West Grayson Retired School Personnel Association (WGRSPA) met Tuesday, May 4 at Las Haciendas Restaurant. President Sue Barker welcomed 31 members and 16 guests. This May meeting is a time when WGRSPA remembers members they have lost during the past year.
This year members memorialized were Juanita McDonnell, who taught in Sherman during her career and was remembered with reflections by Betty Capehart; Linda Dunlap, who taught in the S&S Consolidated school district and was remembered with reflections by her colleague Denise Barnes; and Dr. Beryl Mackey, who served many years as a superintendent of Sherman schools and was remembered with reflections by colleague David Parker.
In regular business of the meeting, President Sue Barker presented Wanda Dutton a Texas themed quilt made by her for Wanda’s 12 years of service as the organization’s treasurer.
Doris Haney demonstrated exercises that could be done while sitting in a chair for her report on healthy living and the completion of the activity Walk Across Texas by the two teams from West Grayson RSPA.
Haney also reported on the West Grayson Book Projects of giving a book to each 3rd grade student in the organization’s four respective schools. The project was completed with the Whitesboro 3rd grades on December 10, with the S&S project completed with their 3rd grade students on May 5. Projects at Collinsville will be on May 13 and Tioga on May 29 with their 3rd grade classes.
In other recognitions, President Barker presented certificates of appreciation for their outstanding service to the chapter to the following: Kathy Boston, Capehart, Linda Hundley, Mary Nell Rogers (chapter Pumpkin project), Carol Golden (memorial services and chapter field trips), Sharon Golden (preparing minutes for all meetings), Haney (book projects and healthy living), Carol Pike (volunteer hours) and Harold Tamplen (pumpkin project).
Barker presented ABCD (Going Beyond the Call of Duty ) certificates to the following: Cladene Belcher, Glenda Coulson, Mary Nan Story, Sharon Lively, Dutton and T.R. Fletcher for wearing many hats in the organization. President Barker was presented a bouquet of flowers for her service as president the past two years.
The following new officers for the biennium 2026-2028 were installed by Story: Fletcher, President; Barker, 1st VP; Haney, 2nd VP; Carla Hawkins, Secretary; Coulson, Treasurer; and Tamplen, Parliamentarian.
West Grayson Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) invites any retired school personnel to join them as they continue to advocate for increased benefits, affordable health care and the defined benefit TRS retirement.
Through the advocacy of TRTA members and other groups affected by these laws, the organization was able to successfully achieve the repeal of the GPO and WEP federal laws that prevented retirees from receiving their earned Social Security and spousal benefits.
The repeal of these two laws has enhanced the lives of many retirees. However, there is still work to be done to sustain the defined benefit. This guarantees retirees their retirement as long as they live rather than a defined contribution such as 401k or 403B, where the benefit depends on investment returns which do not guarantee a set value each month.
Additionally, they will be advocating for increased monies to the TRS fund so that retirees will be able to get additional financial enhancements in the form of a COLA (cost of living adjustment) or 13th check.
Yearly dues are $30/$10 for state/local. Membership numbers count when TRTA is speaking with legislators. Please consider joining their efforts to work for the benefit of all public school personnel.
WGRSPA will start meeting again the first Tuesday of the month beginning in September.
