The Bandera County Retired Teachers Association met Feb. 19 at the Roy Camp Pavilion in Medina despite frigid weather.
The meeting opened with discussions about attending Red Shirt Day at the Capitol on March 26.
Richard Herbst, District 4 legislative chair, secured a bus for local chapters traveling to Austin. The bus will depart at 6:15 a.m. from the I-10 and Highway 46 intersection in Boerne, with a fare of $30 per person.
During the trip, Texas retired teachers will meet with their legislative representatives to advocate for issues affecting education retirees. Members were encouraged to sign up through the Texas Retired Teachers Association website.
President Dee Anne Mazurek noted that 30 to 35 new legislators were sworn in following the November election.
She highlighted Rep. Wes Virdell as the new House member for Bandera County and Sen. Pete Flores as the county’s state senator.
The meeting featured two guest speakers. Nadine Joy from Triple H Equitherapy in Pipe Creek spoke about the organization’s mission.
A 10-year veteran of Triple H, Joy shared that the nonprofit is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
Founded by lifelong horsewoman Kathy Harbaugh, the organization started with just two horses and has since grown to serve 119 riders weekly across four programs.
One program, Hooves, Hearts, and Heroes, works with life skills classes from local districts, including Devine ISD, Boerne ISD, and Meadowlands Charter School, focusing on social-emotional learning and riding.
Another program, Ride to Independence, provides therapeutic riding for individuals with disabilities.
Triple H relies on grants and donations to fund its programs and is in need of volunteers. Joy directed interested individuals to Operations Director Kesha Gonzales for enrollment in one of four annual volunteer training sessions.
The second speaker, Patricia Moore, executive director of the Bandera Convention and Visitors Bureau, discussed the upcoming Smithsonian exhibition Crossroads: Changes in Rural America, which will open June 21.
Bandera is one of seven Texas cities selected to host the traveling exhibit, which will primarily be displayed at the Bandera Middle School cafeteria.
Moore praised Medina residents for their efforts in documenting the town’s history for the project and encouraged attendees to attend the dedication of the River Oaks Courts historical marker on April 12.
She also highlighted related events at the Pipe Creek General Store and Dance Hall and noted that small businesses will feature walking tours where longtime residents can share their stories.
During the business portion of the meeting, minutes from the January gathering at the Mayan Ranch were approved, along with the treasurer’s report. The association currently has 96 members.
First Vice President Linda Hunt announced plans to contact at-large members about joining the BCRTA.
She also reported that BCRTA members logged 11,342.5 community service hours in 2024, surpassing the previous year’s total by 2,000 hours. Darlene Stevens contributed the most hours, recording 11,297.
Legislative Chair Denise Van Dyke provided updates on state and federal issues. She reported that school vouchers passed in the Texas Senate and are now headed to the House, urging members to call their representatives.
On the federal level, she discussed the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), noting that a repeal would be retroactive to January 2024. She advised members to create accounts at SSA.gov to monitor their benefits.
Doris Doebbler gave a health and safety presentation using Burma Shavestyle signs.
Sharon Anderwald reported that she sent scholarship applications to Bandera and Medina High Schools.
Under new business, Mazurek and Jackson Smith attended the district president’s meeting in Uvalde.
Mazurek announced that the state convention will be held virtually in 2027 and that the next open district meeting is scheduled for June 5 in Floresville, where the Bandera chapter will serve as greeters. The district expects 130 attendees.
The next BCRTA meeting is set for March 19 at the American Legion Hall, featuring a baked potato bar for lunch. The next spirit night fundraiser will take place April 16.
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