WSSRA
4726 Pacific Ave.SE
Lacey, WA 98503
Phone: 800 544 5219 or 360 413 5496
WSSRA Legislative Message Center 800 221
1269
Fax: 360 413 5497
Officers
President
Louie Osmonovich
After graduating from Central Washington University in 1962, Louie taught fifth and sixth grades his first two years in the Moxee School District. His third year of teaching was in a small elementary school in Ronald, Washington. In 1966 the smaller districts of Ronald, Roslyn, South Cle Elum consolidated and became the Cle Elum-Roslyn School District where he taught for the next 26 years. He taught every grade from third through eighth along with some basketball coaching. He was an active member of WEA during his teaching career, holding offices in the local unit and was a member of the district's negotiating team for several years. Since his retirement he has held offices of Vice President, President and Membership chair of Kittitas County SRA, Unit 09. Recently he has served as a WSSRA Board member representing the E-5 district. While on the Board he was the liaison for the newly formed WSSRA Outreach Committee and chaired the E-5 Scholarship Committee. Last year he served on the state Legislative Committee. In their spare time, Louie and his wife Sherry travel and also spend time camping and fishing taking horses and pack mules into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area. They have two grown children, raised one foster son and had several short-term foster children. As a result, they are grandparents of six and great grandparents of one.
President-Elect
Don Rifenbery
Don was born in Wenatchee, Washington, lived at Crescent Bar and attended high school in Quincy. He served nearly three years in the U.S. Navy (Pacific Theater) during World War II. He earned a B.A. in Education from Central Washington University in 1949 and an M.A. from the University of Oregon in 1953. Don retired after thirty years as a teacher and principal in Vancouver's elementary schools. A member of the SW Washington Unit 30 since 1987, he has served on several committees and as unit vice president before accepting the presidency (three years). He served as SW-4 Coordinating Council Chair for one year before being elected to serve as SW-4 District Representative on the WSSRA Board. Don and his wife Rosalie (also a Unit 30 veteran), will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary later this year (2007).
Immediate Past President
Rita Requa
Rita started her elementary teaching career as a kindergarten teacher in Portland, Oregon. She had additional teaching assignments in Eugene and Milwaukie, Oregon before raising her family. Eventually she settled in Shoreline Washington and taught elementary students for 30 years. She was active in the Shoreline Education Association, serving as VP and President for 4 years. Her activities in WSSRA include President of the Sno-King School Retirees, NW-1 Coordinating Council Chair, WSSRA Executive Board and Secretary for the WSSR-PAC. She is active in her community of Lake Forest Park where she is Secretary for the Lake Forest Park Library Advisory Committee. Reading, traveling and watercolor painting are some of the activities she enjoys. Rita has three children and three grandchildren.
Secretary
Barbara Pugh
Barbara Pugh has been a WSSRA member for 21 years
and is just starting her 17th year as its secretary. She is well prepared
for her job as scribe because she "trained" for the position
as a Spokane Public Schools administrative secretary for 25 years.
Today, when she is not recording the association's meetings, she is
enjoying retired life with Lyle Pugh, her husband of 33 years in Spokane. They have six children, 12 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
Treasurer
Neil Prescott
The man who is WSSRA's chief financial officer has
been a member for 21 years. Before that, he held many responsible
administrative positions with Spokane's Central Valley School District:
elementary principal, curriculum director and assistant superintendent.
Currently, he continues to serve as a consultant with his favorite
school district. Neil and his wife Ramona, have three children and
reside in the Spokane Valley.
