Ron Caruso at the podium gives treasurers report.
President
Eric Sacks welcomed those present and introduced the several board and
committee members who gave reports on the status of various projects.
Scholarship Presented
He
announced that Isabelle Massey of Covington High School had won the
group's Educational Scholarship for the year. She had been presented the
scholarship award at a meeting the week before, with her parents
present.
Miss
Massey gave an emotional appreciation for the funds, promising to
become the kind of teacher that she had met throughout her schooling who
had been such a help to her.
"Thank you so much, and I really
appreciate receiving this grant," Miss Massey stated. "I want to become a
teacher because I want to be there for my students as my teachers have
been for me."
Scholarship Chairman Pam Montreuil said that the
student had touched their hearts with her comments thanking the group.
Her father is also a teacher, Sacks stated. She has a passion for
becoming a teacher, it was obvious, and the group looks forward to
keeping up with her educational and work career achievements.
She plans to attend Southeastern Louisiana University and study education and history.
Here is a YouTube video of the scholarship presentation.
CLICK HERE to view the video on YouTube
Memorial Program
The traditional
"Memorial Program" was then held, wherein members who have passed away
in the previous year were named and remembered. This ceremony covered
the past two years, however, due to COV-19 issues last year, and a total
of 29 names were given. Bill and Carolyn Brugmann helped conduct the
solemn ceremony.
Those who had passed on were the following: Mary
Adams, Charles Alder, Vicki Antrainer, Israel Batiste Sr., Mercy
Burtch, Patty Carbajal, Peggy Chapoton, Ruth Core, Jennette M. Fitte,
Hallie Claydene Glynn, Ruth P. Harrison, Clemeal Harry, Nancy M. Hudson,
Marilyn A. Kelly, Betty H. Kintner, Caroline M. (Carol) Landry, Teresa
Magruder, Ronnie Pogue, Richard Tanner, Helen Taylor, Myra Trimble,
Warren G. Troxclair, Essie Mae Tyson, Erlene Howser Ward, Ron Wascom,
Ric Watkins, Norma Weary, Albert Wilheim, and Nancy Woods.
A
bouquet of roses was part of the memorial ceremony and members were
invited to take single roses to the relatives and loved ones of the
members who had passed.
An update on services offered by the
Louisiana Retired Teachers was provided, via Zoom, by Jennifer Tran from
her Baton Rouge office. She went over various links on the LRTA website
that offer information of importance to members with specific problems.
Legislative Report
Jack
Loup presented the legislative report, updating the members on issues
now being discussed in Baton Rouge which could affect retirement
programs.
Two new members were welcomed to the group.
