Who is eligible for the Ann Retseck Grant?  ISFA Festival members who have not been awarded the Ann Retseck Grant in the past (3) years are eligible.  Newly adopted by the ISFA

How much is awarded?   The Ann Retseck Grant will award $100 - $250 per ISFA Festival Member selected.   Total amount granted per year will be $500.  

How is the Grant monies paid out?   The Ann Retseck Grant is used to reimburse qualified festivals with paid convention registration(s).  The recipient must register, pay & attend the convention.   Grant money may be used for registration fees and hotel reimbursements.  A check for the amount of the Ann Retseck Grant will be written as a reimbursement to the festival within 10 days after the convention. 

Who selects the Ann Retseck Grant winners?   The ISFA Ann Retseck Grant Committee - Doug Weisheit, Newport Antique Auto Hill Climb will accept the grant applications and Nancy Alldredge, Greenfield Riley Festival will review and recommend winners to the ISFA Board of Directors.  The ISFA board will formally vote on the recommendations of the committee.

 How do I find out if we were selected?   Doug Weisheit will email all applicants the Ann Retseck Grant award results. 

When will the Ann Retseck Grants be announced?  The 2009 Ann Retseck Grant winners will be notified on or before Monday, November 3, 2009.

 What is the Ann Retseck Grant Committee looking for?    Preference is given to new ISFA members, ISFA members attending the ISFA Convention for the first time, festivals desiring financial help to bring more than  (1)  representative to the convention.  Description of need and desire to enhance, network with ISFA Members. 
The convention will be held at the Wyndham Indianapolis West Hotel  in Indianapolis (Airport) November 6-8, 2009. 

Please submit your completed Grant Application and essay to:
ISFA Ann Retseck Memorial Grant Committee
Attn: Doug Weisheit
700 Walton Street
Rockville, IN 47872
dweisheit@cebridge.net
 

Ann Retseck

          Ann Gettinger Retseck was the oldest of six children born to John Joseph and Martha Sherer Gettinger on October  4, 1957.  She grew up in Sullivan County, Ind.,  in the small town of Merom.  Attending Sullivan country schools, Ann graduated at Sullivan High School with the class of 1975.  In the fall of the same year, she enrolled at Indiana State University in Terre Haute  and graduated in 1979 with a degree in Social Science Education.  She was one of four ISU Outstanding Graduating Seniors. 

          Married to Jeffrey Paul Retseck on March 11, 1979, they bought a house in Merom to start a family.  Seven children were born to this union.  For years Ann was very busy donating her time and expertise in community affairs.  Among the many organizations she was involved with, the Merom Bluff Chautauqua was one of the most important to her.  Ann was the President of the Merom Improvement Association, which sponsors the Chautauqua, for over ten years.

          With years of hard dedicated work and Ann leading the way, the Chautauqua grew from a small festival to a quite large one.  Proceeds from the festival were used to make improvements to the town.

          On June 14, 1994, Ann and her seven children were heading west to California for a vacation.  She had met her husband Jeff as they were leaving and said her goodbyes.  Ann was killed in an automobile accident about 14 miles from home in Hutsonville, Illinois that evening.  Her seven children survived the accident.

          The community was devastated for the loss of our dear friend.  Ann was a community leader and organizer.  She liked the challenges of being in charge of events.  Ann was noted for her energy and pep at the ISFA workshops.  She liked the networking and was always asking everyone for new ideas and information to improve the Chautauqua.  

          This memorial is dedicated to Ann for all the time and effort she has put into her community.  ISFA is proud to recognize Ann Retseck for her outstanding achievements.