “We are doing everything we can to end de- thrilled to welcome Jabari, other new species from the stories. Support your love immediately serving jobseekers transferred lays, which are a temporary budget control Hasani and Erindi ahead of African continent. Expedition and passion for wildlife and from the waiting list. measure, so that applicants with disabilities can the opening of Expedition Africa, is a 12-acre habitat in wild places with a ZOOfriends DRS must continue to defer services to cli- Africa” said Tyler Boyd, OKC the heart of the Zoo that fea- Membership Passport to the start getting the help they need to go to work Zoo's curator of carnivores. tures diverse environments, ents with disabilities in priority groups 2 and 3. and become taxpayers,” Mark Kinnison, Voca- ‘The opening ofpriority group 1 will allow DRS “We have a long-standing his- unique guest experiences and OKC Zoo. There's a member- to serve people with the most severe disabilities tional Rehabilitation administrator, said. “We tory of conserving and pro- ‘over 60 species of mammals, ship level for every kind of will continue to monitor expenditures closely tecting cheetahs and we are reptiles, fish and birds. This explorer with amazing ben- first and later offer services to those in the re- in order to keep serving as many people as pos- excited to connect our fans premier habitat highlights a efits plus, you are support- maining groups. sible, as quickly as possible.” with not only this amazing “If funds are not available to serve everyone, ‘The state earns four federal matching dollars species, but even more African new state-of-the-art giraffe ing the OKC Zoo, its animals, barn, offering indoor viewing programs and conservation those applicants with the most significant dis- wildlife.” abilities are served first because they need help for DRS every state dollar appropriated for these employment programs. The high match Cheetahs inhabit a broad areas of our giraffe herd, and efforts. Memberships can most to become employed,” Tracy Brigham, area of Africa including North a complete reimagining of the be purchased at okczoo.org/ Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired ad- is an indication of strong federal support and Africa, the Sahel and in parts historic pachyderm building, membership. ministrator said. “Others with less significant generates federal revenue for the state of Okla- barriers to employment have to remain on wait- homa. ing lists when we have limited funding.” In 2022, DRS’ Vocational Rehabilitation and Visual Services divisions provided counseling, Providing comfort and Supportfor End of Life cholces Wait lists occurred in 2017 due to budget restrictions. ‘Then unprecedented changes medical and psychological services, training, brought about by the COVID shutdowns ex- job placement assistance and other services to Hospice care provides medical services, emotional support, and spiritual re- tended the length of time the waitlists were in 11,458 Oklahomans with disabilities. sources for people who are in the last stages of a serious illness, such as cancer Federal reports show that 1,293 clients be- place. Since 2017, DRS has moved 20,093 ap- or heart failure. Hospice care also helps family members manage the pra 1 plicants from waiting lists to active caseloads. came employed and no longer needed DRS ser- “The three pillars of resources we look at vices. These Oklahomans earned an annual av- details and emotional challenges of caring for a dying loved one. erage of $26,793 and paid annual average taxes to open or close a priority group are budget, staffing and vendor resources,” DRS Executive of $4,019 last year. For questions regarding hospice service or eligibility, contact: Director Melinda Fruendt said. “Budget ap- To reach the nearest DRS Vocational Reha- propriations have remained flat, but sufficient bilitation or Services for the Blind and Visually Carrie Perry, RN/ Adminsistrator funding is available for the current year and our Impaired office, visit https://www.okdrs.gow/ analysis shows that we can absorb the influx of office-locator or phone 800-487-4042. 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