Retired teachers meet before summer break

The Bandera County Retired Teachers Chapter met on April 20 for the last time this school year, hosting three speakers on health and wellness.

Levin Crawford spoke on Vaccinate Bandera, a project sponsored through the Silver Sage Community Center and the Texas Health Department.

Crawford remarked shot clinics were easy to set up and the National Guard would be handling the actual implementation of the vaccinations. He said Vaccinate Bandera would schedule clinics for as little as five citizens in a neighborhood.

John Milner, President of Bandera County Association of Texas Professional Educators, spoke about benefits retirees could receive by continuing membership in ATPE. He gave a brief history of the organization and emphasized the benefits and member discounts available.

For retirees who substitute teach, becoming an associate member lets them participate in liability insurance protection from the group. Retired members pay $10 in state dues and $15 in local dues to get all benefits except liability coverage.

The Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG) sent Health and Wellness Specialist Kim Beasley to speak to the group about their services. Beasley said AACOG serves Bexar County and 12 other rural counties surrounding San Antonio.

She reviewed the Alamo Rapid Transit service, which is commonly seen transporting seniors around Bandera. She also listed other services AA-COG provides, like education about Medicare, Caregiver training, Care Coordination and an Ombudsman.

In her division, Health and Wellness, Beasley oversees movement classes for seniors like Matter of Balance, Bingocize, and Texascize. Flyers and other information were available to Bandera County retired teachers.

In regular agenda business, Sharon Anderwald reported 71 of the chapter’s 90 members had paid their dues for the coming year. She also delivered a Treasurer’s Report.

Doris Doebbler spoke about the benefits of being kind, reporting kindness not only helps others but leads to more personal fulfillment and better health.

Sherri Keese and incoming president Lynn Oliver gave a report from the State Convention, saying the main issues discussed at convention pertained to changing the state by-laws. They also reported the Texas Teacher Retirement fund was the sixth largest pension fund in the United States. The state organization also proposed creating regional offices in El Paso and South Texas.

Linda Hunter, chairman of the scholarship committee, reported the committee recommended two students receive the annual $1,000 scholarship from the Bandera County Retired Teachers’ Chapter. This was heartily endorsed by the group.

President Connie Young reminded the group teacher appreciation baggies would be packed by the group on May 4 at the American Legion Hall in Bandera from 10 AM to 12 PM and delivered to the campuses in the afternoon.

Young also reported the Spring Conference would be held in Hondo on June 2 and encouraged the participants to carpool to that event.

President Connie Young closed the meeting by thanking all the members for their support during her term of office and by introducing incoming president Lynn Oliver.