Helping Hands: Association represents retired educators

 The California  Retired Teachers  Association (CRTA) magazine “Contact” usually arrives during the first week of the month, but like lots of other things it was delayed while waiting for the state budget to be signed.

November 2 – 8  is the CRTA Teachers Week, the 10th Annual week celebration. The November general meeting for our area will be held this year during that week, and so I’ve decided to use that opportunity to write about CRTA now.

The mission of CRTA is “to enhance and protect the benefits of retired educators.” Goals include being the dominant, authoritative voice for all retired educators, to promote, protect and advocate for the interests of retired public California educators, to safeguard the State Teachers Retirement System, to study and promote or oppose, state and national legislation affecting the interests of retired educators and to promote and safeguard public education systems.

CRTA members of both the Barstow and Victor Valley areas are in the Tumbleweed Division. They meet together monthly for a luncheon, September through June, alternating between the areas. The current membership for Tumbleweed is 365 people.

The November meeting will be in Barstow Thurs., Nov. 6 at 11:30 a.m. at the Sizzler Restaurant, 1523 East Main Street. Reservations are not necessary but a head count is needed to arrange for seating. Please let Oliver Osborn at 252-5040 or Pat Adams at 245- 3325 know by Nov. 1 if you will attend. The program, “Musical Memories”, will be presented by Amy Ross, Performing Arts Instructor at Barstow Community College.

In between the luncheon meetings a business breakfast is held. In addition to the members required to attend those meetings, all members are invited, giving them a voice on CRTA matters and the opportunity to vote. While business is emphasized, there is time to socialize and door prizes are given. A report on items needed to be received and reviewed by the membership is included in the monthly newsletter so that the monthly luncheons has a very limited amount of time spent on items of business. The next Membership Business Breakfast is at Marie Callender's, 12180 Mariposa Road in Victorville, Thurs. Nov. 13 at 8:30 a.m.

Tumbleweed President Bob Rittman reported that the scholarship committee is able to maintain four annual $750 scholarships for Barstow and Victorville college students. They are also helping to create a $500 scholarship especially for Fine Arts students at the two colleges.

First Vice President Betty Mills is the person to contact for more information about CRTA and about joining. Her number is 245-3181. Seeking new members is very important. Our memberships are a way of showing appreciation for the additional money in your pensions. Dues are only $3.25 a month (going up to $3.50 in January, 2009 ). The cheapest way to pay is by payroll deduction for those receiving pensions.

 ABOUT THE WRITER:
Helen Bendure is a correspondent for the Desert Dispatch She can be contacted at rimrock83@aol.com