Local Retired Teachers Celebrate Success at Fall Meeting

East Central HS Show Choir performed at the event.

East Central High School Show Choir performing at the Indiana Retired Teachers Association Fall Meeting. Photo provided.

(Dearborn County, Ind.) - The Dearborn County Retired Teachers Association, an affiliate of the Indiana Retired Teachers Association, held their annual fall meeting October 15th at Greendale Middle School with a delicious turkey dinner, remarks from State Senator Randy Maxwell, a performance by the East Central High School Show Choir, and a celebration of achievements from the past year.

President Judy Mosier called the meeting to order with her school bell. In his remarks Senator Maxwell affirmed his admiration and support for local teachers and commented on his connections and gratitude for local educators and the importance of their work. He detailed his unexpected rise to his position and his experiences “learning the ropes” of statewide politics, remarking that more than 700 bills were introduced in the last session, stressing the vast geography of his district, and assuring the group that Indiana’s legislature is comprised mostly of “Good people who want to do the right thing.” He urged members of the group to reach out to him with any issues or concerns. “I really want to help,” he said.

Honors and awards were presented to several members of the organization, which, President Mosier boasted, had the highest number of volunteer hours in the state despite being one of the smaller regions. Singled out was Membership Director Cathy Mund, who received a mantle clock for her Outstanding Service. Jascia Robinson and Rick Sloan were honored for Outstanding Associate Member Volunteerism, Sharon Moder, Fayla Nanz, and Jim Stock were recognized for their many hours of Volunteer Work, and Sharon Moder and Ron Nicholson were recognized for their public relations work on behalf of the DCRT.

IRTA President David Lennen also spoke, congratulating the DCRT association on its membership success, volunteerism, and activism on behalf of retired teachers. He spoke about the need to press legislators to secure financial stability for those in the PERF system, for example, the need to establish a date for disbursement of the so-called “Thirteenth Check” retired teachers are due in place of a cost-of-living allocation (COLA) in their pensions.

The Dearborn County Retired Teachers association has 250 members and is open to all retired teachers and to associate members who support education. The group is involved in a number of community service projects from the Sewing Group, which makes dresses and shorts for underprivileged children all over the world, to donating coloring books to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, and from supporting CASA, the Pregnancy Care Center, ringing the Salvation Army Bell at Christmastime, and tutoring local school children, to supporting the Dearborn County Retired Teachers Foundation, which awards grants each year to local classroom teachers for school projects. For membership, contact Cathy Mund at camund@gmail.com. Visit the group on Facebook at Dearborn County Retired Teachers Association.