January Program

Kara Timberlake

Art Museum of Southeast Texas

Officers committee chairs

Lynne James

President Newsletter

Technology Contact

Gail Krohn Immediate Past President Publicity & Nominations

Scholarship

Linda Harrison First Vice President

Membership

Linda Briggs Second Vice President

Book Project

Donna Lumpkin Secretary

Loretta Morman

Treasurer

Dixie Tucker Parliamentarian

Richard Briggs

Legislation

Beulah Thompson Community Volunteer

Services

Dana Wasser Retirement Education

Helen Reynolds Healthy Living

Mary Sue Carter

Informative & Protective Services

Shelley Dettman Member Benefits

Beverly Minaldi

Programs

Clara Graham Foundation Representative

Linda Fong

Memorials, Get-Well

Olive Hall & Jolene Lemaire Historians

Becky Dungan

Yearbook

Rosalie Reese Hospitality

Patricia Allen Social Media

Wanda Borne

Audit

A new membership year begins . . .

. . . A message from MJCRSP President Lynne James

I t seems like only yesterday that we began our last membership drive, and here we are again. Our 2019-2020 totals are very good, so we will be allotted five

convention delegates as a result. In early April those five delegates and three other MJCRSP members will make the trip to Corpus Christi to finish connecting the dots before the next legislative session. Next year (2021) TRTA will not have a formal convention, but TRTA members from across the state will assemble in Austin to meet with legislators during the 2021 legislative session.

I n anticipation of what lies ahead, the membership committee is in full swing! A new membership form accompanies this newsletter. It includes three ways to join TRTA or

to renew your membership through the local unit. Many of you will prefer to pay the state and local dues together with a $45 check. However, TRTA has now made it possible to have your state dues paid through your local unit with a monthly payroll deduction (available only if you get a TRS annuity) or bank draft (available to everyone). In either case, your $35 state dues can be withdrawn in monthly deductions of $2.92 . How simple is that? If you prefer to set up monthly deductions, simply select Option 2 or Option 3 on the membership form attached, and follow the directions for setting up the deductions. Option 2 requires you to send a form, also attached, to TRS, which you should do very soon. All other forms and checks should be sent to the local unit. If you choose the bank draft option, your must give AMBA (Association of Member Benefits Advisors) permission to manage your monthly deduction, much like they do for dental and eye care insurance and other benefits provided to members through TRTA.

M arch is designated as Membership Month. Members who renew in February or March will be eligible for a cash award to be announced at the end of March.

Remember: you must join the state organization in order to join a local unit! If you have questions about the options listed on the membership form, please consult one of the following:

Loretta Morman: 409-722-9240, 409-338-5158 (cell) Wanda Borne: 409-962-6913; 409-749-4317 (cell) Lynne James: 409-735-6171; 409-718-8808 (cell)

VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.mjcrsp.org — See our video scrapbook (new) VISIT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE: www.facebook.com/MJCRSP/

Mid-Jefferson County

Retired School Personnel

February 2020 Newsletter

Next Meeting: February 11, 2020, 1:30pm @ Ritter Senior Center, 914 Ave. B, Nederland Program: Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick (Call or text Q&A topics to Beverly Minaldi @ 409-543-5321) MJCRSP Hostesses: Gail Krohn (chair), Donna Lumpkin, Helen Reynolds, Patricia Allen

SPECIAL THANKS to MCT Credit Union and Hebert Library for the use of their facilities in preparing our monthly newsletters.

January Highlights

Row 1: Lynne James calls the meeting to order followed by the pledge of allegiance to the flags; Program Chair Beverly Minaldi introduces Kara Timberlake, our guest speaker; hostesses (Rose Reese, Linda Briggs, Dana Wasser, Cathy Purgahn, Becky Dungan, and Linda Fong) are ready to serve refreshments. Row 2: Beulah Thompson and Linda Harrison; Walter and Dixie Tucker, Clara Graham, and

Shelley Dettman; Loretta Morman, Olive Hall, Wanda Borne, Helen Reynolds, and Donna Lumpkin. Row 3: Mary Sue Carter and Becky Viator; Charlie Jehlen and Lynne James; Richard Briggs and Bill Decker, Secretary Donna Lumpkin reads correspondence. Row 4: Membership Chair Linda Harrison reports the membership totals; Beulah Thompson reports volunteer hours; Helen Reynolds reminds members to live a healthy lifestyle.

HELEN’S HEALTH TIP: Watch for emphasis on the following topics that are predicted to be the main

news for wellness and healthy living trends in 2020: plant-based products, the connection between the gut and the brain, the use of natural remedies rather than prescriptions, more awareness of the vital importance of getting adequate sleep, and the emphasis on home cooking as a way to reconnect with family and friends.

As part of TRTA’s Children’s Book Project, MJCRSP recently presented books to students at Hillcrest Elementary and Highland Park Elementary. More than 240 books were given to the Nederland students with funding from Philpott Ford and donations from MJCRSP members. On the left is Book Project Chair Linda Briggs with some of the Hillcrest students. On the right are students from Highland Park Elementary. Thanks for supporting the book project.