Wright County Retired Teachers Met Sept. 15
By Sharon Marler,
Secretary/ Reporter
Teachers and support personnel met on Sept. 15, 2015, at the Country Living/Assisted Living facility. Those in attendance were: Bridget Williams, Jimmie and Sharon Marler, Vicki Stewart, Dot Killough, Nancy Smith, Wilma Hutsell, Janet Atchison, Gail Lawson, Rick Gordon, Paulette Stewart, Elaine Duey, Sue Durden, Bonnie Maxwell, Karen Sinning, Carol Peterson, Donna Streight, and speaker, Karen Miller.
Nancy Smith led the pledge. Wilma Hutsell gave the devotion. Sharon Marler read the May minutes. Sue Durden gave the treasurer’s report with a balance of $172.42. The pink pig donation of $35.78 was donated to the Children’s Home by Sharon Marler. Memorials have been made to the Wright Co. Children’s Home for Charlene Murrell and Russ Robinson. Karen Sinning, President, told everyone that on October 1 local dues of $5 are due; and State dues of $35 will be due. Associate members can join for $15 (husband, wives, etc.) Also Forrest T. Jones insurance for substitute teachers is $17.50 for a million dollar policy. Karen announced that our service projects are the Wright Co. Children’s Home and the Assisted Living. She gave her appreciation to Janet Atchison for her donations for a retired teacher basket for the Children’s Home auction. She also gave appreciation to Sue Durden for making a quilt and other donations for the auction. Other retirees gave donations to help with the auction, also. Legislative Days (where everyone goes to Jefferson City and wears red) is on February 17, 2016. Wednesday and Thursday- the 16th and 17th Karen Sinning and Vicki Stewart were our representatives at the State Meeting. Teachers have received word that they will receive a cost of living raise of 2% in 2016. Karen Sinning is the unit’s Distinguished Retiree, and she will be honored at the Region 10 meeting on October 16 at 9 a.m. in Republic, Mo. Anyone wanting information about the meeting, call Karen at 668-5994. Karen Miller speaker: She told her credentials for her position. She told how important it is to join the State organization and pay our dues. In Wright Co. alone, the pensions of retired teachers and other support personnel have brought in over $6 million to support the county’s economy. There are 282 retirees in Wright Co. She explained the Defined Benefit plan and said you could do research on the website. 90% of all pensions stay in Missouri. She told what a valuable man Steve Yocum is when it comes to understanding/and supporting the teacher’s retirement income system. “We have a great system and we must protect what we have. Watch who you vote for. Don’t support a governor who wants all retirement systems to be a 401K system”. Barbara Self is our new State President. We got 4 classroom grants of $500 each in our region. Our goal is to have 25,000 members in our system by the end of 2015. Karen Miller gave us lots of good information. She said search the web for more up to date news. We appreciate Karen for coming. Our next meeting will be on: October 20, Tuesday, at 10 a.m. at Country Living. Bonnie Cook will speak briefly about the Caring to Learn Program started by Doug Pitt. Program by: Malisha’s Sunflowers and Spurs, a flower shop in Mtn. Grove.
Mark your calendars: We have added one more meeting, so we can be Unit of Excellence again. December 4, 2015, at Los Dos Mexican Restaurant at 11 a.m. for card making with Nancy Smith and Virginia Serghides. More information: Call Karen Sinning, President, 417-668-5994 or Marlers at 741-7318.