Sept. 13, 2021 MinutesHENDRICKS COUNTY RETIRED TEACHERS ASSOCIATION MINUTES
September 13, 2021 Forty-five members, associates and visitors gathered at the Hendricks County 4-H Conference Center in Danville for fellowship, lunch, program and business meeting. During the pre-lunch social period, Linda Buckner and Vicki Loughmiller used the time for registration and collecting meal payments while Ellen McKenzie and Linda Rollings collected dues and distributed new program booklets. Linda Thoman, President for 2021-2023, led all in the Pledge of Allegiance and then introduced the HCRTA Executive Board. Linda welcomed everyone and gave a special welcome to our guest, Lori Taylor, and new retirees. The new retirees introduced themselves and gave the name of the school where they taught, their position, and years of service. Linda thanked Brad Born from Mayberry Café for a great lunch; she also thanked Linder Buckner and Vicki Loughmiller for set-up and registration and Ellen McKenzie for table decorations. Linda also thanked Ellen and Linda Rollings for collecting dues. After the invocation by Jeff Thompson, our guest and new retirees were first in line for lunch. PROGRAM Our program was presented by Lori Taylor, a 6th grade teacher at Avon Intermediate West. Lori is a national speaker regarding autism and the author of Dragonfly: A Daughter’s Emergence from Autism. She wrote the book as a practical guide for other parents when she found very little information to help her daughter with the challenges of autism. Her talk was a heartwarming success story of a family living with a child who has autism. BUSINESS MEETING At 1:00 the business meeting was called to order. President Linda Thoman introduced our Area 4 IRTA Director, Brenda Walls, from Terre Haute. Brenda said our COLA would begin in January 2022. She said lobbyists would try again for the13th check. Brenda used an acrostic to remind us of the importance of the IRTA: I is for Insurance; R is for Retirement planning; T is for Travel; and A is for Advocate for all teachers. Brenda reminded us of the IRTA Foundation and the $500 grants given to active teachers who foster creativity in the classroom. Brenda also left us a package of M&Ms to remind us that IRTA needs “more members.” IRTA is sponsoring a School Bell Award & Membership Contest with prizes and a $500 grand prize to recognize the member who has signed up the most new IRTA members. OFFICIER REPORTS Copies of the minutes from the May meeting and the treasurer report were on the tables and the President’s call for acceptance was passed. COMMITTEE REPORTS Membership: Ellen thanked everyone on the calling committee and reminded extra Volunteers reduced the number of people one has to call. Legislative: Jeff Thompson reminded us that our 1% COLA will begin in January 2022. He said the state did exceptional well on the retirement fund. Charlotte Martin mentioned she is concerned about the upcoming redistricting for the state because the census was started late due to Covid and stopped early. She also mentioned that Brownsburg is hiring school bus drivers and positions are available for retired teachers to work on assessment of 4th and 8th grade tests. Community Service: Jane Tietz asked for volunteer hours be turned in before end of the year. This helps lessen the number of calls her committee needs to do before the deadline date. Jane also asked if anyone is interested in the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) program to contact her for information. Scholarship: Jane Tietz reminded us that we have a $1,000 donation to the fund and one scholarship will be awarded countywide to a senior and the donated money will be given to a high school senior from Danville planning to study for elementary teaching. Necrology: Linda Rollings reported we had 3 member deaths since May: Bob Lynn--long-time Science teacher, Plainfield; Randy Auble—band teacher, Avon and Stoney Creek; and Deborah Garrison—English teacher, Tri West. Member Concerns & Services: Jane Tietz sent cards to Pam Essex and Sally Henzie after surgeries and a get well card to Kay Bishop after returning home from the hospital. UNFINISHED BUSINESS President Linda thanked everyone for the donations to our food bank and she thanked Carol Reimer for taking care of this project. Linda presented state certificates of recognition for the following individuals: OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER: Charlotte Martin; SPECIAL PROJECT: Carol Reimer; and OUTSTANDING WEB SITE: Dennis Leloup. NEW BUSINESS Check your table for a sign-up sheet for volunteers to provide table decorations, be a greeter, or purchase and hand out door prizes. Terri Gunn has information on volunteering computer assistance to help students learn English, receive career certification, or high school equivalency at Wayne Township Adult Education. With no further business to be discussed, members were reminded that our next meeting will be November 8, 2021. Beautiful mums were awarded as door prizes. The meeting was formally adjourned at 2:00. Respectfully submitted, Sandy Clemons, Secretary |
