The Fulton County Retired Teachers met at Teel’s Restaurant  on April 30, 2015.  

 

 President Jeri Good led in the Pledge to the flag and Ilene Howard introduced special guests Tom Mellish new CO of the Indiana Retired Teachers Association who is replacing Nancy Tolson as she retires 

and state president Carol Grieser, Goshen along with Mayor Mark Smiley. 

 

Rev. Jim Lund, Peru gave the invocation before the delicious buffet served by Teel’s .  Cheryl Downs Community Relations Chairperson presented Mayor Smiley with a check replica for the 

amount of $164,898.72 for the 7,448 volunteer hours with a rate of $22.14 the nearly 60% of retired teachers in Fulton County turned in for counting.   This was 5,159 hours for youth activities and 2,299 

hours for other activities. Our activities were down slightly this year and Mrs. Downs urged everyone to report their hours even if just a few.  

 

Honored for their volunteer hours were:  Kay Horn, Marge 

Zartman, Linda Wade, Kaleen Krom, Kathy Christman, Karmin Reeves, Betty Martens, Ann Dielman, Phyllis Whitmore, John Howkinson, and Carol Calloway.

 

Mrs. Downs gave PayDay candy bars to the volunteers present and said to keep track of those hours for next year.  This was their “payday”.  Mayor Smiley mentioned that his grandmother always thanked him when he mowed her lawn or did jobs for her with “thank you until you’re better paid.”  He said he always wondered about that saying until he got older and understood what she meant.

 

Mayor Smiley thanked all present for their time and talents contributing to the betterment of their community.  

 

Ilene Howard told about the basket filled with many items from Fulton County teachers and businesses for “A Hand Up” project that will benefit the retired teachers who are struggling with expenses and are on a fixed budget.  The total for the basket items is over $400 and will be part of a silent auction at the Representative Assembly in June in Indianapolis.  Tom Mellish will deliver the basket downstate tomorrow.

 

Howard also presented Jim Lund with a basket of goodies in appreciation for all he and wife Dorris have done for retired teachers.  

 

Jeri Good, Necrology chairperson read a list of those teachers who have passed away since our last meeting and said a prayer for them.

 

Kay Horn gave the secretary-treasurer’s report and requested permission to just make one copy and send to those teachers with e-mail for their approval.  Judy Climie made a motion to do  this and it was seconded by Stephenia Barkman.  Motion carried.

 

Carol Grieser introduced Tom Mellish who told some of the ways he has worked for teacher benefits and about the lobbyist, Steve Beebe who has been most helpful in the process of trying to get a COLA or 

13th check.  Nancy Tolson has been very active advocating for a COLA this year and has testified many times.  Mr. Mellish said our e-mails, letters, and calls are also very valuable when trying to get these benefits for teachers and to continue doing what we’re doing.  We will not get a COLA, but may get a 13th check and it is hopeful there will be a few more dollars this year than in the past.  It has been 7 years since teachers have had a COLA.

 

Carol Grieser likes palindromes ( a word or phrase that reads the same forward or backward as in toot) and had us sing a parody to the tune of “When the Saints Go Marching In” and then gave each of us a Three Musketeers candy bar to send us on our way to help remind us that we are all together in our quest to help our community just like the Three Musketeers.

 

Jim Lund, our Area 3 director is also retiring in June and urged those in attendance to go to the Representative Assembly in June when  new officers will be elected, eight $2000 scholarships will be 

awarded, and we honor Nancy Tolson as she retires.

 

A motion to adjourn was made by Judy Climie and we did.

 

Kay Horn

 

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