Celebrating Retirement! A Recap of the 2019 Fall Meeting

Thank you to everyone who came to celebrate retirement down by the riverside! Our 2019 Fall Meeting went off without a hitch. We were so glad to meet, greet and work with everyone. We saw lots of familiar faces (and some new ones) during the meeting! Now, let’s take a look at some of the highlights of the Fall Meeting!

Our Guest Speakers

Ashley Franklin and Joey David from the State Museums presented at our first General Session on Oct. 22. Ms. Franklin and Mr. David provided backstories on the museums and discussed volunteer opportunities and events with the museums. After the lunch break, our members learned some new dance moves from Leea Russell. They also learned about the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge and the impact their individual Arts Councils have on the community. Amy Wold from the Water Institute of the Gulf spoke with members about the impact the Water Institute has on their communities. On Wednesday Oct. 23, Dana Vicknair, director of the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana (TRSL) gave our members an update on the retirement system. View the slides from her presentation here. She and our executive director Rodney Watson answered questions from the audience. Thank you to our guest speakers for taking the time to talk with us and helping to make our retirement years great!

Panel Discussion with the Louisiana Public School Coalition

Members of the Louisiana Public School Coalition came together for a panel discussion on Tuesday Oct. 22. The panel discussed the primary elections and the implications of the results (including the runoff races). Members of the panel also discussed the role the Coalition played in their individual organizations and how retired teachers continue to make an impact on education and the state of Louisiana. Thank you to the members of the Louisiana Public School Coalition for taking the time to come together and speak to our members.

Unit Challenge Award Winners

Lazette Watterson, LRTA second vice-president and state programs chair, presented this year’s Unit Challenge Award Winners. They are:

Bronze:

Vernon RTA – Beryl Ford and Tresa Abramson, Co-Presidents

Winn RTA – Brenda Etheridge, President

Silver:

St. Landry Parish REA – Dr. Savoynne Williams, President

St. Mary RTA – Nelson Cortez, President

Acadia RTA – Rebecca Butler, President

Baton Rouge Area RTA – Leona Benoit, President

Beauregard RTA – Julie Porter, President

Lincoln Parish RTA – Barbara Kirkland, President

Webster RTA – J. O. Jefferson Thomas, President

Bossier RTA – Annette Lee, President

DeSoto RTA – Joe Hewitt, President (24 points)

Union Parish RTA – Janice Savage, President

Gold:

Ascension RTA – Peggy Aime, President

Lafourche RTA – Beth Plaisance, President

Ouachita RTA – Norene Smith, President

St. Landry Parish RTA – Patricia Woods, President

Vermilion RTA – Mollie Charpentier, President

Bogalusa RTA – JoAnna Frazier, President

Iberia RTA – James Broussard, President

St. Bernard Parish RTA – Paul Grethel, President

St. James RTA – Millie Matherne, President

St. Tammany Retired School Employee Assn. – Eric Sacks, President

Iberville RTA – Barbara Davis, President

Jeff Davis Area RTA – Frances Byler, President

Terrebonne RTA – Lynn Ellzey, President

Caddo/Bossier RTA – Raymond Love, President

Calcasieu Parish Unit of Retired Teachers – Ivy Mouton, President

Livingston Parish RTA – Cheryl Lass and Addie Barnes, Co-Presidents

Tangipahoa RTA – Linda Vaccaro, President

Sabine RTA – William Thomas, Jr., President

Solid Gold (30 points):

Assumption Parish RTA – Linda Gaudet, President

Caddo RTA – Emma Shepard, President

Calcasieu-Cameron RTA – Mary Margaret David, President

CENLA RTA- Jesse Turner, President

Rapides RTA – Gloria Hearne, President

Name of Fame Winner

Dorothy Wilson

During the 2019 Fall Meeting, LRTA honored Dorothy Wilson as the Name of Fame winner. Read the news release here.

Rupert Breland Memorial

(Lazette Watterson and Alva Martin pin Patricia Woods with her Life Member pin)

Patricia S. Woods received the Rupert Breland Memorial award during the convention banquet. Woods previously served as the president of District V. She currently serves as president of the St. Landry RTA. Woods remarked that Dan Verret recruited her to join LRTA and encouraged her to take on leadership positions early on. Alva Martin and Lazette Watterson presented the award.

Thank you to everyone who was involved in making this meeting a success. We worked hard, but we played hard, too! It was great to see everyone, and we hope to see you all at our next meetings!