Monroe County Retired Teachers Association

horvath3@comcast.net

MCRTA MEMBERS,

We wanted to write and tell you about the amazing tour we had yesterday (Oct. 26) of the University Collections at the old McCalla Elementary School. We had 17 people there to tour

the collections led by Alicia Beard, Engagement Coordinator. It, truly, was amazing and the collections are awesome. We will be putting a photo on our website taken in the room there

dedicated to Herman Wells. You will see Martha Street seated at his desk and in his chair and the rest of us all around her. If you have a chance, it would be well worth your time to go to see this building and the displays. You can call 812-855-1024 to find out the days and times the building is open for viewing. I guarantee you will be glad you went to see it.

At this time, we do not have another meeting scheduled but will work on that soon. Also we need to remind you to continue doing your volunteer work and keeping track of the hours you spend serving in our community. We will ask you to send in your total hours for 2022

at the end of December/first of January.

In the meantime, stay well and healthy – and enjoy the beautiful fall days and holiday

seasons coming up.

Jo & Janis

MCRTA PITCH-IN PICNIC NOTES

THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 2022 KARST FARM PARK, SHELTER HOUSE # 3

SCHEDULE AND NOTES FROM THE MEETING

A. WELCOME – INTRODUCTIONS – Members and guests were welcomed. We were happy to welcome and meet two spring 2022 retirees from our area who came to the picnic. (Pat Carroll from MCCSC and Cathy Hastings from RBB). Mike Horvath set up a table where attendees signed in and he collected $5 membership fees for those who wished to pay their next year MCRTA dues.

B. LUNCH BLESSING – Jo Weddle read the words of a blessing used at the IRTA Representative Assembly held yesterday, June 8, in Indianapolis. Those words are printed below.

Bless our friends, bless our food, O Lord, and sit with us. May our talk glow with peace, Send your love to surround us Friendship and peace may they bloom and grow May they bloom and grow forever. Bless our friends, bless our food, Bless our dear land forever.

C. LUNCH – Attendees enjoyed a pitch-in lunch. It was a lovely day with perfect weather and no rain.

D. PROGRAM

1. Jo explained the purposes of the IRTA Representative Assembly which was held in Indianapolis yesterday. Purposes were to conduct the business of the organization, have delegates vote on business issues, share information with local associations, and present awards for work done by members.

2. Those attending yesterday’s assembly as voting delegates were Martha Street, Shirley Pugh, Benny Holt and Joanne Weddle. Two of our other members, Cheryl Frank and Karen Adams, also were in attendance after the business portion of the day.

E. OTHER NEWS TO SHARE FROM THE RA

1. AREA 8 DIRECTOR – BEVERLY LOGTERMAN, BROWN COUNTY was installed into this position. DAVID LENNEN, our previous Area 8 Director, is now IRTA Board of Directors President-Elect

2. MEMBERSHIP IN IRTA

a. IRTA – membership numbers are down. Members were asked to encourage retirees in their areas to take out IRTA membership stressing that IRTA works for us and securing benefits for us. b. Awards are being given to those who encourage others to join IRTA who have not previously belonged. Gift cards are sent to those who are instrumental in the joining of new members.

3. INDIANA RETIRED TEACHERS FOUNDATION

a. Scholarships – 10 are given each year for $2,000 (one in each area) to college juniors or seniors – There is an April 1 deadline for applying.

b .Active Teacher – $500 classroom one-time special projects grants are awarded each fall – Sept. 30 deadline for applying.

c. A Hands Up – financial assistance awards can be applied for immediate need by IRTA members ($1,000 per applicant).

d. Donations

1) Individual Foundation donations are always encouraged. Members can also support the Foundation by being part of the reward programs offered by Kroger and Amazon.

2) Our MCRTA – We sent $300 to the foundation in the names of those educator retirees our area who passed away this past year. These names were listed in yesterday’s RA booklet. Our organization will have a plaque on a “Giving Tree” in the IRTA office. This recognition is given to anyone who contributes $250 or more to the foundation.

4. VOLUNTEERISM – State recognition is given to IRTA members who give the most hours of service in their communities through the year. Our members are currently asked to keep track of hours spent during 2022 volunteering in the community and send their total hours to Dianna Johnson, our Community Service Chair, before January 15 of 2023. Dianna is at: dianna4274@icloud.com.

a. Hours reported are used by IRTA to show legislators how much time is spent by retirees working in their communities. This is very helpful in gaining legislative support.

b. Awards are given each year by IRTA to those who spend the most hours. Some of our MCRTA members 2021 volunteer hours were: Clock Award – Cindy Kvale recognized at the RA for total for 2021. MCRTA members who have received the clock award in past years were Fran Weinberg, Frances Walden, Joanne Weddle and Dianne Shewmaker Honorable Mention Certificates for Volunteerism – Penny Austin, Bob Austin, Sandy Bender

5. One other award we received at RA. A certificate for website

6. CASA AWARDS – IRTA is very supportive of the work of CASA workers throughout the state. One CASA worker is selected to win a CASA award from each area each year. In past years, our members who have received this award were Sheila Henry, Kathleen Boggess, and Karen Adams. Cheryl Frank was the Area 8 recipient of the CASA award for our area this year and was present at the RA to receive her trophy.

F. MCRTA PROGRAMS FOR 2022-2023 – As of this date, no programs have been scheduled beyond today’s picnic. We will be working on this in the coming weeks and send members a list of upcoming programs as the schedule is set.

G. MCRTA LEADERSHIP – We are pleased that Janis Stockhouse is our incoming president. We look forward to having Janis serve as in this position and appreciate her willingness to step forward and take this leadership role. At this time, we are in need of members to fill the following positions: Secretary, community service chair, co-program chair. If you have an interest in any of these areas please contact either of us at the email addresses listed below. Dianna Johnson may be moving out of state in a year and would like to have someone be in training with her this year to take over after she moves. It is important to have our members involved in the work of our association so we hope you are one of those who is willing to step up and help.

JO Joanne Weddle, jweddle2@comcast.net Janis

Stockhouse, jazz.stockhouse@gmail.com

For additional information regarding membership, foundation, or other information about IRTA, go to: retiredteachers.org.

One additional note. If you have a suggestion for a possible MCRTA “project” for this coming year and/or ideas/suggestions for programs for this year, send them to either of us. Two years ago we collected money for a MCRTA project and gave a donation to Templeton Elementary to support their International School program and purchase books or materials for their school. Also one year one of our members made a donation to the Teachers Warehouse in memory of one of our deceased members and turned that in to IRTA as our group project. Other thoughts you have? Let us hear them.

One additional note, if you know a retired Monroe-Owen county educator friend who is not receiving our newsletters, please either send us their name and email address or ask them to do that. We try to reach as many of our retirees as possible and email is our best way to get to them.

MCRTA's Local Website: https://sites.google.com/site/monroecountyretiredteachers/